the almost perfect watch, but at what price?!

Garmin continues to push the boundaries with the Fenix ​​8, its latest premium multisport watch. With a rugged design, vibrant AMOLED display and advanced features for adventurers and sports enthusiasts, this new version promises to further improve an already excellent formula. Faced with increasingly fierce competition, Garmin must now compete with watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Suunto Vertical, the Polar Grit sports. And some also add features adapted to expeditions.

With the Fenix ​​8, Garmin is trying to maintain its lead by focusing on a balance between technological innovations, sporting versatility and autonomy adapted to the most demanding explorers. But, at more than €1,000, is the Fenix ​​8 AMOLED worth its price? We tested the watch to give you a complete opinion.

A proven design with a touch of elegance

The Fenix ​​8 retains Garmin’s iconic rugged design, but accentuates it a bit with slightly more prominent angles. Above all, for the first time, a Fenix ​​adopts an AMOLED screen which transforms the visual experience. Finally ! Colors are vibrant, details are sharp, and the display remains readable in bright light, even in direct sunlight. The watch is available in two versions: AMOLED and MIP (Memory In Pixel). The MIP version, with integrated solar charging, offers an impressive autonomy of several weeks, compared to around ten days for the AMOLED version.

Available in three sizes – 43, 47 and 51 mm – this watch will adapt to all handles but retains a sporty appearance which will not necessarily be suitable in the most formal situations. However, Garmin has also introduced new finishes, with materials such as titanium and sapphire, which, when accompanied by a leather strap for example, reinforce the impression of luxury.

Redesigned menus for intuitive navigation

The Garmin Fenix ​​8 benefits from a slightly redesigned interface, designed to take full advantage of the AMOLED screen. The menus are fluid, colorful, and touchscreen navigation is now as intuitive as using the physical buttons, always present for humid environments or requiring gloves. Each function is grouped logically: sports profiles, map tools, training metrics or even quick settings, everything is accessible in just a few gestures. However, during our test, we noticed a slight latency when switching between complex features. For example: the transition between real-time map display and advanced statistics. But it remains fleeting. It must be recognized that, overall, the improvements made make the user experience significantly more pleasant.

Also note a change in the buttons for navigating the menus. There are still five of them and placed in the same place but are now impulse buttons which offer haptic (or even sound) feedback if desired.

Features for all terrains

The Fenix ​​8 is a real Swiss army knife for athletes. In addition to classic functions such as multi-band GPS, activity monitoring and (very) numerous training metrics, Garmin integrates a diving mode (with depth gauge) and a powerful LED lamp which can be used as an extra (for searching your keys at night or replace a dysfunctional headlamp while running). It also now includes voice commands thanks to the integrated microphone and speaker. This last functionality also allows you to answer calls or interact with the voice assistant. A good point, but that must be tempered by the absence of LTE connectivity (you have to keep your smartphone nearby), which limits its interest a little.

For mountain lovers, the skiing or hiking metrics are still impressive. The preloaded topographical maps are also beautiful with the AMOLED screen and perfectly detailed to fully understand the terrain. Indoor sports enthusiasts are not forgotten, with dedicated profiles for activities such as HIIT or bodybuilding.

Autonomy adapted to your needs

Battery life depends on the version chosen. With the Fenix ​​8 MIP and its solar recharge, you can reach up to 30 days in smartwatch mode, a real asset for extended expeditions. The AMOLED version, more energy-consuming with its beautiful screen, caps at 10 days. This compromise could frustrate those hoping to combine visual performance and extreme endurance. However, on a daily basis, by opting for an AMOLED display only when you turn your arm to look at the screen, the battery life is quite comfortable. During our test, the watch lasted a good week with a sports session of 30 minutes to 1 hour 5 days a week.

On a sporting weekend – two cycling sessions of 4 to 6 hours with navigation activated on a GPX track – here again, the watch withstood the shock without concern and still had more than 20% autonomy. It’s important to note that using power-hungry features, like multi-band GPS or streaming music, may reduce battery life. However, even with intensive use, the Fenix ​​8 AMOLED offers satisfactory battery life for most sports and daily activities. But the duration between two charges will strongly depend on the use you make of it (type of data recorded day and night, notifications activated or not, etc.).

A watch for whom?

The Garmin Fenix ​​8 is aimed at two types of audience: demanding adventurers and intensive athletes who want a watch capable of following them in all their activities, particularly long endurance sessions. Fans of ultra-distance cycling or UTMB type ultra trail, this watch will meet your expectations. If you are looking for a versatile multisport watch with advanced features and price is not a barrier, the Fenix ​​8 is for you. On the other hand, occasional users or fans of connected smartwatches may find what they are looking for elsewhere for a more reasonable budget.

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