Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar 47 mm, Slate Grey/Black (010-02540-21)

Product Information

While the thin rim around the Fenix 6 wasn’t as obvious, the much wider rim on the Fenix 7 is clearly visible. Though, I guess I’ve just gotten so used to the look that it doesn’t bother me any. Here’s that identified: The Fenix 7 has a different optical heart rate array to the Fenix 6, one that looks just like that of the Garmin Venu 2. It has more light-analyzing sensors, which lets the watch error-correct more effectively. Verdict Sapphire models – have twice the storage (for pre-loaded maps) and also only the Sapphire models support dual-frequency GNSS

READ NEXT: Our guide to the best running watches you can buy Garmin Fenix 7 review: What you need to know As we round home, it’s worthwhile noting that the Fenix 7 and Epix series watches are the first to have the new on-watch app store. This means that you can install Connect IQ apps directly from the wrist, versus having to grab your phone. Garmin outlined this feature last fall as part of the Connect IQ Developer summit. And, as outlined then, it’s pretty darn basic. Got all that? Good. Here’s some charts to help you make sense of it. First up is the battery comparison chart:

We’re gonna accept all that though and do an interval workout. That’s because that’ll be an easy way to show the new Stamina features. By default, Stamina will be shown for running and cycling activities. It doesn’t display in all activities, for example you won’t find it in hiking, but will find it in trail running. In any event, once we press start, the watch will start gathering data from our workout, showing pace, distance, time, and any other data fields you’ve added, depending on the sport. All of these workouts are also then transmitted to any 3rd party apps you’ve configured/authorized, including Strava, TrainingPeaks, and other platforms. Still set on a top-end Garmin? You have another decision to make, as the company offers three variants (standard, solar and sapphire solar) across the three different sizes, so there’s a grand total of nine different watches to choose from.

While there are many different sports and activity profiles to choose from, my thoughts on the watch are largely in the context of testing it while road cycling. Comfort and wearing

Maps for New Regions

having had my moan as well. I think this new chip CAN help matters in mountains based on what I’ve seen from Coros – and Garmin can certainly do as well there if they want to. The Fenix 7 comes loaded with topographical maps for a variety of activities including cycling, walking, running and golf. The Fenix 7 has a touchscreen, unlike all of the older “serious” Garmin watches. Previous generations were button operated only, to avoid a whole series of potential headaches. The old-style interface wouldn’t go haywire when the screen was wet, and there was very little chance of you accidentally stopping or pausing a workout mid-session. Not bothered by the price but don’t like the Fenix 7 design? The Suunto 9 Peak might suit. It is Suunto’s top-end watch and made, in part, for hikers. However, its mapping support is far more limited than Garmin’s. You create routes on your phone and a basic trace line is sent to the watch for reference. It’s quite a different proposition to the full map data available with a Fenix 7.

You can connect devices such as heart-rate monitors and power meters to the watch via Bluetooth and ANT+ and you can connect it to WiFi networks for easy uploads to Garmin Connect or apps such as Strava. The Fenix 7 Series follows that of the Venu 2 Plus two weeks ago, which allows you to long-press on any data in the watch face and be brought straight to that widget for deeper data. For example, if you long-press on the steps, it’ll bring you to the steps widget. I demonstrate this within the user interface video above. Battery Life: Up to 18 days/22 days with Solar (Smartwatch Mode), up to 57 days/173 days with Solar (Batter Saver Water Mode), up to 57 hours/73 hours with Solar (GPS Only), up to 40 hours/48 hours with Solar (All Satellite Systems), up to 23 hours/26 hours (All Satellite Systems and Multi-band), up to 10 hours (All Satellite Systems and Music), up to 136 hours/289 hours with Solar (Max Battery GPS), up to 40 days/74 days with solar (Expedition GPS) br_screenType, 11, 0, Screen type, Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (mip) and touchscreen The standard display shows the time, steps, temperature, heart rate, sunset, date and more. Stan Portus / Our MediaThe Sapphire Solar version of the Fenix 7 has multi-band frequency support, a feature that Garmin says was only previously available to the military and not on the Fenix 6. This Fenix 7 comes with Garmin’s solar charging, which helps boost the battery life of the watch to up to 73 hours in GPS mode or 22 days in smartwatch mode. The battery saver mode increases that figure to 173 hours with solar. It doesn’t work as well with the connected smarts of your phone but it’s a sports tool first and foremost. I also have a strong suspicion, though no personal experience, that the 6 and 6S are worse at GPS than the 6X because they have smaller antennas. The original engineering antenna and case design were for a 51mm case and the bezel is and was part of the RF system. I never found the Fenix 7 to struggle when locating satellites, eliminating the sometimes frustrating delay to the start of a ride.