Garmin Unisex-Smartwatch Digital 32012868

Product Information

You get running (trail, indoor, outdoor, treadmill), biking (indoor, outdoor, MTB), pool and open swimming, climbing, skiing and snowboarding of all types, triathlon, strength, SUP, rowing, kayaking, golf, hiking, yoga and even more via the Connect IQ platform of apps. One of my favorite things about the Garmin Fenix 6S is its compatibility with other apps. It easily syncs with apps like Training Peaks and Strava. Because I plan all my runs on Training Peaks, I love being able to complete the workout at the touch of a button and follow the prompts. This is a major upgrade from having to memorize workouts, or constantly look at my phone on the run. Verdict of the Garmin Fenix 6S Sapphire: Is it worth it?

The Fenix 6S’s reduced case size does lead to one major difference over its bigger brothers – battery life. There is quite a large pay-off in terms of longevity from opting for the 42mm device. The Garmin Fenix 6 doesn’t introduce any software features that drastically set it apart from the previous year’s Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, but rather a number of tweaks and adjustments which all help make the watch more intuitive than before. I actually have quite wide wrists and small watches look ridiculous on me, however I really like the 42mm screen size option for those with smaller wrists. There’s also a 47mm and 51mm option. At the end of each workout, you'll be able to see how your time was split between different heart rate zones (Image credit: TechRadar) Battery life

ABC Sensors

Garmin has a long-standing reputation for longevity in its watches. Not only do the watches last seemingly forever, but Garmin continues to upgrade them well past their release. I expect the Fenix 6S Pro to last at least three to four years under normal usage. You’ll likely want to upgrade to a flashy new watch before the Fenix 6S Pro fails. Should you buy it? The best for power saving is the maximum battery mode, which will turn off most of the Fenix 6’s most demanding features, such as the heart rate sensors, music, phone notifications and GPS.

When trekking you also get the TOPO maps and the compass, to help navigate when you're out in the wild. More on those below. You can also swap between power modes mid-hike, so if you're getting low on battery you can put it into the gentler UltraTrac mode. Fenix 6S mapping The prices vary based on your choice of model, color, and strap, but generally speaking the base Fenix 6 is the cheapest with the 6S and 6X being a step up in terms of price. The most expensive is the Fenix 6X Pro Solar, which offers everything the 6X does plus solar charging and a lighter body.If you want a bigger battery, Garmin says the Fenix 6X will last you 21 days in smartwatch mode, or 60 hours hours in GPS mode. However, you don't get granular detail over the apps on your smartphone that are allowed to buzz your Fenix. Watch-based respiration rate is a new metric for Garmin, and it show promise. I did not physically count my physical breaths per minute but I did find that my estimated respiration rate both awake and asleep accurately reflected my general fitness level. As Garmin accrues respiration data and begins analyzing this data, it’ll be interesting see how this metric evolves in future watches. Battery life Garmin not only added new fitness features, but it also migrated existing features, like body battery and training load focus, to the 6 series. What you end up with is a well-rounded watch that does almost everything.

The differences in price vary greatly because of the sheer number of added extras available, each of which is targeted at different kinds of users. Design and displayNavigation is one of the strong points for Garmin watches, and is one of the core features of the Fenix series. I unfortunately learned the hard way that when your Garmin Fenix 6S Pro says you are off course, you better listen to it. The Fenix 6S uses the same Elevate sensor found on Garmin’s watches – and predictably, came out with the same results. You get a serious amount of sensor tech built into the Fenix 6S, which is a large part of that punchy price tag. However, you can extend this to 28 days if it’s put in expedition GPS activity mode or even a whopping 48 days in the new battery saver mode. We haven’t had the watch long enough yet to see how accurate these claims are, but we’ll be sure to update you further down the line. Alright, this isn’t noticeably slimmer on the wrist but it does feel slightly lighter - weighing 7g less than the previous equivalent model. This is a welcome improvement for a smartwatch known for being rather cumbersome.