After I reviewed the Garmin Fenix 8 final yr, I known as it a Frankenstein watch as a result of it took the perfect elements from cheaper Garmin Forerunners, Instincts, and Venus and mashed them collectively into one machine. Regardless of a significant value enhance, it nonetheless bought boatloads, breaking gross sales information as Garmin followers demanded the perfect.
So to get the Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED for $849 ($250 off) on Amazon as an alternative of $1,099, it is undeniably an incredible deal, as is the Fenix 8 51mm Photo voltaic for $849 ($350 off). Both possibility is an affordable various to an Apple Watch Extremely 3, and less expensive than individuals paid a yr in the past. Far be it from me to inform individuals to not purchase what they need!
That being mentioned, it is my job to supply options. The Fenix 8 is Garmin’s greatest obtainable watch, however yow will discover loads of fantastic Garmin watches at a lot decrease costs that provide 95% of the identical software program, such because the Forerunner 970 for $649 ($100 off). Except you are a devoted diver, surfer, or water skier, the Forerunner 970 gives you the instruments you want for $200 much less, even when the deal is much less spectacular on paper.
And even that is perhaps too costly for you! The query is, which Garmin watch Black Friday deal must you get?
Why I like to recommend different Garmin watches earlier than the Fenix 8
The Fenix 8 got here out in August 2024. After its launch, Fenix 7 Professional and Epix Professional (Gen 2) homeowners realized Garmin had stopped supporting its “last-gen” watches with new options, although they’d paid near a grand for them solely a short while in the past.
For the reason that Fenix 8 Professional launched this summer time, we will assume Garmin will launch a Fenix 9 in summer time 2026. As soon as it does, previous historical past suggests Garmin will cease giving the Fenix 8 new options, upselling its most devoted followers to the following technology. That additionally applies to different Garmin watches, however it’s simpler to just accept 1–2 years of updates whenever you’re paying half as a lot.
The Fenix 8 is absurdly full of options for nearly each sport on the market. So ask your self, how typically will you employ Garmin’s most area of interest sports activities modes, or can you reside with a less expensive mannequin that it’s a must to take off as soon as whereas snorkeling on trip, or would possibly “solely” final two weeks per cost as an alternative of three or 4?
I reviewed Forerunner, Intuition, and Venu watches earlier than I ever tried on a Fenix. I grew to understand their sturdy battery life, light-weight designs, and core coaching options, with out realizing the area of interest instruments that I used to be lacking. And after I upgraded to the Forerunner 955 and 965 with top-class instruments and battery, they solely value $499–599.
That is why I do not need individuals to overpay for the Fenix 8, simply because I preferred testing it after receiving a free assessment unit. Its impressiveness does not imply I would really purchase it myself! There are a number of nice options that I would recommend first:
In order for you lengthy battery life, an AMOLED show, and superior Fenix-class options: The Garmin Forerunner 970 is my first suggestion; if you wish to spend even much less, the Forerunner 965 is $449 ($150 off), with 23-day battery life, the identical dual-band GPS accuracy, and top-class options like offline maps, Endurance Rating, real-time stamina, MTB Grit & Move, and Strava Reside Segments, although not the most recent 970/ Fenix 8 methods like operating tolerance and Power Coach.
In order for you a extra trendy titanium watch: The Garmin Epix Professional (Gen 2) is $549 ($450 off), with a lot of the identical perks like fifth-gen well being sensors, mic & speaker for calling, a flashlight for security at evening, and sapphire glass, paired with a formidable 16-day battery life and all the identical methods because the Forerunner 965.
You need cutting-edge options and magnificence, however not the extras for: The Garmin Venu 4 is $499 ($50 off), with necessities like each day exercise options, coaching load, Bluetooth calling, well being outliers out of your baseline stats, and dual-band GPS. Its AMOLED show is twice as vivid because the Fenix 8’s, and its two-button design blends in additional than the Fenix 8’s sporty five-button look, whereas weighing much less.
You need the identical cutting-edge options in a a lot lighter design. The Fenix 8’s weight takes some getting used to, except you purchase the smaller mannequin that lasts ten days. So why not shed a pair extra days and purchase the Venu X1 for $599 ($200 off)? It lasts eight days per cost, however in trade, you get an absurdly mild and thin design that blends in for hours-long exercises, paired with a 2-inch show that is a lot higher than a Fenix 8’s for following maps.
Be happy to disregard my recommendation if in case you have the cash for the Fenix 8 and do not need to fear in regards to the compromises of my different options, like cheaper-looking polymer circumstances, fewer software program perks, and shorter battery life. However I actually assume you should not let FOMO upsell you to the Fenix 8 when different Garmin watches provide you with near the identical expertise for a whole lot much less.