Garmin’s Fenix 6 is here! Its predecessor, the Fenix 5 series, was a well-received and very popular sports watch. Garmin didn’t sit still and a completely new generation, the Fenix 6 family, has hit the shelves now. In this blog we will tell you everything there is to know about these state of the art devices. With the Fenix 6 Garmin has really raised the bar of what a sport watch entails.
The first Garmin Fenix sports watch was introduced halfway through 2012. In 2017 the world woke up to what was already the fifth edition of the watch: the Garmin Fenix 5. This advanced sports watch was immensely popular in no-time. Could it get even better? Garmin sure thought so. The pioneer in sport watches now introduces the newest member of the family: the Garmin Fenix 6.
The Garmin Fenix 6 series in detail
Discover the unique characteristics of these sports watches
Fenix 6S Sapphire with Sapphire Crystal lens
Fenix 6 with wrist-based heart rate monitor, also in water
Fenix 6 Sapphire with preloaded TOPO Europe maps
Orange editions with Titanium bezel
Fenix 6X Pro Solar with Solar Charging Power Glass lens
Something for Everyone
The Garmin Fenix 6 series is made up of a variety of Fenix 6 models. The Garmin Fenix 6 comes in three sizes; the 6S, the 6 and the 6X. The three different sizes all feature the same technologies and specifications, they only differ in size.
Size of case and battery life in smartwatch mode
Fenix 6S: 42 x 42 mm – battery lasts up to 9 days
Fenix 6: 47 x 47 mm – battery lasts up to 14 days
Fenix 6X: 51 x 51 mm – battery lasts up to 21 days
Case size matters. For men and women with smaller wrists a large case might feel uncomfortable or inconvenient. Because the Fenix 6S is smaller in size it is the go-to watch for those with smaller wrists. If you have larger wrist or if you just like larger watches than the Fenix 6 or the Fenix 6X might be better for you. The size of the watch does have some influence on the battery-life of the watches: the larger the case, the longer the battery lasts. Garmin also differentiates in Pro and Sapphire models and the icing on the cake is found in Garmin’s Fenix 6X Pro Solar.
What’s new
The Fenix 5 already was a very apt sports watch. Garmin, however, saw possibilities to improve upon this watch. Where the Fenix 5 couldn’t monitor heart rate in water without a special chest strap, the Fenix 6 can measure heart rate at the wrist, even when swimming or diving. The Fenix 6 models also feature the Pulse Ox sensor. This sensor measures oxygen saturation in your blood. This can be crucial information when training at heights. Garmin Pay is also available on all Fenix 6 models. It allows you to leave your wallet at home and make payments with your watch. The multi-GPS support has become a standardised feature for the Fenix 6 series. All these sports watches use GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO to decide location. Next to all these ingenious technologies the Fenix 6 also measures all general data such as: VO2 Max, your recovery time, various training threshold and more. Finally, the Fenix 6 models offer Incident Detection. The built-in incident detection sends an emergency message to preloaded contacts whenever detecting an accident.
The Extras of the Pro and Sapphire models
The Pro and Sapphire models offer some additional options to the Fenix 6 models. Technology-wise the Pro and Sapphire models are similar. They have preloaded TOPO Europe maps, a feature not found in the regular Fenix 6. They have turn-by-turn navigation. The Trendline Popularity Routing allows you to fill in a distance and the watch will suggest a few routes. Their PacePro functionality calculates your tempo on different slope-angles. These two editions also offer something more when it comes to music. Where the standard Fenix 6 can be connected to your Spotify account via your phone, music apps such as Spotify are already preloaded on the Pro and Sapphire editions. You can enter the app through your watch. Next to streaming music through these apps you can also download your favourite music onto your sports watch.
The difference in the Fenix 6 Pro and the Fenix 6 Sapphire is found in the lens-glass. The Fenix 6 Pro models use a lens of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and the Fenix 6 Sapphire models use the extremely strong and scratchproof Sapphire Crystal.
“Rise and shine, sunshine.”
If all of this isn’t enough, and you will only settle for the best of the best; the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar might be the watch for you. This sports watch has a special Power Glass lens which uses solar energy to extend the battery-life of the watch. This is ideal for off-road adventurers. The battery can’t be fully charged by solar energy, but it does give the battery a substantial boost. Next to this the Fenix 6X Pro Solar has a bezel of titanium, in energy saving mode the battery may last up to 120 days when exposed to sunlight and the watch can be directly connected to Wi-Fi.
In conclusion, the new Garmin Fenix 6 series feature a range of different watches. They come in three different sizes and within sizes there are the Pro and Sapphire editions. The 6S edition is a bit smaller than the regular Fenix 6 edition and the 6X is a bit bigger. A large update in comparison with the Fenix 5 is that the Fenix 6 also measures your heart rate at the wrist when in the water. All the models allow you to listen to music. The Pro and Sapphire editions also allow you to save music onto your watch. All editions provide Navigation, Garmin Pay and Incident Detection. The Pro and Sapphire editions also feature preloaded TOPO Europe maps and turn-by-turn navigation. The big brother in the Fenix 6 family is the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar. This watch uses solar energy to extend an already astonishing battery-life. When exposed to sunlight the battery can last up to 120 days. With the Fenix 6 series, Garmin has rocked the foundations of what a sports watch should be.
Curious? Shop the Garmin Fenix 6 here in our webshop. You still have some questions about these watches? Don’t hesitate and contact our customer service now.
