Garmin Fenix 8 Solar Sapphire Watch

The new Garmin Fenix 8 Solar Sapphire has all the same features found on the Fenix 7 Solar such as the touch screen interface, Multi-band GPS, included world maps, ski view, Connect IQ connectivity directly on the watch, Smart notifications, Music storage, Garmin Pay and much, much more. To learn about all the Fenix 7 features be sure to read our report in our Holiday Gift Guide here.

One of the biggest new features of the Fenix 8 is its availability in both a MIP (transflective memory-in-pixel) and now an Amoled version. The MIP screen has been the standard since the Fenix was introduced and uses reflective light so it is more energy efficient and brighter outside in daylight. The Amoled version uses an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode which creates a brighter, richer display in low light conditions but uses more battery power and in direct sunlight it is not as bright as the MIP display. The Solar option is also only available with the MIP display so choose the version that best suits your needs as they offer very different advantages.

The Power Sapphire Solar Lens which the Fenix 8 47mm version uses can substantially increase the solar-assisted battery life of the watch. There is no longer a need for the solar film which was previously located under the watch glass of the Fenix 7 since the solar ring found on the Fenix 8 Solar is much more efficient. This means the Fenix 8 Solar display is much more crisp and looks better overall. When compared to the previous Fenix 7 Pro Solar version, the new Fenix 8 Solar provides much more solar boost to the overall battery life. So much so, that when only using GPS it can increase the battery life from 122 hours to 149 hours, if you are using all the watch systems and GPS it can increase battery life from 77 hours to 92 hours and when using all swatch systems and multi-band tracking it can increase the battery life from 41 hours to 65 hours. These are major jumps in overall battery life thanks to this new solar technology, but you have to ensure that the watch is orientated optimally to take in as much solar input as possible while it's available.

The most highly touted new feature of the Fenix 8 has to be the built-in speaker and microphone. This allows for on-device and offline voice commands so you can ask the Fenix 8 to start a run or a timer, save a location, play music and even turn on the flashlight. By pressing and holding the upper right button the Fenix 8 goes into listening mode and after a second or two of processing your request, it is magically performed. The new microphone and speaker also mean that you can now make and receive a phone call directly through the watch, but you will need to ensure that the Fenix 8 is synced to your phone first. In addition to being able to listen to your stored music on the Fenix 8 through the speaker, there is also a voice notes app that records your thoughts and tags your geolocation so you can remind yourself of what was said and where.

There is a new built-in Sensor Guard which provides added protection for the microphone and barometer but not the speaker which is located on the bottom edge of the watch just above the band. You can see the new Sensor Guard which is essentially a metal strip with holes in it, located between the two buttons on the right side of the watch. This feature comes from the Garmin Descent Dive Watch and is now found here on the Fenix 8 which helps to make it a more dive-friendly watch.

The one thing missing from the Fenix 7 that is now found on the Fenix 8 is the ability to use it as a true dive watch, and while I am not a diver these new features will appeal to those who are. There is a new built-in depth gauge and several diving-related functions along with “leakproof” buttons that allow the Fenix 8 to go to a depth of 40m. These new buttons use an inductive connection to detect a button push so there is no hole in the watch case where water can get in which means the Fenix 8 is now rated for diving with an EN13319 certification. The previous Fenix 7 buttons used o-ring seals to keep water out of the watch case which had limitations.

I have to mention the built-in LED Flashlight which was introduced on the Fenix 7 and is still incorporated in the Fenix 8 as it is still a real game changer. Located on the front edge of the watch, it has three brightness levels and a red light setting. To turn it on you can use a voice command or simply double-tap the upper left button. To adjust the brightness or change it to the red light you press the up/down buttons on the left side of the watch. I have used it quite often when hiking at dusk without my phone and it has been a real lifesaver on several occasions.

While the Fenix 7 is an impressive multisport GPS watch in its own right, Garmin has only improved upon this with the Fenix 8 line of watches. The Fenix 8 is available in 43, 47 and 51mm sizes in a non-solar Amoled display with sapphire glass, Solar MIP display with sapphire glass and a non-solar gorilla glass version.

• Advanced multisport GPS smartwatch for athletes/adventurers
• 1.4” solar-charged display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, durable titanium bezel
• Built-in LED flashlight
• Up to 48 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging and up to 149 hours in GPS mode with solar charging
• Targeted strength training plans
• Real-time stamina tracking
• Sport-specific workouts and a full range of built-in sports apps
• Sleep quality, recovery, training load and HRV status
• Built-in speaker and mic let you make and take phone calls from your wrist and use your smartphone’s voice assistant to respond to text messages and more
• Off-grid voice command feature lets you access select watch controls even without a smartphone connection
• Multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology
• Built-in sensors for 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter
• Dynamic round-trip routing—set your target distance and receive turn-by-turn directions that adjust to get you back to the start
• 40-meter dive rating and leakproof metal buttons support scuba and apnea dive activities
• 24/7 health and wellness monitoring with wrist-based heart rate, advanced sleep monitoring, respiration tracking, Pulse Ox and more
• ECG app can record your heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation
• Preloaded TopoActive maps with relief shading — plus built-in maps for thousands of golf courses and ski resorts worldwide
• Smart notifications (compatible smartphone required)
• Music storage
• Garmin Pay contactless payments (with a supported country and payment network)
• Thermal- and shock-resistant to MIL-STD 810
• Metal sensor guard cover to protect essential sensors from damage

The new Fenix 8 Solar is $400 Canadian more expensive than the comparable Fenix 7 Solar watch, so after all our testing is it worth it? To set the benchmark, I am an avid adventurer who regularly goes running, mountain biking, hiking, camping, SUP paddling, ski touring, working out at the gym and occasionally mountaineering. I am not a hardcore athlete, I don’t dive or sync the Fenix 8 with my phone on a day-to-day basis but there are a lot of features on the Fenix 8 that I use consistently. Having used the Fenix 7 Pro before the Fenix 8 I can honestly say that the new features are amazing and elevate the Fenix 8 to new heights. Do I need these new features? No. Do I think they are super cool? Definitely. Will I use them? Yes, most of them. For me, I value most of the new features and while I think the price increase is pretty steep for the feature set, I do think that they are worth the price of admission given how substantial some of the hardware and software upgrades are.

The new Fenix 8 is pretty similar to the Fenix 7 at first glance with some minor upgrades. It is 0.7mm thicker, 7 grams heavier and has a better battery life of up to 3 days/6 days more with solar when used as a smartwatch and with GPS use only you get up to 10 hours/19 hours more with solar charging. The real improvements are in the hardware with the new waterproof buttons, new solar charging, new microphone and speaker and new sensor guard. There are also a lot of new features inside the Fenix 8 such as the new dive capabilities, revamped activity interface, dynamic round-trip routing, Off-grid voice command, ability to make and receive a phone call, voice notes app and so much more. A few of the more overlooked features that I can't live without are the text size customization for people with poor eyesight and the touchscreen unlock option which streamlines locking and unlocking the watch face.

Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra, the Fenix cannot make or take calls without a smartphone connection, but once you sync to your phone this option is still pretty cool. As is the the ability to listen to your music over the speaker but keep in mind that the sound quality is just ok. I do enjoy being able to go for a run and not have to carry my phone while still being able to listen to music or podcasts and now with the speaker I don’t always have to use wireless earbuds which is safer in urban environments as well as in the woods when it’s bear season. I do wish, however, that the speaker had a little more volume capacity as it can be hard to hear with a lot of ambient noise.

Bottom line—the Garmin Fenix 8 remains an exceptional Multisport Smartwatch and is truly unmatched in its overall performance and accuracy for the hardcore fitness enthusiast and weekend warrior alike. It is the best Fenix watch to date with the largest feature set, but you’ll pay a pretty price for all this tech. While it still provides good value, the Fenix 8 is not within everyone’s budget so you might want to consider Fenix 7 which is just as capable or the more budget-friendly Epix 2 Pro models. Whichever way you go, Garmin has you covered with a Multisport Smartwatch that will fit into your life and budget.