Garmin fēnix® 8
Rating
Product Overview
The Garmin fēnix® 8 is a high-end multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and outdoor adventurers. It features a bright 1.4” AMOLED display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, a durable titanium bezel, and a built-in LED flashlight. It offers advanced health and fitness tracking, including heart rate, sleep, and activity monitoring. The watch also includes built-in GPS, ABC sensors, and preloaded TopoActive maps. With up to 16 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and a 40-meter dive rating, the fēnix® 8 is built for extended adventures. It supports Garmin Pay, music storage, and smart notifications.
Product Specifications
Size & Weight
Features
A function that measures your heart rate throughout the day. You can track your heart rate during workouts, rest, and sleep. Useful for understanding your overall health and fitness levels and identifying potential health concerns.
Accurately monitors heart rate throughout the day, providing real-time data and insights into cardiovascular health. Useful for optimizing workouts and identifying potential health issues. The data is presented in the Garmin Connect app for detailed analysis.
A function that monitors your sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. You can analyze your sleep patterns to identify areas for improvement. Helps you optimize your sleep schedule and improve your sleep quality.
Monitors sleep stages, including light, deep, and REM sleep, providing a detailed analysis of sleep patterns. Helps users understand and improve their sleep quality. The watch also provides a sleep score based on various metrics.
A function that tracks your location during outdoor activities like running, cycling, and hiking. You can map your routes, track your distance, and monitor your pace. Allows you to analyze your performance and explore new routes.
Tracks location during outdoor activities, providing accurate data on distance, pace, and routes. Ideal for runners, cyclists, and hikers. The built-in GPS with SatIQ technology ensures superior positioning accuracy.
A function that displays notifications from your smartphone on your wrist, including calls, texts, emails, and app alerts. You can stay connected without having to constantly check your phone. Convenient for staying informed while on the go.
Displays notifications from your smartphone on your wrist, including calls, texts, emails, and app alerts. Keeps you connected without needing to constantly check your phone. You can also respond to text messages using your smartphone's voice assistant.
A function that allows you to control music playback on your smartphone from your smartwatch. You can skip tracks, adjust the volume, and pause/play music. Easy to manage your music during workouts or commutes.
Allows you to control music playback on your smartphone from your smartwatch, including skipping tracks, adjusting volume, and pausing/playing music. Convenient for workouts and commutes. The watch also supports music storage for offline playback.
A function that enables you to make payments using your smartwatch at compatible payment terminals. You can quickly and easily make purchases without needing your phone or wallet. Streamlines your shopping experience.
Enables you to make payments using your smartwatch at compatible payment terminals via Garmin Pay. Offers a quick and convenient way to make purchases without needing your phone or wallet. Supports various payment networks.
SHOPSTAFF Rating Score
The Garmin Fenix 8 is a top-tier smartwatch with advanced features and robust build quality. It is suitable for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who need comprehensive tracking and durability. The high price reflects its premium features and performance.
Brand & Manufacturer Details
Key Highlights
- Excellent battery life
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- Durable build quality with sapphire lens and titanium bezel
- Built-in GPS and TopoActive maps
- AMOLED display
Considerations
- The initial button unresponsiveness issue requires a calibration procedure.
- Price is high compared to other smartwatches.
- Data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked
Recommended For
- Athletes
- Outdoor adventurers
- Fitness enthusiasts
- Users needing long battery life
- Tech-savvy individuals
Not Recommended For
- Individuals on a tight budget
- Users needing specialized medical monitoring
- People seeking basic smartwatch functionality
- none in particular
Suitable For
- Outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and swimming
- Daily fitness tracking
- Multi-day trips without needing to recharge
- Everyday wear for notifications and health monitoring
Not Suitable For
- Situations requiring extreme shock resistance
- Heavy construction work
- High-pressure diving
- none in particular
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q.I'm used to charging my Apple Watch daily. How often do I need to charge the Garmin fēnix® 8?
Q.I'm concerned about the button responsiveness mentioned in one of the staff confirmations. Is this a common issue?
Q.I primarily want a smartwatch for health and fitness tracking. How does the fēnix® 8 compare to other options?
Q.I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and running. How well does the fēnix® 8 perform in these scenarios?
Q.I'm not very tech-savvy. Is the Garmin fēnix® 8 difficult to set up and use?
Q.Is the Garmin fēnix® 8 worth the high price?
Q.Does the watch have a built-in microphone for calls and voice commands?
SHOPSTAFF Rating Ranking
Garmin
epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition, 51mm 010-02804-00
$659(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13
High-performance smartwatch with AMOLED display, sapphire lens, titanium bezel, and advanced training features.
| Display Size | 1.4 inches | Display Resolution | - pixels |
| Battery Life | 16 days | Water Resistance | - ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth Support | Yes | NFC Support | - |
| Operating System | Android & iOS | Weight | - grams |
Multisport GPS smartwatch with solar charging, built-in flashlight, and advanced health monitoring features.
| Display Size | 1.3 inches | Display Resolution | - pixels |
| Battery Life | 22 days | Water Resistance | - ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth | NFC Support | - |
| Operating System | GarminOS | Weight | 73 grams |
Premium multisport GPS smartwatch with AMOLED display, sapphire lens, titanium bezel, and LED flashlight.
| Display Size | 1.4 inches | Display Resolution | - pixels |
| Battery Life | 16 days | Water Resistance | - ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth | NFC Support | Yes |
| Operating System | Garmin OS | Weight | - grams |
Ultraperformance GPS smartwatch designed for ultra-endurance athletes with extreme battery life and detailed mapping.
| Display Size | 1.4 inches | Display Resolution | - pixels |
| Battery Life | 90 days | Water Resistance | 10 ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth | NFC Support | - |
| Operating System | Garmin OS | Weight | 63 grams |
The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a health and fitness GPS smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and long battery life.
| Display Size | 1.2 inches | Display Resolution | - pixels |
| Battery Life | 11 days | Water Resistance | - ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth Support | Yes | NFC Support | Yes |
| Operating System | GarminOS | Weight | 36.85 grams |
