Garmin has recently unveiled new Pro variants for its current Epix Gen 2 and Fenix 7 series of smartwatches. Both of which come with updated onboard features and hardware including new fitness and navigation functions, as well as a built-in LED flashlight – similar to those featured on the brand’s Enduro 2 and Tactix 7 wearables.
For the most part, the new Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro models differ just slightly from their respective original variations. The former now features an OLED display with a new Red Shift Mode that changes its interface colours to red for easier nighttime viewing, and is offered in three new sizes: 42mm, 47mm and 51mm. Meanwhile, the latter retains the solar charging capabilities but packs a new memory-in-pixel (MIP) display that’s claimed to offer better brightness and power efficiency. And like the Epix Pro, the Fenix 7 Pro is also available in 42mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes. Garmin adds that buyers may consider the Sapphire glass editions for both models if they fancy tougher protection for their displays.
Features-wise, apart from the aforementioned built-in LED flashlight, newly included on either Pro variants is an updated heart rate sensor that offers improved tracking for a wider variety of activities, an Endurance Score feature that monitors your long and short-term training loads, and a Hill Score mode which uses your training history and Vo2 Max data to gauge your running strength on steep climbs and long ascents.
There’s also the new Up Ahead feature that highlights points of interest, such as aid stations and checkpoints, via the onboard navigation function. Other than those mentioned above, other existing health, sports and navigation features as well as typical smartwatch functionalities from the non-Pro models also make a return on the newer Garmin wearables.
Of course, both the Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro are packed with improved battery performance as well. According to the company, the former is rated up to 16 days when used in smartwatch mode, up to 21 days in battery saver mode, and up to 42 hours in GPS-only mode. The latter model, on the other hand, is capable of lasting up to 22 days, 173 days, and 73 hours respectively – all of which with solar charging taken into account, provided that the watch spends enough time under 50,000 lux conditions.
The new Garmin Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro are now available in certain markets, while their availability in Malaysia has yet to be confirmed. The former model is going for a starting price of US$800 (~RM3,690), whereas the latter starts from US$900 (~RM4,151).
