After a workout, you can drill down into detailed stats on your performance and your body's response (Image credit: Future)

The fēnix® 7X watch features Garmin’s unique, scratch-resistant Power Sapphire™ lens which uses the sun’s energy to extend battery life. The watch has an extensive battery life with 28 days of battery indoors, when in smartwatch mode, and up to 37 days of battery life when solar charging in smartwatch mode (solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions). I have been using a fenix 6 Sapphire for about 2 years and had 2 units both with problems measuring elevation. They would calibrate before an activity correctly but the activity would report 20-60% increased elevation. Garmin replaced the first one unit after my reporting of this issue, but the second unit they sent me had the same issue.Like all Garmin watches, the Fenix 7 syncs with the Garmin Connect app for iOS and Android. Connecting the watch is a breeze, and the watch syncs data automatically whenever you complete a workout, or open the app. In any case, the Fenix 7 introduced a handful of new sport modes as noted earlier on, but no matter which sport you choose, it’ll all start by pressing the upper right button, which shows the sport listing: Increased overall Fenix 7 Solar battery life by 33% (7S vs 6S) to upwards of 68% (7X vs 6X) – full chart below All of this is based off of a blend of your estimated VO2Max in conjunction with aspects of Body Battery and recovery from the previous night. As such, it’s moderately important to get at least a few good hard workouts in on the watch, so that it can approximate your VO2Max. Else, the data will mostly fall apart. Lactate Threshold: Through analysis of your pace and heart rate, estimates the point where your muscles start to rapidly fatigue (only with compatible accessory – sold separately)

This ultimately means it comes down to what you prefer: Significant battery, or better display. And ironically enough, that’s pretty much been the same choice consumers have been trying to decide for the last few years, the only difference is this time the battery trade-offs are far less drastic (or far more acceptable) for most athletes. The watch has the same five-button setup as the Fenix 6, but adds a touchscreen (Image credit: Future) With that out of the way, the Fenix 7 series retains the same case sizes as the Fenix 6 does, which are: Added RealTime Stamina feature, which is used during runs & rides to try and leave nothing in the tank (or, properly manage a workout) You can then look at the 4-week load focus is to see how those numbers trend, where it also shows your breakout of the core workout type areas (anaerobic, high aerobic, and low aerobic), with optimal target ranges for each:Also, for fun, here’s a side-by-side example of the visibility differences between equally configured Epix & Fenix 7 units, the AMOLED Epix is at left, with the Fenix 7 Sapphire at right. The Garmin Fenix 7X is the biggest option in Garmin’s new Fenix 7 series range. It’s also the one to get if you want all the features. As always, I used an ECG chest belt and Stryd foot pod as controls while testing the watch and, across all the workouts I’ve done so far (mainly running), the watch has performed spectacularly well. There's also a new on-screen race predictor that estimates how your current training regime will affect your 5k, 10k, and half marathon race times. This data was already available in the Garmin Connect app, but the new chart on your wrist allows you to see how your times are trending – and hopefully dropping – thanks to your efforts.

It also doesn’t have a smart fuelling advisor like Polar watches. This reminds you, on long workouts, when to take on carbs and water and adapts if your effort levels are higher or lower than expected. Finally, here’s a long hike/trail run, which had some larger sustained efforts that more easily show up on the charts: Available Gym Activity Profiles: Strength, HIIT, cardio and elliptical training, stair stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, Pilates and yoga I haven’t had any skips or dropouts in either casual listening to music at my desk, or in workouts using the Beats Studio Buds. I’m not a huge listening to music while working out person though, but I find in general these days Garmin and others seem to have compatibility with headphones pretty well sorted out (compared to devices from a few years ago being some of the first generations to have wearable music support, and often had connectivity issues).Note: The above photo is showing the real-time estimated hours remaining based on the current battery, which at the moment this photo was shot was 46% on a Fenix 7.) I’m not saying Garmin is right here, but I am saying that based on all my test data both over the last 6-7 weeks, but also from this past summer/fall with the COROS Vertix 2 and multiband, that it tends to over smooth in areas where the going gets tough. That in turn tends to result in lower overall distances. On a tree-dense route like this, or frankly, any ultra route, it’d be nearly impossible to know the exact actual distance you went. Even a measured trail course isn’t going to know whether you took each corner a foot or two wider (which would add up considerably over a longer route). The watch can detect climbs automatically as well; its ClimbPro feature identifies when you've begun an ascent and presents you with info on the gradient, distance, and elevation gain of the entire hill so you can manage your effort and avoid setting out too hard or keeping too much in reserve. Garmin Fenix 7: The Garmin Connect app