Garmin’s Epix 2 and Fenix ​​7 lineup ‘pro’

Garmin is joining the Pro bandwagon. On Wednesday, it’s launching the Epix 2 Pro and the Fenix ​​7 Pro, both of which come with new mapping and training features, a hands-free flashlight, and sensors. The Fenix ​​7 Pro series starts at $799.99, while the Epix 2 Pro will start at $899.99.

There’s great news if you wanted an Epix 2 last year, but you were upset that it only came in one size. Garmin believes that less is more, so you can now also choose between three sizes of Epix 2 models: 42mm, 47mm and 51mm. Both Pro lineups also offer more durable Sapphire versions.

Much of what’s new will be shared across both the Epix 2 Pro and Fenix ​​7 Pro lineups. For example, all models will now have a built-in hands-free LED flashlight. The flashlight was introduced last year but was limited to the 51mm Fenix ​​7X. The flashlight has variable intensity, a red safety light, and a strobe mode for nighttime training.

Both the lineup will also get a new heart rate sensor. Garmin says the new sensor will provide better tracking for a wider range of activities. In terms of training features, all Epix 2 Pro and Fenix ​​7 Pro models will get a new Endurance Score and Hill Score. The former tells you how easily you can maintain sustained efforts across multiple training activities using Vo2 Max and your long-term/short-term training loads. The latter uses your training history and Vo2 Max to assess your running power on steep climbs and long climbs.

For mapping, the Pro lineup also gets a weather map overlay, the Look Ahead feature, and relief shading for topographical maps. The weather map overlay will make it easier for outdoor enthusiasts to see upcoming conditions, while the relief shading is meant to make the maps more readable at a glance. Meanwhile, the Up Ahead feature highlights certain points of interest – aid stations, for example – straight from the wrist.

Users also have the option of purchasing Garmin’s Outdoor Maps Plus Subscription to receive satellite imagery, public land maps and advanced topographic maps on the wrist. Membership costs an additional $49.99 annually and has been around for a while Other Garmin Navigation Tools And a handful of other smartwatches. However, Garmin still doesn’t keep any health or training data behind a paywall.

As with the non-Pro versions of the Epix 2 and Fenix ​​7, the main difference between these watches is in the display. The Epix 2 Pro sports an OLED display, while the Fenix ​​7 Pro features a memory-in-pixel (MIP) display that supports solar charging. The Epix 2 also has a new Red Shift mode that shifts the display’s colors to red for easier night-time viewing — similar to what Apple did with one of the Ultra’s watchfaces. That said, the Fenix ​​7 Pro model will have a spiffier MiP display than the “regular” Fenix ​​7 lineup. The pixels, backlight, and solar panel have been redesigned to improve brightness and power efficiency in a range of lighting conditions, according to Garmin.

Battery life is also slightly different. The Epix 2 Pro is rated for up to 31 days, while the Fenix ​​7 Pro can get up to 38 days. However, you should take those estimates with a pinch of salt. Battery life depends heavily on the size of the watch, your GPS settings, whether you use the Always-On Display for the Epix 2 Pro, and what mode you’re in. For example, if you didn’t care to use the Fenix ​​7 Pro as a smartwatch, Garmin says you could theoretically get 139 days out of the 51mm 7X Pro. We’ll put both through their paces to see what exactly you can expect with more real-world testing conditions.