Everything you need to know about the new Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix series

Garmin has announced a major update to some of its most popular devices. The Garmin Fenix 7 series is here, bringing more solar-powered models, touchscreen displays, and even built-in flashlights to the high-end GPS watch line. The company has also announced a (mostly) new series of fitness watches, called the Garmin Epix, which adds an AMOLED display to the Fenix 7 line.

There’s a lot to talk about with these devices, and we have all the details on the new features. Here’s everything you need to know about the Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix series.

Don’t miss: The complete Garmin wearables buyer’s guide

Garmin Fenix 7 series: What’s new?

Big changes are coming to the Fenix 7 series. But first, we should talk about all the models Garmin is offering this year.

The Garmin Fenix 7 line will still be available in three sizes: Garmin Fenix 7S (small), Garmin Fenix 7 (medium), and Garmin Fenix 7X (large). The Fenix 7S and Fenix 7 are offered in standard models, solar models, and solar models with sapphire displays. There is no base model Fenix 7X — only a solar model and a solar model with a sapphire display.

The entire Fenix 7 line still has transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) displays, which offer fantastic outdoor visibility compared to higher-res OLED panels. The big change, though, is that they’re now touchscreens. Unlike the Coros Vertix 2, the Fenix 7 series’ touchscreens can be used throughout all parts of the operating system, whether you’re in an activity, scrolling around a map, or swiping through your widgets.

Thankfully, you can still control the entire device with the five physical buttons as well, but the touchscreen is available if you want to use it. You can also disable the touchscreen at any time by long-pressing the top-right and bottom-left buttons.

Each Fenix 7 size is available with solar-charging capabilities if you want to pay for it. Garmin increased the surface area of the solar-charging panel on the Fenix 7 line, making it more efficient than the solar panels on the Fenix 6 line. The Fenix 7’s solar panels are ~54% larger than the Fenix 6X Pro Solar panels, essentially doubling the solar gains when outdoors in direct sunlight. Battery stats for each model can be found in the specs table below.

Elsewhere, the Fenix 7 line now features reinforced lugs and metal button guards, which should help cut down accidental button presses.

If you spring for the Fenix 7X, you’ll get one of the coolest new features available on the lineup. Both 7X models have a dimmable, multi-LED flashlight built into the top edge of the watch case. A quick double-tap on the display turns on the flashlight. You can use this to see where you’re going at night, stay visible while on the road, or as a replacement for your phone’s flashlight whenever you need it. The flashlight can be set to red or a dimmable white mode. Garmin also developed a strobe mode that matches your running cadence with each arm swing. It’s pretty cool, though I wish it were available on all Fenix 7 models.

GPS and navigation have also been improved on the Fenix 7 line. All Fenix 7 series devices support the L5 frequency range for improved accuracy in areas that are usually challenging for GPS connectivity. All Fenix 7 devices now support Beidou, as well.

Sapphire Solar Fenix 7 devices come pre-loaded with Garmin’s TopoActive maps. You’ll automatically have access to the region of maps where you purchased your device. You can also download global TopoActive maps via Wi-Fi if you plan to take an excursion to another country. Standard and Solar Fenix 7 devices have access to TopoActive maps, but you’ll need to download them manually. All base model Fenix 7s have 16GB of storage, while Solar and Sapphire Solar models have 32GB. All Fenix 7s are also pre-loaded with SkiView maps and 42,000 golf courses.

Springing for the Sapphire Solar models will get you even more benefits. These higher-end watches come with support for multi-band GNSS, allowing them to receive signals from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS systems at the same time. This should result in better overall navigational accuracy.

Also read: How do GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou work in wearables?

Real-time stamina is exactly what it sounds like. During a run or a bike ride, you can monitor your exertion levels in real-time. This data is presented in two tiers: potential stamina and current stamina. Potential stamina estimates your overall stamina and will deplete slowly throughout your activity. It will also require a fair amount of recovery afterward. Current stamina estimates how long you can keep running or biking at your current intensity level.

Garmin Epix (Gen 2) series: What you need to know

Ever since the original Garmin Venu, many have been asking for a truly high-end Garmin watch with an AMOLED display. The Garmin Epix is precisely that. Technically, this is the second Garmin Epix, though it’s completely different from the original that launched in 2015. Garmin told Android Authority it just really liked the name.

Think of the Garmin Epix as a Fenix 7, but with a touchscreen AMOLED instead of a more traditional MIP display. It has all the latest and greatest features available on the Fenix 7 line, including the new real-time stamina and visual race predictor features, Up Ahead, and Connect IQ On Device.

The Epix comes in two models: a base model made of stainless steel, and a Sapphire edition that has a sapphire display (duh) and is made of titanium.

Like the Fenix 7 line, the Sapphire model costs more but also comes with more features. You get increased onboard storage (32GB vs the base model’s 16GB) as well as pre-loaded TopoActive maps. The Sapphire model also has multi-band GNSS support, while the base model does not.

Garmin Fenix 7 series and Epix specs

Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix alternatives

Suunto 9 Peak and Baro: The Suunto 9 Peak and Baro are the best of what Suunto has to offer. They don’t have offline mapping, though they have better-than-average battery life and support for onboard music.

Where to buy the Garmin Fenix 7 and Garmin Epix

Top Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix questions and answers

Q: Do the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix have LTE?A: No, neither the Garmin Fenix 7 nor Garmin Epix have LTE capabilities.

Q: Do the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix have ECG?A: No, neither the Garmin Fenix 7 nor Garmin Epix have an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor.

Q: Do the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix support voice assistants or on-wrist calling?A: No. The Fenix 7 and Epix series do not have built-in microphones or speakers, so they’re unable to support Bluetooth calling and voice assistants.