I have long loved the Garmin Fenix as my daily GPS running watch mostly because the big watch has a big battery and a big screen so I can easily read my run metrics at a glance, even with my aging eyes. I also love the turn-by-turn navigation and would guess that I use that functionality at least once a week.
Today’s announcement of all new Garmin Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro watches promise a few key improvements that make the backcountry model even more useful for everyday runners. We haven’t yet received a demo unit of the watch to test, but I have run with the Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro a combined 5,773 miles, and I’ve run with every previous version of the watch, so I have a good understanding of the line. I won’t run through every function—the tech specs are lengthy—but will share the key new updates that excite me as a runner the most.
Improved Mapping
When I travel to a new city, I like having a route already planned out and letting the watch be my guide, so I don’t look like a tourist having to stop to consult my phone. But, one issue with the Fenix 8 has been that the maps tended to lag. If you switch between data screens, when you return to the map you’re faced with a blank display while the processor catches up. Or if you try to pan on the map, it’s a painfully slow process.
With its new mapping engine, the Fenix 9 promises 30 percent faster panning and 40 percent faster round-trip routing on the watch. That faster and smoother mapping will be helpful, because it’ll alert you more quickly and show you the upcoming turns you have to make, too.
Titanium Case
One of the most highlighted features of the live YouTube live stream announcement was the new titanium case. Every version of the Fenix 9 gets some degree of titanium. The base models get a titanium bezel and rear cover, but are stuck with the fiber-reinforced polymer case. The Pro models upgrade to a titanium case. It’s neat, sure, but is it necessary? In all my time with the Fenix models, I’ve yet to bust the polymer case. But it can happen, so the Pro models are going to be more durable for those of you who absolutely abuse your watch.
That said, the material choice doesn’t make any significant difference in weight. The titanium models are a few grams heavier than the polymer-case versions. It’ll register on a scale, but you’re unlikely to actually feel the difference on your wrist.
The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro Solar models have a MIP display that improves battery life.
Pro Solar Models Get a MIP Display
Most watches are going to AMOLED displays that are super bright—basically mimicking the screen on your smart phone. The base and Pro Fenix 9 models both get an AMOLED display that’s twice as bright—3,000 nits—as the previous generation.
I’m excited to see that the Pro Solar models keep the memory-in-pixel (MIP) screen. This older style screen with a grayscale appearance isn’t as vivid as AMOLED, but it drastically improves battery life. For example, on the 51mm Pro Solar, Garmin claims you’ll get 75 hours of normal activity mode (124 hours with solar). The 51mm Pro 9 with AMOLED will last only 56 hours in the same mode. If you hate charging your watch or you dabble in extreme ultraruns, go for the Pro Solar.
inReach Available on Pro Models
The Fenix 8 Pro models introduced inReach functionality and it’s handy to have if you hate carrying your phone—or you find yourself in a pickle and need emergency assistance. With inReach active, you get LTE cellular connectivity and satellite capability when you’re off the grid.
Garmin’s implementation, however, is a bit different from cell service on an Apple Watch. On the Apple, my usual phone number with Verizon serves the same on my watch and I can make calls or text just as I would with a phone. I can also stream any song on Apple Music without my phone or having to create a playlist in advance. Garmin rolls its own LTE service, though, and communication has to take place with your contacts via the Garmin Messenger app. It’s a bit of a clunky workaround, but it works if you need to stay in touch when you’re away.
All of the Pro and Pro Solar models are available with and without the functionality, but inReach will cost you an extra $100 up front on the device and $7.99 per month for the subscription.
A New Software Feature Called “Epic”
A knock on Garmin that some users voice is about the app features. Garmin has been making steady strides there for usefulness and the new Epic feature is compelling. We haven’t used it yet, but it promises to let you group multiple workouts over days, weeks, or months so you have all of your cumulative distance, elevation, and time in one place. Garmin said that you can combine up to 92 days of activities.
How might you use this? Well, 92 days is about 13 weeks. So maybe you use it to track your complete training cycle for a half marathon or marathon. And, next time around, you can reference it as a benchmark for your future training block to compare how you’re performing. I’m eager to see how this is implemented, as I typically do this for each race anyway, but it requires a bunch of manual calculations and an Excel spreadsheet.
I use the flashlight on a Garmin Fenix watch almost daily.
A Third Color Added to the Flashlight
If you have never used a flashlight built into your watch, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s truly one of my favorite features. It mostly gets used while stumbling through a dark house and going up/down stairs at bedtime. Garmin has included white and red lights in previous versions of the watch, but is adding a green light, too, to make it easy to read maps and such in low-light situations.
So Many Options, So Many Prices
The Fenix 9 Pro now comes in the smaller 43mm size. That was previously limited to the base Fenix 8. Here’s a look at pricing among the various sizes and connectivity packages.
Fenix 9
43mm: $999.99
47mm: $999.99
51mm: $1,099.99
Fenix 9 Pro
43mm: $1,099.99 (inReach $1,199.99)
47mm: $1,099.99 (inReach $1,199.99)
51mm: $1,199.99 (inReach $1,299.99)
Fenix 9 Pro Solar
47mm: $1,099.99 (inReach $1,199.99)
51mm: $1,199.99 (inReach $1,299.99)
Snag a Garmin Fenix 8 At a Discount
The Fenix 9 models are shiny and new, but the Fenix 8 variants offer many of the same features and are discounted right now.
Garmin Fenix 8 Models
Garmin Fenix 8 – 43 mm, AMOLED
Now 78% Off
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro – 51 mm, AMOLED
Now 74% Off
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).