This is my third Garmin watch in about ten years. I was a little nervous to buy it refurbished but I couldn't justify the price of a new one. It's great because I can't tell the difference. It looks and acts brand new.
It has a lot more activity options than I'm used to which is fun. I haven't used them all. I mainly use walk, bike, and run, which have worked flawlessly. Eager to try strength, hike, and the navigation tool.
I use the GPS every single day on an evening walk and I have only really had to charge it once in the week that I have been wearing it. Still, I could have probably gone a few more days without charging yet. The battery is great, in my opinion.
The watch is built tough. It's not too heavy but you can definitely feel it. It's a good size and weight for what I would call a medium sized wrist. Not to mention the watch is just beautifully designed.
It came with two rubber straps that I didn't think I would like but honestly I do. They are great. I bought a black stainless steel band to wear to work and it makes the watch look professional.
If you are on the fence just do it. I love this watch.
This is my 3rd Fenix. Started with the 3, then the 5, then this 5 Plus. We have a cabin at 11k feet altitude in the mountains. We ski, board, bike, climb, paddle, dirt bike, and Jeep all over Colorado. The Fenix has helped us find our way back to base and has provided useful information on countless occasions.
My favorite feature on the Plus model is the music. I downloaded a big playlist from my iTunes and use it at the gym every morning and occasionally on the trail. Paired up with some quality bluetooth headphones, it's about the smallest music package you can get. No need to pull your phone out of your pack to manage your music.
All the sensors are extremely accurate. My altitude, heart rate, barometric, compass, and Nav are always accurate with minor variance.
Any negative things to say about it? Nope, nothing. I love this watch.
Fenix 5x Plus is my first Garmin watch. I have owned it for a month now and so far I have almost nothing to complain about. I was a bit worried about it's size before buying, since my wrist is neither small nor huge, just average. But since there was a good deal at the time, I decided to take the risk and shop online without comparing 5 plus and 5x plus sizes. Couldn't be happier! The 51mm case works perfectly for me. I have to be honest that I'm used to wearing Casio G-Shocks, which are kinda bulky, but unless you have a small wrist, 5x plus will fit just fine. Aside from the included Silicone band, I got a Slate Gray stainless steel band from a local store. The metal band makes the watch look like another watch, would definitely recommend. Sometimes I forget to put the silicone band on and go run with the steel one, it feels kinda loosy and you don't feel the vibrate alerts so much, but all and all, it's alright. Also, the quick release feature is awesome!
If you have the budget for a sapphire crystal lens, I would very much recommend getting it. Definitely go for it! You are very likely for hit doorways, desks, car doors and etc with your watch when wearing it all day long. I've seen people complain about the glass getting scratched a week after purchasing the watch.
The watch interface is sometimes too complex, with too many options. You will have to go through a lot of menus and press the buttons a lot of times to get the settings right. But most settings can be done through the Connect app on your phone, so it's not a big deal. I have seen a guy say the watch connectivity is not reliable, but I have not had this problem whatsoever. If I leave my phone in my room and go to the kitchen, it displays "disconnected". As soon as I return to my room, it says "connected". No problem at all. Sync with connect app works just fine, nothing to complain.
I have not tried navigation yet, but managed to install better maps for my region quite easily. Just google installing maps and you'll see that it is quite easy.
As for the watch features, here goes my reviews:
-Battery duration is awesome, in my opinion. I leave the 24/7 wrist heart rate monitor on and the battery last for more than 10 days.
-GPS + Glonass setting works very fine, although I don't seem to see any difference between GPS only
-Garmin Pay does not work in my country (no banks support it), so if this feature is what makes you choose a watch, check compatibility beforehand. There is a link in garmin's website.
-Pulseox meter seems kinds useless if you are not hiking big altitudes, which is my case. So I just leave it off for battery saving.
-Spotify compatibility works fine, but I had a little trouble connecting my wireless earbuds. Had to go to a place with little signal interference (away from other bluetooth devices, wireless networks and specially my phone), Only then the watch successfully connect to the earbuds.
-Original Garmin watch faces are great and very customizable. Connect IQ Store also offers a big variety of watch faces.
-As for running/activity tracking, I don't think there is any better equipment. It give you tons of metrics (steps, calories, all-day heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, all-day stress levels, VO2 max, Lactate threshold, weight tracking, sleep monitoring, training effect, performance condition and a lot more).
-Smart notifications are handy if you like them. You can see who is calling you, read messages, reply with pre-defined text. I don't think you can compare the smartwatch functionalities of a Apple Watch or Samsung smartwatch, but overall, they are fine. This watch is made for sports, not smartwatch stuff. I turned the notifications off because they bother me all day long, only left call notification on when I'm running, if I happen to be with my phone, of course.
-I have not tested the wrist heart rate monitor while exercising, I just use the heart rate monitor strap.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the watch. Would definitely recommend it, even though it is pricey. As someone said on his review "Pricey? Heck yeah. Worth every penny? YES - I can't recommend this watch enough. Eat beans for a month or two and get the watch.". This couldn't be more true.
I am upgrading from a forerunner 235 which I loved. The 235 was a great watch to track my running and workouts, however I was won over by the maps and music of the new Fenix 5x plus. In my first week I’ve done 4 runs from 7-10 miles jogs to sprint workouts, yoga and even some point plotting around town to test out the maps.
GPS:
I haven’t noticed much difference in my GPS function between the 235 and 5x plus. The GPS is found slightly faster but that’s about it.
Maps:
I am in Africa and I have rudimentary maps on my device. I will be returning to the states in a few weeks and I will be able to test the North American maps at that time. In the mean time it’s good as an emergency device for me.
Music:
I have only used the music while I run outdoors and use my phone when I’m in the gym working out and on the treadmill, I do notice some drop off with my jay birds when they are initially paired but it goes away in a minute or two. I have also noticed that my Spotify playlist doesnt stay on the device if I switch over to my iTunes music and so I had to re sync the playlist to my device, not a deal breaker but just a nuanced thing about the device. Perhaps they will fix this over time with software updates.
Battery
7 days in and the battery is just under 40% which is good in my opinion, however I am curious to see how long it will last before the battery runs out. If it lasts 12-14 days I will be content with that, as it works with how I use the watch. I’ll have to take it off at some point I suppose. When I start training up for my aspiring Ultra running hobby I will see how the battery holds up over time, until then a few 10 milers and sprint workouts aren’t draining the battery too much.
Size:
I’m 5,7 and 170lbs I lift 4 times a week and run/ruck several miles a week, I’ve worn heavier items on my person than this watch. Was it heavier that my 235 yes and was it noticeable at first yes, but I got used to it after my first few days and now I barely notice it. Also I wear it on my day to day with t shirts, jeans and non running shoes or long sleeve shirt, pants and boots and it rarely looks out of place or bulky. I wouldn’t push it with business casual or a full suit but that’s my opinion.
I hope this helps someone, I am not a triathlete or marathoner, I’m just a regular guy who needs to workout to stay fit his job and gets to travel a lot so I think this device with its features fits the lifestyle.
Upgraded from Fenix 3 HR to the 5 S Plus, I've had it for 2 weeks and and very impressed with all the features it offers. I primarily use it for triathlon training and all the data from my workouts have been spot on. Aside from the data, the small watch face and weight feels better that the 3 HR on my wrist. Highly recommend and one can see how Garmin had advanced the technology in the Fenix series.
Feature Product
- Ultimate multisport GPS watch that estimates heart rate at the wrist and includes color TOPO maps featuring Trend line popularity routing to help you find and follow the best paths
- Wrist-based Pulse Ox Acclimation sensor, a non-medical device that provides awareness of your estimated blood oxygen saturation levels - especially useful when you're adjusting to higher altitudes (not available in all countries)
- Fit for adventure with rugged design that features scratch-resistant domed sapphire lens plus stainless steel or diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel, and rear case
- Easily store and play up to 500 songs on your watch, and connect with Bluetooth headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening
- Garmin Pay contactless payment solution (available for supported cards from participating banks) lets you make convenient payments with your watch, so you can leave your cash and cards at home
- Battery performance: up to 20 days in smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS mode with music
Description
Intense performance meets precision timepiece in the Fenix 5X Plus multisport GPS watch. For athletes and outdoor adventurers, this ultra-rugged watch features routable color TOPO maps, estimated heart rate at the wrist, Pulse Ox Acclimation, a non-medical device that provides estimated blood oxygen saturation awareness, storage for up to 500 songs and the Garmin Pay less payment solution (available for supported cards from participating banks).
I'll keep this short and sweet: This is the best smartwatch I've ever owned.
I've been through the Samsung Gear S2 & S3 Frontier, Apple Watch Series 2 & Series 3, Ticwatch Pro, and many others too old to even bother mentioning.
This watch tracks every fitness metric I could ever wish for and it does it all seamlessly.
The Android application is very well done. I can only assume the iPhone app is equal if not better. Also, all the data syncs up to the Garmin Connect service in the cloud, and you can review and edit all your data and a very well presented web dashboard.
The battery life is amazing. I work out for about an hour with GPS on 6 days a week and wear this watch to bed (Oh yeah, it tracks your sleep cycle stages too!!) and only need to recharge it for about an hour every 5 days or so.
Garmin did a great job with this screen, it's always on, but dim enough to conserve battery life while still being bright enough to read clearly in most circumstances. You can also easily brighten it up at the push of a button if needed.
No touch screen here, but it's not missed by me. With the intuitive button controls instead, I actually find I'm much more comfortable wearing the device. With touchscreen watches I used to awkwardly cross my arms and I'd find my self handling things just a little differently to avoid accidentally touching the screen with any skin.
I'd highly recommend THIS watch for anyone. Especially people switching from apple to android and looking for something to compare to the stellar Apple Watch over in Android land.
Previously owned Fenix 3. Must say I'm very happy with this one, almost in every aspect.
The size is perfect for my wrist, the design is better, overall speed increased dramatically. Although feels like the battery don't last as long as the 3, its enough. Didn't went out for a hike yet, but probably will take a portable charger with me for a 2 or more days of hiking.
One thing I didn't liked and hopefully they will fix it quickly - It is not impossible to sync music from iTunes, there is an option, but everything I tried didn't worked. I'm not the only one, people complaining about it since Garmin released that feature on previous watches.
My original review of the Garmin Fenix 5X was harshly negative. With help from Garmin, finally got GPS to engage and figured out how to access the maps. Still VERY difficult and surprisingly no accurate description of how this works in the owners manual. Also surprising is how non-intuitive the mapping system is. The mapping menu tree is unnecessarily complicated. Why not have a simple means of accessing the maps? GPS takes to long to engage. Does not seem to remain continuously engaged. Lot of functionality in the menu - but should be able to bypass all the directions and routes - and go straight to the map. My earlier review:
The highly-touted mapping feature of this $700+ watch simply does not work. Worse:
1. The Garmin Connect app on the mobile device (phone) has no map interactive features (such as a waty to send an address to commence navigating).
2. Neither the Garmin Connect app or Gamon Express computer program provide any mapping support.
3. The Owners manual 'support' or instructions simply don't work on the device.
4. Garmin customer support claims to exist but does not respond to my call or e-mail.
5. There are maps to download, and mapping widgets and apps to download, but none of them appear on the phone in spite of being 'synced'.
6. There is no map control on main screen of tools.
I find this product very difficult to use and poorly supported - and recommend to anyone willing to buy an expensive smartwatch - buy something else instead!
It has a LOT of features, which means it takes some time getting to learn and know it. Once you do though, it's awesome. I love being able to go for a run without my phone and still have music, GPS, naps, and fitness tracking.
Not really a complaint, but FYI it's expensive. It won't win any value awards. If you can afford it, it's awesome.
My fenix 5s plus replaced an old Fitbit. I used the Fitbit to monitor three things: steps, sleep, and swimming.
The fenix measures steps comparable to the Fitbit. I have not done exhaustive testing to see how accurate each is. But the fenix uses an adaptive goal - based on your history - or you can set your own goal, while the Fitbit only has the 10,000 step goal.
Sleep is also measure by both, but I get more detailed data from the fenix. It identifies light, deep and REM sleep, while I only got whether I was asleep or not from the Fitbit.
I have not swum with the fenix yet, but the Fitbit did not measure my swimming at all, even though it advertised that it did.
In addition, the fenix has many features that the Fitbit does not.
- It tracks heart rate at all times, though it recommends using a separate HRM for intense activities (required for while swimming). When I bike, its heart rate was significantly lower than my bike computer (w/ HRM) recorded.
- It provides a stress measurement, with a stress reduction activity.
- It connects to the Internet through a connected phone, allowing web-enabled features to be loaded onto the fenix.
I keep discovering new uses for the watch. This week I found its timer control.
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