Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED GPS Watch Long-term Review
An in-depth review of the new Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED GPS watch
Published March 12th, 2025
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Our Verdict
The Garmin fenix 8 is the best-in-class athletic watch, especially for endurance activities such as thru-hiking, triathlons, and ultra events that require exceptional battery life. But, the fenix 8 also has the highest-in-class cost.
The Garmin fenix 8 replaces the fenix 7 Pro, an interim update that provided several significant upgrades, such as an upgraded optical heart rate monitor, electrocardiogram monitoring, and split screen mapping and data fields.
The fenix 8 has two major hardware upgrades: a microphone and speaker. You can use voice commands to start an activity, set an alarm, or enable do not disturb. You can also access your phone assistance (Siri or Google Assistant) from the fenix 8 as well. In addition, there is now a depth gauge and a series of dive-related features.
The fenix 8 now comes with AMOLED, or solar display options. Garmin cannibalized its line of epix watches by adding an AMOLED display option. The Garmin epix had all the features of the fenix line except for an AMOLED display.
Garmin has also introduced a lower-cost fenix 8 model, the fenix E (-$300). The fenix E has an AMOLED display and all the same activity and lifestyle features as other fenix 8 series watches. The fenix E is only available in the 47mm size (medium) and lacks the microphone, speaker, flashlight, and new dive features found on other series 8 watches.
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED is our top pick for a hiking watch with mapping capabilities in our Best Hiking Watches story.
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Specs
Display: AMOLED (always on)
Touchscreen: Yes
Solar: No
Battery life: Varies by model (the larger sizes have significantly longer battery life)
GPS: Yes
Altimeter: Yes
Compass: Yes
Barometer: Yes
Navigation: Yes
Mapping: Yes
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Charging cable: Garmin proprietary
Smartphone compatibility: iPhone, Android
Warranty: One year from purchase
What We Liked
Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED watch has customizable split map data screens.
Beautiful, easy-to-read AMOLED screen.
Exceptional battery life.
Full suite of customizable activity profiles and watch faces.
Voice commands (find my phone, start an activity, set an alarm or timer, do not disturb).
The flashlight (it’s very useful and can be turned on by double clicking the top left button or by voice command).
Fenix E version has the essential fitness and lifestyle features that most people want at a more affordable price.
What Could Be Better
The charging cable. Garmin uses a proprietary charging plug that can be easily dislodged.
Pre-loaded maps are only available in the sapphire models. Free downloadable maps are available for all models.
No LTE connectivity.
Cost. The fenix 8 is a best-in-class watch at the most expensive in-class price.
Comparison Table of fenix 8 Models
| Watch | Cost (1) | Sizing | Lens | Activity Profiles | Lifestyle Features | Mapping (2) | Pre-loaded Maps | Flashlight | Music Storage and Playback | Voice Assistant | Advanced Dive Features | Leakproof Inductive Buttons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fenix 8 AMOLED | $1,000 to $1,200 | 43, 47, 51 mm | Sapphire or Gorilla Glass | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Sapphire version only | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| fenix Solar | $1,100 to $1,200 | 47, 51 mm | Sapphire | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| fenix E | $800 | 47 mm | Gorilla Glass | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
1Price depends on lens and bezel materials.
2Free downloadable maps are available for all models.
What's New with the fenix 8
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED (left) vs. the Garmin fenix 7X Pro (right).
There is not a long list of upgrades for fenix 8 hardware upgrades. The fenix 7 Pro upgraded the optical heart rate monitor, improved heart rate accuracy, and allowed for an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor. It also added the flashlight to all models. These improvements have been carried forward to the fenix 8.
But here are several significant changes/upgrades to the fenix 8 series watches:
AMOLED display
The AMOLED display is a new option with the fenix line 8 series. AMOLED is a crisp, bright, easy-to-read display. AMOLED is available in Gorilla Glass or sapphire crystal (+$100).
The AMOLED display (454 x 454 pixels) is much brighter and clearer than the memory-in-pixel (MIP) display (280 x 280 pixels) used in the solar models. The AMOLED display watches have a red shift mode to help preserve your night vision.
Garmin still offers non-AMOLED solar display models that offer slightly better battery life but lack as crisp and bright a display.
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED watch has a map manager.
Improved Solar
The solar fenix models have a new solar ring around the display that is more efficient. The improved solar has improved battery life by over 25%.
Built-in speaker and microphone
New to the fenix series (except the fenix E), the built-in speaker and microphone allow for voice messaging and control. Note: fenix E does not have this feature.
The phone's built-in speaker and microphone allow you to perform basic tasks. Holding down the top right button initiates the microphone. You can ask the watch to start an activity, record a location, or set a timer or alarm.
When connected to your phone, the watch can make phone calls or texts or access your phone assistant (Siri, Google, Assistant, or Bixby).
Depth sensor
All fenix 8 models (except the fenix E) have a depth sensor for diving activities. The dive sensor has a limit of 40 meters, which is the current recreational dive limit. The watch will automatically start a diving activity when it detects an increase in pressure.
Dive activity
With the new dive sensor, all fenix 8 watches (except the fenix E) have new dive activities, including single gas scuba diving and apnea diving (freediving).
Leakproof inductive buttons
All fenix 8 models (except the fenix E) have leakproof inductive buttons. Induction technology removes the need for a hole in the case (as required with a physical button), eliminating leak points.
Fenix E
For the first time, Garmin has released a more “basic” model, the fenix E. The fenix E costs $300 less than other fenix 8 models and only comes in the 47mm size (medium). The fenix E offers the same suite of activity and lifestyle features. However, there are several features not available in the fenix E model:
Built-in flashlight
ECG app
Multiband GPS
Built-in microphone and speaker
Solar charging
Only 16 GB of storage vs. 32 GB in other fenix 8 models
Depth sensor
Leakproof induction buttons
Features
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 51 mm watch has the ability to pull up a map showing nearby restaurants.
The fenix 8 series watches offer the most complete suite of features on the market, including hiking, walking, running, cycling, swimming, multi-sport activities, and golf). In addition, the 8 series watches have all the smartwatch and activity tracking features, making them great everyday watches.
Below are some features available on the fenix 8 series watches. It's a long list.
| Garmin fenix 8 Watch Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Smart Watch Features | ||
| • GPS Time Sync | • Calendar | • Find my watch |
| • Alarm Clock | • Smart Notifications | • Find my phone |
| • Timer | • Calender | • Music Storage |
| • Stop Watch | • Battery Saver Modes | • Music Controls (for phone) |
Our Favorite Garmin fenix 8 Series Features
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED watch downloading topo maps.
I have been using Garmin fenix watches since 2020. I’ve used the watches on thru-hikes of the Blue Mountains Trail, Oregon Desert Trail, northern New Mexico Loop, Mogollon Rim Trail, and an Iceland traverse. I also used the fenix 7X Solar on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route where I used the watch to transmit my heart rate to my Garmin 1040 Solar bike computer.
Over my five years of experience with the fenix 6, 7, and 8 watches, I’ve had the opportunity to use most of the watch’s core features. The following are some of my favorite features.
Battery Life
I bought the fenix 6X Solar in 2020 because of its battery life. I wanted a GPS hiking watch that I could use in GPS mode for long-distance hiking. The 6X Solar allowed me to hike 12+ hours daily for over three days between charges using GPS. Garmin continues to make huge strides in battery life. For instance, the fenix 8 51mm Solar has up to 149 hours of battery life in “GPS Only” mode, a 22% increase over the 7X Solar watch.
Using an older version of the Garmin fenix watch on a thru-hike of the Oregon Desert Trail.
Using GPS on a long distance thru- or section hike eliminated the need to calibrate my altimeter several times a day (a must with a barometric altimeter) and more accurately track my pace and distance traveled, which helps with navigation.
Battery life can be further extended by:
Changing the GPS mode to “GPS Only” instead of “All Satellite GPS.”
Turning off Bluetooth.
Pausing activities with “Resume Later” during breaks.
Reducing screen brightness.
Using a watch face that does not update every second.
Using the Power Saver Mode.
fenix 8 Battery Life Summary Table
| Smartwatch Mode | Battery Saver Watch Mode (3) | GPS Only | All Satellite Systems | All Satellite Systems + Music | All Satellite Systems + Multiband | Max Battery GPS Mode (UltraTrac) (4) | Expedition GPS Mode (5) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fenix 8 47 mm Solar Sapphire (1) | Up to 28 days | Up to 58 days | Up to 92 hours | Up to 59 hours | Up to 13 hours | Up to 43 hours | Up to 283 hours | Up to 58 days |
| fenix 8 51 mm Solar Sapphire (1) | Up to 48 days | Up to 107 days | Up to 149 hours | Up to 92 hours | Up to 18 hours | Up to 65 hours | Up to 653 hours | Up to 118 days |
| fenix 8 43 mm AMOLED and AMOLED Sapphire (2) | Up to 10 days | Up to 15 days | Up to 28 hours | Up to 23 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 21 hours | Up to 49 hours | Up to 10 days |
| fenix 8 47 mm AMOLED and AMOLED Sapphire (2) | Up to 16 days | Up to 23 days | Up to 47 hours | Up to 38 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 35 hours | Up to 81 hours | Up to 17 days |
| fenix 8 51 mm AMOLED and AMOLED Sapphire (2) | Up to 29 days | Up to 41 days | Up to 84 hours | Up to 68 hours | Up to 18 hours | Up to 62 hours | Up to 145 hours | Up to 31 days |
1Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions. Outdoor light varies from 1,500 lux on a cloudy day to 100,000 lux on a sunny day.
2Always-on screen mode significantly reduces battery life.
3Battery saver mode mode turns off all all sensors and accessories, including the connection to your smartphone, and uses every battery saving feature (screen time out and no backlight).
4Max battery GPS collects track points every minute.
5Expedition mode collects GPS track points once an hour. To maximize battery life, the device intos low power mode and turns off all sensors and accessories, including the connection to your smartphone.
Mapping
The map course screen on the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED shows your location on a route.
I didn’t buy my first fenix watch for its mapping capability. I never intended to use the mapping feature. However, on a long trailless section of the Oregon Desert Trail, scrolling through the hiking data screens to the compass, I discovered that the pre-loaded base map showed the trail.
Since then, I have been loading long-distance hiking routes onto my watch. The maps are handy on hiking routes that can be hard to follow. If I miss a junction, the watch notifies me that I am off course. I have also started using the “create a course” function in the Garmin Connect app to create walking or running routes in town. When a course is loaded, the watch provides turn-by-turn directions.
Pro Tip:I use Gaia GPS to create routes and waypoints. I then load the route and waypoints using the Garmin Explorer app. I typically break a long route into 50-100 mile sections to match my resupply sections or significant landmarks. Loading new sections from my phone when in the backcountry is easy. You can also add GPX files directly into the Garmin Connect app. Note: Remember to send the route (course) to the watch.
ClimbPro
ClimbPro is a Garmin feature that splits individual climbs and descents along a predetermined course. ClimbPro shows the distance, ascent/descent, and grade of each upcoming climb or descent. For example, if your hike, run, or ride has several distinct climbs, the watch will show a graph for each climb while underway. Once a specific climb is completed, the watch will show the details for your next climb.
I have been using ClimbPro on the routes I create in Gaia GPS. I love to watch my progress on big climbs.
Choosing the Right fenix 8 Series Watch
Choosing the right fenix 8 watch is a difficult decision. All models provide the full suite of features, but there are important distinctions. The following is a summary of the features available in the various models:
| FEATURES | fenix 8 47 mm Solar Sapphire | fenix 8 51 mm Solar Sapphire | fenix 8 43 mm AMOLED | fenix 8 47 mm AMOLED | fenix 8 51 mm AMOLED | fenix E 47 mm AMOLED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1,100 | $1,200 | $1,000 / $1,100 | $1,000 / $1,100 | $1,100 / $1,200 | $800 |
| Display Type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display Size | 1.3" | 1.4" | 1.3" | 1.4" | 1.4" | 1.3" |
| Lens Material | Power Sapphire | Power Sapphire | Gorilla Glass / Sapphire Crystal | Gorilla Glass / Sapphire Crystal | Gorilla Glass / Sapphire Crystal | Gorilla Glass |
| Bezel Material | Titanium | Titanium | Stainless Steel / Titanium | Stainless Steel / Titanium | Stainless Steel / Titanium | Stainless Steel |
The following are some key considerations when choosing the right fenix 8 watch for you.
Choose the right Garmin watch size for your wrist. The Garmin fenix 51 mm watch (left) compared to a 43 mm Garmin watch on the right.
Size
Pick the size that fits best. The 51 mm, the largest size, is likely too big for most folks. Although the larger sizes have longer battery life, we recommend choosing the best-fitting size.
| HIKING WATCH | FITS WRIST CIRCUMFERENCE | CASE DIAMETER | SCREEN SIZE | WEIGHT (including band) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fenix 8 47 mm Solar Sapphire | 125-218 mm | 47 mm | 33.00 mm | 80 g |
| fenix 8 51 mm Solar Sapphire | 127-225 mm | 51 mm | 35.56 mm | 95 g |
| fenix 8 43 mm AMOLED | 108-180 mm | 43 mm | 33.00 mm | 60 or 66 g |
| fenix 8 43 mm AMOLED Sapphire | 108-180 mm | 43 mm | 33.00 mm | 60 or 66 g |
| fenix 8 47 mm AMOLED | 125-210 mm | 47 mm | 35.56 mm | 73 or 80 g |
AMOLED vs. Solar Display
The AMOLED touchscreen resolution is 454 x 454 pixels, versus 280 x 280 pixels of the fenix 8 Solar models. AMOLED displays beautifully crisp and easier to read in dim light situations. The AMOLED also allows a redshift mode. Red shift changes the watch interface to red, green, or orange shades to help preserve your night vision and reduce sleep cycle disturbances.
AMOLED models are available in Gorilla Glass or sapphire (+$100) lens. Sapphire Crystal is incredibly durable and scratch-resistant. I have used a fenix 7X Sapphire Solar for over a year as a daily activity tracker and on two thru-hikes. The lens is still pristine. Gorilla Glass is durable, but I have managed to scratch a fenix 6 with a Gorilla Glass screen after a hard fall hiking on a gravel road.
Solar charging is not available on AMOLED models. In addition, AMOLED displays use more power than the MIP (memory-in-pixel) displays used in the solar models. As a result, the AMOLED models have approximately 40% less battery life than the solar models (see the Battery Life table above for a battery life comparison).
All Solar models have a sapphire crystal lens.
fenix E
We were pleased to see Garmin introduce a more affordable version of the fenix 8, called the fenix E. This model includes all the essential activity and lifestyle features found in the other fenix 8 models but is priced at $300 less than the base models. Ultimately, it will be up to folks to determine whether the missing features in the fenix E are worth the additional cost of the other models such as the flashlight, voice commands, ECG app, multiband GPS, and advanced dive features.
Should You Upgrade from Garmin fenix 7 or 7 Pro?
We don’t think those who are happy with their fenix 7 or 7 Pro need to upgrade immediately unless you are a diver that wants the new advanced dive features, or really want the voice command/microphone feature. The fenix 8 has better battery life and some nice new upgrades, but the 7 series watches have all the activity and lifestyle features that most folks use. In fact, there are some great closeout deals on fenix 7 and 7 Pros right now because of the newer models.
Other watches to consider
Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)
The Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2), which is being phased out, is very similar to the fenix 8 AMOLED, minus features such as diving and voice assistant. The epix is currently available at a deep discount. It's still a fantastic watch. Read our in-depth review of the Garmin epic Pro to learn more.
Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)
Garmin is phasing out the fenix 7 Pro, but if you can find one on closeout, it's still a fantastic watch at a great price, especially if you don’t care about the new features on the fenix 8.
You can read our in-depth review of the fenix 7 to learn more.
Garmin fenix 7 Pro
If you need maximum battery life, the Garmin Enduro 3 is your watch. It has up to an incredible 320 hours of battery life in GPS mode with solar.
However, the Enduro 3 isn’t available with AMOLED screen like the fenix 8, and it doesn't have the ECG app compatibility.
Also, it only comes in the largest watch face size, 51 mm. For folks with smaller wrists, this is a deal breaker.
Garmin Enduro 3
About the author / Why you should trust us
Author Mike Unger testing GPS watches on his third PCT thru-hike.
Mike Unger left his high-stress corporate job to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2006. That experience forever changed him, and he purposefully re-arranged his life to allow for as much adventuring as possible.
Today, he’s closing in on 28,000 miles on North American long trails. He is one of a handful of people who is a Double Triple Crowner, having hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail each—twice. He’s also hiked more obscure routes like the Ouachita Trail, Oregon Desert Trail and was part of the group that set the First Known Time on the Blue Mountains Trail.
He’s also picked up another passion along the way: long-distance bicycle touring, including the 1,850-mile Pacific Coast route and 2,700 mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. When he’s not hiking or biking, he’s probably planning his next trip and/or researching gear.
