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The Garmin Epix (Gen 2) takes the best parts of the recently announced Fenix 7 and adds a bright AMOLED touchscreen display. It feels like the finishing touch on what was already a great sports watch. The graphs and maps are clear and easy to read in any light. This is the most expensive Garmin watch to date, and it also has the smallest screen. The battery life is also not as long as it could be. During our tests, the Fenix 7 lasted two weeks between charges, but the Epix (Gen 2) only lasted six days.
That’s not bad at all for an AMOLED watch. If you choose an Apple Watch instead, you’ll have to charge it every night, so keep that in mind if you like to go on trips away from the grid. In fact, Garmin says that the Epix is best for people who like to train in the gym and do the odd outdoor workout, not for people who only work out outside.
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Specifications
With the Pro, the Epix now has the same three size choices as the Fenix series. It also has new heart rate sensors and new metrics that want to tell you if you can easily run up those hills and go the ultra distance.
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 1.4 inch AMOLED |
| Waterproof | 10ATM |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 days (4 days always-on), Up to 14 days with Battery Saver Watch Mode |
| Size | 42mm/ 47mm/ 51 mm |
| MEMORY | 32 GB |
| Check Price |
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2): Design and Screen
At first impression, the Garmin Epix’s rugged design is reminiscent of that of the Fenix 7. The exposed screws on the lugs and the brushed metal surface give it an industrial appearance. Fiber-reinforced polymer is used for the main structure, and either stainless steel or titanium is used for the front and back. This ‘sandwich’ construction is both lightweight and durable, protecting the watch from everyday wear and tear.
The Epix (Gen 2) is only available in one size, unlike the Fenix watches. Its 47mm diameter is common for sports watches, but its 14.5mm thickness makes it heftier than others. However, at 76g plus the strap (70g for the sapphire/titanium editions), it is not overly weighty and it does not seem unnecessarily large on a smaller wrist.
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2): Health and Fitness
Over the course of the past few years, Garmin has been progressively improving their health monitoring experience, and the data they provide is, on the whole, pretty solid. The statistics for resting heart rate are right in line with our averages from Whoop and Oura, Garmin’s HRV Status is still a terrific way of illustrating how your body is reacting to training, and blood oxygen readings remained within the predicted range of 95-100% throughout the testing process.
Battery life
According to Garmin, the Epix (Gen 2) can run for up to 16 days in smartwatch mode (or six days in always-on mode), up to 42 hours with GPS enabled (or 30 hours in always-on mode), or up to 75 hours in max battery GPS mode, which tracks your location intermittently rather than continuously.
Our experiments showed that the Epix lasted about six days before the low power signal was triggered when always-on was turned off and only one activity per day was recorded. That’s a significant decrease from the Fenix 7 we just tested, which lasted for about two weeks under identical conditions.
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2): Price
The second generation of Garmin’s Epix Pro smartwatch is not cheap. Here we have a look at the 47mm Sapphire Edition, which retails for $1000 (about 930 GBP). The Epix Pro (Gen 2) 51mm now costs $1,100, while the 42mm variant remains unchanged in price. Prices begin at $900 for the non-sapphire, non-titanium Standard Edition. All can be purchased immediately from the Garmin online store and other retailers. It’s pricier than an Apple Watch Ultra (starting at $799), but they’re not even comparable.
Final Words
The Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) is an excellent sports watch; but, if you already own an Epix and don’t have a significant need for a flashlight or dislike the size of your current watch, there is not a significant need to upgrade to the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2).
Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) review: The good and The bad
The Garmin Epix Pro is yet another great outdoor sports watch. There are now more sizes and better heart tracking,
The Good
- Great all-round sports tracking
- Useful flashlight
The Bad
- Not huge upgrade on original Epix
Questions and Answers
The Garmin Epix Pro is yet another great outdoor sports watch. Even though the updates are small, it is now available in more sizes and has better heart tracking. It also has a longer battery life than most AMOLED smartwatches.
You’ll never get lost because the GPS has so much information. Having access to all the data from my physical life is more inspiring than I thought it would be. On top of that, the Epix’s AMOLED screen is beautiful and makes it worth the extra money it costs compared to the Fenix 7 and Forerunner 955.