Not content to unleash a veritable tsunami of Fenix 8 models, Garmin is also announcing another new addition to the family – the Fenix E.
Standing for ‘Essential’, this all-new Fenix model is designed to be an entry point for the Fenix series, with the single 47mm model set at $799.
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Notably, that’s the same RRP as Apple’s Watch Ultra 2 – though it’s a good chunk less than the new generation announced alongside, which begins at $999 and stretches up to $1,199 for the 51mm editions.
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As far as we can tell, the Fenix E is essentially a repackaged version of the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) released in 2022.
It features the same Gen 4 Elevate sensor (not the current-gen Elevate v5 released via the 2023 Epix Pro watches), a 1.3-inch AMOLED display, and doesn’t offer the new built-in speaker/mic that defines the Fenix 8 models.
There’s also no room for a built-in flashlight, while memory is also limited to 16GB (as opposed to the 32GB which comes as standard in the more expensive models).
As a result, we’re not expecting any major shocks during testing of the Fenix E – it should prove just as capable as the Epix (Gen 2). However, at least while stocks last, the Epix (Gen 2) may be the better pick, given that the pricing is as low as $649/£519 via Garmin.
“Fenix E is for that person trying to dip their toe into the Fenix world, and you maybe can’t spend $1,000 on a watch. It’s kind of like an Epix 2 that’s been given a new face, but looks like it is a new product, and it can support the new code base, and we’ll be around for a while,” Jon Hosler, Garmin’s Global Lead Product Manager told Wareable in an exclusive interview.
We’ll reserve our full judgment on that until we’ve got the Fenix E in our hands and discover whether any tricks separate it from the older model.
At its core, though, we think it makes plenty of sense for Garmin to offer a cheaper Fenix that remains in line with the latest software updates.