Garmin Epix Pro review: Should you buy it?

To the enjoyment of petite and wide-wristed customers in all places, the Epix Professional is now out there in three sizes: 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm. These are the identical sizes discovered within the Garmin Fenix 7 Professional collection which launched in tandem. As when Garmin added a second dimension to its Intuition 2 lineup, I gratefully tip my hat to the corporate for extra inclusive choices.

With that out of the way in which, there are many treats in each the brand new Epix and Fenix goodie luggage. I already lined many in our Fenix 7 Professional assessment, however I’ll contact on just a few shortly as a refresher:

• Endurance Rating and Hill Rating: Two new metrics for superior coaching, Endurance Rating measures customers’ capability to maintain efficiency, whereas Hill Rating measures customers’ energy and power on incline grades larger than 2%.
• Climate map overlays: Whereas very cool, climate overlays can solely be accessed from the climate widget. They aren’t displayed over in-use maps like throughout a hike, which is what we have been hoping to see.
• Cut up display screen and perimeter information pages: Extra display screen views maintain stats in view alongside maps so that you’re not left toggling between information and instructions.
• Reduction shading on maps: Routinely added to all maps, reduction shading makes it simpler to interpret the landscapes you’re masking.
• New sport modes: 30 extra exercise modes embrace a slew of group sports activities in addition to extra area of interest modes like motocross.

Since all of the above may be discovered on each multisport traces, distinguishing between the Fenix 7 Professional and Epix Professional fashions primarily boils all the way down to show. On the Epix Professional, customers will discover a shiny, colourful AMOLED touchscreen. The Fenix Professional opts for a Reminiscence in Pixel (MIP) show in an effort to stretch battery life. That show additionally harnesses and faucets into photo voltaic charging which the Epix Professional doesn’t. Then again, the Epix Professional gives quick charging that may energy up your gadget in underneath an hour, which the Fenix 7 Professional, sadly, doesn’t.

The Epix Professional line additionally provides Garmin’s LED flashlight which I already liked on the Fenix 7 Professional; a flashlight strapped to your wrist is extra helpful than you’d suppose. Whether or not you like to camp or simply usually depend on your cellphone to gentle up your storage, the Epix Professional now has you lined.

Along with this well-liked function, the Epix Professional additionally provides one other software for late-night use. Tucked into the Garmin Epix Professional’s management menu customers will now discover Pink Shift Mode (pictured above). This overlay turns every part on the display screen into red-only hues, from the watch face to coaching metrics, to the deepest menu yow will discover. The thought in fact is that purple gentle preserves night time imaginative and prescient. That is the kind of function that received’t get subject minutes from each consumer. Those that do use it although will love the comfort. Plus, even should you simply wish to really feel like a part of a tactical unit at 2 AM on the way in which to the lavatory, Pink Shift Mode is the play.

Again to the {hardware}, the Epix Professional packs a brand-new Elevate Gen 5 optical coronary heart price sensor. Along with updating its algorithms, Garmin spaced out the sensor’s LEDs for higher accuracy, particularly throughout exercises with extra wrist motion. After one week of testing, it’s clear that house is ace. The sensor proved extremely correct in comparison with my chest strap all through this Garmin Epix Professional assessment, together with throughout weight lifting and circuit coaching.

At current, Garmin’s ECG app remains to be solely out there on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, but it surely appears possible this up to date sensor bundle might help that function sooner or later as nicely. For now, the guts price accuracy, coupled with multi-band GNNS help throughout the board, makes this a incredible health tracker. GPS routes recorded by my Epix Professional have been among the most correct I’ve dug into.

Lastly, the Epix Professional additionally gives considerably up to date battery life on its greatest watch. The 51mm mannequin will now last as long as 31 days in smartwatch mode or 58 hours in GPS solely. That is excellent efficiency for a tool with an AMOLED show. With my miniature wrists, I examined the 42mm choice as a substitute which incorporates a a lot smaller cell, and its personal extra humble battery life specs. Nonetheless, the watch simply made it three to 4 days with about an hour of GPS exercises per day. If you happen to don’t thoughts disabling the always-on show, Garmin claims as much as 10 days between expenses.

All of that mentioned, the Epix Professional isn’t with out its quirks. Primarily, the brand new coaching options don’t appear absolutely baked simply but. It’s additionally very doable that extra information and exercises will enhance that have although so I’m not overly apprehensive. Notably, all new software program options can even roll again to the earlier era. Upgrading from the Gen 2 is simply worthwhile should you’d love another case dimension or in case your coronary heart’s set on a flashlight (which we absolutely help).

The Epix Professional isn’t the one choice for athletes on the lookout for a robust health companion. Try just a few of those options as nicely.

• Garmin Epix (Gen 2) ($889.99 at Amazon): The Epix Professional’s older sibling, the Epix (Gen 2) is available in only one case dimension and received’t have the identical coronary heart price sensor or built-in flashlight. Nevertheless, it’s a formidable gadget now more likely to go on sale.
• Garmin Forerunner 965 ($889.99 at Amazon): A Garmin wearable with an equally engaging AMOLED show, the Forerunner 965 is our high suggestion for devoted runners.
• Fenix 7 Professional ($799.99 at Amazon): Although the 51mm Epix Professional gives a powerful battery, true endurance athletes on the lookout for hours and hours of GPS monitoring will nonetheless possible discover the Fenix 7 Professional a greater match with its MIP show and photo voltaic charging.
• Apple Watch Extremely ($799 at Amazon): One of the best smartwatch for adventurous iOS customers stays the Apple Watch Extremely. It doesn’t supply the identical stage of coaching options, but it surely’s a sturdy gadget with correct monitoring instruments.