Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Garmin Fenix 7 series is one of the best Garmin smartwatches on the market, but it isn’t without its weak points. Even though a true successor is likely quite a ways off, there are a few things I’m still hoping to see when a new model does finally arrive. With that in mind, here is my Garmin Fenix 8 wishlist.
Currently has a low-contrast display, it could use an AMOLED
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Garmin Fenix 7 had a great display with good indoor visibility and at least average outdoor visibility as well. It also was the first Fenix watch to offer a touchscreen experience. Still, its contrast wasn’t the best and many feel it would have been even better with an AMOLED display. I agree.
Honestly, the Fenix series isn’t cheap, and so paying for a transflective memory-in-pixel display just seems wrong. Garmin is also no stranger to AMOLED, as illustrated by devices like the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2). Adding it to the Fenix 8 wouldn’t be a big deal, though it could make the price tag balloon up a bit further. It would also make it a much better watch.
A built-in mic would be nice
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus first introduced a microphone that allowed you to make and receive calls without taking your phone out of your pocket. Even better, the mic makes it easy to talk to Google Assistant.
I’m strongly hoping Garmin will take a cue from this and introduce a built-in microphone on the Fenix 8. I’ve used a few watches with these kinds of features and once you get used to them, they really do make it more convenient to quickly answer calls when you’re not able to reach your phone as quickly. Honestly, I think this should be standard in modern smartwatches, as there are times when it’s just easier to be hands-free.
Flashlight mode needs to come to more variants next time
The Garmin Fenix 7X has a built-in flashlight mode. It uses a built-in LED light above the display, between the bezel and the band. Unfortunately, this isn’t something standard for all members of the Fenix 7 family. The Fenix 8 series should bring this feature to all models as it is one of Garmin’s most interesting standout features that isn’t about fitness or health.
Yes, the LED would take a little more space and add some bulk to each model, but its usefulness makes it worth it.
Even better battery life would be awesome
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Fenix 7 has pretty solid battery life and can easily last over a week, depending on the sensors used and if you have a solar model. This is certainly better than most mainstream smartwatches, especially the Apple Watch and most Wear OS devices.
So why do I want even better battery life? Fenix isn’t a mainstream watch and is much better suited for exercise, especially in the great outdoors. That includes multi-day sports like hikes, kayaking with camping stops, and other similar activities. So more battery life is a good thing! I’d love to see it get closer to to a month, though that would require a special battery saver mode and would reduce the usefulness of the watch’s sensors.
The heart rate sensor needs major improvements
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Garmin Fenix 7 is a great watch, but its heart rate sensor was a weak point in our Fenix 7 review, as we noted the Elevate Gen 4 sensor was a bit inconsistent at times. This needs to change with the Fenix 8. The good news is that it’s almost guaranteed things will be better next time around, thanks to the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro. This newer variant uses the Elevate Gen 5 sensor which we found to be much more accurate.
Garmin Fenix 8 wishlist: Which feature do you most want to see?
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Will there be a Garmin Fenix 8?
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Odds of getting a new Garmin Fenix soon are starting to feel stronger than ever, and the latest Garmin leaks have raised the likelihood that we’ll see the company’s next smartwatches make their public debut at IFA 2024 in Berlin, taking place in early September. We’ve even been able to sneak a possible early peek at the hardware, with the publication of what sure appear to be some official-looking renders:
While the source behind these doesn’t share a ton when it comes to hardware details, we do at least get an update on one of our biggest asks for the Fenix 8, and word is that Garmin is indeed moving to an AMOLED panel for the watch’s display. Size options should include the expected 47mm and 51mm — there’s no word yet on if those will be joined by a smaller 42mm 8S variant.
European pricing for those two could be as high as €1,099 (~$1,205) for the 47mm and €1,199 (~$1,315) for the 51mm watch, but we are not at all expecting US pricing to come in anywhere near as high as those direct exchanges would suggest.
We’re also looking forward to the possibility of getting an all-new Fenix model this year, with the same source also leaking some pics and details about a Garmin Fenix E:
With this one, we’ve largely just got the renders to go on, and the only details we’ve heard about it sound highly speculative. The general vibe seems to be that the Fenix E could be a lower-cost option that still retains the Fenix branding. That could mean that the Fenix E doesn’t get to enjoy the same sort of upgrades expected for the Fenix 8 this year — like remaining with an LCD instead of stepping up to AMOLED. Pricing on this one is still up in the air.
- Garmin Fenix 7 — January 18, 2022
- Garmin Fenix 6 — August 29, 2019
- Garmin Fenix 5 — January 4, 2017
Historically, the Garmin Fenix line has had at least two to three years between generations, with a Plus/Pro model sometimes slotted in between this timeframe. With this in mind, the Fenix 8 could come anytime in 2024, as the company has no real consistency as far as the launch month is concerned. It’s also possible the company could wait even longer between generations. For the moment, at least, IFA 2024 is looking like our best bet.
Should you wait for the Garmin Fenix 8?
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Garmin Fenix 8 could be as little as a few weeks away, but there’s no guarantee it’s coming in 2024 at all. For that reason alone, I wouldn’t wait if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch. If you have your heart set on a Garmin, we recommend the Fenix 7 or the newer Fenix 7 Pro series (on the product’s website) if you don’t mind shelling out even more. If you want something a bit newer without paying a fortune, The Garmin Forerunner 265 ($449.99 at Garmin) is priced similarly to the Fenix 7 ($699.99 at Amazon) and yet offers many newer features and improvements.
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