The Garmin Epix Pro and the Fenix 7 Pro are the latest additions to Garmin’s high-end sports watch lineup. These premium Pro models offer new features such as upgraded heart rate sensors, built-in flashlights, enhanced software capabilities, and much more. In this Garmin Epix Pro vs Fenix 7 Pro, we’ll deep dive into all the specs, features, and differences between these two wrist devices. Check out the latest price of the Garmin Epix Pro Here, or Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Here.
When Garmin initially launched the Epix Gen 2 alongside the original Fenix 7, they took a cautious approach. The Epix had only one size option, while the Fenix 7 came in three different sizes.
This decision was likely influenced by the prevailing belief at that time that a true sports watch should not have an AMOLED display. However, the risk paid off, as the Epix Gen 2 gained immense popularity.
Now, with the introduction of the Epix Pro, Garmin has expanded its size options to match the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro. The goal of this Pro update is to make these models equal in terms of features and functionality.
All three sizes of the Epix Pro now include the dedicated LED flashlight, previously available only on the largest Fenix 7X. Additionally, both models share the same satellite chipset, storage capacity, touch screens, and nearly identical software features.
This raises the question: If there are so many similarities between these two models, why are there two different versions? The answer lies in the display technology, which differs significantly between them.
Each display technology has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the situation. Outdoors, they perform differently in direct sunlight, and they also differ indoors, especially at night. Moreover, these display differences impact battery life as well.
AMOLED displays, like the ones found in the Epix Pro, offer vibrant colors and high resolution similar to smartphones. However, they consume more power compared to the memory and pixel or transflective displays found in the Fenix 7 Pro. Another factor affecting battery life is that the Fenix 7 Pro includes solar charging, enabling extended usage with sufficient solar exposure.
Choosing between these two models can be challenging, as they both have their strengths and weaknesses. In this Review, I aim to discuss all the differences, big and small, and how they affect real-life usage. While I will share my personal preferences, I also encourage you to share your opinions in the comments section.
To maintain focus on the differences between the two models, I won’t cover every feature in this Review, such as the new endurance score metric. If you desire detailed information, you can check out my comprehensive reviews of both models, which I will link in the Review description.
Let’s start with the similarities. The Epix Pro and the Fenix 7 Pro are virtually identical in terms of case size, weight, and other physical aspects. The major distinction lies in their displays.
Key Similarities between Epix Pro and Phoenix 7 Pro:
While both models feature touch screens, the underlying display technology differs significantly. The Fenix 7 Pro utilizes memory and pixel displays, also known as transflective displays.
These displays become brighter as they receive more light, making them highly readable in direct sunlight—a key reason for their popularity among sports and adventure enthusiasts. When more light is available, the display becomes more visible.
However, these displays do not emit light naturally and rely on a backlight to illuminate the screen when needed. You can activate the backlight manually by tapping the screen or pressing any button.
Additionally, a wrist gesture can enable the backlight with a quick turn of the wrist. Not emitting light naturally contributes to their efficiency, resulting in impressive battery life.
This is where the Fenix 7 Pro excels, offering up to 11 days of battery life on the smaller models and nearly a month on the largest Fenix 7X, without solar charging. The solar charging feature on the Fenix 7 Pro doesn’t double the battery life, but it helps extend it slightly when exposed to sufficient solar energy.
Display Technology And Battery Life:
On the other hand, the Epix Pro features AMOLED displays. These displays require emitting light for visibility, which consumes more power. In the past, this technology was not common in sports-focused watches due to their higher power consumption.
However, Garmin has managed to optimize the Epix Pro’s battery life, ranging from four days on the smallest model to 10-11 days on the larger sizes, even with the always-on display mode enabled. In this mode, the display dims when not in use, conserving energy.
To further save battery life, you can disable the always-on display mode, causing the screen to turn off completely when not in use. By utilizing this setting, the smallest Epix Pro can provide up to 10 days of smartwatch usage, while the largest Epix Pro can last up to a month.
It’s worth noting that AMOLED displays were historically challenging to view in direct sunlight, but recent advancements have made them bright enough to overcome outdoor lighting conditions, as seen in the Epix Pro.
Visibility can be an issue with AMOLED displays, but they still offer excellent brightness where needed. However, it’s important to note that AMOLED displays consume more power than memory and pixel displays, both in day-to-day smartwatch use and during outdoor activity tracking.
Nevertheless, even the smallest 42mm Epix Pro can track a 10-13-hour long activity with high accuracy, while the largest 51mm Epix Pro can handle multi-day activities. The Fenix 7 Pro’s power-efficient displays further extend these numbers across all sizes.
Interestingly, the 51mm Epix Pro and the 51mm Fenix 7X Pro have similar battery life when it comes to recording outdoor activities in certain modes.
You may wonder why the Epix Pro doesn’t include a solar panel to enhance its battery life. While the Fenix 7 Pro benefits from solar charging, the increase in battery life is not substantial. Solar charging provides a slight boost, but considering the AMOLED display’s higher power consumption, it would not significantly impact battery performance.
Additionally, the combination of the solar panel, touch screen, and memory and pixel display on the Fenix 7 Pro results in a thicker profile compared to the Epix Pro’s AMOLED touchscreen. This is due to the different layering required by each display type.
Instead of solar charging, Garmin has maximized the Epix Pro’s battery capacity by fitting a larger battery, specifically the one used in the Enduro 2, into the 51mm Epix Pro. Despite having the same thickness as the Fenix 7X, the 51mm Epix Pro features an increased case size to accommodate the larger battery. Click here for more in-depth.
Check out the latest price of the Garmin Epix Pro Here, or Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Here.
