Garmin Fenix 8 and Fenix E will launch in September, but how do they compare to the Fenix 7 and Epix Gen2?

The Garmin Fenix 7 series and Epix Gen 2 were launched in January 2022, so they are due to be superseded soon.

For the past few months, various rumours have been circulating about when the Fenix 8 may be launched and what new features it will have.

As usual with Garmin, and most consumer electronics, as the launch approaches, we are starting to see various leaks.

The following information is compiled from Reddit, the5krunner and Gadgets & wearables.

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Retailer Listing Indicates a Launch on September 6^th just before IFA

The main leak has been from Finish retailed Multitronic.fi, who got a little over-eager and published some placeholder pages for the new watches, including the price.

What Fenix 8 Models will there be, and how much will they cost?

The website listed three Fenix 8 models with prices:

• 51mm priced at €1095.90 (£928 / $1180)
• 47mm priced at €995.90 (£843 / $1073)
• 43mm priced at €995.90 (£843 / $1073)

What is the Garmin Fenix E?

At the time of writing, there is nothing known about the Garmin Fenix E for sure.

The current opinion is that this will be the successor to the Garmin Enduro 2, which will retain a sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display and feature solar for prolonged battery life.

What new features does the Garmin Fenix 8 have & what about the Garmin Epix Gen 3?

The Garmin Fenix 7 retained the MIPs display from previous generations with the Epix Gen 2 being the same as the Fenix 7 but with an AMOLED display. In contrast, all the recent X65 Forerunner watches (FR165, FR265, FR965) feature an AMOLED display.

Therefore, it is believed that the Garmin Fenix 7 series will now use an AMOLED display and this will effectively be the Epix Gen 3 with the Epix name being phased out.

Price Hike

Looking at the Finish Garmin site it shows the prices of the current watches as:

• Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) – Standard Edition | 47 mm @ €879
• Garmin Epix (Gen 2) – Standard Edition | 47 mm @ €779
• Garmin Fenix 7 Pro – Solar Edition 47mm @ €779
• Garmin Fenix 7 Pro – Standard Edition 47mm @ €619

So, the 47mm Garmin Fenix 8 will reportedly cost €216.90 more than the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) which is a hefty 25% increase in price.

Will there be Solar?

The various Garmin watches and bike computers with Solar have been a popular option thanks to the increased battery life. However, the AMOLED models do not have it.

Garmin has previously filled patents for OLED solar, so it seems quite likely they will introduce this onto the new Fenix 8 series. How much difference it makes is another question.

What features will the Fenix 8 have vs Fenix 7 & Epix Gen 2?

You should take all the below with a pinch of salt as there have been no reliable leaks to indicate exactly what the Fenix 8 will have.

• Advanced Sensors: New health tracking sensors with a new elevate sensor gen 6, which may include blood pressure monitoring, skin temperature, ECG and likely more accurate SpO2 and HR measurements. Or perhaps they will use the Elevate Gen 5 from the Epix Pro Gen 2.
• Smartwatch Features: Improved smartwatch functionalities, such as a built-in microphone for voice assistant control and possibly cellular connectivity, might be included​.
• Charging and UI: The Fenix 8 may introduce wireless charging capabilities and a refreshed user interface to enhance usability​.
• More Storage: Expanded storage for more pre-loaded maps
• Built-in microphone for voice assistant access and calls
• LTE: Possible LTE connectivity – I’d definitely take this one with a pinch of salt as it is something that has been rumoured for years. However, Garmin has introduced LTE to the Forerunner 945 LTE and the Vívoactive 3 Music (Verizon), so it is a possibility.

Garmin FCC Fillings for Fenix 8

A few days ago, there was a new Garmin device submitted to FCC fillings. There is no indication of the model name, but considering the Fenix 8 is expected to launch in 2 months then there is a good chance this FCC filing is for the Fenix 8 or possibly the LTE dog collar that just launched.

The below doesn’t reveal a great deal apart from the LTE antenna gains, but that could  also mean it is the dog collar.

• Model and Identification:
  • Model Number: A04674
  • FCC ID: IPH-04674 contains FCC ID: HSW-TY1SC
  • IC: 1792A-04674 contains IC: 4492A-TY1SC
• Technology and Frequency Bands:
  • Wireless Technologies: BLE, ANT, LTE (both FDD and TDD)
  • LTE Frequency Bands:
    • LTE Band 2: 1850 – 1910 MHz
    • LTE Band 4: 1710 – 1755 MHz
    • LTE Band 12: 699 – 716 MHz
• Antenna Details:
  • Antenna Type: Laser Direct Structuring (LDS)
  • Antenna Brand: Garmin Corp.
  • Antenna Gain:
    • LTE Band 2: 2.0 dBi
    • LTE Band 4: 0.4 dBi
    • LTE Band 12: -2.6 dBi
• Power and Operating Conditions:
  • Power Supply: 4.5 – 5.5 Vdc Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (Garmin PN: 361-00160-00)
  • Operating Temperature Range: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
• Testing and Compliance:
  • The device was tested for compliance with various FCC and Industry Canada standards, including parts 24, 27, RSS-130, RSS-133, and RSS-139.
  • It underwent tests for RF output power, modulation characteristics, frequency stability, occupied bandwidth, band edge compliance, and spurious emissions.
• Environmental Conditions During Testing:
  • Ambient Temperature: 20-25°C
  • Relative Humidity: 40-60%
• Measurement Uncertainty:
  • Various levels of measurement uncertainty are detailed, indicating high precision and adherence to regulatory requirements.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

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