Fenix 5 comparison to 5 plus

I just wanted to do a quick comparison between the 5 and the 5+. I went out and bought the 5+ yesterday the titanium version. I went out for my first run today and wore both watches today and I'm very familiar with this route I took.
On my observations between the two I saw that the 5+ was always .05-.2 miles ahead of the 5 and the instance pace was anywhere between 5 seconds to 1.5 minutes faster than the 5. There was another thing the heart rate seemed to be more accurate than the 5 compared to runs that I wore the chest strap. The elevation loss and gain was spot on the 5+ versus the 5 was off 10-20 feet.
So I just wanted to throw this out there for anyone that was wondering and forgive any grammar miss takes.. I typed this up on my phone.
All of this was done with GPS only on both devices.
Today on a trail run it seem to be a bit more accurate than the 5 was. the total miles on the trail was 4.81 which is what the DNR maps shows the 5 was only giving me 4.61 to 4.71 at the most again with GPS only on 4.61 and GPS + GLONAS for the 4.71. But the main thing is that when I was wearing my HR Run it never dropped the signal the 5 would drop it at least 5 times in the run.
  • This time there was a marked difference in recorded track between the two; the F5+ simply nailed the route in areas with challenging reception whereas the F5 wandered off a little (bends through wooded areas, underneath motorway bridges, high sided concrete/steel foot bridges over railways - see the attached photos). This route I have carefully measured at 5.82 miles; the F5 gave 5.74 miles, but the F5+ with superior tracking nailed it again at 5.81 miles. So, in this test, the GPS track accuracy and distance accrual was significantly better on the F5+.


    What does a 'nailed route' look like, objectively?

    F5+ has you cutting corners / in water more than would befit the term?

  • F5+ has you cutting corners / in water more than would befit the term?


    As I’m running along a tow path directly next to the canal, the track only ever goes 3 metres from the bank; so I’d say that is as good as you are ever going to get from a watch based GPS device. So in the context of that +/- 3 metres, I’d say the track is ‘nailed’ (ie. within best expected tolerance). Clearly if I was using an engineering GPS station (the sort used for setting out roads and buildings) then I’d be expecting +/- 10mm accuracy before saying things are ‘nailed’; but then I’d need to stand still for long periods with much heavier and more expensive equipment. The terms are all relative to context.

    I’ve also just compared the track as shown on Garmin Connect and as it is plotted in DCR’s Analyzer. The track is incorrectly misplaced by Garmin Connect, as is often the case as GC simplifies the track data on their maps, often leading people to think that every second recording is broken as it looks like smart recording on GC. I’ll try to add a comparative picture to show the difference between GC and DCR Analyzer in a bit.
  • Got a really good GPS plot today. Was no obstacles so it should be good and it was. Best I have seen and it is my 5th Garmin watch. GPS+Gallileo 1s.

    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2805040163?share_unique_id=7
  • I’ve added explanatory notes next to the screen grabs (attached below) of the (single) spot I believe was being referred to as me running on water; GCM is often deceiving.ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1367970.jpg
  • Very interesting results, seems they indeed improved GPS quite a bit... Thanks for reporting (and good luck with the recovery)
  • Thanks again Crispin. I've been testing Galileo on my Fenix 5 (not plus), and the results are not great. I do think they made some hardware changes with the 5+ to improve GPS tracking.
  • That's indeed most likely!

    @Crispin - did you get a chance to compare laps/lap pace?
  • did you get a chance to compare laps/lap pace?


    I’ll try to get the lap splits downloaded later as a data table from Garmin Connect, then merge the data so the times for each can be compared directly. I did notice during the run that the F5 was slowly slippping behind the F5+ with lap alerts as the run progressed, clearly due to the slightly short distance accumulation of the F5.
  • webvan Now it's later and Ive access to my laptop, I've extracted the splits csv files from Garmin Connect and summarised some of the lap data below. I've also added some screen grabs of the charts in the DCR Analyzer comparison of yesterday's run that may be of interest; it seems most of the distance accumulation lost by the Fenix 5 was in the second half when I was running slower. Not sure what you will be able to see from the lap data, but I've also uploaded the files for your delight and pleasure in Excel!
    | [TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
    [TR]
    [TD="width: 323, colspan: 5"]Note - All Runs have auto lap set for 0.25 miles[/TD]
    [TD="width: 64"] [/TD]
    [TD="width: 79"] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="colspan: 2"]Run 24 June 18:[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="colspan: 2"]Run 26 June 18:[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="width: 58"]Lap No[/TD]
    [TD="width: 64"]F5 Time[/TD]
    [TD="width: 79"]F5 Plus Time[/TD]
    [TD="width: 64"] [/TD]
    [TD="width: 58"]Lap No[/TD]
    [TD="width: 64"]F5 Time[/TD]
    [TD="width: 79"]F5 Plus Time[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:02.8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:02.2[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:08.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:06.7[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:01.5[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:28.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:31.2[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:32.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:34.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:55.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:55.5[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:09.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:10.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:58.3[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:50.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:48.5[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:06.0[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:06.6[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:42.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:44.0[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:22.6[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:22.1[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:03.3[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:51.9[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:52.2[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:06.7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:09.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:49.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:48.6[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.3[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:50.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:51.5[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:55.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:50.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:54.6[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:52.3[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:05.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:04.5[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:25.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:18.6[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:49.8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:48.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:11.0[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:17.7[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:07.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:08.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:41.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:42.5[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:32.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:30.0[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:31.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:21.8[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:28.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:29.6[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:14.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:16.2[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:41.7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:40.7[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]03:28.9[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]03:06.8[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]17[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:40.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:37.9[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]17[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:20.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:27.3[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]18[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.5[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]18[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:30.8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:25.0[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]19[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:08.3[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:08.6[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]19[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:41.8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:33.1[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:12.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:13.7[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]03:06.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]03:18.0[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]21[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:57.9[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:56.8[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]21[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]03:04.7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:53.9[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]22[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:21.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:23.4[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]22[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:37.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:34.5[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]23[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:01.8[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:09.7[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]23[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:21.4[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:30.1[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]24[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:01.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:01.9[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]24[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]00:32.7[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]25[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:59.6[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:57.7[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]26[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:03.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:57.5[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]27[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:53.7[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:00.3[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]28[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:10.2[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]02:03.4[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD="align: right"]29[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:19.5[/TD]
    [TD="align: right"]01:16.3[/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [TD] [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]
    ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1368403.png
  • Got a really good GPS plot today. Was no obstacles so it should be good and it was. Best I have seen and it is my 5th Garmin watch. GPS+Gallileo 1s.

    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2805040163?share_unique_id=7


    Nice track, but your other runs in Liljeholmen.... not so good :(