Fenix 5+ vs fenix 5x+ and wrist size

Former Member over 6 years ago

1st post

I'm sure this has been asked before but I was hoping to get some advice between getting the 5+ and the 5x+. I have not previously owned a wearable save for a chest HR monitor but I was hoping to track my daily numbers and my exercises (hiking, cycling to start with). I am looking at the watches as an investment over the next 2-3 years.

I prefer the 5x as it has better(on paper) battery power and the o2 sats monitor allows (i think) me to even track my o2 when asleep in case I snore (i.e sleep apnoea). I also want mapping.

My wrist diameter is about 6.5 inches and I have only tried the old fenix 5 at a local store, which was all they were willing to let me try. https://vgy.me/album/25HnrBJB

I am m 6 feet tall and have long and lanky arms due to lack of bulk building exercises and my work (healthcare) being light on the arms. I suspect that the lankiness will change with more exercise with spring (in Australia) approaching.

I have looked at DC rainmaker especially the example of the old 5x on a (presumed) small female wrist and it doesn't look too big, but that could just be a camera effect.

As such, would the 5x be too big?

Thanks in advance.

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

I went through the size dilemma, also. I ended up with a 5x plus. I was really worried about the size, as it is a big watch. Took me a couple of days to finally settle down and accept how big it is. Now I am used to it and it has been great, so far. My wrist is about 7 inches (18 cm?). I can email a pic if that would help.

Reason why I chose 5x plus was: Better battery life then 5 plus, faster processor then old 5x, and music. The Pulse Oximeter is a little hokey. I don't find it very useful or accurate. Comparing it to a legit finger pulse ox, it's usually way low. Also, the Fenix series does a horrible job tracking sleep. I had a fitbit Surge that did a great job of tracking sleep. I am super disappointed in the sleep tracking as a whole on the Fenix. It's really bad. If sleep tracking is important to you, honestly, I would consider something else.

Overall I am happy with the watch, but it has a few things that need to be sorted out. Especially at the price they are asking.

0 txepe over 6 years ago

Overall I am happy with the watch, but it has a few things that need to be sorted out. Especially at the price they are asking.

Fully agree with that. Sleep tracking is not so bad on my F5 plus, the only "bad" data is when i go to the bed for reading (40-50min), i am not asleep and the watch thinks i am, counting reading time as sleep time....

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

Yes, it's the just the lying down reading, but also I have to get up multiple times for an hour or so each time, some nights. My sleep is broken into segments and the Fenix counts my time up and moving around, on my feet, as sleep. Or it will end my sleep for the night, even though I have gone back to bed. The Surge did a great job of detecting when I was awake and when I was asleep. It would even detect naps.

0 jrodss over 6 years ago

I personally find the 5x more stable on my wrist (I previously had a 5), the width is just about the same as my wrist and the watch doesn't move around as much as the 5 did. I hardly notice the weight difference.

0 ReicheDK over 6 years ago

Did you buy the watch PiratArtz, and if so, how do you feel about the size of the watch?

0 mikemikemikemikemikemikemike over 6 years ago

I have worn a Fitbit charge 2 for a year and half. I don’t find the garmin any worse nor better just similar. When it comes to reading sleep it’s 100% based on programming and educated guesses. They don’t know your a sleep just use what is vailable like movement heart rate to identify it. I found often the Fitbit also assumes sleep when I am not but I am in a rest state thus not a ton different then sleep.

I find garmin excells in data over fitbit and coustomization.

0 Seren over 6 years ago

I did consider the 5x plus but it's just too big to be worn as a day to day watch (my wrists are on the slim side). I have the Ti F5+ Orange Band which seems the best compromise on battery, weight and size. I can get 10 days with 1 hour of GPS a day, being conservative with bluetooth, no music, no activity tracking (pointless given how much proper exercise I do)...great device overall. Accuracy pretty good