I’m about to upgrade from Fenix 3 to the 5x+ and noticed there is quite a big price different to buying one with only USA maps or ASIA maps (I need Europe). I’ve read that it’s easy to just install 3rd part maps (if you dont want to pay for offical ones). I just want to check if theres anything else I need to consider before buying an imported one?
Buy Euro or US model but stay far far away from Asian models. Asian models are known as APAC (Asia Pacific) - and they all suffer from getting bugs fixed much later than Euro/US versions.
I’m still on V5.1 APAC as v6.00 APAC has a serius bug that was found days after release of v6. A beta was made (6.51) and that has now been a beta for 2 months (for everybody) - but Euro/US versions can install the beta but APAC units can not use the betas. And not only that - once 6.51 gets “released” to the US / Euro markets - then APAC software versions follow 2-4 weeks after. So even now I know there Is probably at least 3-4 weeks I can update my watch. So I have to live with the rest of the bugs as the 6.00 bug would kill any use of power meters. So in effect no updates for my APAC watch from Oct ‘18 until? March ‘19.
So my recommendation is stay far far far away from APAC units unless you really need the local language in the package. If you can work with English as your watch language - get Euro or US version and buy / download the right maps. A set of EU maps is about 45,- ish GBP / 50 Euro - and when you register the watch you usually get a 10% discount voucher that works on the installable maps. There are also 3rd party maps available with prices ranging from free to more expensive than Garmin.
So in short all but APAC watches even if you are in APAC regions.
Thanks Kaz! I would probably have ordered an APAC version by now if it wasn’t for your reply! Phew. Was about to order a USA version but two sites seemed a bit dodgy for imports (TobyDeals & T-Dimension) so found a UK supplier with £115 off RRP and now don’t have to faff with maps (for now anyway).
