Thoughts on Fenix 5x plus ...

Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi All, I don't post much.

I recently purchased the Garmin Fenix 5x plus watch.

Key drivers for the decision:

1. Garmin connect app is impressive and has great organization
2. The features are great: battery life, audio file storage, continuous heart rate monitoring, firm buttons, connection to ant devices, payment system and records everything practically …

What is bothering me:

1. Very inaccurate Optical heart rate monitor (practically wrong all the time), I had to buy another meter (chest strap) to have accuracy that actually is useful

I am a user of the 920xt and I have had good experience with it for years (older heart rate strap)

2. Its an expensive watch with a very fragile exterior, it scratches easily. I have the grey / black model and I have already scratched it without evening knowing the event … when / where and how

3. Its an incredibly complicated for no sensible reason, I have used other devices and user-experience is cleaner.

So now I am adding a exterior heart monitor, class protector and rubber boot to prevent scratches to the paint, I admittedly feel that for $700.00 Garmin should have done better.

I will update this post as I continue to use or not-use. I know technology is all about comprises.

Updated on: 05-05-2019, 08:39 PM USET

Thoughts after using the GF5+ today during a half marathon run...

1. Used external heart rate monitor to improve accuracy for heart rate and threshold data - worked fine
2. GPS lock was solid
3. Difficult time connecting with head sets … eventually it worked
4. Intercom announcements were clear, why doesn't the system state: run recording, run paused, run ended? seems like an obvious feature … no?!
5. Battery use percentage was impressive
6. Brightness could be up a notch, especially when running in the rain, with water on the screen
7. System doesn't say when it has completed the upload to strava or connect, why not - show an icon for synced event?

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0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Just picked up my FR945 yesterday and have the same issue with the heart rate monitor. Compared to an older fitbit that's 100% correct, Garmin's reading on the dial is all over the place (sometimes fine, but more often ~10-20% higher than actual). Oddly enough, when I turn "broadcast heart rate" mode on, it seems to be very accurate, but you obviously can't have it on all the time. VERY DISAPPOINTED and considering returning the watch. I mean come on, $600 and gives worse info than a $200 device.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Just a thought, but how are you judging that the Fitbit is right and the 945 is wrong - what if the fitbit is 10-20% lower at times and you've just become convinced its right.

I ask as my 5x+ has behaved flawlessly and I have a chest HR to test it against

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Your older Fitbit was "100% correct"? Impossible! There's not a single sports/fitness wearable that even comes close to being 100% accurate with optical HR.

0 primy22 over 6 years ago

What do you think about the Sport data fields size?

I didn't searched on the forum for other thoughts if they exist but in my opinion Garmin shoud squeze at least two fields on the default display...

I use 4 fields and i don't understand why Garmin use so big and bold font writing above the data:pace, speed, distance, hart rate... I would suggest to make this words smaller and increase data numbers size.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

3. Its an incredibly complicated for no sensible reason, I have used other devices and user-experience is cleaner.

There's a lot to it. The more features, the more the UI gets cluttered. Your 920xt would have had a fraction of the features. Plus, if you've had that one a while - you'll have a muscle memory to overcome. I've not found the F5x+ complex at all, but then again I had an F5 before.

0 MiHighGator over 6 years ago

4. Intercom announcements were clear, why doesn't the system state: run recording, run paused, run ended? seems like an obvious feature … no?!

You should be able to do this. Turn on the option "Timer Events" in the "Audio Prompts" settings.

0 dgg4 over 6 years ago

You may already know this, you can adjust the brightness and duration of the light. Check the user manual for instructions. The brightness during exercise and non-exercise periods can be set separately.