Can Fenix 5 plus be used fully without owning a smartphone?

Former Member over 5 years ago

Hi there community,

I am contemplating about buying Garmin Fënix 5 plus, but I have one problem. I have understood that most smart/sport/outdoor watches require the occasional syncing with a smartphone to store collected data etc. However, I have lately opted out from using a smartphone, and after about a half a year, I can say that I am not going back. However, I do miss using Strava and it would be nice to keep track of my exercises. Therefore, I would like to know if I can fully use the Garmin Fënix 5 Plus without owingn a smartphone? I would be connecting the watch to my laptop and I was hoping to be able to get the most of the watch that way also.

Cheers,

Aapo, Finland

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0 jim_m_58 over 5 years ago

On a laptop you'd use Garmin Express, and off hand I think you'd lose phone notifications and that's about it. With GE you can sync activities, get FW update, etc.'

+1 Garmin - Chris over 5 years ago

The benefits of being able to connect your Fenix 5 Plus watch to your smartphone (or tablet) via Bluetooth is mainly convenience for software updates, the ability to quickly view your saved activities, all metrics recorded, GPS data on a map, other recorded metrics such as OHR data, and for many, they want the ability to read incoming smart notifications in the form of text messages and incoming calls that come to their phone and route to their watch.

However, all that same metrics data can still be seen connecting your watch to a computer and using our Garmin Express software. You would gain all aspects of connecting to your smartphone if using Garmin Express with the exception of incoming smart notifications that only come from being Bluetooth connected to your smartphone. Important to note, since all Fenix 5 Plus watches have mapping on them and 41,000+ worldwide golf courses, you would need Garmin Express if you update the mapping.

Are you able to use your watch on its own? Absolutely. There are many Fenix owners that have never connected to their smartphone, tablet, or computer. We recommend the ability to access a computer to software update your Fenix but given that the Fenix 5 Plus series has been out more than 1 year, the software that comes on your watch out of the box will have already been updated to the point that it will work great.

0 Narziss over 5 years ago

Are you an OTG kind of guy? ITM

0 Dr Phil over 5 years ago

To answer your question directly; no you cannot use the F5+ fully as you will not have access to the features you get when used with a smartphone. However, you can certainly use it without a smartpphone with little sacrifice. As noted, use Garmin Express for synching activities and updating and accessing CIQ store. You can also use Wifi to sync activities. Use Garmin Connect on the interweb for viewing in-depth analysis of training and connecting to Strava.