Looking at the charging cable on the garmin web site, it doesn't look like this would easily charge on the go like the Fenix 3. Any more details on this?
Was it not so that when the fenix 3 was presented at CES 2015 that it was shown with some sort of crocodile clamp similar to the Suunto Ambit's? But when final production units was out they had changed it to the regular cradle! Perhaps it is the same thing this time as well?
EDIT: Turns out my memory was wrong, it was the Epix that came with the clamp the fenix 3 had the regular cradle!
For me who never charges while using the device, this is not an issue. If the fenix5 can do 24 hours with 1 sec GPS recordings then perhaps you do not need to charge when using it since you can just charge it when sleeping.
Garmin might be going for a streamlined approach with this new charger, instead of having a different cable/cradle per device. I would get behind that. I guess we won't really know until we see them in-hand.
According to DC Rainmaker, they want to move forward with a "standard Garmin charging cable". Just looking for that exact quote on his initial preview of the Fenix 5.
The issue is probably with the three different sizes you'd need three cradles, which (greatly) increases cost-per-unit (since you make less of each.)
However, it also appears to be simple enough that someone can come up with a third-party "spanning clip" much like what you can find for the F3 (and which I own), perhaps with a sliding mechanism for the USB part (so it would be universal for all three sizes.) This, if it appeared, would make it possible to charge while in-use, although using it would disable the built-in HRM (since it would be covered)
Yeah, DC Rainmaker commented more about this on his site after talking with the Fenix team.
1. Garmin wants to go to a standardized charger not only for the Fenix, but all watches going forward. Makes sense to me, and very welcome.
2. There was mention of a possible accessory to use for charging while wearing it. This was apparently a hot debated topic within Garmin.
I'm not going to worry about the charger. Even if an after accessory doesn't come to market, for the few times I've had to charge on the go, I always have stuffed it in my pack or vest. I know it's not ideal for everyone, however.
I don't think so. On pictures it looks like the charging pins of the Fenix 5 series are arranged in a straight line and the charging pins of the chronos are arranged a little bit more in a semicircle...
