Will map updates be free or a charge

Former Member over 8 years ago

I've had about ever combination of what the Fenix 5x has to offer (old dedicated GPS device, smartphone, heart rate chest strap, heart rate watch/smartwatch) but it would be nice to have a technical watch that really covered the whole technical fitness stuff.

One of my main concerns is if any map updates will require additional fees. 10 years ago GPS companies liked to charge extra for on-device map updates and in today's market I can cache maps locally so many other ways.

0 schinder over 8 years ago

The TOPO maps don't get updated. I've never been offered an update for the 100k on my Epix, and that's almost certainly because Garmin never updates them. Many years ago (2008, if I remember right) I bought the 24k TOPO US for my area, and I think Garmin's still selling the same maps. I'm not sure if that's because the USGS doesn't often update the data from which Garmin derives their maps.

The Cycling maps on my Edge 1000, which I got back in October, have been regularly updated. I'm sure that those maps on the 5X will be updated as well. They might as well, since I think they're based on OpenStreetMap data, so you can get updates from elsewhere if Garmin doesn't do it.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Well, if they're just Topo maps, barring any natural disasters they should be good enough I suppose. Road maps are outdated every second.

0 FabioPascua over 8 years ago

I believe Topo maps don't get updated as you may suggest, they get 'Versions' (V1' V2, V3....), each one are 'independent' and also sold as different or 'new' product. On each version Garmin updates, improves, corrects (if lucky), the previous version. They also add new features such as DEM, or auto routing. Try to get the latest V of your country, and if that one is +/- 2 years old, look for a good discount on online stores, parallel retailers, or you can wait for the 'new' V ('dunnow' how long...).