Sapphire version. Why ??

Unfortunately some colours are only available in sapphire. Black 5S for example, so the choice is not that easy.

Bezel color makes it an easy choice for me at this point because as of now they're only offering the 5S sapphire with champagne and black bezels and I want the silver.

Of course I'm probably not going to buy until June anyway and these combinations might just be for the launch models and a silver bezel sapphire might be around by then.

Save your self the money its just marketing.

Ive had my fenix 3 without sapphire for 2 years. Wear it daily. Run 70-100k per week with it. Shower with it. Swimming with it. I dont even take it of for bedtime. I only take it off when I need to charge it.

I can tell you I have not been careful. Ive been using it also when renovating the house.

There is not a single scratch on it.

However I have a friend who do have the sapphire display on his fenix 3. It was smashed when he hit a furniture from a bad angle.

It doesnt matter which one you pick, it might break or scratch and the chances are equal. Its just depends on luck.

Also, the bezel is protecting the display surface well.

Wholeheartedly disagree!

I had a fenix 3 non sapphire and the screen was all scratched up within a few months time.. I gave it to a friend and decided to never again buy a fitness watch that does not have a sapphire display.. Thats was replaced with a fenix 3 titanium with sapphire and I also have a 3 HR with sapphire.. Neither of them have a single mark or scratch on them!

I guess it depends on what the watch is going to be used for.. Is it a step counter that never gets any serious use? If so then the non-sapphire is probably fine.. If the watch is going to be used and abused for outdoor sports then in my opinion the sapphire is a must have..

Lets add another anecdote to this highly scientific survey shall we :-) -

I have a non-sapphire (silver) Fenix 3 - one and a half years old - worn daily and only removed to charge.

It has done about 25 days of outdoor rock climbing, daily runs - including trails, several camping trips, beach and pool swimming, sea kayaking and snorkeling. I haven't been kind to it but it also hasn't been in drawer or in a pocket with keys.

I haven't used a screen protector, I have worn out one watch strap and the replacement has a scuffed clasp. I treat it like a tool and I figured the technology would become outdated or the battery would lose capacity before the watch itself got damaged. Perhaps they put the wrong glass in my watch but my screen and bezel look just like the day i bought it - I am sure glad I didn't fork out for the more expensive glass.

Disclaimer: I have pre-ordered both the Fenix 5S (non-sapphine) for my wife AND a Fenix 5X (only in Sapphire) but this was influenced by features other than the glass.

These forums (all fenix line), the Apple Watch forums and most other fitness watch forums that have an option between the 2 displays types are littered with complaints about scratches on non sapphire displays.. Do some without it get lucky? You bet~! Is it worth taking the chance and rolling the dice? Not for me..

Saying a sapphire display is a waste of money is really kind of clueless talk if you ask me... But hey it's not my money and it's not me who has to worry about it because like I said I won't buy an outdoor fitness watch that does not have one.. If others want to roll the dice, then so be it.. To me, the chance of scratches (especially if OCD) is not worth saving a few bucks but to others it may be..

These forums (all fenix line), the Apple Watch forums and most other fitness watch forums that have an option between the 2 displays types are littered with complaints about scratches on non sapphire displays.. Do some without it get lucky? You bet~! Is it worth taking the chance and rolling the dice? Not for me..

Well, I have a non sapphire Fenix 3 for 1,5 year and have no scratches on the display, and it have take som serious hits and get scratched on the bezel, so I would say the ordinary glass is pretty good to. I also followed the forum for a long time and don't agree with you there is many complains about the non sapphire versions, but It's up to you if you would spend the extra money....

What's amazing is that Garmin (and apparently Apple ? Haven't been following their watch) have managed to make sapphire a "marketing" argument again when it's been a complete non issue on basic watches for decades! When was the last time any watch company wasted time mentioning they used a sapphire glass ?

The "reasonable" option here seems be to get the "cheap" version and slap on a glass screen protector, best of both worlds. Possibly better because in case of a big knock you'll only blow up the protection instead of shattering the sapphire crystal.

Like I said earlier what's not been discussed/disclosed is the AR coating on the different versions, that might make a difference in legibility.

What I find amazing is that people are spending this much on a sports watch then cheap out on the last $100....

I guess options are good.. I suppose this argument is moot because people will just defend their purchasing decision with whatever reasoning makes sense..

For $100 you get

-Sapphire lens
-Extra watch band
-WiFi

If none of those matter to you then buy the regular version. If those matter to you and if you want the added protection of the sapphire lens then buy it.. What I'd hate to see happen is for someone to listen to, or believe the anti-sapphire rhetoric and not buy it, then 5 months later their $600 watch is all scratched up and they wish they had spent the extra cash...

My .02

I also followed the forum for a long time and don't agree with you there is many complains about the non sapphire versions, but It's up to you if you would spend the extra money....

If I had the time or cared to do so, I could post plenty of threads / quote plenty of posts that say otherwise.. You don't need to look far... I mean, in this thread alone there are 3 users who have said they scratched the non sapphire lens...

I had a fenix 3 non sapphire and the screen was all scratched up within a few months time

I've scratch and/or cracked every Garmin I've ever owned.

I scratched my f3 (not sapphire) the day I got it scraping it against some stone (admittedly a very minor scratch)

Like I said above, the point is moot as people will self justify their purchasing decisions using whatever sounds good and/or makes sense. Me included I suppose..

Again, I'd hate for someone to cheap out and later wish they had not. These are not cheap watches so in my opinion spend the extra, if it's for piece of mind alone..

My fenix 3 non sapphire looked like crap after a few months of non abusive use.. Maybe I got a bad screen? I don't know but I took it in the shorts on it and could not even sell it because of it's condition so I handed it down..

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I live a pretty harsh lifestyle and while I try not to wear the watch in a case like this I have done well with the standard glass going back to my RCX5

Bezel color makes it an easy choice for me at this point because as of now they're only offering the 5S sapphire with champagne and black bezels and I want the silver.

Of course I'm probably not going to buy until June anyway and these combinations might just be for the launch models and a silver bezel sapphire might be around by then.

I could sign that, exactly my thoughts - silver bezel + sapphire FTW!