F5X vs Epix disaster

The major hype seems to be where the fenix5x is sold or not sold...

What I still can't grasp is why Garmin decided that the fenix5 regular size (or even the fenix 5s for that matter) is considered to be too small to show maps on... When I'm doing a route I don't want to see hundreds of meters worth of map on my watch, a scale of 120 meters when running a route is plenty for me, I might increase it up to a zoom level of 300 meter when biking but not more really. I wonder do other people that run/bike courses really want to zoom out more regularly to a level so high that you really need that much screen estate?

You can't make me believe that it would be hard to show a small map less than a square kilometer even on a small fenix5s... faster processor shouldn't take more space and memory chips are very small too these days so I don't think it can be a lack of physical space either,....

I won't be buying a watch the first years since I just bought a FR735xt, but I really don't understand the F5x mapping only (strategic?) decision and if someone else does I'd be pleased if (s)he can enlighten me. :)

I guess it's the additional memory and processing power needed to support maps, it needs more power, and hence a bigger battery.
I'm not sure how the screen size/resolution of the 5X compares to the Epix, but I'm fine with the Epix's screen (using OpenFietsmap maps).

There are some CIQ apps that show maps on a 735 - nice idea but can't see a lot. Course breadcrumb trails works pretty well however and of course the "smaller" Fenix versions will have that.

Maps on watches seems a bit of a wash for how many people actually want them. Years ago I thought this would be great and yet I never bothered to get an Epix and seemingly not that many did either.

Most of the time, I take my phone with me and have got several mapping apps on it and some do not need an internet connection either so perhaps the "need" for maps on a watch is not really there. Would be nice though of course.

I know what Tim's saying. I do a few CIQ apps that do "breadcrumbs" display. I've not tried to add downloading actual maps to them, as it may add more "clutter" than info based on the display.

While having real maps on a watch is cool, in my case I also have an Oregon with a much larger display and would prefer using that.

@TIMGROSE
I also have smartphone + super applications: LocusMap/Orux/MemoryMap.
But smartphone not always is comfortable. The map in the watch is also useful. :)

The major hype seems to be where the fenix5x is sold or not sold...
I won't be buying a watch the first years since I just bought a FR735xt, but I really don't understand the F5x mapping only (strategic?) decision and if someone else does I'd be pleased if (s)he can enlighten me. :)

I'm sure faster processor doesn't take more space. As they did in Fenix3 vs. Epix, they'll use almost the same processor but Fenix5x CPU will probably run at some higher frequency. Or as these watches are already faster than F3 and Epix series they may use them at the same frequency too. 12 GB storage chip and external RAM chip will take some space for sure. I can understand 5s version is limited in internal space but why release a different mapping version, just make mapping available in 5 and you'll have only two products to work on. I'm sure these watches cost Garmin very low and Garmin gets a lot of profit from them. They just want to sell some models more expensive, so that they can get more money.

I definitely want to buy the 5X version as the other 5 models doesn't add anything over my F3. But prices are incredible and with current economical situation in my country, I'm not really happy to buy one. I bought F3 with almost half of my monthly wage. But 5x seems to be more than my wage, maybe %30 more... They should release at least a model with non saphire glass, I don't give a sh.. to saphire. Maybe they'll release one, but probably after I invested in the expensive 5x model.
I'm sure if all F5 buyers would invest in a company instead of the watch, we could produce a better watch then those 5 thingies. :D

They should release at least a model with non saphire glass, I don't give a sh.. to saphire. Maybe they'll release one, but probably after I invested in the expensive 5x model.

I also don't care for sapphire. Maybe a more affordable model will arrive later, and maybe some people will offer theirs for sale on the second-hand market. In my country you can return a product within 14 days and get your money back, but most shops won't accept it when you return the product with visible marks or scratches on it. Some shops are more lenient, but often times, when someone decides that the product isn't right for them after a month, selling the product on as 'damage containment' is their best option. Also, there are always "unwanted gifts" turning up on the second-hand market a few weeks after father's day.

I also don't care for sapphire. Maybe a more affordable model will arrive later, and maybe some people will offer theirs for sale on the second-hand market. In my country you can return a product within 14 days and get your money back, but most shops won't accept it when you return the product with visible marks or scratches on it. Some shops are more lenient, but often times, when someone decides that the product isn't right for them after a month, selling the product on as 'damage containment' is their best option. Also, there are always "unwanted gifts" turning up on the second-hand market a few weeks after father's day.

Exactly, I'm waiting for the second hand and bring it from USA market. :) Now I checked and found two Epix'es for less than the 1/3 or 1/4 price of F5x, one second hand and one non used. :D If Epix had the same updates with Fenix 3 I would jump it instead of paying F5x a fortune.

Who can arrange with the existing issues of the epix, can buy cheap a map-capable device. But whether further fw suppert is done, is very uncertain. If you don´t need/use map on a wearable device, buy something else...(sorry for my english;)).

The thing that sets this watch apart is the navigational facilities so I think they should be marketing that better. I think they'd lower the risk of disaster by decreasing the cost of the maps dramatically for people that own this watch.