Very pleased with the upgrade (from Fenix 3 HR)

Former Member over 8 years ago

I hope this thread is useful.

I've had my Fenix 5X for just over 3 weeks now. I had a Fenix 3 and F3 HR for two years before this. From my experience pre-ordering the F3, I'm amazed how stable the F5X is at this early point.

Obviously the maps are the main reason I upgraded, but I feel like there are a thousand subtle improvements, mostly ones I wasn't expecting. The watch feels more refined and polished in day-to-day use. Here are some of the things I like about the F5X after using an F3 HR:

(1) Maps and map-related features, this is huge.
(2) The watch is faster.
(3) Display is better and easier to read when exercising.
(4) Power gauge for cycling, like the HR gauge for running.
(5) Countdown timer shows the time of day. I use this a lot for cooking and washing my sweaty workout clothes.
(6) Much quicker to calibrate a power meter before riding. Instead of having to go deep into the menus, it's the first item now!
(7) New fitness features are nice, I wish I had them for XC skiing all winter.
(8) The watch is a lot more comfortable on the wrist than the F3 HR because of the sensor bump. Vibrations are easier to notice as well.
(9) Resting heart rate is a lot closer to reality.
(10) You can re-order data pages for activities! I've wanted this on my F3 a few times.

I'm sure there's a lot more that isn't coming to mind.

Edit to add:

(11) You can add the altimeter/chart as a data page in an activity. Compass too!
(12) App menu is much better. Short list of favorites, then everything else relevant, and if you do an occasional thing, the watch still remembers the last favorite you used.
(13) The quick start menu is nice. I like that it shows you the time on the timer/stopwatch without having to go into these.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I only had my 3hr for 1.5 months before upgrading to the 5x. My 3hr had epoxy cracking on the HR sensor, so it was warrantied out and I sold the replacement on eBay to help fund the 5x so I could get maps. Only reason I upgraded, I bike and run endurance races and I use a watch for both events. So far, I've just winged it for not getting lost!

Anywho:
Agreed on the display and easy to read. I dunno if it's a font change or the higher pixel count but dang, what an upgrade! Like its redic how great it is. That was unexpected, although I guess it shouldn't be, since you need a decent screen to see maps that small clearly!

Faster processing speed is great, my Nyan cat watch face is like a rocket now! Haha! But seriously, very very responsive and not laggy. You push a button and it does things, like instantly. Who'd a thunk?!

The small changes esthetically on the bezel of the watch, I really think classes it up. The words on the outer flat bezel part vs inside, by the glass(3 HR). The little notches at 12 & 6. The single red ring around the top left button, which sticks out a bit further than the others. Slate grey is a blackout killer look! The faux "mesh" look on the silicone band with matching slate buckle just really completes it. Looks rugged and classy and modern yet timeless, very very cool!

What I thought I'd love but found meh:
Map layers. When you have cycling maps enabled, it gets rid of the topo contours and elevation numbers on my pricey 24k topo map of my area that I paid extra for. So I have to choose, but I like layers....cake is good. Garmin apparently does not like cake:( le sigh.

Map feature: cool! Map layers: not cool.

Little cool scroll wheel shortcut thingy when you long press "light".
None of the choices you have for these icons are really anything I use often. When I saw it on videos, I thought I'd be able to set whatever I wanted to on there. So like I could have run, bike, weather widget, map, battery meter, etc. So I could see frequently used things, all in one place, you know like a....wait for it.......
SHORTCUT!
Alas. My goal of malaise and 2 button presses for whatever my little heart desires are put on hold, once again. Much like when I was 5. Mama said life wasn't always easy.

I'm super glad I upgraded. I've had cable issues but I still hold out hope that its software related because I didn't have them on 2.4. It charges fine via USB, so it works as is. It's a keeper!

0 loaruns over 8 years ago

I've had a lot of Garmin watches. Too many. This is the best one they've made, ever. From functionality to UI, it's the smoothest, tightest package they've produced. Not to say there aren't issues- there are a couple.

But I think we've all gotten used to Garmin devices that feel like a work in progress for months after their release- even though (for me) they generally did everything I needed just fine.

Not the case with this one. The bugs are few enough, and there has been a top-down reconsideration of the way a lot of things fit and work, and for the first time perhaps since the 910xt it seems Garmin introduced a watch at the right point in its development cycle rather than way too early.

fenix 1/2/3(hr) were the true betas. This is the product. Lovin' it.

0 Teekman over 8 years ago

Have to give the 5x a big thumbs up too, it does feel much more fluid and refined, hopefully any niggly bugs will be sorted much quicker than the 3HR.
Just have to decide what to do with my 3HR now as the 5x is definitely a keeper.