Does the Garmin Fenix 5X get the updated features that come on the newer models

For example, the VO2max adjustments and training load focus on the Forerunner 945. Will we get those updates too?

Many companies add features in older devices, for example Samsung have updated 3 years old S8, and S9 to latest One Ui user interface, Nvidia add support for Ray tracing also for older GTX graphics cards... many companies as I said port at least software improvements in older devices; Garmin sometimes do this and sometimes doesn't... but when I buy a top device I'm expecting that it receive improvements during its lifetime

0 Dexter101010 over 5 years ago

I understand perfect. I am thinking the same. And anyway if watch support new features why not to update with those features?Anyway after 2 years, fenix5x will be history. But there are people who does not want to see that garmin force you in some way to buy their new expensive watches. Anyway, there are people who like what Garmin does and there are people who does not like.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

Couldn't retract previous post, so removing it.

0 aprades over 5 years ago

We don't have to expect all the features as the hardware may not support them, but we got galileo when everybody was saying we were'nt going to got it.
I'm very happy with my Fenix 5x as I was with my Fenix 3, and for training is more than enough for the average athlete. I doubt everyone in this forum needs all the greatness of the newest devices.

So, have a happy day and enjoy what you paid for (and is great).

0 Alex_Miccono over 5 years ago

exactly, I bought this Fenix 5x because of the current features. Not for the feature that it may will have. Now there is something that i would like to see on my Fenix5x that is the incident detection. Most probably it will not be supported, so i will consider if this is a killer feature that will make me change from this to 5x+ or the new 945. But really it's fair request a working watch, it's not pretend that all the feature developed for a new version will be backported to older version. And be fair, check all the function addedd since version 2.40 https://www8.garmin.com/support/down...s.jsp?id=11665 you can check there, and in my opinion now our Fenix get a more than decent amount of new features, maybe some are useless for me but they are there.

my 2 cents

out of topic: just because I have some spare time, which is the counterpart in suunto for the F5X+?

0 Odie21 over 5 years ago

out of topic: just because I have some spare time, which is the counterpart in suunto for the F5X+?

Closest is the Suunto 9 Baro as of this point but quite frankly it’s comparing apples to oranges. The 5x+ blows the 9 out of the water.

I’d also advise staying away from Suunto, they put out half baked software with some of their new watches. As a Suunto dealer, I see a plethora of them come back being faulty. Suunto in August of last year settled a class action lawsuit for having bad depth sensors in their dive computers.

0 ikim1967 over 5 years ago

After two or so years of ownership, I'm pretty happy with my 5X and if it does get new features, added with a firmware upgrade, that's a bonus rather than an expectation, imho.
The battery is still running strong and the GPS, whilst not perfect and needed to be tied to a speed sensor to get better results, does the job I want it to. It still looks great with little sign of wear too. Pleased to see constant fixes and refinements too, in regular firmware updates.
Not seen anything since the 5x that has drawn my eye but I'll look at the 6 when it comes out. If there are improvements where I want them to be, then I'll consider that model. Those would be hardware features for me though. Improved battery, processor, gps, screen, etc.
I don't expect to be given new features for free and would also consider paying additional if it was an option and something I wanted. I don't begrudge companies not backporting features and function, though I salute them when they do. I bought into this at a point of time, with a known feature list and anything beyond stability is just a nicety not a given.

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 5 years ago

It seems if anyone thought the grass is greener in the Polar or Suunto worlds, then perhaps think again if the comments that follow this post on DCR's site are anything to go by https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/05/...omment-3202275 . Polar seem to be getting a sound kicking of late from their loyal long term customers. It's perhaps both a pro and a con for Garmin that they provide an open forum like this for people to vent frustrations, which leads to the assumption that everything is fine with other manufacturers as there's no central place to see people's gripes.

0 sis651 over 5 years ago

After two or so years of ownership, I'm pretty happy with my 5X and if it does get new features, added with a firmware upgrade, that's a bonus rather than an expectation, imho.
The battery is still running strong and the GPS, whilst not perfect and needed to be tied to a speed sensor to get better results, does the job I want it to. It still looks great with little sign of wear too. Pleased to see constant fixes and refinements too, in regular firmware updates.
Not seen anything since the 5x that has drawn my eye but I'll look at the 6 when it comes out. If there are improvements where I want them to be, then I'll consider that model. Those would be hardware features for me though. Improved battery, processor, gps, screen, etc.
I don't expect to be given new features for free and would also consider paying additional if it was an option and something I wanted. I don't begrudge companies not backporting features and function, though I salute them when they do. I bought into this at a point of time, with a known feature list and anything beyond stability is just a nicety not a given.

Fenix 6 will probably have a newer Sony GPS chipset. It may not seem better than old MTK chipsets at the moment but with future updates I'm sure it'll get mature. Garmin has used MTK 3333 since a long time including Fenix 3 and maybe earlier than that.

Garmin prefers to reserve newer functions for newer watches, so that users will need to buy newer watches. So that the cash flow it needs just continues. Some of these features definitely need better and newer hardware. For example for Pulse Ox data, it needs a different sensor. For maps and navigation it needs a much larger storage chip and external RAM chip to process it faster. However, some newer features don't have dependence on hardware and these should be backported for older watches that can support it. For example; Fenix 3 displayed only single training effect value after an activity. Fenix 5 series started to divide it as aerobic and anaerobic. Ok, maps are good selling point for a new watch, but training effect is I'm sure doable in the older watch too and shouldn't be used as an advertising material.

I had the Fenix 3 and switched to Fenix 5X just for the maps. There were Epix with similar map features but, it wasn't continued as it wasn't selling good. So I'm glad I switched to Fenix 5X and wonder what Fenix 6 will bring too. And may buy it too. But I still think at least some of the software side features should be released for older watches too. Garmin shouldn't do it just for the users but should do it for itself too. Because these watches aren't cheap. In America maybe they're cheap but here in Turkey they cost at least a mothly salary. I can go with Xiaomi Amazfit Stratos series and can live with them easier, because they're much cheaper than owning a Garmin. They miss some features but they have the basic features for a much lower price. Xiaomi like companies killed business of big smartphone companies like Samsung, Apple etc. and they'll start to threat business of niche sport watch companies. And sometimes they're better to respond to customer requests...

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

However, some newer features don't have dependence on hardware and these should be backported for older watches that can support it.

Again, Garmin has in the past added new features to older devices and if they do it again, owners of older devices should feel greatful. But in absolutely no way, should they do so just because it may be something as simple as a software update.