Went from MIP Displays to a new Epix Pro 2 Sapphire 47mm. Here is what I think..

I made the switch, too. The biggest reason I held out for so long was the battery life issue - I love the 51mm form factor and the larger screen and battery that comes with it, but until now the only option for a watch like that was with MIP display. And it was also the only way to get a flashlight. So Fenix 7X was a no-brainer for me, at the time. Now with Epix 51mm Pro, I get all the upsides of both watches, and the only real downside is the lower battery life, but at 11 days with always-on-display it is still quite good, and plenty of battery for everything I've done so far since I bought it.

I still love MIP and all the advantages it offers, I miss having solar charging and I miss having a display that gets more vibrant in brighter sunlight instead of the opposite... but overall I'm happier with the 51mm Epix. It was awesome having 30+ days of battery life between charges but, honestly, it was kind of unnecessary. My battery never even came remotely close to dying on me, even on a week long backpacking trip. The battery life was absurd. And I mean that in a good way - but it was really just unnecessarily long battery life. I'm getting 11 days on my Epix which is still way more than enough.

I've been hanging on to my "old" Fenix 7X Sapphire because I was thinking I might still want to use it occasionally, perhaps on really long outdoor expeditions I might do someday, but honestly I haven't worn it once since I got the Epix and I'm not sure if I ever will, I've started to consider parting ways with it.

My biggest reason for wanting Amoled is for mapping. I use maps constantly, it's probably the feature I use the most on the watch, and the maps on the amoled screen are vastly superior, it's not even close. I love the Fenix series for a lot of reasons but I'll be the first to admit the maps on a MIP screen were terrible. They worked, but they just lacked so much detail and clarity. The new weather overlays and shaded contours features really highlight the difference - blobs of low contrast solid color on the Fenix, beautiful shaded gradients on the Epix.

Thank you C.sco!

I love the detail in that response and can really feel what you mean.   With smaller wrists, the 47mm was the best size option for me.  It says 6-days (I am always going to have AOD, just because without it I would go nuts with a blank screen),  but I am going to see where I maybe able to pull in better numbers.  For example, I could not care any less if my phone is connected to the watch 24/7.  In fact, I think it's healthier to not have it always connected.   I understand that the watch will save all the workouts internally for a few weeks.  I am thinking of just syncing to Garmin Connect once a week and see if I see a difference.   I also may disable gesture and just manually trigger the light button if I need to see the time during the day outside of the AOD (if not bright enough).   I did notice that the AOD seems to get brighter / dimmer depending on the level of ambient light.  Going from the living room with window light, to the dark bathroom I saw it change to dimer in the dark.  Pretty cool.  Obviously, I would leave gesture on for activity etc. But would be fun to compare and see.  I wish I could assign a hot key to just toggle gesture mode on/off.  Like if I am walking outside, then it would become active.  Or, if there was a way to set it to come on with the light sensor for bright conditions etc.  THAT would be cool!  

Another thought I have, is I may get the battery in the sweet spot around the 75 / 80% mark and then try to just keep it there with daily charging "top off" while in the shower. vs. waiting and recharging when too low etc.   But, will have to see.

I feel like if I can just let myself go and get over battery anxiety, LOL and just enjoy what this is.. it will be a win for me and worth the investment.

I've had the Epix Gen 2 model for a year and a half now, with no screen burn in, at all. And I use always on display as well - no issues so far. All good!

Yes!!  Good to hear!  Yeah, that's great.  Plus, I know Garmin is so good with customer service.  I am sure they will help a little with cost if that ever happen.  Yeah, so far I can say its definitely a lot more fun for sure!  

Like I said, I really loved the MIP in the sun.  Wins every time.  But, that was only about 1/12th of my time during my day to day being awake.  The other 90% of the time I am under a roof, and this is where I like the AMOLED.   If I can get into the habit of tossing on the charger while I shower and get ready every other day, I think I can just keep the battery in the sweet spot (around 80%) most all the time.

Update, DAY 2

Okay, a full day and full night with the new Epix Pro.  

Some random thoughts and feelings that I have...

The AOD is really cool.  This (for me) is the only way I would enjoy this watch.  When I look at the Fenix / Epix case with a black screen, it just looks ugly on the wrist.  (Subjective of course).  But it's so important to keep something on there at all times.  So, I will be locked into the 6-day battery life, which I have accepted.

On the note of battery, I did see a 16% drain from the past 24 hours, which puts this right in line for 6-days.  It just seems to get better efficiently during GPS running vs. the 955, which I still can't figure out.  But regardless overall it's in line with specs.  I think my battery plan is to give it 15 / 20min charges while in the shower every few days and try to keep the overall battery range in that sweet spot of 30 - 80% overall.  If I know I will be out for days (rare) then I will do a 100% charge etc.  But keep that far and few between.  * I am almost sure I don't need to do this and that by now the watch is smart enough to not allow too low of voltage and not to go full charge even when it shows 100%, but part of me still thinks I will get better battery longevity doing it this way.  I seem to have had great luck with this method on my phone as well and its now 4 years old.

Today I started the day with turning off phone connection to the watch.  Two reasons.  1. I am not crazy about having radio waves from the BT constantly on my body 24/7.  2. I just don't want any annoying notifications from my phone.  (I am not someone who loves to be "connected").  Lastly, I can just turn it on once a week to sync to Garmin Connect and at that time, it's nice to sit down and actually spend the time to look at the data.  I find I get more out of it this way.  So, (for me) this will be a triple win, maybe even better battery life (which I will report back on).

I just wanted to say, it's so hard to buy a Garmin watch right now.  I feel like there are an overwhelming number of choices (which is both good and bad) and even within a specific watch choice, you have more choices to make in terms of materials (sapphire or not), MIP or AMOLED, etc.. all with different advantages, looks, and drawbacks.  This is why it has now taken me THREE different watches to get to this point.  Even now, I ask myself if I should have just stuck with the 955 Solar ($100 off today only with Amazon prime day too, LMAO).  But, yet I feel I need to give the AMOLED more time.  I do like it so far, but just a moment ago when I was walking the dog.. bright sun, not in an activity, you glance down at your wrist and it looks horrible.  (yes, a gesture fixes that) but you get my point.  But, then you come in and boom, the AOD is nice and it looks cool / fun.  I am telling myself that 90% of the time, its the better choice of the MIP.. LOL. and.. I have the Sapphire glass so don't need to worry about scratches like I would have on the 955 etc. (screen protector I did not like on it).  

Anyway, more to come.

7828711 said:

everyone loves the AMOLED

sure, up to the point when everyone realize that during any activity the display will dim after a while, so that everyone needs to flail their hands like no future to see anything on the watch.

this is especially fun when you cannot move your hand during an activity as your watch likes to do so.

So far, I have been impressed.  Another run today.  The screen (even when dim) is very readable at a glance in all but direct sunlight.  The second I flip my wrist up (just as I did with the 955) the screen goes bright and is wonderful.  In the gym, I use a chest strap and gloves and the watch is loose on my mid arm.  I can read it perfectly dim or otherwise.   Overall its better than the MIP.

The ONLY time the MIP is better is in direct sun, when you want to glance at the watch from an angle. .  But, that is just my opinion.

All day today I actually disabled the gesture mode.  AOD inside (and out, just not in direct sun) looks great as it is.   

I just did a test with the Epix Pro and was seriously considering a return.  I was wearing it on the inside of the wrist (wrist pain caused by the AW) and when I'd turn it, it didn't trigger the display.  I thought it was the sunglasses until I figured out that it doesn't pick up the gesture and turn on when wearing it that way.

This is kind of a Kobayashi Maru.  The Fenix, even without the sapphire, isn't terribly bright, but with the sapphire, it's almost invisible everywhere but outdoors during the day.  The Epix simply isn't bright enough outside without the display being triggered, and even then it's not great (the AW Ultra is much better).

I think the Epix needs a white background for being outside during the day.  I guess there might be AMOLED issues with that but it's the best of both worlds.

Yeah, the Fenix with the Sapphire is terrible unless you are in direct sunlight.  I agree with that.    But, on your Epix..  I mean, you're wearing it in a way that it is not designed to work in, so can't really blame it for not triggering the gesture mode.  You could tell the watch in Garmin Connect that it is on the other wrist and see if that fixes it.  

I live in Miami, FL.  Today (like every day) is bright and sunny.  Around noon I went to walk my dog.  I started the built in stop watch and after a few seconds the screen went dimmer etc.. (normal).  Even then, I could easily glance down and see the time without even trigging the gesture.  Its not as bright as the MIP, but its not unusable.  

I came to the conclusion, that I am inside more than I am outside each day, LOL.  What, 1 maybe 2 hours a day (if I am lucky).  The rest of the 12hrs I am awake I am indoors, and guess what watch looks better then?  :-)

Yup this bothers me quite a bit.  Wish can have it full brightness mode at all time. Just let us have that setting, I don’t care about battery life, I can charge it after workout…

Right now in June and July (and prob august ) I can’t see the epix well under sun(8 data fields ) with my sunglasses on during a workout at 2pm at a track.

where I have zero problem looking at my 245 mip screen with same sunglasses (on right wrist )