If the Epix Pro (ver 2) doesn't have solar...

Cool strap!  Do you have a link for that one?

Funny enough, before I bought the Epix Pro, I looked at the 965.  That watch has the larger screen of the 51mm Epix, yet in a form factor like the Epix 47mm (the one I have).  In person, it felt terribly un-balanced and was one of the main reasons I instantly did not like it.   I think there is an ascetical factor to consider for sure.  Also, I am sure the battery life would suffer by some amount.   

Now, what I DO wish, is that they did something more creative with that sub bezel area.  Like make better hash marks around it like the previous version, or something like 10, 20, 30 40, etc around the dial.  It feels empty and larger due to the lack of design in that regard.

It is this one. But it's a little shorter than I like.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09WD7N8WH?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

I like this one better.

www.amazon.com/.../B0C5315LT8

Nice!  Okay, just bought both!  Going to see what I like best.  Thank you!

I'm not thrilled with the wasted space on my 51mm Epix, but the reason for it is because that's the largest round amoled that the screen manufacturer makes, and they can't decrease the case size because of the large battery. So we end up with a black dead space.

Arguably they could have put the 1.4" amoled into both the epix 47mm AND the 51mm, but I think they didn't do that for product differentiation reasons, and to keep Epix models on par with Fenix models in terms of screen sizes.

I do wish Garmin would try to put solar in the Epix series someday. I understand that it wouldn't make as much of a battery life difference as it does with the MIP watches, but I'd still like to have it anyways. I definitely would've paid an extra $100 for a Solar Epix Pro 51mm, if it had been offered.

The other reason is of course, due to the ambient light sensor that is hidden around where it says "Garmin" at the bottom.  There needs to be some inner "bezel" to afford this.   The other thing is that it really would look un-proportional. (subjective of course) to the rest of the case if the screen completely filled the space.  This is very noticeable on the 965, which for a dedicated running tool I think is great, but as a 24/7 daily watch looks are going to be a factor for sure on the upper end Fenix and Epix lines.

I'm not sure that a solar would make that much difference.  Drain on the 7X is pretty minimal and the solar might be able to keep up to a point.  But I doubt solar on the Epix would help as much.

I just did a 1 days test between the 7X Pro Solar, and the Epix Pro, and after a day, the 7X had drained to 89% and the Epix Pro, was still at 98%.  I tried to have the two watches configured the same, as best I could and the best that made sense.  But I'm repeating the test starting tomorrow.  

I'm not setting up both watches for maximum run time.  That would require setting them up differently. I'm setting them up, in a mode that makes sense for both, the way I intend to use them. That is, mostly relying on the always on, for the 7XPro, and the backlight on the Epix Pro.  But I will have gestures off, because I don't want arm movements to affect the outcome.  I have a watch on each wrist.

I'm charging both watches to 100%.  I'm having gestures turned off and always on turned off on the Epix Pro.  I'll just use buttons and touch, to turn the display on.  I don't find the 7X very useful, if the backlight is always off. In the car, I can barely see the display on the 7X. Hard to see small numbers inside, unless the light is used.  So the 7X will have about 40% backlight, when used.

I'm going on a 250 mile drive tomorrow, to visit the other side of the state, so I'll have both watches tracking me, so the GPS will be used on both.  And setup the same.  Both will be in night mode, until I get up in the morning to start the test/trip.  The

Epix has a nicer looking display. The only drawback is the battery drain. But if it's holding pace with the F7X, it might be the better choice.  I was going to decide between the two, but now I think I'll just keep both.  The F7X is great in bright sunlight, but I prefer the Epix Pro Sapphire, inside.

I'll be curious which has drained the battery the most after my test tomorrow. Perdictions?

Update: Results of my simple one day test.

Started with:

Epix Pro, 99%, 31d

Fenix 7x Pro: 99%, 26d

After one day test:

Epix Pro: 86%, 27d

Fenix 7x Pro: 82%, 22d

Not sure what that means but it was a fun day. :)

MIKE-SD said:

I'm not sure that a solar would make that much difference.  Drain on the 7X is pretty minimal and the solar might be able to keep up to a point.  But I doubt solar on the Epix would help as much.

Oh I agree, it wouldn't make very much difference, it's more psychological for me. I want to feel like the sun beating down on me is doing something useful for my watch, even if it's by a pretty small amount. I always enjoyed soaking up the rays and watching the lux graph with my 7X solar, though I never actually sat down and calculated how much difference it was actually making.

Interesting idea for your test, I may try something similar as I also still have my 7X (though I haven't used it at all since I got my epix)