Buying a fenix as a watch not sportwatch

I'm thinking about buying a fenix and using it as a watch and maybe some navigation i don't care about fitness features much beside sleep tracking  i hate other smartwatches because of battery life and OLED screens (raise to wake and burning issues).

I know Fenix is too expensive to use it just for this type of use but I would like to know if anyone has an advise or any opinions?

  • But that's a fugly watch to wear all day as a timepiece. 

    Allow me to disagree.
    The Instinct is not more fugly than a good old Casio G-Shock and so much practical.
    Excuse my French but it has a real tacticoolness and a real beautility. ;-)



    Here is my review about my long relationship with those Casio:
    https://nemoknivesreview.com/2021/03/20/watch-review-casio-gmw5600-or-orange-classic-atomic-square/

    And not only Squares. The white Gulfmaster was mine before switching to my first Fenix...

    That was my good old Fenix 5X worn also 24/7. Really it was like wearing a dish on my wrist.


    But in 2018, I have been wearing an Instinct 24/7 for a year before switching to my grey Titanium Fenix 6. Worn again 24/7 for two years and counting since 29th of August 2019 with its (bought later) vented titanium band, it is easy to get though any formal situation and for a swim in the ocean.
    It's 47mm are much more easier to wear than my old 51mm 5X and it screen is bigger.



  • I'm not really sure why you'd buy a top of the range multisport watch to use as just a watch (or even why you'd buy anything other than a normal analogue or digital watch). That's like buying a top of the range PC/MAC to use as a calculator. Lovely to have, but totally pointless and a complete waste of money. If money is no object, then go for it, but other old skool watch brands like Tag Heuer do smart watches now that look pretty flash, so why not look at them if you're not after multisport features.

  • Do they have the first beat sleep tracking? I thought it was Fenix 6 only atm

  • For the same money you can buy a fantastic mechanical watch, for example from Christopher Ward or Logines. If you are not bothered about the fitness side of things, I wouldn't have a Fenix and would buy a 'proper' watch.

  • So, will I. So far, I’m pretty happy with F6X Sapphire, despite having to get a new replacement a couple of times. Mapping features and long battery life are awesome.

  • Does they have sleep tracking, mapping capabilities?

  • Thumbsup tone1 Used to own regular Instinct in 2019. Totally loved it. Sold it after I bought 6X Sapphire in Nov 2019.

  • People spend thousands on Tags, Rolex etc. They don't do anything majorly different to a bulk standard timex, swatch. So if you have the money, like the looks of the Fenix 6Pro and it has what you want I don't see why you shouldn't treat yourself and purchase it. its certainly a quality, well built durable item with decent smarts (I don't miss much from a full smartwatch like a wear os).

    Watch - I really like how it works, but do wish their was an ambient sensor in it to which you could tie the backscreen light (but very minor occasions when this occurs, and you could set the backlight to be always on for wrist tilt, rather than just after sunset).

    Battery life is excellent - my F6XProS does seem to match the estimates Garmin provides (can't really tell yet on the continous tracking as haven't really tested it with 66hrs can't see the point) for normal operation.

    Navigation - fantastic. Initially it is clunky zooming and panning in map (especially compared to a touchsreen watch), but you soon get used to it. I find the host of navigation options excellent, I don't think there is anything missing from the options, and like the ability I can add additional maps. While the connect phone app isn't the greatest for creating routes, its easy enough to do it on the fly if you want to go that route, or just get the watch to do it for you.

    I wouldn't use the navigation for car driving. If thinking about it for this purpose would suggest you reconsider for a number of reasons: 1) not designed for it - so may well have routing issues and or TBT may be off due to higher speeds; 2) dangerous to always be checking wrist like that - rather buy a holder for your phone or a seperate satnav you can plug in as required - cheaper too..

  • You shouldn’t use the f6 for navigating a car. I tried it once to find my way out of the back country on jeep tracks and it quickly routed me onto trails that are only passable on foot. 

  • I use my F6x as a sports watch for mountain biking and skiing, and I wear it at night for sleep tracking. But as an everyday watch what I really appreciate are the smart watch features. When my phone is on silent, I love being able to glance down at my wrist to see who is calling or read a short text. Coupled with the three-week battery life when used as a smart watch, that's very useful for me. I also have some nice mechanical watches, but I only wear them now when I am going out socially or going to an important business meeting.