Does Fenix #X are good enough? After 2 years of tests... No internet connection = No watch

Two years ago I've bought one Fenix 6X, one Fenix 6S and recently Fenix 7. Used with Android phones: Samsung, Xiaomi, Oukitel

The first point I can't really understand is that if you have not internet connection your will have the worst experience with the product:

1. There is no backup of your data in the Smartphone. So if you don't have internet you can't get your info.

2. If you loose internet connection in most case your phone would loose the connection. So you won't be able to send your data to smartphone and obviously there is no backup of your data. And you won't be able to connect your device until you connect to internet.

It's really not acceptable that in a 1000 USD watch you will loose everything if you don't have internet connection.

It's really not acceptable that in a 1000 USD watch you are not able to see your sports data if you are not connected to internet. Your scores are not yours, it's Garmin property so you can only see them from the Garmin server!!!

What make me angry is that your watch won't work without internet connection.

Imagine some kind of deasaster where you loose internet connection. Or simply you have to train out of internet coverage! You will have a useless 1000 USD watch. You won't be able to check your marks and neither download your today targets ...

On another hand I really can't understand why in Garmin Connect All they use Google maps instead of Garmin maps!!! I've paid a 1000 USD watch to get the best maps and I'm not able to use them offline in my smartphone!!! Obviously without internet connection the Google maps won't work.

I'm really angry RageRage. I'm training 8 months per year in Andorra and there us no Internet connection. Si I'm experimenting problems after each day of training, and once a week I have to ride 30km to get internet connection.

Its not acceptable! The app MUST be able to permit access to Data OFFLINE!!! And the app can't loose the connection with the device because there is no internet connection!!!

Now we can speak about the GLS. Here I would to share some pictures from Tobotronc Andorra. The tobotronc is the longest nature slide in the world, with a distance of 5.3 km. The Tobotronc offers you a trip through the woods sitting on a two-seater sled that you can control at all times. A new way to get to know the nature of La Rabassa and the mountains of Andorra.

Please pay attention of the red line: Garmin GPS and the position and real position of the rails:

Both lines are supposed to be exactly the same.

Pay attention of the S of the rails and what Garmin GPS record...

Look of the five S rails. And Garmin Fenix 6X had draw a okd woman.

Where is the S curves and the loop?

I've bought a Fenix 7 last week and the problem is exactly the sames.

About the watch: it's a really good looling watch for daily use and the screen is just awesome. 

But sincerly if you are looking for a watch to train everywhere in the world. Instead in non internet coverage zones. I would suggest to look for another device.

Garmin: our training datas are our property and we must ve able to access to them instead without internet connection. And the watch is mine and it's why I won't need to login to be able to use the app.

  • It's strange, that you got same bad experience with GPS reception on F7, because my experience and experience of a lot of others is opposite. After two years with F6Pro I have to say it was almost the useless s..t. I'm talking only about GPS reception. And I used it normal condition, no huge buildings around etc. But I decided to give Garmin a chance again, because I'm very happy with other functions and gadgets like Varia radar and I have to say, that the F7 GPS reception is excellent compared to F6 even with GPS only. I used to look at satellite constellation before running to decide which system I'll use. I had to draw a track to online maps to get right distance and correct it in GC. Now I just run and everything is fine :-).

  • First because the data are mine. And I'm not really agree about sharing my data on cloud. When Garmin Servers had problems I can't access to my data: in 2021 there were a problem for about 3 weeks in July, a couiple of years ago the Cloud had been hacked, etc... And I want to be able to use the watch without internet connection. When I dont have internet connection the connection between watch and smartphone get lost. The smartphone loose the connection so you are not allowd to do anything. Imagine a big electricity crash. Your 1000 USD GPS watch wont be able to connect smartphone.

    I want to own my data in my phone and decide if I want a copy in the cloud or in my smartphone or my computer. 

    I want to be able to use my Fenix with 100% of functions even if we are internet disconnected. 

  • I want to be able to use my Fenix with 100% of functions even if we are internet disconnected. 

    Unfortunately, the Fenix watch is probably not for you. Perhaps try another brand that will allow you to do what you want with the results you desire.

  • I would've ignored OP but they're actually in the outdoors versus me in the city.  We're wusses compared to someone roughing it.  They have to travel 30 kilometers once a week to get Internet?  That's a legit outdoors.  Why have a watch measuring altitude and barometric pressure with 3 GPS systems if it's for mall walkers?  There are activities for jumping out of airplanes and hanging on rock faces.

  • I go without internet connection all the time. Every time I get on a plane, and every time I lose cellular data when I'm up in the mountains. It's never been a problem, the watch works fine the whole time. 

    But it's true that you can't sync the data to "the cloud" and view it on your phone until you regain internet connection. If you go months or years at a time without any internet, then Garmin may not be right for you - which makes me wonder why you keep buying them, if that's the case.