Garmin Fenix 7X Plus? (Enduro 2)

In a recent review of the watch DC Rainmaker referred to the Enduro 2 as the “Fenix 7X Plus”. I will state for context that I own the Tactix 7 Standard, and even though it’s not a Fenix per se it occurred to me that the Enduro 2 is (at least for now anyway) the new king of the hill as it is virtually the same as the Fenix 7/Tactix 7 series with much better battery life and a flashlight that is 2X as bright!

While I am baffled by Garmin’s watch release cadence and features associated with the new watches (this has been covered in another thread) this is not to bash Garmin. I’m wise enough to be happy with what I have and know this is just the nature of their business model. I’m just curious to know what the rest of this forum thinks about the Enduro 2? Why would someone who is considering the 7X buy that model instead of the Enduro 2?

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0 Skyewalkr over 2 years ago

Tactix 7 pro here and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Best watch Garmin has ever made, with plenty of features not found on either Fenix or Enduro 2 that I actually use regularly

+1 5135968 over 2 years ago

What is the appeal of LEDs? That seems no reason to buy at all, even if 2x brighter.

You can buy a keyfob with a bright LED in any bargain store....or buy reflective armband with LEDs for night running.

0 RunningM over 2 years ago in reply to 5135968

With your logic, you could buy a 1 dollar watch at bargain store and carry around a flash light, gps tracker, pedometer etc and save a ton.

Everyone else really love Garmin for bringing all the nice features and utilities to the watches. Flashlight is awesome to have on the watch

0 5135968 over 2 years ago in reply to RunningM

RunningM said:
Flashlight is awesome to have on the watch

What is your use-case that makes it 'awesome'?

As a safety feature (if that is the intention), the lights are facing 90 degrees away from where you'd expect (they are to the side, not front)

What did you do before Garmin introduced this? - eat a lot of carrots to help see in the dark, maybe? ;)

+1 Sam201176 over 2 years ago

I think it's a great way for Garmin to make excellent money.. Sell a Fenix 7x solor Sapphire with a clear led lense, and a bigger battery and case with an extra turn fork notification and yellow markers and call it the Enduro 2...that's much less work than needing to make a Fenix 7x plus probably..

I don't know if the Enduro 2 will effect Fenix 7x solor Sapphire sales?.. very possible, I may of chosen the new enduro over my Fenix 7x solor Sapphire, but I was upgraded for free from a 6x so I'm just grateful for that, and the Enduro 2 costs more than a Fenix 7x solor Sapphire.. so there are price points to consider.

0 Sam201176 over 2 years ago in reply to 5135968

I have to say I really appreciate having the torch its just so handy to have, I have powerful torches, but the watch light is so convenient..I was skeptical of the flashlight.... .it turned out an awsome feature.

+1 nickk over 2 years ago

Another T7 owner here who also has F7X SS…

I’d say E2 battery life is better, but not much better. I mean 34 days and 40+ days with solar do sound fantastic but let’s be honest: you already have more battery life in F7X and T7 (28 days and 34 solar respectively) than most would know what to do with. It’s an incremental increase. Not a revolutionary jump like from, say, Epix 2 with its 7-8 days with AoD.

A stronger torch is also a nice stat, but what’s included in F7X and T7 is already more than adequate in a watch, no? Do you really need 2x of that? This starts bordering smartphones camera pixel wars.

Now, on to T7… Even disregarding its unique tactical and air features (I’m sure nobody is using those ), you still have the best design hands down among Garmin watches. You have the best haptics with those nice knurled buttons. You have the only premium non-solar sapphire and thus way better screen visibility in T7 standard. And honestly, I personally find green light at night more natural and easier on the eyes than red.

So, congrats to Garmin on delivering fantastic update for its Enduro line! But I’m keeping my T7 and patiently waiting when new features come to it out of F7 beta.

0 brian.reiter over 2 years ago in reply to Sam201176

All of the software features of the Enduro 2 are coming to the fenix 7 and Epix 2. In fact the Enduro 2 was just added to the fenix 7 beta program so the firmware will be identical in the future.

The Enduro 2 is a fenix 7X with a larger battery that has about 1.25 the capacity of the 7X. In order to accommodate that the case is 1mm thicker. It also has a slightly more transparent LED lens cover for some reason — maybe improved materials availability? (I wonder if they will just change the lens part on the tactix 7 and fenix 7X at some point so they are only manufacturing one lens cover.) And it has neon green accents and an extra band in the box.

It’s a fenix 7X only more. If you were considering a fenix 7X but have not yet purchased and expect to be operating at the limit of the range then it makes sense, I guess.

0 Sam201176 over 2 years ago in reply to brian.reiter

I think the Enduro is alone in having turn fork directions on top of turn by turn or waypoint directions ...something I'd appreciate having, doing mostly hiking....i haven't seen that function added in beta or Alpha, I may of missed it?.

0 nickk over 2 years ago in reply to Sam201176

DCR mentioned this feature is coming to Fenix line later this year, so just like the Morning Report some people are really desperate about from FR955. It will get here.

Speaking of Endure 2 features... while I can't select GAP or incline as data fields in beta 9.31 yet, GAP is now showing again after the outdoor runs in GCM already. So, things are moving along.