Fenix 8 is here! Now available to order at Garmin

DCRainmaker review www.dcrainmaker.com/.../garmin-fenix-8-in-depth-review.html

Watching the livestream and so far almost everything is software update. Maybe they've got something amazing to annouce at the end!?

Dive and microphone/speaker are hardware changes

Worth upgrading for microphone/speaker? I don't think so

completely agree. Dive though is a game changer for many

I wouldn't say so, most people who dive to any serious extent already have a diving computer (to which there are tons of competitors: ratio, suunto, shearwater, etc.. Its more like just a nice extra.
I'm genuinely not sure what the point of the Fenix 8 is other than garmin trying to appease more to the masses who want a smartwatch not a sport swatch.

What makes me think so is the fact that the software updates are more accommodating to phone integration, the promotion of amoled voice usage (thankfully theres still a MIPS variant but for $300 more...). A real update to the watch would have been LTE...
Another reason this fenix is aimed at the masses (and is a pretty scummy move imo) the price increase. It isnt really justified except that garmin knows people will buy it since garmin now has a sizeable audience who dont care about value and will just buy the new thing. I.e. Think apple, samsung, nvidia, amd, product where a ton of people just buy the newest thing even if they don't need it.

I think garmin plans on producing the fenix 7 alongside the fenix 8 for quite a while, and the price increase of the 8 allows garmin to sell the 7 at the same price while also selling a mark up'ed 8

For me, I have a Suunto Stinger for diving. I've had it since they released it many, many years ago. Suunto never really improved on it so I never updated it. Fast forward to now, and I've been using a Fenix/Epix/gpsmap for years and doing all my activity on Garmin devices. I've also had to take my Stinger with me everywhere, and even if I'd updated to a newer Suunto that would still have been the case. The Descent was always behind the curve and only available in large or small sizes and very expensive so I never went for it, while the Fenix 8 has just enough dive to mean I only need one watch.

I doubt I'm the only one in that boat, I imagine there are loads of people who want a single device and currently have a Fenix and an older diver computer since there's never been a compelling reason to upgrade dive computers, they just work.

For sure, making it so that one watch can do all is a nice thing. I've been diving regularly for a long time, and I sometimes do go beyond 40m, I know the majority of people probably stay under 40m, but regarless, I wouldnt really wanna put my safety on a watch that locks out at 40m. You never know what situations can arise underwater. For example, fighting a strong down current pulling you down, and now your dive computer isnt working with you, mix that in with a panic attack, scary stuff.

Also what a coincidnce, that was my first dive watch too, loved that thing, had it for a decade but it finally died recently.

From what I can see, it shows depth to 45m and the algorithm continues to work deeper but the display tells you to ascend. I imagine the depth gauge supports 100+m and it's a choice to only support 40m for competitive reasons. I think that's safe enough for most normal recreational diving.

Agree the Stinger is awesome and was revolutionary at the time as the first dive computer in a watch. 2 years battery life so I'm on 12 or 13 battery changes and not a single scratch on the sapphire glass. It's funny all the focus on "leak free buttons" here given that the 100m certified Stinger buttons are similar to the old Fenix ones 

Also, fun fact, Garmin Quickfit 22mm bands fit the Stinger perfectly