Fenix 8 vs Epix Pro or maybe wait for Epix 3?

Looks like a very, very lacklustre update for us Epix Pro owners. I should be thanking Garmin for saving me a nice chunk of money

Not impressed either and i don't even have a pro version of the Epix 2.

I know that they can't add every time something new like it was the multiband or the AMOLED display and sometimes the new stuff are just not for everyone like the microphone/speaker or the diving capabilities.

I'll still enjoy my Epix 2 for a while i guess.

Also using my Epix Gen 2 47mm, bought when released, and see nothing that compelling for my uses. Flashlight, mic and speaker, EKG, Messenger app, Share app, Trolling Motor Remote! Garmin replaced my Epix a few months ago due to some screen burn in. Could hold me till Fenix 9. 

Dive rating and speaker/mic appears to be the main difference. Also the small and midsize models get a display size increase, the large model doesn't. 

If I didn't already have an Epix Pro then I might consider getting the Fenix 8, but already having an Epix Pro it would be kind of a waste of money for not a lot of gain. At least in my opinion.

it's really just a Fenix 7.5. I mean maybe if it had on wrist LTE calling, it would be a worthy successor. Without that and the out of touch with reality price, no thanks

Hoping we'll see LTE in the 8 Pro in a year or a year and a halves time. Would definitely be a worthy upgrade.

If next Venu version will have LTE then you might expect it in next Fenix, if not, forget about it in nearest future.

I think the F8 Solar will be the last Fenix MIP watch.  In the future the MIP screens will be reserved for Enduro family and AMOLED will be on the Fenix line.

net1994 said:

I think the F8 Solar will be the last Fenix MIP watch

Please don't say that. I'm one of the few remaining hardcore luddites that love the MIP screen, especially in a 47mm body.

Adam-1972 said:

If next Venu version will have LTE then you might expect it in next Fenix, if not, forget about it in nearest future.

It has to with the numbers of us asking for it. I suspect that they're trying to get voice to text figured out first - something that they may introduce with the F8 in time. That will then give them one of the main requirements needed in order to release a fully independent LTE watch (Independent of using Siri or Google for the text conversion). Then you've still got the problem of Apple keeping everyone locked out of iMessage, but that appears to have been somewhat worked around via Garmin Messenger so long as you can convince your friends and family to use a new chat app.

If I was a betting man, I'd say full LTE (e.g a real Apple Watch competitor) is about 2 years away. It's a slow process, and Apple and Samsung are going going to make strong headway into adding sports and navigation features to their product during that time. It's going to be a very interesting battle to watch.

Oh and final thoughts - Garmin are going to be collecting data on how many people make and receive phone calls and how we utilise the phones' voice assistant through the watch. They might just abandon the idea of LTE altogether it there's minimal engagement with those new features.