Anyone have both the Venu 2 and the Epix ?

I have the Venu 2s and Fenix 6s Pro and had the Epix 2 for a week but returned it because of size. And this is the only reason I returned it. I LOVE IT! And imo the Epix 2 is as big or small as the 935. I am still a lover of the MIP display for sports watches but the glare on the Fenix 7 line made me choose the Epix 2. But unfortunately I needed the watch to be smaller, an Epix 2s. But yeah the Epix 2 is massive in thickness and weight. 

Display is amazing, imo better in sunlight then the Venu 2s and even almost as good or even as good the the MIP displays. Otherwise the touchscreen during all-day use combined with this beautiful display and buttons for sports makes it the perfect watch. I have owned the 2s for some almost a year now but never really used it. Epix 2 is no comparison, 935 is no comparison. 

I am in no way a power athlete, do many some activities, but the Venu 2s was useless for so many reason: 1.only touchscreen, no buttons to do the activities with really, 2. sometimes deleted an activity during pausing because the touchscreen got to the shirt or towel and it ghost swiped something or ghost touched the display to delete or save the activity during a pause. 3. no sound alert. 4. not even recovery time which was very useful for me. 5. very unstable and unreliable sometimes freezing which I never had with any other Garmin watch. 

And I have read many complains people having with Physic True up and different watches etc. And Body Battery f.e. doesn't sync. And many more. 

I understand it with bulk and weight. But to me the Venu 2 is just a lifestyle watch for people who do a run here and there or a bike ride here and there. Nothing for anyone owning a real Garmin sport watch. Plus it is unreliable, even on normal stable FW. Often freezes... so annoying. 

Again the Epix 2 was amazing but like you way too big and bulky to me. Weight is ok though when you maybe use a light nylon band with it like I do. But I am sure there will be other watches this year, sports watches from Garmin with AMOLED. Maybe smaller or at least less bulky. I would wait a few more months and then choose again. I could never live with a lifestyle Garmin without real buttons for activities. And without at least recovery time. A 955 is rumored, maybe a 945 LTE with amoled? Maybe only wishful thinking. And 245 should get a successor. And maybe there will be an Epix 2s in the near future. Epix 2s would maybe be a choice? because it has a 1.2 display like the 935 but is lighter and I think not much heavier, just a bit thicker. I really hope they release an Epix 2s. And DCRainmaker stated that there will be more AMOLED Garmins coming for sure in the near future, maybe this year. 

Here's a few bullets from my story over the last couple of years ...

• Wrist size = 162 mm - so on the smaller side. 
• Had FR 945 back in the days - a great training watch with great size to me. But not so cool for work and business.
• Had the F6s Pro Sapphire but eventually sold it since I found it too bulky. But great for work and business.
• Been a very happy user of Venu 2 since it's release - but sold it yesterday. Do LOVE the amoled screen - it's just SO great.
• Had the F7 Sapphire Solar for 2 days - but could not accept the MIP screen. It's so dull compared to amoled! 
• Exchanged the F7SS for an EPIX and couldn't be happier. Finally a watch that looks good, works STELLAR and has a good fit. 

So to sum up, for me, EPIX really is the one. The one watch I have been waiting for the last 5 years. It looks fantastic, it works awesome, and it's light too. On my wrist, the Epix fits better than the F6s and that though my wrists are on the smaller side.

Here's a link to a "show me your EPIX" from the Garmin forum. This is my wirst with EPIX and the vented titanium band. The watch is big, but not too big and here two days after I barely notice it. In fact it feels quite a lot like my good old Omega Seamaster. Also note the weight with various bands. I believe FR945 is about 50g. EPIX with the Youside band is the same! 

Oh - and did I mention that screen. Not only does it look so much better, it's also so much brighter, but also the resolution is much better. Finally the displaysize is 1,3" vs. 1,2" That is quite noticable. 

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/epix-2/284154/share-your-epic-epix-pics/1371737#1371737

Just my 2 cents 

Thanks  for sharing your thoughts at length. Yeah the Venu 2 is probably pretty close to what I'm after it's just too bad it's missing the 3 buttons on the left or at least two to change fields easily when running, can't be much fun being forced to do that with touch only as you point out ! In terms of the 4 field data limitation just saw this "GRun" DF that looks promising : apps.garmin.com/.../bf56e088-aefe-4fb4-8f16-b2e136b996a9

The FR245 with a 1.3" Amoled and Garmin Pay would probably be my ideal watch, hehe...A possible Epix 2s probably won't help that much as the "s" Fenix versions remain a tad thick and the "pro" features are built-in now.

My other issue with the Epix is that I can't rely on it for HR due to it's shape that doesn't conform to my 17.5cm wrist (too scrawny I suppose) but for my race today I wore the FR55 on my right wrist and broadcast HR, it was perfect.

Yes 1.3" is a must for me now too. Glad you found your "dream watch" but surely it feels at least as "bulky" as the F6s Pro you returned ? It's a lot ligher though so that would make for a better "feel".

It's too bad they don't have a "Venu" (or even FR935) type bezel on the Epix instead of that "towering"bezel that makes it hard to slip under a shirt.

If you haven't already, you can also check the Garmin subreddit for opinions on the Epix 2 and Venu 2

Soon...i have a Venu 2 and i love it:

-beatiful screen(dimensions/colors/touch/eveything)

-AOD has everything that i need when not exercising(live HR/time/date and two other data fields) and i don't even need to awake it, in fact my gesture is always off

-compared to the Venu, gps is more smooth and accurate and the consumption of battery is really low

-awesome battery for a whatch that i keep always on

But i would like to try some extra feature that only some series of Garmin has...before Venu/Venu 2 i tried a bit the VA4 but i really dislike the MIP display and that's why the Fenix series were not considered.

When i saw the Epix 2 i fell in love immediately but i was able to order it only today. I hope i will not get disappointed because i'm really used to the Venu 2. 

Will let you know my impressions soon  

Let us know how it goes ! I hope you won't be too surprised by how big of a watch it is !

DId you get a chance to compare the Venu 2 and Epix 2 screens ? They're exactly the same apparently.
Also I read that the "gesture" on the Venu 2 was originally a bit lagging but with the latest update was on par with the Epix 2.
Finally the scrolling was said to be a bit "slow" on the Venu 2 compared to the Epix but that may have been improved too ?

Scrolling is still night and day difference, I tested it with 8.05. It is a bit better I think then before, but Epix 2 just flies through the menus where Venu 2 still stutters. I think the Epix 2/F7 maybe have a newer and faster chip.... The whole user experience with touchscreen and Epix 2 is so different and much better everywhere. Maybe the Venu 2 was their test device for an Epix line up and more... 

Hum...that's not very good news. I wonder how some "heavy" CIQ DFs like GRun run on the Venu 2, on the Epix it's fine but on the FR55 it's really slow. With the 4 field limit on the Venu having a rich CIQ DF is a must.

Ideally they'd release a FR955 'or even a FR255) with an AMOLED but I don't know...it would make business sense for them to keep that on the uber expensive EPIX...