Priced out of Garmin MIP...

Anybody else look at the new Fenix 8 launch noise and just feel sad?

It's nice that Garmin introduced new models with MIP, but the pricing on those lines is insane. I think I'll have to consider other brands or just going watch-free if my FR255 wears out and they haven't brought back anything like it.

Honestly, I'm not an athlete or fitness junkie. To me, the FR255 (non-music) was just a great value as an outdoors capable watch without all the stupid "premium" markup for things I don't need and can't accept buying as superfluous add-ons.

Primarily the decent GPS, the MIP screen, and decent battery life all at a price I could manage. Their new Enduro 3 seems the most similar spirit, but still at least double what I can justify spending.

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0 Ben 2 months ago

True, crazy high prices

0 TedW 2 months ago

Agree. I tried upgrading to a sale-priced 965 for a week (too many bugs, low battery life) and just returned it. I'm happy with my 255 (non-music) but would love something MIP with maps, if it's affordable. The Enduro 3 looks great but its way too expensive.

0 TedW 2 months ago

I'm starting to look at Coros watches.

0 ep013 2 months ago

Even if you're willing to pay the price, smallest size is 47mm. They've turned MIP into a niche. I wonder if it's so hard for them to understand some of us bought Garmin precisely because they weren't Apple watch clone?

0 ovekvam 2 months ago in reply to ep013

So which brands have MIP displays for sport watches? Only Coros?

0 rtperna 2 months ago

Hey, 255 non-music here as well. I truly don't need anything else in a Garmin. I have a hard time imagining them ever getting rid of the MIP display in the Forerunner line; OLED is just not practical for a lot of use cases.

0 Ben 2 months ago in reply to rtperna

If you want to keep the watch light and thin with a great battery life an MIP display is what you need, my fr255 non music is really balanced, maps could (sometimes) be a nice to have, but if you really need you can charge a track and follow the path, a flashlight would be great too but it's probably asking too much for that price-point with the actual Garmin price mindset. I would still recommend the fr255 today, saw on sales around 199€, really good deal considering all the software updates and features received in the last 2.5y. Hope they will keep the double choice MIP or OLED with the next models.

0 6125703 2 months ago in reply to rtperna

"I have a hard time imagining them ever getting rid of the MIP display in the Forerunner line"

But we don't have to imagine. They already did that with the 165/265/965 line and discontinuing the 255/955 line!

0 FlowState 2 months ago in reply to rtperna

rtperna said:
I have a hard time imagining them ever getting rid of the MIP display in the Forerunner line

No offense, but why do ppl keep saying this? It's such a cope.

Garmin has already gotten rid of the MIP display in the Forerunner line. If it isn't enough that DC Rainmaker (and everyone else) have been saying that MIP is dead for Forerunner for a while now, just consider the recent history of Forerunner models:

255: MIP
955: MIP
265: AMOLED
965: AMOLED
165: AMOLED

Looks a lot different than the Fenix situation.

Fenix 7: MIP
Fenix 7 Pro: MIP
Fenix 8: AMOLED and MIP

0 6125703 2 months ago in reply to Ben

Yes, I thought it was a great value when I bought mine. But, I think they're on clearance and I won't count on them remaining available in the future.