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735XT vs fenix 3

Ok guys here is a comparison in a park I run in often. About half has medium tree cover this time of year.

http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#ktW3i8ts

You can see the 735 tracks are much better, even in this environment, where I would not say it is overly difficult. Interesting distance accrual was dead on at all points of the run at every point I check both watches were within 0.01 miles of each other the entire run.

Another interesting point, I had the fenix 3 using footpod instant pace and the 735 on GPS instant pace and on all times I checked they were within 5s of each other and even better, the 735 was very stable and never (when I checked) gave an untoward results.

Unfortunately I forgot my chest strap, but can say HR was within my normal range for this pace and this run at all times.

Elevation plot for 735 does not look as good as fenix 3 unsurprisingly (elevation correction was on for 735 data), but I am not sure this was transmitted to the gPX file I used in mygpsfiles, because in GC the +- elevation was 42 ft gain and 43 ft loss which is higher than f3 result (10 ft Gain 13 ft loss). I suspect better smoothing of GPS elevation will result in better results for this in the future.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago
    Update on the issue with te intensity minutes widget on my device: I did a spinning class yesterday which resulted in intensity minutes being displayed. Today I did another (hard) run. Afterwards the intensity minutes are shown as zero again (is this number reset daily?). In the weekly overview screen I can see the intensity minutes for the spinning class but nothing on any of the other days.

    Should probably start a new thread for this rather than writing in 734 vs fenix 3...
  • Should probably start a new thread for this rather than writing in 734 vs fenix 3...


    You say that, but then have a look at the change log for the latest Fenix 3 7.11 beta https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?352375-Fenix-3-Tactix-Bravo-Quatix-3-7-11-Beta-Release "Fixed an issue where high values for intensity minutes were getting clipped on the Intensity Minutes widget." Given F3 and 735 clearly share a very similar software platform, and that I was experiencing the same issue in the Fenix 3 7.01 beta https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?350912-Fenix-3-Tactix-Bravo-Quatix-3-7-01-Beta-Release&p=854159#post854159 and now fixed for me with 7.11 beta, it's probably not completely inappropriate to discuss on the 735 vs F3 thread. What I'm less clear on is how easy it is for 735 owners to report bugs/issues; do you have a direct email like the F3 beta or do you have to fight through the Garmin Customer Service front door/fire wall?
  • @Crispin_Ellisdon - Good to see you have time to post over here, thought you might be too busy fighting in the F3 GPS Accuracy thread, LOL. Sorry could not help myself, just stopped by over there and read the last few pages of that thread.
  • thought you might be too busy fighting in the F3 GPS Accuracy thread, LOL.


    No, I've given up with that thread as it just goes around and around and around..... in the same circles. I've had the F3 long enough to know what it can do, how to get the best out of it and where it falls short. I don't think there'll be any further GPS software tweaks to the F3 and the GPS hardware clearly has its limitations. So instead I'm more interested in the GPS performance of the newer hardware in the 735XT and whether that holds out hope for vastly improved GPS accuracy and precision with the next Fenix (Fenix 4 or whatever they decide to call it).
  • Agree with you on all points. The f3 for me gives good distance accrual in almost every condition I use it in and the tracks are less than perfect often, but never really affects my training. It is funny to watch newer users (and Z-74) argue with Gaijin (who seems to get magical tracks I cannot achieve even with military grade GPS systems) and Olu, who gives practical answers but is shouted down.
  • Agree with you both. Sometimes somebody says something so spectacularly removed from reality that I get sucked back into trying to reason with them. It never ends well. Someone (not Z74, in fact) saying "I don't see why you expect me to produce any evidence for my position" was the point where I exited, shaking my head, last time.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    You say that, but then have a look at the change log for the latest Fenix 3 7.11 beta https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?352375-Fenix-3-Tactix-Bravo-Quatix-3-7-11-Beta-Release "Fixed an issue where high values for intensity minutes were getting clipped on the Intensity Minutes widget." Given F3 and 735 clearly share a very similar software platform, and that I was experiencing the same issue in the Fenix 3 7.01 beta https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?350912-Fenix-3-Tactix-Bravo-Quatix-3-7-01-Beta-Release&p=854159#post854159 and now fixed for me with 7.11 beta, it's probably not completely inappropriate to discuss on the 735 vs F3 thread.

    sounds very much like that's the same problem. my first run was easy but the OHR had me running in z5 the whole time. my second run was actually long and hard. today i did another easy-ish run but with the HR strap on and the intensity minutes are shown (correctly?) in the widget
  • Agree with you both. Sometimes somebody says something so spectacularly removed from reality that I get sucked back into trying to reason with them. It never ends well. Someone (not Z74, in fact) saying "I don't see why you expect me to produce any evidence for my position" was the point where I exited, shaking my head, last time.


    Look, even I'm sucked in here! I gave in on that thread too. I always like the comments about 'it must be bad, look how many posts are in the thread'. Do they realise at least half the posts in that thread are from Z74 and Gaijin ;). Would be interesting to see how many unique users have actually posted in there.
  • Agree with you on all points. The f3 for me gives good distance accrual in almost every condition I use it in and the tracks are less than perfect often, but never really affects my training. It is funny to watch newer users (and Z-74) argue with Gaijin (who seems to get magical tracks I cannot achieve even with military grade GPS systems) and Olu, who gives practical answers but is shouted down.


    lol! That thread drives me nuts. I've been roped in a couple of times as well.

    I'm tempted to get the 735xt but the fact that it's a Forerunner is holding me back. The 920xt was left stagnant while the F3 gained a ton of refinements and new features. I also wasn't crazy about the GUI of the 920 (ie having to go through an activity to get to watch settings). Has that improved on the 735? Also does the 735 have an alarm? I use the vibration alarm on the F3 which has been invaluable.
  • Yes you can use a 735 to wake you up! It has Tone & Vibration, Vibration or Tone options.

    TBH I can't see the 735 getting a ton of refinements and new features as it has a load of features already. So it is the usual story of buying a watch for that it does now and don't what you might want it to do.

    And what did the Fenix 3 eventually get that the 920 did not that was REALLY useful for triathletes?