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Sometimes the stars are aligned and when you’re preparing for a half marathon, doing long-distance runs or hitting the gym multiple times a week, you get to check a top Garmin multisport smartwatch.
Let us start with a disclaimer: in a multi-sport smartwatch like the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro you can’t check all the features in the span of 2-3 weeks. This includes several tasks and takes several characteristics months for testing (e.g. Garmin Coach, which is not exclusive to but is available with the Garmin F6 Pro).
In other words, a lot of running and cycle statistics, GPS and heart rate accuracy, battery quality, battery life, efficiency and so on can be measured over the last few weeks. You’re not alone, if you’re really overwhelmed with Garmin’s various Fenix 6 deals. There are 19!) (versions with different sizes of cases, colors of belts, glass, materials and a solar version option.
The titanium bracelet Pro Solar is priced at £ 1000, compared to high-end watches and some versions of the Apple Watch Series 5 look inexpensive.
Anyone who wishes a really high-end running watch a golf watch, a fitness watch, a ski watch, a hiking watch etc, should take the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro into account.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro vs. Garmin Fenix 5 Plus
The nearest equivalent of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus. Fenix 6 Pro has increased its overall physical size or weight by several key parameters such as battery performance and screen size. Apparently, the Fenix 6 Pro is lighter than the Fenix 5 Plus, being 82 grams, rather than the latter 86. F5 Plus (14.7 mm vs 15.8 mm), even thinners the F6 Pro.
Both the display width of the F5 Plus 1.2 “as well as the screen resolution (240 x 240 pixel in the F5 Plus and 260 x 260 pixels in the F6 Pro) have been improved to 1.3”. When not fewer than six fields are shown in running mode, the extra screen space is being used.
The internal space of Fenix 5 Plus (32 GB compared to F5 Plus’s 16 Gb) is now twice as large as the one of Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, which is convenient to store when you want to sync Spotify’s music (or Deezer’s etc.).
You could easily hook it up with a Bluetooth headset and off you go after uploading your running playlist.
Due to various battery modes that can prolong battery life up to 46 days, battery life has been considerably improved. This mode is referred to as the ‘ expedition ‘ just to ensure we understand who this role is on the target market. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro also offers a body battery feature that tracks your energy level during the day. It gives you an idea of how different activities, or even just your daily grind, can affect your total energy level.
The launch of the PacePro software is another change since the Fenix 5 Plus. PacePro recommends field pacing techniques (e.g. altitude intensity), the target time of completion and your own expectations. This is a particularly valuable feature to improve its speed strategy on unknown paths, even for pros.
Swimmers and athletes from triathlons are happy to learn that the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro can now read cardiac levels even underwater on your handle. The reliability is not as strong like the use of a chest strap.
Garmin Fenix 6 also comes with ski resort maps, pre-loaded and just in time. And don’t include the maps of the golf course on the F5 Plus.
Build Quality and Ergonomics of Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro feels solid and well put around each other. The sturdy stainless steel casing and sapphire glass certainly elevates the Fenix 6 Pro’s presentation.
This would include QuickFit silicone bands that can be reattached super quickly, in case you want to modify the strap. Various band combinations including silk, rubber, metal and even titanium are available (the latter, however, are £ 269,99).
This is not a touchscreen model, though the 5 physical push-buttons are rather simple to use in the Fenix 6 Pro.
The Fenix 6 Pro appears to bob up and down the wrist, due to its heavy case, and when you are going on a running session it is best to slightly tighten up the wrist to increase the accuracy.
It is not the most convenient thing to wear for the same reason (the watch is heavy). Nevertheless, the body battery feature cannot provide you with a proper reading if you don’t wear it for sleeping.
Obviously, this is due to personal preference. We feel uncomfortable to sleep with a watch, but the experience with each person is different.
The widget view, which is simplified to allow a better overview of more than one section in the main menu, is a major improvement in the user interface.
Battery Life and Modes of Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
The battery management features of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is one of the biggest improvements as its predecessor. The F6 Pro can last up to 46 days with a full charge thanks to the options for battery retention.
Even in smartwatch mode, the F6 Pro can last for up to two weeks, because you’ve been unable to use the most drastic battery saving feature (whoever goes to places a month and a half when they don’t have a charger?).
The next step down is the ‘ Max battery ‘ mode which uses Garmin’s UltraTrac function that less regularly records track points and sensor data, enabling the F6 Pro to last up to 72 hours.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro in GPS mode can still last for up to 36 hours, so you don’t have to fear that your smartwatch will die during your workouts. You can potentially use the watch almost a week without charging it with a mild workout-tracking.
Activity Tracking and Precision of Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Wrist-based tracking will never be the most reliable way of monitoring the heart rate, but it’s performing nicely for Fenix 6 Pro. It never had a difficult time interpreting HR, but it’s hard to tell if it’s right or not. The measurements are sufficiently accurate.
The Fenix 6 Pro picks up GPS signal rapidly and nobody have any problems with it losing signal during runs and cycles. This is probably due to the F6 using a GLONASS+GPS tracking system which utilizes 24 more satellites for added precision and accuracy. It can track smaller road shifts, so you can’t cut corners anymore.
The bigger screen allows Garmin Fenix 6 Pro to display six different real-time data fields (including the cardiac speed, range, total time, pace, cadence and lap timer) during running time. Everything can be changed and merged in the menu. You can also record your gym workouts with great accuracy.
It helps you to get a better understanding of your time in the gym, but you may consider humorous lectures when you fail to push the button between set and rest.
On the other hand, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro will automatically count your reps, and they even try to figure out what you were doing. In the course of your gym sessions and practice or afterwards in the Garmin Connect app, you can edit reps and weight numbers.
However, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro measures your workout status and recommends training styles based on your VO2 and blood oxygen levels.
Garmin Coach is also assisted by the F6 Pro. It is an innovative training program that can help you train up to 5k, 10k and half a marathon.
You too can choose from three various plans, and as you practice, Garmin Coach can change your plan to your progress. It can even support athletes who can run all three of them because you can practice to boost your time as well.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Review Verdict
The answer is a definite yes in most situations. The Garmin F6 Pro covers the majority of your fitness tracking needs and more when you consider buying a smart sports fitness card.
The reliability of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is outstanding. It feels premium, and although it is lighter in weight than the Fenix 5 Plus, the screen is larger with a greater resolution. For up to six different statistics on your race, the larger screen will be used better.
High precision is also used to track events. The F6 not only will locate a GPS signal quicker, but does not lose it either, thanks to the GLONASS + GPS system.
Any outdoor or indoor practices you can think of; the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro will be able to cover it correctly. Heart-rate monitoring is enough for wrist based monitoring and is in-line with measurements from other devices.
More metrics like VO2 max, blood oxygen levels, steps taken, floor climbs and breathing rates, are also effectively recorded. The Body Battery feature isn’t so useful for athletes but is a nice novelty.
With regards to battery, various power-saving modes provide plenty of options to bring the best out of it. In the end, the Fenix 6 Pro will last for over one and a half months, so you can rely on Fenix 6 Pro, if you ever want to go abroad for 40 days, and wants to keep track of your movement.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a fantastic and strongly recommended fitness smart clock. It is likely a little too heavy and bulky for athletes, but it has all the functionalities available to justify it.
You might want to read: Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Vs. Apple Watch Series 5