Garmin Epix Pro Review: Enhanced Attraction through Compactness (and an Added Flashlight!)
While my sentiments towards the second-generation Epix were rather indifferent, I’ve come to appreciate its allure much more with the introduction of the smaller Pro variant.
In a state of sleep deprivation and reluctance to embark on my morning run, I cast a glance at my wrist, where the Garmin Fenix 7S Sapphire Solar Edition was situated. Strangely, something caught my attention. Even before the pre-workout energy kicked in, I realized I could clearly read the screen in the dimly lit office, despite no external light source. It took a moment to register that Fenix watches lack OLED displays, and what I was actually wearing was the $999.99 Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition. This realization was quite the revelation. It was then that I comprehended the source of my colleague Thomas Ricker’s enthusiasm when he reviewed the Epix last year.
Throughout the years, the Fenix series has stood as the epitome of Garmin smartwatches, offering an array of advanced training features and battery life extending over weeks. However, the introduction of the new Epix last year disrupted the Fenix 7’s established identity. It felt as if the Epix declared, “Watch this. I’m giving you an OLED display and a week of battery life. Oh, and by the way, I’m packing every feature found in the Fenix 7 lineup, so there you go, tech enthusiasts.”
Cognitively, I grasped the attraction. In the present day, a majority of individuals wouldn’t mind spending a bit extra for a contemporary OLED display, provided they aren’t compromising much elsewhere. My feelings towards the Epix were lukewarm, primarily because it felt akin to having a miniature hockey puck strapped to my wrist, and unlike the Fenix series, I wasn’t offered various size alternatives. However, the dynamics have shifted with the arrival of the Epix Pro and the Fenix 7 Pro. Garmin has expanded the size options, enhanced the hardware, and remarkably retained the same base model pricing. While this review will predominantly discuss the Epix Pro, it’s worth noting that this year, I’m finding it more challenging to decide between the Fenix 7 and Epix lineups.
Compact Excellence: A Small Epix With Big Benefits
My primary gripe with the Epix 2 was its sole size offering: 47mm. This seemed peculiar, given Garmin’s inclination for a range of product options. For instance, the Fenix 7 lineup encompasses 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm options.
Granted, a 47mm dimension is relatively common for multisport watches. Despite having a smaller wrist, I’ve worn watches of similar size without issue. However, the second-generation Epix didn’t fall into the category of watches that wear comfortably despite their dimensions. It amusingly dominated my wrist, boasting a thickness and weight that made arm swings during running feel akin to miniature weightlifting. Moreover, it wasn’t an accessory suitable for formal events, particularly those involving summer dresses or snug-fitting sleeves.
The Epix Pro I had the opportunity to test measures 42mm, and it’s amazing how much this change influences the overall experience. The thickness remains consistent at 14.2mm, but the effect is less pronounced when the watch’s physical presence isn’t as extensive. Additionally, the Sapphire Edition I reviewed boasts a titanium case that weighs a mere 58g with the straps included. (The standard stainless steel variant is 5g heavier.) In contrast, the regular Epix weighs 53g for the case alone and 76g with the straps. While I can still sense the Epix Pro’s weight during my runs, it doesn’t prove distracting for my daily jogs. It only truly comes to my attention if I have to accelerate into a sprint.
The issues I encountered with the larger 47mm and 51mm Garmins aren’t universal. For certain wrists, these sizes offer greater comfort compared to 42mm. The key takeaway here is that individual bodies, styles, and preferences differ. Garmin occasionally leans towards providing an abundance of choices, which might feel overwhelming, but I’d rather have an excess of options than face exclusion from tools that could be beneficial due to factors beyond my control.
Enlightened Features
The Epix Pro doesn’t bring a revolutionary leap beyond its predecessor, the Epix (gen 2). Garmin tends to provide features across devices as long as the requisite hardware is present. However, there are two distinctive attributes that set the Epix Pro — and the Fenix 7 Pro — apart from their standard counterparts: an updated heart rate sensor and LED flashlights.
The new optical heart rate sensor is, as anticipated, designed to enhance activity tracking. Another noteworthy aspect is the discernible alteration in the Pro’s sensor array design. The presence of multiple additional LEDs and what appears to be EKG electrodes surrounding them implies that this design can contribute to enhanced accuracy, and the inclusion of EKG electrodes suggests the potential for EKG-related functionalities in the Pro’s future. (Currently, only the Venu 2 Plus supports EKGs for atrial fibrillation detection, but Garmin has expressed its intention to extend this feature to other devices in due course.)
The introduction of a new heart rate sensor by Garmin holds considerable significance. While Garmin’s fitness and training functionalities are impressive, its health features sometimes fall short. For example, its sleep tracking provides a reasonable overall duration assessment, but the accuracy of sleep stages often diverges significantly from my Oura Ring’s readings. A more precise sensor holds the promise of improved health tracking due to the availability of more accurate data. However, the two weeks of testing I’ve conducted thus far haven’t provided sufficient duration to ascertain a substantial difference.
However, more exhilarating is the addition of the LED flashlight. My initial disappointment arose when I learned that Garmin initially implemented this feature solely on the 51mm Fenix 7X. Since I wasn’t inclined to compromise comfort for the sake of an option, I felt left out. Subsequently, this feature has made its way to other Garmin watches, and I’ve had my inaugural experience with it through the Pro. Interestingly, it turns out that the LED flashlight is one of the best-hidden gems of the Pro.
