Garmin Fenix 6, 6S, 6X, and Fenix 6X Pro Solar: What you need to know

2022-05-21 23:25:17 By : Ms. Victoria Peng

Links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

When it comes to fitness watches, Garmin houses one of the most comprehensive lineups available. The company’s high-end multisport offering, the Fenix line, is an attractive product for just about anyone — if you can justify the price. While the Garmin Fenix 6 series has been outdone by the Fenix 7 series, it’s still a powerful lineup users can now grab at a good price.

That said, the series is quite confusing, with more than 10 separate base and pro models split throughout the Fenix 6, 6S, and 6X product lines. Keep reading to figure out which Garmin Fenix 6 is right for you!

The Garmin Fenix 6 has three separate entries in its lineup: the Garmin Fenix 6, Garmin Fenix 6S, and Garmin Fenix 6X. Here’s a quick roundup of each option’s basic specs:

To make matters more complicated, there are then four versions of these models: the base version, the Pro version, the Sapphire Pro version, and the Pro Solar version. Here’s a quick breakdown of the major differences between them:

No matter which version you choose, you’ll always get GPS, up to 9-14 days of battery life (without GPS on), and a host of health features like an optical heart rate sensor, pulse oximeter, and advanced sleep monitoring. You also gain access to the company’s excellent health app, which has an incredibly rich feature set.

The Garmin Fenix 6 and 6S originally launched starting at $549. The Pro versions launched starting at $649 (the larger 6X Pro starts at $699). Now that the Garmin Fenix 7 is here, you can typically find this older-gen line on sale for hundreds of dollars off. That’s a pretty good deal when what you’re getting is a no-compromise smartwatch that will last for years to come.

The Garmin Fenix 6 is absolutely worth buying if you don’t mind settling for slightly older tech. If a touchscreen is a priority though, you’ll want to spring for the Fenix 7 series. The Fenix 7 line also boasts upgraded battery life and solar charging, plus new training features. However, many of the best features can be found on both lines and Garmin continues to support the Fenix 6 series.

For most people, the best bet will be the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro (or 6S Pro for smaller wrists). There are much better (and cheaper) alternatives to the base version without Wi-Fi, but anything from the Fenix 6 Pro and up is a worthwhile investment.

It’s an all-around excellent device that serves equally well as a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. Its fitness tracking is truly all-encompassing, with features to please everyone from hikers to marathon runners and everything in between.

In fact, unless you can afford the Fenix 7 series, the main reason not to get this watch is that it may be overkill for your needs. For example, if you’re primarily a runner, you can probably get away with a much cheaper running-focused watch like the Garmin Forerunner 55 or 745.

While the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus was one of the most fully-featured fitness devices on the market when it came out in 2017, the Garmin Fenix 6 brings even more to the table.

In terms of physical size, every watch in the lineup is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. This is even more impressive when you consider that the 6 and 6X versions have larger screens.

On the inside, the Fenix 6 packs an improved GPS, which wasn’t exactly a problem with the Fenix 5 Plus, but it’s a nice improvement nonetheless. Pro models and up feature twice the onboard storage, jumping from 16GB to 32GB. In music terms, this means you can now store up to 2,000 songs.

Additionally, battery life also saw a boost, with at least 10% more juice in the can. In GPS mode, you can expect 50% more battery life on the Fenix 6, lasting up to 36 hours on a single charge. The difference is even greater with the Pro Solar edition, which features solar panels to charge during the daytime.

Read also: The best fitness trackers from Fitbit, Garmin, Xiaomi, and more

Software-wise, there are a host of features on the Garmin Fenix 6 series that weren’t available on the Fenix 5. These include better monitoring, route planning on maps, enhanced ski and golf features, and Garmin PacePro. PacePro allows you to fully customize your running routines with dynamic advice based on elevation profiles and more.

As far as being worth the upgrade if you already have a Fenix 5 Plus, the answer is probably no. These devices are expensive, and the upgrades aren’t anything particularly groundbreaking. Unless money is no object and you can jump to the Fenix 7 line, you can probably stick with the older model for at least a few more years.

The Garmin Fenix 6 lineup faces stiff competition from other brands and from Garmin’s own devices. Here are a few of our recommended Garmin Fenix 6 alternatives:

The Garmin Fenix 6 lineup starts at $549 for the smallest model and runs all the way up to $949 for the largest 6X Pro Solar model. These are popular watches from a well-known company, so they are usually readily available online or in certain brick-and-mortar stores.

Below is a quick breakdown of pricing. Note that these are starting prices, and different bands and finishes may be more expensive.

As mentioned above, we recommend getting the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro model, which you can buy at the links below.

Although you can get the Garmin Fenix 6 in a variety of sizes and styles, there are a number of accessories available, as well. These include new bands, screen protectors, mounting accessories, and more.

If you already have a band, it may fit your new Fenix 6 model. The Fenix 6S will fit any 20mm band, the Fenix 6 any 22mm band, and the Fenix 6X any 26mm band.

Check out what’s on offer at the links below.

Q: How often do I need to recharge the Garmin Fenix 6? A: The answer depends on your specific model and how you use it. Without GPS enabled, it can last for 12 or more days. However, enabling GPS will lower that to roughly 36 hours.

Q: What size Garmin Fenix 6 should I buy? A: The appropriate Fenix 6 for you depends on your wrist size. The smallest 6S will fit wrists from 108-182mm in circumference, the standard Fenix 6 132-210mm, and the largest 6X 135-213mm. The larger devices also have larger watch faces, so keep that in mind when choosing.

Q: What is the difference between the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro and Sapphire editions? A: The Fenix 6 Pro editions feature a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass lens, and the Sapphire editions feature an even stronger sapphire crystal lens. Otherwise, they are identical.

Q: Does the Garmin Fenix 6 support contactless payments? A: Yes. All models support Garmin Pay contactless payments at participating locations around the world.

Q: Does the Fenix 6 support music streaming apps? A: Yes, except for the base models. The Fenix 6 Pro, Sapphire, and Pro Solar models support Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, and local music uploads. You can read more about music services compatible with Garmin devices here.

Q: How durable are the Fenix 6 devices? A: In short, very durable. Although the Sapphire models are the most resistant, all models are tested to US military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance.