From CNET: Garmin's new $999 Fenix 8 smartwatch has plenty of features that sound familiar to Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Galaxy Watch Ultra owners, including a speaker, microphone and diving tools. But its battery life runs rings around these smartwatches as it can last almost a month on a single charge.
Both Apple and Samsung have emerged as rivals to Garmin's outdoors watches in the past few years, appealing to people who want a rugged, high-end smartwatch with better battery life than standard models. But the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2 and $649 Galaxy Watch Ultra generally last between two or three days on a single charge, compared to a maximum 29 days from the Fenix 8.
Garmin's focus with the Fenix 8 and $899 Enduro 3, also announced at the same time, is sports and endurance use. There's a new sensor guard, leakproof buttons and a 40 meter dive rating on the Fenix 8, while the Enduro 3 is lighter than Garmin's earlier Enduro watches, weighing 63 g.
The Fenix 8 comes in three sizes (43, 47 or 51 mm) and the battery lasts up to 29 days with the 51mm AMOLED watch; up to 16 days on the 47 mm version; or up to 10 days on the 43 mm. Like earlier Fenix watches, the Fenix 8 has a solar edition in both sizes that charges the watch so you don't need to be near a power source to top it up. That version with a memory in pixel (MIP) display lasts up to 48 days.
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