Garmin Enduro 3 vs Epix 2: Which of These Watches Meant for You?
Naila Syifa
Updated October 2024
Garmin Enduro 3 and Garmin Epix 2 are some of the premium models in Garmin's lineup of smartwatches designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. Both have many common features, but they have some specific strengths that make one a better choice over the other for certain use cases. So which one is meant for you?
Key Takeaways
Enduro 3 is designed for endurance athletes, while Epix 2 accommodates military and sailing purposes better. This is because the Enduro 3 has a really powerful battery and nylon strap optimized for longer activities and adventures, while Epix 2 offers four extra activity profiles catered towards military and nautical use cases – Jumpmaster, Tactical, Sail Racing, and Sailing Expedition.
Garmin Enduro 3
The Ultraperformance GPS Smartwatch
✓ MIP Display
✓ Lightweight UltraFit Nylon Band
✓ Built-in TopoActive Maps
✓ 320 Hours with Solar Charging
Garmin Epix 2
High-End Outdoor Watch
✓ AMOLED Display
✓ 99 Activity Profiles
✓ Optional TopoActive Maps
✓ 42 Hours with Solar Charging
#1 Design & Display
Garmin Epix 2
Both being adventure watches, the Enduro 3 and Epix 2 have rugged, durable designs built to withstand outdoor activities. They boast a 10 ATM water rating, which means they can withstand water pressure up to 100 meters.
One unique design element that gives the Enduro 3 more emphasis on endurance activities is its UltraFIt Nylon band, which is lightweight and breathable for long-wearing comfort. Epix 2 comes with a standard silicone band, though it is also compatible with the UltraFit Nylon band if you want to purchase it separately.
Garmin Enduro 3 uses a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and titanium bezel, while the Epix 2 uses a Corning Gorilla Glass and stainless steel bezel. However, the Sapphire Edition of the Epix 2 also features a sapphire lens and titanium bezel.
One advantage that the Epix 2 has over the Enduro 3 is the display. With a 1.3" AMOLED screen that supports always-on, the Epix 2 provides a vibrant, bright, and high-resolution display that offers excellent visibility in various lighting conditions. The 1.4" MIP display on the Enduro 3 is larger and more power-efficient, but not as visually striking as the AMOLED screen on the Epix 2.
Garmin Epix 2 has also been tested to MIL-STD-810 US military standard for durability. While Enduro 3 is also built tough, it has not been specifically tested to MIL-STD-810 standard.
#2 Health & Fitness Features
Garmin Enduro 3
Both watches are equipped with an advanced suite of fitness and training features, from Daily Suggested Workouts, Garmin Coach, training readiness, training status, real-time stamina, multisport activity, PacePro pacing strategies, ClimbPro ascent planner, race predictor, and many others.
Garmin Epix 2 supports a wider type of activity thanks to its 99 built-in activity profiles, compared to 95 activity profiles on the Garmin Enduro 3.
The four extra activity profiles that the Epix 2 has are more focused on military and sailing applications, including Jumpmaster, Tactical, Sail Racing, and Sailing Expedition. This makes the Epix 2 more suitable for military and sailing than the Enduro 3.
In terms of health-monitoring features, while both watches equally track heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, and stress, the Enduro 3 stands out with its ECG app support, which assesses heart rhythm to detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common
Garmin Enduro 3 also has a unique Advanced Strength Training feature, which the Epix 2 lacks. This feature creates customized 4-6-week strength training plans tailored to specific sports for athletes of all types to personalize their workout.
#3 Maps & Navigational Features
Garmin Epix 2
Garmin multisport GPS smartwatches typically support 3 different kinds of maps – TopoActive maps for road and trail navigation, SkiView maps for skiing and snowboarding, and Golf Course maps that cover over 43,000 golf courses worldwide.
The good news for Garmin Enduro 3 is that all three maps are preloaded on the watch, as compared to the Epix 2 which offers the TopoActive maps exclusively on the Sapphire models, so you'll need to purchase it separately for US$59.99 per continent if you have the standard Epix 2 variant.
Garmin Enduro 3 also supports five GNSS, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou. SatIQ is also available, so the watch can automatically switch to the best mode for the most accurate GPS tracking and optimal battery life.
Garmin Epix 2 only supports GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. SatIQ is also exclusive to the Sapphire models. Therefore, the Enduro 3 offers more robust GPS capabilities that can be especially beneficial for adventurous outdoor activities.
#4 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Enduro 3
Both the Enduro 3 and Epix 2 share most of the same smartwatch features that can be found on other Garmin wearables, such as smartphone connectivity, smart notifications, messaging, music playback, and contactless payments.
One extra feature is available in the Enduro 3 – an LED flashlight. This can be useful for daily tasks or emergencies when you need a quick source of illumination.
#5 Battery Life
Garmin Enduro 3
The Enduro 3's long-lasting battery life is likely where it derives its name. With solar charging, the Enduro 3 can last for up to 320 hours in GPS mode or 90 days in smartwatch mode. But even without solar charging, the smartwatch is rated for up to 120 hours of runtime in GPS mode and 36 days of use in smartwatch mode.
The Epix 2 is losing so much, offering up to 42 hours of battery life in GPS mode and 16 days in smartwatch mode. There is also no solar charging feature, so there's no option to extend the battery life further when you're out on long adventures.
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Epix 2
Final Thoughts
Garmin Epix 2
Garmin Enduro 3's comfortable strap, long-lasting battery, and comprehensive outdoor navigation capabilities make it the more suitable choice for endurance athletes and adventurers who require a watch that can withstand the demands of their active lifestyles. However, its display may not be as bright, and it lacks support for some military and sailing-specific activity profiles.
Meanwhile, Garmin Epix 2's vibrant AMOLED screen and military/sailing-oriented capabilities cater more to specialized users in those domains. It also shares many of the advanced training features and navigation capabilities with the Enduro 3, though some are only available on the Sapphire edition.
Overall, we recommend the Enduro 3 for endurance athletes and adventurers, while the Epix 2 is better suited for military and sailing enthusiasts.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix 8
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix 7 Pro
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix E
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Forerunner 965
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Epix Pro Gen 2
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Instinct 2X
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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