Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 8 Series: What's New and What Stayed the Same?

By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024

The Fenix 8 series represents the latest and most advanced iteration of Garmin's flagship multisport GPS watches. Compared to the Fenix 7 series, the Fenix 8 boasts several key improvements and new features, but they also share many of the same core capabilities. So what's new and what stayed the same between the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 series?

Key Takeaways

Garmin Fenix 8's main upgrades over the Fenix 7 are its built-in speaker & microphone and a leakproof design that supports diving activities. It also introduces a new sport-tailored strength training, an optional AMOLED, and improved solar charging on the solar variant. Fenix 8 also now supports 5 GNSS compared to 3 on the Fenix 7, providing more accurate positioning and tracking. The rest of the core capabilities like health-tracking, training features, and daily smart features remain largely similar between the two.

On our list

#1 Price & Variants

#2 Design & Display

#3 Health Monitoring Features

#4 Fitness & Sports Features

#5 Maps & Navigational Features

#6 Smartwatch Features

#7 Battery & Charging

Garmin Fenix 7

Premium Fitness and Outdoor Watch

✓ Transflective MIP Display
✓ Advanced Training, Health, Fitness
✓ Multi-band GNSS with Optional SatIQ
✓ Optional TopoActive Maps

Buy on Amazon Buy on Synced

Garmin Fenix 8

The Ultimate GPS Smartwatch

✓ AMOLED Display
✓ Advanced Strength Training
✓ Built-in Speaker & Microphone
✓ Dive-Rated

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#1 Price & Variants

Garmin Fenix 7

Garmin Fenix 8 Series comes in 2 variants: AMOLED and Solar models. The Solar model uses a Power Sapphire lens to support solar charging, but it uses a MIP display instead of the more premium AMOLED.

Fenix 8 AMOLED is available in three sizes – 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm – and each comes in a Sapphire Crystal lens option that costs $100 more. Meanwhile, the Solar model comes in 47mm or 51mm case sizes and all have a Power Sapphire lens.

Fenix 8 Series Pricing
Fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm: $999.99
Fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm Sapphire: $1,099.99
Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm: $999.99
Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm Sapphire: $1,099.99
Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm: $1,099.99
Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm Sapphire: $1,199.99
Fenix 8 Solar 47mm Sapphire: $1,099.99
Fenix 8 Solar 51mm Sapphire: $1,199.99

Read more: Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED vs Fenix 8 Solar

Garmin Fenix 7 Series is available in a wider range of variants, including Standard, Sapphire Solar, Pro Solar, Pro Solar (No Wi-Fi), and Pro Sapphire Solar. The size options for each variant are 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm, consecutively labeled as Fenix 7S, Fenix 7, and Fenix 7X.

Fenix 7 Series Pricing
Fenix 7S Standard: $649.99
Fenix 7 Standard: $649.99
Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar: $799.99
Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar: $899.99
Fenix 7S Pro Solar: $799.99
Fenix 7 Pro Solar: $799.99
Fenix 7X Pro Solar: $899.99
Fenix 7 Pro Solar (No Wi-Fi): $799.99
Fenix 7X Pro Solar (No Wi-Fi): $899.99
Fenix 7S Pro Sapphire Solar: $899.99
Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar: $899.99
Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar: $999.99

#2 Design & Display

Garmin Fenix 8

Each variant of the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 Series can have different lens and bezel materials, but all Fenix 7 models have a MIP display while the Fenix 8 Series offers an AMOLED display option.

MIP displays are generally less power-hungry but tend to struggle in low-light environments, so the new AMOLED option on the Fenix 8 Series is surely appealing. It is brighter, more vibrant in colors, and has better contrast.

However, if we are to compare the Fenix 8 Solar with the Fenix 7 Series, then there is little difference in display performance as they both utilize a MIP display.

Garmin Fenix 8 Series also increased its smallest case size to 43mm, compared to the 42mm Fenix 7S, but a minor 1mm change does not make a significant difference for most users.

Fenix 8 Series indeed introduces some more notable design upgrades over its predecessor, but these relate more specifically to the watch's diving capability instead of the more general build or hardware quality.

The first new design feature is a leakproof button, which uses inductive technology instead of traditional mechanical buttons, so there's no hole in the case that could allow water to enter. There is also a new sensor guard on the side, protecting essential sensors like the barometer and microphone from potential damage and water ingress.

Thanks to these design improvements, the Fenix 8 is water-rated to 100 meters and dive-capable to 40 meters. While the Fenix 7 also offers a 10 ATM water rating for 100m water resistance, it is not certified for diving like the Fenix 8 Series.

#3 Health Monitoring Features

Garmin Fenix 7

Most health-tracking features remain the same for both smartwatches. Garmin Fenix 7 and 8 both can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, stress, and sleep with nap detection. Garmin's Body Battery continues to be a useful metric for understanding our energy levels, while Health Snapshot generates a shareable report of key health metrics over a 2-minute period. There are also wellness features like breathwork and jet lag adviser.

One difference between the two concerns the ECG app, which monitors heart rhythm and can detect signs of AFib. The Fenix 8 Series offers an ECG feature in all variants while the Fenix 7 only includes it in the Pro models.

This may sound like an advantage for the Fenix 8, but for people who aren't interested in the ECG feature, it can mean paying more for things you don't need. So, opting for the non-Pro Fenix 7 models can be a more cost-effective choice.

#4 Fitness & Sports Features

Garmin Fenix 8

Most of the fitness and workout-related features are similar across the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 Series, with both offering a wide range of activity profiles, training metrics, and advanced performance analytics.

The design upgrades allow the Fenix 8 Series to support Scuba Diving and Apnea Diving, with new depth-gauge functionality and various diving features like a dive planner, safety stop, and no-fly time tracking.

Fenix 8 also introduces a new Advanced Strength Training feature, which develops 4-6 weeks strength training plans tailored to specific sports. This level of personalization can help athletes of all disciplines train more efficiently for their chosen sport.

However, sailing-related activity profiles like Sail Racing and Sail Expedition are no longer available in the Fenix 8, while they were present in the Fenix 7 series.

#5 Maps & Navigational Features

Garmin Fenix 8

Both the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 come preloaded with ski resort maps, golf courses, and multi-continent TopoActive maps. Note that the TopoActive maps are only preloaded on select variants while others may require separate purchase and download.

Both smartwatches support multi-band GNSS for more accurate positioning, but the Fenix 8 adds support for two more satellite systems – Japan's QZSS and China's BeiDou – besides GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo already supported in the Fenix 7.

Different satellite systems have different accuracy and coverage, so having more options allows for greater flexibility in selecting the optimal satellite network. We can adjust the multi-band GNSS settings manually or simply enable SatIQ, which can automatically determine when multi-band GNSS is needed and select the best satellite system based on the environment, providing optimal positioning accuracy while trying to conserve battery life.

All models in the Fenix 8 Series feature SatIQ, while Fenix 7 offers it in all of its variants except the Fenix 7 Standard.

#6 Smartwatch Features

Garmin Fenix 7

A major difference when comparing the Fenix 8 vs 7 is the addition of a built-in speaker and microphone on the Fenix 8 Series. This allows the watch to take/make calls and access Siri/Google Assistant/Bixby when connected to a smartphone. When not connected, calling is not possible but voice commands are still supported offline with Garmin assistant. Voice notes can also be recorded right on your wrist.

Without a built-in speaker and microphone, the Fenix 7 Series can't do any of that. Communication features are limited to texting and notifications when paired with a smartphone.

Another new feature in the Fenix 8 Series is a Focus Mode, which allows customization of various settings for different situations, including Sleep and Activities. For example, you can create a Sleep profile that disables notifications, disables always-on display, and mute all sounds, so the watch doesn't disturb your sleep. The Fenix 7 Series has no Focus Mode, so you will have to manually adjust all these settings every time.

The Fenix 8 also features Garmin Share, which lets users quickly share saved locations, courses, and workouts with others who have compatible Garmin devices.

One more difference between the Fenix 7 and 8 is the LED flashlight, which can be very handy for nighttime activities or emergencies. While all the variants of the Fenix 8 Series offer an LED flashlight, only select Fenix 7 models include this feature.

Other than these key differences, the overall smartwatch features between the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 Series remain quite similar, such as music storage, Garmin Pay, stocks tracker, and more.

#7 Battery & Charging

Garmin Fenix 7

Each variant in the Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 Series has varying battery life, so comparing them directly can be a bit tricky. The newer Fenix 8 Series may not necessarily have a longer battery life, as the 47mm Fenix 8 AMOLED model has a shorter 16-day battery life compared to the 18-day battery life of the 47mm Fenix 7 Standard in smartwatch mode.

However, solar models of the Fenix 8 have an improved solar panel lens that better harnesses sunlight, with the 51mm model claiming to have 50% more solar power than its predecessor.

As a comparison, a 51mm Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar can last up to 28 days or 37 days with solar in smartwatch mode, while the 51mm Fenix 8 Solar can last up to 30 days or 48 days with solar in smartwatch mode.