Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar: What's the Trade-Off?
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024
Garmin Fenix 8 is the latest addition to the popular Fenix line of rugged, multisport GPS watches. It succeeded the Fenix 7 Series and offered several improvements over its predecessor. How does this new model stack up against the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar, which is one of the premium offerings in the Fenix 7 Series?
Key Takeaways
Garmin Fenix 8 offers new diving features, sports-specific strength training, and a built-in speaker and microphone, but it lacks sailing-specific activity profiles that the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar supports. Choosing an AMOLED-based Fenix 8 also means sacrificing a solar charging capability. Built-in mapping is also exclusive to the Sapphire variant of the Fenix 8, while the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar has the TopoActive map preloaded.
Garmin Fenix 8
The Ultimate GPS Smartwatch
✓ AMOLED Display
✓ Advanced Strength Training
✓ Built-in Speaker & Microphone
✓ Dive-Rated
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Premium Fitness and Outdoor Watch
✓ MIP Display with Sapphire Lens
✓ Advanced Training, Health, Fitness
✓ Built-in TopoActive Maps
✓ Solar Charging
#1 Price & Variants
Garmin Fenix 8
Fenix 7 Series comes in a range of variants with different pricing for each size and model, but the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar we're discussing here retails at US$899.99, which is quite an investment.
Fenix 8 Series is priced even higher, with a starting price of $999.99 for the 43mm AMOLED model and going up to $1,199.99 for the 51mm Solar variant.
The 51mm Fenix 8 Solar is the closest to the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar in comparison, so the price difference between the two top-tier models is around $300.
The detailed pricing for the different Fenix 8 models is as follows:
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
#2 Design & Display
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar offers a transflective MIP display, which uses ambient light to enhance visibility in bright conditions, but may struggle in low-light situations. This is why the new Fenix 8 features an AMOLED display, which is not only great at all times but also offers more vibrant colors, better contrast, and higher resolution than the MIP.
However, the AMOLED display is only available in the Fenix 8 AMOLED models, while the Fenix 8 Solar variants still feature a transflective MIP display like the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar.
Fenix 8 Solar also uses the same lens and bezel materials as the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar, which are Power Sapphire Lens and titanium bezel. All the other Fenix 8 models have varying lens and bezel materials, so the Fenix 8 Solar variant is the most comparable to the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar in terms of design and display.
What sets the two apart is that the Fenix 8 Solar and all the other models in the Fenix 8 Series have a dive-rated design. This is because the Fenix 8 Series features new leakproof inductive buttons that allow no hole for water to enter the watch, as well as a sensor guard to protect essential sensors from potential damage.
The Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is not dive-rated, but it still boasts a 10 ATM water resistance rating for swimming, showering, and other water-based activities.
#3 Health & Fitness Features
Garmin Fenix 8
Garmin Fenix 8 offers some exclusive health and fitness-related features not offered by the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar, including the ECG app, Advanced Strength Training, and Diving Features.
• The ECG app allows users to take an electrocardiogram reading right from their wrist, which can be useful for monitoring heart health and detecting signs of AFib.
• Advanced Strength Training provides 4-6 weeks of strength training plans tailored to specific sports.
• Diving features include a depth sensor, dive planner, safety stop, no-fly time, and more. Supported diving activity profiles include Scuba Diving (single gas) and Apnea Diving.
Despite these advantages, the Fenix 8 lacks two sailing-related activity profiles that the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar offers, including Sail Racing and Sail Expedition. For sailing enthusiasts, this can be a significant trade-off.
The remaining core health and fitness features are largely similar between the two models. You will find heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, stress, and activity tracking, as well as the more advanced training features like Garmin Coach, PacePro, ClimbPro, Training Readiness, and more on either watch.
#4 Maps & Navigational Features
Garmin Fenix 8
While the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar offers a preloaded TopoActive map, the Fenix 8 Series has it preloaded only on models that feature a sapphire lens, including the Fenix 8 Solar and Fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire Edition.
TopoActive maps provide detailed topographic information and are optimized for outdoor navigation, which is very useful for hikers, trekkers, and outdoor enthusiasts. For the other Fenix 8 models that don't come preloaded with the TopoActive maps, it will cost you an extra US$59.99 per continent to download.
The attractive aspect of the Fenix 8 Series is the new support for QZSS and BeiDou, which are Japan and China's global navigation satellite systems respectively, providing more options in addition to the existing support for GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo already available in the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar.
Regardless of those differences, both the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and the Fenix 8 Series offer excellent navigation and mapping capabilities, including features like breadcrumb trails, point-to-point navigation, SatIQ, and more.
#5 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and the Fenix 8 share a range of common daily smartwatch features, including smart notifications, music storage and control, Garmin Pay, on-wrist texting, and more.
The key difference is the built-in speaker and microphone that the Fenix 8 allows for on-wrist calling, voice note recording, and voice commands, which is not available on the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar. However, the Fenix 8 still lacks LTE connectivity more commonly supported in premium smartwatches from brands like Apple and Samsung, so calling and messaging still requires a nearby paired smartphone.
On top of that, the Fenix 8 also offers two new features, Focus Mode and Garmin Share. Focus Mode allows users to customize a group of settings for different situations like sleep and activity, while Garmin Share lets users easily share saved locations, courses, and workouts with other Garmin device owners.
#6 Battery & Charging
Garmin Fenix 8 Solar
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and the Fenix 8 Solar have solar charging capability, while the Fenix 8 AMOLED doesn't. Solar charging is particularly desirable for outdoor enthusiasts who want extended battery life without having to frequently recharge their watch, or those who don't have easy access to power outlets during their adventures.
Despite both supporting solar charging, the Fenix 8 Solar boasts a revamped solar panel that allows for more solar power than the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar. With solar charging, the 51mm Fenix 8 Solar can last up to 48 days in smartwatch mode, while the 51mm Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar can last only up to 37 days in smartwatch mode.
Without solar charging, the 51mm Fenix 8 AMOLED has an even shorter runtime of up to 29 days in smartwatch mode or 13 days with the always-on display.
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Final Thoughts
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Here are the things you'll have to trade off for choosing the Fenix 8 over the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar:
● Higher price, with the Fenix 8 Solar costing around $300 more than the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
● Less sailing-specific activity profiles, as the Fenix 8 lacks the Sail Racing and Sail Expedition profiles
● No preloaded TopoActive maps on non-Sapphire Fenix 8 models, requiring an additional purchase
On the contrary, deciding to go with the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar means you'll have to bid goodbye to these new features of the Fenix 8 Series:
● An AMOLED display for better visibility in all lighting conditions (AMOLED models)
● Exclusive health and fitness features like the ECG app, Advanced Strength Training, and Diving Features
● Support for QZSS and BeiDou satellite systems for improved global navigation
● Built-in speaker and microphone for on-wrist calling, voice note recording, and voice commands
● Revamped solar panel for longer battery life (Solar models)
● Dive-rated design with new leakproof inductive buttons and sensor guard
Overall, the choice between the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar and the Fenix 8 will depend on your specific needs and preferences, as both watches offer a robust set of features for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness-focused users.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 8 Solar
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 7 Pro
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Epix 2
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Epix Pro
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Forerunner 965
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra
Don't miss out on tech
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest tech trends and guides on the best gadgets around.
