Garmin Fenix E vs Enduro 3: What an Extra $100 Could Get You
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024
The Fenix E and Enduro 3 are some new Garmin releases in 2024, bringing excitement to the world of high-end fitness trackers and smartwatches. How do these two models compare? Let's take a closer look at the key differences between them.
Key Takeaways
Fenix E and Enduro 3 share many similar features, but investing $100 more in the Enduro 3 gets you a far longer-lasting battery with solar charging, SatIQ, an ECG app, an LED flashlight, and preloaded TopoActive maps. However, the Enduro 3 comes with a MIP display instead of the more vibrant AMOLED display found on the Fenix E.
Garmin Fenix E
Essential Multisport GPS Smartwatch
✓ AMOLED Display
✓ Advanced Strength Training
✓ Multi-Band GNSS
✓ Downloadable TopoActive Maps
Garmin Enduro 3
The Ultraperformance GPS Smartwatch
✓ MIP Display
✓ Lightweight UltraFit Nylon Band
✓ Built-in TopoActive Maps
✓ 90 Days with Solar Charging
#1 Price
Garmin Enduro 3
The Fenix E and Enduro 3 are only $100 apart, with the Garmin Fenix E retailing at US$799 while the Enduro 3 comes in at US$899. Despite the not-so-large price gap, the price tags are surely on the higher end of the spectrum, making it very important to thoroughly consider which smartwatch is most worthy of the investment.
#2 Design & Display
Garmin Fenix E
While both watches have a military-graded ruggedness, the Garmin Enduro 3 wins when it comes to the overall build and materials. With a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and a titanium bezel, the watch is built to withstand. The UltraFit Nylon strap is made with elastic dual-layer antimicrobial nylon weave, which is soft, comfortable to wear, and lightweight. Despite the ruggedness, the Enduro 3 weighs only 63g.
In comparison, the Fenix E weighs 76g. The watch features a Corning Gorilla Glass lens, a stainless steel bezel, and a silicone strap. These are not quite as premium as the Enduro 3's materials and design.
However, when it comes to display, the high-resolution AMOLED in the Fenix E offers a brighter, more vibrant, and higher contrast viewing compared to the transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display in the Enduro 3, which may struggle in low-light environments.
The AMOLED display on the Fenix E also supports the Red Shift Mode, which can be enabled for better, comfortable viewing at night.
#3 Health & Fitness Features
Garmin Enduro 3
Health monitoring, fitness tracking, and training features on both smartwatches are largely similar. They both track heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep; provide advanced training metrics and features; and offer 95 activity profiles that cover a range of sports and activities, including triathlon, swimming, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and more.
Both also offer the highly-anticipated Advanced Strength Training feature, which creates 4-6-week strength training plans tailored to specific sports. This is particularly helpful for athletes who want personalized strength training for their particular sports.
What sets the Enduro 3 apart from the Fenix E is its ECG app feature, which enables users to take an electrocardiogram reading directly from their wrist and detect potential signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm irregularity. The Fenix E doesn't support ECG, so the Enduro 3 is the more comprehensive option for health monitoring.
#4 Maps & Navigational Features
Garmin Fenix E
Garmin Fenix E and Enduro 3 share a range of navigational features, including dynamic round-trip routing, TracBack, point-to-point navigation, and multi-band GNSS with support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.
They also support SkiView maps for skiing and snowboarding, Golf Course maps for golf, and multi-continent TopoActive maps for outdoor activities and navigation.
The difference is that the TopoActive maps come preloaded in the Enduro 3, while the Fenix E requires an additional separate download.
In addition, the Enduro 3 comes with SatIQ technology, which can automatically select the optimal GPS mode based on the environment to optimize battery life and accuracy. If you're in a challenging mountainous region, for example, the Enduro 3 can switch to multi-band GNSS to maintain accurate GPS tracking and will auto-switch back to single-band GPS when it detects better satellite conditions to conserve battery life.
The Fenix E doesn't feature a SatIQ, so it requires constant manual adjustment if you want the most optimal GPS accuracy without draining the battery life.
#5 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Enduro 3
Garmin Fenix E and Enduro 3 offer a similar set of smart features that add convenience to everyday life, such as smartphone notifications, music controls, Garmin Pay contactless payments, stock tracker, calendar, weather forecasts, and more.
The only difference between the two is the LED flashlight, which the Fenix E does not have but the Enduro 3 does. This makes the Enduro 3 slightly more equipped as an all-purpose outdoor adventure watch.
#6 Battery & Charging
Garmin Enduro 3
The name 'Enduro' perhaps refers to the exceptional battery life of this smartwatch line, if not its durability. Offering the best-in-class battery life, the Enduro 3 can last up to 36 days in smartwatch mode or 120 hours in GPS mode. What's even more impressive is its solar charging capability, which is rated for up to 90 days of use in smartwatch mode or 320 hours in GPS mode.
Garmin Fenix E is nothing compared to the Enduro 3's truly enduring battery life, as it only offers up to 16 days of runtime in smartwatch mode or 42 hours in GPS mode. The Fenix E also doesn't support solar charging, so the Enduro 3 is the clear winner when it comes to battery life and charging capabilities.
Garmin Fenix E vs Garmin Enduro 3
Final Thoughts
Garmin Fenix E
Garmin Fenix E and Enduro 3 are both premium smartwatches packed with advanced features for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, but the Fenix E offers only the most essential capabilities while the Enduro 3 is more comprehensive.
The Enduro 3's solar charging capability is a game-changer, allowing you to extend your adventures without constantly worrying about battery life. It also offers SatIQ technology, an ECG app, and an LED flashlight that the Fenix E lacks.
However, the Fenix E has a superior AMOLED display compared to the Enduro 3's MIP display, which may be preferable for some users who prioritize a vibrant display that looks great at all times.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Fenix E vs Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix E vs Fenix 8
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Enduro 3
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Epix 2
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Epix Pro (Gen 2)
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Forerunner 965
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.
