Garmin Fenix 8 Release Date And Details Leaked

Early leaked details on the Fenix 8 suggest the watch will represent a re-aligning of the high-end Garmin fitness tracker families.

Fitness Tracker Test writes that a Finnish store has listed the Fenix 8 as being available in September.

It also suggests the watch will see the end of the Epix series as we know it. In the early days, the Epix was the watch with on-watch maps. Then it became the high-end watch with an OLED screen.

The Garmin Fenix 8 will effectively take over that role, because OLED has fast become the norm display tech for Garmin, with the classic transflective style demoted to a niche.

All this really means is the Fenix was considered a more powerful brand than Epix, which should surprise few.

Garmin is not getting rid of the original Fenix concept altogether, though. It will reportedly release a watch with a transflective MIP screen, called the Fenix E.

This may appeal to the classic Fenix fans who are not so keen on this switch to a more power-draining screen. While Garmin’s OLED watches have battery life long enough to look great on a spec sheet, the real-life battery life drops drastically when you use the always-on screen mode and use the watch outdoors on a bright day.

Why? OLED screens have to compete with ambient light, while the classic transflective MIP style feeds of it, only getting clearer when worn outside in the sun while using almost no battery life.

The leak also suggests the Garmin Fenix 8 will come in three sizes: 43mm, 47mm and 51mm. This matches the standard, S and X models available today in some ranges.

Meanwhile, the Fenix E appears to be a mid-size 47mm diameter watch only.

A launch in September 2024 means the Fenix 8 will arrive up to 16 months after the Fenix 7 Pro, and more than two and a half years after the classic Fenix 7.

What’s less clear is the new features the Fenix 8 will actually offer. Garmin’s most recent features include ECG heart readings and an LED flashlight even for smaller models. You can expect those.

To gain parity with the Apple Watch Ultra, Garmin could add next-level water resistance, for dive-ready performance. However, Garmin has a specific series of diver’s watches, Descent. It doesn’t necessarily make sense for Fenix to start cannibalizing its specialist models.