Watch Evaluation: Garmin Epix Technology 2 ‘Premium Lively Smartwatch’

The Garmin Epix (Technology 2) is among the newest high-end smartwatches from Garmin. As somebody who has reviewed a variety of Garmin smartwatches, I used to be instantly delighted by what Garmin did with the Epix and the way the product has advanced. I additionally reviewed this Garmin “Premium Lively Smartwatch” not lengthy after spending a variety of time with the Apple Watch whereas engaged on an aBlogtoWatch characteristic about its exercise monitoring options and competitors mode. That allowed me to distinction how two heavyweight contenders within the premium exercise monitoring smartwatch market examine. In brief, neither is universally a greater product as a result of they actually attempt to place themselves at two completely different ends of the market — that means that the best exercise smartwatch selection at present has loads to do with who’s carrying it and what they need from their health and train monitoring expertise.

A good way to distinguish the Apple Watch and merchandise just like the Garmin Epix Gen 2 is by saying that Apple produces an easier-to-understand and well-rounded product for mainstream customers, whereas Garmin doubles down on deeper options, ranges of customization, and a extra sturdy monitoring and software program expertise for a spread {of professional} to prosumer consumer wants. Garmin produces high-end smartwatches for critical customers (comparable to athletes) who need to personalize their expertise, have a lot performance obtainable to them, and have the persistence for a steeper studying curve and penetration into the software program’s complicated options.

First, let’s discuss concerning the Epix Gen 2 {hardware} and design. Garmin, as an organization, is about up by product class (aviation, operating, boating, and so forth.), and plenty of classes might use a smartwatch for his or her customers. This helps clarify why there are such a lot of Garmin smartwatches in the marketplace and why a few of them have overlapping performance. Garmin additionally likes to experiment at occasions with completely different {hardware} applied sciences, comparable to screens and even working methods. What I attempt to do is focus my editorial consideration on Garmin watches which are good for quite a lot of customers and that mix hardcore exercise monitoring performance with daily-wear practicality. The Epix Gen 2 is simply such a product, and, whereas not the most costly smartwatch obtainable from Garmin presently, actually represents a luxurious smartwatch product with its roughly $1,000 USD pricing.

The Epix Gen 2 watch itself on this reference 010-02582-20 “Sapphire – White Titanium” variant has a 47mm-wide case produced from principally titanium with white-colored polymer-reinforced sections. Over the display is a sapphire crystal, however Garmin additionally sells a barely inexpensive model of the Epix Gen 2 with a Gorilla Glass DX crystal. For my functions, I desire the sapphire crystal. The case isn’t too thick (for a smartwatch) at 14.5mm, and it has a 416×416 pixel display that’s 1.3 inches in diameter. Actually necessary to notice about this watch is using an AMOLED display versus a transreflective MIP display, which is utilized in different comparable merchandise, such because the Garmin Fenix assortment.

The display is definitely one of many main product differentiators right here, and it makes a giant distinction. There are pluses and minuses to each screens, however I personally desire the AMOLED display general. Why? Nicely, though it makes use of extra energy and doesn’t have the identical legibility in direct daylight (although, with the brilliant backlight, you possibly can see simply nice in vivid mild) the display has extra decision (higher element), extra colours, and can be a touchscreen. Whereas this isn’t the primary Garmin smartwatch with a touchscreen, it’s the essentially the most premium mannequin I’ve examined that has one, and I actually recognize with the ability to use each the 5 pushers on the case and the touchscreen to function and regulate the Epix Gen 2.

The Epix Gen 2 case is water-resistant to 100 meters and has 32 gigs of inner storage for this sapphire crystal mannequin. It really weighs a bit lower than the Corning Gorilla Glass mannequin being simply 70 grams (with the strap) and may be very comfy to put on. After all, the Apple Watch remains to be a smaller profile product, which is necessary to think about if small dimension is necessary to you. Fashion-wise, I actually like how Garmin has continued to refine the masculine, aggressive look of its merchandise, which I feel started with the unique Fenix fashions. The case is way more symmetrical now, and the once-aggressive traces on the case have been smoothed and minimized to grow to be very enticing components of the general merchandise’ visible persona. That is very a lot epitomized within the design of the brushed titanium bezel across the display.

Battery life is a crucial consideration for a lot of customers, and Garmin actually leads the pack right here. After all, it relies upon how you employ your smartwatch, however I observed that the Epix Gen 2 has most likely the most effective battery lifetime of any full-featured fashionable smartwatch with a backlit display that I’ve reviewed. Whereas most smartwatches on this class have lower than 24 hours of typical battery life, outdoors of the field the Garmin Epix Gen 2 has about 5 days of battery life. That may even be prolonged by adjusting numerous options and utilizing numerous energy financial savings modes.

A superb instance of how Garmin intelligently saves on battery life is to suggest customers to set an “off hours” mode for the Epix Gen 2. Basically that is when the consumer defines their common sleep hours, and the watch goes right into a low-power state to avoid wasting battery life. It could not be doable to totally focus on every thing Garmin does or permits to increase battery life, however as with most options in these merchandise, there’s a lot to find in the event you dig deep. One space that I used to be not tremendous pleased with was the charging system, although it’s hardly a deal breaker. I are typically a fan of charging docks or clicks which firmly and attractively join smartwatches to energy. The Epix Gen 2 makes use of a small proprietary charging related which attaches to a port behind the watch. Garmin did loads to make sure that this cable doesn’t simply grow to be indifferent nevertheless it additionally appears prefer it might probably break or trigger the watch injury if jerked the unsuitable method when hooked up to the Epix Gen 2. The USB-based charging cable can be a bit on the quick facet, and for the sort of cash, I would really like have appreciated for Garmin to additionally embody an AC adapter.

With regards to sensors, I don’t have to checklist every thing that Garmin makes obtainable within the Epix Gen 2, because the checklist is lengthy and never essentially novel for this product. I’ll, nevertheless, remind those who this watch accommodates Garmin’s class main GPS system, Bluetooth and WiFi for Web and cellphone connectivity options, and a coronary heart charge monitor as a part of the exercise monitoring options. Garmin additionally sells a variety of modules and companion gadgets which you can pair with the Epix Gen 2 that vary from boating navigation tools to biking cadence screens.

When establishing the Garmin Epix Gen 2, I particularly didn’t need to use the smartwatch as a cellphone notification machine, that means that I didn’t need the watch to inform me about missed calls, textual content messages, or emails. Garmin has made the method of establishing your watch less complicated than up to now, and I recognize that on the outset, I might assist outline how I needed to make use of the watch. I used to be extra within the performance supplied by the watch itself and the way nicely it was capable of observe health and train targets.

Garmin affords loads — maybe an excessive amount of — in its general working system setting, whereas on the identical time not making most of its performance simply accessible to novice customers. I’ll spend a little bit of time speaking about numerous examples, however general I need to make it clear that anybody who purchases one in every of these merchandise has little selection however to spend time with the guide, studying about the way it works and what it does. Apple has a way more refined “out of the field” train monitoring expertise, whereas Garmin requires you to fiddle with settings and preferences to correctly tailor the Epix Gen 2 to your specific wants. That isn’t an excellent or dangerous factor, nevertheless it does imply that low or reasonably subtle customers is likely to be pissed off when wanting one thing that works nicely outdoors of the field, solely to be taught they should fiddle loads to customise the working system to their wants.

Let me provide an excellent instance of what I’m speaking about. While you begin a exercise on the Garmin Epix Gen 2, you’re offered with a couple of urged information screens for what you may wish to view throughout your work out. The default screens for actions comparable to spinning (indoor biking) or mountain climbing provide some unusual shows that I personally don’t use. The default screens don’t even let you know the present time. What Garmin permits you to do is customise all of those screens with a really (very) deep stage of customization that finally permits you to expertise the screens and performance you personally need when monitoring a piece out.

The issues is that doing all that is very time-consuming, in addition to complicated, as a result of lots of the choices use phrases and instruments I (who am not an expert athlete) know nothing about. Making issues tougher is that the truth that so far as I do know, none of this display or show customization is offered through the accompanying Garmin Join smartphone app. I actually like how the Apple Watch and most Google Put on OS smartwatches permit you to customise the “watch faces” through the smartphone app. This doesn’t appear to be obtainable with Garmin. I spent about 25 minutes establishing the watch to show what I needed whereas monitoring a spinning session after which gave up when doing the identical for monitoring hikes as a result of I ran out of time. That job would have been at the least one other half-hour. That Garmin affords all this wonderful customization and a depth of options to make nerds like me blissful is unbelievable. I simply want there have been a concierge service or distant method of adjusting all of this. As it’s, I really feel that many novice customers will likely be turned off by the extent of training and involvement essential to get the complete advantage of what Garmin’s staff has developed right here.

Alternatively, in case you are an lively efficiency skilled or a coaching athlete you’re going to love all of the customization and extra options that aren’t obtainable in any kind from the inventory Apple Watch expertise, or its competitors. Garmin actually has a critical skilled instrument and never a toy in its goal when growing this and different smartwatch merchandise. The product web page on the Garmin web site for the Epix Gen 2 has a really complete checklist of all the principle options obtainable within the working system, and the collection of characteristic is intense. Everybody from skiers to surfers have software program obtainable for them. Garmin additionally readily connect with third-party companies comparable to Strava and others that assist improve and develop your expertise of coaching and competing with others. Simply don’t anticipate a lot of this to be straightforward to grasp proper outdoors the field, as they require further studying and expertise to benefit from (as is the case with {most professional} instruments).

One of many issues I would like Garmin to do a bit higher is provide a extra speedy visible exercise monitoring characteristic akin to Apple’s “closing the rings.” Whereas the Epix Gen 2 does observe every day exercise targets comparable to steps and coronary heart charge ranges, there aren’t that some ways to view your progress on default watch screens. To do that, I imagine that you must go in and play with the info show settings loads. It’s true that devoted athletes are extra concerned about different information, however this can be a crucial characteristic for the informal wearer. Apple does this very nicely, and I feel it will be smart for Garmin to prioritize including options or screens that permit customers to extra readily visualize the progress they’ve made on the subject of every day exercise targets.

Garmin has additionally come a great distance with aesthetics on the subject of their working methods and screens. Now with an AMOLED display and its higher decision and colours, the Garmin design staff has much more visible alternatives obtainable to them. I complained up to now that Garmin’s watch faces lacked sexiness, and whereas there’s nonetheless a approach to go, the enhancements listed below are marked. What I observed specifically (once more, provided that you dig deep into the system) is a variety of watch face and information display visible choices together with colours, layouts, obtainable information, and so forth. The method of adjusting and personalizing the screens isn’t as slick as what Apple affords, however Garmin does really provide extra decisions and selection for many who take the time to play with all of the settings. The sheer stage of customization doable is a bit staggering, and I really feel that there are going to be specialists on the market sooner or later who will assist folks optimize the “information visualization choices” on their smartwatches.

The Epix Gen 2 product wouldn’t be a Garmin with out deep mapping options along with the built-in GPS performance. Whether or not you’re monitoring your distance and course whereas exercising, or eager to get someplace, the built-in mapping instruments provide loads of options whereas additionally not decimating battery life. A few of these instruments require further software program and companies, however general Garmin stays the king of the GPS smartwatch when it comes to each {hardware} and software program.

So who’s the Garmin Epix Gen 2 smartwatch greatest for? On this titanium and sapphire crystal kind, the product is among the many dearer smartwatches obtainable, nevertheless it actually isn’t overpriced. Many of the present market is for mainstream customers who need underneath $500 smartwatches they provide them exercise monitoring fundamentals and cellphone notifications. Garmin has these merchandise however higher-end fashions such because the Epix Gen 2 are about extra options, extra precision, extra longevity, and extra choices. The amount of customers who could make use out of all that’s restricted, however I do encourage homeowners to spend time studying about what their Epix Gen 2 watches can do. Though I just like the persona and styling of the even higher-end Garmin MARQ watches assortment, I feel that the Epix Gen 2 is general my favourite Garmin smartwatch that I’ve reviewed to date. A lot of that is because of the display, up to date working system with touchscreen interface, and easy carrying consolation. This model comes with a white-color silicone strap that’s greater than appropriate for exercising eventualities. Garmin makes use of helpful quick-release {hardware} for the strap ends which implies they actually intend for folks so as to add selection to how folks type these watches. I’m personally excited to maintain carrying it and studying extra about what the highly effective software program can do. Value for the Garmin Epix Gen 2 smartwatch as seen right here with titanium and sapphire is $999 USD. Study extra on the Garmin web site right here.