Garmin Epix Gen 2 review

There can be no denying that Garmin has released a series of epic watches in recent years – only this one is Epix by name, too.

Coming in very close to the top of the product range, what does it offer that isn’t already sitting on the wrists of triathletes – and can it really be worth £900?

Garmin Epix Gen 2 review

Well, handily Garmin has a product comparison tool on their website. Here, the Epix includes all the top-end features you would expect and is similar to the Fenix in terms of widgets, tracking and health features.

What differs is the construction materials (the version shown here has a titanium case) and one big difference – the addition of an AMOLED display.

Standing for ‘active matrix organic light-emitting diode’ (oh yes), in short that means you get a screen that’s insanely bright and clear – think video or smartphone quality.

Where that really comes into its own is when out training and, in our testing, we found the screen made a huge difference when swimming – the clarity was superb and could be read at a glance, even in murky water or with misty goggles.

In low light on the bike and while running, or in the glare of bright sunlight, it was instantly legible, too.

Where the pay-off occurs is in battery life, as here you get 16 days under ‘gesture’ mode and 42 hours in GPS mode. That’s perfectly respectable for most athletes – although not a patch on the brand’s Fenix 7 Solar.

So it it worth the spend? As always, that depends – but it will be hard to beat.

Verdict: Essentially the Fenix 7, but with a stunning and functional screen.

Score: 92%

Also consider…

Garmin Fenix 7 Solar

As we’ve mentioned in our review above, the Fenix 7 range shares a lot of the same functionality with the second-generation Epix, including dozens of activity tracking profiles and top-class performance features such as Real-Time Stamina, Training Readiness, Training Status and much much more.

While it may not have a titanium case, the Fenix is still a very rugged watch and is used by many people for off-the-beaten-track adventures of all kinds.

The screen, although not AMOLED, is very good and clear to read in all manner of environments and conditions. It can be used as a touchscreen or you can stick to the buttons.

One of the main reasons you may opt for the Fenix 7 Solar rather than the Epix, aside from it being cheaper, is the battery life.

In GPS-only mode you’ll get up to 57 hours of power, or 73 hours if light conditions are decent enough to delivery energy to the solar panel. That’s an improvement on the Epix and is among the best in class.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 Solar review for our verdict.