Garmin fenix 5x sapphire GPS watch

Garmin has never let size get in the way of technology when it comes to GPS multisport watches. They pack it in and expect everyone to deal with it. And for four years, we’ve done just that. Then, in January 2017, the company officially announced that its top-of-the-line Fenix 5 series of watches would ship in three sizes — the monster Fenix 5X and two smaller versions (the 5 and 5S) for people who don’t enjoy running, kayaking, or mountain biking with big, honkin’ bundles of tech strapped to their wrists. Great news right? That’s what we thought, until we realized that not all Fenixes are created equal. While the two smaller versions can do more cool stuff than most GPS multisport watches, they are not capable of mapping or route planning. Garmin saved those extra features for its biggest, most expensive watch, the Fenix 5X. But not to worry. We didn’t let size or price stop us from checking out what Garmin’s biggest do-everything GPS multisport watch can do in our Fenix 5x review.

Full U.S. TOPO Mapping
The fenix 5X comes with full-color TOPO maps of the United States pre-loaded and optimized for at-a-glance navigation. Round Trip Run and Round Trip Ride let you enter your desired travel distance before displaying suggested routes that fulfill your requirements. Around Me mode displays locations nearby, and data overlays show information without screen switching. GroupTrack lets you keep track of friends and family so you don't get separated, while LiveTrack lets other follow your path using their smartphones.

GPS and GLONASS
Your fenix 5X uses an EXO antenna, unobtrusively integrated into the bezel, to receive signals from GPS and GLONASS satellites. It uses this data to create a track log, using a "breadcrumb trail" system of track points and user-entered locations and checkpoints, so you can always find your way.

Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass
The fenix 5X has built-in altimeter, barometer, and compass (ABC) sensors to provide real-time information while out and about. The altimeter provides elevation data to accurately monitor ascent and descent, while the barometer can be used to predict weather changes by showing short-term trends in air pressure. The 3-axis electronic compass keeps your bearing whether or not you're in motion. An internal gyroscope enhances location accuracy and saves battery power while in UltraTrac mode.

The Fenix 5X solidly retains its membership in what we call the BBW (big, burly watch) club with a size and shape similar to its predecessor, the Fenix 3 HR. It has the same round face and five-button layout (three on the left side, two on the right), a similar stainless steel bezel, and the identical sapphire crystal lens. The case of the 5X, which is water resistant to 10 ATMS, measures 51 mm in diameter and is 17.5 mm thick, just like the Fenix 3 HR, and includes the same optical heart rate monitor on the back. With the 5X, Garmin has bumped up the resolution of the color LCD screen from 218 x 218 pixels to 240 x 240 pixels, giving the new watch a noticeable increase in screen detail. The 5X also features Garmin’s new Quickfit watch band system that allows different bands to be swapped out quickly, easily, and without any tools.