Rise Above Your Limits with Fenix 3
Big, bold, beautiful – these are all words that have been used to describe the Garmin Fenix 3. This GPS watch is packed with features, including new activity tracking abilities, new apps to connect and explore, and a beautiful new display screen. Armed with amazing battery life and the option for a super strong sapphire glass screen, the Garmin Fenix 3 is a strong choice for athletes who wish to take their outdoor training to the next level.
The Garmin Fenix 3 offers many of the same basic features as a smartwatch, like on-screen notifications from your phone. It also includes basic fitness tracking like step count and calories burned, making it competitive with other fitness trackers on the market. One noticeably lacking feature is wrist-based heart rate monitoring; the Fenix 3 was released in 2015, when this feature wasn’t used as widely as it is today.
Fenix 3 Silver, Sapphire and Grey
So, is the Fenix 3 the right choice for you? The answer really lies in whether you are willing to purchase a slightly older model of GPS watch that is still packed with features and abilities. This review will cover the key features of the Fenix 3, as well as the style options and possible downsides of the product. Read on to discover why we've named the Fenix 3 the Best Outdoor GPS Sports Watch of 2015.
Before we get into the features of the watch, let’s get the hardware and technical specifications covered. Garmin advertises the following specs for the Fenix 3:
Fenix 3 Tech Specs
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Unit Dimensions (WxHxD) | (WxHxD) 2.0” x 2.0” x 0.6” (5.1 x 5.1 x 0.155 cm) |
Display size (WxH) | 1.2” (3.1cm) diameter |
Display resolution | 218 x 218 pixels |
Display type | Colour transflective memory-in-pixel Chroma |
Weight | Silver and Grey = 2.5 oz (70 g)
Sapphire (w/rubber band) = 3.2 oz (92g) |
Battery life | Up-to 6 weeks in watch mode;
20h in GPS mode;
50h in UltraTrac GPS mode |
Garmin Fenix 3 Key Features
- NEW Bold Design: Uncompromising construction quality such as a stainless steel bezel and scratch-resistant domed mineral glass lens.
- NEW GPS + Glonass: GPS+GLONASS for faster fix and higher accuracy in demanding environment.
- NEW Exo Antenna: Omni-directional steel GPS/GLONASS antenna on surface of watch.
- NEW Sapphire Lens: High-strength scratch resistant domed sapphire lens (Sapphire version only).
- NEW Chroma Display: 1.2” sunlight-readable, high-resolution, brilliant, colour Chroma display.
- NEW Wireless Connectivity: Utilize Wi-Fi hot spots to automatically sync data to Garmin Connect and to update device software.
- NEW Connect IQ App: Customize your watch face, add widgets, data fields, new activities and more.
- NEW Activity Tracking: Use as activity tracker (step counting, calories, distance throughout the day,stay active with move bar, track sleep).
- NEW Water Rating: Water rated up to 100 meters; suitable for swimming.
- Battery Life: Rechargeable; up-to 20 hrs GPS mode, up-to 50h UltraTrac GPS mode, and 6 weeks in watch mode (depends on settings).
- ABC Sensors with Autocalibration: Barometric altimeter (elevation and barometric pressure) and 3-axis electronic compass with auto calibration (GPS).
- Fitness Training: Real-time performance data such as time, distance, pace, calories, speed, lap data, and heart rate.
- Running Dynamics: When paired with HRM-Run monitor: Gives feedback on cadence, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time.
- Navigation: Garmin quality navigation and tracking functionalities clear guidance on map page find always the safe way back thanks to TracBack navigation.
- Triathlon / Multisport: Full-featured including Running Dynamics, VO2 Max and Power Meter reading for cycling, Swim Metrics for both open and pool training.
- Ski / Board Mode: Measures 3D speed, distance, time, runs, auto run detection and features ski specific data pages, history of runs and performance data.
- Swim Mode: Indoor/outdoor swim modes that record distance, pace and time. For pool swimming, also detects stroke type, and computes the user's SWOLF score.
- Stay Connected: Automatic wireless data upload to Garmin Connect, LiveTrack, (using Garmin Connect Mobile app on smartphone), plus Smart Notification so you can receive emails, SMS
Sport and Fitness Tracking
The Garmin Fenix 3 offers tracking for a multitude of sports and activities. Garmin has traditionally produced running watches, more recently expanding into cycling and swimming territory as well. The Fenix 3 offers even more activity tracking options with the ability to monitor skiing, hiking, and a "multi-sport" mode for those who wish to perform a range of activities in a single exercise session.
Each activity provides a tracking screen on the watch display that will show all progress information to the user at a glance. When paired with a heart rate monitor, another screen is accessible to display heart rate readings. Unfortunately, the Fenix 3 does not offer wrist-based heart rate tracking like some later models do.
In addition to tracking specific activities, the Fenix 3 gathers daily fitness data such as step count, calories burned, and sleep data. For fitness enthusiasts who want to reach a certain step count or amount of activity each day, this feature is a great motivator. The watch also allows you to set goals such as a daily step goal, and you can regularly monitor your progress. However, some users have reported that the watch is too bulky to wear comfortably at all times, which sort of defeats the purpose of around the clock data tracking.
Outdoor Navigation (ABC)
The Fenix 3 is equipped with Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass (ABC) sensors to provide up to date information on elevation, weather changes, and directional bearings. This feature is great for long outdoor runs or other activities where you want to stay aware of your surroundings and direction.
Another notable outdoor navigation feature is TracBack. Ever find yourself ready to turn around on your run and head back, only to realize you don’t exactly know where you came from? This feature solves that problem, and it is absolutely excellent from a safety standpoint if nothing else. Simply press a button and TracBack will give you step-by-step directions back along your route.
Running Dynamics with HRM-Run chest strap
GPS Tracking
Of course, the Fenix 3 simply wouldn’t be a Garmin watch without GPS tracking. This watch will track your every movement and provide information such as total distance covered, pace, calories burned, and more. Users can view a maps of past activities by syncing the watch with the Garmin Connect app. However, it should be noted that there is no option to store and view maps on the display of the watch itself - a feature that many users have been disappointed to find missing.
Although Garmin’s overall GPS performance is usually quite good, some users have complained about GPS issues with the Fenix 3 in particular. The watch can sometimes take a little while to find a signal, or worse, can fail to accurately track a route or can measure distance improperly. Only some users have reported this problem; for many, the GPS feature runs smoothly.
Garmin Connect & Connect IQ Apps
The Garmin Connect app is exactly what it sounds like – a smartphone app that connects to your Garmin watch to give accurate activity details, maps, and more. Users can also use the app to share fitness and activity data with friends and family via social media.
The Connect IQ app is a new feature available with the Fenix 3 and other new Garmin models. The app allows users to customize the watch face, add widgets, create data fields, add new activities, and more.
Both apps are compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Battery Life
The battery found inside the Fenix 3 is a rechargeable 300mAh lithium-ion. What that translates to in real-world results is up to 20 hours of use in GPS mode, 50 hours in UltraTrac mode (a GPS tracking mode that records data points less frequently), or an awesome 6 weeks in plain watch mode.
In practice, this probably means charging the watch once every week or two for athletes who are using the watch to train daily. This is very reasonable for such an advanced fitness watch, and you won’t find many similar watches with better battery life on the market. The clip-on charging frame connects to a USB adapter for convenient charging.
Display
Offering a 1.2" sunlight-readable, high-resolution, brilliant, colour Chroma display, the Fenix 3 is a real treat to look at. The colors are vivid and the screen is easily readable in all lighting - perfect for getting those outdoor activity stats at a glance.
The interface is generally very user-friendly and easy to navigate. As mentioned above, the watch face display can also be customized by using the Connect IQ app.
The Garmin Fenix 3 also comes in a "sapphire" version, which includes an ultra tough sapphire glass display. This version of the watch is more expensive, but probably worth the splurge for active users who expect to put the product through daily wear and tear.
Style & Design
The Garmin Fenix 3 is offered in two color varieties: a dark gray watch face with a black wrist band, or a silver watch face with a red wrist band. Obviously, the red makes for a much “louder” and more noticeable watch. Working professionals and others who want to wear the watch at all times may find that this variety is not subtle enough for everyday wear. On the other hand, the dark gray/black version is fairly simple and will match most attire without drawing the eye.
The Fenix 3 is a big watch; there’s simply no getting around it. With dimensions of 1.2" x 1.2" x 0.6", this watch is quite bulky and can feel very noticeable on your wrist. For this reason, it may feel uncomfortable to wear at all times, especially while sleeping – which makes the sleep tracking feature feel fairly useless. While this watch is advertised as suitable for both genders, the size and bulk of this GPS watch make it feel more like a "mens" watch - many women simply may not find it stylish enough to comfortably match daily attire.
Fenix 3 Comparison
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Fenix 3 Sapphire | Fenix 3 Grey & Silver | Fenix 2 |
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Altimeter / Barometer / Compass | Altimeter / Barometer / Compass | Altimeter / Barometer / Compass |
Steel EXO Antenna for GPS / GLONASS Reception | Steel EXO Antenna for GPS / GLONASS Reception | |
Chroma Colour Display | Chroma Colour Display | |
Scratch-Resistant Domed Sapphire Lens | Scratch-Resistant Domed Mineral Glass Lens | Scratch-Resistant Domed Mineral Glass Lens |
StrongLink Metal Watch Band | | |
Water Rating 100m | Water Rating 100m | Water Rating 50m |
Battery Life: 20h - 50h GPS 6wks watch | Battery Life: 20h - 50h GPS 6wks watch | Battery Life: 16h - 50h GPS 6wks watch |
Connect IQ App Support | Connect IQ App Support | |
Running Dynamics (with HRM-Run) | Running Dynamics (with HRM-Run) | Running Dynamics (with HRM-Run) |
Trail Running (Auto Climb/Run Switch, Climb Odometer) | Trail Running (Auto Climb/Run Switch, Climb Odometer) | Trail Running (Auto Climb/Run Switch, Climb Odometer) |
Indoor Training | Indoor Training | Indoor Training |
Ski / Board Mode | Ski / Board Mode | Ski / Board Mode |
Garmin Connect / LiveTrack | Garmin Connect / LiveTrack | Garmin Connect / LiveTrack |
Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi Hot Spots to sync data) | Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi Hot Spots to sync data) | |
ANT+ / Bluetooth Smart Connectivity | ANT+ / Bluetooth Smart Connectivity | ANT+ / Bluetooth Smart Connectivity |
Smart Notifications | Smart Notifications | Smart Notifications |
Price & Value
With all of the features of the Fenix 3 in mind, you’re probably not expecting it to come cheap – and you’d be right about that. The watch is available for purchase directly from Garmin, as well as through retailer websites like Amazon (where discounts can sometimes be found). You can expect to pay several hundred dollars for the watch. However, it should be noted that this watch is becoming a dated model, having been released in 2015; this means you may be able to find good sales or more affordable refurbished options.
While the Fenix 3 costs a pretty penny, for the serious athlete it is absolutely worth the price. This watch should last many years, especially if you opt for the tougher sapphire glass version. With the Fenix 3 you’re getting many of the features of a standard smartwatch combined with excellent fitness tracking and GPS navigation. For those looking to improve training and performance, a product such as this one is quite invaluable.
Review Summary
In short, the Garmin Fenix 3 is a great option for serious athletes who want one gadget to handle all their training and tracking needs. With multi-sport tracking, GPS capabilities, outdoor navigation features, an impressive battery life, easy app connectivity, and a beautiful display, this watch offers something for everyone. There are only three design options, but at least one is subtle and could be suitable for daily wear. On the other hand, the watch may be too large for comfort for some users.
While this watch won’t come cheap, discounts can be found through sales or online retailers like Amazon - especially since the Fenix 3 isn’t the newest model on the market. All in all, the features offered by the Fenix 3 make it well worth the money, especially for those who are serious about training and expect to use the watch for many years.
If you’re looking for a great GPS watch and extra features like wrist heart rate monitoring aren’t make or break for you, the Garmin Fenix 3 is certainly a solid choice.
