Garmin gives the Epix and Fenix 7 lineups a Pro upgrade

Following a slew of successful launches in 2023, today Garmin announced two more upgraded devices. Both the fan-favorite Fenix 7 and Epix lineups receive Pro monikers on new devices packed with upgrades. Aptly named the Fenix 7 Pro series and Epix Pro series, the new watches feature advanced training tools, new performance metrics, and upgraded map and navigation experiences. They also bring a built-in LED flashlight to all interested wrists.

What’s new?

For tracking workouts, the Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro lineups each showcase thirty new activity modes including popular team sports and niche activities like whitewater rafting. For more accurate stats, the watches feature upgraded heart rate sensors that integrate sport-focused algorithms as well as spatially diverse optical sensors.

For advanced training, both lineups add Endurance Score, a new Garmin tool for analyzing athletes’ capacity for sustained prolonged effort based on data such as VO2 max and training loads. The watches also debut Hill Score which automatically identifies uphill segments, then measures users’ endurance on long climbs and running strength on steep ones.

For navigating the road or trail, Garmin also upgraded the devices’ topographic maps. Now users will find useful relief shading to make landscapes more easily distinguishable at a glance. Additionally, the watches add weather map overlays so users can see what’s coming and avoid getting caught in a storm. Garmin even upgraded the mapping experience with new split-screen and perimeter view options. These keep users’ stats on screen alongside in-use maps. With the addition of Garmin’s Up Ahead feature for identifying points of interest, the lineups’ navigation tools are more powerful than ever.

Watch faces and hardware-dependent features will remain exclusive to the Pro lineups. However, all other features will roll back to the previous generation. Likewise, the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro devices will receive the latest Forerunner 965 software features as well.

Epix Pro Series

Garmin is bringing its Epix series to more wrists than ever with three size options: 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm. Most importantly, all three options feature the same built-in LED flashlight that first arrived on the Fenix 7X last year. This safety feature offers adjustable brightness and varied strobe effects.

Meanwhile, when darkness is paramount, the Epix Pro offers Red Shift Mode. This mode changes the AMOLED display to shades of red not only on the watch face but across the entire user experience. It can even be scheduled in advance to initiate at a certain time of day or during specific activities.

Built to last, the lineup includes options featuring sapphire lenses and titanium bezels. They also offer great battery life with the largest models offering up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. The smallest base model Epix Pro series starts at $899.

Fenix 7 Pro series

At face value, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro models echo their predecessors. The new lineup still includes a 42mm Fenix 7S Pro, a 47mm Fenix 7 Pro, and a 51mm Fenix 7X Pro. In other words, there should still be a perfectly fitting device for every wrist size. Now though, all three sizes feature Garmin’s popular built-in flashlight, including a red strobe safety light.

The lineup also includes both standard and Sapphire Editions with prices starting at $799.99. Though still MIP, the Fenix 7 Pro series display has been redesigned for a better indoor experience including higher contrast. Garmin also improved the solar panel on the device to offer even better battery life, particularly on the 51mm device. The three model sizes can last up to 14, 22, and 37 days in smartwatch mode thanks to solar charging.