Garmin is storming CES 2017 with three new fēnix 5 GPS smartwatch models – 5, 5X and 5S – this time suitable even for smaller wrists.
Rugged smartwatches designed to keep up with outdoor adventures typically sport quite beefy designs and the Garmin fēnix smartwatch line used to be on the bulky side of things, but not anymore.
Garmin has now announced three new fēnix 5 smartwatch models with smaller form factors, measuring 1.6 to 2 inches in diameter – up to half an inch smaller than the beefier fēnix 3 line, for instance.
Garmin fēnix 5, fēnix 5X and fēnix 5S
All three smartwatch models in the new Garmin fēnix 5 line are designed for continual use, not just for workouts or outdoorsy adventures. The smartwatches can last for up to two weeks on a single charge in smartwatch mode, albeit using the GPS continuously will reduce the battery life to between 13 and 24 hours.
The Garmin fēnix 5, 5X and 5S are also water-resistant and ready for a workout or adventure at any time, offering the same daily activity tracking potions as the other wearable devices in Garmin's lineup. As expected, the gadgets also play nice with Garmin's Connect IQ app platform.
Compared with other Garmin smartwatches, however, these three new models stand out because they finally sport a smaller size, reducing the bulk significantly and offering a sleeker and lighter design.
The new fēnix 5, for instance, delivers the same activity tracking and heart rate monitoring proficiency as the fēnix 3HR, but it measures only 1.85 inches (47 mm) in diameter. The smartwatch also comes with a range of swappable watchbands in various options including leather, silicone or metal, which users can purchase separately to customize their style.
The fēnix 5s, meanwhile, is built for "petite wrists" and focuses on female adventurers, as it's even smaller than the fēnix 5, measuring just 1.65 inches (42 mm) in diameter. Customization options include a scratch-resistant "sapphire" model with a stronger glass lens.
The fēnix 5X is the largest smartwatch of the trio, measuring 2 inches (51 mm) in diameter. However, this model comes with extra mapping features that are absent from the fēnix 5 and 5S. More specifically, the fēnix 5X can tap its preinstalled US Topo mapping content to suggest routes based on what users have in mind for their run, cycling or other type of outdoor workout. The sapphire lens for extra scratch resistance is the default option for the 5X model.
"After years in the wearables market, Garmin knows that athletes and adventurers come in all sizes, which is why we have designed the new line of fēnix 5 watches to fit every wrist and every workout," says Dan Bartel, Garmin VP of worldwide sales. "This is the first time Garmin has created a variety of sizes for one product so now users don't have to choose between getting the features they want and wearing a watch that fits."
Garmin fēnix 5 Pricing And Availability
Garmin's trio of fēnix 5 smartwatches will hit the market this quarter, but no specific release date is available at this point. The fēnix 5 and 5S models will sport a $600 price point, while the fēnix 5 sapphire, 5S sapphire and 5X will go up to $700.
