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TECH NEWS

Garmin launches solar-powered smartwatches with unlimited battery life

New solar range boasts massive battery life

Garmin has announced three new models of its popular smartwatches, extending solar charging capability to the Instinct while increasing it to all Fenix 6 Pro models. Alongside the solar charging, there are new bouldering and indoor climbing activity profiles as well as mountain bike metrics that we saw on the new Edge 1030 Plus.

Wearable tech is becoming ever smarter with the humble step-counting wristwatches being replaced by watches that could replace a smartphone. Garmin has released three new Solar editions of the Fenix 6, Instinct and Tactix Delta models, increasing the battery life so that you spend less time recharging.

Garmin adds ‘Plus’ models to the Edge 130 and Edge 1030 GPS cycling computers

Using solar panels under the watches glass face and around the edges of the watch, Garmin has given its Fenix 6 Pro smartwatches the ability to draw power down from the sunshine. While the headline of unlimited battery life comes on the Instinct Solar, the Fenix 6 Pro is the watch that is targeted at cyclists thanks to the compatibility with Garmin’s Vector power pedals and a host of cycling-specific functions.

Garmin Instinct

That isn't to say that the Instinct Solar would be unsuited to tracking your bikes rides. Garmin describes it as a "rugged outdoor watch" and it comes with a bike activity profile, GPS tracking and heart rate data. With those features plus a host of others, we're sure that it'd cope perfectly well with a bike ride, but it isn't specifically geared towards cyclists.

A smartwatch can be a very good way to track your activity without needing to have a cycling computer on your handlebar. Their versatility also makes them much more useful for multi-sport athletes like triathletes. We’ve never fully covered Garmin’s cycling smartwatch, so we’ll give you a brief run down of the features included on what is a very popular watch...

Garmin Fenix 6 Solar

First up, the Fenix 6 Pro is a smartwatch that connects to your phone to display things like incoming calls, messages and emails. You can use it for contactless payment, store up to 2,000 songs and access streaming services like Spotify.

Get to know the Garmin Edge GPS bike computer range

As a sports tracker, the watch will record the basics like time, speed and distance alongside more advanced metrics like heart rate and power data from Bluetooth and ANT+ devices. There is turn navigation as well as cycling-specific apps like ClimbPro and mountain bike dynamics.

Garmin Fenix 6 Maps

By adding solar charging to the Fenix 6 Pro, Garmin claims that battery life can be increased to an impressive 10.5 days from 9 days when indoors.

The Instinct Solar costs from £349.99 with the Fenix 6 Pro Solar starting at £649.99. We’ll be reviewing the Fenix 6S Pro Solar soon, hopefully the sun will come out...

garmin.com

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14 comments

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chineseJohn | 4 years ago
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Let's hope they last longer than 1 year, we've had 3 vivofits and all after 1 year stop working, opening to the battery area there were weak areas where the casing has broken.

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brianlescargot replied to chineseJohn | 4 years ago
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I have a Fenix that I've had had for about 3 1/2 years and is worn and used every day. Great watch and given the prices of these I won't be changing any time soon!

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Kendalred | 4 years ago
1 like

Small point of order - the Fenix 6 Pro Solar starts from £739.99 according to Garmins website. It is the 'standard' Fenix 6 Solar that starts at £649.99 (minus the maps, music and wifi of the Pro model).

Not that it makes a difference to me, I won't be buying either!

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Nick T | 4 years ago
1 like

Does anyone wear a watch for cycling? I tried my Apple Watch a couple of times in the winter but it wasn't ideal having that bulk under a long sleeve and gloves, plus I couldn't see it. I don't typically wear a watch with short sleeve t shirts or in the summer generally, plus cycling has enough weird tan lines to deal with to add a watch tan to the equation 

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fenix replied to Nick T | 4 years ago
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I thought most people do ? I've a Garmin fenix that I usually use as a computer as I do running and swimming and hiking too.
You can even navigate with it although it is easier on a dedicated bike computer.

No tan lines as I always have the watch on. Sorted.

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Secret_squirrel replied to fenix | 4 years ago
2 likes

My Garmin VivioActive 3 does 90% of what a Fenix can do but in a much more normal watch like package.  I tend to use it as a backup when I can't be bothered to faff around with swapping the main GPS between bikes.

it supports most sensors except Power, and for shorter journeys it's as effective as a bar mounted GPS.  For longer journeys the GPS becomes more important because I start worrying about elapsed times and mileages and you can't easily cycle through the data pages with the watch on your wrist.

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Liam Cahill replied to Nick T | 4 years ago
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I wear a Forerunner 735XT for anything that isn't road cycling. It's great for CX racing, MTB and running when I can be bothered to plod around for 5km

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Nick T replied to Liam Cahill | 4 years ago
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Fair dos, I don't get mucky so hasn't considered off road watch wearing. Why not for the road also, an Edge is better suited?

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brianlescargot replied to Nick T | 4 years ago
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I wear mine for short trips to shops and so on. Plus you don't have to wear it on your wrist. It can be fitted to handlebars with an adapter. 

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AdyM | 4 years ago
2 likes

add solar functionality to garmin edge computers for all day rides without the battery extender?

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CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
0 likes

30 day minimum battery life is when I would consider a fitness watch

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zeeridesbikes replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
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Withings steel HR sport lasts around 25 days. Not as feature packed but has the advantage of looking like a normal watch. 

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Secret_squirrel replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
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but why 30 days?  Believe me sleep tracking isn't all that interesting.

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armb replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
0 likes

30 days of continuous high resolution GPS tracking, in which case no chance, or 30 days of being just a watch plus an hour or so of GPS use each day, in which case the Instinct might manage that?

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