Garmin fenix 8 vs Garmin Enduro 3: The best Garmin watch
There’s now more daylight between the Enduro 3 and the fenix 8 on design. But what’s the best Garmin watch? I spent two months putting Garmin’s adventure-ready trackers head-to-head to find out.
In their previous incarnations the Garmin Enduro and Garmin fenix had an awful lot in common. Similar features, closely-matched hardware and a shared rugged design DNA. The Enduro 2 was essentially a fenix 7, just with a longer battery life and a higher price tag. That’s all changed.
As two of the best ultra running watches, the Garmin Enduro 3 and the Garmin fenix 8 still pack similar training, racing and adventure-taming tools, plus both watches get new interface updates. But the Garmin fenix 8 now has an AMOLED display and new voice tools. While the Garmin Enduro 3 boasts a lighter, sleeker, slightly less rugged look and a rarity in the running watch world – a price drop.
The Garmin Enduro 3 is now cheaper than the Garmin fenix 8. But these multi-talented multisports watches remain sizable investments. So which Garmin running watch should you buy?
I spent two months testing the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED and the Garmin Enduro 3, to tease out the differences on design and performance. Read on for my verdict in the Garmin fenix 8 vs Garmin Enduro 3 review.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: An Introduction
The Garmin fenix 8 and the Garmin Enduro 3 are Garmin's most capable, adventure-ready, fully featured premium multisport watches.
They pack the biggest screens, the toughest durability, and the longest battery life you’ll find on any Garmin GPS watch. These are the watches to look at if you take your training seriously, regularly head to wilder places or tackle endurance events.
Though you don’t have to be an off-grid adventurer to buy a fenix or Enduro. There’s plenty here for urban runners, riders or multisport enthusiasts, too.
They offer a selection of tracking, training, recovery, health, navigation, and smartwatch tools to rival (and out-muscle) the likes of the COROS Vertix 2S, Polar Grit X2 Pro and the Suunto Race powered by the latest hardware and optical heart rate, GPS and bio-sensors.
There’s probably more firepower here than many people need. If you don’t need all the clout, there are cheaper alternatives in the Garmin Forerunner range like the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Garmin Forerunner 165.
However, if you’re definitely in the market for a premium Garmin multisport watch, read on.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: How I Tested
For this review, I spent two months wearing the Garmin Enduro 3 and the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm at the same time. I wore both Garmin watches 24-7, while training, sleeping, and running the odd solo marathon and a mountain ultra.
I also put it up against the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a Polar H10 chest strap to benchmark for comfort, accuracy, and battery life performance.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Models, Sizes & Prices
The Garmin Enduro 3 keeps things simple with one 51mm size and style, with a stripped back, classic black titanium bezel and back, plus a tough sapphire crystal screen. That’s the same premium, more durable materials you’ll find on the pricier Garmin fenix 8 models. The power-efficient transflective MIP display is also the same screen as the Garmin fenix 8 Solar 51mm.
At 63g, the Garmin Enduro 3 is also lighter than the lightest Garmin fenix 8 which weighs in at 72g. So if you want the tools of a fenix in an easier-to-wear watch, it’s a good option.
The Garmin fenix 8 line-up offers much more choice. It largely breaks down into three main models:
- The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED with that big, bright smartwatch-style screen.
- The Garmin fenix 8 Solar which has a lower-resolution screen but solar charging skills.
- The Garmin fenix E, a smaller, cheaper AMOLED with older heart rate tech, no mic, no speaker, no flashlight and less memory.
When it comes to price, the Garmin Enduro 3 launched at $899.99 – $200 cheaper than the Enduro 2 at $1099.99.
The Enduro 3 is $100 cheaper than the cheapest fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm ($999.99) and $200 cheaper than the cheapest fenix 8 Solar model – the Garmin fenix 8 Solar 47mm at $1099.99 – but has the same features.
Among Garmin’s most rugged watches, only the $799.99 fenix E Solar 47mm beats the Enduro 3 on price.
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Garmin fenix 8 Price Summary
Garmin fenix E 47mm (AMOLED) – $799.99
Garmin Enduro 3 51mm (Solar) – $899.99
Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm – $999.99
Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm – $1099.99
Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm – $1199.99
Garmin fenix 8 Solar 47mm – $1099.99
Garmin fenix 8 Solar 51mm – $1199.99
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Battery Life
If you race 24-hour ultras, tackle multi-stage endurance adventures or you just like the idea of charging your watch once a month, the Garmin fenix 8 and the Garmin Enduro 3 have you covered. But the Garmin Enduro 3 goes longer.
On paper, the solar-harvesting Garmin Enduro 3 battery life is the best in the running watch, triathlon watch and multisport watch business. Even without the solar smarts, it offers between 60 and 210 hours of GPS tracking. In the right light that can rise to 60 hours in accuracy-boosting multi-band mode and 320 hours in standard GPS mode.
The listed Garmin fenix 8 battery life varies a lot depending on the model and the size. Garmin fenix 8 Solar editions pack bigger battery life than the fenix 8 AMOLED. However, that relies on getting the most out of the solar smarts in the best light conditions.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Battery Life At a Glance
Garmin Enduro 3 51mm – 120–210 (320- unlimited with Solar)
Garmin fenix 8 Solar 47mm – 67-132 hours (92-283 hours with Solar)
Garmin fenix 8 Solar 51mm – 95-186 (149-653)
Garmin fenix 8 43mm AMOLED – 28-49 hours
Garmin fenix 8 47mm AMOLED – 47-81 hours
Garmin fenix 8 51mm AMOLED – 84-145 hours
In testing, the average overnight burn on the Garmin Enduro 3 was just 1% while the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm was closer to 2%.
Over 24 hours without any workouts, the Garmin Enduro 3 shed just 3% compared to the Garmin fenix 8’s 8% drop.
A 90 minute run with the Enduro 3 in Normal mode burned 3%. A 90 min run in the same mode with the fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm screen set to Always On burned 3%.
During a 3.5-hour marathon using the multiband Max Accuracy mode the Garmin Enduro 3 burned 5% while the Garmin fenix 8 burned 6%.
I also ran an 8-hour ultra at the 5 Valleys Ultra with the Garmin fenix 8 in Normal Power mode with the screen Always On, using energy saving SAT IQ. During that race, it burned 15% compared to the Garmin Enduro 3 dropping 14% with the same settings.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Running, Fitness and Health Features
When it comes to day-to-day use, the Enduro 3 went 20 days before I needed to charge, with approximately 8 hours of GPS run time. The Garmin fenix 8 died after around 17 days with slightly less training time.
The upshot: if you want the AMOLED screen but don’t want to sacrifice battery life, the fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm in the right settings gets close to the Garmin Enduro 3. For general use, if you charge either of these watches once a month, all is well.
If the very longest, single-stint battery life is a priority, for multi-day endurance events, the Garmin Enduro 3 or the fenix 8 Solar 51mm are the watches to look at.
When it comes to sports tracking, most of the tools and features on the Garmin fenix 8 and the Garmin Enduro 3 are the same with the full suite of Garmin’s sports tracking, training, recovery, navigation and health tools.
You get everything you’d expect on a top-end Garmin multisport watch, including training effect, training load, VO2 Max estimates, race pace predictions, performance condition, adaptive training plans and workout suggestions – including new strength training plans.
There are tools to help manage your training schedule and ride the stresses and strains of daily life, including Heart Rate Variability, Body Battery and post-workout recovery time recommendations.
For general health, there’s the usual activity and sleep tracking plus a new FDA-cleared ECG app that records your heart rhythm and checks for signs of atrial fibrillation.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Mapping and Navigation
The Garmin Enduro 3 and Garmin fenix 8 offer identical navigation tools, the best in Garmin’s line-up and better than the rivals. That now includes new mapping terrain contours on TopoActive maps, dynamic round trip, and route guidance that can update mid-run to hit a specified distance if you go off-course.
The Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED screen definitely brings those tools to life for a better navigation experience.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Smartwatch Tools
Both watches have good smartwatch capability for a multisport watch or a running watch. That includes offline music with support for Spotify, contactless payments and the new Garmin Messenger app.
However, the best Garmin GPS watch for smartwatch tools is now the Garmin fenix 8, thanks to a new built-in mic and speaker to power voice activation. You won’t find those on the Garmin Enduro 3.
You will get a built-in flashlight on both watches.
Garmin fenix 8 vs Enduro 3: Heart Rate and GPS Accuracy
The Garmin fenix 8 and the Garmin Enduro 3 offer multiband/dual frequency GPS and the same Garmin Elevate Gen5 Optical heart rate sensor.
To test the GPS accuracy and heart rate reliability, I tested them head-to-head and with a selection of rivals, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I also used a chest strap for benchmarking.
I ran everything from built-up urban 10kms to tree-covered forest marathons and even a lumpy mountain ultra. I even spent some time in the sauna heat training.
I switched up the power and accuracy modes from the multi-band GPS Max Accuracy, down to the Max Battery mode that sacrifices accuray for staying power. I also logged dozens of sessions in Garmin’s SATIQ AutoSelect mode which automatically selects the optimal GPS settings to balance accuracy and battery life.
In testing, the GPS performance was generally reliable across the GPS modes on both watches. Distances on my official race routes came up well within the margin for error. Over the 55km 5 Valleys Ultra distance, the Enduro 3 and fenix 8 were just 0.2 miles apart.
During my forest marathon, the fenix 8 was slightly better at sticking me to the tracks – particularly under heavy tree cover – but I found the GPS accuracy of both up there with the best performers. Only the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was better in the urban sprawl.
Heart rate was a bit more hit and miss, suffering some common optical heart rate struggles. During interval sessions with sharper changes in intensity, both watches sometimes shot higher than the chest strap.
During my ultra, they also struggled to capture changes in effort on the climbs, descents and stops at aid stations. The Enduro 3 struggled more during my race, where it consistently read much higher than the chest strap for a two-hour section.
However, what you get is pretty standard optical performance. For easy, steady efforts, they perform with good reliability. If you’re looking for precision heart rate training in your interval workouts, or want better accuracy when racing, you’ll still need a chest strap.
Bottom Line: Should You Buy the Garmin Enduro 3 or the fenix 8?
If you’re looking for a new Garmin watch, what’s the best Garmin watch to buy?
If the very longest battery life is your number one priority, the Garmin Enduro 3 is your best bet. Though for many runners, the day-to-day difference between the fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm and the Enduro 3 might not be that noticeable.
If you’re happy to have a MIP display rather than the shinier AMOLED screen, don’t need the new dive capabilities and aren’t fussed about the new voice tools, the Enduro 3 packs the breadth of features, accuracy and durability to rival the fenix 8. Particularly now the price has dropped below the fenix 8 models.
If you really want the brightest screen and best smartwatch experience, the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED is the way to go. It’s the most capable Garmin multisport watch you can buy.
For the best AMOLED battery life, the fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm is the top option. For a cheaper AMOLED alternative look at the fenix E.
Finally, if a lighter, sleeker design for ultra-friendly comfort is high on your must-haves, the Garmin Enduro 3 offers a watch that’s more wearable.
About Journalist Kieran Alger
Co-founder of The Run Testers, Kieran Alger is an experienced journalist who has spent more than a decade testing running gear. Regularly found wearing four GPS running watches at once, if it claims to make you run better or enjoy running more, he has probably tested it. He's a borderline obsessed runner with more than 50 marathon and multiple ultra finishes. In 2022, he became the first person to run Europe's river Danube from sea to source, a measly 1,830 miles in 66 days. And still had time to test running gear.
Check him out on Instagram or his YouTube Channel!