Beast of a fitness tracker-watch
With its build quality, durability and many features, the Garmin Fenix 5 promises a lot. But is it the best sports watch around? Balqis Lim finds out
WHAT is better than owning a smartwatch and a fitness tracker? Getting a multisport watch that can do all that and more in a single device! The Garmin Fenix 5 provides a wide array of data to help you go through your physical activities.
DESIGN AND SPECS
I am amazed at how good-looking and well-built this watch is. It is 47mm wide, has a stainless steel bezel, and comes with mineral glass or sapphire crystal lens. For this review, I got the latter, which is scratchresistant.
Basically, this edition also comes with built-in WiFi to enable wireless connectivity and automatically syncs data updates with your mobile devices.
It has five buttons which are used to navigate through the different menus and features.
At the back is the heart-rate sensor that consistently and accurately detects heart rates.
The basic Garmin Fenix 5 comes with a silicone wrist band that is comfortable even during workouts.
The quick release mechanism allows you to switch your band to premium leather, metal or silicone for easy mix-and-match styles.
GETTING STARTED
Once you press the power on, you’ll be required to complete a setup wizard, which includes language, date and time.
To view the main menu, press and hold the menu key on the left centre side, where you can scroll through the options.
To choose a menu option, just select it using the start key on the upper right. You can use the lap key on the lower right side to record a lap, rest, or transition during an activity.
Notifications alert you to incoming calls and texts according to your smartphone notification settings. From WhatsApp messages to Instagram notifications, it will appear on your wrist and you can view them as-is, or press to see more details. Alternatively, you can also choose to clear them but note that the notifications will also be cleared on your smartphone.
PERFORMANCE
One of the best things about using a tracker like this is that it connects to your mobile devices. You need to download the Garmin Connect app which is free on the Apple App Store or Google Pay Store, and connect the watch to the phone.
With the app, I can see my daily activities in an organised and in-depth style. It breaks down all your performance and displays your stats in a very easy-to-read manner.
All the activities, based on the user’s weight, height, and body mass index, are shown. It will then decide how many steps per day you have to walk to achieve your fitness goals.
The Fenix 5 also has a barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer. It will connect to the GPS that will be used to track your runs or rides.
Its chargeable battery can last up to two weeks but with normal use (heart-rate sensor on all the time and using GPS), the battery will last for about a week which is still good for a smartwatch.
The watch is 100m water-resistant which means you can use it for swimming, diving or any water sports activities. It can do anything that a fitness tracker can do including tracking your sleeping patterns.
I tried using it while sleeping, and it showed how many times I was awake and how often I was in deep sleep.
The watch also tracks indoor and outdoor runs, cycling, swimming (either in a pool or open water), trail running, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, golf, skiing, and snowboarding.
WATCH CAPABILITIES
The Fenix 5 does not lack in terms of watch capabilities. For starters, it has a customisable watch face and you can also download more on the app. Virtually every element, including the data fields (even the Fenix logo) can be customised to your liking.
The only shortcoming is that this premium sportwatch does not have a native storage for music.
Wouldn’t it be much better if you can leave your phone while running and listen to music at the same time?
CONCLUSION
This premier multisport watch is userfriendly and easy to navigate. At RM2,800, the Garmin Fenix 5 is a bit pricey but with all the features it has, I would say this is a beast of a fitness tracker that every marathon runner, cyclist and sports enthusiast should own.
It can be used as a day watch which doubles as a smartwatch or activity tracker. The excellent smart bands can also be tailored to a variety of dressing styles.
Verdict: 4.5/5