Customer Ratings & Reviews

The excellent battery life alone is a huge plus, no pun intended. You can be camping for a week and still not charge it. Never have to worry about getting lost or worry about having your phone so you can use the maps feature. It works without it. Looks great, very durable. The quick fit bands are awesome, however a little too expensive at $50 a piece, but so is apples. Garmin pay is sweet, but my band doesn’t support it but overall awesome watch i wear it everyday.

Coming from a Samsung S3 Frontier, I truly appreciate the no nonsense professional grade sensors packed into the Fenix 5X Plus. It actually lasts a full 20 days; compared to charging a watch every 2 days...this is like a miracle. As far the the sensors go, they are scary accurate. I love that I can be tracked, in real time, independent of a cell phone connection. Garmin hit a grand slam with this one. I am now a Garmin watch customer for life, there just isn't anything out there that's on the same level.

I primarily picked this watch for battery life, GPS, Maps, Ox meter and activity tracking at half the price of 6x. I was a little worried about the size and how this will look and feel on my thin wrist. Let me say this is one of the best purchases. I don’t have to charge it for 10 days with most features on. GPS locks on quick and screen size is adequate. I did not buy 6x as it was double the price for just a day more battery and bigger screen. 5x plus sapphire does not leave you wanting more . One thing Garmin can do it to provide the battery saving mode in this model as else you have to manually turn off the activities which you do not need. Overall it’s an excellent watch.

The fenix is a pricey option to smart watches but it has more data collection than others that I have priced. Battery life is excellent but reduced when in tracking or map mode. It still gives me days of life and recharges quickly.

Switched from Apple Watch to this one! Was hesitant at first because I really liked my Apple Watch! I am very happy with how durable and how long the battery lasts. I can wear it all day and night for several days in a row without worrying about battery. I also love the activity tracking and the ability to map hikes and activities. Love the look of this watch too. At first it seemed rather big but I love the size now that I’m used to it. Takes a little bit of learning to get used to garmin platform but very happy with this and it’s features!

I will say I have been skeptical of spending this amount of money on a watch, and even after only having it for 5 days, can say it was worth it. This is my first Garmin watch, so believe me I was hesitant to pull the trigger on that amount of for a watch, but glad i did. With that being said - purchased on June 1, 2019 & now June 5th - still at %51 battery life. I have downloaded multiple faces, updated a bunch of fields, added widgets and downloaded over 200 + songs and I've worn it consistently and used it for music and tracking. Being the Fenix 5X Plus, was a little worried about the size, but for 6'2" 215lb guy, not a bad fit, it certainly doesn't feel heavy either. In the past I was so used to the touch screen, so that's a bit of a challenge getting used to, but totally worth the challenge. Being able to get alerts and read certain amounts, connect headphones and not kill your battery all while taking information in and still having battery life is worth it. Kind of funny how we spend money on a watch to last a week or two, when a normal watch with technology can last years - however in this day technology reigns and we use it to our advantage. I would highly recommend this watch for those who are on the fence, as I was and super glad I did go with it. If you're budgeting, I would not recommend splurging money you don't have, but if you can afford it - not the payments - then I would say go for it. With the return policy, that also helps if you have buyers remorse, but I don't see that in my future. Solid build Garmin.

Fenix 5x Plus is my first Garmin watch. I have owned it for a month now and so far I have almost nothing to complain about. I was a bit worried about it's size before buying, since my wrist is neither small nor huge, just average. But since there was a good deal at the time, I decided to take the risk and shop online without comparing 5 plus and 5x plus sizes. Couldn't be happier! The 51mm case works perfectly for me. I have to be honest that I'm used to wearing Casio G-Shocks, which are kinda bulky, but unless you have a small wrist, 5x plus will fit just fine. Aside from the included Silicone band, I got a Slate Gray stainless steel band from a local store. The metal band makes the watch look like another watch, would definitely recommend. Sometimes I forget to put the silicone band on and go run with the steel one, it feels kinda loosy and you don't feel the vibrate alerts so much, but all and all, it's alright. Also, the quick release feature is awesome! If you have the budget for a sapphire crystal lens, I would very much recommend getting it. Definitely go for it! You are very likely for hit doorways, desks, car doors and etc with your watch when wearing it all day long. I've seen people complain about the glass getting scratched a week after purchasing the watch. The watch interface is sometimes too complex, with too many options. You will have to go through a lot of menus and press the buttons a lot of times to get the settings right. But most settings can be done through the Connect app on your phone, so it's not a big deal. I have seen a guy say the watch connectivity is not reliable, but I have not had this problem whatsoever. If I leave my phone in my room and go to the kitchen, it displays "disconnected". As soon as I return to my room, it says "connected". No problem at all. Sync with connect app works just fine, nothing to complain. I have not tried navigation yet, but managed to install better maps for my region quite easily. Just google installing maps and you'll see that it is quite easy. As for the watch features, here goes my reviews: -Battery duration is awesome, in my opinion. I leave the 24/7 wrist heart rate monitor on and the battery last for more than 10 days. -GPS + Glonass setting works very fine, although I don't seem to see any difference between GPS only -Garmin Pay does not work in my country (no banks support it), so if this feature is what makes you choose a watch, check compatibility beforehand. There is a link in garmin's website. -Pulseox meter seems kinds useless if you are not hiking big altitudes, which is my case. So I just leave it off for battery saving. -Spotify compatibility works fine, but I had a little trouble connecting my wireless earbuds. Had to go to a place with little signal interference (away from other bluetooth devices, wireless networks and specially my phone), Only then the watch successfully connect to the earbuds. -Original Garmin watch faces are great and very customizable. Connect IQ Store also offers a big variety of watch faces. -As for running/activity tracking, I don't think there is any better equipment. It give you tons of metrics (steps, calories, all-day heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, all-day stress levels, VO2 max, Lactate threshold, weight tracking, sleep monitoring, training effect, performance condition and a lot more). -Smart notifications are handy if you like them. You can see who is calling you, read messages, reply with pre-defined text. I don't think you can compare the smartwatch functionalities of a Apple Watch or Samsung smartwatch, but overall, they are fine. This watch is made for sports, not smartwatch stuff. I turned the notifications off because they bother me all day long, only left call notification on when I'm running, if I happen to be with my phone, of course. -I have not tested the wrist heart rate monitor while exercising, I just use the heart rate monitor strap. Overall, I'm very impressed with the watch. Would definitely recommend it, even though it is pricey.

I have had several Apple Watch versions. I was on the fence when it came to switching and the price of a Fenix made it more difficult. Apple was not helping matters with their prices and low resale value. It is technology and I understand that it doesn't ever appreciate in value. I also had a lot of issues with the fact that it is 2021 and with all of the advancement, and for some reason other manufacturers can make a battery that lasts more than a couple of days on a change. But, Apple, not a chance... Anyway, the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Sapphire is my first watch by Garmin. After I took it out of the box and charged it completely I have been wearing it since. That was 9 days ago and the battery level shows 58% left as this writing. This is excellent in my opinion. The watch is extremely durable, cannot say that for the Apple Watch as I have destroyed two Apple Watch screens. Pros: Battery life (Winner!) Durability Watch Band (secure fit - optional colors available from Garmin) Feature set (Winner - AGAIN!) Too many to detail, but 2nd gen heart rate sensor (quite accurate vs Apple Watch S6) Pulse O2 - again relatively accurate Neutral: Requires proprietary charge cable ($24 for an extra one) Management software is ok - not great and not bad Round screen vs square screen (Personal preference) Bulky - I actually like this, but some may not like this. (1.2" display) Weight is surprisingly manageable. Cons: Display is not as bright as the Apple Watch. (Some reason could be sapphire crystal and perhaps does conserve battery life so may be less of a con there). Some will not like the display. Not a made by Apple for Apple product - be prepared for all of the Apple "hand off" interoperability not to be there because, well, it is not Apple. I knew this going in, but it is something that any new owner of this Garmin coming from an Apple Watch will have to acclimate to. The sheer amount of features and data logging possibilities with this watch can seem somewhat overwhelming at times. Take a breath and do a little reading. YouTube also has a ton of resources. Bottom line for me: I am glad I made the switch. I would do it again. I don't miss my Apple Watch. I will be a Garmin customer as long they keep putting out this level of device.

Nice big watch with good options for very specific people who might need them, but the screen and button only operation takes away the fun. I got this watch after my Samsung Frontier's battery started to drain in less than 6 hours, I searched and came up to this watch as a long term battery life without needing to recharge constantly or every other day. I like that it is big and looks robust, but I hate the screen, it is a good and weird technology at the same time, the brighter it is outside or directly under the sun, the better and easier to see it, with better colors and details, but in dark spots, you must relay on the backlight, and the more you use that, the faster you drain the battery, not to mention that while using the screen backlight, the colors and details on the screen look awful. I would have kept this watch if I had bought it for a lot less than half what I paid for it, but with the money they ask for this watch, I can buy 4 Samsung Galaxy watches with 5-6 days of battery life, a real bright and nice screen and a lot more options. Again, this is a nice watch, but definitely not worth the price tag.

You need to think of this as a fitness watch with smart features. It’s killer function over smart watches is battery life, would you rather charge every single night or once a week or less? I’m coming from a Fenix 3 (not HR) and this is a huge upgrade in features. Built in HR sensor seems to be very accurate and reliable. Smart replies to notifications. Higher res screen, more colors, more training plan and app options through Garmin Connect—including quirky stuff like a Back to the Future watch face which looks like the Delorean’s instrument panel. Don’t buy it at full retail, there are frequent ~$150 discounts.

So Far I am so impressed. I didn't think I wanted a digital watch, and bit the bullet this time for the ability to have maps on my wrist for hunting season. The watch hasn't disappointed. I have been very hard on it so far and the only sign of wear so far is the mat finish on the band is slightly coming off, not a big deal for me. the face and bezel look wonderful still. the battery life has also been tremendous for what I use it for. I am just scratching the surface as to the full use of this watch, and look forward to using it for a very long time.

I am not a fan of Garmin and bought this watch in spite of myself. I haven't regretted it for a second. For once, Garmin has managed to simplify the interface and produce an easy to use intuitive watch that lives up to the hype. The battery life on the 5X Plus is much better than my wife's 5S Plus and I love the ability to run with music again killing my shuffle years ago. My only issue is that the watch is a little thick, protrudes from my wrist and I end up hitting it on objects more than I'd like. The end result being the black finish has been scuffed above the watch face.

Must say, there are a lot of fitness and/or smart watches out in the market and this has probably been my favorite one. To be honest, it is a little more on the expensive side compared to other offerings out there, but if price isn’t too much of an issue and you are looking to premium features with accurate tracking, I defiantly recommend. Love the large watch face as well. Battery life is also one thing they got right. I have all the tracking features turned on and I only have to charge my watch roughly once every week and a half to two weeks.

I bought this as an upgrade to my fenix 3. This watch is great! I love, love, love that it holds and plays music. I have paired it with a bluetooth speaker as well as my headphones so I can listen to music while working around the house, on the porch or if I go out for a run. I also love that the screen has color on this watch, nice upgrade from my fenix 3. Battery life is much better as well. So far, so good, very happy I made this purchase!

Best watch I have owned by far! Has more features than I could ever use. I use it for snowboarding, mountain biking, strength training. You name it, it has it! Battery life is spectacular! It’s big and manly, I don’t really even wear my Apple Watch anymore. You want a beast of a watch, this is the one for you! It just looks mean as hell! I had the Fenix 5X before this one and I could imagine my life without it. Love both products!

Upgraded to this watch from an Apple Watch Series 4, and I have zero regrets. The battery life is outstanding - I run with GPS tracking enabled for at least 45 minutes per day, and even with the always on display, I only charge it about once every two weeks. I love all of the pre-loaded maps, altimeter and the heart rate monitor as well. The button navigation takes a little getting used to, but it is fairly intuitive.

Great watch. Upgraded from the Fenix 3 sapphire. Use mainly as a runner but glad to have tracking for walking, biking, hiking and skiing. 5x adds music and contactless payments which is great if out for a run and need something. Improved display and GPS best in business. Great battery life for all the features. Only possible downside is that is a large watch.

While I have an Apple Watch, its battery life is at best two days. The Fenix 5X's battery life is at least a week and even if the GPS is used I get at least two days of on/off usage of the GPS. Apple uses an emissive display which sucks a lot of power. The Garmin is a passive display with backlight, which means it is very readable in daylight, though requires either automatic or manual activation of the backlight. I don't live in the dark, thus this has not been a problem especially given the fact the display is VERY readable in bright sunlight. The weight of the 5X is very minimal given the composite case, offsetting the size of the watch. Comfort wearing the watch is very good in part due to the soft stock band.

By far the best watch I have ever had. I used to have an Apple Watch and loved everything about it except for the battery life. This watch does everything the Apple Watch did and more! The battery lasts almost 2 weeks for me wearing from 5am to 9pm everyday with 10-15k steps a day. The watch software has almost every sport you can imagine, but I have used it for running, cycling, walking, hiking, rowing, stand up paddling, surfing, skiing, swimming, and weight lifting. All of those have worked great for me, except for the weight lifting one, as I typically don’t use that feature anymore since you have to click around on the watch too frequently. The size is fairly large of this model but from my understanding there are 2 other sizes, both smaller than this model with the same features.

I was looking for a multisport GPS watch and the new Fenix 5x plus fits the bill. It has great battery life, built in heart rate monitor and for me the added bonus of being able to use as a running watch along with golf GPS!