The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 125 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Terrific upgrade
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am loving the Fenix 8. As a female, I opted for the 47mm vs the 43. While the 47 is maybe a little big, you loose features, mainly battery power with the smaller size. The 47 was a little manly, so I just swapped out the watch band. I do wish Garmin offered bands to fit the 47 that were a little more feminine like they do for the 43.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding the profoundly frustrating and incompetent handling of my recent order, which has resulted in a significant financial loss and a complete loss of faith in Best Buy's customer service.
Weeks before the scheduled delivery date, I proactively contacted Best Buy via live chat on multiple occasions (chat transcripts saved and available upon request) because the FedEx tracking showed a delay that would result in the package arriving while I was out of town. I explicitly requested that the order be either canceled or held at a facility until my return. On each occasion, the agent dismissed my concerns, telling me not to worry and stating there was nothing they could do, despite my clear warnings.
Tragically, my prediction came true. FedEx delivered the package late, left it unattended on a porch (which, according to the delivery photo, was not even mine), and it was stolen, presumably by porch pirates or the delivery person themselves.
When I contacted Best Buy for assistance, the experience was appalling. Instead of taking ownership of the issue their inaction caused, the customer service agent was rude, repeatedly provided unhelpful scripted responses, and told me to contact local authorities myself before hanging up on me. This is an unacceptable way to treat a customer, especially one who tried to prevent this exact situation.
This review is from Garmin - fēnix 8 AMOLED Sapphire GPS Smartwatch 51mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Titanium - (2024)
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Solid Upgrade, But Software Issues Hold It Back
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve used Garmin watches for years, and the fēnix 8 AMOLED is easily one of the best on paper—but in reality, it still has some major flaws. The AMOLED display is a huge improvement—brighter, clearer, and much easier to read in all lighting conditions, whether I’m in the gym, on a run, or under a ruck. Despite the upgraded screen, battery life is still solid—I’m getting around 10 days with mixed GPS and smartwatch use, which is impressive.
Fitness & Training Features:
The heart rate tracking, VO2 max, and training load features are on point. HRV status and recovery time estimates actually feel useful, unlike some wearables that just throw random numbers at you. GPS is accurate even in dense terrain, and the multi-band GNSS support makes a real difference when tracking rucks and runs in wooded areas. The PacePro and real-time stamina tracking are great additions for long-distance training.
Durability & Usability:
As expected from a fēnix, this thing is built like a tank. I’ve taken it through gym sessions, rain, and even airborne ops—no scratches, no issues physically. The buttons + touchscreen combo works well, but I still prefer physical buttons for quick inputs during workouts.
Major Issue: Watch Freezing & Restarting
For a watch that’s supposed to be rugged and reliable, it randomly freezing or restarting mid-workout is unacceptable. This happened to me multiple times, and when it rebooted, all my workout data was completely gone. No recovery, no syncing—just lost progress. For anyone serious about tracking runs, rucks, or lifting sessions, this is a dealbreaker.
Garmin IQ Still Feels Like a Joke
For all the hardware improvements, Garmin still hasn’t figured out its app store. Garmin IQ is still a bare-bones ecosystem—there aren’t enough useful apps, and most of what’s available feels outdated or unnecessary. Compared to Apple’s or even Wear OS’s app stores, it’s not even close. If Garmin wants to compete beyond fitness, they need to take app development seriously.
Minor Gripes:
• Random Freezing & Restarts—ruins workouts.
• The watch is big—not an issue for me, but smaller wrists might find it bulky.
• Price is steep, but you get what you pay for.
• Garmin Pay is still hit or miss depending on your bank.
Final Verdict:
The fēnix 8 AMOLED should be the best multisport watch on the market—but software bugs ruin the experience. If you’re spending this kind of money, you shouldn’t have to worry about your watch crashing during a workout. Garmin needs to fix these issues ASAP, or they’re going to start losing serious athletes to other brands.
3/5 stars—Amazing hardware, but unreliable software. Not worth the risk until they fix it.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Garmin Fenix 8 is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch built for serious athletes and adventurers. It features a bright AMOLED display, advanced health tracking, multi-band GPS, and up to 16 days battery life in smartwatch mode (solar model extends it further). With rugged build quality, topographic maps, VO2 max, Pulse Ox, sleep/stress tracking, and smart notifications, it’s ideal for outdoor use and fitness performance.
This review is from Garmin - fēnix 8 AMOLED Sapphire GPS Smartwatch 51mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Titanium - (2024)
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
best watch ever
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Garmin Fenix 8 is an outstanding multisport GPS watch that exceeds expectations in every way. The build quality is premium, with a durable yet stylish design that feels comfortable for all-day wear. The display is bright and easy to read in any lighting. GPS accuracy is excellent, and the tracking features are incredibly detailed for running, cycling, hiking, and more. Battery life is impressive, lasting days even with frequent GPS use. The watch’s smart features, health metrics, and training insights are top-notch. It’s the perfect blend of performance, durability, and style—worth every penny for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The Ultimate Smartwatch – Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Sa
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve been using the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire DLC for a few weeks now, and I can confidently say this is one of the best smartwatches I’ve ever owned. The AMOLED display is stunning—bright, crisp, and vibrant, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight. The sapphire crystal lens and DLC titanium bezel make it feel extremely premium and virtually scratch-proof.
Functionality-wise, it’s a powerhouse. It tracks heart rate, stress, sleep, and Body Battery, giving me real insight into my recovery and energy levels. For fitness, it’s perfect—whether I’m bodybuilding, running indoor, or doing HIIT workouts, the watch accurately tracks my sessions, reps, and calories burned. The GPS is precise, battery life is impressive, and the watch even handles notifications, music control, and Garmin Pay seamlessly.
The only small downside is the learning curve—there are so many features that it takes a little time to master them all. But once you do, this watch becomes an indispensable part of your daily life.
Verdict:
If you want a premium, durable, and highly capable smartwatch that does it all—from fitness tracking to adventure navigation—this is it. Hands down, the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire DLC is worth every penny.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Fenix 8 is great in every situation. As a smartwatch, it does everything I need it to. As a fitness watch, it does everything. It maps, it tracks every metric imaginable and it looks good doing it. I use it for running, strength training, hiking and hunting. It does everything well. After switching to Garmin from Apple, there’s no way I could go back. Battery life is crazy good even when using GPS and every sensor. The display is very bright and looks great. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to track their fitness levels and overall health. This watch does it all. You will not be disappointed in it.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love my Garmin Fenix 8 Sapphire! Stunning AMOLED display, super accurate GPS, and heart rate tracking. Over 100 sports modes, plus new dive features. Voice commands and calls are handy. Battery lasts weeks. Rugged, stylish titanium design. Beats Fenix 7 with brighter screen and better waterproofing.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Upgraded from a Fenix 5X and I enjoy the new features on the watch. So far I’ve not had any issues with the watch. I specifically use it for running, mountain biking and road biking. Works great and the battery is just as good as the Fenix 5X.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is an outstanding watch. I was using Apple Watch Altra but this is better in terms of GPS accuracy and battery life is significantly better, Give you a run for your money.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've been using the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro for several months and find if extremely reliable. The addition of a bright AMOLED screen finally make this device great for indoor and outdoor use, all without sacrificing battery life. In addition to this, a built-in light makes this device a perfect companion for practically all occasions.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This was a purchase for my son’s Christmas present. We both had smart watches from a computer and phone giant. Our real life experience was, barely a day’s worth of charge. I quit using that watch and went back to my Garmin, it lasts for days. I went with this wat h for my son as he had a bigger need than I did. He received it Christmas Day and can’t say enough good things about it. It has been twenty days and he still hasn’t put a charge on it. This includes workouts and other needs this watch takes care of. I am glad Best Buy had this particular watch available when I went looking. Thank you Garmin and Best Buy.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Absolutely love this watch, it’s super smart, the battery lasts a really long time, and it is super durable!
This review is from Garmin - fēnix 8 AMOLED Sapphire GPS Smartwatch 51mm Fiber-reinforced polymer - Titanium - (2024)
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Most accurate smartwatch on planet .
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
writing this review after getting frustrated with whoop subscription , apple watch letting me down with only single band accuracy for runs and only basic health info. Garmin Fenix 8 is by far most accurate watch in terms of all data , maintaining 95-98% . while apple watch at 89-94% accuracy . Compatible with strava , has offline maps with topo , and mic , speakerphone . ECG app is not FDA approved . NASA just partnered up with Garmin and planning Fenix 8 for astronauts . Battery life ? well you will forget charging
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I came from a Fenix 5x and this is leaps and bounds ahead of it. Wrist HR is great, Activity tracking is fantastic, smart features rival those of phone brands and the battery life somewhere around 20-30 days depending on how much i use the GPS functions. Closer to 20 days since I walk for about 1.5 hours daily using the GPS.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love the battery life of this watch. 28 days is amazing. I’m an avid outdoorsman and really appreciate the integrated maps and improved navigation features