Garmin Epix Pro review: Should you buy it?

Garmin Epix Pro review: At a glance

Should you buy the Garmin Epix Pro?

To the joy of petite and wide-wristed users everywhere, the Epix Pro is now available in three sizes: 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm. These are the same sizes found in the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro series which launched in tandem. As when Garmin added a second size to its Instinct 2 lineup, I gratefully tip my hat to the company for more inclusive offerings.

With that out of the way, there are plenty of treats in both the new Epix and Fenix goodie bags. I already covered many in our Fenix 7 Pro review, but I’ll touch on a few quickly as a refresher:

• Endurance Score and Hill Score: Two new metrics for advanced training, Endurance Score measures users’ capacity to sustain performance, while Hill Score measures users’ power and strength on incline grades greater than 2%.
• Weather map overlays: While very cool, weather overlays can only be accessed from the weather widget. They are not displayed over in-use maps like during a hike, which is what we were hoping to see.
• Split screen and perimeter data pages: Additional screen views keep stats in view alongside maps so you’re not left toggling between data and directions.
• Relief shading on maps: Automatically added to all maps, relief shading makes it easier to interpret the landscapes you’re covering.
• New sport modes: 30 additional activity modes include a slew of team sports as well as more niche modes like motocross.

Since all the above can be found on both multisport lines, distinguishing between the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro models primarily boils down to display. On the Epix Pro, users will find a bright, colorful AMOLED touchscreen. The Fenix Pro opts for a Memory in Pixel (MIP) display in order to stretch battery life. That display also harnesses and taps into solar charging which the Epix Pro does not. On the other hand, the Epix Pro offers fast charging that will power up your device in under an hour, which the Fenix 7 Pro, unfortunately, does not.

The Epix Pro line also adds Garmin’s LED flashlight which I already loved on the Fenix 7 Pro; a flashlight strapped to your wrist is more useful than you’d think. Whether you love to camp or just regularly rely on your cell phone to light up your garage, the Epix Pro now has you covered.

In addition to this popular feature, the Epix Pro also adds another tool for late-night use. Tucked into the Garmin Epix Pro’s control menu users will now find Red Shift Mode (pictured above). This overlay turns everything on the screen into red-only hues, from the watch face to training metrics, to the deepest menu you can find. The idea of course is that red light preserves night vision. This is the type of feature that won’t get field minutes from every user. Those who do use it though will love the convenience. Plus, even if you just want to feel like part of a tactical unit at 2 AM on the way to the bathroom, Red Shift Mode is the play.

Back to the hardware, the Epix Pro packs a brand-new Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor. In addition to updating its algorithms, Garmin spaced out the sensor’s LEDs for better accuracy, especially during workouts with more wrist movement. After one week of testing, it’s clear that space is ace. The sensor proved highly accurate compared to my chest strap throughout this Garmin Epix Pro review, including during weight lifting and circuit training.

At present, Garmin’s ECG app is still only available on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, but it seems likely this updated sensor package could support that feature in the future as well. For now, the heart rate accuracy, coupled with multi-band GNNS support across the board, makes this a fantastic fitness tracker. GPS routes recorded by my Epix Pro were some of the most accurate I’ve dug into.

Finally, the Epix Pro also offers substantially updated battery life on its biggest watch. The 51mm model will now last up to 31 days in smartwatch mode or 58 hours in GPS only. This is outstanding performance for a device with an AMOLED display. With my miniature wrists, I tested the 42mm option instead which features a much smaller cell, and its own more humble battery life specs. Still, the watch easily made it three to four days with about an hour of GPS workouts per day. If you don’t mind disabling the always-on display, Garmin claims up to 10 days between charges.

All of that said, the Epix Pro isn’t without its quirks. Primarily, the new training features don’t seem fully baked just yet. It’s also very possible that more data and workouts will improve that experience though so I’m not overly worried. Notably, all new software features will also roll back to the previous generation. Upgrading from the Gen 2 is only worthwhile if you’d love an alternative case size or if your heart’s set on a flashlight (which we fully support).

What are the best Garmin Epix Pro alternatives?

The Epix Pro isn’t the only option for athletes looking for a powerful fitness companion. Check out a few of these alternatives as well.

• Garmin Epix (Gen 2) ($853 at Amazon): The Epix Pro’s older sibling, the Epix (Gen 2) comes in just one case size and won’t have the same heart rate sensor or built-in flashlight. However, it’s a formidable device now likely to go on sale.
• Garmin Forerunner 965 ($853 at Amazon): A Garmin wearable with an equally attractive AMOLED display, the Forerunner 965 is our top recommendation for dedicated runners.
• Fenix 7 Pro (on the product’s website): Though the 51mm Epix Pro offers an impressive battery, true endurance athletes looking for hours and hours of GPS tracking will still likely find the Fenix 7 Pro a better fit with its MIP display and solar charging.
• Apple Watch Ultra ($799 at Amazon): The best smartwatch for adventurous iOS users remains the Apple Watch Ultra. It doesn’t offer the same level of training features, but it’s a durable device with accurate tracking tools.

Garmi Epix Pro specs 

Garmin Epix Pro review: FAQ