Dc Rainmaker Powertab Reduced Price Again

For this post, I'one thousand going to dive into all the differences between the Fenix 7 and its mini-me, the Instinct 2. Comparisons have long been drawn between the two, and whether or non the Instinct was essentially a Fenix-lite. And in many ways, it is. Whereas in others, information technology'south clearly not. However, never has the line been closer than now with the Instinct two, which swallows up the vast majority of the Fenix 6-era sports and fitness features, only stops short of adding newer Fenix 7—era features, or adding a fancier display.

Of course, in any comparison like this, ane has to acknowledge the obvious: The Fenix 7 (base) is twice the price of the Instinct 2 (base). The Fenix 7 serial starts at $699, whereas the Instinct 2 series starts at $349. Nevertheless, for many people, either device would work well. And I hope to arm you with the information y'all need to see which extra features you prefer, or decide to skip on.

Now equally always, this post is based on real-world long-term usage of both devices. And more notably, both devices literally adjacent on long adventures and workouts. So I can dive into some of the interesting nuances betwixt them that aren't obvious…unless you're 6-hours into a hike with changing atmospheric condition conditions requiring a route change.

Oh, and the two in-depth reviews are available here:

– Garmin Fenix 7 Serial In-Depth Review
– Garmin Instinct 2 Series In-Depth Review

And in case y'all're considering the Epix or Venu ii Plus units, then consider one of these 2 posts to guide you lot:

– Garmin Fenix 7 vs EPIX: A Very Detailed Comparison
– Garmin Epix vs Venu 2 Plus: A Very Detailed Comparison

Wait, one more than thing! Upon noticing that the Fenix 6 price today is at $399 (seriously) for the base edition, I decided to add a little section for that too. So, in case y'all demand the Fenix 6 review, information technology'south here:

– Garmin Fenix 6 In-Depth Review

Note that while the $399 will undoubtedly disappear, I do wait us to go on seeing that $399-$499 range for Fenix 6 series sales from various retailers, we even saw that back during Blackness Friday – including even the Fenix 6 Pro at i point.

Got it? Good…now hold on for the ride!

The Cardinal Differences:

As with my past 'Comparison' posts, these are largely composed in concert with the video you see above. Equally such, the sections are in the same order, and the video has supporting video goodness that shows each concept in more than item.

ane) Price, Size, Hardware:

We'll kickoff here with the easiest one – the Fenix 7 starts at twice the price of the Instinct 2. It's $699 for the base Fenix 7 (which includes mapping, music, WiFi, and Garmin Pay), whereas the Instinct 2 base unit starts at $349. If yous want solar editions of either unit, information technology's an actress $100. And so in the example of the Fenix 7 series, there's also the "Sapphire" editions, which cost even more simply add dual-frequency GPS (more on that later on), extra map storage (32GB instead of 16GB), and a more scratch-resistant screen/example. The Instinct 2 series doesn't have such a fancy level, but does have their 'Specialty' editions, which are Surf and Tactical. These cost $fifty more than the base or Solar, respectively (depending on the version).

From a sizing standpoint, at that place are two sizes of Instinct – 40mm and 45mm (Instinct 2S & Instinct 2). Whereas the Fenix 7 series has iii sizes: Fenix 7S at 42mm, Fenix 7 at 47mm, and Fenix 7X at 51mm. Here's a lineup of them for your viewing pleasure:

Weight-wise the Instinct 2S is the lightest at 43g, so then the Instinct 2 at 53g, with the Fenix 7 from 63 to 89g depending on the variant. Waterproof-spec-wise, all these units are the same at 100m – and then you lot're proficient there at the aforementioned level. Also note that the Fenix 7X has a born flashlight/strobe light, whereas the Instinct series does not (neither does the remainder of the Fenix series).

ii) The Brandish:

From a hardware standpoint, the biggest difference is arguably the display. Simply put, the Instinct series is black and white, whereas the Fenix seven series is color (64 colors). Not only that, but the resolution is higher on the Fenix vii series (Fenix 7S is 240x240px, Fenix 7 is 260x260px, and Fenix 7X is 280x280px), versus the 156x156px for the smaller Instinct 2S and 176x176px for the Instinct two units. Of form, it goes without maxim that having color gives Garmin lots more flexibility in other areas, especially things like tiptop profiles (such every bit ClimbPro that nosotros'll talk almost), too as even what unlike 3rd party Connect IQ apps might display. Still, aside from specialty information pages/charts, the vast bulk of the time I'm using a watch I'yard using it on blackness & white data fields. So for existence out at the track doing intervals or a long run, the display isn't actually a consideration.

Instead, where information technology's a huge difference is both the hiking/mapping/navigation features, merely also just day-to-mean solar day widget glance type functions. Every bit you can run into to a higher place, the color is a overnice touch. I've gotta believe though that if we look ahead to an Instinct three in a few years, it'll probably be offered in both an AMOLED brandish as well as perhaps a Fenix-style color brandish. Especially every bit battery life improves to brand these jumps.

And finally, the Fenix 7 has a touchscreen, whereas the Instinct two is purely buttons only. Of course, the Fenix 7 doesn't require you to use touch at all, in fact, y'all can directly-upwardly disable it watch-wide, just during specific sport profiles, during non-sport uses, during sleep, etc….

iii) Mapping and Navigation:

As big a difference as the display hardware is, the software differences here on the mapping/navigation side are so vast it'due south tough to really cover all of them. I could probably do a standalone post on but this i area (and an 60 minutes-long video). Showtime up, the Instinct series doesn't take any maps, whereas the Fenix 7 series has full downloadable maps with terrain data, trails, roads, points of interest (similar cafes, monuments, and shelters), and even popularity map data (heatmap data). And in the example of skiing, they've got total ski runs and ski areas, for both downhill and cross-land skiing. The aforementioned goes for golf game courses.

But it's how that data is leveraged that's more of import. Showtime, though, let'southward step dorsum momentarily.

The Instinct can load up a grade/route that you create alee of time online so sync to the sentry. You'll then follow a breadcrumb trail of a small pointer/dot on a line. Merely like you lot would have washed a decade ago on other Garmin watches. And sure, don't get me wrong – that works merely fine. Whereas the Fenix seven series will also show the existent-earth map below that, and actually snaps your route to that existent-world map. So information technology knows when to tell y'all to turn off onto a different trail.

And if you go off-course, it'll first warn you, and then eventually it'll just go with information technology and give you new routings to your next waypoint or destination. But more than that, it'll also snap your tiptop to the known-skilful map data. For example, on this 6-hour hike, my elevation on Instinct 2 slowly shifted with the weather changes, such that when I finally reached the ocean it was starting time xxx-meters high. Whereas the Fenix 7 hitting 0-meters as the waves striking my feet.

Both units allow yous to re-route older activities, as well equally salve waypoints. And both units tin can route you back to the beginning. But the Fenix can road you back to the starting time in the most direct manner possible since it has all the known trails/routes. And both units tin route to coordinates, just with Instinct, it'due south but line of sight, whereas with Fenix it can be using the known routes. Further, the Instinct doesn't support the new Fenix 7/Epix 'Up Ahead' feature for showing a table of upcoming waypoints/icons and their distances.

Finally – my biggest/well-nigh favorite Garmin feature: ClimbPro. This isn't available on the Instinct. ClimbPro will automatically take your route (or on the fly road if re-routing or created on the watch), and will splice up the ascents and descents into private climbs. You'll see the distance to the top of the climb, gradient remaining, pinnacle remaining, and so on. And it shows y'all which climb you're on (due east.g. Climb 2 of v). The Instinct two can show you your overall class acme contour, and where on that profile you are. Hither'southward the differences out in the real earth with a hike:

If in that location was any feature that would have me buying a college-end watch over the Instinct, information technology's ClimbPro. Note that ClimbPro is actually offered on other watches likewise the Fenix 7. It's been around since the Fenix v Plus Serial, so it's on the Fenix half-dozen series (and derivatives similar Tactix), Forerunner 945, Forerunner 745 (equally long as you pre-programme the road, since information technology doesn't have maps past itself), and EPIX.

4) Bombardment & Solar Life:

Next is battery life. Now this one gets messy really quickly depending on which version you lot've got. Given at that place are basically like 20 versions of each product series, and given my graphic design capabilities are limited to MSPaint, I'm just going to stick both battery charts here and permit you sort it out for the next 4-5 hours. Commencement upwards, the Fenix 7 chart:

And then the Instinct ii series nautical chart:

In terms of existent-globe usage, my data supports certain areas that I've validated. Significant, I've tested multi-band GPS extensively on the Fenix 7 and get equal or better bombardment life than spec. The same goes for 24-hour interval-to-twenty-four hour period usage. And that besides matches with the Instinct 2 series – meeting spec. Evidently, your exact usage will vary a bit, but Garmin's done a skilful job in recent years in ensuring their battery specs match real-earth usage (like having optical HR enabled, Bluetooth phone connection, etc…) – and not beingness some mythical make-believe lab battery claim. But I haven't tested things like expedition fashion or the Max Battery GPS settings, merely because I don't tend to go trekking beyond Africa for 30 days at a time on my weekends.

5) Sports Profiles:

This area is the i where things accept converged the quickest with the Instinct 2 series. There are nearly no differences here, at least on the surface anyway. Both units have triathlon mode and multiple cycling modes, as well as numerous indoor/strength/HIIT/Yoga/etc modes. And both take golf game. Though, the extent to which each feature is fulfilled differs. For example, on the Fenix 7 series golf will show yous a petty map of each hole, whereas on the Instinct 2 serial it'll show you lot distances to each tee, but non the actual pigsty/course design.

Further, while structured workouts are supported on both units (e.g. running, cycling, etc…), there aren't animated guided structured workouts for strength, yoga, and others as there are on the Fenix 7 series. So if y'all're trying to follow a core workout indoors, the Fenix 7 will show you each motion, whereas the Instinct doesn't have that.

Now, let's look at the sports profiles supported on each one, as of this writing. Pitiful, these aren't in some specific order, they're merely in the order they've concluded up on my watches.

Fenix 7 Sports Profiles:

Run, Hike, Bike, Cycle Indoor, Treadmill, Open Water, Navigate, Trek, Runway Me, Map, Map Manager, Connect IQ Store, HRV Stress, Health Snapshot, Multisport, Trail Run, Ultra Run, Virtual Run, Track Run, Indoor Track, Climb, MTB, eBike, eMTB, CycloCross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, Road Bike, Pool Swim, Triathlon, Swimrun, Adventure Race, Forcefulness, Climb Indoor, Bouldering, Ski, Snowboard, Backcountry Ski, XC Classic Ski, XC Skate Ski, Snowshoe, SUP, Surf, Kiteboard, Windsurf, Row, Row Indoor, Kayak, Golf game, Tempo Training (Golf), Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Project Waypoint, Walk, Cardio, HIIT, Yoga, Breathwork, Pilates, Floor Climb, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Jumpmaster, Tactical, Boat, Clocks, Other

Instinct two Series Sports Profiles:

Triathlon, Hike, Run, Bike, Treadmill, Wheel Indoor, MTB, Openwater Golf, Virtual Run, Yoga, Navigate, Expedition, Runway Me, Project Waypoint, Area Calc, Pulse Ox, Pulse Ox, Multisport, Trail Run, Indoor Track, Walk, Climb, eBike, eMTB, Cyclocross, Gravel Bicycle, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, Road Wheel, Pool Swim, Swimrun, Ski, Snowboard, Climb Indoor, Bouldering, XC Archetype Ski, Xc Skate Ski, Backcountry Ski, Kayak, SUP, Row, Row Indoor, Forcefulness, Cardio, HIIT, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Flooring Climb, Tactical, Gunkhole, Fish, Hunt, Wellness Snapshot, Other

Note: Garmin says Track Running (Outdoors) is coming to the Instinct ii series in a planned firmware update.

Ok, so that was a fun typing exercise. But what are the differences? Ask and you shall receive:

Map, Map Manager, Connect IQ St, HRV Stress, Ultra Run, Adventure Race, Snowshoe, Surf, Kiteboard, Windsurf, Tempo Grooming (Golf), Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Breathwork, Pilates, Jumpmaster, Clocks

Note additionally that the Instinct 2 specialty Surf and Tactical editions likewise have differences hither. The Surf edition has the Surf/Kiteboard/Windsurf sport modes. And the Tactical edition has non-sport contour differences including being dark-vision goggle friendly, equally well as a kill switch feature that deletes all information from the watch in a unmarried button press.

Both units have full training load, status, recovery, VO2Max, and training effect support. That'due south all the same. Notwithstanding, the Fenix 7 series does brandish this on some watch faces, whereas the Instinct series doesn't. Further, the Fenix 7 volition display a 'Training Load Focus' single-give-and-take tag at the end of a workout, telling y'all what workout type that workout targeted (list of them here). Yous can access this data at the end of a workout, or from the widgets menu at whatever time, on both units.

6) Sensors & Data Metrics

Adjacent up at that place'southward all the data from those sport profiles.  And a lot of that data comes from external sensors (more than on the center-rate sensor data beneath). With the Instinct 2 they've dramatically expanded sensor support over the instinct one, both in terms of sensor types supported, only also sensor protocols (Pismire+ & Bluetooth Smart), besides every bit the data derived from the sensors. First upwards, here'south the sensors supported.

Instinct 2: Lodge Sensors, Eye Rate, Speed/Cadence, Power, Human foot Pod, VIRB, Tempe, RD Pod, Xero Laser Locations, inReach, DogTrack, Smart Trainer

Fenix vii: Club Sensors, Headphones, Middle Rate, Speed/Cadency, Human foot Pod, Tempe, Lights, Radar, Power, VIRB, Shimano Di2, Shifting (e.k. eTAP), Extended Brandish, RD Pod, Musculus O2, Xero Laser Locations, inReach, DogTrack, Smart Trainer

So in brusque:

Differences not on Instinct 2 Serial: Shimano Di2, Shifting (east.grand. eTAP), Extended Display, Musculus O2, Varia Radar, Lights, Headphones

I do find information technology somewhat baroque that Varia Radar isn't on this watch, given Garmin has put it on $150 cycling computers, and the non-endurance-sports focused Venu 2 series.

Both units back up downloading swim (or whatsoever workout blazon) data after the fact from the HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM/HRM-PRO straps.

And both units now support Cycling Dynamics & Running Dynamics from sensors (eastward.thou. cycling dynamics from Garmin Vector/Rally or Favero Assioma pedals), and Running Dynamics from the HRM-RUN/HRM-TRI/HRM-PRO/RD-POD accessories. Y'all'll as well get mountain bike metrics like Dust & Period on both units, assuming you lot're in the MTB profile.

For each of these features, y'all'll see unlike things on the units themselves though during the workout, due to the display differences. For example on the Fenix seven series, you've got colorful running dynamics pages, whereas on the Instinct 2 it'southward just black and white.

Similarly, both units support PacePro Plans – though you'll demand to create those on Garmin Connect ahead of time. Meanwhile, simply the Fenix 7 has Strava Live Segments support, the Instinct 2 doesn't have that. The Instinct 2 does take Lactate Threshold testing, Racing an Activity, Structured Workouts, on-unit Interval creator, and setting a target (e.m. altitude, distance/time, or distance/step). Both units have the metronome feature, both accept auto lap, motorcar pause, auto climb (which adds an extra customizable data page equally your ascent rate goes up), 3D speed/distance, and auto-scroll. The Instinct 2 lacks the 'Self-evaluation' feature mail-workout where you can grade your workouts with smiley faces.

The Instinct 2 series also doesn't take the new 'Stamina' workout tracking features introduced on the Fenix 7 and Epix units. Nor does information technology have the automatic categorization of walking/running time within a workout (new charts on the Fenix 7/Epix). However, the Instinct 2 serial does accept daily workout suggestions for both cycling and running, like the Fenix seven. Finally, both units are capable of using Garmin's Running Power Connect IQ app, which will leverage the HRM-RUN/HRM-TRI/HRM-PRO/RD-POD accessories. Sadly, Garmin doesn't have native on-wrist running power similar COROS or Polar. Alternatively, you can use 3rd party apps like Stryd for that, since both units back up Connect IQ.

seven) GPS & Altimeter Hardware Differences:

When it comes to the GPS chipsets, they are substantially different – especially for the Fenix 7 Sapphire editions. The Instinct 2 series even so uses the 'older' Sony chipsets. Which aren't bad at all – and in fact, if you look at my GPS accuracy testing section on the Instinct ii series (of which every gear up had a Fenix 7 for comparison), you'll come across the differences in most situations are negligible.

Whereas the Fenix 7 has a chipset from MediaTek/Airoha. And in the case of the Fenix 7 Sapphire editions (but not the not-Sapphire editions), they've also got the new multi-band GPS, which is generally seen as the holy grail of GPS accurateness. Or at least, the potential to exist. While it's been getting better equally a whole in the manufacture (COROS added it terminal summertime with the Vertix 2), I don't call up information technology'due south quite at holy-grail level. Withal, it is slightly improve than the Instinct ii series.

A simple example of this was a run I did around some semi-tall buildings, the two watches on reverse wrists, the multi-band GPS (Epix in this case, but it's the verbal same chip) conspicuously produced crispier tracks around these buildings whereas the Instinct 2 meandered a bit. Once abroad from the buildings, the two tracks were basically identical.

Yet, if we look at this super dense jungle switchback section in the mountains, it's a wash between them:

I wouldn't necessarily let this line-item be the deciding factor 1 manner or other, especially since the base edition doesn't have multi-band support. I think we'll ultimately see the Fenix vii multiband units get better over time, whereas I wouldn't wait any farther meaningful performance-focused GPS firmware updates on the Instinct 2 series, given Garmin'due south attention is likely going to exist on the MediaTek/Airoha chipset going frontwards. Only once more, the Instinct ii tracks have been really good for me.

In terms of altitude, both units more often than not do very well. The Instinct 2 series changed both the port location, also as other software elements compared to the Instinct 1 series, attempting to accost accuracy issues there. Both units accept a slew of altimeter-related settings and options. Just one advantage the Fenix 7 series has is that information technology'll snap your top to the known elevation points in its maps. A adept example of this is this half dozen-hour hike, where I started deeper in the mountains and so eventually dropped my manner down to the bounding main. Once on the beach at the water's border, I noticed the Instinct 2 had slowly drifted over fourth dimension (due to changing weather), whereas the Fenix seven was spot-on at 0 meters.

Certainly, I could have mitigated this by recalibrating the altimeter with known values, simply at that place was none of that here. I could take as well re-calibrated the altimeter at the water's edge for 0-meters, but that'd have ruined my fun scientific discipline experiment. Again, there are not many cases where being inside a few dozen meters is admittedly critical to your hike/conditioning/etc, but in case information technology is, that's something to consider.

Both units still, take heat/altitude acclimation tracking for your body, which is done automatically behind the scenes and accessible via the widgets carte.

8) Music, WiFi, and Garmin Pay:

Next, a relatively easy category – the Instinct 2 series doesn't take music, or WiFi. Meaning, you can't store any music on the watch, whereas the Fenix 7 has onboard music storage for both MP3 files, but as well streaming services support for Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more. This allows yous to download and playback those music services playlists offline without your telephone, to Bluetooth headphones.

It does all that via WiFi, which is how it likewise downloads maps. The fact that the Instinct 2 doesn't take WiFi though is really a non-issue, since information technology'll easily utilize either your phone or computer (via USB) for all its needs. WiFi is actually but needed for larger information things (music/maps), and is supremely overkill for the tiny fitness files that the Instinct creates/consumes.

As far every bit Garmin Pay support goes, all Fenix 7 units take Garmin Pay built-in, whereas but the Instinct 2 Series Solar variants have Garmin Pay (plus the Instinct 2 trucker edition – DEZL). Garmin Pay is Garmin's contactless payment system (using NFC). It works well, only merely if your depository financial institution is supported. In the US, at that place'south a strong chance your banking company is supported. Where outside the Usa it varies quite a scrap. You can look it up hither.

ix) The Center Rate Sensor:

This is another quick and easy 1: Both have the aforementioned Garmin Elevate V4 optical 60 minutes sensor. This sensor gets even so cadre metrics including 24×7 center rate, workout heart rate, respiration rate, and other features like stress. And in fact, both have PulseOx to get blood oxygen levels on-need, 24×7, or just during sleep. And both have the new Health Snapshot feature to collect all this information into a tidy report.

The primary nuanced divergence with the Fenix 7, is that it can also plot those Blood Oxygen levels over altitude over time, for high distance climbing. Whereas the instinct just plots them over time (without distance).

Both units support concurrent Emmet+ & Bluetooth Smart broadcasting (the Instinct i Solar did Bluetooth broadcasting, only not the not-Solar Instinct), so you can broadcast your centre charge per unit to 3rd party apps or devices using the optical Hr sensor. Further, both units take Virtual Run support, so you can as well broadcast your pace & cadency while on a treadmill to tertiary party apps like Zwift, which treat that every bit a footpod (but too with the middle rate information bundled in).

Both units back up recording/brandish center rate while pond, though, accurateness will vary significantly on pond (for every watch on the market).

Beyond swimming activities, I oasis't seen whatever appreciable differences in terms of accurateness between the 2 units in all my testing, however, continue in mind that by and large speaking a heavier/bigger unit will bounce more than on your wrist, and then if looking at the Fenix 7X for example, you may see more variability in accuracy there than the lighter Instinct. Merely again, that'll vary from person to person.

10) Tracking & Emergency Features:

Both units have many of the aforementioned safety features like autumn/crash detection, which notifies friends and family unit automatically, as well every bit both take LiveTrack to share your position automatically, and both have silent condom assistance alerts (such as if you lot're feeling uncomfortable in a dark parking lot).

However, only the Fenix 7 has 'Grouping Track', which allows you to run across the position of others in your group on your picket in real-time. This of course requires your friends or others to besides be on Garmin watches.

I used LiveTrack pretty extensively side past side on both units, and didn't discover whatever differences (or issues). Evidently, since neither unit has cellular born, you'll need your phone nearby for all features in this department. In cases where cellular service is lost on a LiveTrack, it'll resume one time cellular service is regained (and it'll show to your stalking friends that connectivity is currently lost).

Both units have Garmin inReach accessory support, which is a satellite communicator for when you're out of cellular range, though no Garmin devices currently automatically switch back and forth betwixt cellular connectivity and satellite inReach connectivity for LiveTrack. Instead, you'd just have a secondary inReach LiveTrack. Still, wouldn't that be cool?

xi) Connect IQ Differences

The Instinct ii series added support for Garmin Connect IQ, which is Garmin's app platform. This means you can load watch faces, data fields, apps, and widgets onto the Instinct 2 serial. The Fenix series has had this for ages.

And at a loftier level, that'll bring an absolute ton of functionality to the Instinct 2 for extended features. Notwithstanding, there are some minor catches to exist aware of, at least short-term. Showtime off is that because the display on the Instinct 2 series is more limited (blackness and white), some apps might non be ported to the Instinct due to lack of coloring. Further, it'll just take time for apps to toggle 'Yes' to compatibility for Instinct within the Connect IQ platform. Though I wait the most popular ones to practise and then.

In fact, a expert Connect IQ example of an app/feature not ported is Garmin'south own 'Face It' feature in the Connect IQ app store that allows you to create custom watch faces with any photo/flick. That's not available on the Instinct 2 series, whereas it is on the Fenix 7 series. This one is somewhat peculiar given that lesser resolution watches have been available historically (e.chiliad. FR230), though with color. However, something to be aware of.

The other difference is that the Fenix 7 series has Garmin's new Connect IQ Store on the watch itself. This gives y'all a scattering of recommendations from Garmin's Connect IQ store, and lets you download/install them directly from the wrist, without opening your phone. Right now though, this characteristic is *incredibly* limited (like, it'southward simply got 5-vii apps in total showing), so I wouldn't overthink this 1. But I'k sure if we fast forward some other year or ii, it'll exist a significantly different story. Merely again, you lot tin only employ your phone to download apps – so it'south not a big deal.

Compared to the Fenix 6:

Now, I wanted to briefly point out that the Fenix 6 has been creeping lower and lower on the 'Random Drunk Retailer Auction' charts, with it currently as of this writing being $399USD for the base edition, and occasionally in that same range for the Fenix half-dozen Pro series edition with maps. So, when the prices are right, what's the difference between everything I outlined in a higher place, and the Instinct 2? Well, not much. Here's the brusk version (at that place are more Fenix seven vs Fenix 6 features I outline in the 'What'south New' department of my Fenix 7 review, but these are the main ones):

– Fenix 6 base of operations doesn't have music or WiFi (but Fenix 6 Pro series does)
– Fenix 6 base doesn't have the maps (but Fenix 6 Pro series does)

– All Fenix 6 and Fenix 7 units have ClimbPro, regardless of maps (you just have to have pre-planned routes on the Fenix vi Base for ClimbPro, whereas the Fenix 6 Pro can do information technology on the wing given the included maps)
– Fenix 6 series has the Gen 3 optical HR sensor versus Gen4 on Fenix seven, merely does have PulseOx – so you won't get the Health Snapshot feature, but you basically get everything else
– Fenix 6 series doesn't have the conditioning stamina or run/walk automatic categorization features of the Fenix 7 series
– Fenix half-dozen series doesn't have the Connect IQ store on-wrist, nor the phone-based config of data fields
– Fenix 6 series doesn't have a touchscreen, but does have the same button layout as the Fenix 7

Again at that place are some more nuanced feature differences I outline in the Fenix seven review, but in the context of Fenix 6 vs Instinct 2 serial, those above are really the big ticket differences, and for many people, they aren't that big a deal.

Wrap-Up:

Phew. Ok, lots for y'all to think nearly.

My full general guidance would be that if you're spending lots of time hiking or trail-blazing in some chapters where you're doing unknown routes, I notice the maps on the Fenix serial tremendously useful. Not because I can't follow a breadcrumb trail, but more as a backstop or insurance policy.

For case, last weekend I was doing an 80KM gravel/MTB ride. Or at to the lowest degree, that was the program. Then the route I planned on a different platform kinda evaporated nether my wheel. Existence able to use the maps in an area that had no cellular service was useful. I'yard able to glance around and go "oh, OK, in that location'southward a trail about 200m over here I should exist able to become to". Sure, it involved lots of awkward hiking up an beach with my bike, but hey – in 20-30 minutes I was back in business, versus having to backtrack somewhere far further back.

And and so across that, I hugely value ClimbPro while hiking and cycling in the mountains. But, you lot can also go that on a number of cheaper Garmin units than a Fenix 7. Both from the Forerunner 745/945 side, as well equally even the older Fenix five Plus and Fenix vi series.

But, if yous're not doing the type of adventures where maps would be of value, or if you take lots of sun and want more battery life – Instinct is amazing at that. It was awesome final summer to encounter the 'unlimited' symbol popular-up on my Instinct 1 Solar unit of measurement showing I'd unlocked unlimited battery ability due to days-on-end of endless summertime sun.

Hopefully, this guide helps you figure out what you value almost to make the right decision. Thanks for reading!

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