My Descent mk1 is almost 6 years old and still works perfectly. I snagged an Epix off of a good classifieds sale not that long ago but the Descent will be used any time I plan on diving.
The big problem is it's always 18 months late on the tech, because they put it through a much more rigorous safety protocol (since you're trusting your life with it). Garmin knows how to do this because they do the same for awesome.
Otherwise, totally agree.
Just got the mk3i and it’s awesome! It’s got the old HR sensor, but I imagine Garmin hasn’t tested the Elevate 5 enough to trust it at 200m for the mk3i. So it’s basically an Epix Pro with the old oHR sensor. I can’t wait to use the OLED and flashlight diving!
Yup same with the 5 for me, had it since 2018 and still going strong for me now although I am looking to upgrade since the support is starting to slow down
I wasn't very keen on upgrading except for the looks (AMLOED screen). But after making the jump I really appreciate the much better metrics (race predictor was waaay off on my fenix 5 and now I can actually trust it for guidance) and gps tracking also improved a lot for me, sleep tracking and overall training condition. The light on the watch is also a great addition.
Mine always lasts for a long as I need it. The time for change is when I get new watch jealousy. Currently on an Epix 2 in its third year, and still performing the same as the day I bought it. I expect to wear it for at least a couple more years before the jealously kicks in!
The thing is a tank. I've never really worn a watch before this so I'm constantly bashing it into walls or the edge of my desk and it hasn't got any noticeable marks on it yet.
Same for me. Instinct Solar Tac. v1 user here. On the 3rd year and currently not wanting anything else. I think I am going for 5 or 6 years in total and then maybe considering a change.
As smartwatches go, Garmin watches are extremely resilient. If you want something that will last a long time with good battery health and kinda timeless in terms of usage and software experience your best option probably is in the Instinct line. I had an Apple Watch Ultra, but it just didn’t felt right for me (personal preference, the watch itself is really good) so I sold it and bought an Instinct 2X Solar. Extremely happy with my first Garmin and I haven’t missed the Apple Watch for a single second. The Apple Watch is good at doing everything and it’s arguably the most feature rich smartwatch, but Garmin watches are like finely crafted and well tuned tools that excel at specialized tasks for any particular discipline.
I have people at work still rocking their Fenix 5 and 6. The thing that will degrade the most is probably the battery. So instead of it having a 2 week battery life it now has a 11 day battery life. Still 10 days better than a brand new Apple watch ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Also I think the fact that the battery doesn't need to get charged that often really aids the longevity.
On the flip side I wonder if Garmin is jealous of Apple building in functional obsolescence into their watches. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the biggest thing stopping people from buying a new Garmin is the fact that their current Garmin works just fine.
Srsly, though. I try to be frugal, but I really like shiny new stuff. I'm coming up on 2 years with my 945, and it still works like brand new (in some ways better since I've dialed in my usage so I can balance battery life and the metrics I care about). The phone I bought 6 months ago has declined more in performance. I'll be interested to see if I get frustrated enough to replace the phone, or new watch envy enough to replace the watch first. Either way it's probably 5 year minimum replacement cycle for me on the watch.
Hi have a F3 HR given to me by an upgrading owner. It works great, battery easily lasts 4 or 5 days, including my 5k and 10k runs. Occasionally it has a wobble about GPS location, but I would probably expect that from any device. (Apparently syncing with my phone if it struggles to get a GPS signal can help)
to be fair, I think your fenix will keep going, it will just not feel as smart as the newer featured watches.
I just bought a 5x for 50 bucks and I think that was an absolute steal at that price. Titanium, sapphire watch for 50 bucks lol. Most of the features are still there, i miss solar and the body battery calculations though.
The qeustion is, will the processor burn out? i imagine eventually it will.
I'm still waiting for my Fenix 3 to die so I can get a new one! I'd love some of the newer features, but can't justify it when there isn't anything wrong with mine.
It's a bit battered and I replaced the battery a few years ago but other than that, it's still going strong.
Thanks dad, you are right - Fenix3 was released 2015 (this is the one I have) and Fenix3HR 2016. Still more than impressive though!
What is most impressive about these watches is that Garmin's support is denominal - they will replace or offer a later model at a discounted price long after warrantee has lapsed.
No smart watch will last a lifetime. If you want a watch to last a lifetime consider a mechanical watch. It has no battery and servicing is required one every few years.
If you want a "for life" fitness tracker then currently there is none. If you want something durable? then yes, Garmin's products are more durable than the average fitness tracker. I've had a Vivosmart 4 on my wrist for two years before the first one broke down. My Xiaomi fitness trackers were replaced once or twice a year, my Jawbone Up was replaced every few months, my Pebble lasted about a year and a half.
>No smart watch will last a lifetime
there is technically no definitive distinction between a smart watcha nd a non smart watch. It really depends on the build and maintenance.
gshock dw-5000 has been all digital electric for 40 years. Not all smart watches have a difficult to replace battery, that's more of a marketing design to force you into buying a new one.
>Mechanical watches have the advantage of needing only metal and skill.
everything is skill. Both types of watches require tools to maintain. A quartz movement slows down with time, with some movements have an adjustment screw that can compensate as it gets older to a point. Mechanical watches shed metal and will eventually wear out in some regard, despite of correct maintenance
>Rolex, would like a word...
automatic vs quartz digital is a big distinction, but considering most smart watches are digital and contain a quartz movement for back up and some quarttz watches contain bluetooth, the lines are quite blurred.
technically there is. Let's say that anything digital would not last a lifetime unless really kept in good condition.
A good Seiko would still be good 30 years after it was bought if serviced correctly.
Tbh, I'd expect old gshocks to still be working, and all digital watches are imo way easier to maintain - less moving parts, less wear and tear, just replace batteries and you're good to go for another many years. Also, I'd say that digital watches are more physical damage resistant. Issue with smart watches would be burning in screens and software losing support and not being able to "talk" with new smartphones, but other than that, I'd expect my instinct 2x to last loooong time.
i have a dw-5600 c from 1987, it still works. ALthough technically, most smart watches are in a way, digital. The screens, MIP or amoled usually, but still another form of digital. Often containing quartz movements for low power draw back up.
>A good Seiko would still be good 30 years after it was bought if serviced correctly.
they're supposed to be serviced every 10 years but at this price point, good luck finding anyone to do that service for less than the price of the watch. Many digitals still exist from the 1970s era as well. Everything wears out with use, but how fast depends more on the quality of the build and materials than the type of watch.
Got me thinking, my Venu was replaced after two years because the screen suffered from heavy burn in. The Venu was Garmin's first AMOLED watch. Many people complained about it in the forum. Not sure if the newer ones are better at it. I only had my Venu2 for 6 months before switching to a Fenix 7S Pro (Venu2 lacked the cross country skiing activity autopause) and many of my activities are in direct sunlight, which isn't good for a AMOLED watch (the Varia bike radar turned the screen on way too many times). The MiP screen fits me better.
I have the 935 and the SO has the Fenix 5S. Both are still going strong although the plastic 935 is incredibly scratched and has water/sweat marks all over and the 5S’s metal ring is all banged up.
We’re so happy we didn’t get another brand of smart watches since the Garmins are so tough. Wife wears her 5S all the time to get notifications (she works in a very noisy industrial environment) and I only wear my 935 during workouts and sleep. My daily wear are mechanical watches.
Regarding the 935 needing to charge a bit more often, it's successors (x45, x55, x65) had a big increase in battery life so I suspect 935 just has a smaller battery.
I just recently upgraded my 935 to 955 - only to get the extra biometric sensors and training insights. The 935 still working fine.
Battery replacement with Garmin is tricky, if not impossible to diy in some cases. You’ll lose waterproofing which is a pretty big deal for something you wear to sweat pretty heavily, and wear in the rain and to swim, if you’re a dedicated athlete.
At a certain point it becomes worth it to upgrade for the improved sensors and feature set. But this is a lot longer, usually, than with say an Apple Watch. Still on a 245 here, and I’ve seen people still rocking x35 watches with no issues. But it depends on your use case. I track multiple activities daily, and use it for marathons, so at some point I’ll probably have to upgrade, but I don’t expect that to be for at least a year or two more.
>You’ll lose waterproofing
that happens with any watch, you need to seal it back up properly with the right parts and materials. It really isn't hard on some, although for some people it is just not worth their time.
I haven't had a Garmin product where the software was unsupported to cause EOL. I'm still using a Delorme InReach (OG, thing has to be a decade old) and my Garmin Everest head unit (garmins first in car dash unit is 13 years old ) still performs better than some friends new fancy cars Infotainment systems.
my Fenix 2 still works and performs all the functions it was purchased for. It's 8 years old.
I can even replace the battery in the Fenix series. Therefore giving it virtually unlimited life.
Now the instinct series has a finite life span due to the sealed battery. Technically it can probably be replaced but it's not simple like the Fenix. Of course even a heavy user of a watch should see at least 5 days of battery life (I'm assuming a few hours of GPS a day, OX, and notifications). So figuring 300 charge cycles on the low end, that's 4 years out of an Instinct series (80 charges a year). Most people get closer to 2 weeks per charge. So that's basically 30 charges a year or 10 years life (in theory).
Lithium ion batteries have a finite lifespan. If you need to charge them less frequently, the devices they power will remain functional longer.
Garmin users charge, on average, probably once a week. Apple watch users charge at least once a day, probably twice a day if they're using those sleep tracking features that are supposedly so great.
Had my Forerunner 235 for several years (9ish) and it’s still going strong - still holds a charge still operates as when I purchased it. I haven’t experienced garmin resetting battery functionality through updates the way Apple has done with many of its products.
Mine would have been too but the battery just shit the bed on day. Got a instinct Solar for $200 and been using it for 2 additional years.
Wasn't upset. The gps and HR was better/more efficient on the solar. But I wasn't happy either. That said, the bad battery still lasted about a week. Just not the 2-3 it was before and the reduction was most important on GPS.
Now I can do two day bikepacking trips and not charge. So I'm happy.
yeah long term battery health is definitely going to depend on how often you use the GPS. In general its amazing to have a watch that just doesn't die every day and I don't understand how almost everyone just accepts 12-24 hour battery life.
Garmins are kinda slow anyway but at least they're consistant. I had a Fenix 6 Pro and it always takes about a second or 2 for the maps to load. I swapped it for a Fenix 7 Pro and it's the same thing. I train with lads who have the Fenix 5.
I bought a forerunner 45 with the dodgy strap attachment. It breaks every 18 months and they send a whole new watch. My husband uses it now and we're on our fourth iteration. I wonder how much longer I'll have it replaced? 6 years and counting.
So my garmin fr945 just had an issue where the light button was getting stuck, the watch kept turning off, would barely charge. I thought I was screwed and dreaded contacting customer support.
Finally, I broke down and messaged them, and they didn’t even ask any questions, just said “if that’s happening, you can replace the watch. Either pay us and we’ll ship you a new one and then refund when we receive your watch, or send us your watch and we’ll send you a new one”
I sent them my watch, and they sent me a new one, no questions asked, super easy. So if that’s how easy it is to get a new replacement I suspect it’s a for life kind of situation.
I wouldn't go so far as to say life, but my Tactix Bravo (second hand in 2017) lasted until I got a Fenix 7X in 2022. IIRC the battery would last just shy of two weeks before it needed a charge. I'd venture a guess that the longer discharge times and lower power draw of the screen (non OLED ones anyway) prolong the battery life, but all rechargeable batteries eventually die.
Depends upon what “life” you are talking about. if you are talking about a gadget lifecycle, they sure do last. You will see a degradation in battery life (well because physics) and software being out of touch in terms of features but it will keep on functioning as is.
I bought FR745 in 2020 right after its launch. It is going strong. It doesn’t have the latest features like HRV, training readiness etc because of hardware limitations but all the features that it came with, they work flawlessly.
I feel like these watches do technically have the ability to do this stuff. Garmin just holds it back. Nothing wrong with that. I can get HRV using a heart rate monitor and an app. So not too concerned but my guess is it's not hardware limits
My vivo aktiv 3 has lasted 5 years or so at this point, but it has had a worsened battery life and I've had to factory reset a few times when I thought it had died so I'm getting I have 2 years left on it
I'm on year 6 with my vivoactive 3 without issue. I think the battery life is slightly worse than new, but as long as I use a non-data-hungry watch face, it's never an issue.
Huh, that's interesting, are there faces that are less energy intensive? I only really notice the energy draining heavily when recording exercise - I did a long walk last year that meant it died 5 hours in.
Fenix 5, still going strong after 6 years. Battery lasts a week or so and that is with regular runs. Only slight irritation is that newer features aren’t available, but that’s not enough for me to drop money on a new one. Reckon at least another couple years before I need to upgrade.
Can't say for life, but probably a really long time!
I purchased my Garmin Instinct in January 2019. It's been 5 years and I've had zero issues. Worn it through thick and think, heaven and hell. Not even the strap is broken or torn.
My Fenix 3 hr is still going strong, still use it every other day to track activities. Only recently I've thought of upgrading, but really still don't think i will till there's more reason to do so. It's not for life but it'll last over a decade no bother.
Battery degradation on most Garmin watches is less noticeable as in the Apple Watch. Durability and “ruggedness” is probably pretty comparable unless you get a Garmin Instinct or similar which is hard to destroy. I would get a G-Shock or mechanical watch for lifetime. Any smartwatch is bound to have issues with support at least someday..
I have a Forerunner 220 that I bought in February 2014 which still works, although I've not used it as my regular running watch for a few years. My son occasionally uses it and it works just fine.
I got 8 years out of a forerunner 225, the only reason I got rid of it was to upgrade to a watch that could do more. No noticeable issues with battery or anything during that time.
My forerunner 245 music is still going strong since 2020. Other than lacking a couple new features it is very responsive and still has great battery life :) so I'd say perhaps not for life, but far longer than a smartphone or any apple product.
The charge port is what goes first for me. Maybe it's something I'm doing , maybe I'm too rough with it, but I always get to a point within a year that I have to fiddle with the cable just to get it to charge regularly and eventually the thing just stops charging at all before I have any actual problems with the watch.
i dont know yet. Some of them dont come with easily replaceable batteries which tend to die after around 5 eyars of hard use. THey are, however, replaceable with a bit of DIY know how and it comes down to the processor, if the processor will die eventually.
I'm honestly good with a 5 year upgrade cycle on the instinct series. GPS chips and HR sensors get better and more efficient. 5 years is a few generations, so the jump should be more than incremental.
im not. its a lot of money to pay for a watch that doesn't last. i get that thet will be superseded and thus depreciate in value, but if they are actually going to degrade significantly from their original functions or condition then i'd rather put my money elsewhere. Whats the point of paying for sapphire and titanium if the insides are giong shit themselves?
Pretty sure the sapphire and titanium watches have replaceable batteries.
The instinct series is disposable (battery has to be reached through the glass). But it should last a minimum of 5 years with a weekly charge cycle.
For $400 I'm good with 5 years. That's $80 a year. About 2 months of most cell plans in the US.
Honestly, the only reason I have had to replace my Garmin watch is to get new features on a newer watch. All of my previous ones, going back to my original vivofit, still work. Heck, my Garmin etrex, which is 10+ years old now, still works.
https://preview.redd.it/qevimszulcic1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc5b95bd48f1501a7c35d71b245fc8d209a3e485
Not with that attitude. I broke the frame and got a repair kit online and followed some YouTube videos. I traded an Apple watch for the Fenix 5. Had it since 2021 and the thought of just letting a busted frame be the cause to spemd $800 on a new model didnt sit right.
I bought my Forerunner 945 in early 2020 and it is still in perfect condition and works like the day I got it. Battery life is great and I think I will easily get another 4-5 years out of it before having/wanting a new one.
Forerunner 310xt, Forerunner 220, Forerunner 245 and now Enduro. The earlier watches does have good battery time yet. Serves other duties without a hitch.
I got a 7 year old forerunner 35 that still works. I suppose over several years the battery life fades some if your into longer runs but otherwise the performance doesn't really change.
My 735xt is going on 7 years, sure there's some battery degradation, but nothing completely stupid. That being said, I'm getting the itch for some new features, but want to wait for the next forerunner flagship.
My first garmin was a forerunner second hand from my aunty- she had it 2years I had it 6 before it finally got water in it last year and it got sad. In that time I replaced the band once and battery had deteriorated to about two days per charge.
Now on a fancier new garmin, will be disappointed if I don't get at least 5years.
I have a low end forerunner from 2014, still going strong. When I wanted to upgrade to a 745 for swimming husband inherited my original and still uses it every day.
my garmin FR255 went into restart loop and it is mostly known as death loop, i though that was it, just 1.5 years old .. fortunately hard reset revived it again .. i am hoping it lasts at least 3-4 years .. will be worth the money I spent ..this is my most expensive watch ever
I've had my Fenix 6 Pro for 3 years now. Battery life is what it always was. It's a little scuffed up from my own clumsiness, but it still works awesome. Really great device that with a chest heart strap doubles as my bike computer, connecting to my power pedals and everything.
Long enough for you to wish it would die so you can buy the newer model. My Fenix 5 is running like it was when new and it’s got 5+ years of daily use.
I got my fexin 3 HR in 2018 and it was an old model then. Still going strong! Battery lasts 12-14 days if I'm not doing anything. Three using GPS for back country hikes about 8 hrs per day, or two days skiing.
No signs of dying yet!
I mean, my first garmin watch, the FR 410, still charges and turns on, but i upgraded to the FR 630 and absolutely loved it!!! It still works wonderfully, and the battery still lasts 3 plus weeks. The only reason i upgraded again is because my work offered a health credit, so i upgraded to the FR 965. In 12 years, I am only on my 3rd watch. I gave my 630 to my dad, and have zero doubt it will continue on for many more years!! I absolutely love garmin watches!!! And i have never noticed them slowing down, like phones tend to do....
Hardly any electronic product is "for life", but Garmin is as close to that as you're gonna get. They typically will outlive their usefulness, meaning that you're far more likely to replace it someday just because it's dated and the tech is old, than because something is wrong with it.
Apple is known for planned obsolescence, their devices become useless after a few years because they deliberately slow their devices down and make all their software and apps only run well on newer devices. Other smartphones are the same, I tried to use my old Samsung note 3 the other day and couldn't, because it's OS was so old it couldn't even use any apps and isn't allowed to be updated to a newer OS, so it's literally just a brick of e-waste now even though the hardware is fine.
Garmin doesn't have a history of doing that, they will usually still fully support older devices and allow them to continue to use all the services they need to use. Lots of people are still using 10-year old Garmin watches. Most people just choose to replace it every few years as the style and features get improved and refined over time. My old Instinct 1 still works just as well as the day I bought it, I only stopped using it because times have changed and it's not the best watch for my needs anymore.
Also the cost of used watches that are a couple generations old is so low that it's not worth keeping a watch longer than that. For example, why keep using a very old Fenix 3 today, even though it's working fine, when you can pick up a Fenix 5 with way more features for like $75? Or a Fenix 6 for like $150?
It's expensive to stay on the bleeding edge of Garmin watches, but if you don't mind lagging a generation or two behind the latest and greatest then it's really pretty inexpensive to upgrade every few years.
I had a garmin triathlon watch that last 11 years. It was still working fine software wise, but I replaced it because the power switch had started to fail, making it difficult to turn on
My 945lte started using up battery more after a few software updates. Every couple of years I sell my Garmin watch on eBay and buy a new one, the new forunner. The new one comes out to 50 percent discount factoring in the sale of the old one
I have a 6 pro that I've had for a couple years now. Aside from the random notification glitch, it still works well and the battery is solid. I'll probably upgrade the next time a 7 pro goes on sale, but only because I'm neurotic about accuracy and would love the multi-band GPS.
I’ve had my fenix 6S pro solar since October 2020. No slow down in battery, no function hiccups. I’ve had to replace the band once, and will likely need to again, but I use the rubbery material and I’m hard on it.
It'll last for years but its not a mechanical watch or something. My 5 died because it wouldn't charge anymore so i got some life out of it but its not forever.
You’ll want a new watch long before your Garmin wears out. I’m a triathlete and in the Army. Hours in a highly chlorinated pool, freezing temps, boiling hot temps, sandstorms, you name it. After about 5 years I get a new one due to battery life. If I sent the watch into Garmin, they’d replace the battery for me. By then I want the new features though so I get a new watch instead.
Just my experience but I bought a Fenix 6 from eBay two years ago and the battery and features all work the same as the day I got it, use it every day too
No smart/fitness watch is a forever watch. That's not their design intent. Doesn't mean they won't last a long time, but in the end they're tools to meet your current and near future needs and do a very good job of it. Obviously if you want a forever watch get an Omega, or Gran Seiko, or Rolex os something that'll still be valuable 30 years from now. Hell, my daughter wears my Seiko from when I was in high school! I'm sure the EOL for my Instinct Solar is not being handed down; more likely recycled.
My 235 lasted for 6 years and still works fine, but I moved to the 255 b/c I wanted something with more features and looked nicer. It's more of a personal thing as I suspect i will keep the 255 for 5 more years before having watch envy and move to something else, assuming that is I am still working out 28 days per month in my mid 60's.
nope, not for life. but no such device if for life. first battery will start failingnin 3 years, if it reaches 5 years it will be in bad condition and on a waterproof watch its non replacable. software will get outdated, new and better stuff will come. its not garmins fault, its same with every smart-wannabe, battery powered device. but take care of battery and it will last enough for you to know if you want another such device or not, then "for life" becomes irrelevant.
My Fenix 6S pro is absolutely the finest product I’ve ever owned all things considered. Reliable day in and day out. I may upgrade only because my wife has the 7S and I’m a bit envious of her metrics that mine doesn’t have. My brother in law has the Fenix 3 purchased in 2015 and loves it. He will not upgrade.
I really don’t get the Apple appeal.
People complain that app selection is sparse and that you can't tinker with the watch much or cant do much in the "smart watch" side of things...but by making the watch that way, Garmins are generally more stable than other smart watches.
Unless there is some form of physical damage... the only limiting factor is the life of the Lithium Ion battery.
I got a venu a few years back and gave my little sister my older forerunner 645 music, and even that watch still runs great at 6 yrs old. Battery charge for both is still several days with using most of the features (don't run pulse ox so I can't speak to that particular feature's battery drain) but you couldn't convince me to buy another brand at this point.
I just exchanged my tactix Delta because Bluetooth kept dropping. Survived 3 and a half hard years, and aside from that and scratches it performed perfectly. Bonus was replacement was under 200 from Garmin
My Fenix 3 lasted approximately 6 years. I couldn't take it anymore when it got to the point of having Apple watch battery life (only a few days). If I could have replaced the battery, it likely would have lasted another 6. My wife had a Fenix 3 she never used, so the battery didn't have many cycles on it. It still works fine for her on the occasion she decides to use it.
Make sure you replace the water proof seal regularly (check the garmin recommendations), I've had two die from water ingress and a work colleagues has recently died from the same.
I gifted my Fenix 3 (bought new when they first came available) to my husband when I reluctantly bought a new 7. I say reluctantly because the 3 was/is still functioning great. At the time he didn't understand why I wouldn't give it up but he gets it now :) Garmin always
The only reason my instinct was replaced after 3 years is I wanted a fenix 7 pro... I gave my instinct watch to my dad and it still works great... So definitely has longevity
The Garmin will outlast the watch band😂 I currently have the Fenix 6S (I think) had the 310XL & the 935 (love!) eventually the band wears out but watch still ticking. I upgraded cuz Garmin sent me a fantastic deal on the F6s a while back
My D2 Air is a year and a half old and today I just noticed some pretty bad OLED burn in. Brightness has always been on auto and the screen cycles on and off on default settings.
I have loved this watch so far but I am pretty annoyed and can say that no these definitely are not for life.
I’ve had my watch now for 3 years and the battery life is still as good as new. I already have a new watch ready for when this one dies but I’ve only changed the band since I’ve bought it.
My Venu 1 has started needing regular resets as it stops tracking sleep data after a week or two.
It's pretty annoying and not something I'll keep doing. It's four years old.
Had a Garmin Fenix 5 for years with no problems at all. It was worn in all conditions for all sports I did, and it still looks and works great - no hint of slow down. The only thing that gave out was the easily replaced strap.My son had an older model Fenix and wore through his entire Marine selection, so you can imagine how testing that was for a watch - the watch is still in great condition. They seem built to last - the only problem is when you want to upgrade to a newer model it seems a shame to do so as your old watch is still spot on.
My watch is second hand I've had it for 4 years my boss has it for 4 before that. It seems like I'll have it another 4 years. My last watch later 8 too and I just ended up getting a new one because my boss upgraded and wanted to flip his old one to me.
I have a 645 music (second hand) and it shows no sign of giving in, which is pretty mind blowing in this age of planned obsolescence. I've been wondering when to expect the battery (or anything) to give up but I can't really see any difference between when I got it 4 years ago and now.
The only thing that would make it better is if the GPS could get hold of a satellite quicker sometimes. Don't know if that's an improvement in newer watches, but not enough of a reason to spend money on an upgrade thats for sure.
Garmins also use batteries and will degrade in runtime just like any other watch. The difference with a Garmin is they go from multiple weeks of life to a single week. I typically used my Garmin’s for 3 years before getting a new one. Not because of battery life but to get newer GPS radios and new features. I eventually switched to an AW S6LTE and got 3 years out of it and the battery still handled my daily running volume while streaming Spotify over LTE and still ended the day with 30%. I replaced it with a U2, paid $100 to replace the S6 battery and handed it to my son for Xmas. The Apple battery replacement program lands you with a brand new battery, case and screen for $100.
I’ve never experienced an AW slowing down with age. I’ll assume you have an S3 which had a much slower CPU, had less memory and was released back when watchOS was only intended to run companion apps. The S3 should not have been allowed to upgrade to more modern versions of watchOS.
My Fenix 6 had about 6 days battery life originally. After about 5 years it's down to 2 days, still all the same features activated.
Will probably get a new one when I need to recharge it more than once a day.
Have a 2019 Forerunner 235 Music, did a lot of Spotify during runs, the battery capacity is at best at 75% of the original one (since I had to recharge it often due to music playback), probably closer to 50%. YMMV
i finf tbat after 3years the battery staets to have less capacity. tried called the support but gwnerally they are useless. they ask you to reset, hard reset. when tjey shouls just take the watch and replace battery. I sell the watch and buy a new one
It’s not for life, but it is for YEARS.
My Descent mk1 is almost 6 years old and still works perfectly. I snagged an Epix off of a good classifieds sale not that long ago but the Descent will be used any time I plan on diving.
I truely think that the descent is the ultimate Garmin. It has all the features of the Fenix but can be used for diving.
The big problem is it's always 18 months late on the tech, because they put it through a much more rigorous safety protocol (since you're trusting your life with it). Garmin knows how to do this because they do the same for awesome. Otherwise, totally agree.
To that end, any of the special watches are. I’ve got a D2 Mach 1, which is an Epix with special flight stuff.
An old colleague of mine is still rocking is VivoActive HR bought in 2016 while running or biking. https://imgur.com/a/b4BO7Gd
Gave my 6ish yr old viviosmart3 to my daughter. It still works great
Just got the mk3i and it’s awesome! It’s got the old HR sensor, but I imagine Garmin hasn’t tested the Elevate 5 enough to trust it at 200m for the mk3i. So it’s basically an Epix Pro with the old oHR sensor. I can’t wait to use the OLED and flashlight diving!
Man that's awesome. The new ones are also way more expensive 😅 mine was $1k new
I had a 310XT for 8ish years, it still works but only bring it out as a backup for if my fenix dies on long trip
I had a Garmin Fenix 5 for about 5 years before upgrading to the 6 series. Battery on the Fenix 5 was still going very strong after 5 years
Same with a fenix 5 after 7 years. Just replaced it by an epix but it was still working fine tbh.
Yeah my damn F5 is 7 years old and won't die or even slow down. I want to upgrade but can't justify it
Yup same with the 5 for me, had it since 2018 and still going strong for me now although I am looking to upgrade since the support is starting to slow down
I wasn't very keen on upgrading except for the looks (AMLOED screen). But after making the jump I really appreciate the much better metrics (race predictor was waaay off on my fenix 5 and now I can actually trust it for guidance) and gps tracking also improved a lot for me, sleep tracking and overall training condition. The light on the watch is also a great addition.
That's exactly what I'm wanting a new watch for. The metrics
Mine always lasts for a long as I need it. The time for change is when I get new watch jealousy. Currently on an Epix 2 in its third year, and still performing the same as the day I bought it. I expect to wear it for at least a couple more years before the jealously kicks in!
I got my Epix 2 the day it was released and still think of it as new
Same
The thing is a tank. I've never really worn a watch before this so I'm constantly bashing it into walls or the edge of my desk and it hasn't got any noticeable marks on it yet.
Same for me. Instinct Solar Tac. v1 user here. On the 3rd year and currently not wanting anything else. I think I am going for 5 or 6 years in total and then maybe considering a change.
I got a forerunner 55 music less than a year ago. Immediate watch jealousy after seeing all the other models and features posted around!
As smartwatches go, Garmin watches are extremely resilient. If you want something that will last a long time with good battery health and kinda timeless in terms of usage and software experience your best option probably is in the Instinct line. I had an Apple Watch Ultra, but it just didn’t felt right for me (personal preference, the watch itself is really good) so I sold it and bought an Instinct 2X Solar. Extremely happy with my first Garmin and I haven’t missed the Apple Watch for a single second. The Apple Watch is good at doing everything and it’s arguably the most feature rich smartwatch, but Garmin watches are like finely crafted and well tuned tools that excel at specialized tasks for any particular discipline.
I have people at work still rocking their Fenix 5 and 6. The thing that will degrade the most is probably the battery. So instead of it having a 2 week battery life it now has a 11 day battery life. Still 10 days better than a brand new Apple watch ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Also I think the fact that the battery doesn't need to get charged that often really aids the longevity. On the flip side I wonder if Garmin is jealous of Apple building in functional obsolescence into their watches. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the biggest thing stopping people from buying a new Garmin is the fact that their current Garmin works just fine.
Srsly, though. I try to be frugal, but I really like shiny new stuff. I'm coming up on 2 years with my 945, and it still works like brand new (in some ways better since I've dialed in my usage so I can balance battery life and the metrics I care about). The phone I bought 6 months ago has declined more in performance. I'll be interested to see if I get frustrated enough to replace the phone, or new watch envy enough to replace the watch first. Either way it's probably 5 year minimum replacement cycle for me on the watch.
My fenix3 is now at its absolute end. I think I got it in 2011… Edit - Yes you are right, it was 2015 not 2011
Fenix3 was released in 2015...
But 2011 was just 8-10 years ago, I insist.
Ya but my F3 and F3 HR still function perfectly
Hi have a F3 HR given to me by an upgrading owner. It works great, battery easily lasts 4 or 5 days, including my 5k and 10k runs. Occasionally it has a wobble about GPS location, but I would probably expect that from any device. (Apparently syncing with my phone if it struggles to get a GPS signal can help)
I think my Forerunner 405 still works, got it in 2010. It's buried in the basement somewhere...
My forerunner 405 from 2009 still worked but the band completely tore off and this was before replaceable bands 😔
to be fair, I think your fenix will keep going, it will just not feel as smart as the newer featured watches. I just bought a 5x for 50 bucks and I think that was an absolute steal at that price. Titanium, sapphire watch for 50 bucks lol. Most of the features are still there, i miss solar and the body battery calculations though. The qeustion is, will the processor burn out? i imagine eventually it will.
I suppose the battery will give in faster
i would have thought you would have replaced that once already. But they can be replaced,.
Garmin sells batteries? Cool, didn't know that.
I'm still waiting for my Fenix 3 to die so I can get a new one! I'd love some of the newer features, but can't justify it when there isn't anything wrong with mine. It's a bit battered and I replaced the battery a few years ago but other than that, it's still going strong.
I had a car like that once.
Fenix 3 was released much later. I got my Fenix 2 because I didn't want the 3 and that was in Dec 2015.
Thanks dad, you are right - Fenix3 was released 2015 (this is the one I have) and Fenix3HR 2016. Still more than impressive though! What is most impressive about these watches is that Garmin's support is denominal - they will replace or offer a later model at a discounted price long after warrantee has lapsed.
No smart watch will last a lifetime. If you want a watch to last a lifetime consider a mechanical watch. It has no battery and servicing is required one every few years. If you want a "for life" fitness tracker then currently there is none. If you want something durable? then yes, Garmin's products are more durable than the average fitness tracker. I've had a Vivosmart 4 on my wrist for two years before the first one broke down. My Xiaomi fitness trackers were replaced once or twice a year, my Jawbone Up was replaced every few months, my Pebble lasted about a year and a half.
>No smart watch will last a lifetime there is technically no definitive distinction between a smart watcha nd a non smart watch. It really depends on the build and maintenance.
I think the most important difference is difficult to replace battery and the lack of mechanical systems vs all electric.
gshock dw-5000 has been all digital electric for 40 years. Not all smart watches have a difficult to replace battery, that's more of a marketing design to force you into buying a new one.
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>Mechanical watches have the advantage of needing only metal and skill. everything is skill. Both types of watches require tools to maintain. A quartz movement slows down with time, with some movements have an adjustment screw that can compensate as it gets older to a point. Mechanical watches shed metal and will eventually wear out in some regard, despite of correct maintenance
>there is technically no definitive distinction between a smart watcha nd a non smart watch. Rolex, would like a word...
>Rolex, would like a word... automatic vs quartz digital is a big distinction, but considering most smart watches are digital and contain a quartz movement for back up and some quarttz watches contain bluetooth, the lines are quite blurred.
technically there is. Let's say that anything digital would not last a lifetime unless really kept in good condition. A good Seiko would still be good 30 years after it was bought if serviced correctly.
Tbh, I'd expect old gshocks to still be working, and all digital watches are imo way easier to maintain - less moving parts, less wear and tear, just replace batteries and you're good to go for another many years. Also, I'd say that digital watches are more physical damage resistant. Issue with smart watches would be burning in screens and software losing support and not being able to "talk" with new smartphones, but other than that, I'd expect my instinct 2x to last loooong time.
i have a dw-5600 c from 1987, it still works. ALthough technically, most smart watches are in a way, digital. The screens, MIP or amoled usually, but still another form of digital. Often containing quartz movements for low power draw back up.
>A good Seiko would still be good 30 years after it was bought if serviced correctly. they're supposed to be serviced every 10 years but at this price point, good luck finding anyone to do that service for less than the price of the watch. Many digitals still exist from the 1970s era as well. Everything wears out with use, but how fast depends more on the quality of the build and materials than the type of watch.
My Forerunner 935 from 2018's still going strong. Perhaps it needs charged a bit more often, but, other than that, it's fine.
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Got me thinking, my Venu was replaced after two years because the screen suffered from heavy burn in. The Venu was Garmin's first AMOLED watch. Many people complained about it in the forum. Not sure if the newer ones are better at it. I only had my Venu2 for 6 months before switching to a Fenix 7S Pro (Venu2 lacked the cross country skiing activity autopause) and many of my activities are in direct sunlight, which isn't good for a AMOLED watch (the Varia bike radar turned the screen on way too many times). The MiP screen fits me better.
I have the 935 and the SO has the Fenix 5S. Both are still going strong although the plastic 935 is incredibly scratched and has water/sweat marks all over and the 5S’s metal ring is all banged up. We’re so happy we didn’t get another brand of smart watches since the Garmins are so tough. Wife wears her 5S all the time to get notifications (she works in a very noisy industrial environment) and I only wear my 935 during workouts and sleep. My daily wear are mechanical watches.
Same… gone through a few straps, but otherwise my 935 is still going strong
Yeah, mine's had a few straps as well. The cheap ones from eBay don't last as long as the genuine Garmin ones either.
Regarding the 935 needing to charge a bit more often, it's successors (x45, x55, x65) had a big increase in battery life so I suspect 935 just has a smaller battery. I just recently upgraded my 935 to 955 - only to get the extra biometric sensors and training insights. The 935 still working fine.
My forerunner 235 has recently been relegated to tracking my bike rides, but I still only need to charge it about once a week. Got it in 2017.
The upgrade cycle for Garmin watches is definitely much slower than for Apple Watches.
possessive distinct bike zonked unwritten memory mourn compare one bow *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
replace the battery. THe watch still has stand alone functions
Battery replacement with Garmin is tricky, if not impossible to diy in some cases. You’ll lose waterproofing which is a pretty big deal for something you wear to sweat pretty heavily, and wear in the rain and to swim, if you’re a dedicated athlete. At a certain point it becomes worth it to upgrade for the improved sensors and feature set. But this is a lot longer, usually, than with say an Apple Watch. Still on a 245 here, and I’ve seen people still rocking x35 watches with no issues. But it depends on your use case. I track multiple activities daily, and use it for marathons, so at some point I’ll probably have to upgrade, but I don’t expect that to be for at least a year or two more.
>You’ll lose waterproofing that happens with any watch, you need to seal it back up properly with the right parts and materials. It really isn't hard on some, although for some people it is just not worth their time.
I haven't had a Garmin product where the software was unsupported to cause EOL. I'm still using a Delorme InReach (OG, thing has to be a decade old) and my Garmin Everest head unit (garmins first in car dash unit is 13 years old ) still performs better than some friends new fancy cars Infotainment systems. my Fenix 2 still works and performs all the functions it was purchased for. It's 8 years old. I can even replace the battery in the Fenix series. Therefore giving it virtually unlimited life. Now the instinct series has a finite life span due to the sealed battery. Technically it can probably be replaced but it's not simple like the Fenix. Of course even a heavy user of a watch should see at least 5 days of battery life (I'm assuming a few hours of GPS a day, OX, and notifications). So figuring 300 charge cycles on the low end, that's 4 years out of an Instinct series (80 charges a year). Most people get closer to 2 weeks per charge. So that's basically 30 charges a year or 10 years life (in theory).
For life try at G-Shock.com
Lithium ion batteries have a finite lifespan. If you need to charge them less frequently, the devices they power will remain functional longer. Garmin users charge, on average, probably once a week. Apple watch users charge at least once a day, probably twice a day if they're using those sleep tracking features that are supposedly so great.
Had my Forerunner 235 for several years (9ish) and it’s still going strong - still holds a charge still operates as when I purchased it. I haven’t experienced garmin resetting battery functionality through updates the way Apple has done with many of its products.
My instinct is 4 years old and its as good as new.
Mine would have been too but the battery just shit the bed on day. Got a instinct Solar for $200 and been using it for 2 additional years. Wasn't upset. The gps and HR was better/more efficient on the solar. But I wasn't happy either. That said, the bad battery still lasted about a week. Just not the 2-3 it was before and the reduction was most important on GPS. Now I can do two day bikepacking trips and not charge. So I'm happy.
yeah long term battery health is definitely going to depend on how often you use the GPS. In general its amazing to have a watch that just doesn't die every day and I don't understand how almost everyone just accepts 12-24 hour battery life.
It's a device, it deteriorates! Everything does.
I’ve had my FR235 since 2016 and it still works exactly the same as it did then. I’ve replaced the strap once along the way, but that’s it.
Garmins are kinda slow anyway but at least they're consistant. I had a Fenix 6 Pro and it always takes about a second or 2 for the maps to load. I swapped it for a Fenix 7 Pro and it's the same thing. I train with lads who have the Fenix 5.
No modern consumer electronic reliant on software updates is for life.
I bought a forerunner 45 with the dodgy strap attachment. It breaks every 18 months and they send a whole new watch. My husband uses it now and we're on our fourth iteration. I wonder how much longer I'll have it replaced? 6 years and counting.
Same happened to my fenix 6 it went thru 9 replacements then 2 fenix 7 replacements until I went back to my apple watch series 4 ….
https://preview.redd.it/gqkoqirfchic1.jpeg?width=922&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc06fe1a6a92de81644f730a6a36023b8163ea09
So my garmin fr945 just had an issue where the light button was getting stuck, the watch kept turning off, would barely charge. I thought I was screwed and dreaded contacting customer support. Finally, I broke down and messaged them, and they didn’t even ask any questions, just said “if that’s happening, you can replace the watch. Either pay us and we’ll ship you a new one and then refund when we receive your watch, or send us your watch and we’ll send you a new one” I sent them my watch, and they sent me a new one, no questions asked, super easy. So if that’s how easy it is to get a new replacement I suspect it’s a for life kind of situation.
I wouldn't go so far as to say life, but my Tactix Bravo (second hand in 2017) lasted until I got a Fenix 7X in 2022. IIRC the battery would last just shy of two weeks before it needed a charge. I'd venture a guess that the longer discharge times and lower power draw of the screen (non OLED ones anyway) prolong the battery life, but all rechargeable batteries eventually die.
ALL computer that runs on battery will do this Your Apple Watch is a computer Your garmin is a computer
No planned obsolescence in anything other than crapple. You'll be a happy garmin customer
Fenix 6x Pro, had it for 3 years I think. It feels like I'll get another 3 out of it!
Depends upon what “life” you are talking about. if you are talking about a gadget lifecycle, they sure do last. You will see a degradation in battery life (well because physics) and software being out of touch in terms of features but it will keep on functioning as is. I bought FR745 in 2020 right after its launch. It is going strong. It doesn’t have the latest features like HRV, training readiness etc because of hardware limitations but all the features that it came with, they work flawlessly.
I feel like these watches do technically have the ability to do this stuff. Garmin just holds it back. Nothing wrong with that. I can get HRV using a heart rate monitor and an app. So not too concerned but my guess is it's not hardware limits
Yes, HRV is no brainer a software limitation. This is to make people upgrade to newer hardware. Unfortunate but that’s the capitalist way!
My vivo aktiv 3 has lasted 5 years or so at this point, but it has had a worsened battery life and I've had to factory reset a few times when I thought it had died so I'm getting I have 2 years left on it
I'm on year 6 with my vivoactive 3 without issue. I think the battery life is slightly worse than new, but as long as I use a non-data-hungry watch face, it's never an issue.
Huh, that's interesting, are there faces that are less energy intensive? I only really notice the energy draining heavily when recording exercise - I did a long walk last year that meant it died 5 hours in.
Fenix 5, still going strong after 6 years. Battery lasts a week or so and that is with regular runs. Only slight irritation is that newer features aren’t available, but that’s not enough for me to drop money on a new one. Reckon at least another couple years before I need to upgrade.
Can't say for life, but probably a really long time! I purchased my Garmin Instinct in January 2019. It's been 5 years and I've had zero issues. Worn it through thick and think, heaven and hell. Not even the strap is broken or torn.
Off topic but saying that 2019 was 5 years ago shocked me LOL! The whole covid period really messd up my perception of time
My Fenix 3 hr is still going strong, still use it every other day to track activities. Only recently I've thought of upgrading, but really still don't think i will till there's more reason to do so. It's not for life but it'll last over a decade no bother.
Battery degradation on most Garmin watches is less noticeable as in the Apple Watch. Durability and “ruggedness” is probably pretty comparable unless you get a Garmin Instinct or similar which is hard to destroy. I would get a G-Shock or mechanical watch for lifetime. Any smartwatch is bound to have issues with support at least someday..
My last one lasted almost 7 years.
It’s an electronic device. I can’t think of anything electronic that would last a lifetime. But I’m sure someone will pipe up with an example.
Venu 2 user for 3 years, just sold it to upgrade to a newer model. It worked as good as the first day!
I have a Forerunner 220 that I bought in February 2014 which still works, although I've not used it as my regular running watch for a few years. My son occasionally uses it and it works just fine.
Sometimes, even love is not for life.
My Vivoactive lasted from 2016-2019, my Forerunner 35 from 2019-Present, my Forerunner 955 from 2022-Present
I got 8 years out of a forerunner 225, the only reason I got rid of it was to upgrade to a watch that could do more. No noticeable issues with battery or anything during that time.
My forerunner 245 music is still going strong since 2020. Other than lacking a couple new features it is very responsive and still has great battery life :) so I'd say perhaps not for life, but far longer than a smartphone or any apple product.
On the contrary. A Garmin watch will get faster and more feature rich the longer you wear it! Just make sure to water it regularly.
The charge port is what goes first for me. Maybe it's something I'm doing , maybe I'm too rough with it, but I always get to a point within a year that I have to fiddle with the cable just to get it to charge regularly and eventually the thing just stops charging at all before I have any actual problems with the watch.
i dont know yet. Some of them dont come with easily replaceable batteries which tend to die after around 5 eyars of hard use. THey are, however, replaceable with a bit of DIY know how and it comes down to the processor, if the processor will die eventually.
I'm honestly good with a 5 year upgrade cycle on the instinct series. GPS chips and HR sensors get better and more efficient. 5 years is a few generations, so the jump should be more than incremental.
im not. its a lot of money to pay for a watch that doesn't last. i get that thet will be superseded and thus depreciate in value, but if they are actually going to degrade significantly from their original functions or condition then i'd rather put my money elsewhere. Whats the point of paying for sapphire and titanium if the insides are giong shit themselves?
Pretty sure the sapphire and titanium watches have replaceable batteries. The instinct series is disposable (battery has to be reached through the glass). But it should last a minimum of 5 years with a weekly charge cycle. For $400 I'm good with 5 years. That's $80 a year. About 2 months of most cell plans in the US.
I’ve had my Venu 2+ for almost 2 years now. No issues whatsoever. Everything is like the first day I got it
I have had my Fenix 5X for 7 years, and it is as good as the day I bought it.
Honestly, the only reason I have had to replace my Garmin watch is to get new features on a newer watch. All of my previous ones, going back to my original vivofit, still work. Heck, my Garmin etrex, which is 10+ years old now, still works.
My FR10 has been in use since 2013/14 so I might update mine, definitely worth the price!
https://preview.redd.it/qevimszulcic1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc5b95bd48f1501a7c35d71b245fc8d209a3e485 Not with that attitude. I broke the frame and got a repair kit online and followed some YouTube videos. I traded an Apple watch for the Fenix 5. Had it since 2021 and the thought of just letting a busted frame be the cause to spemd $800 on a new model didnt sit right.
I bought my Forerunner 945 in early 2020 and it is still in perfect condition and works like the day I got it. Battery life is great and I think I will easily get another 4-5 years out of it before having/wanting a new one.
Forerunner 310xt, Forerunner 220, Forerunner 245 and now Enduro. The earlier watches does have good battery time yet. Serves other duties without a hitch.
For life or not, Garmin user stories are significantly different from those of Apple Watch users 😄
I got a 7 year old forerunner 35 that still works. I suppose over several years the battery life fades some if your into longer runs but otherwise the performance doesn't really change.
My 735xt is going on 7 years, sure there's some battery degradation, but nothing completely stupid. That being said, I'm getting the itch for some new features, but want to wait for the next forerunner flagship.
My first garmin was a forerunner second hand from my aunty- she had it 2years I had it 6 before it finally got water in it last year and it got sad. In that time I replaced the band once and battery had deteriorated to about two days per charge. Now on a fancier new garmin, will be disappointed if I don't get at least 5years.
Got my Fenix 6 in Sept of 2019, and she's still going strong.
I've had my 935 for years and kind of wish it would die so I could justify a newer model
The only thing you need to watch out for is battery issues. If they had replaceable batteries, they'd be for forever.
No device with a rechargeable battery will last forever. I’m not sure what you’re expecting. Batteries will always degrade over time.
My Fenix 5X+ is still going strong 5-6 years later. Only problem is that it’s HUGE.
I have a low end forerunner from 2014, still going strong. When I wanted to upgrade to a 745 for swimming husband inherited my original and still uses it every day.
I do get envy of the new stuff... But the major GPS accuracy upgrades that came with the Forerunner 925 were all my heart needed.
I found my old Vivosmart HR cleaning out my office this past weekend. I plugged it in and it still works. I bought that in 2015-ish, I think.
GarminOS is like a calculator lol, simple but long lasting
my garmin FR255 went into restart loop and it is mostly known as death loop, i though that was it, just 1.5 years old .. fortunately hard reset revived it again .. i am hoping it lasts at least 3-4 years .. will be worth the money I spent ..this is my most expensive watch ever
I've had my Fenix 6 Pro for 3 years now. Battery life is what it always was. It's a little scuffed up from my own clumsiness, but it still works awesome. Really great device that with a chest heart strap doubles as my bike computer, connecting to my power pedals and everything.
My edge 500 is over 10 years old and works great.
No piece of technology is for life. If you're looking to invest in family heirlooms, buy a Rolex.
Forerunner 35 going strong for 5 years now. It’s basic by modern standards but it does exactly what I need it to and doesn’t fail me.
I still got a Fenix 2 which works quite fine. It's obviously super useless compared to the new models, but absolutely usable
Long enough for you to wish it would die so you can buy the newer model. My Fenix 5 is running like it was when new and it’s got 5+ years of daily use.
I got my fexin 3 HR in 2018 and it was an old model then. Still going strong! Battery lasts 12-14 days if I'm not doing anything. Three using GPS for back country hikes about 8 hrs per day, or two days skiing. No signs of dying yet!
My Fenix 6S Pro has 4 years and it’s still excellent !
I mean, my first garmin watch, the FR 410, still charges and turns on, but i upgraded to the FR 630 and absolutely loved it!!! It still works wonderfully, and the battery still lasts 3 plus weeks. The only reason i upgraded again is because my work offered a health credit, so i upgraded to the FR 965. In 12 years, I am only on my 3rd watch. I gave my 630 to my dad, and have zero doubt it will continue on for many more years!! I absolutely love garmin watches!!! And i have never noticed them slowing down, like phones tend to do....
Hardly any electronic product is "for life", but Garmin is as close to that as you're gonna get. They typically will outlive their usefulness, meaning that you're far more likely to replace it someday just because it's dated and the tech is old, than because something is wrong with it. Apple is known for planned obsolescence, their devices become useless after a few years because they deliberately slow their devices down and make all their software and apps only run well on newer devices. Other smartphones are the same, I tried to use my old Samsung note 3 the other day and couldn't, because it's OS was so old it couldn't even use any apps and isn't allowed to be updated to a newer OS, so it's literally just a brick of e-waste now even though the hardware is fine. Garmin doesn't have a history of doing that, they will usually still fully support older devices and allow them to continue to use all the services they need to use. Lots of people are still using 10-year old Garmin watches. Most people just choose to replace it every few years as the style and features get improved and refined over time. My old Instinct 1 still works just as well as the day I bought it, I only stopped using it because times have changed and it's not the best watch for my needs anymore. Also the cost of used watches that are a couple generations old is so low that it's not worth keeping a watch longer than that. For example, why keep using a very old Fenix 3 today, even though it's working fine, when you can pick up a Fenix 5 with way more features for like $75? Or a Fenix 6 for like $150? It's expensive to stay on the bleeding edge of Garmin watches, but if you don't mind lagging a generation or two behind the latest and greatest then it's really pretty inexpensive to upgrade every few years.
7-year-old 235. No issues.
I had a garmin triathlon watch that last 11 years. It was still working fine software wise, but I replaced it because the power switch had started to fail, making it difficult to turn on
My 945lte started using up battery more after a few software updates. Every couple of years I sell my Garmin watch on eBay and buy a new one, the new forunner. The new one comes out to 50 percent discount factoring in the sale of the old one
I have a 6 pro that I've had for a couple years now. Aside from the random notification glitch, it still works well and the battery is solid. I'll probably upgrade the next time a 7 pro goes on sale, but only because I'm neurotic about accuracy and would love the multi-band GPS.
I’ve had my fenix 6S pro solar since October 2020. No slow down in battery, no function hiccups. I’ve had to replace the band once, and will likely need to again, but I use the rubbery material and I’m hard on it.
My forerunner 55 isb3 years old. Last week, I started a run with 60% charge, it turned off after 40minutes. This has been happening since 2 months.
My Fenix 6s HRS just went after 3 years.. a bit disappointed.
No piece of tech will be for life. Software support, battery degradations, outdated technology, etc….it will last for years but not for life
It'll last for years but its not a mechanical watch or something. My 5 died because it wouldn't charge anymore so i got some life out of it but its not forever.
You’ll want a new watch long before your Garmin wears out. I’m a triathlete and in the Army. Hours in a highly chlorinated pool, freezing temps, boiling hot temps, sandstorms, you name it. After about 5 years I get a new one due to battery life. If I sent the watch into Garmin, they’d replace the battery for me. By then I want the new features though so I get a new watch instead.
My Vivoactive 4 is almost 4 1/2 yrs old and still going strong. I expect it will continue to last at least another 4 1/2.
4-8 years.
Own fenix 5 still works still use it, evertime i forget the epix worse gps tracking compared to the epix. Worst hardware. Thats it
Just my experience but I bought a Fenix 6 from eBay two years ago and the battery and features all work the same as the day I got it, use it every day too
I bought a used Fenix F3 almost six years ago and still use it daily. I've had to replace a strap or two because of life, but the watch is good.
I’ve had mine about 3 years each, had absolutely no reason to upgrade other than new tech specs being shiny and all
No smart/fitness watch is a forever watch. That's not their design intent. Doesn't mean they won't last a long time, but in the end they're tools to meet your current and near future needs and do a very good job of it. Obviously if you want a forever watch get an Omega, or Gran Seiko, or Rolex os something that'll still be valuable 30 years from now. Hell, my daughter wears my Seiko from when I was in high school! I'm sure the EOL for my Instinct Solar is not being handed down; more likely recycled.
I’m still using a FR935, came out in 2017.
My 235 lasted for 6 years and still works fine, but I moved to the 255 b/c I wanted something with more features and looked nicer. It's more of a personal thing as I suspect i will keep the 255 for 5 more years before having watch envy and move to something else, assuming that is I am still working out 28 days per month in my mid 60's.
nope, not for life. but no such device if for life. first battery will start failingnin 3 years, if it reaches 5 years it will be in bad condition and on a waterproof watch its non replacable. software will get outdated, new and better stuff will come. its not garmins fault, its same with every smart-wannabe, battery powered device. but take care of battery and it will last enough for you to know if you want another such device or not, then "for life" becomes irrelevant.
Im planning to keep my garmin fenix 6 pro until epix 3.
7 years max. And Garmin does not change batteries after 2 years of being discontinued. So...
My vivoactive 4 was purchased couple months after release, still getting 6 days on battery with no activities.
My 235 forerunner is five years old, and still going strong like mf
Go Garmin still using my 920XT from 2010
My Fenix 6S pro is absolutely the finest product I’ve ever owned all things considered. Reliable day in and day out. I may upgrade only because my wife has the 7S and I’m a bit envious of her metrics that mine doesn’t have. My brother in law has the Fenix 3 purchased in 2015 and loves it. He will not upgrade. I really don’t get the Apple appeal.
People complain that app selection is sparse and that you can't tinker with the watch much or cant do much in the "smart watch" side of things...but by making the watch that way, Garmins are generally more stable than other smart watches. Unless there is some form of physical damage... the only limiting factor is the life of the Lithium Ion battery.
I got a venu a few years back and gave my little sister my older forerunner 645 music, and even that watch still runs great at 6 yrs old. Battery charge for both is still several days with using most of the features (don't run pulse ox so I can't speak to that particular feature's battery drain) but you couldn't convince me to buy another brand at this point.
Fenix 5 currently running fine into its 8th year. Had one strap replacement till now. No dip in performance.
I've had the same first gen Instinct for years. I'm a lumper. It takes a beating everyday, but just keeps on trucking.
I just exchanged my tactix Delta because Bluetooth kept dropping. Survived 3 and a half hard years, and aside from that and scratches it performed perfectly. Bonus was replacement was under 200 from Garmin
Had mine fenix 5 for maybe 5+ years. On daily wear its about 75% of its baterru vcapacity
My Fenix 3 lasted approximately 6 years. I couldn't take it anymore when it got to the point of having Apple watch battery life (only a few days). If I could have replaced the battery, it likely would have lasted another 6. My wife had a Fenix 3 she never used, so the battery didn't have many cycles on it. It still works fine for her on the occasion she decides to use it.
Make sure you replace the water proof seal regularly (check the garmin recommendations), I've had two die from water ingress and a work colleagues has recently died from the same.
5 years at least
I gifted my Fenix 3 (bought new when they first came available) to my husband when I reluctantly bought a new 7. I say reluctantly because the 3 was/is still functioning great. At the time he didn't understand why I wouldn't give it up but he gets it now :) Garmin always
Averaged maybe 4 years on my two, forerunner I think and Venu1. Gonna be getting my 3rd soon as screen going on Venu 1
The only reason my instinct was replaced after 3 years is I wanted a fenix 7 pro... I gave my instinct watch to my dad and it still works great... So definitely has longevity
TECHNOLOGY for life? You must be new.
Garmin has replaced every watch I’ve had when it dies. They’ll either replace with the same one or you can pay the difference to upgrade.
The Garmin will outlast the watch band😂 I currently have the Fenix 6S (I think) had the 310XL & the 935 (love!) eventually the band wears out but watch still ticking. I upgraded cuz Garmin sent me a fantastic deal on the F6s a while back
My vivoactiv lasted about a year. My instinct is a year & a half now, still going. I'm a mechanic & I'm pretty hard on them though.
My D2 Air is a year and a half old and today I just noticed some pretty bad OLED burn in. Brightness has always been on auto and the screen cycles on and off on default settings. I have loved this watch so far but I am pretty annoyed and can say that no these definitely are not for life.
Get one with solar
I’ve had my watch now for 3 years and the battery life is still as good as new. I already have a new watch ready for when this one dies but I’ve only changed the band since I’ve bought it.
My Venu 1 has started needing regular resets as it stops tracking sleep data after a week or two. It's pretty annoying and not something I'll keep doing. It's four years old.
I had the forerunner 245 for ~3 years and it held up perfectly, upgraded to fenix 7 exactly 2 years ago and it's still good as new.
Had a Garmin Fenix 5 for years with no problems at all. It was worn in all conditions for all sports I did, and it still looks and works great - no hint of slow down. The only thing that gave out was the easily replaced strap.My son had an older model Fenix and wore through his entire Marine selection, so you can imagine how testing that was for a watch - the watch is still in great condition. They seem built to last - the only problem is when you want to upgrade to a newer model it seems a shame to do so as your old watch is still spot on.
My watch is second hand I've had it for 4 years my boss has it for 4 before that. It seems like I'll have it another 4 years. My last watch later 8 too and I just ended up getting a new one because my boss upgraded and wanted to flip his old one to me.
I have a 645 music (second hand) and it shows no sign of giving in, which is pretty mind blowing in this age of planned obsolescence. I've been wondering when to expect the battery (or anything) to give up but I can't really see any difference between when I got it 4 years ago and now. The only thing that would make it better is if the GPS could get hold of a satellite quicker sometimes. Don't know if that's an improvement in newer watches, but not enough of a reason to spend money on an upgrade thats for sure.
Definitely is better in newer watches. My old watch took about a minute. My new one takes about 15 seconds in the worst case
Garmins also use batteries and will degrade in runtime just like any other watch. The difference with a Garmin is they go from multiple weeks of life to a single week. I typically used my Garmin’s for 3 years before getting a new one. Not because of battery life but to get newer GPS radios and new features. I eventually switched to an AW S6LTE and got 3 years out of it and the battery still handled my daily running volume while streaming Spotify over LTE and still ended the day with 30%. I replaced it with a U2, paid $100 to replace the S6 battery and handed it to my son for Xmas. The Apple battery replacement program lands you with a brand new battery, case and screen for $100. I’ve never experienced an AW slowing down with age. I’ll assume you have an S3 which had a much slower CPU, had less memory and was released back when watchOS was only intended to run companion apps. The S3 should not have been allowed to upgrade to more modern versions of watchOS.
My Fenix 6 had about 6 days battery life originally. After about 5 years it's down to 2 days, still all the same features activated. Will probably get a new one when I need to recharge it more than once a day.
Have a 2019 Forerunner 235 Music, did a lot of Spotify during runs, the battery capacity is at best at 75% of the original one (since I had to recharge it often due to music playback), probably closer to 50%. YMMV
Watch for 5 years and counting.
i finf tbat after 3years the battery staets to have less capacity. tried called the support but gwnerally they are useless. they ask you to reset, hard reset. when tjey shouls just take the watch and replace battery. I sell the watch and buy a new one