What's the difference between the Garmin fēnix 6 and fēnix 5?
- Onboard GPS
- Two-week battery life & battery saving modes
- 10 ATM water resistance
- New PacePro feature, Pulse Ox sensor
- Garmin Pay
- None we could find
If you want to take your tracking up a notch, you'll love the Garmin fnix 6. It's relatively similar to its predecessor with some notable improvements. You'll now have a Pulse Ox sensor for monitoring blood oxygen saturation, battery saving modes, and the new PacePro feature that helps you keep your pacing strategy right on track.
Beloved classicGarmin fnix 5
- Onboard GPS
- 2-week battery life
- 10 ATM water resistance
- In-depth activity tracking
- Multiple sport modes
- Lacks Pulse Ox sensor
- No battery saving modes
- More expensive
If you're not concerned about having the latest and greatest wearable, you might be content with the Garmin fnix 5. It has the essentials, like onboard GPS, heart-rate monitoring, in-depth activity tracking, and multiple sport modes. It doesn't, however, have dedicated battery saving modes, Garmin Pay, or a Pulse Ox sensor.
Garmin fnix 6 vs. 5 Making comparisonsGarmin is known for its high-quality fitness watches, which include the Garmin fnix 6 and 5. No matter what type of wearable you're seeking, you'll be able to find a model that has the features and functionality that you desire. The fnix model lineup is a perfect example of this as there are multiple options to choose from.
These Android smartwatches were built for outdoor adventurers who crave in-depth activity tracking, among other helpful features. If you're happy with the essentials, the Garmin fnix 5 delivers on the basics and some other goodies. If you want to take it a step further, you may want to go for the fnix 6. But let's take a closer look at the Garmin fnix 6 vs. 5.
The Garmin fnix 6 takes you to the next level
Pictured: fnix 6
On the surface, the Garmin fnix 6 and its predecessor might as well be identical twins. They both come in a 47 mm case that is compatible with 22 mm interchangeable bands. Additionally, you can choose between a metal and silicone band when you buy the fnix 6. There are a few subtle differences to be aware of. The fnix 6 has a higher-quality Corning Gorilla Glass lens, while the fnix 5 only has a chemically-strengthened glass lens.
| Garmin fnix 6 | Garmin fnix 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 47x47x14.7 mm | 47x47x15.5 mm |
| Display | 1.3" sunlight-visible, transflective display | 1.2" sunlight-visible, transflective display |
| Sensors | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Garmin ElevateTM wrist heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, accelerometer, thermometer | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Garmin ElevateTM wrist heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer |
| Water-resistance | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: up to 14 days GPS mode: up to 36 hours | Smartwatch mode: up to 14 days GPS mode: up to 24 hours |
| Garmin Pay | ||
| Pulse Ox sensor | ||
| Battery saving modes |
While these two watches look the same, the Garmin fnix 6 does have a leg up in some important areas. Some people might think that two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode is more than enough. However, when you're out exploring the great outdoors using GPS and other features, your battery can drain pretty quickly.
On the Garmin fnix 6, you can see and control how certain settings and sensors impact battery life.
Thankfully, the new customizable Power Manager feature helps with this. On the Garmin fnix 6, you can see and control how specific settings and sensors impact battery life. Before a workout or trip, you can see how much battery is left in hours and days, so you're prepared. You can adjust your battery saving modes to disable specific features so you can extend battery life as needed.
This new edition also has a Pulse Ox sensor, which is used for altitude acclimation and sleep monitoring. It determines how well your body is absorbing oxygen. The Body Battery is another new feature, which uses heart rate variability, stress, sleep, and other data to help you determine when you're ready to be active or when you may need to rest. It also has the option to track hydration and respiration. Let's not forget you'll also have mobile payments with Garmin Pay.
If you're a runner, you'll love the new PacePro feature, which is designed to help you keep your pacing strategy on track with grade-adjusted guidance as you're running. You can easily create plans right on your watch or via the Garmin Connect app. While you're running the course, you can view your target split pace, the actual split pace, distance to the next split, and how much time you're ahead or behind on your target.
The Garmin fnix 5 keeps things a bit more simple
Pictured: fnix 5 Series
There's no denying that the fnix 6 is impressive, but the new features are geared toward a particular user. If you'd rather keep things a bit more simple with your wearable, then the Garmin fnix 5 might be right up your alley. It's more than a basic wearable but still simple enough for most users to enjoy.
You can also monitor your performance, training, and recovery with the fnix 5.
With the predecessor, you'll have all of the same essentials, like GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking 10 ATM water resistance, and two-week battery life. You can also monitor your performance, training, and recovery with the fnix 5. This is ideal for those who want to monitor their progress as they gear up for a race or training cycle. You'll be able to determine if you're training productively, peaking, or overreaching.
You'll also have multiple sports modes to choose from. Some examples include treadmill running and trail running, indoor biking and mountain biking, pool swimming and open water swimming, hiking, climbing, rowing, skiing, snowboarding, and more. As you can see, this model has a lot to offer many different types of athletes.
Garmin fnix 6 vs. 5 Which should you buy?For most users, this decision should be an easy one to make as there aren't a lot of significant differences between the Garmin fnix 5 vs. 6. With that said, many people need there to be some great reason to upgrade. If you're perfectly content with everything that the fnix 5 has to offer, like multiple sports modes, in-depth tracking, GPS, heart-rate monitoring, 10 ATM water resistance, and 2-week battery life, then you may not need to upgrade to a newer model.
You get all of those same features on the Garmin fnix 6 plus a couple of extra perks. This model is equipped with battery saving modes, a Pulse Ox sensor, Garmin Pay, and the new PacePro feature. If you simply can't pass on this trifecta, then the upgrade just might be worth your consideration.
A worthy upgradeGarmin fnix 6
Bonus features
$329 at Amazon$550 at Best Buy$400 at Walmart
If you're all about upgrades and extra features, then you might find the fnix 6 to be a worthwhile investment. It's got all of the essentials as well as the all-new PacePro feature, a Pulse Ox sensor, battery saving modes, and more.
Beloved classicGarmin fnix 5
The essentials
Sometimes, the essentials are all that you need for a highly successful tracking experience. The fnix 5 delivers onboard GPS, heart-rate monitoring, multiple sport modes, in-depth tracking metrics, and 10 ATM water resistance.