Garmin Fenix 5From real comments

Name: Garmin Fenix 5
Rating: 3.7 (13 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 13 mentions across 9 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment75%

PROS 75%

CONS 25%

Rank based on 13 mentions across 9 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want a rugged sports watch built to last many years
You want extras like music storage, Garmin Pay, or ballistic calculator features
You value a display that performs well outdoors in bright sunlight

What users love

Long-term durability0 mentions

Strongly positive

Great value for features0 mentions

Strongly positive

Rugged build quality0 mentions

Widely praised

Bonus features (music, payments, ballistics)0 mentions

Widely praised

Outdoor sunlight display performance0 mentions

Strongly positive

Good battery life0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You need highly accurate wrist-based heart rate tracking out of the box
You prioritize an always-bright indoor display over outdoor visibility
You want the lightest or most modern touchscreen experience

What users complain about

Heart rate sensor accuracy0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Indoor display visibility only average0 mentions

Generally negative

Reliability concerns in comparison to newer models0 mentions

Mildly negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Premium

Garmin Fenix 7

Exceptional battery lifeRugged, durable build with sapphire glassImproved maps and touchscreen navigationHigh price makes upgrading hard to justifyInconsistent screen visibility on some solar unitsHeart rate sensor bugs

Garmin Fenix 7

Exceptional battery life

Rugged, durable build with sapphire glass

Improved maps and touchscreen navigation

High price makes upgrading hard to justify

Inconsistent screen visibility on some solar units

Heart rate sensor bugs

2Mid

Apple Watch Series 5

Always-on displayMeaningful upgrade from older Apple WatchesSolid battery life for an always-on watchNot worth upgrading from Series 4Feels fragile without a caseNeeds nightly charging with always-on enabled

Apple Watch Series 5

Always-on display

Meaningful upgrade from older Apple Watches

Solid battery life for an always-on watch

Not worth upgrading from Series 4

Feels fragile without a case

Needs nightly charging with always-on enabled

3Mid

Amazfit Balance

Impressive Battery LifeVersatile Fitness Tracking FeaturesGorgeous AMOLED DisplayPrice ConcernsScreen Smudging and ScratchesIssues with Body Composition Measurement

Amazfit Balance

Impressive Battery Life

Versatile Fitness Tracking Features

Gorgeous AMOLED Display

Price Concerns

Screen Smudging and Scratches

Issues with Body Composition Measurement

Best value

4Mid

Amazfit Active 2

Excellent Value for PriceGood Heart Rate TrackingLong Battery LifeInconsistent Heart Rate TrackingLimited Storage CapacitySoftware Bugs and Glitches

Amazfit Active 2

Excellent Value for Price

Good Heart Rate Tracking

Long Battery Life

Inconsistent Heart Rate Tracking

Limited Storage Capacity

Software Bugs and Glitches

5Budget

Amazfit Bip 6

Impressive Battery LifeGreat Price-to-Quality RatioLightweight and Comfortable DesignLimited Storage CapacityInaccurate Sleep TrackingFragile Screen

Amazfit Bip 6

Impressive Battery Life

Great Price-to-Quality Ratio

Lightweight and Comfortable Design

Limited Storage Capacity

Inaccurate Sleep Tracking

Fragile Screen

6Premium

Suunto 9 Baro

Excellent battery life for ultras

Suunto 9 Baro

Excellent battery life for ultras

7Budget

Amazfit Band 7

Long Battery LifeAccurate Heart Rate MonitoringBuilt-in Alexa FunctionalityBattery Life DiscrepanciesInaccurate Tracking for Some ActivitiesStrap Durability Issues

Amazfit Band 7

Long Battery Life

Accurate Heart Rate Monitoring

Built-in Alexa Functionality

Battery Life Discrepancies

Inaccurate Tracking for Some Activities

Strap Durability Issues

8Premium

Garmin Fenix 7S

Excellent battery lifeGreat fit for smaller wristsStrong outdoor sunlight visibilityDim or hard-to-read sapphire displayBulky or heavy feelHigh price for display quality received

Garmin Fenix 7S

Excellent battery life

Great fit for smaller wrists

Strong outdoor sunlight visibility

Dim or hard-to-read sapphire display

Bulky or heavy feel

High price for display quality received

You are here

9Mid

Garmin Fenix 5

Long-term durabilityGreat value for featuresRugged build qualityHeart rate sensor accuracyIndoor display visibility only averageReliability concerns in comparison to newer models

Garmin Fenix 5

Long-term durability

Great value for features

Rugged build quality

Heart rate sensor accuracy

Indoor display visibility only average

Reliability concerns in comparison to newer models

10Premium

Garmin Fenix 6X

Long battery lifeScratch-proof sapphire glassDetailed sports and training dataHigh priceInconsistent sleep and body battery trackingSapphire screen brightness/visibility concerns

Garmin Fenix 6X

Long battery life

Scratch-proof sapphire glass

Detailed sports and training data

High price

Inconsistent sleep and body battery tracking

Sapphire screen brightness/visibility concerns

Battery life
1. Amazfit Bip 6arrow_upward20
2. Garmin Fenix 7arrow_upward14
3. Amazfit Balancearrow_upward10
High price
1. Garmin Fenix 7arrow_downward6
2. Garmin Fenix 6Xarrow_downward8
Durability
1. Garmin Fenix 7arrow_upward7
2. Garmin Fenix 6Xarrow_upward4
3. Garmin Fenix 7Sarrow_upward1
Fitness tracking
1. Amazfit Balancearrow_upward8
2. Amazfit Active 2arrow_upward4
Value for money
1. Amazfit Active 2arrow_upward10
2. Amazfit Band 7arrow_upward2
Gps accuracy
1. Amazfit Balancearrow_upward5
2. Amazfit Active 2arrow_upward4
3. Garmin Fenix 7arrow_upward2

Overall Impression

Owners praise the Fenix 5's long-term durability and reliability. Multiple commenters kept their Fenix 5 for years before considering an upgrade, with one noting it lasted six years and ten months. Another compared their newer watch unfavorably to their old Fenix 5, calling it 'more reliable.' This reputation for lasting build quality and dependable day-to-day performance stands out across several long-term user comments, suggesting the watch was built to endure extended daily wear without major failures.

The 5X variant offered strong value with unexpected bonus features. One user paid just $285 on Amazon for the Fenix 5X Sapphire against a $599 retail price, praising its 16GB music storage, Jumpmaster mode, ballistic calculator, and Garmin Pay support. Another bought during a $150-off sale, calling the resulting $449.99 price steep but worthwhile for the feature set. Battery life on the 5X was reported around 12 days, reinforcing its value proposition among Garmin's Fenix lineup.

The display shines outdoors but heart rate accuracy drew criticism. One owner called the Fenix 5X's screen 'mind blowing beautiful in the sun' while only average indoors, and praised its ruggedness compared to an Apple Watch. However another long-time user wished the heart rate sensor were better, resorting to a Polar chest strap for more accurate data. This split highlights the watch's outdoor-display strength alongside a recurring sensor accuracy limitation reported by at least one dedicated user.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

verifiedLong-term durability

3 mentions

Strongly positive

Users report their Fenix 5 units lasting many years of continuous wear without major issues. One owner used it for over six years, and another still preferred its reliability compared to a newer model.

@BrandonRedeker

This was a great video, I'm sure it took some time to make, and it shows, really well done. I have had the Garmin Fenix 5 since it came out and love it, but it's time to replace it. While not looking at getting the Fenix 8, I am looking at the D2 Mach 2, as I'm a pilot. Under the D2 running it is the Fenix 8, and so that is why I watched your video. I do really hope the heart rate sensor is better than the Fenix 5, I ended up getting a Polar HRM to wear that connects to my Fenix 5 to get better HR data.

smart_display

December 5, 2025

@Stoyan.Svilenov

The watch itself its worh the money, BUT i have battery issues after just 6 months of using.\nI have the amoled 51mm version and the battery cannot last even 20 days. I fully charge it, it shows 30 days of battery life, but it gives me up to maximum 20. From 30 days some times drop down to 15 without being used for tracking, or while showing 5 days on the morning, after lunch it turns off while im at work what is annoying. It did that several times including today, from showing 4 days, now is already off in just 4 hours .. the AOD is off the watch is set up for maximum battery life so this week im sending it back to garmin, and hopefully they ll slove that issue because i really like the watch but the fact that my old fenix5 is more reliable is kinda scary :)

smart_display

September 10, 2025

@ChazUBCS

I am literally setting mine up right now and I already love it. It's SO much lighter than my Fenix 5, the AMOLED screen is BEAUTIFUL, touch screen is a big jump for me and the haptic feedback is a nice addition. Only issue I had out of the box was it wouldn't sync off the bat, so I skipped the sync and then opened the app up and synced it from there. Not sure what caused that, but its rebooting right now with the latest software update. About to pair my heart strap to it and go for a run before work. \n\nWhat a gem! Hope to have this watch (Fenix 8 47mm SAPPHIRE version) for as long as my last Fenix 5 (6 years, 10 months).

smart_display

December 15, 2024

attach_moneyGreat value for features

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Buyers found the Fenix 5X offered strong value, especially at discounted prices, given its extensive feature set including music storage and payment support.

@gunchief0811

I own the Fenix5x saphire..\nAnd it has music storage 16 gigs.. and it has some other upgrades that most folks arent aware of.. like Jumpmaster mode. And I have a Balsistoc calculator on mine to accurately estimate Rifle marksmanship.\nAnd Gsrmin pay .. I have all those things I got it for about 285$ on Amazon but it retails new for like 599$ \nGreat watch. I typically get 12 days of battery life...

smart_display

December 18, 2020

@bruceh3786

I purchased the Fenix 5X a few days ago to take advantage of the $150 off sale Garmin has going on right now for the Fenix line in the US. That put the price of the 5X at $449.99. It is still a lot of money but I think a great value for what it offers. It is an amazing watch with a lot of features I am figuring out. Your video has be been a great help. Thanks!\n\nI am using the same Watch Face as you. The video shows the customization of the face at 3:59. There is a curved red line at the top of the dial and a similar curved gray line at the bottom of the dial. Do you happen to know what those two lines represent? I am thinking the red line may be related to the heart rate data but I can not till what. Sometimes it shows and sometimes not. The gray curved line is there all the time. Maybe it relates to a goal? I cannot find any documentation on it anywhere. Thanks for any help!

smart_display

May 16, 2019

shieldRugged build quality

2 mentions

Widely praised

Commenters noted the Fenix 5X felt notably more rugged than an Apple Watch and suited a solid-build preference over more delicate Garmin models like the Venu.

@kockoo79

Hi there, thanks for this great video. I recently bought a Garmin Venu but found it to be a little too delicate for my liking. Came across a great deal on a Fenix 5x and I'm thinking of switching. Let me know if you think that's a good idea. I'm not a hardcore train runner but would like the extra battery and the solid build of the Fenix. Let me know. Thanks

smart_display

January 8, 2021

@B3lgiumWaffl3

Owning both; an Apple Watch OLED is amazing yet tricky in the sun, the Fenix 5X is mind blowing beautiful in the sun yet average indoors. The Fenix 5X’s display is build for the outdoors and you can tell first time wearing it, also way more rugged then an Apple Watch. As the author of this video mentions; both have different purposes so choose wisely:) I love my Fenix 5X!

smart_display

June 16, 2019

music_noteBonus features (music, payments, ballistics)

1 mentions

Widely praised

The Fenix 5X Sapphire included 16GB of music storage, Jumpmaster mode, a ballistic calculator, and Garmin Pay, features one user said many owners aren't even aware of.

@gunchief0811

smart_display

December 18, 2020

wb_sunnyOutdoor sunlight display performance

1 mentions

Strongly positive

The Fenix 5X's screen was described as stunning and highly readable in direct sunlight, a standout compared to smartwatches like the Apple Watch that struggle in bright conditions.

@B3lgiumWaffl3

smart_display

June 16, 2019

battery_fullGood battery life

1 mentions

Widely praised

One Fenix 5X owner reported typically getting around 12 days of battery life, supporting extended use between charges.

@gunchief0811

smart_display

December 18, 2020

favoriteHeart rate sensor accuracy

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

A long-time Fenix 5 user wished the heart rate sensor were better and ended up pairing a Polar chest strap for more accurate readings.

@BrandonRedeker

smart_display

December 5, 2025

visibility_offIndoor display visibility only average

1 mentions

Generally negative

While excellent outdoors, the Fenix 5X's display was described as only average indoors compared to its standout sunlight performance.

@B3lgiumWaffl3

smart_display

June 16, 2019

warningReliability concerns in comparison to newer models

1 mentions

Mildly negative

One user noted their old Fenix 5 was 'kinda scary' more reliable than a newer Garmin model they were using, implying some inconsistency across the lineup though not a direct Fenix 5 flaw.

@Stoyan.Svilenov

smart_display

September 10, 2025

Garmin Fenix 5chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Battery life

High price

Durability

Fitness tracking

Value for money

Gps accuracy

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Garmin Fenix 5From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression