The Apple Watch Extremely could have satisfied some outdoorsy sorts to modify from their Forerunner or Fenix, however Garmin may very well be about to combat again once more with a flagship successor to its strongest sports activities watch, the Garmin Epix 2.
In keeping with rumors from The5KRunner (opens in new tab) and Gadgets & Wearables (opens in new tab), a Garmin Epix 2 Professional is more likely to arrive by the tip of Might, with the information coming courtesy of leaks from Garmin resellers and a few current regulatory filings.
And whereas the replace will probably be a comparatively minor one, a number of new options might make it an excellent stronger Apple Watch Extremely rival than the present Epix 2. Firstly, the Epix 2 Professional might get a bigger show that matches the 1.4-inch AMOLED we have seen on the Garmin Forerunner 965.
That may nonetheless put Garmin’s new watch behind the Watch Extremely’s wonderful 1.92-inch display screen (which has a brightness of two,000 nits), however the Epix 2 Professional might trump its Apple rival in different methods.
On the fitness-tracking entrance, for instance, the brand new Epix will probably choose up most of the options we have seen more moderen on the Forerunner 965, like Coaching Load Ratio and Operating Dynamics. The latter enables you to observe and analyze your working method without having an additional sensor like an HRM heart-rate monitor.
Sadly, it would not sound just like the Epix 2 Professional will include any new sensors that we’ve not seen on its predecessor of the Garmin Fenix 7, however the rumors counsel {that a} flashlight may very well be included on the most important mannequin. Talking of which, it seems probably that the Epix 2 Professional may also be out there in three case sizes (42mm, 47mm, and 51mm), with the present Epix 2 solely out there within the 47mm possibility.
In fact, these are all simply rumors proper now, however the imminent arrival of an Epix 2 Professional, with some comparatively modest updates, at present seems extra probably than a Garmin Fenix 8, which we aren’t anticipating to see till early 2024.
Naturally, the Epix 2 Professional is predicted to be expensive, with The5KRunner predicting costs of €950 (round $1,050 / £840 / AU$1,575) for the 42mm model, €1,050 (round $1,150 / £930 / AU$1,740) for the 47mm model and €1,150 ($1,270 / £1,015 / AU$1,900) for the 51mm mannequin.
In order for you one of the crucial premium sports activities watches round, there may also be the same old Sapphire variations out there for a small markup when the Epix 2 Professional probably arrives in late Might or mid-June.
Evaluation: A small however promising Epix replace
Simply as Apple has moved into Garmin territory with the Watch Extremely, the most effective Garmin watches have equally adopted smartwatch options to make them higher all-rounders – and the Garmin Epix 2 Professional may very well be its strongest to date.
In fact, it might be overkill for many individuals, with beginner-friendly fashions just like the Venu 2 or Forerunner 45 sitting on the reverse finish of its lineup. However when you’re in search of a high-end sports activities watch and have a tendency to do most of your train within the fitness center, reasonably than on day-long hikes, then the brand new Epix may very well be a superb different to the Garmin Fenix 7.
We nonetheless price the Apple Watch Extremely as probably the greatest smartwatches you should buy, and it may very well be the higher alternative when you’re predominantly in search of a smartwatch that has tons of apps and a shocking display screen.
However the place Garmin watches nonetheless come into their very own is with the depth of their health options, like the wonderful Morning Report, and the Epix 2 Professional will probably get most of the ones we have seen on the Forerunner 965. Garmin watches additionally are inclined to have extra buttons, that are higher than touchscreens in lots of health situations, and connect with an enormous vary of coaching gear utilizing ANT+ and Bluetooth BLE sensors.
On condition that our Garmin Epix 2 evaluation known as it “the final word sports activities watch” that’s “incredible for navigation”, we’re wanting ahead to seeing its rumored Professional successor and taking it for a spin in our cross-training classes.