Club Benefits
I’ve been testing the Garmin Fenix line of sports watches since the Fenix 5 Plus launched back in 2018, and have seen first-hand the price of Garmin’s flagship rise from $699 to the dizzying heights of $1,999 for the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED, which launched in 2025.
These price rises mean that it’s more important than ever to look out for deals on the Fenix, and right now both the Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED are reduced by $250.
Both are outstanding watches that I’ve used extensively myself — I’ve run marathons using both watches, and used them for months of training as well — so is the Fenix 8 Pro worth the upgrade?
For me the decision comes down to one thing; do you need the LTE and satellite connectivity features on the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro?
This is the main upgrade you get with the pricier watch, and it can be a vital one if your adventures regularly take you off the grid, or you just like to head into the great outdoors without a phone.
There are other upgrades on the Fenix 8 Pro, like a slightly brighter display, but during my testing I didn’t find this made a noticeable difference when using the watches.
The standard Garmin Fenix 8 also has some advantages. It’s lighter and slimmer than the Pro models as well as being cheaper, and it also comes in three sizes 43mm, 47mm and 51mm, whereas the Pro only comes in 47mm and 51mm sizes.
Fans of MIP screens will only find it available with the Fenix 8 Solar model; you can only get AMOLED or MicroLED screens with the Fenix 8 Pro.
You can also get a steel model of the Fenix 8, which is the cheapest option, whereas only titanium versions of the Fenix 8 Pro are available. That said, I’d pay the $100 extra to get a titanium Fenix 8 if you opt for it, because it’s lighter and more durable than the steel watch.
If you pick up any model of the Fenix 8 or Fenix 8 Pro you’re going to have a great sports watch on your wrist, but unless you need extra connectivity, the Fenix 8 is the better value pick.
