Everything New for the Garmin EPIX Pro Smartwatch

If you liked the sizes of the Garmin Fenix lineup but wanted the AMOLED display – you’re in luck. Garmin has just unveiled the new EPIX Pro series, available in the three different sizes shared with the popular Fenix 7 Pro (42mm, 47mm and 51mm) but with the AMOLED display and some additional new features to get excited about. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Garmin EPIX Pro watches…

The new Garmin EPIX Pro watches have all gained a new flashlight feature that lights the road ahead of you at night, plus a new optical heart rate sensor package, a better battery life, brand new Hill Score and Endurance Score stats and a now-standard multiband-GNSS amongst much more. In addition to this, the master of smartwatch technology has also announced a new Fenix 7 Pro watch, which matches pretty much all of the advanced features of the EPIX Pro but with an improved battery MIP display instead of the AMOLED display. You can check that one out here. All the features of the EPIX Pro software features are shared with the original EPIX smartwatch, so you can check these out in this previous article here (aside from a small clue, which can be seen in the “EPIX Pro” lettering on the watch faces.

Case sizes

Aside from the 47mm case size seen in the 2022 EPIX watch released last year, the line now offers two sizes new to the range (but not so new to the Fenix 7). These sizes are 42mm (available in black or light gold with black rubber or a cream nylon/rubber strap respectively). The next size is the mid-range size, measuring the 47mm diameter (available in black, titanium, or carbon grey titanium). Largest of all is the imposing 51mm model (in black with either a black rubber or brown leather strap, as well as a titanium model on a white rubber strap).

Built-in flashlight

The new Garmin EPIX Pro watches for 2023, all come with a built-in flashlight, providing you with convenient illumination as and when you need it. The feature comes with an additional safety light that gets you noticed if you happen to stumble into difficulty, plus a strobe mode. The feature was offered in the Fenix 7X, Enduro 2, Tactix 7, and Instinct 2X before now. All you need to do to enjoy this feature whilst on the go is to tap the watch to prompt the light to extend out from the side of the case and illuminate the path in front of you. The perfect tool for nighttime hiking, running or mine exploration amongst many more.

An improved battery life

The new Garmin EPIX Pro watches now have an extended battery life, which no consumer could grumble about. The 42mm models promise a battery life of 10 days in smartwatch mode, 14 days in Battery Saver Mode and 28 hours in GPS Only mode. The mid-size EPIX Pro offers 16 days of charge in smartwatch mode, 21 days in Battery Saver Mode and 42 hours in GPS Only. The larger Garmin EPIX Pro 51mm watch has a battery supply of 31 days in smartwatch mode 1 days in Battery Saver Mode and 82 hours in GPS Only

Newly added sports and activity profiles

Basketball, volleyball, field hockey, ice hockey, football/soccer, American football, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee, cricket, softball baseball, ice skating, inline skating, archery, overland, whitewater, kayak, boxing, mixed martial arts, snorkelling, BMX, motocross, table tennis squash, racquetball, badminton, and platform tennis. These are the new sports profiles you can expect to see in the new Gramin EPIX Pro smartwatches. Up until now, Garmin has only been able to produce sport/profiles according to specific data metrics it already had, but this often meant you’d have to use the skiing profile for ice skating or the gym mode for baseball, for example. Now, for some sports modes, it has built out the data metrics needed to back a specific sport or activity. Garmin will then take the metrics and data for those it only has profiles for and use it to invest in sports they feel are most in demand.

New Hill Score feature

Cleverly, the new Garmin EPIX Pro watch can evaluate your progress in running uphill over time. To measure your capabilities, it uses the VO2 Max feature and your training history, as well as your running endurance levels on long ascents and your overall running strength, compiling all these together to provide scores based on your performance over a period of time.

New Endurance Score feature

The new Endurance Score feature implemented into the design of the new Garmin EPIX Pro watch can measure your ability to prolong periods of exercise by combining training data from your athletic pursuits and combining then with other stats. It can help you understand your body better and how training can be optimised to improve your overall endurance. To do this, it uses your short and long-term training loads, as well as your VO2 Max stats amongst other factors to gauge your fitness and how it changes or improves over time.

New multiband-GNSS

Garmin has now made the wrist-based heart rate monitor and multiband-GNSS a standard part of the EPIX Pro series. In doing so, it comes accompanied by a new running power feature, allowing you to manage your training more effectively. It uses metrics taken from local wind conditions, pace and vertical oscillations to calculate the amount of power you use on your run.

The new Red Shift mode

The Red Shift mode on the new Garmin EPIX Pro watch lights up the dial in a red colour, helping you preserve your night vision whilst on the go. It’s also less visually intrusive and can be used before you go to bed to prevent sleep disruption and can be manually or auto-enabled to suit your needs.

Outdoor Maps+ subscription

The EPIX Pro watches for 2023 can all be enjoyed alongside and optional Outdoor Maps+ feature that covers premium mapping across the USA and satellite images across the globe that can be downloaded with the subscription plan to help guide you to your next adventure. Having the ability to download photorealistic maps before you set out on your next venture can help you plan walks, hikes, and bike rides more effectively by marking waypoints and charting land features to help you on your way.

Using the Garmin EPIX Pro daily

There’s some great flexibility when operating the Garmin EPIX Pro’s 5-button design. It has a full touchscreen display so if you hate using buttons, the only time you’ll need to use them is when starting or stopping an activity. Likewise, if you don’t like using the touchscreen all the time, you can disable it whenever you want. The left-sided buttons are generally used for navigating up and down on the menus, whilst the right-sided buttons are for confirming, starting, stopping, lap and back-button functions.

With a wealth of additional features and improvements made to battery life, EPIX smartwatch fans can now enjoy the AMOLED display combined with Fenix 7 sizes, plus some new fitness features that help improve, hone and refine your endurance and training goals. For more information on the new Garmin EPIX Pro watches, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 today.