Garmin Fenix 2: On the minus side
The Fenix 2 is a large and chunky watch. That’s the nature of many “sports” watches, but this gives it a style that’s often referred to as “masculine”, and that won’t suit everybody. On my admittedly thin wrists, it looks kind of ludicrous.
Smartphone pairing is a must for any wearable device, but the Fenix 2’s use of Bluetooth LTE means that for now it’ll only actually pair with iOS devices. There’s a version of the Garmin Connect App for Android, because the Fenix 2 isn’t Garmin’s only play in the fitness gadget space by a long shot, but it won’t pair with any Android device, even those that support Bluetooth LTE itself.
Garmin says that’s “coming soon”, but my advice on all these matters is always that you should only buy a device for what it can do now, not what might be promised down the track. That’s doubly true in the Android space, where it’s quite feasible that only a small subset of phones could end up working with the Fenix 2.
The controls on the Fenix 2, like the watch itself, are large and somewhat clunky. That’s a function of it needing to be durable and swim-resistant, but it does mean that starting and stopping activities often needs a very firm press. Likewise, its use of a reverse colour scheme means it’s not always the easiest to see in all conditions. I found myself using the included light, which gives the display a red tinge a lot more than I would with, for example, the simple monochrome display of a Pebble smartwatch.
Like just about every wearable on the planet, the Fenix 2 charges via a custom charger. It’s large, so you’re not likely to lose it easily, but if it breaks you’ll be in trouble.
Next Page: Garmin Fenix 2: Pricing and conclusions