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Garmin fēnix 8 Solar · Photo source

Garmin fēnix 8 Solar
Photo 1 of 75

Garmin fēnix 8 Solar · Photo source

Garmin · fēnix

fēnix 8 Solar

Released August 2024

fēnix 8 Solar is a multisport GPS watch with an always-visible MIP display, solar charging, offline maps and dive features, offered in 47 mm and 51 mm cases.

Type
Smart and sports
Sizes
47, 51 mm
Movement
–
Power reserve
–
Display
Memory-in-pixel
Battery
30 days
Water
100 m
GPS
Dual-band
Weight
80 g

What reviewers say

Both exact Solar field tests praised GPS accuracy, extensive navigation and training tools, durable materials and long battery life, while criticising the high price and bulk. GearJunkie’s 51 mm tester found navigation reliable and reported roughly three weeks between charges with frequent outdoor use, but found the interface cumbersome. OutdoorGearLab’s 47 mm test reported 64 hours of GPS recording without solar input and liked the redesigned mapping controls. Both found the flashlight useful; neither considered the new voice and diving tools essential for every buyer.

From gearjunkie.com and outdoorgearlab.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Case sizes
47 mm or 51 mm
Panel
Memory-in-pixel
Always-on display
Yes
Display detail
Always-visible sunlight-readable transflective colour memory-in-pixel (MIP) touchscreen, five leakproof inductive buttons. 47 mm: 33 mm (1.3 inch), 260 x 260 pixels. 51 mm: 35.56 mm (1.4 inch), 280 x 280 pixels.
Screen protection
Power Sapphire solar charging lens

Health and fitness

ECG
Yes
Blood oxygen
Yes
Skin temperature
Yes
Sleep apnoea alerts
No
High blood pressure alerts
No
Body composition
No
Fall detection
No
Crash detection
No
GPS
Dual-band (L1 and L5)
Water resistance
100 m
Sensors
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; SatIQ automatic multi-band selection; Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate, Pulse Ox, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light and depth sensor to 40 m.
Health features
Garmin ECG App where regionally available with compatible phone and watch software; Pulse Ox availability varies by country. HRV status, Body Battery, health status/snapshot, skin temperature, sleep coach/score/alignment, breathing variations, nap detection, stress/respiration tracking, lifestyle logging, jet lag adviser and menstrual-cycle/pregnancy tracking. Current maker table includes smart wake alarm and past ovulation estimates.
Fitness features
Training readiness/status, training load/focus/effect, endurance and hill scores, running tolerance, running power/dynamics, PacePro, ClimbPro, real-time stamina and recovery time. Running economy and step speed loss require a compatible accessory. Garmin running, cycling, strength and triathlon coaching. Scuba single-gas air/nitrox (21–40% oxygen) and apnea modes, EN 13319 depth sensor to 40 m; dive rating is distinct from 10 ATM surface water resistance. Golf, ski, climbing, cycling, swimming, multisport and strength activity profiles. Preloaded TopoActive maps on these Sapphire versions, downloadable regional maps over Wi-Fi, dynamic round-trip routing, NextFork, routes and turn-by-turn directions; golf and SkiView maps. Optional Outdoor Maps+ subscription adds premium maps. No need for a phone to follow stored maps/routes.
Safety features
LED flashlight with white/red light and strobe. Incident detection, assistance, LiveTrack and live event sharing require a compatible paired phone and appropriate connectivity. Can control a separate compatible inReach device; LTE/satellite/SOS built into fēnix 8 Pro are not features of this Solar model.

Battery and connections

Battery life (maker's claim)
Up to 30 days
In low-power mode
Up to 48 days
Mobile data option
No
Works with
iPhone and Android
Storage
32 GB
Battery life detail
Headline figures are 51 mm without solar: up to 30 days smartwatch and 48 days battery-saver watch mode. 47 mm: smartwatch 21 days/28 with solar; saver 34/58 days; GPS-only 67/92 h; all satellites 48/59 h on current UK web table (September 2026 owner guide instead says 49 h with solar); multi-band 37/43 h; all satellites plus music 13 h; maximum-battery GPS 132/283 h; expedition 34/58 days. 51 mm: smartwatch 30/48 days; saver 48/107 days; GPS-only 95/149 h; all satellites 68/92 h; multi-band 52/65 h; music 18 h; maximum-battery GPS 186/653 h; expedition 50/118 days. Solar watch/saver/expedition claims assume all-day wear with three hours daily outside at 50,000 lux; GPS solar claims assume use outside at 50,000 lux, with typical SatIQ use for multi-band. Actual battery life depends on enabled features.
Charging
Garmin proprietary plug cable to USB-C computer port or AC adaptor rated at least 5 W, per current owner guide. Lithium-ion battery. Solar charging stops when fully charged or connected to external power.
Connectivity
Bluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi. Calls use a paired phone; offline watch voice commands and voice notes use the built-in microphone/speaker. Garmin Messenger requires a paired phone/app for ordinary messages. Garmin Pay with supported banks; downloaded local music or supported subscription music services; Connect IQ apps and Garmin Share.

Design

Weight (lightest version)
80 g
Software
Garmin
Case materials
Titanium bezel (natural or Carbon Grey DLC), fibre-reinforced polymer case and metal rear cover; silicone band.
Size
47 mm: 47 x 47 x 15.2 mm. 51 mm: 51 x 51 x 15.4 mm. Silicone wrist fit: 125–208 mm (47 mm), 127–210 mm (51 mm). QuickFit 22 mm and 26 mm bands respectively. 47 mm 80 g with band, 57 g case only; 51 mm 95 g with band, 67 g case only. Headline weight describes 47 mm with supplied silicone band.
Reference and release detail
Maker announced 27 August 2024; its Italian launch page states both Solar sizes were available that day. UK first shipping day is not independently established.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Solar charging and always-visible colour MIP display
  • Multi-band positioning, offline TopoActive maps and an LED flashlight
  • Speaker, microphone and dive features to 40 m

Cons

  • Solar battery claims require specified strong-light exposure
  • Phone calls, ordinary messages and assistance require a paired compatible phone
  • No built-in LTE or satellite messaging

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSizesMovementPower reserveDisplayBatteryWaterGPSWeightReleased
GarminEnduro 3
Smart and sports51 mm––Memory-in-pixel36 days100 mDual-band63 gAug 2024
Garminfēnix 9
Smart and sports43, 47, 51 mm––OLED29 days100 mDual-band44 gAug 2026
GarminInstinct 3 AMOLED
Smart and sports45, 50 mm––OLED24 days100 mDual-band53 gJan 2025

Sources

  1. garmin.com/en-GB/p/1389491/pn/010-02906-21
  2. garmin.com/en-GB/p/1390829/pn/010-02907-11
  3. garmin.com/en-US/p/1389491/pn/010-02906-10
  4. www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-EECCAC99-90D6-4AB1-9A3A-EC433D3365E2/EN-US…
  5. garmin.com/it-IT/newsroom/fenix-8
  6. garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/outdoor/garmin-adds-amoled-displays-to-…
  7. mynewsdesk.com/ch/garmin/pressreleases/grenzen-verschieben-mit-der-garmin-fenix…
  8. mynewsdesk.com/de/garmin/pressreleases/grenzen-verschieben-mit-der-garmin-fenix…
  9. garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-kit
  10. static.garmincdn.com/contentful/directory/PRESS-KIT-2026/2-SMARTWATCHES.zip
  11. garmin.com/en-GB/p/1389491/pn/010-02906-11
  12. garmin.com/en-GB/p/1390829/pn/010-02907-21
  13. mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/f_pdf,fl_attachment/no9e0ej40m35gvscv47g…
  14. mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/f_pdf,fl_attachment/m1xy3yhd72zzd2bijnct…
  15. mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/f_pdf,fl_attachment/qzo7qnt33a75adf8wilt…
  16. mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/f_pdf,fl_attachment/vhrmoyql3psx7qe6457h…

Photo: res.garmin.com

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