Garmin phoenix watch 3. Dream watch

The Garmin brand has long and successfully been producing devices that help with sports and simply track physical activity. It is convenient when one device is able to collect and analyze information related to different sports. Below is an overview of the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 watch line.

In addition to the main model, the Garmin 3 line includes devices marked Saphire and Saphire HR. These models differ slightly in appearance and belong to the premium segment. They have a sapphire crystal, and the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR has a heart rate sensor in addition to glass. In addition, there is a difference in the belts from the kit and in the available colors.

As before, the device has a large size and a solid body, as well as a striking sporty design. In addition, the list of features has significantly increased in the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3, previously they were not presented in any device of the brand. In addition to the barometer, GPS, compass, smart notifications, the third generation of watches learned through Wi-Fi network go to the company's website and download or upload data about your activity to it. Also the user can install a number of applications from the official Connect IQ store.

The device is suitable for athletes, regardless of the type of their sports activity, as well as for people who love high-quality and expensive things. At the start of sales, the price was about $ 400, which is more than the watch from Apple. But given the features that Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 offers, the high price tag is justified.

Contents of delivery

The Fenix \u200b\u200b3 series watches have a fairly rich package. In addition to the watch itself, you can find in the box charging dock (unique to the model), power supply with USB plug for charging from the mains, documentation, chest strap for measuring heart rate.

Uniqueness charger Garmin Phoenix 3 watch is that the protruding heart rate scanner on the bottom of the watch will not allow it to be combined with docking stations from other devices.

Battery capacity 300 mAh, which guarantees 50 hours of operation without connecting the watch to satellites. With GPS on, the battery lasts for 20 hours. In watch mode - 6 weeks.

Due to the fact that Sapphire HR already has built-in heart rate monitor, in its kit, the user will find an additional strap instead of the chest version with an integrated monitor, which comes with simpler models.

For the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire model, the kit also differs the presence of replaceable plastic straps.They are necessary for practicing some sports, because by default watches are sold not only with the best glass, but also with a metal bracelet.

Appearance

Overall, the watch design resembles military style... This is a massive metal case, no hidden screws, a lot of weight. But, despite this, the watch looks impressive on the hand and makes it clear that this is a high-quality and expensive thing.

Due to the fact that the display of the model is not touch-sensitive, on the case you can see 5 physical buttons- three on the left side and two on the right. Each of them is signed. Upper right - sync with devices / start, lower right - exit the selected mode / return one step back. Left side from top to bottom:

• backlight.
• up the menu / enter the settings,
• down the menu.

A long press on the brightness button will turn off the device or select a mode without notifications, in addition, with its help, the device can be locked.

The display has a diameter of 1.2 inches with a resolution of 218 * 218 pixels. is he monochrome, which saves energy, but backlighting for 8 to 60 seconds eliminates the problem completely. In standard mode, the display shows the time, the user's activity is constantly shown.

The device has a 10ATM water protection class - this guarantees diving to a depth of 100 meters, that is, swimming or scuba diving without taking off your watch is quite possible.

All three models in the Garmin Phoenix 3 line of smart watches are similar in characteristics, but differ in configuration and appearance. For a better understanding of the difference, a table is presented below.

Functional

Connect IQ app helps you customize not only the display but also the widgets... Each of them is a small screen with information for a specific application. Among the useful widgets:

• pedometer;
• altimeter (height sensor);
• weather;
• social media notifications;
• the last sport;
• music;
• barometer;
• compass;
• body temperature.

This is far from full list, device configuration is very flexible and allows you to make the most useful and effective device.

Fitness Mode

All Garmin devices are built first for athletes... Already in the second version of the watch, a large number of sports modes were available, so that any user could choose the option that suits him. In the third version of the watch, this approach was not only retained, but also expanded.

Daily activity

In addition, all your indicators can be seen in the widget, the goal is displayed here and how much is left before it. There is a red bar at the bottom of the display, which fills up if the user is not active. When it is completely red, the device will signal to the owner that it is time to be like. Cleaning of this indicator is carried out by passing a distance of 100 meters.

An interesting point is that the watch analyzes the number of steps taken by the user and increases or decreases the goal, as well as sets the values \u200b\u200bfor the week. At the same time, it is impossible to completely cover the goal with a long walk on the weekend - the device offers to distribute the goal for each day.

Apart from daily monitoring, Garmin 3 has many modes for practicing different sports:cross-country or downhill skiing (snowboarding), hiking, running, climbing, cycling outdoors and indoors, similarly swimming - open water or a pool. Each mode can be configured as a separate widget, up to 10 at a time. Each mode configures from 4 to 14 parameters.

Important! You cannot scroll through widgets during training. This will require you to exit training mode.

Sensors

Garmin watches have many built-in sensors, and they also support connecting third-party devices. Among the built-in ones are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, altimeter, accelerometer, barometer, GLONASS.

Besides, via ANT + standard connections with sensors from other manufacturers can be made. This is necessary for some modes. For example, if you are exercising indoors on a stationary bike, you might want to record cadence readings on your watch. A total of 7 external sensors can be connected.

For navigation, the watch uses a connection to satellites via GPS, however, for higher route accuracy, it should be parallel use GLONASS, Russian navigation system. You need to enable it manually, as only GPS works by default. According to numerous reviews, the location readings are wrong by a maximum of 3 meters.

It must be understood that connecting to both navigation systems affects the battery life, but the autonomy does not decrease so much as to save money.

Altimeter, barometer and compass

The device works with 3-axis compass, which determines the direction even if the watch is not moving. The barometer records changes in pressure and generates a short-term weather forecast, which is important when hiking or climbing a mountain. Also, in the latter case, an altimeter is indispensable, which allows you to control the altitude while climbing or climbing. All three sensors automatically calibrated using GPS, the watch automatically switches to another time zone. For more accurate air temperature information, you can connect an external thermometer using ANT +.

Sleep

Here the device has some flaw. Owners of models without an HR prefix, that is, without a built-in heart rate monitor, note that the sleep analysis is what is displayed night time schedule... At the same time, the device does not show whether the user got up or simply changed position in a dream.

The built-in heart rate monitor performs the function of monitoring sleep more accurately, it understands from the heart rate that the user is asleep or awake. Using the HR version, you can see the phases of light and deep sleep on the graphs, as well as the moment of awakening.

Regardless of the version of the watch, the data has to be adjusted, and all reviews agree that the control of night activity is not the strongest side of the model. In addition to inaccurate data, the watch is quite bulky, and not every owner decides to leave it on his wrist at night.

Software

For more flexible customization of the device, the manufacturer has developed Garmin Connect applications, which works with Windows 10 Mobile, Android and iOS. The application, according to user reviews, is very high quality, and there are a lot of customization options.

Advice! When paired with MyFitnessPal, you can, among other things, indicate the food eaten, which makes the process of setting goals for training even more accurate.

In the Connect IQ branded app store, you can choose from a variety of apps that are created by both the company and third-party developers. In particular, you can download new watch faces, smarter stopwatches and other useful programs.

Smart watch

Given the fact that all Garmin watches, including the Fenix \u200b\u200b3, are built for athletes, the smart watch here it is inferior to competitors, for example, a device from Apple. On the watch display, when connected to a smartphone, you can view short messages, see letter headers, and receive call notifications. In addition, you can configure to receive notifications about events from the calendar. Useful is smartphone player control function... You can also configure your watch to control the Garmin Virb action camera. There are about 50 applications that can be installed on the watch, but their number is growing. There are even 2 games among them.

Advantages and disadvantages

The model has an order of magnitude more pluses than minuses, and the latter include a high price, a large size (the watch looks too bulky on a small wrist), and inaccurate sleep data. Also, some users say that the chest heart rate sensor is not very comfortable.

• strong body;
• fit comfortably on the arm, despite the size;
• capacious battery;
• high accuracy of location tracking;
• high-quality display;
• clear interface;
• a huge number of sports modes;
• waterproofness;
• the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ANT +;
• a very large selection of applications and settings that, without exaggeration, cover all possible indicators.

Conclusion

The device can rightfully be called one of the best in its environment. For athletes and especially those who goes in for sports professionallythe Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is a great companion. In this case, the high price is quite justified. At the moment, you can buy the device in numerous online stores, including the official Garmin market. The price starts from 30 thousand rubles.

I will not keep the intrigue, I think everyone knows that I have dreamed of Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire Edition for more than six months (hereinafter I will simply call it Fenix \u200b\u200b3), and so, I made up my mind and ordered a model for myself on Ebay.com.

It will be an interesting material, especially if you are also looking for the perfect watch for everyday use as well as for tourism and sports.

Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire Edition video review

So, to start with the basics, why did I start wanting a Garmin watch? It all started with the first Pebble. Before them, I, which is logical, could not have imagined that a smart watch is so convenient. Unfortunately, after Pebble, I myself could not start something else, because everything else is about nothing.

More precisely, it is all in one way or another good, but it doesn’t suit my needs specifically. And I need: music control that would not collapse by itself, autonomy for more than three days, always-on display, control of mechanical keys, the ability to customize workout screens for yourself and, of course, GPS.

Oddly enough, a lot of this is even in the original Pebble watches, which is why I ran around with them. In them, information is always displayed on the display, the music application does not close after a while, so you can stop playback or switch the track at any time, autonomy is enough for several days, while running with a smartphone running runkeeper app the Pebble displays the information you want, although you can't customize it.

But they do not have GPS, the design is extremely scary, they quickly scratch, and over time the display matrix begins to crumble. This happened to me with two hours, the last time was quite recently and I was not upset.

If you're just starting to want the Fenix \u200b\u200b3, I'll give you a helpful hint on this generation's versions, because I was initially confused. There are 4 versions in total: regular Fenix \u200b\u200b3, Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire Edition (they differ in the presence of a more durable case, sapphire crystal, a higher quality main strap and a removable silicone strap in the kit), Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR and HR Sapphire Edition (the same, but also with a built-in heart rate sensor), and the tactix Bravo, which are just a copy of the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire Edition, but with a different strap, slightly modified case design and pre-installed military apps. But the latter can be installed on Fenix \u200b\u200b3 as well.

I didn't look at regular Fenix \u200b\u200b3s, I wanted a sapphire crystal, so I bought the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 Sapphire Edition. Why not HR? The reasons are simple: I found an advantageous offer on Ebay specifically for SE, the sensor still discharges the battery a little faster (but this is a trifle, not essential), but I don't really need the sensor itself.

It is good for use in rest mode, but during sports there is nothing better than a chest strap that can be purchased with any phoenix. Therefore, if the difference in price was less, I would buy HR, but I decided not to spend money that way.

Display

Actually, I only learned about the technology used to make the screen in Fenix \u200b\u200b3 at the MWC this year, where I played them live. And there I finally understood - this is exactly what is needed. The display is made using Transflective MIP technology, a kind of colored electronic ink that does not consume energy while nothing is happening on the screen. Thanks to this, we get two huge advantages: great autonomy, as well as constant display of information.

What watch I have not used before, turning on the screen by motion is nonsense. It doesn’t always work, but the main thing is that sometimes it works when it’s not needed, and sometimes you already look at the clock in the correct position, but you don’t see anything, because they don’t know that you are looking at it.

For example, I'm driving, I look at the screen that looks at me, but it is off, because I did not raise my hand, it is already on the steering wheel. And for the information to appear, you need to move your hands. Therefore, in any case, I wanted just such a screen, even if it was monochrome. Although here it is in color and even the resolution is good - 218 x 218 pixels by 1.2 ″.

Button control

The Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 has a non-touch screen and I'm happy about that. It is not needed in a watch, at all. Nevertheless, even if it were, it's okay, the main thing is that the full control of the mechanical buttons is preserved. While running, you cannot control the touch elements - this is simply unrealistic, but you can press the button; in winter, in sports gloves at the stadium, too, what to say about triathletes or swimmers, only mechanical controls are suitable for them.

After Pebble use Apple Watch, Gear Fit 2 and some others are not so convenient for sports. Everything is great in Fenix \u200b\u200b3, you have as many as 5 keys for control and navigation.

Recently I recalled an interesting case. I was given a TomTom Runner 2 sports watch for testing, which, as it turned out, was created by hands. For example, the backlight of the screen in them turns on when the palm is covered with the display. Moreover, you need to touch it with a warm hand so that the backlight does not work on being covered with clothes, for example.

The very first run I realized how unfortunate this decision was, because it was cool and my hands became cold, the screen did not respond to them. And in winter, you can forget about the backlight with gloves. In Fenix \u200b\u200b3, the backlight can be turned on in different scenarios: by raising your hand, by raising your hand only after sunset, by pressing a separate key. Everyone is happy!

Autonomy

Most smartwatches have one huge drawback - they have little life on a single charge. Most often - a day or two, and if they have a GPS, then the charge is enough for an hour or two training. And this is a huge problem, especially in training during the cold season.

My Gear Fit 2 bracelet in the summer sat down from 100% to 25-30% for one 10 km run. Therefore, if you even have a GPS in your smart watch or bracelet, then the charge will most likely not be enough for a half marathon. As well as a two-hour cycling workout.

Fenix \u200b\u200b3 has a very long lifespan: up to 6 weeks in watch mode, about 12 days in smartwatch mode with a permanently closed smartphone, and up to 20 (!!!) hours in active GPS tracking mode. They only lose 4% charge over my typical 10km running distance. Four!!! This is space. Not a single watch has lived for so long, and it's very cool.

Setting up everything

As I said, customizing displays during sports is extremely important to me. I do not want to look at the data that the manufacturer decided to post, because, judging by experience, developers do not consult with athletes. Some watches can display only one type of information on one screen during a run, like the Gear Fit 2. In Fenix \u200b\u200b3, everything is thought out to the smallest detail.

For any sport, you can create several customized screens, each of which will display from 1 to 4 fields, and you can configure them by size. For running, I need one screen with three fields: pace, distance and training time.

And that's how I set everything up for myself. But I told you this very superficially, since only for the pace there are several parameters, such as the average for the entire run, current, average per km. And so for each parameter - there are sub-items.

Adequate app with everything in sync

Garmin Connect is available for both smartphones and the browser. There is also a desktop synchronization application if you are not using your smartphone for some reason. But I only use mobile version and it suits me perfectly.

What I like is the huge amount of information you get about your activities and the unstoppableness of the application. The fact is that it is not a tracker by itself, like Runkeeper or Strava, GC cannot track activity itself. This is just a hub collecting information from Garmin devices. For example, I have a bicycle computer and a watch - the service will contain information from them.

And the cool thing here is that there are no paid versions, the expectation is that you have already spent money on the device and should now have access to all the possibilities. This is cool, before I only saw the stripped down information available in free versions services.

Applications

Directly from Garmin Connect, you can access the app store for your watch. And not only the Fenix \u200b\u200b3, but also other models that support Garmin IQ. Surprisingly, I did not expect to see this a large number applications for Garmin, and high quality, very different and updated regularly.

There are functional "watchfaces" that can be customized and customized for yourself, there are fully functional applications, there are widgets. The difference is as follows: dials - everything is clear with them; applications are installed in the same menu as the main ones: running, cycling and so on, that is, these can be applications that capture training data; and widgets are weather, compass and so on.

Complete smart features

When I bought the watch, I knew that I was waiting for an uncompromising experience of using during classes, but I was worried about smart functions. I thought that the clock would show very standard actions, like a call, SMS and, possibly, mail. But everything turned out to be just gorgeous - smart capabilities are not inferior to anyone. Alerts come from all apps on my iPhone, which is great. You can view them even after minimizing in a special menu.

Music control

For me, this is an important point, especially in winter, when wireless headphones are hidden under a hat and a hood, and a smartphone is in a pocket and it is uncomfortable to reach for them to change a track or turn off the music.

There is probably music control in all smartwatches, but the problem is that the control screen is minimized (switches to home page) if you don't touch it. And that doesn't suit me, I want to be able to stop the music or switch the track at any time without going back to the music app. And this is how it is implemented. The only frustrating thing is that, unlike Pebble, the time is not visible on the music control screen, as well as the name of the track.

Beautiful

I confess that design is not as important to me as quality and functionality. I could walk with any watch or bracelet, but I wore the Pebble because it suited me the best. But if the watch is functional and completely suits me, and even beautiful - this is the jackpot! And the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is just that. Without exaggeration, they look gorgeous, although they will be too big for people of small build, even more so for girls. And even the presence of the Rose Gold color will not help!

disadvantages

There are also disadvantages, as in any other product. And I do not call the cost a disadvantage, nevertheless, we have the most technologically advanced electronic watch. But with so many sensors and sensors, the manufacturer stupidly hammered into the internal space, only 23 MB are available. MEGABYTE!!! It sounds ridiculous. Memory would be needed for maps, for music, etc.

There is also no possibility to download tracks to the watch, but it would be very cool. With the Fenix \u200b\u200b3, I don’t take my smartphone to workout anyway, but after jogging I still want to listen to music. Therefore, it would be cool to have at least 4-8 GB of space and connectivity wireless headphone... The Gear Fit 2 does just that.

I won't say that the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is a watch for everyone. No, this is simply the most advanced device on the market, this is a real multisport watch, but this fact does not mean that everyone should buy it, because many people will be satisfied with the capabilities of Pebble or a tracker like Xiaomi Mi Band 2.

Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is a harvester for people leading an active lifestyle, to which I count myself, who need everything at once: the most accurate measurements, autonomy, convenience and a lot of data obtained after each session.

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The trend of recent years is wearable electronics. Manufacturers have flooded the market with a variety of smartwatches and bracelets in all price ranges. However, with all the variety of choices, most of them do not meet the requirements of users. Firstly, the design of "smart" watches cannot be compared with the appearance of "stupid" ones. What this is connected with is not clear, but in most cases it would be difficult to call another rectangle an image item. Secondly, the operating time of the clock from one charge is not enough to go on a long business trip, and some are completely discharged during the day. Finally, if for an ordinary user the opportunities offered by most trackers are enough, then for a person who plays sports professionally, the functionality of "smart" devices is clearly not enough.

Fortunately, there are rare exceptions: the company Garmin, widely known in narrow circles for its devices for athletes, analyzed the market, "wiggled" the brains of engineers, and released the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 - the ultimate multisport watch, devoid of all the above drawbacks ... but the price tag for it the miracle of technology turned out to be a record one. The simplest version with a rubber strap and ordinary glass will cost 50,000 rubles, but if you want a titanium case and sapphire crystal, then if you please lay out 73,000 rubles. But let's see if this watch is so good, how high is its price?

When you first look at the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 (we had a cheaper version), you get a little in awe of their brutality: large, round, with screws, five large buttons. On the one hand, they look great on a man's hand, on the other hand, for a woman's hand they seem very large and will not look organic. But the weight was pleasantly surprised: only 82 grams, and this is the perfect balance between feeling the watch as such, and not experiencing discomfort from constant wearing. The Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is available in black or with a silver bezel, and there is a sapphire watch in a white case with a gold bezel. The latter look very expensive, but their "brutality" is somewhat lost, and they are less practical, given their purpose to be an assistant during physical activity.

The case itself is made of high quality durable plastic and has not received a single scratch for the entire time of use. Above, fastened with five bolts, rests a metal biesel. It is noteworthy that the glass is located below the edge of the biesel, therefore, the latter will mainly be scratched. On the left edge there are three metal round buttons, on the right - two and small sensor holes. The functions of the keys are labeled on the upper ring: the left keys allow you to move up and down the list and turn on the backlight, the upper right key, marked in red, performs the selection function, and the lower one - go back.

On the reverse side there is a metal plate and four contacts through which charging and data exchange takes place. By the way, the set comes with a very convenient charging dock. The case is perfectly insulated from moisture and dust and can withstand pressure up to 10 atmospheres. In other words, you can dive in them without any fear for performance. The Fenix \u200b\u200bcase is also indifferent to the effect of external temperatures, of course, it is better not to throw them into an open flame, but they will withstand complete freezing in a glass of water without even frowning. Naturally, the watch is also shockproof. There are straps for every taste: leather, metal, silicone, red, black, brown and white, if you wish, you can also put your own. And we were tested on a black rubber bracelet, treated with a special compound, so the skin did not irritate even in the heat.

The Fenix \u200b\u200bhas a pretty tricky 1.2-inch round TFT display with a resolution of 218x218 pixels. Its trick lies in the fact that, firstly, it is always on and does not require backlighting in normal lighting, and secondly, it uses MIP technology (pixel memory), which allows you to maintain static image virtually no energy consumption like e-ink technology. The screen here is colored, which allows you to display various data in different colors. Colors are a bit dull and viewing angles are small, but the screen remains readable even in direct sunlight, and the picture looks crisp and smooth. Unlike most other "smart" watches, the display here is not touch-sensitive, but there are no difficulties in operation, on the contrary, large buttons allow you to operate functions even with gloves.

There are many sensors inside the watch: thermometer, barometer, compass, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS / GLONASS, accelerometer, but unfortunately, there is no heart rate sensor, but using the ANT + protocol, you can connect various accessories to the watch, including the same sensor heartbeat (which comes with some clock modifications) or Action-camera. The heart rate sensor is worn on the chest using special belts and constantly transmits the heart rate to the watch. Of course, such a system probably detects the heart rate more accurately than the light sensor built into the watch case used by other manufacturers, but it is much less convenient. The video received from the camera can be overlaid with data from the watch sensors.

The battery capacity is 300mAh. Thanks to the special screen technology, this is enough for a month and a half of Fenix \u200b\u200b3 in watch mode. If you turn on all the sensors (except for GPS) synchronization with a smartphone, then "Phoenix" will last about 8 days in the fitness tracker mode. If you turn on the tracking of satellites, and run any training program, with periodic polling of the GPS signal, then the watch will be discharged in 24 hours. In all respects, the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is one of the longest-playing watches among its kind. Well, the gadget is fully charged in less than an hour.

Now let's finally move on to the features that Fenix \u200b\u200b3 gives us. First, let's take a look at the interface. The home screen, as you might guess, is a watch face. By default, there are only a few different watch faces available, but each one has dozens of style settings, and you can download additional watch faces from the web. Pressing the buttons up and down transfers the user to the screens of widgets that display a variety of useful information from sensors: a barometer, an altimeter (determines the altitude based on the pressure difference) and a thermometer (for an adequate estimate of the air temperature, you need to remove the watch for a few minutes) display information in the form of graphs over the past 12 hours, and the electronic compass does not "get stuck" and very accurately shows the directions of the cardinal points. A few more widgets begin to function when paired with a phone: music player, calendar, weather, notifications, there is also an item for controlling action cameras.

A separate screen collects statistics on daily activity: steps taken, kilometers and calories burned. A long hold on the left center key gives access to the settings, where you can change the display order, configure, disable and add new widgets. There you can configure the look of the clock, pairing with the phone and system updates. Interestingly, the watch can automatically receive time and date data from satellites. It is also worth noting that the watch is completely Russified, but if you really want to, you can switch to English.

In addition to the section with widgets, another important item is available - "Trainings". To get into it, you need to hold down the "Start" key on the screen with the dial for a couple of seconds. Next, you need to choose the type of training. And here your gaze is presented with a whole scattering of different modes: walking, running, swimming, cycling, skiing, triathlon, and so on, and for most you can choose to workout both indoors and outdoors, which actually means whether your path and speed using satellites or accelerometer. After pressing "Start" again, the corresponding application will start. As soon as the GPS / GLONASS connection is established, you can press "Start" again and start training, each type of which corresponds to several screens with different information, and their order and content can also be customized.

The watch will record all your daily activity, speed, barometric pressure, altitude, temperature, heart rate (if a sensor is connected) and even the track of your trip on the map. Fenix \u200b\u200bis \u200b\u200balso able to track the phases of sleep and wake you up at the right moment, but sleeping in such "brutals" is not very comfortable. If you cannot find your smartphone, the watch will help out again: when the function is activated, the phone will ring at full volume. The watch can notify you about sunset and sunrise at a certain time before the event. The Fenix \u200b\u200balso has less exotic features such as a stopwatch or timer.

Despite all the advantages, the screen of the Fenix \u200b\u200bis \u200b\u200bstill small enough to fully analyze all the data received. Fortunately, like all smart wearables, this watch is capable of transferring data to your phone or PC. When connected to a computer, the clock is recognized by the system as a flash drive. The total amount of memory in hours is 32 MB. In this mode, you can download the recorded data or upload a new firmware, but it is better to use the Garmin Express utility, which will allow you to configure a wireless connection via Wi-Fi, and in the future the watch will synchronize itself with the online service.Of course, before use, you need to register on the website , but after that you will have access to the most detailed information about your activity in Russian with a convenient interface: statistics on various parameters, information on the duration and locations of training with a track map, rewards earned and much more interesting. Everything is perfectly customizable to the individual taste of the user.

Garmin Connect has its own Connect IQ store, where you can download third-party apps, watch faces, and widgets to Fenix. It is noteworthy that all additional content is free. Similar functionality is available from the mobile application for Android and iOS.

To connect the watch to the phone, you need to do a series of "dances with a tambourine": first register in the system on the site, then run mobile app with the Internet turned on and enter the login and password received earlier (it may not work out the first time - you will have to wait a couple of hours), then click "connect a new device", turn on Bluetooth on the phone and watch, enter the code from the watch into a special field on the phone , wait a couple of minutes, and then another five minutes while the clock adjusts the time via satellites ... That's it, now we are connected.

Fortunately, subsequent times, the connection will occur automatically, and most other "smart" watches require no less significant skills to connect with a smartphone. In the application, you can configure which notifications to send to the watch (calls, mail, SMS, social networks, and so on) and which player to use by default, while in the phone settings you need to allow it to send notifications to third-party devices. Unfortunately, you cannot answer or reject calls from your watch. Otherwise, there are no complaints about the work, everything works clearly and quickly.

The Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is a really cool device: great design, long battery life, rich functionality. However, due to the high price, Fenix \u200b\u200bis \u200b\u200bnot a device for everyone. Agree, paying 50 thousand rubles and not using the richest functionality for sports is very stupid, and you can receive notifications from a smartphone on a watch 5 times cheaper. But if you lead an active lifestyle, love to travel and play sports and are able to fully unleash the potential inherent in this watch, then Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 will be an excellent gift and daily assistant for you.

The proliferation of wearable electronics is a significant trend in recent years. The market is flooded with a variety of smartwatches and bracelets in all price categories. But despite the apparent variety, most gadgets do not meet the needs of users. Some people are not at all satisfied with the trivial, unremarkable design, and they give their preferences to classic watches, where you can always find an appearance to your liking. Another part of potential buyers is stopped by the short operating time: charging of modern smart watches is often not enough even for a couple of days. Athletes are not happy either, because the opportunities provided by the majority modern devices they are clearly missing.
Fortunately, there are some pleasant exceptions to the rule: the American company Garmin, well known for its sports devices, has in its arsenal the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 multisport watch, devoid of all of the above disadvantages. Well, the other day, a special version of this model appeared on Russian counters, in which minor bugs were fixed, battery performance was optimized, sapphire glass and a built-in heart rate sensor appeared (earlier, in order to measure the pulse, you had to put on special belts on the body). Meet the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR - the new reincarnation of the best sports smartwatch. True, such a watch will not cost cheap at all. Let's see what the manufacturer offers us to pay as much as 52,000 rubles.
Appearance and design
When you first look at the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR, you are in awe of their overwhelming brutality: large, round, with screws and five large buttons. The watch looks great on a man's hand, but for a thin girl's wrist, it will turn out to be too large and will not look organic.
The watch case is made of high quality durable black plastic. Above, fastened with five bolts, rests a metallic gray biesel. The glass here, as already noted, is sapphire, so you need to find a diamond and rub it on the glass for a long time in order to somehow scratch it, in addition, it is located just below the edge of the bizel, which will take on the main blows of fate. For a month of everyday use, not a single scratch appeared on the watch.

On the left there are three metal round buttons, on the right - two and sensor holes. The functions of the keys are embossed on the bizel: those on the left allow you to move up and down the list and turn on the backlight (it also serves to turn on / off the gadget), the upper right key is slightly larger than the others and performs the selection function, and the lower one - to go back. On the back of the watch, on a small elevation, there is an optical sensor of our own production with three LEDs. Because of this protrusion, a round trace remains on the arm, but it measures the pulse more accurately than flat sensors. Next to the latter, there is also a contact pad for charging and data exchange with a PC. To recharge the gadget, a very convenient docking station with a latch is used: the watch is securely held in it, and it is connected and disconnected with one hand.

The case is perfectly protected from mechanical shock, moisture and dust and is able to withstand pressure up to 10 atmospheres. In other words, you can safely dive in them to a depth of up to 100 m without any fear of performance. Fenix \u200b\u200b3 are also indifferent to the action of extreme temperatures, of course, it is better not to throw them into an open flame, but they will withstand complete freezing in a glass of water calmly. The strap in our sample is made of black hypoallergenic silicone, which does not irritate the skin even with heavy perspiration and is not damaged in salt water. Bracelets in steel, titanium and leather in various colors are also on sale. Unfortunately, standard straps will not work with this watch. The Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR weighs 86 grams, which is ideal for feeling a pleasant weight on your hand, but without the discomfort of constantly wearing them.

The gadget is equipped with a 1.2-inch color round display with a resolution of 218x218 pixels. The screen is always on and, in the presence of lighting, does not require the use of a backlight, by the way, the latter can be configured so that it turns on when the watch is raised to the eyes and only in the dark. It uses an interesting transflective MIP technology, akin to electronic ink, which allows you to maintain a static image with little or no energy. Colors are a little dull and the viewing angles are small, but the screen is perfectly readable even in direct sunlight, and the picture looks sharp. Unlike most competitors, the screen is not touch-sensitive, but this does not cause any difficulties, on the contrary, large buttons allow you to control the watch even with gloves.

Inside the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR is a treasure trove of sensors: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS / GLONASS, accelerometer, thermometer, barometer, compass and, of course, the proprietary heart rate sensor. By the way, the latter, after comparative tests with other devices capable of reading the pulse, showed the result most close to reality. The same can be said about the accelerometer: its error was less than 3%, it does not respond to movement in transport and typing on the keyboard. The watch uses the ANT + protocol, through which you can connect to it various devicessuch as a bicycle speed sensor or Action camera. The image obtained from the latter can be overlaid with data from the sensors.

The battery capacity of the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR has not changed compared to its predecessor, and is still the same 300 mAh, but the power consumption has been optimized in such a way that even with the heart rate monitor always on, the watch lives on average 10% longer. The operating time strongly depends on the mode in which the gadget operates. The charge will last the longest (about 2 months), when Fenix \u200b\u200bwill work in watch mode without backlight, without syncing with a smartphone and disabled sensors. They will last about 2 weeks if you turn on synchronization, receive notifications, an accelerometer and a heart rate sensor. The battery will last for 10 days in smart watch mode, with all sensors on, automatic backlight and synchronization. The watch will work for about 50 hours in training mode, recording all parameters and sometimes synchronizing with satellites. Finally, if you turn on constant synchronization with the GPS signal in the same training mode, then the charge will last for 24 hours. As you can see, in all modes, the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR bypasses their competitors in terms of autonomy. A full charge takes less than an hour.

Functionality
Fenix's interface is pretty simple, at least if you understand it, you won't get lost. To begin with, let's say that the watch supports work in several languages, including the great and mighty. As you might guess, the home screen is a clock face. By default, more than a dozen dials with various design settings are already available. If that doesn't seem enough, you can easily download many additional fan-made watches from the web, many of which support widgets that display steps, weather or battery power.

Pressing the up and down buttons scrolls through screens with various information. Graphs of pressure, pulse, altitude (based on the pressure difference), temperature (for an accurate assessment, you need to take off the watch for a couple of minutes) are displayed for the last few hours. Another part of the screens starts functioning when paired with a phone: a music player, calendar, weather, notifications, there is a section for controlling action cameras. A separate screen collects statistics on daily activity: steps taken, kilometers and calories burned (heart rate data is taken into account when calculating calories), you can also view the last workouts. Holding the center key gives access to the settings, where you can change the display order, configure, disable and add new widgets. It is also configured there appearance hours, phone pairing and system updates. Fenix \u200b\u200bcan not only automatically receive data on time, date and coordinates by satellites, but also leave a mark on the map, so that later pave the route back.
In addition to the widgets, there is one more section "Workouts" available, which appears when you press the "Start" key. The list of available workouts has expanded significantly with the update of the watch, and now both trivial running, walking, swimming or cycling are available, as well as more exotic rowing and sitting, various simulators, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, triathlon and even golf. Moreover, for the majority, you can choose to workout both indoors and outdoors, which means whether your path and speed will be tracked using satellites or an accelerometer.

After pressing "Start" again, the corresponding application will start. As soon as the GPS / GLONASS connection is established, you can press “Start” again and start training, for each of which your data is written to the screen and to the file. For example, for climbing, the distance traveled, altitude, time, heart rate (if it is much higher than normal, then the watch will start to vibrate), and even the passed and return routes (the navigation arrow leads you to the starting point) are written. The watch is even able to distinguish between stroke types when swimming and then count them or trigger a metronome to maintain rhythm while rowing. Fenix \u200b\u200bcan determine both the distance traveled and the straight-line distance between two points. In general, if you love a variety of sports, then you will not trade this hour for anything else. The files with the recorded data can then be thoroughly studied on a computer and, according to the results of the analysis, you can correct your training.
Even without switching to "training" mode, the watch will be able to record all your daily activity, temperature, speed, barometric pressure, altitude, heart rate and movement track on the map. Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR does an excellent job of analyzing sleep phases and knows how to wake you up at the most suitable moment for this. True, it is not very comfortable to sleep in such a "powerful" watch. If you cannot find your smartphone, then the watch will help here: when the function is activated, the smartphone will ring at full volume. The gadget can notify you about the sunset and sunrise at a certain time before the event or warn about natural disasters that have begun near you. The Fenix \u200b\u200balso has less exotic features such as a stopwatch or timer.

Software
Another major benefit of the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR is that it does all of this completely autonomously from a smartphone. A phone and a PC are only needed to analyze the data collected by the watch. When connected to a computer, the clock is recognized by the system as a flash drive. The total memory capacity is 32 MB, and from them you can download the recorded data or upload a new firmware (this can be done automatically via the phone's wireless interface). Another option is to use the Garmin Express utility, which will configure a wireless connection via Wi-Fi, and in the future, the watch will synchronize itself with the online service. You will first need to register on the Garmin Connect resource, but after that the most detailed information about your activity in Russian with a user-friendly interface will become available, including statistics on various parameters, information on the duration and locations of training with a track map, earned rewards and recommendations for training. It also has its own Connect IQ store, where you can download third-party apps, watch faces, and widgets to the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR. By the way, he calls a store only nominally: all offered content is free.

Similar functionality is available from the mobile application for Android and iOS, only with additional features on setting up collaboration. Pairing Garmin devices with a phone is not a trivial matter: first, you need to register in the system on the website, then launch the mobile application with the Internet on and enter the login and password received earlier (it may not work the first time - then you will have to wait a couple of hours), after which, press “connect a new device”, turn on Bluetooth on the watch and smartphone (if it doesn't work, then restart both devices), enter the code from the watch into a special field on the screen, wait five minutes while the clock adjusts the time via satellites. Hooray, we are connected! Fortunately, next time such "dances" with tambourines will not be required, and the connection will occur automatically. In the application, you can configure which notifications to send to the watch (calls, mail, SMS, social networks, and so on) and which player to use by default, while in the phone settings, you must allow the application to communicate with external devices. Unfortunately, you cannot answer and reject calls from the watch, but you can turn off the sound. Otherwise, there are no complaints: all notifications arrive regularly, and everything works quickly and clearly.

Conclusion
With the release of the Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR, the already gorgeous gadget just got better. It still has a great design, only now it has a sapphire crystal, a long runtime that's even longer, and a wealth of functionality expanded with a heart rate sensor and additional training. But it must be remembered that due to its high price, the Fenix \u200b\u200bis \u200b\u200ba device for the elite. Agree, it's stupid to pay over 50 thousand rubles and not use the richest functionality for sports, because you can receive notifications from a smartphone on devices at times cheaper. But if you lead an active lifestyle, love to travel, do various sports, adore brutal things and modern technologies, then Garmin Fenix \u200b\u200b3 HR is created especially for you and will be an excellent investment of money.

Garmin fenix 3 Is the coolest sports tracker watch I've ever met. On top of that, they are smart.

A week ago, Roman Yuriev reviewed the “juniors”, calling the latter the “Swiss knife” among sports trackers. Alas Roma, vivoactive is an alpine dagger.

A real Swiss knife is Fenix \u200b\u200b3.

Phoenixes can do so much that a lifetime is not enough to try out all of their functionality. Yes, it is not necessary. The watch is made for a unified solution in sports and outdoor. It's easier to make a list of sports programs that are not supported by the watch than to list the main types in which Garmin can act as an activity tracker. In no other watch have I seen such a rich selection of disciplines:

• Snowboarding
• Rock climbing
• Mountaineering
• Paddleboarding (a type of surfing)
• Power training
• Cardio
• Multisport
• Walking
• Cross-country walking
• Indoor running
• A bike
• Exercise bike
• Swimming in the pool
• Open water
• Triathlon

The owners of the previous version may reasonably argue that Fenix \u200b\u200b2 knew how to do the same. There are differences and they concern not only the appearance.

- Fenix \u200b\u200b3 got a color display of 218x218 pixels with constant indication. During the day, the readability of the display reaches 170 °, and at dusk, the active backlight saves.

- Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is now 2 mm thinner (15 vs 17 mm for Fenix \u200b\u200b2);

– Fenix \u200b\u200b3 9 g lighter than the second model (82 vs 91 for the Fenix \u200b\u200b2);
- Antenna Fenix \u200b\u200b3 catches GLONASS and GPS (Fenix \u200b\u200b2 - GPS only).

- Water resistance has doubled - up to 100 m... In pool and open water, the watch counts pace, number of strokes, number of calories burned, speed;
- On the hand of a climber or hiker, the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 detects that the ascent has started, and automatically switches to the climb / run over rough terrain mode. The built-in altimeter shows the altitude, and the barometer shows the weather.

- The battery capacity of the Fenix \u200b\u200b3 is 300 mAh versus the 500 mAh of the Fenix \u200b\u200b2. Don't jump to conclusions.

The operating times of both watches are practically the same: 50 hours in UltraTrac mode (1 GPS scan per minute), 20 hours of continuous training with always working GPS.

But in just-hours mode 40 days of work Fenix \u200b\u200b3 will have more than 25 days Fenix \u200b\u200b2. Charging is via a USB cable through a proprietary connector.

Where: with a 10% discount at Madrobots.ru
10% discount code: GARMIN10 (valid for all Garmin)
Saving: from 1500 rubles
What else: verified store, year of warranty

Moving on. Phoenixes can count steps and monitor sleep... Moreover, they do not need to be put into sleep mode from the button, as with other trackers: latest firmware 2.5, the function of automatic detection of the owner's activity appeared (went to bed - the watch went into sleeping mode). It's mega-handy.

There are several versions Garmin fenix 3different in color and straps. The filling is identical.

Some kits come with a wireless ANT chest heart rate monitor, like mine.

The box also contained a clip-shaped watch charger and a USB cable. The clip can be used with the watch without removing it from the hand when charging on the go.

The weight of the watch on a silicone strap is 82 g, on a metal strap - 175.

Fenix \u200b\u200b3 tracks a variety of activities with its built-in foot pod, GPS / Glonass sensors, altimeter, and optional heart rate. To get started, you need to register on the Connect IQ sports network and fill out your profile, indicating age, height and weight.

If you select an activity with GPS tracking, then before starting a workout, the watch searches for a satellite, which is indicated by a red stripe around the perimeter of the screen. When a satellite is found, it turns green. Search for satellites can be disabled in the settings.

For hikers and climbers, the function will be useful TrackBack - navigator to return to the starting point by built-in compass.

Fenix \u200b\u200b3 supports the installation of third-party programs and dialslike Pebble. Fenix \u200b\u200b2 didn't have that.

In addition, you can control music from the watch, save checkpoints of locations, and watch your progress step by step at the end of the day.

Cardio zones are set in the profile. At the end of the workout, the watch is synchronized via Bluetooth with a smartphone with Connect IQ or via Wi-Fi (!!!) without a phone.

The watch displays on the screen all the notifications via vibrating alert coming to the phone, like Pebble. Unlike them, you can also receive a call by continuing the conversation from your smartphone.