Garmin Fenix 6 Pro - Review

by Andy Williams - last updated 29th March 2024

I'm excited to review the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro smartwatch, as this truly is the watch that has been by my side, or on my wrist, over the last year, helping me on my weight loss journey. The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a smartwatch packed full of technology, enabling you to track everything from sleep to parachute jumps. Garmin is undoubtedly one of, if not the, market leader when it comes to fitness wearables.

Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Product Overview: 

The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is now a slightly older watch, with more up-to-date versions available, but it still represents cutting-edge technology. With a slightly older model, you might find yourself able to obtain one of these at a reasonable price, especially second-hand. And like me, if you're on a weight loss journey, it can provide incredible information. 

Or, if you're already an extremely physically fit person who likes outdoor adventures, the watch can cater to this as well.

This rugged and robust smartwatch will make you feel that you don't have to treat it with kid gloves. It feels like it's there to do a job, and the job is to stick with you through all activities in different elements, and give you an incredible wealth of information that can support you whether you're just losing fat or climbing a mountain.

Unboxing the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: 

If you're anything like me, when you're spending a substantial amount on a product, the journey starts with the unboxing. Sometimes, you can tell a lot about the manufacturer and the product by just the way it's packaged and the quality of the box. Now, I'm not saying it's going to come in an oak-hinged box with gold-plated engraving, but it does come in tidy, efficient, classy-looking packaging. 

If you're expecting large manuals and an in-depth unboxing experience, you'll probably be disappointed because the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is supported by the apps that come with it. Using the Garmin Connect app is how you're going to set up your watch.

Setup/Installation Process of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: 

So, you've unboxed your Garmin. You've bypassed the charge before use step because you're too excited. 

The next thing you're going to need to do is download the Garmin Connect app. Once you have this app, it's going to play a large part in your life for the months and years to come.

 Recently having an update in March 2024, it will take you through things like setting up your profile, setting up your watch, and tailoring it so you're seeing the information that's relevant to you. The setup process is fairly easy and quick. 

Personally, I'd suggest doing this one evening with a nice cup of tea and making sure you get this right.

Is a Garmin watch easy to use?: 

The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is easy to use, however, I am saying this after one year of use. When you first charge the watch, install the relevant apps, and start using it, if you're completely inexperienced in using a Garmin app, you may be slightly overwhelmed by the amount of information available. 

But if you trust in the process, you'll understand that this is actually a positive. After a couple of months, you'll delve into the information that is relevant to you, maybe the weight loss journey that you're on or the activities that you enjoy.

I personally, after a year, discovered a whole new section of the Garmin Connect app, which almost unlocked phase two of my journey. I started to learn about VO2 Max and race predictors. With Garmin smartwatches, you can really tailor your experience to your individual journey. 

So if you are slightly overwhelmed with the amount of information, I would suggest making a list of the things that are important to you and highlighting them on the homepage of the Garmin Connect App. With the Garmin Connect's most recent update in March 2024, I think they have definitely improved the user experience but have left all of the functionality they have always had in the background for those who want to delve a little further.

Performance of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: 

The performance of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, in my experience, is phenomenal. There are certain things we all look for in a smartwatch, and for me, number one has to be battery life. And the Garmin does not disappoint here. With one of the best batteries you can get in a smartwatch, once you've charged it for two hours, you'll see a '14-day life' on the battery display. Now, this will change according to how many activities you log and how much you're using it. 

You can also do things like putting it in battery saver mode. But, from someone who has used one of the older Apple watches where I had to charge it every night, the Garmin is fantastic. Now, I don't have to charge my watch in the evening to ensure that I can be tracking my sleep.

As well as exceptional battery life, I have to mention again the robustness and ruggedness of the watch. It doesn't feel like you have porcelain on your wrist and have to be super careful. The watch is clearly designed for functionality, with a chunky rubber strap that is detachable. It's not something you'll have to worry about, and due to the rubber, I personally wear mine in the shower and give it a good soap up to clean it. 

The watch itself, as I said, is chunky and robust, with a strong black bezel surrounding the 1.3-inch display. I think the writing on the bezel could be better; it is quite hard to make out. So in the beginning, you'll probably be a bit lost in terms of which button does what. There are five buttons in total on the watch, and for me, it just took time and continuous playing with the watch to be able to navigate through the menus quickly. 

Now, the display is something I want to talk about, as it's clear the display has been optimised to facilitate good battery life. Now, if you had a super bright OLED display on anything, it would consume more power. So in order for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro to have great battery life, it is clear that it compromised slightly on the display. I have never had a problem where I can't see the display, whether being in bright sunshine or checking the time whilst in bed the display isn't a problem. But there is part of me that wishes it was just slightly more defined. But then again, if I had a slightly more defined display, I might find myself wishing I had more battery life.

Is the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro any good? 

I have used the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro on my weight loss journey and have lost over seven stone, 45 kilograms, 100 lbs. Honestly, the Garmin has helped me lose this weight. It has vibrated and told me when I need to move. It has kept track of my weight and provided me with great graphs and statistics. 

It has synced with MyFitnessPal and understands the nutrition I have given my body versus the exercise I have been completing. 

It has been rained on, it has been snowed on, it has been in the baking sun, and knocked countless times. I've had it in the sea, and I've had it in the sauna. And for anyone thinking of getting their first smartwatch to help them with a weight loss journey or general health and fitness, Garmin should be one of your go-to brands.

Now, one of the things I would consider would be the type of phone you are using. Ultimately, all smartwatches now, whether you have a Whoop, Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, will be syncing with an app on your phone to give you the data that you want. And I have had no issues with my Garmin syncing with my iPhone. 

I have used an Apple Watch and the app obviously syncs seamlessly with the Fitness app on your phone. But using a Garmin will not give Apple Fitness everything it needs. This is purely because Apple Fitness and the iPhone are designed to work seamlessly with an Apple Watch. And it can present the information clearly. 

But that is not to say that you cannot get the same information from a Garmin when syncing it with an iPhone. You will just be using Garmin Connect a lot more than you would Apple Fitness. But it does still sync with the Apple Health app. So when you team up Garmin Connect, Apple Health, and MyFitnessPal, this trio of apps can give you some incredible information regarding your health and fitness.

Here are some of the features of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro:

Multi-Sport GPS Tracking: Supports a wide range of sports including running, biking, swimming, hiking, skiing, rowing, and more, with GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo support for accurate location tracking.

Wrist-based Heart Rate Monitor and Pulse Ox: Provides heart rate data directly from your wrist, along with blood oxygen saturation levels to monitor how well your body is acclimatizing to higher altitudes and sleeping.

Advanced Training Metrics: Includes VO2 max, recovery advisor, race predictor, and more, which are tailored based on heat and altitude acclimatization.

PacePro Technology: Offers grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course, helping you manage your pacing strategy more effectively.

Power Manager: View and control how various settings and sensors impact the watch's battery life, enabling you to extend battery life on the go.

Music Storage and Streaming: Store up to 2,000 songs directly on the watch for phone-free listening and access streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer.

Garmin Pay: A contactless payment solution that lets you make convenient payments with your watch, so you can leave cash and cards at home.

Preloaded TopoActive Maps: Comes with preloaded maps for outdoor adventures, ski maps for over 2,000 worldwide ski resorts, and more than 41,000 golf courses around the world.

ClimbPro Feature: Provides real-time information on current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance, and elevation gain for cyclists and hikers.

Smart Notifications: Receive emails, texts, and alerts directly on your watch when paired with a compatible smartphone.

Expedition Mode: An ultra-low-powered GPS reference that lasts for weeks, ideal for longer trekking adventures.

Water Resistance: Rated for water resistance up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Battery Life: Offers up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode, and up to 72 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode.

Connect IQ Store: Customize your watch face, add new widgets, and download apps and more from the Garmin Connect IQ store.

Safety and Tracking Features: Includes incident detection (during select activities) and assistance, which send your real-time location to emergency contacts.

Pros and Cons of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro: 

Pros:

Versatile Tracking Capabilities: Supports a broad spectrum of activities with accurate GPS, making it ideal for athletes and adventurers.

Rugged Durability: Built to endure harsh conditions with a scratch-resistant display and water resistance up to 100 meters.

Long Battery Life: Offers up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, reducing the need for frequent charging.

Comprehensive Health and Fitness Monitoring: Provides advanced metrics like VO2 max, recovery advisor, and race predictor, alongside standard tracking features.

Music Storage and Streaming: Allows for phone-free listening with storage for up to 2,000 songs and access to streaming services.

Garmin Pay: Adds the convenience of contactless payments.

Advanced Navigation and Mapping: Features like preloaded maps, ClimbPro, and expedition mode enhance outdoor exploration.

Smart Notifications: Keeps you connected by bringing smartphone alerts to your wrist.

Customization and Safety Features: Offers personalization through the Connect IQ Store and includes safety features like incident detection.

Cons:

High Price Point: Reflects its premium features but may be a significant investment for some.

Complexity and Learning Curve: The wide range of features can be overwhelming for new users to navigate.

Size and Weight: The watch's sturdy build might be bulky or heavy for some users, potentially making it less comfortable for all-day wear.

Limited Smartwatch Features Compared to Competitors: While excellent for fitness and outdoors, it may lack in-depth smart features found in competitors like the Apple Watch.

Display Brightness: Some users might find the screen's brightness lacking, particularly in bright sunlight, despite the optimization for battery life.

Dependence on Garmin Connect: For full functionality, syncing with the Garmin Connect app is essential, which might not suit everyone's preferences, especially those deeply integrated into other ecosystems like Apple's.

Comparisons to Garmin: 

I think it's challenging to compare the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro with the likes of the new Apple Watch. 

To do this fairly, you would have to compare it to an older model. And when doing so, I believe the Garmin comes out on top. Then, this is down to personal preference and whether you're willing to sacrifice a slightly lower quality screen for better battery life, etc. But if you're looking for a watch that you're not worried about wearing, that will work behind the scenes and gather as much data as possible, then Garmin is for you. 

The smartwatch world is a crowded market now, with Whoop, Fitbit, and even some of the high-end brands like Tag providing some incredible equipment within the health and fitness world. Garmin is managing to stay at the forefront.

Price and Value for Money: 

Now, if you are thinking of going out tomorrow and buying the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, you could get it directly from Garmin and buy new. However, it has held its price significantly. This is not a cheap watch, even though it is an older model. 

You have the option of buying a refurbished model, or indeed, you could buy second-hand from Facebook Marketplace or eBay, but it is still going to cost you. You could potentially get a second-hand model in good condition for around £200, or a refurbished model anywhere between £400 and £600. And if you are going to spend this amount of money, you might as well put a couple of hundred more down and go for one of the newer models. 

So, my advice would be to opt for a refurbished or second-hand model if it's the Fenix 6 Pro that you're going for. But you have to remember this is a long-term investment. This watch isn't going to last 6 months; this watch is going to last years. So, I believe this investment is worth it, especially in how much it's going to help you in changing your life.