Garmin fenix 8 Solar vs Garmin Enduro 3
The Enduro 3 is the better watch on paper: it lasts longer on GPS (5 days) and lasts longer (36 days). Pick the fenix 8 Solar only if it matters to you that it comes in 2 sizes.
We earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our specs. How we make money.
Key differences
-
Battery life
Enduro 3 wins
The Garmin Enduro 3 lasts up to 36 days against 21 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Evenly matched
Both have MIP screens of a similar size.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
Evenly matched
Similar weight: 57 g and 57 g.
Other differences
- Sizes fenix 8 Solar wins
The fenix 8 Solar comes in 2 case sizes (47 and 51 mm).
Which one should you choose?
Choose the fenix 8 Solar if…
- You want the right fit for your wrist: it comes in more than one size.
- You prefer its look and app: it covers the same essentials as the Enduro 3.
Choose the Enduro 3 if…
- You do long runs, rides or hikes: it's rated for 5 days with GPS.
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 36 days in smartwatch mode.
Full spec comparison
The Enduro 3 leads on battery life; elsewhere the two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Series | fēnix | Enduro |
| Versions | fēnix 8 (51 mm, Solar) | — |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Garmin |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
The screens are closely matched.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | MIP | MIP |
| Screen size | 1.3 in | 1.4 in |
| Resolution | 260 x 260 | 280 x 280 |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen, buttons | touchscreen |
Design & durability
The fenix 8 Solar is ahead on size and durability.
It comes in 2 sizes, and the Enduro 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 47 / 51 mm | 51 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 15.2 mm | 51 x 51 x 15.7 mm |
| Thickness | 15.2 mm | 15.7 mm |
| Weight (case) | 57 g | 57 g |
| Weight with band | 80 g | 63 g |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | titanium | titanium |
| Lens | Power Sapphire | Power Sapphire |
| Back material | metal rear cover | — |
| Band material | silicone | ultra light-weight elastic nylon hook & loop |
| Band width | 22 mm | 26 mm |
| Band fitting | QuickFit 22 mm | QuickFit 26 mm |
| Fits wrists | 125-208 mm | 127-225 mm |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
Battery
The Enduro 3 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer on GPS (5 days) and lasts longer (36 days), and the fenix 8 Solar doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 21 days | 36 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 2.8 days | 5 days |
| Battery (multi-band GPS) | 37 hours | 2.5 days |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 21 days; With solar: 28 days; Battery saver: 34 days; With solar: 58 days; GPS: 2.8 days; With solar: 3.8 days; All satellite systems: 2 days; With solar: 2.5 days; Multi-band GPS: 37 hours; With solar: 43 hours; All satellite systems: 13 hours; Max battery GPS: 5.5 days; With solar: 11.8 days; Max battery GPS: 34 days; With solar: 58 days | Smartwatch: 36 days; Battery saver: 92 days; GPS: 5 days; All satellite systems: 3.3 days; Multi-band GPS: 2.5 days; GPS: 22 hours; Max battery GPS: 8.8 days; Max battery GPS: 77 days |
| Solar charging | Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
Both have built-in GPS with similar capabilities.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Automatic GNSS mode | Yes | Yes |
| Maps | Preloaded maps | Preloaded maps |
| Navigation features | back-to-start, round-trip routing, climb planner, waypoints, course guidance, TracBack, point-to-point navigation | back-to-start, round-trip routing, climb planner, waypoints, course import |
| Golf courses | 43,000 | 43,000 |
| Ski maps | Yes | Yes |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light, thermometer, depth | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light, thermometer |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep coaching | Sleep coaching |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | Body Battery |
| Readiness score | Training Readiness | Training Readiness |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | Via phone |
| Incident detection | Yes | Yes |
| Live tracking | Yes | Yes |
Training
Training features are evenly matched.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Triathlon / multisport | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, endurance score, lactate threshold, HRV status | VO2 max, training load, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, endurance score, lactate threshold, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | Yes | Yes |
| Wrist running power | Yes | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | Yes |
| External sensors | HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, HRM-Pro, HRM-Pro Plus, foot pod, power meter, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights, CT10/CT1 club tracking | ANT+, power meter, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights (Varia), HR strap (HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, HRM-Pro, HRM-Pro Plus), golf club tracking (CT10/CT1) |
| Smart trainer control | Yes | Yes |
Smart features
Both offer much the same smart features.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Calls on the watch | Yes | — |
| Speaker | Yes | — |
| Microphone | Yes | — |
| Voice assistant | maker voice | maker voice |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | — |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | Yes |
| Flashlight | Yes | Yes |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Garmin fenix 8 Solar | Garmin Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist modes | golf, ski, tactical, marine | golf, tactical, marine, ski |
| Diving | Single-gas dive computer | — |
| Max dive depth | 40 m | — |
| Decompression model | Bühlmann ZHL-16c with Gradient Factors | — |
| Gases | air, nitrox | — |