Garmin’s new Fenix 7 maximizes solar power and finally adds a touchscreen - Ars Technica

Garmin has released two new high-end smartwatches, the Fenix 7 and Epix, less than two weeks after launching the Venus 2 Plus and Vivomove Sport at CES.

That's why all three sizes (42 mm, 47 mm, and 51 mm) of the Fenix 7 can be equipped with solar charging.

The smallest and mid-sized variants (Fenix 7s and Fenix 7) make this feature a $100 premium add-on, while the largest (Fenix 7X) has the feature standard.

The Fenix series has always been a more utilitarian, yet highly specced device.

Tracking features like marathon performance prediction, trail ascent and descent evaluation, and downloadable maps for trails and courses have long set the Fenix apart from traditional smartwatches, though.

Garmin's Epix watch is essentially the Fenix 7, minus solar charging, but with an AMOLED screen (with always-on capability) swapped in place of the Fenix's sunlight-visible transflective display.

Ultimately, it's Garmin's ultimate multi-sport watch, not the wilderness-wacking warrior that the solar and LED-equipped Fenix 7 is, although it's not far behind.

The Fenix 7 series starts at $700 and goes up to $1,000, depending on the size and features you select.