Garmin’s Fenix E has had a major price drop for a smartwatch that can keep up with a genuinely busy lifestyle.
Normally $1,349, the 47mm model is currently $619, bringing the price down by 54 per cent.
That is a serious reduction for a smartwatch designed with far more in mind than counting steps and delivering notifications.
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The Fenix E sits in Garmin’s multisport range, with a feature set aimed at people who train regularly, spend time outdoors or simply want a smartwatch with enough battery life and functionality to avoid being tethered to a charger.
The first thing you notice is the 1.3-inch AMOLED display, which gives the watch a bright, modern screen, while the 47mm fibre-reinforced polymer case and stainless steel bezel are designed to handle plenty of wear.
Garmin says the watch has been tested to US military standards for thermal, shock and water resistance, making it suited to the sort of situations where a more delicate smartwatch might not be your first choice.
Then there is the built-in LED flashlight, which is one of those features that sounds slightly excessive until you actually need it. It is designed to provide visibility after dark, whether you are heading out early, getting home late or trying to find something in a very dark bag.
The navigation features are another major drawcard. Dynamic round-trip routing lets you enter the distance you want to cover and suggests routes that can take you out and bring you back.
You can also download TopoActive maps for terrain contours, while preloaded maps cover golf courses and ski resorts around the world.
For anyone using a smartwatch primarily as a training tool, the Fenix E goes considerably deeper than basic workout tracking.
There are targeted strength training plans and sport-specific workouts, while Training Readiness uses information including sleep quality, recovery and training load to give you a daily score indicating how prepared your body may be for training.
The watch also offers 24/7 health and wellness tracking, including advanced sleep monitoring and HRV status. A customisable morning report can bring together key information at the start of the day, giving you a snapshot of sleep, recovery and your training outlook.
And despite all of this fitness-focused functionality, it still works as a smartwatch.
Pair it with your smartphone and you can receive smart notifications on your wrist, while the built-in speaker and microphone allow for on-wrist calling.
There is also Garmin Pay for contactless payments and music storage, so you can leave your phone behind for some activities without completely disconnecting.
Battery life is another reason this particular Garmin is interesting. The Fenix range is designed for extended adventures, with enhanced battery performance intended to keep the watch running for longer between charges.
For $619 instead of $1,349, the Fenix E is now sitting in a very different price bracket.
It is still a serious investment, but for someone looking for a feature-packed GPS smartwatch with training tools, navigation, health tracking, an AMOLED screen and outdoor-focused hardware, the current saving makes it considerably more compelling.
What is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is Amazon’s major fall shopping event designed exclusively for Prime members, offering deep discounts across dozens of categories ahead of the holiday season.
Often referred to as “Autumn Prime Day”, the event serves as a kickoff for holiday shopping, similar to the summer Prime Day event.
It comes as a precursor to Black Friday and Cyber Monday discount periods.
Discounts span more than 35 categories, including consumer tech, Amazon devices (Kindle, Echo, Fire TV), fashion, beauty, home and kitchen goods, and toys.
Major participating brands include Shark, Sony, Lego, Dyson, KitchenAid, and more.
This year’s Prime Big Deal Days gives savvy Aussies seven days to find savings across the brands and categories they love most and make their dollars go further – whether that’s getting ahead on Christmas gifting, stocking up on pantry staples, or treating themselves to something they’ve been eyeing for months.
New research from Amazon Australia has uncovered the “deal threshold” that tips Aussies from browsing to buying, with seven in ten (70 per cent) saying a discount of 30 per cent or more is their tipping point to make a purchase.
Nine in ten (90 per cent) Australians plan to hold or cut their Christmas gift budget this year, and more than half (56 per cent) are planning to stockpile everyday essentials such as groceries due the cost-of-living crisis – with half (49 per cent) expecting their weekly grocery shop to rise by $100 or more over the festive period.
