Good video breakdown from DCR: https://youtu.be/jHTEJjBGrGI

The Fenix 6 blends the Fenix 5+ and the Forerunner 945, here is what is totally new/changed in the Fenix 6 series (list from DCR):

– Split product line into two portions: Pro and Base. Pro has WiFi, Maps, Music, Golf Maps – This means that the base units lose any features that would require mapping like ClimbPro and popularity routing.

– There are three sizes of watches: 42mm (Fenix 6s), 47mm (Fenix 6), 51mm (Fenix 6X)

– Adds solar charging to Fenix 6 Pro Solar: Termed “Power Glass”, this will increased battery life on sunnier days

– Adds Trendline Popularity Routing Visibility (Pro): This allows you to actually see the ‘heatmaps’ on your device

– Adds map display themes: This includes high contrast, popularity, marine, dark, and outdoor.

– Adds new widget glances concept: Basically shrinks widgets to 1/3rd the screen size, so you can see three at once

– Adds new PacePro feature: This replaces old-school paper race pace bands, creating pace targets for race based on grade/reverse splits/etc…

– Adds new Power Manager feature: Gives detailed information about the impacts/tradeoffs of features on battery life

– Adds new Power Modes feature: Allows you to create custom power/battery modes, with time remaining per activity

– Adds new MARQ Expedition ultra-long mode: For multi-week GPS activities. Basically shuts off everything except reduced rate GPS tracking

– Adds ski resort maps: These started on the MARQ series, with 2,000 ski resorts worldwide

– Adds golf maps pre-loaded: Previously you had to manually load these one by one, also, more detailed golf features

– Adds support for wrist based swimming HR: This was teased recently on the FR945 beta updates

– Adds new ultra-low battery mode: Gets up to 80 days of battery life, but super basic watch functionality only

– Revamped ClimbPro with new coloring: Now matches the Edge 530/830 styling

– Increased data fields per page: Up to 8 fields on the 6X, and up to 6 fields on the 6S/6 (previous Fenix were 4 per page)

– Increased screen size and reduced bezel (varies by model, but up to 36% bigger screen size on the 6X)

– Reduced ‘lug to lug distance’ on Fenix 6S: This should help those with smaller wrists.

– Reduced thickness of all devices. The 6S shrunk by 10%, the 6 by 7%, and the 6X by 15%.

– Changed from MediaTek GPS chipset to Sony GPS Chipset: Like every other new Garmin 2019 device

– Battery life increased: Up to 80 days in battery saver mode for 6X, and up to 120hrs in max battery mode for 6X, all before solar (see full chart below)

And then here’s the list of items that come from the MARQ & Forerunner 945 series, to the Fenix 6. I don’t believe there’s any new software feature on the FR945 that aren’t on the Fenix 6 series. It got them all. Here they are:

– Added PulseOx (pulse oximeter data): Within Fenix lineup it was previously only on the Fenix 5X Plus variant

– Added Respiration Rate (post-activity, also as a data field): With chest strap only

– Added new Garmin ELEVATE optical HR sensor: This is the V3, same as MARQ/FR245/945 sensor.

– Added training load focus stats: Shows how workouts benefits a given target/focus area

– Added deeper training effect details/metrics: Further details on the impact of a workout

– Added body battery functionality: Kinda like Street Fighter body energy levels

– Added heat acclimation: For any workouts in temps over 71°F/21.6°C

– Added altitude acclimation: For any time or workouts spent above 850m/2,788ft

– Added Incident Detection: If you crash your bike it notifies someone (this was recently added to the Fenix 5 Plus via firmware update)

– Added Safety/Tracking Assistance: You can press button to send help alert to friends/family (this was recently added to the Fenix 5 Plus via firmware update)

– Revamped race predictor to be a bit more strict on predictions (more than just VO2Max lookup charts now)

– VO2Max now compensates for heat: Previous it didn’t

– Training Status now compensates for heat: Previously it didn’t

– Redesigned a bunch of the user interface, especially for post workout stats

– CIQ data field app limit remains at 2 concurrent per app

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