New Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, 5S Plus and 5X Plus, now official

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Today Garmin makes official their new Fenix 5 Plus, Fenix 5S Plus and Fenix 5X Plus. Official today, although all the details had been leaked before I only had to know the official details to confirm that everything we had seen was true, and to know more exactly what the new features of the 5X Plus were.

Garmin has been releasing quite a few "Plus" versions lately, a nomenclature that started with the Edge 520 Plus and that I'm sure it's not going to end in the case of the Fenix 5 Plus (in fact, I'm expecting an Edge 820 Plus in not too long). It's still a new version, but without completely replacing the previous model and allowing the two to coexist in the range.

In a way, it's about revitalizing a product that has worked (and continues to work) very well commercially. You don't develop a completely new product but you update it to stand up to the innovations of other manufacturers - the Suunto 9 presented a few days ago and the replacement of the Polar V800 that should arrive this year-. But in this case it goes beyond simply adding software functions or correct the connectivity problem that some users have had with the original version.

Let's see all the news which, this time, are already confirmed.

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus and Garmin Fenix 5S Plus, new

Garmin continues with the proposal of two different sizes with the same specifications except for the battery capacity which, as is evident, the smaller the watch the smaller the battery has to be. The aesthetic changes are very slight, where all the new features are inside the watch. As you may know, the difference between both is the size of the watch. The Fenix 5S Plus is 42mm in circumference, while the Fenix 5 Plus is 47mm. This does not change from previous models, but there are important changes both inside the watch and in the software possibilities that these changes allow. This is the complete list:

• The most significant change and one that will draw the attention of all of you is that now the topographic maps are present in the whole range, not only in the 5X. The included maps will be for the whole Europe, having the 16GB clock for them.
• Route navigation with full turn indication (turn-by-turn) and adding the Trendline function for creating routes through popular areas (released on the Edge 1030).
• Playing music directly from the clock via Bluetooth headset. 4GB of music storage is available and, as with the Vivoactive 3 Music and Forerunner 645 Music, can be synchronized from online platforms (currently iHeartRadio and Deezer).
• Compatibility with Galileo satellites, in addition to the GPS and GLONASS satellites of previous versions
• Support for wireless payments with Garmin Pay (for banks that support the feature)
• WiFi in all versions, previously only present in the sapphire glass models.
• The Fenix 5S Plus enhances the display, increasing the resolution to 240×240 pixels and 1.2" in diameter. Now all three models share the same screen.
• Response to notifications with predefined messages.

All other basic features remain unchanged:

And the Fenix 5S Plus

The performance in terms of training possibilities does not change much. The experience of use will be basically the same. But adding the topographic maps (previously only available on the 5X) is a major change, especially for those who navigate routes frequently.

In addition, the Trendline popular route calculation function allows you to explore new routes, but to do so through areas that are more common to other sportspeople, so you can be sure that you are not going to design a route with steps through areas that on a map seem accessible, but are not really possible (rivers, bridges that should be there but are not, etc.).

Here the screen change of the Fenix 5S Plus is important. The difference in size is not very big, but it is in resolution. It would be complicated to show the map details on the screen of the Fenix 5S, so Garmin has had to integrate the screen of the larger clocks, thus reducing the visible clock frame. But both Fenix 5 Plus and Fenix 5X Plus keep the same frame size.

Then there are the smart clock features that were obviously coming too. Garmin Pay is going to be integrated into the entire range, so it will be added to all the models that Garmin launches or renews. The first thing is to implement the hardware, and once it is available, hopefully the banks will find it more interesting as the device base will be larger.

And it remains to be seen how the GLONASS satellites work.

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus, new

The Fenix 5X Plus receives an evolution of the Garmin Elevate optical pulse sensor. As you can see in this image there is a redesign, and you can see a new red light that is not present in the other models.

With this sensor, Garmin has added a new function to the Fenix 5X Plus: a pulse oximeter. With this sensor, Garmin wants to measure the oxygen saturation in the blood. This is not a function aimed at sports performance, but at health.

Called PulseOX, it is intended for use in the mountains and can monitor your blood oxygen as you ascend. Keeping your oxygen saturation in a specific range is important when exercising, especially in high altitude areas. On the Fenix 5X Plus display you can see the last 24 hours log, along with the altitude graph.

This is the important change that the new Fenix 5X Plus receives because the topographic maps already had them before, but now those maps also have the popular Trendline routes. And of course the other intelligent functions of the other models also come to the Fenix 5X Plus: music playback, Garmin Pay, etc. These are its specifications:

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, Garmin Fenix 5S Plus and Garmin Fenix 5X Plus : Availability and price

It's time to get to the painful part, the pricing. It is obvious that these new features were not going to come "for free", and the price is increased if we compare it with their counterparts without plus version.

• Garmin Fenix 5S Plus: The base model will cost £699 (for comparison, the Fenix 5S costs £549). The version with sapphire crystal will cost £799, while there will be a version with a pink gold bezel at £849.
• Garmin Fenix 5 PlusPrice scheme: The price scheme is similar to the Fenix 5S Plus. 699 for the base model in silver or black, while the version with sapphire glass will be 799. Additionally there will be a version with sapphire glass, titanium bezel and battery cover and orange strap for 849. And if you want a titanium strap, 1099. Again for comparison, the base model of the Fenix 5 costs 549.
• Garmin Fenix 5X PlusAs with the "non-Plus" models, the 5X Plus is only offered with sapphire crystal and will cost €849, although there are two other versions with different straps at a higher price. Remember that it is the only model of the three to include the calculation of blood oxygenation.

In terms of availability, the Fenix 5 Plus is already available for purchase at Amazon and the Fenix 5S Plus will be available soon.

There is no more news about the Fenix 5X Plus yet, it may take a few more weeks due to the new sensor with S02 reading.

Opinion Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, Fenix 5S Plus and Fenix 5X Plus

Garmin's proposal as a watch for mountain use is now very solid. The inclusion of maps throughout the range is a good move by Garmin to differentiate its mountain watch, both from models in the rest of the range (Forerunner 935), as well as comparing it to what its great rival in the industry (Suunto) offers.

I think this is the most remarkable thing about the announcement, at least what the 100% target user of this model will be interested in knowing. Yes, many will take advantage of the music playback possibilities (and Garmin Pay when it finally expands more in our country), at least as much as, but I don't think this is something that will determine at all for most users. But it is clear that these are two functions that we will be seeing in all Garmin models and that won't bother. The one who is interested will use them, and the one who won't have them there in case one day he decides to do it.

There are two things I am curious to try: pulse oximetry and the Galileo satellites. The first one is more to see how it works, since I have no knowledge or experience in high mountains, but at least I can see how it works with changes in altimetry. As for the Galileo satellites I want to see how it affects rhythms, distances and tracks; and if, as with GLONASS, it will also have a negative impact on the battery. With three options available, it would perhaps be more interesting if instead of always forcing the use of GPS we could choose which satellites to use, although it is something more medium term since the Galileo network is still not excessively reliable (there are still satellites to be deployed).

These are all things I'd like to be able to cover in the full test, which will come later.

And with that... thanks for reading!