Garmin are no strangers to engineering durable, reliable and attractive multisport GPS smartwatches and out of them all, the Garmin EPIX may be one of the best. Launched into its second-generation in 2022, and suitably named the Garmin EPIX 2, the design boasts some of the brand’s greatest outdoor smartwatch technology including a crisp AMOLED display, full-colour TopoActive mapping, multi-band GNSS and much more. If you’re looking to purchase a luxury GPS smartwatch for yourself but you want to learn a little more about Garmin EPIX watches first, keep reading…
The Garmin EPIX
The original Garmin EPIX watch was launched in 2015 and made history as Garmin’s first ever hands-free navigator. Previously, Garmin had already conquered the industry with their hand-held navigational devices and sat nav systems for automobiles, but they had yet to pair this ground-breaking technology with a smartwatch. The Garmin EPIX was a huge success with hikers and outdoor adventurers, boasting a 1.4” colour touchscreen display which allowed users to effortlessly pan and swipe across the watch face and view detailed maps. The Garmin EPIX was preloaded with the Recreational Map Europe covering 44 countries, worldwide shaded relief basemap and a free one-year subscription to BirdsEye Satellite imagery. There was an additional 8GB of internal memory for additional mapping should one wish to download any of the additional high quality European Topo maps available.
Other features on the original Garmin EPIX included a City Navigator feature, BlueChart® g2 maps and turn-by-turn navigation which ultimately turns the watch into a satnav for the wrist! Thanks to its high-sensitive stainless steel EXO antenna, the outdoor smartwatch also came with GPS and GLONASS support which allowed for a stronger signal than just GPS alone. It was also water resistant to 50 metres and featured several handy fitness apps including profiles for running, cycling, swimming, skiing, trail running and indoor training. After several successful years on the market, the first-generation Garmin EPIX was eventually phased out.
The Garmin EPIX Gen 2
Then in 2022, Garmin surprised us all with the launch of the Garmin EPIX Gen 2 watch. While maintaining its legacy as a premium outdoor GPS smartwatch, the new collection trumped its predecessor ten times over with a mass of fantastic upgrades. For starters, the Garmin EPIX 2 watches are equipped with premium AMOLED touchscreen displays allowing for impressively bright colours, bold blacks and incredible responsiveness. The screen has a 416 x 416 pixel resolution and is full-colour. Surrounding the display is a stunning selection of case designs, all 47mm in diameter and engineered from fibre-reinforced polymer with steel or titanium case backs and bezels. The battery life of the Garmin EPIX Gen 2 also beats the original staying powered for up to 16 days in smartwatch mode.
Following in the footsteps of the first generation EPIX, the Garmin EPIX 2 comes fully kitted out with navigation features aimed at outdoor adventurers. One of the most significant updates is the multi-GNSS support including GPS, GLONASS and Galileo which now also includes access to multiple navigation satellites for improved position accuracy in areas where GNSS signals are reflected, weak or typically don't penetrate. There’s also new multi-continent TopoActive maps with some preloaded and others available to download over Wi-Fi. You’ll also get a ClimbPro feature for real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, health sensors for heart rate and Pulse Ox, respiration tracking, sleep tracking and a full set of fitness features. Some of the best fitness apps include the Garmin Coach, daily suggested workouts, Visual Race Predictor, real time stamina and animated workouts. For when you’re taking a break from adventure, you can make use of the Garmin EPIX Gen 2’s the music storage, contactless payment solution and smart notifications.
If you’d like to learn more about Garmin EPIX watches and shop the latest collections for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
