Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) | Everything You Want to Know and More!

The Garmin epix™ Pro (Gen 2) is truly the GPS watch for the person who wants it all on their wrist—and doesn’t mind paying for it.

Yes, this epix Pro is one of the tech giant’s most expensive watches—and with good reason, which we will be going over, answering loads of questions in this article.

If you’d rather not drop a grand on your next watch, don’t worry. Garmin makes high-quality fitness sport watches at every price point.

One final note before we move on: While the Garmin epix Pro 2 has battery life that blows most other brands out of the water, if you really want to push your GPS watch on far-flung adventures or through days of serious training, you may want to check out the equally impressive Garmin fēnix 7 Pro series for maximum battery power with built-in solar-charging.

When did this Garmin Watch come out?

On May 31, 2023, Garmin released the epix Pro (Gen 2), the next in their next generation of ultra-bright, high-performance GPS multisport smartwatch. That’s a mouthful, but this Garmin watch has a lot going on—from design to style to health and wellness to smartwatch savvy to all the functionality you want from a tool you can train with.

What’s the difference between epix (Gen 2) and the epix Pro (Gen 2)?

• We’re stoked to report that this Garmin watch is now available in 3 sizes now: 42 mm (1.2” display) , 47 mm (1.3” display), 51 mm (1.4” display)
  
• To enhance your training, this running watch includes the new Hill Score feature that measures your running strength and endurance during ascents and gauges your progress over time.
  
• Additionally, the new Endurance Score feature combines training data from all your athletic pursuits to help you understand how training impacts your overall endurance.
  
• And, not only does this watch make your features and style shine brightly, the built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities and strobe modes gives you greater awareness of your surroundings while you train at night and provides convenient illumination when you need it.
  
• Red Shift Mode changes display colors to shades of red to help users better acclimate to darker conditions and reduce sleep cycle disturbance.
  
• Stay active with dozens of new, preloaded activities including soccer, basketball, racquet sports, horseback riding and more.
• Runners using the Up Ahead feature can now see certain POI (point of interest) checkpoints, like aid stations, right on a map to get a better understanding of what’s ahead.
• An optimized heart rate sensor offers enhanced multisport performance tracking.
• New weather map overlays make it easier to view upcoming weather conditions.
• Relief shading makes topographic maps more quickly readable for glanceable awareness.

What are the different versions of the epix Pro?

You get more choices with this new Garmin watch series!

• 42 mm x 42 mm x 14.1 mm with a 1.2” display / 58-63 g
  
  
• 47 mm x 47 mm x 14.5 mm with a 1.3” display / 70-78 g
  
  
• 51 mm x 51 mm x 14.9 mm with a 1.4” display / 88-98 g

• 42 mm: Silver/Whitestone Band, Soft Golf/Light Sand Band, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium/Black Band
• 47 mm: Slate Gray/Black Band, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium/Black Band, Titanium/Whitestone Band
• 51 mm: Slate Gray/Black Band, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium/Black Band, Titanium/Whitestone Band

Or, if you’re hard on your Garmin sport watch, for $100 more, you can get a model with a scratch-resistant Sapphire lens.

Is the Garmin epix Pro GPS watch worth it?
This question, of course, is purely subjective. However, if you’re looking for a premium multisport smartwatch to use 24/7, we and many reviewers highly recommend it. The rich feature set is the best on the market, the personal data and detailed GPS and navigation is highly motivating, and the stunning AMOLED screen makes it worth the extra cost (for some) over the fēnix 7 Pro.

What’s the difference between epix Pro (Gen 2) and the Garmin fēnix 7 Pro premium multisport watches?

Because it’s made with maximum durability in mind, the fēnix 7 Pro (see image below) puts a bit more bulk on your wrist. While it still has a sleek design, the fēnix lineup will weigh a bit more.

But the biggest difference is battery life. The entire Garmin fēnix 7 Pro series offers built-in solar-charging technology, so you can go a lot longer between charges.

Should I get an epix Pro or the 2023 Garmin Approach S70 golf GPS watch?

If you are a golfer looking for a top-shelf multiport watch or an athletic type looking for some first class golfing features—you may find yourself in a conundrum about which new Garmin watch to get:

Garmin Approach S70 vs epix Pro (Gen 2)?

To break it down quickly, if you get any 2023 Garmin epix Pro, you're going to get all of the golf features that you get on the new Approach S70, EXCEPT Swing Temp. That's right! You get all of Garmin's best golf features on all of the epix Pro sport GPS watches—and with any new fēnix 7 Pro, for that matter. This includes Virtual Caddie, Green View, PlaysLike Distance—and all the basics! You'll get a veritable golf watch in your workout watch!

If you choose the Garmin Approach S70, you should know that you'll only get about half the training tool that the new epix is. You'll have all of Garmin's top activity and health tracking, as well as smart features. You'll have excellent sport profiles. You'll even have Training Status, Training Load, and PacePro. While you will have some Swimming features, you will not have any advanced Cycling features.

You will not have Training Readiness, Realtime Stamina, Endurance Score, Daily Suggested Workouts, Running Power, Performance Condition, Hill Score, or Grade-Adjusted Pace. And—here's a biggie—you won't have any navigation. No topo maps. Not even a bread crumb trail.

You also won't get the LED flashlight on the S70.

Check out this page for a full Garmin Approach S70 vs fēnix 7S/7/7X Pro series vs epix Pro (Gen 2) series comparison.

Can you shower with the epix Pro?

Yes, you can! The new epix Pro (Gen 2) has a water rating of 10 ATM. This means it can withstand pressure at a depth of 100 meters. Plus, it can take splashes, rain, snow, showering, swimming, diving, and snorkeling.

Can you answer calls on a Garmin epix Pro GPS smartwatch?

When you receive a phone call on your connected phone, the watch displays the name or phone number of the caller.

NOTE: To talk to the caller, you must use your connected phone. To decline the call and immediately send a text message reply, select Reply, and select a message from the list.

Is this Garmin Watch better than an Apple Watch?

The Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) provides you with a depth of usable data during and after your workouts that's simply not found in any other GPS watches in the fitness, sports, and adventure segments.

True, an Apple Watch shines in a few specific areas—especially for entrenched iPhone users. But overall, the epix Pro 2 is a superior specialized training and exercise tool.

Does this premium multisport watch have a temperature sensor?

Yes, the Garmin epix Pro has a temperature sensor. However, it is not used for taking the temperature of your skin. It’s used when measuring barometric pressure.

Other sensors on this Garmin watch include: GPS, Elevate Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitor, Barometric Altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient Light Sensor, Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Sensor.

Why do runners prefer Garmin watches over Apple?

The short answer is: battery life. A Garmin running watch, especially one with solar-charging technology like the fēnix 7 Pro series, is ideal for marathon, triathlon, trail, and ultra runners.

And, as we mentioned above, no other running GPS watch offers the personal metrics that a Garmin watch does, using that information to give you loads of performance analytics, training suggestions, and recovery recommendations. It’s a valuable motivational training partner!

How Accurate is the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) running watch?

With both multi-GNSS and multi-band tracking, the epix Pro is one of the most accurate and reliable running watches available.

Our go-to running watch reviewer, Dave from Chase the Summit, has been testing and using Garmin watches for years, and he rates them at the top for accuracy. As an ultra runner, he ought to know!

Does the new epix Pro Garmin watch have music?

Yes! You can download up to 2,000 songs onto your Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2).

Simply upload your training tunes from services like Spotify®, Deezer, and Amazon Music, and listen through headphones with BLUETOOTH® technology. No phone needed.

Does the epix Pro (Gen 2) have ClimbPro?

Yes! This Garmin watch has the ClimbPro Ascent Planner, which shows the grade, distance and elevation gain of each upcoming ascent, helping you gauge your effort over the remainder of your climb.

Does this Garmin watch have a flashlight?

Yes! This is a new feature on the Garmin epix Pro. The built-in LED flashlight provides convenient illumination when you need it and provides variable intensities and strobe modes, offering you greater awareness while you're out doing what you love at night!

Is the Garmin epix Pro too big for me?

This 2023 series of epix Pro (Gen 2) multisport watches now offers 3 sizes. The 42 mm model will be perfect for smaller wrists!

Does this Garmin epix have Morning Report?

Yes, the epix Pro features Morning Report, which provides a daily summary along with helpful information each morning. This customizable report is pushed to the watch one hour before your set wake-up time allowing you to scroll through information, including:

• A Daily Greeting
• Body Battery
• Calendar
• Step Goal
• Step Streak
• Suggested Workout
• Upcoming Race Day information
• Weather
• Women's Health Tracking (if enabled)

Once dismissed, the morning report cannot be opened again that day.

Do I get maps on the Garmin epix Pro multisport watch?

Yes! Topo maps come preloaded on any of the epix Pro Sapphire Solar models. This is because this more expensive model has more memory (32 GB compared to the 16 GB on the Standard Solar). However, you can download topo maps to the Standard Solar edition.

Advanced navigation sensors combined with multi-band reception technology delivers more accurate positioning and multi-GNSS with SatIQ™ technology delivers improved coverage in challenging environments while also optimizing battery life.

Check out preloaded maps for thousands of golf courses and ski resorts worldwide; use TopoActive maps to keep your explorations on track, and never miss a turn with Up Ahead navigation prompts.

Does this Garmin GPS watch have a Sapphire screen?

If you opt to purchase the epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Solar edition (for $100 more) you will get the scratch-resistant Sapphire Power lens on your watch for added durability.

See a whole lot more of the Garmin epix pro.