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Garmin fenix 7S vs. 7 vs. 7X compared: Solar and Sapphire Solar editions

Updated: Dec 03, 2024

Recently, Garmin released its newest premium series, fenix 7, which has different versions: the 7S, 7, and 7X. The difference between all might be confusing so let's get straight into it.

What has the fenix 7 brought into the table compared to the previous version, the fenix 6?

 Aside from having three models in the lineup, each Garmin fenix has a few more editions.

Garmin fenix 7 lineup specifications

Specs / Model name fenix 7S fenix 7S Solar fenix 7S Sapphire Solar fenix 7 fenix 7 Solar fenix 7 Sapphire Solar  fenix 7X Solar fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

Battery life:

  • In Smartwatch mode
  • GPS
  • All Satellite Systems
  • All Satellite Systems and Music
  • Max Battery GPS
  • Expedition GPS
  • 11 days
  • 37 hours
  • 26 hours
  • 7 hours
  • 90 hours
  • 26 days
  • 11d/14d with solar
  • 37h/46h with solar
  • 26h/30h with solar
  • 7h
  • 90h/162h with solar
  • 26d/43d with solar
  • 11d/14d with solar
  • 37h/46h with solar
  • 26h/30h with solar
  • 7h
  • 90h/162h with solar
  • 26d/43d with solar
  • 18 days
  • 57 hours
  • 40 hours
  • 10 hours
  • 136 hours
  • 40 days
  • 18d/22d with solar 
  • 57h/73h with solar
  • 40h/48h with solar
  • 10h
  • 136h/289h with solar
  • 40d/74d with solar
  • 18d/22d with solar
  • 57h/73h with solar
  • 40h/48h with solar
  • 10h
  • 136h/289h with solar
  • 40d/74d with solar
  • 28d/37d with solar
  • 89h/122h with solar
  • 63h/77h with solar
  • 16h
  • 213h/578h with solar
  • 62d/139d with solar
  • 28d/37d with solar
  • 89h/122h with solar
  • 63h/77h with solar
  • 16h
  • 213h/578h with solar
  • 62d/139d with solar
Battery saver watch mode 38 days 38 days/87 days with solar 38 days/87 days with solar 57 days 57 days/173 days with solar 57 days/173 days with solar 90 days/1+ years with solar 90 days/1+ years with solar
Screen size 1.2in 1.2in 1.2in 1.3in 1.3in 1.3in 1.4in 1.4in
Screen resolution 240x240px 240x240px 240x240px 260x260px 260x260px 260x260px 280x280px 280x280px
Color display yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
LED Flashlight no no no no no no yes yes
Display type sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Case material fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover
Smartwatch size 42mm 42mm 42mm 47mm 47mm 47mm 51mm 51mm
Weight 63g 63g 58g 79g 79g 73g 96g 89g 
Lens material Corning Gorilla Glass DX Power Glass Power Sapphire Corning Gorilla Glass DX Power Glass Power Sapphire Power Glass Power Sapphire
Bezel material stainless steel stainless steel titanium stainless steel stainless steel titanium stainless steel titanium
Strap material silicone silicone silicone silicone silicone silicone silicone silicone
Wi-Fi yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Built-in storage 16GB 16GB 32GB 16GB 16GB 32GB 16GB 32GB
Pre-loaded maps yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
GPS yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Touchscreen yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Bluetooth V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0
NFC yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Waterproof 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM
Thermometer yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Ambient light yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Heart rate yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Price $449.99 $759.99 $999.99 $399.99 $499.5 $699.95 $739.99 $619.99

Each model has different editions such as Solar or Sapphire Solar.

Garmin fenix 7S

The smallest and most lightweight in the lineup with a short battery life.

The Standard fenix 7S has 16GB built-in memory, a standard case and lens materials (stainless steel), and since it lacks solar features, the battery runs out of charge faster in smartwatch and battery-saver watch modes.

The Garmin fenix 7S solar lasts longer and comes with Power Glass lens material. The lenses convert sunlight into battery power, extending your time between charges.

Power Glass is the same as Gorilla Glass and is designed to be scratch-resistant

Compared to the Standard Garmin 7S, the Solar modification lasts longer and has a different type of lens material.

The Sapphire Solar edition is the most expensive, however, it does not last longer than the fenix 7S Solar.

The Power Sapphire glass type is extremely scratch-resistant and harder than Gorilla Glass and Power Glass

When the previous models' case material is a fiber-reinforced polymer with a metal rear cover, the Sapphire Solar edition is made of fiber-reinforced polymer with a titanium rear cover. It is the lightest in the whole fenix 7 series. The bezel material is titanium while the other two bezels are stainless steel. This model also has the biggest built-in storage.


Garmin fenix 7

The Garmin fenix 7 is a watch for a standard wrist. It is bigger and heavier than the 7S and has a better screen resolution. With a bigger size, it has got a bigger battery.

The Standard Garmin fenix 7 has a standard case and lens material (Gorilla Glass) and lasts less than the Solar modifications. These are not as robust but also are cheaper.

The Solar modification lasts longer because of its solar specifications and its lens is made of Power Glass.

The Sapphire Solar is the most expensive because of the Power Sapphire glass. The case is made of a titanium rare cover. The bezel is made of titanium too. All that makes the watch durable compared to other models.

The Sapphire Solar modification is lightweight and has 32Gb built-in memory.


Garmin fenix 7X

The Garmin fenix 7X is the biggest and heaviest watch in the series and does not have a standard modification.

The Garmin fenix 7X Solar lens is made of Power Glass for extended battery life. The bezel material is stainless steel and the watch case has a metal rear cover.

The Garmin fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is a premium modification made of power sapphire with a titanium bezel and titanium rear cover. This one is more robust and not as heavy as the Solar modification. It also has more built-in memory.


To sum up

The Garmin fenix 7S series is for a smaller wrist and is the most lightweight among all of them.

The standard fenix 7 is a classy model that is a bit bigger and heavier than the 7S series.

The largest fenix 7X is made for a bigger wrist. The watch is heavier and does not have a standard version with Gorilla Glass.

If you feel like having a watch that lasts longer, have a look at the Solar edition. For those who need a very robust watch, there are Sapphire Solar modifications in each lineup.


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