Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro Compared

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Right in front of you are three outstanding GPS multisport smartwatches representing Garmin’s progress so far after the release of three generations of the Fenix Series, although, there is now a newer and more equipped Fenix 7 series. Compared to the Fenix 5x and 5x Plus, the 6X Pro features higher storage capacity, underwater heart rate tracking, on-screen workout mode, a slightly bigger display, and a more stylish design. We compare the Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro to find out the differences.

The Fenix 6x is available in three models; Fenix 6x Pro, Fenix 6x Pro Sapphire, and Fenix 6x Pro Solar. The difference between the different models is that the Sapphire edition has a sapphire glass and diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coated bezel, while the Solar edition has a power glass that enables solar charging and titanium bezel. Meanwhile, the base edition has a Corning Gorilla Glass screen and a stainless steel bezel. The solar edition is the most expensive.

The Fenix 5x Plus comes in only one edition, a Sapphire edition that comes with sapphire glass and DLC titanium bezel. It has a 16GB storage capacity, wifi, and preloaded TOPO U.S. mapping and routable cycling maps. It also features blood oxygen measurement not available in Fenix 5x.

Just like the 5x Plus, the Fenix 5X comes in only Sapphire edition and also has 16GB storage for maps and onboard music storage. It’s preloaded with TOPO U.S. mapping and routable cycling maps.

Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro: Specifications Compared

 
 
Product Info
Garmin Fenix 5X Specs and features

Garmin Fenix 5X Specifications, Features and Price

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Specs and prices

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Specifications, Features and Price

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Specifications, Features and Price

Price $239.99 $269.99 $289.99
ABOUT DEVICE ABOUT DEVICE ABOUT DEVICE ABOUT DEVICE
Device name Garmin Fenix 5X Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Garmin Fenix 6X Pro
Device type Fitness/Sport smartwatch Fitness/Sport smartwatch Fitness/Sport smartwatch
Gender Men Men Men
Release date March, 2017 June, 2018 September, 2019
Predecessor Garmin Fenix 3 Garmin Fenix 5 Garmin Fenix 5X Plus
Successor Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Garmin Fenix 6
Versions Garmin Fenix 5, Garmin Fenix 5S, Garmin Fenix 5X
BODY BODY BODY BODY
Dimension 51 x 51 x 17.5 mm 51 x 51 x 17.5 mm 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm
Weight 98 grams 87g (titanium), 96g 93 grams
Shape Circular Circular Circular
Case material Fiber-reinforced polymer Fiber-reinforced polymer Fiber-reinforced polymer
Strap material Silicone, Stainless steel Silicone, Stainless steel, Suede, Titanium Leather, Nylon, Silicone, Titanium
Bezel material Stainless steel Stainless steel, Titanium DLC, Stainless steel
Strap size 22 mm 26 mm 26 mm
Interchangeable strap 22 mm, Yes 26 mm, Yes 26 mm, Yes
Screen protection Sapphire glass Sapphire glass Corning Gorilla Glass DX, Sapphire glass
Water resistance 10 ATM 10 ATM 10 ATM
Durability test MIL-STD-810G
Swim-proof Yes, recommended Yes, recommended Yes, recommended
Color Black Black, Gray Black
DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY DISPLAY
Display size 1.2 inches 1.2 inches 1.4 inches
Display type LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective LCD, Memory-in-pixel (MIP), transflective
Display resolution 240 x 240 px 240 x 240 px 280 x 280 px
Pixel density
Always on Yes Yes Yes
Custom watch face Yes Yes Yes
Input type 5 Physical buttons 5 Physical buttons 5 Physical buttons
CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth ANT+, Bluetooth ANT+, Bluetooth ANT+, Bluetooth
Bluetooth calling No No No
GPS Galileo, GLONASS, GPS Galileo, GLONASS, GPS Galileo, GLONASS, GPS
NFC No Yes Yes
Wi-Fi Yes Yes Yes
MEMORY MEMORY MEMORY MEMORY
RAM
ROM 16GB 16GB 32GB
Memory card slot No No No
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY
Technology None None None
SIM type None None None
Band
NOTIFICATIONS NOTIFICATIONS NOTIFICATIONS NOTIFICATIONS
SMS alert Yes Yes Yes
Calls alert Yes Yes Yes
Email alert Yes Yes Yes
Event reminder Yes Yes Yes
Third-party apps alert Yes Yes Yes
Reply to Notifications - - -
MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA
Audio mp3/mp4 mp3/mp4 mp3/mp4
Bluetooth music Yes Yes Yes
Loudspeaker No No No
Microphone No No No
Camera No No No
Radio No No No
SENSORS SENSORS SENSORS SENSORS
Sensor(s) Thermometer
ACTIVITY TRACKING ACTIVITY TRACKING ACTIVITY TRACKING ACTIVITY TRACKING
Blood oxygen Yes Yes
Blood Pressure No No No
Calories Yes Yes Yes
Distance Yes Yes Yes
ECG tracking No No No
Heart rate monitoring Yes Yes Yes
Sleep tracking Yes Yes Yes
Steps Yes Yes Yes
Floors climbed Yes Yes Yes
Stress Yes Yes Yes
Fall detection No Yes Yes
Menstrual cycle No Yes Yes
VO2 Max Yes Yes Yes
Swim-tracking Yes Yes Yes
Underwater heart rate tracking No No Yes
On-screen workout No No Yes
Sport modes Yes Yes Yes
BATTERY BATTERY BATTERY BATTERY
Battery type non-removable Lithium-polymer non-removable Lithium-polymer non-removable Lithium-polymer
Battery capacity
Battery life GPS/HR mode: Up to 20 hours, Smartwatch mode: up to 12 days, Utratrac mode: up to 35hrs GPS: Up to 32hrs, Smartwatch: Up to 20 days, UltraTrac mode: Up to 70hrs Battery saver mode: 80 days, Expedition GPS mode: 46 days, Smartwatch mode: up to 21 days
Charging type Charging dock Charging dock Charging dock
Charging time 1-2 hours 1-2 hours 1-2 hours
Solar charging No No No
PLATFORM PLATFORM PLATFORM PLATFORM
Chipset
CPU
GPU
Operating system Proprietary OS Proprietary OS Proprietary OS
MISC MISC MISC MISC
Companion app Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Garmin Connect
Compatibility Android 5.0+, iOS 11.0+ Android 5.0+, iOS 11.0+ Android 5.0+, iOS 11.0+
Payment system None Garmin Pay Garmin Pay
Voice command No No No
Find my phone Yes Yes Yes
Box content Charger, Garmin Fenix 5X, Manual, Straps Charger, Garmin Fenix 5X Plus, Manual, Straps Charger, Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, Manual, Straps
The Fenix 6x Pro is slimmer with a bigger display. It also has more activity tracking features than Fenix 5x and 5x Plus

Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro: Fitness Tracking Features

Garmin Fenix 5xGarmin Fenix 5x PlusGarmin Fenix 6 Pro
Activity Tracking Features

Steps counter, floors climbed, fitness age, Move IQ
intensity minutes and distanced traveled.
YesYesYes
Body Battery Energy Monitor

Lets you see your body’s energy levels throughout the day so you can find the best times for activity and rest.
NoNoYes
Pulse OX Sensor

The Pulse Ox sensor gauges your blood oxygen saturation during the day and as you sleep to show how well your body is absorbing oxygen.
NoYesYes
Stress Tracking

Helps you find out if you’re having a calm, balanced or stressful day. Relax reminders will even prompt you to do a short breathing activity when you’re feeling stressed.
YesYesYes
Menstrual Cycle Tracking

Lets you use the Garmin Connect™ app to track your cycle, log physical and emotional symptoms and learn about training and nutrition during each phase of your cycle. Even get cycle tracking information on your wrist.
NoNoYes
Hydration Tracking

Log your daily fluid intake as a reminder to stay hydrated. You can even have an auto goal for hydration that adjusts based on how much sweat you lose during activities — even underwater.
NoNoYes
Respiration Tracking

See how you’re breathing throughout the day, during sleep and during breath-work and yoga activities.
NoNoYes
Advanced Sleep Monitoring

Get a full picture of how you’re sleeping, with a breakdown of your light, deep and REM sleep stages as well as Pulse Ox and respiration data
YesYesYes
Heart Rate Tracking

The watch constantly samples your heart rate2 and will alert you if it stays high while you’re at rest. It also helps gauge how hard you work during activities even underwater.
YesYesYes
Mindful Breathing

When you want to relax or focus, you can start a breath-work activity, and this watch will track your stress and respiration to help you get a better understanding of how you’re breathing.
NoNoYes
On-Screen Animated Workout Modes

Easy-to-follow, animated cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates workouts come preloaded on the watch, and you can download more from the Garmin Connect app.
NoNoYes
Preloaded Workout Modes

Track all the ways you move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps — including walking, running, cycling, pool swimming, golf and more.
YesYesYes
Garmin Coach

Get a personal running coach on your wrist, for free, to help you train for your next 5K, 10K or half-marathon.
YesYesYes
Safety and Tracking Features

When your watch and phone are paired, your live location can be sent to your contacts manually or — during outdoor activities — automatically with built-in incident detection.

Also Livetrack, Group LiveTrack and Live event sharing allow you to invite other to join you in your training.
Yes, lacks Live event sharing and AssistantYes, lacks Live event sharingYes
Gym & Fitness Equipment

Available gym profiles; Strength, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Pilates and Yoga.
YesYesMore
Training, Planning and Analysis Features

Available run profiles; Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running.

GPS speed and distance, customizable activity profiles, advanced training, VO2 Max., heat and altitude acclimation, training load, training effect, auto and manual mutisport activities, Garmin and Strava live segments.
YesYesMore
ClimbPro Feature

Use ClimbPro ascent planner on downloaded courses to see real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance and elevation gain.
NoNoYes
Outdoor Recreation Features

Outdoor recreational features include hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, XC skiing, stand up paddleboarding, rowing, kayaking, jumpmaster, tactical
YesYesMore
Multi-GNSS Support

Access multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone.
YesYesYes
TOPO Maps

Preloaded Topographical (TOPO) maps allow you use TOPO maps with Trendline Popularity Routing to find the best routes and navigate your adventures effortlessly
YesYesYes
Ski Maps

Preloaded Ski maps allow you view run names and difficulty ratings for 2,000 worldwide ski resorts.
NoNoYes
Round-trip Routing
Enter a distance you want to travel, and get suggested routes that will bring you back to your starting point. Trendline™ popularity routing helps you find the best local paths.
YesYesYes
Turn-by-turn Navigation

Follow a route or course with help from turn-by-turn directions, which let you know ahead of time when the next turn is coming.
YesYesYes
ABC sensors

Navigate your next trail with ABC sensors, including an altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather and three-axis electronic compass
YesYesYes
Running Features

Available run profiles include running, treadmill running, indoor track running, trail running
YesYesMore
PACEPRO Technology

A first-of-its-kind PacePro feature helps keep you on pace with grade-adjusted guidance as you run a course.
NoNoYes
Golf Courses

Access full-color CourseView maps for more than 41,000 golf courses around the world, and get button targeting and the PlaysLike Distance feature.
YesYesYes
Swimming Features

Available swimming profiles; pool swimming, open water swimming, swimming/running.

Other features include; tracks metrics such as distance, pace, stroke count, stroke distance and SWOLF.
YesYesYes
Underwater Wrist-based Heart Rate Tracking

Features underwater wrist-based heart rate tracking that helps you manage your swimming intensity.
NoNoYes
Altimeter

Floors climbed
YesYesYes

Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro: Battery Life

Fenix 5XFenix 5X PlusFenix 6X Pro
Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days
GPS/HR mode: Up to 20 hours
UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 35 hours without wrist heart rate
Smartwatch: Up to 20 days
GPS: Up to 32 hours
GPS and Music: Up to 13 hours
UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 70 hours
Smartwatch: Up to 21 days
GPS: Up to 60 hours
GPS and Music: Up to 15 hours
Max Battery GPS Mode: 120 hours
Expedition GPS Activity: 46 days
Battery Saver Watch Mode: 80 days

The Differences And Which is Best?

Garmin Fenix 5X vs 5X Plus vs 6X Pro

Although slightly more expensive, the Fenix 6X Pro is the best choice. And for the following reasons;

    The 6X Pro weighs slightly less than the 5X Plus and 5X which makes it slightly more comfortable to wear than the other two.

  1. The 6X Pro also has a slightly wider display than the 5X Plus and 5X, yet the same case sizes. This allows you to see more at a glance. Moreover, it’s slimmer, sleeker, and a finer smartwatch thanks to the slimmer bezel.
  2. The 6X Pro with 32GB onboard storage capacity is twice that of the 5X Plus and 5X which both have a 16GB storage capacity.
  3. Although all three watches are preloaded with TOPO maps, the Fenix 6x Pro comes with additional maps which include road/trail and ski resort maps.
  4. Both Fenix 5x Plus and 6x Pro feature blood oxygen measurement which is not available in Fenix 5x.
  5. Incidental fall detection is also present in Fenix 5x Plus, Fenix 6x Pro but not in Fenix 5x.
  6. The Fenix 6x Pro has the most gym, run, and recreational profiles. The Fenix 6x Pro also has more golfing features than Fenix 5x and 5x Plus.
  7. The Fenix 6x Pro also feature under-water heart rate tracking which is not present in the Fenix 5x and 5x Plus.
  8. There is an NFC in the Fenix 5x Plus and 6x Pro that enables Garmin Pay – a non-contactless payment system that allows you to make payments directly from the watch. The Fenix 5x lacks NFC.
  9. Moreover, the 6X Pro has a longer battery life than the other two which will see you go longer from a single charge.

In other words, the Fenix 6x Pro has a better design and more features but will cost you a little more.

Alternatively, the Fenix 5x Plus is a cheaper alternative.