The 5 Plus series places high weightage on functionality and the highlight of that is arguably their range of trackable activities, from golf to yoga and skiing.
In the world of wearables, there are watches made to complement daily life and trackers made to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Then, there are watches made for athletes and heavy-duty performance – packed with functions and built to endure rough use – which is where the latest Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series comes in.
Three distinct models make up the newly released series in the fēnix® flagship line: the Fenix 5S Plus, the smallest in size at 42mm; the Fenix 5 Plus, which sits at 47mm; and the Fenix 5X Plus, the bulkiest variant with a massive 51mm case. All models feature a 1.2-inch scratch resistant Sapphire crystal or glass display with 240 x 240 resolution.
While their sizes are relatively larger than the market standard, they correspond with as many features to boot. Here are five most noteworthy features of the series.
Multi-sport/activity tracking
As mentioned earlier, the 5 Plus series places high weightage on functionality and the highlight of that is arguably their range of trackable activities, from golf to yoga and skiing. Users can select their favourite activities from the pre-set list on the Activity menu or customise a new one – making the list practically endless.
Of course, activity tracking is only as effective as the sensors built into the watch. The 5 Plus series spares no expense on this, introducing the new Galileo satellite to complement the existing GPS and GLONASS. This helps to improve satellite tracking and navigation, especially in unchartered terrains or urban environments.
On top of standard sensors like the altimeter, barometer and Garmin Elevate heart-rate sensor offered in all models, the 5X Plus also comes with a new Pulse Ox Acclimation sensor to track blood oxygen saturation levels during hikes and high-altitude activities. Needless to say, users will be able to monitor the basics such as calories, distance, pace, and cadence; plus advanced metrics like recovery time, vertical oscillation and more.
Trendline™ popularity routing
Runners and cyclists can further make use of the new Trendline™ popularity routing feature, which uses Garmin Connect data to pick out the popular routes in proximity. Users can then create round-trip courses to set their preferred distance, allowing performance tracking over time.
To offer better representation of your surroundings, the preloaded TOPO mapping displays finer details including vegetation, buildings and contour lines. The feature can also be used to locate points of interest and route them to you – like a typical Garmin GPS device – straight from the watch.
Music on the go
We all know the power of music in boosting our workouts and that’s why Garmin has introduced another new feature in the 5 Plus series: music on the go. All models offer 16GB of storage to hold up to 500 songs for phone-free beats – that’s impressively more than other counterparts like the Fitbit Ionic. However, keep in mind you’ll need Bluetooth earphones to enjoy this feature.
See also: Does the Fitbit Ionic live up to its promises?
Connect IQ and customisation options
When paired with your smartphone, the 5 Plus series can access an exhaustive range of personalisation options such as widgets, data fields, watch faces and apps via Connect IQ. Users will also be able to receive call, text, email and social media notifications on their wrist through Bluetooth and ANT+ connections.
In terms of the watch itself, default bands can be easily swapped with other Garmin QuickFit® silicone, leather or titanium straps (sold separately) with just a few snaps. New band colours have been added to the Plus series for more options including frost blue, seafoam and solar flare orange, to name a few.
Long battery life
Despite a slight cut in battery life compared to the Fenix 5, the 5 Plus series still stands among the top of its kind. The Fenix 5S Plus lasts up to 6 days in smartwatch mode and 4 hours in GPS and Music mode; while the Fenix 5 Plus can get up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 7 hours in GPS and Music mode. Those who prioritise longer battery life can opt for the most powerful of the three – the Fenix 5X Plus, which has up to 18 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 11 hours in GPS and Music mode. In addition, users can use the UltraTrac™ power saver mode to further extend battery life.
There are six different Fenix 5 Plus variants offered in Malaysia. The Fenix 5s Plus is available in Black with Black Band and Rose Gold with Beige Leather Band, priced at RM3,450.00; the Fenix 5 Plus is available in Black with Black Band and Gray DLC Titanium with DLC Titanium Band, priced at RM4,699.00; the Fenix 5x Plus is available in Black with Black Band and Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with DLC Titanium Band, priced at RM4,899.00.
The Garmin fēnix® 5 Plus series is sold at Garmin’s headquarters (AECO Technologies) and concept stores around Malaysia, namely Mid Valley Megamall, Digital Mall Petaling Jaya, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Taman Lagenda (Melaka), Juru Autocity (Penang), Bukit Indah (Johor), Paradigm Mall Parkson (Johor), Kuantan East Coast Mall (Pahang) and Kuching Vivacity Megamall (Sarawak).
For more information, log on to the official website at garmin.com.my.