Fenix 7 Pro Solar watch has been released in May 2023. Fenix 7 Solar has been around since early 2022. The Pro Solar is an upgrade from the basic series Fenix 7 smartwatches.
Would you buy a Fenix 7 Pro Solar or the Fenix 7 Solar watch? What has changed from the Fenix 7 Solar to Fenix 7 Pro Solar smartwatch?
Let us look at both the Solar watches and compare each of these below.
Main differences
- The biggest differentiator between the Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar smartwatch is the introduction or addition of multi-band GPS in Fenix 7 Pro Solar. So, the Pro series comes with dual-frequency GPS or multi-band GPS.
- Fenix 7 Pro Solar is compatible with the Garmin ECG app. The update happened in October 2023.
- Fenix 7 Pro Solar also comes with an in-built LED Flashlight.
- Fenix 7 Pro Solar also has an ambient light sensor.
- Finally, the Fenix 7 Pro Solar has 32 GB of internal storage. Fenix 7 Solar has 16 GB internal storage in the watch.
- The list price of Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar is $799.99. However, it is expected that the Fenix 7 Solar watch will get revised pricing or discounted pricing soon.
Let us look at these differences in detail below.
Multi-band GPS
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar smartwatches support GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo networks. However, Fenix 7 Pro Solar gets a multi-frequency positioning sensor.
The multi-frequency positioning sensor helps in providing multi-band GPS capability to the Fenix 7 Pro Solar smartwatch.
With multi-band GPS or dual-frequency GPS, you can get GPS data from multiple satellites at any given point in time. This helps in improving the reliability and accuracy of the GPS data.
Multi-band GPS is very helpful in remote areas. It is also useful in areas of dense population or tall structures.
For hikers and athletes, multi-band GPS is an important feature in ensuring correct GPS data.
The only downside to using multi-band GPS is the significant battery drain in the watch.
Garmin has tried to offset the higher than usual battery drain while using multi-band GPS by adding SatIQ technology. We discuss the SatIQ technology below.
SatIQ technology
Multi-band GPS consumes a significant amount of battery in the smartwatch. For optimum battery usage, Garmin has added the SatIQ technology sensor to the Fenix 7 Pro Solar smartwatch.
SatIQ technology is an intelligent technology. It manages your battery usage efficiently.
SatIQ automatically toggles on or off the multi-band GPS mode.
If the GPS signal is weak or of poor quality, SatIQ will turn on the multi-band GPS mode. As and when the GPS signal quality improves, SatIQ will turn off the multi-band GPS mode and revert to the simple GPS mode.
By moving back and forth between the multi-band GPS and simple GPS mode, SatIQ tries to conserve battery life.
Together with multi-band GPS capability, the SatIQ technology helps in improving GPS performance without putting undue stress on the battery backup.
Display
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar watches use the same set of display features.
The only significant additions are the LED Flashlight and ambient light sensor in the Fenix 7 Pro Solar.
The ambient light sensor helps in adjusting screen brightness based on the surrounding light.
We look at the main display specifications of both watches below.
| Display specifications | Fenix 7 Pro Solar | Fenix 7 Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 33 mm or 1.3″ | 33 mm or 1.3″ |
| Display shape | Round | Round |
| Display type | MIP or Memory in pixel | MIP or Memory in pixel |
| Display resolution | 260 x 260 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
| Color screen | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| LED Flashlight | Yes | No |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes | No |
Fenix 7 Pro Solar has an ambient light sensor and LED Flashlight. These features are not available in the Fenix 7 Solar.
Physical specifications
The only addition to the Fenix 7 Pro Solar is the incremental device or internal storage. Fenix 7 Pro Solar comes with 32 GB storage while the Fenix 7 Solar has 16 GB internal storage.
The additional device storage can be used to store audio content or for mapping requirements.
We look at the device specifications of Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar below.
| Specifications | Fenix 7 Pro Solar | Fenix 7 Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Watch size | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm |
| Thickness | 14.5 mm | 14.5 mm |
| Watch weight | 79 g | 79 g |
| Watch body | Fiber-enforced polymer with steel rear cover | Fiber-enforced polymer with metal rear cover |
| Bezel | Stainless steel | Metal |
| Band material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Band size | 125-208 mm | 125-208 mm |
| Band options | Silicone, Metal, Fabric, Leather | Silicone, Metal, Fabric, Leather |
| Device storage | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Water rating | 10 ATM (100 meters) | 10 ATM (100 meters) |
| Swimming profile | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimming/Running | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Swimming/Running |
| Wireless connectivity | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| iOS compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Android compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Elevate Heart Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox SpO2 sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Primary charger | Garmin wire charger | Garmin wire charger |
| Secondary charging | Solar charging | Solar charging |
| NFC Payments | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
Fenix 7 Pro Solar has 32 GB device storage in comparison to the 16 GB device storage of the Fenix 7 Solar.
Garmin ECG
Fenix 7 Pro Solar series smartwatches did not support the Garmin ECG app at the time of the launch of the smartwatch.
In October 2023, the Fenix 7 Pro Solar smartwatch series was updated to enable support for the Garmin ECG app.
As of writing this in November 2023, the Fenix 7 Pro Solar can take ECG readings through the Garmin ECG app on the watch.
The Garmin ECG app received FDA approval in January 2023. It is already available in Venu 2 Plus, Venu 3 series, Epix 2 Pro series, and Fenix 7 Pro series smartwatches.
The Garmin ECG app is very useful in detecting conditions of Atrial Fibrillation and irregular heart rhythm.
Fenix 7 Solar, however, remains incompatible with the Garmin ECG app.
Battery
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar share the same watch configuration. The battery backup provided by both watches is identical.
For quick reference, you may check the battery backup offered by both watches in different watch modes below.
| All Satellite Systems | Fenix 7 Pro Solar backup | Fenix 7 Solar backup |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 18 days/22 days with solar | Up to 18 days/22 days with solar |
| GPS mode | Up to 57 hours/73 hours with solar | Up to 57 hours/73 hours with solar |
| All Satellte Systems | Up to 40 hours/48 hours with solar | Up to 40 hours/48 hours with solar |
| All Satellite Systems + Music | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| All Satellite Systems + Multi-band | Up to 23 hours/26 hours with solar | Up to 23 hours/26 hours with solar |
| Max Battery GPS | Up to 136 hours/289 hours with solar | Up to 136 hours/289 hours with solar |
| Expedition GPS | Up to 40 days/74 days with solar | Up to 40 days/74 days with solar |
| Battery saver mode | Up to 57 days/173 days with solar | Up to 57 days/173 days with solar |
The battery backup and performance of the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar watches is identical.
Solar charging
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar use Power Glass in the display lens. Power Glass is useful in converting sunlight into battery charge.
Power Glass is Corning Gorilla Glass superimposed with a layer of Photovoltaic cells or PV cells. These PV cells will convert sunlight into battery charge.
Solar charging remains the secondary charging method in Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar. The primary charging method is Garmin’s wire charger.
For solar charging to make any meaningful impact on the battery backup, you will need to ensure:
- at least 3 hours of sun exposure for the smartwatch.
- the smartwatch needs to be exposed to sunlight of 50,000 lux or higher
For people who work outdoors in sunny conditions, solar charging can help boost the charge in your Fenix 7 solar watch.
Music
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar watches offer full music features and functions. This implies that both watches can do the following music functions and features:
- You can store audio content on the watch storage for offline music listening.
- Audio content on the device storage can be directly managed using the smartwatch.
- You can also control and play music on the paired smartphone.
There is no difference between Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Fenix 7 Solar when it comes to the music functionality.
Costs
Fenix 7 Pro Solar and Feni 7 Solar has a list price of $799.99. However, it is expected that the Fenix 7 Solar series may see some price cuts soon.
Final verdict
You can buy the Fenix 7 Pro Solar watch because of these two factors:
- The Pro series of Fenix 7 is a newer series of Fenix 7 compared to the Fenix 7 Solar series.
- The Pro series of Fenix 7 is compatible with the Garmin ECG app. You can take ECG readings through the Fenix 7 series watches.
- You will also get the multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology in the Fenix 7 Pro Solar smartwatch.
I will buy the Fenix 7 Pro Solar for a vastly improved GPS performance on account of a multi-frequency positioning sensor.
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