Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7S

Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S are Garmin smartwatches that were released in January 2022. Both watches come at a price of $699.99.

We look at the differences between Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S.

Smartwatch features covered in this post

Main differences between Fenix 7 and 7S

The primary difference between Fenix 7 and 7S is size of the smartwatch.
Fenix 7 is bigger than Fenix 7S.
Fenix 7 has a marginally better battery backup than Fenix 7S.
Fenix 7 has a better display resolution than Fenix 7S.
Fenix 7 weighs more than Fenix 7S

Since each difference between Fenix 7 and 7S revolves around size, we will analyze the differences from the perspective of size.

Display Specifications

We lay out the design specifications of Fenix 7 and 7S. These attributes do suggest that there are not many significant changes between the two watch models.

Display specifications	Fenix 7	Fenix 7S
Display lens	Corning Gorilla Glass	Corning Gorilla Glass
Display type	MIP (Memory in pixel)	MIP (Memory in pixel)
Display diameter	33 mm	30 mm
Thickness	14.5 mm	14.1 mm
Display resolution	260 x 260 pixels	240 x 240 pixels
Pixel density	200 ppi	200 ppi
Color display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes

The important points to note are:

Display size of 33 mm in Fenix 7 and 30 mm in Fenix 7S
The thickness of 14.5 mm in Fenix 7 and 14.1 mm in Fenix 7S

Physical specifications

In terms of the hardware of both watches, the differences can be attributed to the size difference. We have compiled a list of hardware details that may be of interest to you for picking the right smartwatch.

Specifications	Fenix 7	Fenix 7S
Watch dimensions	47 x 47 x 14.5 mm	42 x 42 x 14.1 mm
Recommended wrist circumference	125-208 mm	108-182 mm
Watch body	Fiber-enforced polymer body with metal rear cover	Fiber-enforced polymer body with metal rear cover
Bezel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Watch band size	22 mm	20 mm
Band material	Silicone	Silicone
Weight	53 g	47 g
Device storage	16 GB	16 GB
Water rating	10 ATM	10 ATM

The only significant change between Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S is the size of the watch and the recommended wrist circumference.

Fenix 7 is a 47 mm watch and Fenix 7S is a 42 mm watch
The recommended wrist circumference for Fenix 7 is 125-208 mm and for Fenix 7S it is 108-182 mm.

Ideally, the Fenix 7S is a good watch for people with thin wrists.

Battery

The difference in size between Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S has also caused a main difference in battery backup offered by both smartwatches.

We look at the battery backup Fenix 7 and 7S provided in different watch modes.

Watch mode	Fenix 7 backup	Fenix 7S backup
Smartwatch mode	up to 18 days	up to 11 days
GPS mode	up to 57 hours	up to 37 hours
All satellite systems	up to 40 hours	up to 26 hours
All satellite systems with music mode	up to 10 hours	up to 7 hours
Max Battery GPS	up to 136 hours	up to 90 hours
Expedition GPS	up to 40 days	up to 26 days
Battery saver mode	up to 57 days	up to 38 hours

The battery backup provided by Fenix 7 is exactly one and a half times the battery backup provided by a Fenix 7S smartwatch.

Cost

There is no cost difference between Fenix 7 and 7S. Both watches come at a list price of $699.99.

Final verdict

Since the core features of Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S are unchanged, the smartwatch choice would depend upon your wrist’s circumference.

It is a matter of the watch looking good on your wrist. Fenix 7 with a size of 47 mm is significantly broader than the Fenix 7S of size 42 mm.

The best way to figure out the right Fenix 7 or Fenix 7S watch for you would be to use the band. In more ways than one, trying the watch models before buying them is always a good idea.

Alternatively, measure your wrist size using a tape and decide the correct variant between the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7S smartwatch variants.

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