Premium Garmin power, but only if you’ll use the training data

Is the Garmin fēnix 8, 47mm worth buying? Yes — if you want a premium multisport watch with serious training tools, excellent battery life and top-tier navigation, and you’re willing to pay £695.00. It is not a casual buy, but at the current all-time low of £695.00, it looks much better value than its £789.99 RRP, especially for golfers and athletes who actually use performance metrics rather than just counting steps.

First impressions

The fēnix 8 immediately reads as a high-end device: a 47mm case, stainless steel bezel, 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen and an enhanced graphical interface give it a more premium feel than older, more utilitarian GPS watches. Garmin has also added practical touches that matter day to day, including a built-in LED flashlight, speaker and mic for phone calls, and off-grid voice command support. For active users, those are not gimmicks; they make the watch more useful on the course, on a run, or when travelling.

What does it do well?

The strongest case for the fēnix 8 is its combination of training insight, navigation and battery life. Garmin quotes up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to 47 hours in GPS mode, which is excellent for a watch with an AMOLED display. That means less charging anxiety during heavy training blocks, golf trips or multi-day adventures.

The training features are where the watch earns its premium tag. The training readiness score uses sleep quality, recovery, training load and HRV status to tell you whether you’re primed to push hard. For golfers, that matters more than raw step counts: if your recovery is poor, your swing speed, concentration and consistency usually suffer. The watch also includes targeted strength training plans and real-time stamina tracking, which can help you manage fatigue across a range of sports rather than just collecting data.

Navigation is another major strength. Garmin says the watch uses multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology plus built-in sensors including a 3-axis compass and gyroscope for superior positioning accuracy. That combination should appeal to anyone who wants reliable mapping on hikes, runs or unfamiliar golf courses. For golfers who use GPS watches to judge approach distances and avoid bad misses, better positioning accuracy can make the numbers more trustworthy.

How does it perform for golfers and data-driven users?

This is not a dedicated golf watch like the Garmin Approach S62, but it still fits the needs of players who want broader sports tracking alongside golf. The fēnix 8 is better suited to golfers who also run, lift, hike or cycle and want one device to cover everything. The key benefit is that it gives you the recovery and readiness data that can support better practice decisions: if your readiness is low, a lighter session may be smarter than a hard range grind.

That said, golfers looking for a golf-first experience should compare it carefully with the Garmin Approach S62, which is priced at £461.31 for the white version and £324.99 for the black version, both rated 4.4/5. The S62 is significantly cheaper and more directly focused on golf. The fēnix 8 justifies its higher price through broader multisport capability, a better display, longer battery life figures, and more advanced general training tools.

Build quality and everyday use

Garmin has clearly aimed at the premium end of the market here. The stainless steel bezel and AMOLED screen should feel more refined than older transflective models, and the addition of a speaker, mic and flashlight makes it more versatile outside sport. The watch also comes in 7 options across colours, sizes and storage, so there is some flexibility if you want a different look or configuration.

The main warning is obvious: this is a £695 smartwatch, and the price is hard to justify if you only want basic distance-to-pin or simple activity tracking. It is also a large, feature-heavy watch, so some buyers may find it overkill compared with a simpler GPS model or a dedicated rangefinder.

Is it good value for money?

At £695.00, the fēnix 8 is expensive, but the current price is also the all-time lowest, and the price data says this is a good time to buy. Compared with the Bushnell Tour V5 Patriot Pack Jolt Golf Rangefinder at £260.07 and Garmin’s own Approach S62 models at £461.31 and £324.99, the fēnix 8 is clearly the premium option. You are paying for a much broader feature set, not just golf distances.

If you want the best value purely for golf, the Approach S62 or a laser rangefinder makes more sense. If you want one watch that can support training, recovery, navigation and everyday smart features as well as golf, the fēnix 8 has a stronger argument.

Bottom line

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a serious premium GPS smartwatch with excellent battery life, advanced training metrics and strong navigation tools. It is best for golfers and athletes who will use the data to guide training and recovery, not just wear it as an expensive accessory.