Garmin launches fenix 5 Plus multisport GPS watch

Sitting at the peak of its wearable range, the oft-rumored fēnix 5 Plus Series has been announced, adding maps, music, Garmin Pay and wrist-based Pulse Ox to its multisport GPS watch series.

New headline features include:

• 16GB of storage
• Galileo support added in addition to GPS and GLONASS
• Built-in routable topographical maps
• Storage for music playlists
• Garmin Pay for contactless payment
• Wrist-based Pulse Oximeter 1 for altitude acclimation awareness - fēnix 5X Plus only
• Numerous 'tweaks' to improve connectity with Bluetooth headphones and 3rd party sensors
• fēnix 5S Plus has a larger 1.2" screen matching the rest of the series
• Privacy mode for smartphone notifications

Each version features a battery sipping full-color Garmin Chroma Display with LED backlighting to assure sunlight readability and is water-rated to 100 meters.

Maintaining the same design as the previous fēnix 5, the fēnix 5 Plus Series comes in the same three sizes, with each size offering different battery life:

• fēnix 5S Plus - 42mm. Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and up to 4 hours in GPS and Music mode
• fēnix 5 Plus - 47mm. Up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 8 hours in GPS and Music mode
• fēnix 5X Plus - 51mm. Up to 20 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS and Music mode

UltraTra power saver mode extends battery life even further.

Available in Q2 2018, the fēnix 5 Plus series will have suggested retail prices ranging from £599/$699.99 to £999/$1,149.99.

You can choose from two distinctive finishes, a PVD-coated stainless-steel bezel with silicone watch band, or for a lighter material, a high-performing titanium bezel version with a brushed titanium bracelet. While the design still errs on the side of ruggedness, given the numerous combinations of materials, colors, and bands you shouldn't struggle to find a combination that best suits you.

fēnix 5S Plus

fēnix 5 Plus

fēnix 5X Plus

Mapping and sports - Featuring wrist-based heart rate and all of the multisport and smart connectivity features of the previous fēnix 5 models, each of the watches in the Plus series now includes built-in map data optimized for at-a-glance navigation and location tracking. These maps can be used with the round-trip course creator that allows runners and cyclists to enter a distance they would like to run or ride, the Trendline popularity routing feature will use Garmin Connect data to help users find and follow the best trails and running routes based miles logged by previous Garmin users.

The fēnix 5X Plus is Garmin’s first wearable to offer a wrist-based Pulse Oximeter, measuring Pulse oxygen saturation levels (SO2) via red LED sensors, which is especially useful for higher altitude activities.

Music - All sizes offer on-device music storage for up to 500 songs. Music can be transferred directly to the watch from a computer or download offline playlists from select music streaming services iHeartRadio and Deezer. While the ability to go smartphone free for music playback is a welcome addition, it's disappointing that Spotify is nowhere to be seen. According to sources, Garmin is ready to rock'n'roll with a Spotify implementation but they're waiting on Spotify themselves.

Garmin Pay - Contactless payment is provided via Garmin Pay and is supported on all three sizes. You add your credit card(s) to the fēnix 5 Plus Series via the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone. Once added, when you wish to pay with your fēnix 5 Plus, select your Garmin Pay Wallet, enter your passcode and you're good to go. More banks are adding Garmin Pay support over time but check with Garmin here to see if your bank supports Garmin Pay.

Customization - With Connect IQ, users can customize the fēnix 5 Plus by adding new watch faces, data fields, widgets and applications.

Additionally, users can customize the look of their watch with QuickFit bands. Swap a silicone band for a leather or titanium strap, no tools required. New colors of the QuickFit bands have been added to the Plus series dependent on band size, including Solar Flare Orange, Coyote Tan Silicone, Sea Foam Blue and Frost Blue.

Solar Flare Orange • Coyote Tan Silicone • Sea Foam Blue • Frost Blue

For more information visit garmin.com

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