Garmin Enduro 4 lasts up to 90 days. They also offer faster maps and more training features

While the basic Fenix models have exclusively switched to AMOLED this year, those who want a watch for a week-long trek or a multi-day ultra race without a charger have a new candidate. The Garmin Enduro 4 remains faithful to the energy-efficient display with solar glass and, according to the manufacturer, lasts up to 90 days. Unlike its predecessor, however, it mainly adds smarter software; the hardware has moved only minimally.

Garmin promises up to 90 days of battery life

Garmin states up to 36 days in smartwatch mode, with solar charging up to 90 days. When recording activity in extended battery mode, it’s 120 hours, with solar up to 320 hours. Those who want maximum location accuracy must count on 60 hours. In the most economical mode, on the other hand, the watch lasts 210 hours, and with solar, under ideal conditions, it should not run out of battery at all.

However, it’s good to take the solar numbers with a grain of salt. The manufacturer calculates them with three hours a day in light intensity of 50,000 lux, which corresponds more to a bright summer noon than an autumn day in the Czech Republic. It is also worth noting that these are precisely the same values as offered by the Enduro 3. Although Garmin entices with “longer battery life” on its website, it has not moved at all compared to the Enduro 3.

According to Garmin, comprehensive pre-set power modes are new. Instead of manually tuning sensors, you choose a profile before an activity based on whether you’re facing a short race where you want the most accurate data, or a multi-day event where every percentage of battery matters.

Weighs 66 grams and now has a fabric strap

The construction remained the same. The watch features a 51 mm diameter fiber-reinforced polymer case, a titanium bezel, and Power Sapphire glass. Beneath it is a 1.4-inch touch-sensitive MIP display with a resolution of 280 × 280 pixels, which is readable even in direct sunlight. It also includes an LED flashlight with white and red light and 10 ATM water resistance.

A visible change is the new ComfortFit strap, which, according to Garmin, is designed to wick sweat better, and thanks to the QuickFit system, you can change it without tools. The watch with it weighs 66 grams, the body alone 57 grams. Compared to the Enduro 3, which we wrote about two years ago, it has gained three grams, specifically due to the strap.

More has changed beneath the surface. Storage has doubled to 64 GB, allowing for more maps and music from Spotify or Deezer on the watch. RAM is half more than its predecessor.

What does it do better than the previous generation?

Most of the new features in Enduro 4 are borrowed from the August Fenix 9. The watch received their redesigned map engine, which, according to the manufacturer, makes map scrolling 30% faster. Additionally, the new perspective view tilts the map so you can better see what terrain awaits you ahead.

Trail runners will appreciate workouts with target pace adjusted for incline. The watch recalculates your uphill pace to a flat-ground equivalent, so you don’t have to unnecessarily slow down or overexert yourself when climbing. Endurance metrics have gained zones and a curve from which you can read how your stamina changes with training.

Most interesting for multi-day adventurers is the Garmin Epic feature. In the Garmin Connect app, it combines activities from several days, weeks, or even months into one whole, to which you can add photos and see summary health and performance data for the entire period. VO2 max values and a power curve for indoor rowing have also been added, and when walking with a load, you can adjust your backpack weight directly during the activity.

“Incline-adjusted metrics add a new dimension to preparing for hilly or mountainous terrain,” said Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Sales and Marketing. However, the heart rate sensor with ECG, display, and battery are the same as in the Enduro 3. Moreover, the Enduro 3 continues to receive updates; in September, Garmin sent it a large quarterly package. Whether the new features from Enduro 4 will also reach it, the manufacturer has not yet said.

It costs 22 490 Kč in the Czech Republic

The Garmin Enduro 4 is sold in the Czech Republic in a single version for 22 490 Kč. The official manufacturer’s e-shop promises dispatch within three business days. The price is the same as the Enduro 3 started selling for two years ago.

For comparison, the Fenix 9 Pro series, which offers an MIP display with solar charging in larger sizes, starts at 27 490 Kč. For an additional charge, however, you also get optional LTE and inReach satellite communication, which the Enduro does not have.

Are faster maps and new training features worth upgrading from Enduro 3?

Sources: Garmin, Garmin Newsroom, The5krunner, Garmin Rumors