By fēnix Product Supervisor Jon Hosler
The Garmin fēnix® purpose-built smartwatch celebrates its 10th anniversary this 12 months. Within the shopper tech world, the place total corporations can rise and fall in what looks like the blink of an eye fixed, saying one product line has been round 10 years is one thing to have a good time.
Launched in 2012, fēnix has grown over the past 10 years from a easy of thought of “How can we higher serve our outside prospects?” to turn into one in all Garmin’s flagship merchandise, chosen by outside fanatics, elite athletes all over the world and on a regular basis prospects who merely wish to be extra well being/health acutely aware.
To have a good time fēnix’s tenth anniversary, Jon Hosler, fēnix product supervisor who has labored on fēnix for the reason that starting, weighs in on the foremost applied sciences throughout the fēnix product line and what they imply to prospects.
The Garmin fēnix line: One thing to be pleased with
After I consider what fēnix is, I take into consideration its core tenets of efficiency design, trusted instrument, superior coaching and on a regular basis utility encompassed by the bigger thought of this product all the time embodying rugged efficiency. Over time, the crew has labored to make fēnix greater than only a watch — it’s a instrument to assist individuals in each facet of their lives, and I’m proud that by every iteration of fēnix, we’ve got stayed true to those core tenets.
I feel I’m most proud once I get to listen to tales about all of the wonderful and galvanizing issues that our prospects are doing with fēnix smartwatches. Listening to a buyer tell us that their watch helped them run a marathon, climb a peak, hike a path or full a triathlon is what motivates me and makes me most pleased with what we’ve got created. When somebody trusts fēnix as a companion on their wrist and depends on the enabling applied sciences that our crew creates, it’s a testomony that what we’re constructing issues and is really serving to individuals obtain their targets.
Hyperlink to fēnix announcement weblog.
fēnix® 1: Humble beginnings
Press launch: Garmin fēnix Out of doors Watch Lets Adventurers Go Even Additional Off-Path
The extra expertise you possibly can incorporate on a finite quantity of area (your wrist), the extra worth you possibly can present to a shopper. In 2012, Garmin had already made watches for various segments like operating and golf, however handhelds had been nonetheless a big, established marketplace for Garmin. So, we thought to ourselves, “Nicely, clearly hikers have wrist,” so how can we incorporate our well-loved outside expertise into an out of doors watch?
Thus, the fēnix line was born.
The unique fēnix was very targeted on the outside shopper, and there actually wasn’t something prefer it within the outside area, so we noticed devoted outside fanatics gravitate to it. They cherished the strong battery life (for the time), steel rear case and practical utility, which created probably the most rugged and practical outside watch on the time.
The teachings realized from launching fēnix 1 actually set the stage for what fēnix would turn into, and thru all its iterations, this concept has been stored because the ethos of what fēnix is as a product.
fēnix® 2: Rising enchantment
Press launch: Introducing fēnix 2: The Final Multisport Journey Watch from Garmin
We took what we realized from fēnix 1 and expanded options to supply a full suite for individuals who weren’t simply devoted outdoorspeople, together with operating dynamics, coronary heart charge compatibility, biking options, and so forth. It stored its outside spirit, however the fēnix 2 provided a aggressive response to different multisport watches available on the market. I’d take into account fēnix 2 the primary complete outside energetic way of life system, and it was the primary time that we had been in a position to convey all the things we needed collectively in a single bundle.
The bodily kind issue was nonetheless rugged, which individuals loved about fēnix 1, however its function set was broad, so it actually began what would turn into one of many foremost worth propositions of the fēnix model — a tricky system that may do all of it. Whereas the unique fēnix targeted extra on navigation, the fēnix 2 added in multisport coaching so customers may study extra about their operating, climbing, using, climbing, snowboarding, swimming and different actions.
In hindsight, it was fēnix 2 that actually foreshadowed what fēnix would finally turn into identified for — a trusted instrument for all features of shoppers’ lives.
Fēnix® 3: fēnix in full coloration
Press launch: Introducing fēnix 3: The Subsequent Good Multisport GPS Watch from Garmin
The fēnix 3 sequence noticed noteworthy function upgrades. Two that actually stand out are the EXO™antenna and coloration show. Up till this level, most GPS watches available on the market had been utilizing a plastic entrance casing, as a result of in case you put steel on the entrance housing, it could block the watch’s antenna from getting reception. We had been in a position to develop the EXO antenna expertise, allowed for a {hardware} design that mixed kind and performance, primarily making fēnix a harder smartwatch that might do extra. Moreover, this new EXO antenna made GPS repair time considerably quicker. What’s to not like?
The colour show was a continuing aim we had been working towards with fēnix and one of many causes fēnix is a family title as we speak. What made the fēnix show so distinctive was that it was a nonetheless a memory-in-pixel (MIP) show, which allowed for an ultralow energy show that was designed for outside use. This was a big technological bounce within the wearables market. Having a sunlight-visible, low-power show continues to be a singular a part of the fēnix story to today.
fēnix 3 additionally boasted the introduction of wrist-based coronary heart charge in addition to a white/rose gold bezel and wristband mixture. The significance of the wrist-based coronary heart charge can’t be overstated, as a result of it allowed for the growth of well being and health options that the fēnix line is thought for as we speak. With the introduction of recent coloration combos, the fēnix moved right into a extra on a regular basis utility area for people who didn’t need a black watch. It was additionally necessary to notice that whereas this watch might have had a unique aesthetic, it didn’t sacrifice any performance or options, making it actually a watch that might be worn to a gathering or on the aspect of a mountain.
fēnix® 5: A fēnix for each (sized) wrist
Press launch: Introducing Fenix 5 sequence – Multisport GPS Watches for Health, Journey and Type
As the recognition of fēnix actually caught on, we knew that one measurement didn’t match all, as a result of not everybody has the identical measurement wrist. So, it was main as much as the fēnix 5 sequence that we began engaged on two smaller sizes — a 47 millimeter and a 42 millimeter. Till this level, all fēnix had been a bigger 51 millimeter measurement.
On floor stage, it could appear making a smaller model of the watch can be so simple as taking the elements and making them smaller, however that isn’t the case. To create a unique measurement, you primarily have to thoroughly redesign a product and get very artistic to make all of the puzzle items match collectively and be as efficient because the bigger measurement.
As we honed these applied sciences, we had been in a position to make them work and produce that (and different) expertise right into a smaller measurement, which resulted within the fēnix 5S. The good thing about this design meant fēnix was in a position to be extra snug on people with smaller wrists, which supplied an total higher expertise for purchasers.
On the identical time, we had been in a position to incorporate extra options to make fēnix extra of a every day companion. These included music, maps and cell funds.
fēnix® 6 household: Below the solar
Press launch: Garmin Proclaims the fēnix 6 sequence: Multisport GPS watch sequence introduces bigger shows, modern efficiency options, longer battery life and Garmin’s first photo voltaic watch
Maybe one of the revolutionary new options to return to fēnix was the incorporation of photo voltaic charging and the biggest spherical MIP shows available on the market within the fēnix 6X sequence. Since its 2019 incorporation, photo voltaic charging is now built-in into many Garmin merchandise and has modified what individuals have come to anticipate from their wearables by way of battery life and consumer expertise.
fēnix prospects like to be exterior and be energetic, and photo voltaic incorporation supplied two crucial issues. First, it’s working on a regular basis, and prospects don’t have to consider it. It simply advantages them all through their lives, continuously harvesting power. Second, all through your entire improvement course of, each resolution was vetted to convey prospects the photo voltaic charging in probably the most environment friendly and efficient means attainable. The fēnix 6X, and different photo voltaic items, are extremely succesful and purpose-built for top efficiency, and they’re rugged sufficient to maintain up with our prospects wherever they go.
I actually really feel as if this leap in expertise was necessary for Garmin and its prospects, as a result of it met the mixed expectation of nice engineering and nice design. We introduced on this new, revolutionary expertise, but we did it in such a means that our prospects don’t have to fret about it. As a result of photo voltaic expertise is all the time there for them and all the time working, it’s a profit with no trade-off.
fēnix® 7: Utility reimagined
Press launch: Garmin unveils sweeping updates to its flagship fēnix lineup of rugged multisport smartwatches
There are two options I’m most pleased with with the fēnix 7 — the incorporation of a flashlight and the touchscreen. After we take into account new options for fēnix, one of many first phrases that involves thoughts is “utility,” and each options knock it out of the park.
Everyone knows how a lot individuals use the flashlight on their telephone, so we knew the validity of getting an simply accessible gentle. Nonetheless, I used to be taking an particularly important eye once I obtained the primary prototype for testing, as a result of Garmin won’t ever put a gimmick into one in all our smartwatches, and we wish to honor the fēnix repute as a trusted instrument for on a regular basis life.
To me, utility means extra than simply outside utility — it means on a regular basis utility. That first weekend testing the prototype, I couldn’t cease utilizing it. I used to be fully blown away by how a lot I used to be utilizing it. And I wasn’t even utilizing it for outside stuff; I used to be utilizing it for primary actions like strolling round at night time.
At that time I used to be actually excited for the potential of that function. Nonetheless, it was once I used it in an out of doors capability that I knew the built-in flashlight can be one thing prospects would actually gravitate towards.
For example, round this time I used to be caving with my son and his headlamp broke. I gave him my headlamp, and I used the fēnix to get us again out. It was later throughout that tenting journey that we had a foul thunderstorm, and my son obtained scared and requested if we may head house. I popped on my flashlight, and each of my palms had been free to pack up camp and guarantee our security.
The second merchandise that actually stands out to me on fēnix 7 is the touchscreen. To totally perceive the touchscreen, it’s necessary to know why Garmin makes use of buttons, which matches again to the core tenet of fēnix — buttons are a trusted instrument. You need to use them in any setting or circumstance, whether or not you’re swimming or sporting gloves. They’re all the time there and all the time going to work.
It’s because of this we stored the buttons on fēnix 7. Nonetheless, there are numerous features wherein touchscreens are intuitive and improve the fēnix expertise. For instance, when panning throughout a map, rapidly swiping for info or coming into knowledge, a touchscreen streamlines usability. This added worth to the shopper has been very nicely obtained.
fēnix 7 is one of the best fēnix iteration we’ve developed but, and I’m excited for what the crew comes up with the long run.
