Garmin Fenix 7 vs Solar vs Sapphire Solar: Complete List [2023]

This time we would like to compare Garmin Fenix 7 vs Solar vs Sapphire Solar and list the key differences between them. The Garmin Fenix series have too many features and functions that most people appreciate. However, some of these features comes with only the premium editions such as Fenix 7 Solar and Sapphire Solar. Yet, we believe that you should have solid reasons to go with the Solar or Sapphire Solar instead of Fenix 7 standard edition.

To begin with, it will be better to take a quick look at the table below to understand the key differences between Garmin Fenix 7 variants:

Basically, Garmin Fenix 7 is released as Fenix 7 Standard Edition, Fenix 7 Solar and Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar. All these models are available for different case size options such as “S” small, standard and “X” large. So, if you go with the bigger case size option, you will get more pixels and longer battery-life.

Anyway, before we deeply compare the Fenix 7 variants with each other, we strongly recommend checking out our Garmin Forerunner vs Fenix article. If you are saying why, the Garmin Forerunner 955 is almost equal to the Fenix 7 and it is still being more budged.

Let’s start off with checking what is new in the Garmin Fenix 7 in comparison to the Fenix 6.

Garmin Fenix 6 vs Fenix 7: Updates and Key Differences

When we compared the Fenix 6 vs Fenix 7, we ended up that there is no significant change. So, if you already have a Garmin Fenix ​​6, you may do not want to consider upgrading to the Fenix ​​7. Here is the full list of key differences between Garmin Fenix 6 and Fenix 7:

• The first notable difference is the available variants. The Fenix 6 has standard model, Pro Solar and Pro Sapphire Solar models. In the new generation Fenix 7, Garmin introduced Fenix 7 standard model, Solar model and Sapphire Solar model. So, they removed the “Pro” option from the Fenix line. Instead, the Garmin Fenix 7 Standard model includes all “Pro” functions and features that Fenix 6 Pro offers.
• The second, in the Garmin Fenix 6, there is no solar option incorporated into the Sapphire model. On the other hand, Garmin offers Solar Sapphire model in the Fenix 7.
• In the Fenix 6 series, if you want to store songs on your watch, you need to go with the “Pro” options such as Pro Solar and Pro Sapphire. So, the Fenix 6 standard model cannot store music for offline playing. However, all Fenix 7 models can store songs up to 2000.
• One more point is about the memory for data recording. The Fenix 7 Standard and Solar models have a memory of 16 GB, and Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has 32 GB memory. On the other hand, the standard model of Fenix 6 has only 64 MB of memory. Yet, the Pro options of Fenix 6 has 32 GB memory.
• Considering the sensors, the Fenix 7 has multi-frequency positioning sensor which provides a better positioning accuracy. On the other hand, the Fenix 6 lacks this sensor.
• About the pre-loaded topo maps, the Fenix 6 offers it in all “Pro” models. However, in the Fenix 7 it is only available on the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar. This is the down side of Fenix 7 since you need to pay a lot more to get Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar in comparison to the Fenix 6 Pro to get pre-loaded maps.
• Again, the Fenix 6 standard model does not include Wi-Fi connectivity. It is only available on the Fenix 6 Pro or higher models. However, all Fenix 7 models have Wi-Fi connectivity.
• The last difference is the battery-life.  The Fenix 7 and its variants have improved battery life compared to the Fenix 6 and its variants. You can check out the table below to compare the battery life of Fenix 6 vs Fenix 7.

You may want to take a look at the following table we have put together which is very helpful to compare Garmin Fenix 6 vs 7:

Our Verdict

To sum up the Garmin Fenix 6 vs 7 comparison, changes on the Fenix 7 are not vital. However, Garmin transferred the premium features and functions that are only available on the Fenix 6 Pro and higher models to the Fenix 7 standard edition. So, you need to get Fenix 6 Pro or higher to get the premium functions and features and pay more and more. Or you can simply prefer Fenix 7 which has all the premium features that comes with Fenix 6 Pro. You can check out following links to find Garmin Fenix 6 and Fenix 7 models on a reasonable price:

Garmin Fenix 6: Deals & Discounts on Amazon

Garmin Fenix 7: Deals & Discounts on Amazon

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Solar Compared Side-by-Side

Maybe you are budged restricted and wondering, if you can buy the base model Fenix 7? So, we made a side-by-side comparison for Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Solar and list the key differences between them.

So, what are the main differences between the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Solar? Basically, there are two main differences between them. First one is the lens material and the second one is the battery-life.

The Fenix 7 lens is Corning Gorilla Glass DX which is pretty much scratch resistant up to a point. On the other hand, Fenix 7 Solar has Power Glass which has solar panels on it to produce some electricity. Therefore, the Fenix 7 Solar has a longer batter-life compared to the Fenix 7 standard edition, if it is exposed to sunlight! The difference between the batter-life of them can extend up to 15%.

So, the Fenix 7 has more durable glass, but it has less battery-life in comparison to the Fenix 7 Solar. You can check out the table below to fully understand the battery-life comparison of Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Solar:

All the other features and functions are the same, but you need to pay extra for the Fenix 7 Solar as it is expected. You can check out following links below to compare their latest rates.

Garmin Fenix 7: Deals and Discounts on Amazon

Garmin Fenix 7 Solar: Deals and Discounts on Amazon

Garmin Fenix 7 vs Sapphire Solar Compared Side-by-side

When we compare Garmin Fenix 7 vs Sapphire Solar, we saw that the Sapphire Solar model has some features that you may want to consider. Here is the list of key differences between the Garmin Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar:

• To begin with the bezel material, the Garmin Fenix 7 has a stainless steel case material. On the other hand, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has titanium case. Considering the durability, the titanium case is stronger than the stainless steel. But it is really hard to notice this difference in the field since both materials are pretty much sturdy.
• Their lens material also different than each other. The Fenix 7 standard edition has Corning Gorilla Glass DX lens which is scratch resistant up to a point. On the other hand, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has Sapphire Solar crystal lens on it. The Sapphire material is the most scratch resistant material in the word.
• The only downside to Sapphire is actually it transmits less light and it’s more reflective. So, the visibility of the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar display is a little bit dark and reflective. Therefore, the Fenix 7 is a lot easier to read at different angles.
• When we move them around the Sapphire doesn’t really make a big difference out in direct sunlight, although the Gorilla Glass is definitely a little less reflective. However, it’s quite noticeable especially when it gets darker out.
• You can check out following video to compare the scratch resistance of Corning Gorilla Glass vs Sapphire Crystal.

• Likewise, the Fenix 7 Solar, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar comes with solar panels on it which provides extra power as long as it is exposed to sunlight. So that the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has a better battery-life in comparison to the Fenix 7 standard edition.
• Comparing the memory for the data recording of Fenix 7 vs Fenix Sapphire Solar, the Fenix 7 standard edition has a capacity of 16 GB. On the other hand, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has a memory of 32 GB.
• The standard Fenix 7 does not have pre-loaded topo maps features in it. However, the Solar Sapphire have this very useful feature.
• The last difference is the multi-frequency positioning sensor which is only available in the Fenix 7 Sapphire solar but not in the Fenix 7 standard edition. This sensor increases the accuracy of the positioning via using multiple navigation satellites.

All the other features and functions are the same for both Fenix 7 standard edition and the Sapphire Solar edition, but you need to pay extra for the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar as it is expected.

Our Verdict for Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

Our verdict for Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar: if you are not doing an expedition or do not need extra battery-life for any reason, there is no need for the Solar Sapphire version.

The Corning Gorilla Glass DX of Fenix 7 standard edition is also very scratch resistant. Of course, the Sapphire Crystal of the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is the material which is the most scratch resistant. But it is overrated. The Fenix 7’s Corning Gorilla Glass DX can meet your needs as well.

Credit for pic: Corning.com

We thought that the pre-loaded topo maps, multi-frequency positioning and the extra memory that comes with the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar are not vital when we consider the similarities between the Fenix 7 standard model and the Sapphire Solar.

The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar will cost you a lot compared to the Fenix 7 standard edition. The question you need to ask yourself is it really worth?

Check Latest Rates on Amazon:

• Fenix 7 standard edition Deals & Discounts
• Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar Deals & Discounts

Garmin Fenix 7 Solar vs Sapphire Solar Compared Side-by-Side

There are lots of similarities between the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar and the Sapphire Solar such as the extended battery-life which is the same for both. However, we would like to compare the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar vs Sapphire Solar and list the key differences between them since you might wonder what is the difference between them.

• The major difference between the Fenix 7 Solar and Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is that Fenix 7 Solar uses Power Glass, on the other hand, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar uses Sapphire Solar Crystal on its glass which is a synthetic gemstone that’s created in a lab and has integrated solar panels on it. Therefore, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has the most durable display screen glass out there which is also producing some extra electricity to extend its battery-life.
• The bezel material of the Fenix 7 Solar is made of titanium whereas the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has titanium case. Although both materials are very durable, the titanium of Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is stronger than the stainless steel of Fenix 7 Solar. Honestly, considering the durability, you won’t be able to distinguish the difference in the field.
• The memory for data recording in the Fenix 7 Solar is 16 GB, on the other hand Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has 32 GB which is great.
• The pre-loaded topo map function is not included in the Fenix 7 Solar, on the other hand, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar has it.
• The key point is the multi-frequency position sensor which is only incorporated in the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar but not in the Fenix 7 Solar. So that the positioning in the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is better than the Fenix 7 Solar since it uses multiple navigation satellites to improve positioning accuracy.
• All the other features and sensors are the same for both Fenix 7 Solar and Sapphire Solar. But the price tag is higher for the Sapphire Solar option in the market place.

Our Verdict for Fenix 7 Solar vs Sapphire Solar Comparison

Our verdict for Fenix 7 Solar vs Sapphire Solar: both of them are basically the same exact watch, the only difference between these two devices is the material used for the glass and the bezel material. Also, the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar some an extra sensor such as multi-positioning sensor, and features such as pre-loaded topo map and 32 GB memory.

Everything else inside, they are almost identical. The features and the functionality are the same. You’re going to get the same exact performance from both watches. So, you got to ask yourself is it worth it to get the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar since it’s a little bit more durable, but it’s a little dimmer and harder to see.

Check Latest Rates on Amazon:

• Fenix 7 Solar Deals and Discounts
• Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar Deals & Discounts

Bottom-line for Fenix 7 Review

We think you should have solid reasons to go with the Solar or the Sapphire Solar variants since they cost a lot more than the Fenix 7 standard edition.

If you need a final recommendation for which one to go with the Fenix 7 or Solar or Sapphire Solar:

• The Fenix 7 standard edition is a darn good smart watch. It has all necessary features and sensors that is being expected from a premium outdoor watch. If you are budged restricted you can consider the Fenix 7 standard model instead of Fenix 7 Solar or Sapphire Solar models.
• If you need only extra battery-life, then the winner of this comparison is the Fenix 7 Solar instead of Fenix 7 standard edition or the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar.
• If you are not budged restricted, and seeking for great battery life as well as the sturdiness, then the Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is the best option out there (or you can check out our Garmin Fenix vs Instinct comparison article).

If you are wondering how Garmin Fenix 7 does compared to other high-end smart watches, we strongly recommend reading following articles:

• Apple Watch Series 7 vs Garmin Fenix 7 Pro
• Forerunner 955 vs Fenix 7 Pro

References:

Garmin Fenix 7 support and how to use video:

Introduction to Garmin Fenix 7 and its user manual: https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-C001C335-A8EC-4A41-AB0E-BAC434259F92/EN-US/fenix_7_Series_OM_EN-US.pdf