Garmin Fenix 7 Review 2023 - Is it Worth Buying?

Garmin Fenix 7 Review 2023 – Is it Worth Buying?

“The Garmin Fenix 7 is one of the most sophisticated golf and fitness watches I have ever come across.”

And even though I had a week to review this thing, I still feel like I barely scratched the surface of what it’s capable of. But let’s get one thing out of the way: the Garmin Fenix 7 is first and foremost a fitness watch. Even with a comprehensive list of golf features, the fitness features dwarf the amount of golf features in this watch.

However, in my testing, I wasn’t left wanting for any golf features. If you are looking to replace your old golf GPS device or are looking for a great gift for the golf enthusiast in your life, you should definitely check out the Garmin Fenix 7.

The Garmin Fenix 7 has a dizzying array of fitness features but in the following review, I will be focusing mainly on the golf features. But here’s a brief rundown of some of the notable Garmin Fenix 7 features:

Music storage and download capability
Corning Gorilla Glass
Stainless steel bezel
79g
3” display
Touchscreen
Control buttons
Gyroscope
Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity
Compatible with Garmin Pay
Preloaded with 43,000 golf course maps
Topical green display (with paid membership)
Tournament legal
Virtual caddie
Touch targeting
Custom targets
Greenview with distance to front, middle and back of the green
Layup and dogleg yardages
Shot distance calculator
Digital scorecard
Stat tracking
Pinpointer

Is the Garmin Fenix 7 Waterproof?

As a golfer, you won’t have to worry about even the heaviest downpours with this watch. The Garmin Fenix 7 is waterproof up to 10 atmospheres. To give you some perspective, 10 atmospheres is the equivalent of being 330 feet deep in the water.

Is the Garmin Fenix 7 Worth Buying?

“The first thing you have to consider is your budget. The Garmin Fenix 7 (standard) goes for $650 and there are Pro and solar versions that are even more expensive.”

Still, $650 is less expensive than smart/fitness watches from other brands. Plus, I would say that the Garmin Fenix 7 would be the last smart/fitness/golf watch you would ever need. As an avid golfer, there are golf features on this watch that I would probably never use.

For instance the wind speed/direction feature is not something I would take time out of my round to consult. I’ve gotten along in my life fine with just licking my finger and feeling the wind that way.

On the other hand, the Garmin Fenix 7 has some essential golf features like full vector maps and distances to layups and doglegs. These are features I actually would stop to look at as they actually helped me with club selection.

The “plays like” distance reading is also extremely helpful and can actually give you a leg up in your Sunday foursome. I also really liked the custom target settings which allows you to see your exact distance from anywhere on the course – not just the pin.

If you want to make sure the golf watch you buy will not become obsolete within the next decade, the Garmin Fenix 7 is certainly worth the money.

Garmin Fenix 7

In 20 Words or Less

“The Garmin Fenix 7 comes loaded with golf features that are essential. There are also advanced features for tournament players.”

Garmin Fenix 7 – First Impressions

“With every single smartphone currently on the market having completely done away with buttons, I was surprised to see control buttons on the Garmin Fenix 7.”

But it was a pleasant surprise. Not only do the buttons give the Garmin Fenix 7 a more traditional timepiece aesthetic; it makes it easier for dinosaurs like me to navigate the features. I liked the fact that I could scroll on the touchscreen or use the buttons to search for what I needed – the buttons are much easier to use with a gloved hand.

The Green Contours feature was also very impressive. It lets you see the pitch, breaks and elevation of every green you play. Again, this is an advanced feature for advanced players but it really helped inform my knockdown and chip shots.

Key Features

“The Garmin Fenix 7 also comes with a virtual caddie feature that, thankfully, isn’t trapped behind a paywall.”

This is a standard feature that can be useful for beginners and scratch players alike. The Virtual Caddie will suggest clubs for certain lies based on your stats and play history.

The Plays Like distance readings were also super helpful for me. Straight up yardage can be deceiving. It doesn’t account for slopes and inclines. But the Plays Like distance reads the elevation of the turf and gives you an adjusted distance that’s more accurate.

Lastly, the Garmin Fenix 7 pairs with the Garmin Golf App which gives you access to a ton of other resources and features. You can also check out the leaderboards to 43,000 courses and enter your scores.

Garmin Fenix 7 Selling Points

18-day battery life
16GB storage
260 x 260 pixel display
Incident reporting
Stress monitoring
Sleep tracker
Thermometer
Battery saver mode
Preloaded fitness programs
On-screen training animations
Running modes
Swimming modes
Cycling modes

Who is the Garmin Fenix 7 for?

“I would say the Garmin Fenix 7 would be ideal for scratch players and amateurs who regularly compete in tournaments.”

If you’re trying to go pro then this is the watch for you. It has a lot of advanced golf features that will help you with practice and hone your game. The Garmin Fenix 7 would also be a great watch for casual golfers who also want to invest in a comprehensive fitness watch. The fitness features on this watch rival anything that FitBit or Apple is putting out.