Garmin Fenix 7 Multi-Band GPS Accuracy Test - Is it worth the upgrade?!

Another great video! Would be interesting to know how multi-band looks on the track, without track mode…

The crappy part about my Fenix 6X is during trail runs with heavy tree cover (NH woods), my pace plummets according to my watch, but when I’m running the same pace and pop out of tree cover, my pace increases on my watch. I don’t care so much about the accuracy when looking on a map, I care more about how the accuracy affects pace. Have you noticed if that problem went away with multiband GPS?

Love the video but my main question is: where did you get the shirt?

Fantastic shirt!

Good video, thanks. In dense urban environments the difference is even more impressive, the F7 with all systems is a big step up from the F6 and the multi-band is a big step up from All-Systems.

I have the Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire. If I am using GPS + GLONASS, how do you think it would stack up to the four watches you tested in this video?

Like the shirt! Link?

A couple of weeks ago I did a test with my fenix 5 plus and fenix 6x pro. I started a navigation activity just before the start of a 1h32 train ride and stopped after arriving at the final destination. It is a bit of a faraday cage, so pretty challenging. There is also a tunnel in the route, so it is impossible to keep signal all the time, but looking at the number of data points and track (easy to see in Garmin Explore) the fenix 6x pro lost location a lot of times where the fenix 5 plus did a pretty good job in keeping a position although not always that accurate. Both watches are configured to save every second and have gps+galileo active. I will try again when I have a fenix 7x solar (probably sapphire).
While the 6x pro works very good in normal activities and I never noticed any problems while running/cycling/walking, this test was clearly to difficult to handle..

I upgraded from the Forerunner 935 to the Fenix 6 pro. I have to say that the 935 being an older watch is actually much more accurate with the GPS than the Fenix 6. Just in the past few weeks I've been running with the Fenix 6 I have had wicked gps drop out and all kinds of screwy tracking. I wonder if I should have bought a 945 instead.

Hello Dave! Do you have any idea how the epix 2 will perform during a pool swim workout?

tl dr ?

Hello, Great video. Have you checked how the GPS accuracy have impacted running pace? Because what we can see on the map is only a "nice to have " thing. More important is how the gps accuracy impacts running pace and distance. Have you been able to check it?

Hey, I got a fenix 7 and I have the same experience as you regarding GNSS accuracy : GPS only mode is far more accurate than on my Fenix 6, and multi band is even more impressive. But apart from when I need super accuracy (for more accurate pace & overall distance) standard GPS is good enough for me (and much more battery efficient)

Amazing video! Thanks a lot!

question. While you are doing those runs, do you have your watch settings to Smart Recording or every sec?

@Chasse the Summit . Thank you. It's a pity you haven't tested devices with the same GPS + Glonass or GPS + Galileo mode. By testing Garmin 7 in the basic mode, you made Garmin 7 looser at the very beginning. I think for many the test would be valuable if you compared the Garmin 7 GPS + Galileo / Glonass with the 6 pro GPS / Glonass, the 945 GPS + Glonass Galileo and the two remaining from this test .... Please write how Garmin 7 GPS + Glonass fares vs Garmin 6 pro GPS + Glonass in poor conditions: forest, buildings, overcast. In perfect conditions. I am wondering is it worth to spend much more money for Garmin 7 vs 6 pro. For me the most important is GPS accuracy, barometric altimeter, maps and Running Dynamics from Garmin HRM TRI. Garmin 7 saphire, solar and epix 2 is out of budget. Regards!

Can multiband system deal with tracking in the city center, I alway run beside house, building. And my Fenix 6s pro solar gps is very in accurate compared to Apple watch series 6. So I'm wondering which watch should I choose, a new Apple watch series 7 or Fenix 7 sapphire solar.

Hi i wanna ask. Does the multiband GPS received / catch better signal than the ALL GPS version? I mean sometimes if there are tress or structure, the watch will automatically disconnect right? So im not pointing the accuracy.

Epix all the way

Hi! 😎👍Thank a lot for your good work. Would the INSTINCT 2 sensor be similar to that of the Forerunner 945LTE? Have a nice day 👋

This is exactly what I was looking for. Stop saying "before I bore you with more examples". Those examples are why we came here!
What I was missing was maybe a run or bike ride in a city with tall buildings. Then the video would have been perfect.

How did you overlay the multiple colors over the same map?

Is the multiband only available on the sapphire version?

I’d be interested to know how the recorded distances compare between watches and GNSS systems. I’ve tested quite a few watches and often see GPS tracks that will be a ways off but still record accurate distances thanks to whatever algorithmic magic they use. I’ve also had devices produce excellent looking GPS tracks but record demonstrably inaccurate distances (ahem, Apple Watch).

I love a good looking track, but, really, I only peek at that once after the activity to make sure it didn’t totally bomb. I much prefer distance accuracy as it effects most of the relevant statistics. Would you have those numbers to share or comment on?

Thanks for the great video and all your work.

Man, that review helped me a lot! Thanks!

Great comparison. Thank you!

@chasethesummit would love to see a video on Fenix 6S you have been using versus 7S Solar. I've got a 245M, am considering buying the (now) bargain 6S Pro but may hold out a few months until 7S Solar is cheaper...currently £359 v £659 in the UK.

After watching a ton of your videos, I finally bought the fenix 7 and I am happy about it. Thanks for your entertaining videos. Keep doing your great job!

I have a Fenix 6X Pro and am really disappointed with the GPS, particularly when it comes to live pace reading which is so variable, it's basically useless at times. It's noticeably worse than my old Forerunner 735xt despite being around double the price. I contacted Garmin about it and they eventually replaced it but the new one is not much better. It's a real shame, everything else about the watch is superb.

Thanks for this detail. Just upgraded to the Epix and looking forward to the accuracy racing in NYC. Looking for the best I can get as we run through the buildings, or out of town on the trails.

This is not a good video because you not really comparing apples to apples.

I still use a vivoactive 3. As soon there are trees in the near, the pace goes off a lot. I don't even have to be in the forest, but on a trail with trees left and right but open sky. It seems the watch loses gps connection very fast. I hope this is much better with the new multi-band model. I probably go for the FR255.

Ran a certified 5K course today and started/stopped my Fenix 6X Pro at the right spots. Due to drift my watch said I went 3.17m instead of 3.11 and this messed with me a bit as the finish line was not in sight when my pacepro activity ended. Overall it's not worth upgrading to a 7 or Epix but more accuracy is always nice.

Can anyone give a feel for how much the difference in track accuracy adds up in distance over a several mile run?

I am going to get an Epix 2. Question is. Base or sapphire. Its price vs better gps, storage and screen.
I am a bit torn.. I will use it for ultra. So Id like accurate position when following a gps track. I guess the base model should be good enough?

Can you compare 255 vs fenix series for multiband?

No, multi-band means means every sattelote has two signals.

So why not use the more accurate gps format in Fenix 7?

How come Apple watch is more accurate than all these Garmin watches? Garmin, a company that specialises in GPS, should do better.

Good video, thanks

Thanks for the great video - very informative.

Having said that I wonder if you or anyone else has any tips or advice re a "Total Ascent" issue I am having on a Fenix 7 Solar (PS - experienced same on a Fenix 7S Solar).

I have tried so many variations of Barometer and Altimeter settings, Satelite Settings, Topo Maps On/Off, Elevation Calibration options (Auto, Manual, DEM), Data Log Frequency, etc, etc. Even tried wearing device on both wrists.
All to no avail as I am continuously receiving around a 20% over-reading in Total Ascent when compared to other units used on the same cycle (eg. Forerunner 735, Edge 520, Edge 830). Ultimately they all vary by a few meters here and there which I can totally understand and accept, but a 230m gain on a 74km cycle is simply unacceptable on a top tier device!

PLEASE HELP.

Thanks all!

Thanks for your work!! I needed this information to decide between the sapphire version of the new Garmin 7X that incorporates multiband GPS, or the normal 7X ... I definitely decide on the normal one. Thanks a lot

Awesome, was thinking that picking up the base model 7s did me an injustice since I got it on the low low, but seems to be a step up from my 6s Sapphire, so a win with the additional touch features. Thanks.

Hi fro Greece...
I have the fenix 6x pro which is a unique watch in all its features, the only problem I see when I run is the gps accuracy, on the map it shows me running on the roofs of the houses and the route is not a straight line but a zig zag .... I'm thinking of buying the forerunner 955 new, only for the multi band GPS. or, garmin fenix 7 sapphire solar (used 3 months in the same price as the forerunner 955....550 euro )...
Has Garmin finally fixed this bug with the maps? this problem is very serious,

is the GPS accurate in this models ? or like 6x pro ?

... what's your opinion is it worth it? or should I stay with the 6x pro...buying the forerunner 955.... or the fenix 7 sapphire solar (used ???)

Thank you very much, I appreciate your opinion and I await your advice

The fenix 7x sapphire solar watch has a major drawback, the screen in the menu as well as the messages that arrive when the phone is connected to the watch are set to black background and pale blue text (due to the poor finish of the sapphire glass, there is no white color, but pale blue  color) and that text is hard to read.  There is no option like on older models of garmin watches to change the background to be white or pale gray and the text to be black, which would be more legible.  (Inverter color or display color setting).  As soon as you sweat a little around your eyes during activities, you can't see clearly, or if you have a smaller (+ eye diopter) for reading, which most people over 40 have the same problem, you strain to read what is written on the screen.  Otherwise, the watch is excellently made, but this problem with the screen and the lack of an option to set the background to be white or gray and the text to be black, which is more pleasant and legible for the eye, makes the garmin fenix 7x sapphire solar watch unusable for many people and if not  documents in some software update the watch is a complete and utter failure.  I found a lot of the same comments in several forums which says that the problem is not innocuous.

Decent video. What I can't find info on is how to see tracks on my Fenix 7. Track Log is set to 'show' and color is set to 'magenta' yet I have not seen my tracks in Track Me, Map, Navigate or the mtb apps. When I search the internal memory for .gpx files there are none. The manual doesn't give enough detail on how to see tracks and I haven't found any info via the internet. How did you record and display the tracks from those watches?

But sometimes the gps can be macam taik wutoh btol...

Does multiband help or improve the pace shown on the watch? Or only for maps accuracy?

So all in all would you choose all systems, auto select or all multi band?

I realy like all your videos. The forerunner 965 have the same GPS i guess...