Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Pros and Cons: My Long-Term (Mostly Great) Experience

I bought my Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) back in August 2023. It’s a big, beefy smartwatch that’s built for serious fitness tracking. Compared to my Apple Watch, this thing feels like a powerhouse. But it’s not perfect. There are pros. There are cons. Let’s get into them…

Pros

1. Insane Battery Life

This is hands down the number one reason I love this watch. I can go up to 16 days on a single charge. Yes, 16 days. That’s mind-blowing compared to any Apple Watch I’ve ever owned, which needs a charge every day (and sometimes twice a day if I’m doing a lot of GPS-based activity tracking).

Not only do I not have to plan my workouts around charging schedules, I don’t have to carry a charger on multi-day trips either.

2. Durability and Build Quality

After two years of near-daily use, this watch still looks great. The front face is scratch free, and the case has held up extremely well. The band hasn’t worn out either. I’ve taken this thing on runs, bike rides, hikes, and all sorts of sweaty workouts, and it still looks brand new(ish).

3. Sunlight Readability

The display is excellent outdoors. Even on bright sunny days, I can see everything clearly. This is a big deal for me because I mostly only wear it outside when exercising (I don’t always wear it 24/7).

4. Fitness and Sleep Tracking Accuracy

My Epix Pro gets sleep tracking right about 80% of the time. It gives me a good breakdown of deep sleep, light sleep, and awake time. It’s a lot more accurate than the sleep tracking on my Apple Watch Series 8.

5. Rugged Aesthetic

I love the way the second generation Epix Pro looks. It’s rugged, masculine, and just plain cool. Yeah, it’s thick, but I think the design fits the personality of the watch. It doesn’t look cheap or flimsy in any way.

6. Surprisingly Lightweight

For its size, the Epix Pro is impressively light. I’ve worn other large watches in the past that felt like bricks on my wrist. This one doesn’t. Garmin did a great job balancing size and weight so it’s comfortable for long runs or rides.

Cons

1. Overall Size

This is a big watch. I knew that when I bought it, but it’s still something I notice every time that I strap it on. I have small wrists, so the 47mm case doesn’t look very graceful on me, and it makes it impossible to wear 24/7. I eventually learned that I couldn’t sleep with it on because it’s just too bulky.

2. Confusing User Interface

After all these years, I still get confused about what all the buttons do. There’s a learning curve, and honestly, I never fully mastered it. If I want to start a specific workout, I have to stop and think about which button to press. Sometimes I guess wrong and have to backtrack. It’s not intuitive, especially compared to the Apple Watch.

3. Grime Build-Up

The Epix Pro has a lot of little crevices, screw holes, and design details where sweat, dust, and dirt collect. I’ll always notice grime in those spots after a long run or bike ride. Cleaning it is a chore, and it gets downright disgusting if I don’t stay on top of it.

The Apple Watch, by comparison, is smooth and easy to wipe down.

4. Occasional Sleep Tracking Glitches

I mentioned earlier that the sleep tracking is good overall, but it’s not perfect. About 20% of the time, it either misreads my sleep or doesn’t track it at all. I’ll wake up and see “No Data” on the screen. Not the end of the world, but a little annoying.

5. Thickness and Comfort

This ties back to the size, but the thickness deserves its own mention. The watch sits high on the wrist and can catch on sleeves or jacket cuffs. Wearing tight-fitting clothing is a no go with this thing.