Garmin Fenix 7 / Epix Base Model vs Sapphire Comparison - Is It Worth the Upgrade?!

Garmin Fenix 7s

Garmin Fenix 7

Garmin Fenix 7x

Garmin Tactix 7

Garmin Epix Gen 2

Garmin Fenix 6

Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE

Garmin Venu 2 Plus

FTC Disclaimer: The links above are affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. This does not affect you as a customer at all, but it does help support this channel!

**CTS Merch Store! Hats, Shirts, and More!**

**Want to help? Support this channel on Patreon!**

**Follow Me!**

**Join the Conversation on Discord!**

**Want to send me something?**
Chase the Summit
1751 Main Street # 843
Tewksbury, MA, 01876

**Supplements and Nutrition I Take**

**Wellness Tech I Use**

**Running / Outdoor Gear I Use**

**Camera / YouTube Gear I Use**

00:00 - Intro / Overview
01:10 - TLDR - Buy Sapphire if you can afford it!
02:25 - Fenix 7 / Epix Model Comparison
02:53 - Gray vs Black - a subtle difference
03:21 - Fenix 7 / Epix Sapphire Only Features
05:21 - Sapphire vs Gorilla Glass Visibility Deep Dive
08:41 - Fenix 7 Backlight Contrast Quality
09:26 - Fenix 7 / Epix Screen Protector Compatibility
10:16 - Final Thoughts

[matthewmackay]

I like this format of focusing on one aspect and drilling down in detail. Makes for a quick informative video. Thanks Dave.

[ted]

Don't apologize for nerdy videos. These have the most value as every other reviewer says the same obvious things. Keep it up :)

[Scratchen]

I’d love to see more specific videos like this. GPS, charging speed, backlight settings and so on.

[TwoTwenty]

This was exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to focus on some things that aren't the "normal"

[Ironie]

I've got the Fenix 7s Sapphire Solar.
And damn its the best watch i ever used.
Lightweight, very good gps accuracy and all the other known stuff.
If you can afford go for the 7s sapphire.

[MrCacarocha]

I bought the 7x sapphire solar and it was almost impossible to see the screen indoors and 7x is huge! I changed it for fenix 7 regular glass and it’s better. You can see the screen easier and soo much lighter than the 7x

Update: I bought a protector glass on amazon and it works perfect.

[vanderslagmulders]

Thanks man, great info, just the right amount of nerdiness for me👍👍

[Ghostina]

Since I had very good experience with my Fenix3 sapphire - still working only scratch marks on the bezel - I went straight for the Epix2 sapphire as a upgrade after 7 years.

[tomihonkavaara]

I must make a small correction that "The same sapphire glass glare situation" doesn't apply to mechanical Omegas. Expensive mechanical watches usually have an anti reflective coatings on both sides of the sapphire glass, plus the glass itself is slightly curved. A dome shaped. The end result is that it rather looks like not having a glass at all than having a reflective glass. Overall I like your videos. Keep up the good work.

[Fozzee.]

Love my silver base model Epix. I’ll take the clearer display any day. Had a 6xpro with standard glass with no marks worn 24/7. The GPS is miles better without multiband anyway. Saved myself £120.

[BobMarnySK]

Switched from 6 Pro Solar to 7X Solar. I don’t care about sapphire, because I had zero scratches on my 6 and Casio ProTrek I’ve used before Garmin. I was acctualy worry that I will scratch the Titanium bezel easier than steel one, cause it’s softer material. I don’t believe DLC is on the same level as it is in some real industry and instruments. Maybe I’m wrong, no hate there 🙂 Happy for those I’ve got ✌️

[ArnoldTuinman]

I took the plunge on a base 7s. Mainly because sapphire only comes with Solar which will take an additional €200, -/€300, - in Europe.
My personal experience with Gorilla Glass is that it is pretty durable. (at least enough for me) Also not all color combo’s are available in all variations so that may affect the actual decision as well. I personally are not a fan of black watches so the white/stainless color on the base 7s was spot on for me.

[kaiserphoenix]

Thanks to this channel, I went out and bought the Garmin Epix (sapphire) and I think I cant go back to the normal screen after experiencing the AMOLED display. Its just gorgeous and so much easier to see and operate. Despite Chase's warning that if the sun does shine from behind and perpendicular to the watch face, the Epix is still extremely legible at least in my experience. This is def the one to go for. I wish they had a non dlc titanium grey model WITH sapphire and mutiband gps. I have no idea why they released 2 different Epix configurations...

[tyrelfnx]

I bought the 7x sapphire solar and I love it so much! Very good investment

[johnbellis]

I'm looking at buying a Garmin but at the end of the day I have to ask myself what is it I actually need compared to what I think I need. There is a vast difference!

[xc]

Very useful video please keep doing these. I think I would of been abit butthurt with the dullness of the saphire screens in low light on the fenix, I put off upgrading from my 745 when they first came out, still miss the brightness and low reflectivity of it but I like my fenix 7 solar and would of paid more for the titanium and extra storage/gps if you could get it in non sapphire.

[GuadalupeGonzalez-kkut]

Can’t wait to get my fénix 7x sapphire solar. Upgrading from a fénix 3 hr 6 years old!

[pgalive]

Thanks for the great review. Been having a hard time which model of the 7 to go for. Well bit the bullet and went for the Sapphire Solar… After buying the base model and returning it! happy I did or else I’d have always that niggling feeling … I should have got the best one! Anyway you made my mind up! Thanks

[scottbucc]

Really appreciate your time and skills making these videos. This helped me decide between The Epix 2 Sapphire and the Felix 7X Sapphire. Great content!

[runnerup]

Now I'm looking at buying a Fenix or Epix 2 I'm loving all the videos you did! You're answering all the questions I have!