| Price | $599 | $699/699EUR | $549-$1,149 | $349 | $499 | $599/599EUR | $299 |
| Product Announcement Date | Jan 4th, 2017 | June 17th, 2018 | Aug 29th, 2019 | May 11th, 2016 | Mar 29th, 2017 | Apr 30th, 2019 | Oct 11th, 2018 |
| Actual Availability/Shipping Date | March 2017 | June 17th, 2018 | Aug 29th, 2019 | May 11th, 2016 | Mar 29th, 2017 | Early May 2019 | October 2018 |
| GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes (with Galileo too) | Yes (with Galileo too) | Yes | Yes | Yes (with Galileo too) | Yes |
| Data Transfer | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi (Sapphire only) | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi on Pro only | USB/Bluetooth Smart | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART |
| Waterproofing | Yes - 100m | Yes - 100m | Yes - 100m | Yes - 50m | Yes - 50m | Yes - 50m | 100 meters |
| Battery Life (GPS) | Up to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 75hrs in UltraTrac GPS | Up to 32hrs in GPS-on, up to 85hrs in UltraTrac GPS (varies by model) | 25hrs to 148hrs (depends on model) | 14 hours in GPS-on | Up to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 50hrs in UltraTrac GPS | 36hrs GPS, 60hrs UltraTrac | Up to 16 hours GPS (40hrs in UltraTrac) |
| Recording Interval | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart | 1S OR SMART | 1S or Smart | 1S or Smart | 1s or Smart Recording |
| Dual-Frequency GNSS | | | No | | | No | |
| Alerts | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Visual/Audio |
| Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Great | Good | Great | Great | Great |
| Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes | YEs | No |
| Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Music | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Can control phone music | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Has music storage and playback | No | Yes | Yes (Pro Only) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Streaming Services | No | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio | iHeartRadio, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon (Pro Only) | | No | Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio | N/A |
Payments | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Contactless-NFC Payments | No | Yes | Yes | | No | Yes | No |
Connectivity | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | No |
| Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | Yes (via phone) | No | No | Yes (via phone) | No |
| Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Cycling | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | No |
| Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | N/A |
| Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Strava segments live on device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crash detection | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Running | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | YEs | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR) | No |
| Running Power | With extra sensor | With extra sensor | With extra sensor | | WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (or 3rd party Stryd/RunScribe) | With extra sensor | No |
| VO2Max Estimation | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes | YEs | No |
| Race Predictor | Yes | Yes | Yes, plus PacePro | YEs | Yes | Yes | No |
| Recovery Advisor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | No |
| Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Track Recognition Mode | | | Yes | | | Yes | |
Swimming | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Openwater swimming mode | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
| Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Record HR underwater | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR) | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR) | Yes | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR) | Yes | No |
| Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes |
| Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Indoor auto-pause feature | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No (it'll show rest time afterwards though) | No |
| Change pool size | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | YEs | YEs | Yes |
| Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M | 14M/15Y TO 150Y/M |
| Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Triathlon | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Designed for triathlon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multisport mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Workouts | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-unit interval Feature | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | YEs | YEs | Yes |
| Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Functions | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Partner Feature | YEs | YEs | YEs | Yes | YEs | YEs | Yes |
| Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Weather Display (live data) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Navigate | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | YEs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Markers/Waypoint Direction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Saved locations only | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | Yes (5X Only) | Yes | Yes (Pro Only) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Back to start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
| Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | Yes (5X Only) | Yes | Yes (Pro Only) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sensors | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Altimeter Type | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric | GPS | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric |
| Compass Type | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic | GPS | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry) | No | Fenix 5X Plus only | Yes | | No | Yes | No |
| ECG Functionality | | | No | | | No | |
| Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs |
| ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Lighting Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| ANT+ Remote Control | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | No | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | No (Yes for VIRB camera control) |
| ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | | YEs | Yes | No |
| Shimano Di2 Shifting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YEs | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | YEs |
| Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | nO | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | YEs | YEs | YEs | nO | YEs | YEs | No |
| Temp Recording (internal sensor) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | YEs | Yes | Yes |
| Temp Recording (external sensor) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Software | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express |
| Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect |
| Phone App | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows Phone | iOS/Android/Windows |
| Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Purchase | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Amazon | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |
| Backcountry.com | Link | | Link | | | Link | Link |
| Competitive Cyclist | Link | | Link | | | Link | Link |
| REI | | | Link | Link | | Link | Link |
DCRainmaker | Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) | Garmin Fenix 6 Series | Garmin Forerunner 735XT | Garmin Forerunner 935 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Garmin Instinct | | Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |