How to find the right product for you
This Product Comparison Calculator will allow you to compare products in one of two ways. Choose from the two dropdown menus below to auto-populate the product boxes with results, or click on the product boxes to activate your own personalized choices. Once the product boxes are shaded per your liking, click the “COMPARE NOW” button to retrieve a customized product comparison graph.
Currently there are eight product types:
– Watches (and bike computers!!!!)
– Trainers (for cycling indoors)
– Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
– Power meters (for cycling)
– Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
– Heart Rate Sensors (Straps and Optical sensors that measure HR)
– Trainer Apps (for cycling indoors on trainers)
– Drones (primarily sport focused options)
For trainers, the focus is primarily on computer-integrated trainers that provide resistance control. Additionally, like the watches I only include units that I’ve personally reviewed and/or used.
Select product use/budget for a comparison from the drop down menus:
Note: While many running watches have a basic bike mode, only running units that are multi-sport focused are also included in the bike-only results (in addition to bike-specific units). Hiking units are those that include a Barometric Altimeter, Magnetic Compass and navigational functions.
Or select products for comparison by clicking the product boxes below:
Comparison Results:
Function/Feature | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
---|---|---|---|---|
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated April 29th, 2021 @ 4:56 am New Window | ||||
Price | $549 | $499 | $249 | $169 (on sale) |
Product Announcement Date | January 5th, 2015 | January 5th, 2015 | Oct 1st, 2014 | January 5th, 2015 |
Actual Availability/Shipping Date | May 2015 | February 2015 | Early Oct 2014 | March 2015 |
GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data Transfer | USB/Bluetooth Smart | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART |
Waterproofing | Yes - 50m | Yes - 100m | Yes - 50m | 50 meters |
Battery Life (GPS) | Up to 50hrs in GPS | Up to 50hrs in GPS | UP TO 40HRS IN GPS | 10 hours GPS on |
Recording Interval | 1S OR SMART | 1S OR SMART | 1s or Smart | Smart Recording (Variable) |
Alerts | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Visual |
Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Great | Good |
Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Music | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Can control phone music | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Has music storage and playback | No | No | No | No | Connectivity | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Bluetooth Smart to Phone Uploading | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | No | No |
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for cycling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power Meter Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | With some Connect IQ apps (but cannot record data) |
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | YEs | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | YEs | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Strava segments live on device | No | No | No | No | Running | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES (Also has INTERNAL ACCELEROMETER) |
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | With HRM-TRI or HRM-RUN (Gen1 only, no Gen2 Running Dynamics) | With HRM-TRI or HRM-RUN | With HRM-TRI or HRM-RUN | No |
VO2Max Estimation | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Race Predictor | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Recovery Advisor | YEs | Yes | Yes | No |
Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Swimming | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Openwater swimming mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Record HR underwater | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | With HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM | No |
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | YEs | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Indoor auto-pause feature | No | No | No | No |
Change pool size | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M | 17M/18Y TO 150Y/M |
Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Triathlon | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Designed for triathlon | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Multisport mode | YEs | Yes | Yes | No | Workouts | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Create/Follow custom workouts | YEs | Yes | Yes | No |
On-unit interval Feature | Yes | YEs | Yes | No |
Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Functions | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Virtual Racer Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Only on Garmin Connect |
Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | Only with Garmin Bluechart g2 maps (extra) | No | No | No |
Weather Display (live data) | With Connect IQ | Yes | Yes | Via Connect IQ app | Navigate | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | Yes | YEs | Yes | No |
Markers/Waypoint Direction | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | Yes | No | No | No |
Back to start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No | No |
Download courses/routes from phone to unit | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Sensors | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Altimeter Type | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric | GPS |
Compass Type | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic | GPS |
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | No | No | No |
Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | YEs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ANT+ Power Meter Capable | YEs | Yes | Yes | No |
ANT+ Lighting Control | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Remote Control | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | No (can control VIRB though) | Yes for Garmin VIRB |
ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No | No |
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | No | ||
Shimano Di2 Shifting | No | Coming in update | Yes | No |
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | No | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | No | No | no |
Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | No | No | No |
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | No | No | No |
Temp Recording (internal sensor) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Temp Recording (external sensor) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (Tempe) | Software | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
PC Application | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express | Garmin Express |
Web Application | 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 |
Ability to Export Settings | No | No | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Amazon | Link | Link | Link | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Epix | Garmin Fenix3 | Garmin Forerunner 920XT | Garmin Vivoactive |
Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |