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Descent Mk2S vs Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED

Garmin Descent Mk2S vs Garmin Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED

What Descent Mk2S does better (3) and where Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED wins (8) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2021Descent Mk2S

4.5Score

3 advantages≈ $1,000

Garmin · 2024Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED

6.0Score

8 advantages≈ $1,000

Higher score

2.9Display5.7

2.2Battery life3.6

4.9Health tracking8.3

4.8Sports & outdoor8.2

6.5Smart features3.2

9.6Build & durability8.0

Dimensions

Size comparison

Descent Mk2SFenix 8 43mm AMOLED

	Descent Mk2S	Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED	Difference
Height	43 mm	43 mm	=
Width	43 mm	43 mm	=
Thickness	14.2 mm	13.8 mm	+0.3 mm
Weight	60 g	66 g	−6 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Descent Mk2S better than Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED?

Rated dive depth100 m vs 40 m2.5×
Weight60 g vs 66 g+10%
Battery saver mode21 days vs 15 days+40%

Why is Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED better than Descent Mk2S?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)7 days vs 10 days+43%
GPS battery life18 h vs 28 h+56%
AMOLED / OLED displayNo · Descent Mk2S: Yes
Sport profiles44 vs 992.2×
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.3″+8%
Resolution (width)240 px vs 416 px+73%
Pixel density200 ppi vs 320 ppi+60%
Thickness14.2 mm vs 13.8 mm+3%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Descent Mk2S≈ $1,0004.5	Garmin Fenix 8 43mm AMOLED≈ $1,0006.0
Design & durability
Case size	43 mm	43 mm
Weight	60 g	66 g
Thickness	14.2 mm	13.8 mm
Height	43 mm	43 mm
Width	43 mm	43 mm
Case material	Stainless steel	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	Yes	Yes
Lens / cover glass	sapphire crystal	Corning® Gorilla® Glass or sapphire crystal
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	10 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	Dive (100 meters)	10 ATM
Rated dive depth	100 m	40 m
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.3″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	AMOLED
Panel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	No	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	—
Touchscreen	—	Yes
Resolution (width)	240 px	416 px
Resolution (height)	240 px	416 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	320 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	7 days	10 days
Battery life with always-on display	—	4 days
Battery saver mode	21 days	15 days
GPS battery life	18 h	28 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	21 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary clip charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
ECG	—	Yes
Skin temperature	—	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Depth sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor, Depth sensor
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	Yes	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	44	99
Dive mode	Yes	Yes
LED flashlight	—	Yes
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Calls from the wrist	—	Yes
Speaker	—	Yes
Microphone	—	Yes
Voice assistant	—	Yes
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	32 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android