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Fenix 8 51mm Solar vs Fenix 9 51mm

Garmin Fenix 8 51mm Solar vs Garmin Fenix 9 51mm

What Fenix 8 51mm Solar does better (4) and where Fenix 9 51mm wins (6) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2024Fenix 8 51mm Solar

7.5Score

4 advantages≈ $1,100

Garmin · 2026Fenix 9 51mm

8.6Score

6 advantages≈ $1,100

Higher score

4.4Display7.5

9.3Battery life8.4

8.3Health tracking8.3

8.2Sports & outdoor8.2

3.2Smart features3.2

6.2Build & durability6.5

Dimensions

Size comparison

Fenix 8 51mm SolarFenix 9 51mm

	Fenix 8 51mm Solar	Fenix 9 51mm	Difference
Height	51 mm	51 mm	=
Width	51 mm	51 mm	=
Thickness	15.4 mm	14.7 mm	+0.7 mm
Weight	95 g	91 g	+4 g

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

Why is Fenix 8 51mm Solar better than Fenix 9 51mm?

GPS battery life95 h vs 54 h+76%
Battery life (smartwatch mode)30 days vs 29 days+3%
GPS battery life (dual-band)52 h vs 45 h+16%
Battery saver mode48 days vs 42 days+14%

Why is Fenix 9 51mm better than Fenix 8 51mm Solar?

AMOLED / OLED displayNo · Fenix 8 51mm Solar: Yes
Storage32 GB vs 64 GB2×
Weight95 g vs 91 g+4%
Resolution (width)280 px vs 454 px+62%
Pixel density200 ppi vs 324 ppi+62%
Thickness15.4 mm vs 14.7 mm+5%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Fenix 8 51mm Solar≈ $1,1007.5	Garmin Fenix 9 51mm≈ $1,1008.6
Design & durability
Case size	51 mm	51 mm
Weight	95 g	91 g
Thickness	15.4 mm	14.7 mm
Height	51 mm	51 mm
Width	51 mm	51 mm
Case material	Titanium	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	Yes	Yes
Lens / cover glass	Power Sapphire ™	sapphire crystal
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	10 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	10 ATM	10 ATM
Rated dive depth	40 m	40 m
Display
Screen size	1.4″	1.4″
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	Yes
Resolution (width)	280 px	454 px
Resolution (height)	280 px	454 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	324 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	30 days	29 days
Battery saver mode	48 days	42 days
GPS battery life	95 h	54 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	52 h	45 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	Lithium ion
Solar charging	Yes	—
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
ECG	Yes	Yes
Skin temperature	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	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	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	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	Yes	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	99	99
Dive mode	Yes	Yes
LED flashlight	Yes	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	Yes
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Voice assistant	Yes	Yes
Music on the watch	Yes	Yes
Storage	32 GB	64 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android