A few of you have pointed out that the Solar Charge isn't as effective when the battery is fully charged. I suppose I should have known this 🤦♂️ . I'll be re-running this test along with the Instinct Solar side by side to get a better understanding of the impact of the solar panel. I'll do a much longer duration, and also have the battery levels much lower at the start. Thanks foe the feedback!
As the Solar panel seems designed to feed directly the watch and not recharging the Fenix battery, I assume it won't change anything in the result. ;-)
@@supotube Where is it written "overheating" in the manual ?!!! I can read: "Tips for Solar Charging To maximize the battery life of your watch, follow these tips. When you are wearing the watch, avoid covering the face with your sleeve. When you are not wearing the watch, point the face toward a source of bright light, such as sunlight or fluorescent light. The watch will charge faster when exposed to sunlight, because the solar charging lens is optimized for the spectrum of sunlight. For maximum battery performance, charge the watch in bright sunlight. NOTE: The watch protects itself from overheating and stops charging automatically if the internal temperature exceeds the solar charging temperature threshold (Specifications). NOTE: The watch does not solar charge when connected to an external power source or when the battery is full."
The solar charger doesn't even turn on until the battery is below 98% since charging a full battery can damage it. The icon on the watchface during the first test even shows that the solar charging is disabled due to full battery.
@@ChaseTheSummit one thing you might try is running it closer to 50%. On a lot of batteries they need time to chemically "relax" after coming off a charger so testing them near complete capacity is imprecise.
@@AlephnullfulI have an instinct Solar coming soon so I'll rerun this test with both watches using longer duration and lower battery percentages. Thanks!
I have never seen anything about the Solar panel recharging the battery. It bypasses the battery and directly feed the watch. At least this how the 6X Solar was presented one year ago. The solar panel is NOT a recharging solution just a way to add stamina as the watch is less draining the battery helped by the solar panel. My two cents.
That's a very interesting result. I was assuming the change would be 2% on solar vs 6-8% without the top up. Great work. Really hope you can do some more testing on this
Instinct Solar all the way. Great videos... enjoy your channel. It is nice having solar on the Fenix to offset power use. In my tests... solar just wasn’t worth it... on the Instinct Solar... actually had good results... even with a screen protector.
I wonder if the test results would have been different if you had actually moved around and kept the gps actively working the whole time. Perhaps a driving test would yield a different result.
It certainly would have. I just wanted to keep it consistent and repeatable in the "best case scenario" to prove out the potential of the solar feature. Thanks for watching!
You want to put that watch into test mode to see if you can find the exact voltage. The other problem with this test is that the solar doesn’t really kick on until the watch is a bit lower on battery as others have commented. Good work on the test though! :) Keep up the good content.
To be honest, your test wasn’t that long either to really see the difference. The whole point of the solar feature is for people who are going on extended hikes or ultrarunning (you did mention the running part). I got the Tactix Delta Solar for the Sapphire Powerglass and for long hikes. I’ve still got nine days remaining about 4 days and several runs later.
Thanks, i was interested in the wonderful IDEA of a solar watch. So naturally i youtubed and searched for the sun charging capability, of all the reviews you are the only one i’m aware of that actually tested it. Solar charging is not worth the extra price, it seems.
I hit "like" for the tomatoes. Also because we have the same grill. Isn't it amazing how well tomatoes do in a deck container? I had a Garmin I used in some ultras. It was most useful for heart rate in the first several hours. It nagged me about getting a hot start. After it ran out of battery I would trade out for an ordinary watch. This watch could change that.
Ha! Yeah it was surprisingly how well they did out on the deck. This was the first year we attempted that! The Solar feature certainly has potential but I think they need some generations to make it super efficient. Right now it doesn't add a lot unless you're in glaring sunlight all day. Thanks for watching!
likely when you are stationery, the GPS is not sending signals to the satellite. So, there is no power loss. Next time, Try to cover it up when you are running and when GPS is working (and compare with not covering up). Another video to share what your result is.
Interesting test, my opinion is you should try again with maybe 3 hours 2 days in a row at the same starting time like when the sun is nearly 90° to the horizon. In any case charging effect is not much I think this was more of a test by Garmin to gauge market interest in solar charging for their products.
Noted! I'll be running another test as other viewers pointed out that the Solar charge isn't as effective when the battery is topped off. Thanks for watching.
I think you'd need longer testing to see the difference, it's only 2% so your resolution is very small and you don't have any decimal places either. So the watch will round up from say 97.50% to 98%. (Say that's what it would be for the test without solar). And round down from 98.49% to 98% (say for the test with solar). In those extreme cases the watch both days 98% but you actually have like a 40% increase in battery life with solar.
Thanks for the feedback Michael. I did actually revisit this test (in another video). You're right that the longer tests can provide more resolution. Another viewer pointed out that this test was invalid as well because when the watch has 95%+ battery it doesn't actually utilize the solar cell.
Hi! I need your quick answer as i need to decide today... 6X Pro or 6X Pro Solar? Solar version is 850 USD in my country while the non-solar 6X Pro version is 583 USD. Does the Solar worth ~270 USD more money? I wouldn't think so, but i can not decide. My longest run will be ~18 hours next year, so battery performance will not be a problem for at least more than one year. Thank you in advance!
Solar on the Fenix 6/6X isn't super impressive and doesn't really help unless you get a ton of sunlight in my experience. I'd say go for the Sapphire if you were considering the Solar because it's way more durable than Gorilla Glass. Otherwise the regular Pro is a great watch (just pick up a screen protector!) Thanks for watching!
Hi, I have question about display when compare between Fenix 6 pro solar and Fenix 6 sapphire in terms of color of backlight . Which one is better display quality? black color washout.
It's kind of a gamble when it comes to Garmin watches. Luck of the draw which kind of display you'll get unfortunately. The model doesn't really matter. Hope that helps!
The Solar Feature doesn't charge the watch per say. It's designed to mitigate battery loss during use. You'll still need to plug it in, just less often if you get lots of sunlight.
Seems like the newer Fenix 6's don't have the issue as commonly. Seems like older stock at retailers may still be problematic. Hard to say! But mine are pretty contrasty and black/white. Thanks for watching!
Yes I'll be doing this. A few viewers have mentioned that Solar is more effective at lower battery levels and longer durations. I'll also be receiving an Instinct Solar this week so I'll put them side by side. Thanks!
About as tough as the screen on an IPhone. It will scratch if abused. Mine already has unfortunately. Garmin warns about using screen protectors and solar efficiency but I havent seen any negative effects.
Thanks for the test....but my guess is that you will need to make a much longer test, something like a 3h...4h (at least) test to see some differences.
The percentage is nonsense because it means whatever the manufacturer wants it to mean. Instead, energy stored in a battery should be measured as voltage.
No, voltage doesn't tell you anything. It'll just tell you 12VDC, etc. That's not an indicator of how much energy is stored. That's voltage, and voltage only. You can have a battery close to death and it'll still show 12VDC. What does is mAh, which you need a battery tester to check.
The solar feature is meant for longevity. If you don't need your watch nonstop for more than 24hrs., you don't need the solar power feature. That's the only reason anyone needs solar power, in ANY situation.
For sure, but I think it also depends on your activity. I'm mainly a trail runner and spend a lot of time in tree cover where solar isn't quite as advantageous. Thanks for watching!
I would guess that the gps sensor doesnt drain much battery when the clock isn't moving. Maybe with actual rrunning, this would have had a different outcome? Anyways thanks for the video.
Garmin states that a screen protector will reduce the efficiency of solar power in their documentation and they don't recommend using one. So it's really up to you.
Thanks for taking the time to make this. I’m in the northeast as well so I appreciate you out in the MA sun for comparison. How’s the durability so far on that titanium bezel? I’ve heard those get super scratched up but the sapphire glass remains pristine
Hey Neighbor! So far so good. Mine hasn't been too abused yet but I've got some Mountain adventures coming up (up in the whites!) that will put it to the test. I'm trying not to "baby" it too much. Thanks for watching.
So far so good. To be fair I've been mainly on the pavement but there's been trails here or there. Still no scratches. I'm sure there will be at some point.
@@ChaseTheSummit cool thanks. I was waiting for the galaxy watch 3 to see what it had but at 430 bucks ill pass. I can get the 6 solar for 599 so ima just do that
I have the Garmin insinct solar and I've been really disappointed with the battery life. Maybe my expectations are to high. Currently I'm thinking of sending back and getting something else.
That's interesting. The Instinct has much more efficient solar panels thanks to its overlay. What specifically has disappointing you? You could also try turning down your back light brightness. That tends to eat the battery!
@@ChaseTheSummit I have the settings as low as possible. Also on my work days I leave the watch in my window to get extra light. I guess I was expecting more b/c for 400 dollars it's not it might not beat my 60 watch. I think I might get the forerunner with the trans reflective screen.
You may not have been blocking all light by having it in bright shade and translucent white cover. Covering the bottle cap in electrical tape would be better.
Great idea for comparing and clever tapping of the solar panel ! :-) I really think the Solar feature is done to keep the battery up when no GPS or any draining function is on. And it is much more spectacular on the Solar Instinct which is less battery consuming in ABC watch mode than the Fenix.
@@ChaseTheSummit The Solar Instinct seems to be able to recharge the battery in ABC mode: better solar panel and low consommation display. But it would be slow. Casio has already been in that problematic with its 2018 Rangeman Beast. ;-)
But i loved more the Oakley hahaha keep it up man I'm trying to familiarize my fenix 6 pro solar, this no big difference with the 6s right? Just the size?
Hi, thank you for your very thorough review, I have been using Fenix since the Fenix 2, I am currently using the 5Plus, because my eyesight has taken a turn for the worse, I would like to upgrade to 6X (better screen resolution etc). I don't know if it is worth at this point to go for solar. I am big fan of sustainability and would love to see a fully solar fenix even a watch charging from kinetic energy but do you think the technology is worth the extra money right now? It is a bit too expensive for something that is just gimmicky. Btw I live in England, not as rainy as it used to be but not Arizona. Thanks
It depends how much sunlight you get. For me, as a trail runner there's not a lot of benefit to the Solar feature since I'm typically under tree cover. Thanks for watching!
I have this device and have been very disappointed in the solar charging. I kept the device in full sun for 10 hours. The battery continued to drain. I called Garmin and was told the solar feature does NOT increase the battery. The solar function will only slow the drain of the battery. The solar function will NOT increase the battery life. I can not recommend this device after my experience.
That's correct. The solar function was never designed to charge the device. Rather to mitigate the loss of charge. The Instinct Solar has a much more effective solar implementation but it's also not as full featured as the Fenix.
Nice review. I think it's not worth the solar capabilities because of the small solar panel on the watch. Instinct has a bigger solar panel and maybe is doing better. Btw nice tatoo in Greek. Cheers from Greece.
Thanks! Yeah it's a little gimmicky at this point. I just posted a review about the Instinct Solar and you're correct. It has a MUCH more efficient solar panel. Thanks for watching!
The Fenix Solar is on sale in my area and I’m tempted to go for it but with rumours of the 7 coming I’m not sure if I should wait. Don’t want to pull the trigger if the 7 comes out in a few weeks. Any thoughts?
Lots of folks in that situation. I'd say if you need something now buy something now. The upgrade may or may not be worth it and it will certainly cost more money than the current Fenix 6.
From my wasted hours of research it's not worth it getting the solar. If you really want solar that works the garmin instinct solar has a noticeable working solar glass but is lacking in several smartwatch features.
That's not how you test a solar feature, you need to actually run with it. Most solar panels if they are in shade even one small part of it, they don't receive any current. I'd say is a very expensive gimmick.
After a year of using Garmin Solar watches I can't say they're tremendously beneficial. The Instinct Solar has a much more useful solar face but it's still not great if you find yourself in the trees often like myself. Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit I like your videos, just got my first watch, a 6s pro solar by someone else's mistake, i paid for a 6s pro. I however love the gray colour, but not sure it worths the extra thickness.
Great review! By the way, tattoo on your forearm...you're either Greek and you miss someone or you miss someone but like the way it looks in Greek lettering. I wager it's the first :)
I don't think deciding on this option comes down to merely couple pennies, or statistics, the fact that Garmin made this needs to be supported, all solar tech needs to be treated as get used to it bc it's inevitable, but let's speed up the process past what the oil co's and utilities see as proper(bc we know that's as slow as possible, or until they had a chance to buy up all the solar tech and control the industry,then it's ok...F$#k no, excuse the french, let's make it roll ppl, and IF YOU HAVE TO go by statistics and whether you save 50$ here or there, you have to add in the cost of lithium ion batteries to the disposal, or recycling or out on a barge somewhere falling off into the ocean bc the heap was too big...nearly everything solar related saves lots of $ in the long run or big picture, besides the present... Ppl misguidedly compare ot contrast costs with solar panels on roofs, "my roof is too sloped, doesn't face South has a tree blocking it..it's going to cost 40,k and I'm only going to get 50% of my total electricity if I did what my house was capable"..so? It only pays for itself in 15 years(,which almost every panel is warranted to minimally) and if power ever went out I'd still be the only one on the block with power? I have a roof system(paid for and owned, not the leased bs they try pushing) that can't be taken away and if the world ever collapsed I'd still have power to nearly the whole house...I'm not seeing how it's still a no brainer, no matter what % of total usage it provides...ever thought about using less? Like there are so many variables true, and they all work in moving into solar favor..every variable some 9\10 of them are pro solar, the only ones against are dollars and cents, the roof wasn't doing any other services, and I was a roof and solar salesman for 2!years soni know how important the roof is, but making sure it's solid goes hand in hand with solar bc it makes you more cognizant of your roof...I would say using a small fraction of savings to bet against anything solar-that is relatively efficient and we'll made- is pennywise pound foolish my friend sorry
I went for the non-solar version and it's more than enough for my needs battery-wise. Solar version, in my opinion, is only useful if you go on very long treks. Besides, I live in the UK and let's face it, there's only sunshine for like one month of the year 😂
A few of you have pointed out that the Solar Charge isn't as effective when the battery is fully charged. I suppose I should have known this 🤦♂️ . I'll be re-running this test along with the Instinct Solar side by side to get a better understanding of the impact of the solar panel. I'll do a much longer duration, and also have the battery levels much lower at the start. Thanks foe the feedback!
As the Solar panel seems designed to feed directly the watch and not recharging the Fenix battery, I assume it won't change anything in the result. ;-)
@@jean-manuelmoreau6471 it is written in manual. This function has to prevent recharging battery and overheating.
cant wait
@@supotube Please point me to that manual page. I haven't found it.
@@supotube
Where is it written "overheating" in the manual ?!!! I can read:
"Tips for Solar Charging
To maximize the battery life of your watch, follow these tips.
When you are wearing the watch, avoid covering the face with your sleeve.
When you are not wearing the watch, point the face toward a source of bright light, such as sunlight or fluorescent light.
The watch will charge faster when exposed to sunlight, because the solar charging lens is optimized for the spectrum of sunlight.
For maximum battery performance, charge the watch in bright sunlight.
NOTE: The watch protects itself from overheating and stops charging automatically if the internal temperature exceeds the solar charging temperature threshold (Specifications).
NOTE: The watch does not solar charge when connected to an external power source or when the battery is full."
The solar charger doesn't even turn on until the battery is below 98% since charging a full battery can damage it. The icon on the watchface during the first test even shows that the solar charging is disabled due to full battery.
Ooh! Good to know. I guess I'll have to run this test again. Thanks for the tip!
@@ChaseTheSummit one thing you might try is running it closer to 50%. On a lot of batteries they need time to chemically "relax" after coming off a charger so testing them near complete capacity is imprecise.
@@AlephnullfulI have an instinct Solar coming soon so I'll rerun this test with both watches using longer duration and lower battery percentages. Thanks!
@@ChaseTheSummit no problem dude, good luck!
I have never seen anything about the Solar panel recharging the battery.
It bypasses the battery and directly feed the watch.
At least this how the 6X Solar was presented one year ago.
The solar panel is NOT a recharging solution just a way to add stamina as the watch is less draining the battery helped by the solar panel. My two cents.
just do a 10 hour hike during the day then do the same route at night. That should give us what were looking for.
update?
Thats too much work lol
haha
That's a very interesting result. I was assuming the change would be 2% on solar vs 6-8% without the top up. Great work. Really hope you can do some more testing on this
Instinct Solar all the way. Great videos... enjoy your channel. It is nice having solar on the Fenix to offset power use. In my tests... solar just wasn’t worth it... on the Instinct Solar... actually had good results... even with a screen protector.
I wonder if the test results would have been different if you had actually moved around and kept the gps actively working the whole time. Perhaps a driving test would yield a different result.
It certainly would have. I just wanted to keep it consistent and repeatable in the "best case scenario" to prove out the potential of the solar feature. Thanks for watching!
It’s a big price hike for the solar version, and you can find some of the regular models for sale, too.
The 6S Pro is on sale for £499 now. £740 is too much.
I love your videos ...very informative! thanks! 🙂
Thank you!
Fenix 6 sapphire vs F6 solar? Which would you choose for the same cost?
Thanks. I won't buy the solar watch for sure, but now I'm questioning garmin also.
There's a lot to choose from!
You want to put that watch into test mode to see if you can find the exact voltage. The other problem with this test is that the solar doesn’t really kick on until the watch is a bit lower on battery as others have commented. Good work on the test though! :) Keep up the good content.
To be honest, your test wasn’t that long either to really see the difference. The whole point of the solar feature is for people who are going on extended hikes or ultrarunning (you did mention the running part). I got the Tactix Delta Solar for the Sapphire Powerglass and for long hikes. I’ve still got nine days remaining about 4 days and several runs later.
It's because the solar charging only kicks on after the battery is below 50%. Charge it to 20% and repeat the test.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks, i was interested in the wonderful IDEA of a solar watch. So naturally i youtubed and searched for the sun charging capability, of all the reviews you are the only one i’m aware of that actually tested it. Solar charging is not worth the extra price, it seems.
Glad it was helpful!
I think the solar model looks so much better. I am vain enough for that to be a reason to pay extra for it
Robert M what looks better about it? It’s the same
@@viccao8431 I think the solar ring looks better than the large bezel.
Robert M pretty sure the bezel is the same size the solar just has a coloured one
Vic Cao No the bezel is smaller. Download the photos from the Garmin site and compare them.
I think if you're spending this kind of money you should get the look you want! Thanks for watching.
Great watch !
For sure!
I hit "like" for the tomatoes. Also because we have the same grill. Isn't it amazing how well tomatoes do in a deck container? I had a Garmin I used in some ultras. It was most useful for heart rate in the first several hours. It nagged me about getting a hot start. After it ran out of battery I would trade out for an ordinary watch. This watch could change that.
Ha! Yeah it was surprisingly how well they did out on the deck. This was the first year we attempted that! The Solar feature certainly has potential but I think they need some generations to make it super efficient. Right now it doesn't add a lot unless you're in glaring sunlight all day. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit I've thought the band has potential real estate for silicon. Thanks for making the video.
not sure the white cup blocks enough sunlight. IR? UV?
You might be right. I actually re-did this test in another video thanks to some viewer comments!
Off subject…What kind of sunglasses are those? Thanks for the review!
Oakley Twoface XL I think.
likely when you are stationery, the GPS is not sending signals to the satellite. So, there is no power loss.
Next time, Try to cover it up when you are running and when GPS is working (and compare with not covering up).
Another video to share what your result is.
Interesting test, my opinion is you should try again with maybe 3 hours 2 days in a row at the same starting time like when the sun is nearly 90° to the horizon. In any case charging effect is not much I think this was more of a test by Garmin to gauge market interest in solar charging for their products.
Noted! I'll be running another test as other viewers pointed out that the Solar charge isn't as effective when the battery is topped off. Thanks for watching.
I think you'd need longer testing to see the difference, it's only 2% so your resolution is very small and you don't have any decimal places either. So the watch will round up from say 97.50% to 98%. (Say that's what it would be for the test without solar). And round down from 98.49% to 98% (say for the test with solar). In those extreme cases the watch both days 98% but you actually have like a 40% increase in battery life with solar.
Thanks for the feedback Michael. I did actually revisit this test (in another video). You're right that the longer tests can provide more resolution. Another viewer pointed out that this test was invalid as well because when the watch has 95%+ battery it doesn't actually utilize the solar cell.
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks! I'll work on finding that other video! 👍
Just received mine today.
Awesome!
will this watch give me turn by turn directions on a navigational mode as via blue tooth, air pods? Thanks.
It does turn by turn direction but doesn’t have an audible voice guidance. It works based off of vibrations and arrows on the screen.
Hi! I need your quick answer as i need to decide today... 6X Pro or 6X Pro Solar? Solar version is 850 USD in my country while the non-solar 6X Pro version is 583 USD. Does the Solar worth ~270 USD more money? I wouldn't think so, but i can not decide. My longest run will be ~18 hours next year, so battery performance will not be a problem for at least more than one year. Thank you in advance!
Solar on the Fenix 6/6X isn't super impressive and doesn't really help unless you get a ton of sunlight in my experience. I'd say go for the Sapphire if you were considering the Solar because it's way more durable than Gorilla Glass. Otherwise the regular Pro is a great watch (just pick up a screen protector!) Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit wow, thank you very much for the quick answer! I will definitely add a screen protector. :)
Hi, I have question about display when compare between Fenix 6 pro solar and Fenix 6 sapphire in terms of color of backlight . Which one is better display quality? black color washout.
It's kind of a gamble when it comes to Garmin watches. Luck of the draw which kind of display you'll get unfortunately. The model doesn't really matter. Hope that helps!
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks
Am I right in saying that the 6x pro solar has better battery life than 6x pro?
It has a slight bump in baseline battery life but of course if you get a lot of sun exposure the Solar model will have an advantage.
Love the Oakley's. Which model are they?
Thanks! They're Oakley TwoFace XL's amzn.to/2HEwwHY
The solar feature interests me because I don’t want to have to plug my watch in to charge it.
The Solar Feature doesn't charge the watch per say. It's designed to mitigate battery loss during use. You'll still need to plug it in, just less often if you get lots of sunlight.
Does the screen have that terrible washed out blue hue the regular fenix pro 6 sapphire range has? a bit hard to tell..thanks for the video!
Seems like the newer Fenix 6's don't have the issue as commonly. Seems like older stock at retailers may still be problematic. Hard to say! But mine are pretty contrasty and black/white. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Just a small detail plastic objects are not an obstacle to gps signals.
Good point!
Does it have a blueish backlight?
Can you try to do the same test when battery is at 50%? maybe solar kicks in only at a certain point of battery life?
Yes I'll be doing this. A few viewers have mentioned that Solar is more effective at lower battery levels and longer durations. I'll also be receiving an Instinct Solar this week so I'll put them side by side. Thanks!
Hey mate how tough is the glass on the Fenix Solar? Also can you place a screen protector on it?
Stay Safe
About as tough as the screen on an IPhone. It will scratch if abused. Mine already has unfortunately. Garmin warns about using screen protectors and solar efficiency but I havent seen any negative effects.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks mate torn between the sapphire fenix 6 v the solar, both are on offer over here in the UK for £625. Any tips?
Thanks for the test....but my guess is that you will need to make a much longer test, something like a 3h...4h (at least) test to see some differences.
You're probably right. I might give this another shot when I've got more time on my hands. Thanks for watching.
The percentage is nonsense because it means whatever the manufacturer wants it to mean. Instead, energy stored in a battery should be measured as voltage.
Yeah, it would be cool if it showed the actual voltage rather than percentage. I guess not everyone is as nerdy as us though. Haha!
No, voltage doesn't tell you anything. It'll just tell you 12VDC, etc. That's not an indicator of how much energy is stored. That's voltage, and voltage only. You can have a battery close to death and it'll still show 12VDC. What does is mAh, which you need a battery tester to check.
I think you should've done the test like 8 times longer to see more pronounced results
I think he would have to let it drop 10% in order to notice any difference.
You're probably right. I might try this again in a much longer test. Thanks for the feedback!
The solar feature is meant for longevity. If you don't need your watch nonstop for more than 24hrs., you don't need the solar power feature. That's the only reason anyone needs solar power, in ANY situation.
For sure, but I think it also depends on your activity. I'm mainly a trail runner and spend a lot of time in tree cover where solar isn't quite as advantageous. Thanks for watching!
I would guess that the gps sensor doesnt drain much battery when the clock isn't moving. Maybe with actual rrunning, this would have had a different outcome? Anyways thanks for the video.
Probably. I guess I just wanted to see what the potential of the solar tech was under ideal conditions. Thanks for watching!
Hi please advice what will be the efficiency of the solar capability when there a screen protector on the screen?
Garmin states that a screen protector will reduce the efficiency of solar power in their documentation and they don't recommend using one. So it's really up to you.
Chase the Summit
Thank you
His tattoo says “μου λείπεις’’. It means “I miss you” in greek 🇬🇷🇬🇷
Yup!
i noticed that too.I was looking if any others noticed🇬🇷🇨🇾
Thanks for taking the time to make this. I’m in the northeast as well so I appreciate you out in the MA sun for comparison. How’s the durability so far on that titanium bezel? I’ve heard those get super scratched up but the sapphire glass remains pristine
Hey Neighbor! So far so good. Mine hasn't been too abused yet but I've got some Mountain adventures coming up (up in the whites!) that will put it to the test. I'm trying not to "baby" it too much. Thanks for watching.
Chase the Summit cool man thanks for the reply I’ll keep an eye out for a long term review down the line!
How is the durability of power glass so far?
So far so good. To be fair I've been mainly on the pavement but there's been trails here or there. Still no scratches. I'm sure there will be at some point.
Is this watch the same dimensions as the regular 6 pro? Reason being i want to order a case for it
Yup. Exactly the same.
@@ChaseTheSummit cool thanks. I was waiting for the galaxy watch 3 to see what it had but at 430 bucks ill pass. I can get the 6 solar for 599 so ima just do that
I like your nerdy videos. Haha. I like your test.
I have the Garmin insinct solar and I've been really disappointed with the battery life. Maybe my expectations are to high. Currently I'm thinking of sending back and getting something else.
That's interesting. The Instinct has much more efficient solar panels thanks to its overlay. What specifically has disappointing you? You could also try turning down your back light brightness. That tends to eat the battery!
@@ChaseTheSummit I have the settings as low as possible. Also on my work days I leave the watch in my window to get extra light. I guess I was expecting more b/c for 400 dollars it's not it might not beat my 60 watch. I think I might get the forerunner with the trans reflective screen.
You may not have been blocking all light by having it in bright shade and translucent white cover. Covering the bottle cap in electrical tape would be better.
For sure, I'll keep that in mind next time.
Great idea for comparing and clever tapping of the solar panel ! :-)
I really think the Solar feature is done to keep the battery up when no GPS or any draining function is on.
And it is much more spectacular on the Solar Instinct which is less battery consuming in ABC watch mode than the Fenix.
I have an Instinct Solar in the mail! I'll be performing a similar test on that when it arrives! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit
The Solar Instinct seems to be able to recharge the battery in ABC mode: better solar panel and low consommation display. But it would be slow. Casio has already been in that problematic with its 2018 Rangeman Beast. ;-)
But i loved more the Oakley hahaha keep it up man I'm trying to familiarize my fenix 6 pro solar, this no big difference with the 6s right? Just the size?
Just the size and the battery life. 25 hours in GPS mode vs 35 hours in the larger model. Thanks for watching!
I like the tattoo on your left hand saying I miss you in Greek. How came?
You got it. It's a memorial for someone I lost. Thanks for watching!
Hi what oakley glasses is that? :)
Twoface XT I think. They were given to me as a gift. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit just ordered my Fenix 6 pro solar I can’t wait for it :)
Love the Greek tattoo !
Thanks!
can you drop a link for your amazing looking sunglasses ?
geni.us/syLE8yW
Hi, thank you for your very thorough review, I have been using Fenix since the Fenix 2, I am currently using the 5Plus, because my eyesight has taken a turn for the worse, I would like to upgrade to 6X (better screen resolution etc). I don't know if it is worth at this point to go for solar. I am big fan of sustainability and would love to see a fully solar fenix even a watch charging from kinetic energy but do you think the technology is worth the extra money right now? It is a bit too expensive for something that is just gimmicky. Btw I live in England, not as rainy as it used to be but not Arizona. Thanks
It depends how much sunlight you get. For me, as a trail runner there's not a lot of benefit to the Solar feature since I'm typically under tree cover. Thanks for watching!
I have this device and have been very disappointed in the solar charging. I kept the device in full sun for 10 hours. The battery continued to drain. I called Garmin and was told the solar feature does NOT increase the battery. The solar function will only slow the drain of the battery. The solar function will NOT increase the battery life. I can not recommend this device after my experience.
That's correct. The solar function was never designed to charge the device. Rather to mitigate the loss of charge. The Instinct Solar has a much more effective solar implementation but it's also not as full featured as the Fenix.
I my place fenix 6 solar and sapphire price is the same, I end up pick sapphire version for the more durable glass
Nice! How do you like it!
is the solar using sapphire glass? or Gorilla glass?
Just wandering
Gorilla Glass
lol let me put this watch out in the sun with an umbrella and a bottle cap instead of just throwing it into a drawer in your house.
I wanted to match the environment / temperature to rule out any variables. But yeah, this wasn't scientific.
Nice review. I think it's not worth the solar capabilities because of the small solar panel on the watch. Instinct has a bigger solar panel and maybe is doing better. Btw nice tatoo in Greek. Cheers from Greece.
Thanks! Yeah it's a little gimmicky at this point. I just posted a review about the Instinct Solar and you're correct. It has a MUCH more efficient solar panel. Thanks for watching!
The Fenix Solar is on sale in my area and I’m tempted to go for it but with rumours of the 7 coming I’m not sure if I should wait. Don’t want to pull the trigger if the 7 comes out in a few weeks. Any thoughts?
Lots of folks in that situation. I'd say if you need something now buy something now. The upgrade may or may not be worth it and it will certainly cost more money than the current Fenix 6.
More geeky videos, please. I wonder if there is a way to disable the solar charging. That could help you do the right test.
From my wasted hours of research it's not worth it getting the solar. If you really want solar that works the garmin instinct solar has a noticeable working solar glass but is lacking in several smartwatch features.
The Instinct solar certainly has a better Solar implementation. Thanks for watching.
If they are at the level with batteries and solar panels that smart watches are like Gshock solar watches that you never needed to charge I’m back….
It's getting closer
That's not how you test a solar feature, you need to actually run with it. Most solar panels if they are in shade even one small part of it, they don't receive any current. I'd say is a very expensive gimmick.
After a year of using Garmin Solar watches I can't say they're tremendously beneficial. The Instinct Solar has a much more useful solar face but it's still not great if you find yourself in the trees often like myself. Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit I like your videos, just got my first watch, a 6s pro solar by someone else's mistake, i paid for a 6s pro. I however love the gray colour, but not sure it worths the extra thickness.
Great review! By the way, tattoo on your forearm...you're either Greek and you miss someone or you miss someone but like the way it looks in Greek lettering. I wager it's the first :)
You got it. My mom was greek. The tattoo is in her memory. thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit god bless
I don't think deciding on this option comes down to merely couple pennies, or statistics, the fact that Garmin made this needs to be supported, all solar tech needs to be treated as get used to it bc it's inevitable, but let's speed up the process past what the oil co's and utilities see as proper(bc we know that's as slow as possible, or until they had a chance to buy up all the solar tech and control the industry,then it's ok...F$#k no, excuse the french, let's make it roll ppl, and IF YOU HAVE TO go by statistics and whether you save 50$ here or there, you have to add in the cost of lithium ion batteries to the disposal, or recycling or out on a barge somewhere falling off into the ocean bc the heap was too big...nearly everything solar related saves lots of $ in the long run or big picture, besides the present...
Ppl misguidedly compare ot contrast costs with solar panels on roofs, "my roof is too sloped, doesn't face South has a tree blocking it..it's going to cost 40,k and I'm only going to get 50% of my total electricity if I did what my house was capable"..so? It only pays for itself in 15 years(,which almost every panel is warranted to minimally) and if power ever went out I'd still be the only one on the block with power? I have a roof system(paid for and owned, not the leased bs they try pushing) that can't be taken away and if the world ever collapsed I'd still have power to nearly the whole house...I'm not seeing how it's still a no brainer, no matter what % of total usage it provides...ever thought about using less? Like there are so many variables true, and they all work in moving into solar favor..every variable some 9\10 of them are pro solar, the only ones against are dollars and cents, the roof wasn't doing any other services, and I was a roof and solar salesman for 2!years soni know how important the roof is, but making sure it's solid goes hand in hand with solar bc it makes you more cognizant of your roof...I would say using a small fraction of savings to bet against anything solar-that is relatively efficient and we'll made- is pennywise pound foolish my friend sorry
Bad testing methodology, would be interested in a more technical analysis
Check out my follow up video. But yes... I need to do more on this.
It is so costly even if I sold my kidney in my country I unable to buy this watch😭😆🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sure is!
I went for the non-solar version and it's more than enough for my needs battery-wise. Solar version, in my opinion, is only useful if you go on very long treks. Besides, I live in the UK and let's face it, there's only sunshine for like one month of the year 😂
I feel similarly since I'm a trail runner and there's always tree cover! Thanks for watching!
The only thing we learned from this is that your sunglasses are too big for your head.
Glad you took the time to leave this comment 😂
Dude, that is a white cap
It certainly is.
the best thing is your tattoo μου λειπεις
Thanks!
Could have just put it in a shoebox or something
Spose so!
Shouldn't have started from 100%. Bad test.
I actually re-did this test under proper conditions! Check my channel if you're interested.
Useless project
This comment was probably just as useful 😉