Garmin Fenix 9 Pro review: A brilliant premium smartwatch
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Garmin’s flagship smartwatch packs an extraordinary amount of technology into a gorgeous titanium case. After taking it exploring, I’m hugely impressed, although the price and a few familiar frustrations deserve consideration
Fitness trackers can be the simplest of things, costing the same as a takeaway pizza, or they can be a wearable powerhouse capable of tracking any activity you can manage, or even pointing out the problem with eating that pizza.
The new Garmin Fenix 9 Pro definitely falls into the latter camp. It's one of the most comprehensive smartwatches out there, and you'd hope so, because it can easily cost north of £1,000.
It’s built for people who run, climb, cycle, swim and generally spend their weekends making the rest of us feel a bit lazy. But alongside the substantial sporting credentials, there’s a useful collection of everyday features, wrapped in a rather lovely titanium case.
Prices start at £949.99, but the pricing structure is mildly complicated, because there are different sizes, different colours, and even a Pro solar option. And then you can choose to spec it with the clever inReach system, which I'll come back to.
Fundamentally, it's a big, beautiful, and very clever watch that sets out to give you every feature you might need, whether you're heading our for a hike, or talking an ultra marathon.
What I liked about the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro
The titanium case is absolutely gorgeous, and it's a striking watch to behold when you first take it out of the box. A watch designed for outdoor punishment doesn’t have to look like equipment borrowed from a building site, and the Fenix 9 Pro effortlessly combines toughness with something you’d happily wear to dinner.
All sizes offer a large AMOLED display, with brightness reaching up to 3,000 nits. There’s a sapphire lens, too, which is about as tough as it gets, and the physical buttons feel like they could be hit repeatedly with a hammer and nail.
These support the functions on the touchscreen, which takes you in to a pretty familiar Garmin operating system.
If you know your Garmin watches, you'll spot plenty of new features. Some are subtle, some you might not need, some are genuinely useful, but this watch has clearly had some serious thought, and that's no surprise given it's basically the hero product for the brand.
Navigation is another strong attraction, as you'd obviously expect from Garmin. It has TopoActive mapping and route guidance, which I've loved using for walking and exploring. Being able to check your route without repeatedly fishing out a phone is a useful proposition.
And the training tools go considerably further than counting steps. There are more than 100 activity profiles, alongside information intended to help you understand your training, endurance and recovery. This can be as complex or simple as you like, depending on how sharp you want your fitness focus to be, but I doubt anyone will be disappointed with the range of tracking tools on the Fenix 9 Pro.
There’s also a proper built-in LED torch, with white, red, and green illumination, and the inReach system is excellent, using satellite communication to send messages and share a location. Even in my home area at the south of the Peak District, it's not something I've needed to use, but it's there if I ever need the lifeline.
Battery life is always a big consideration with a smartwatch, and with the Fenix 9 Pro, it's potentially excellent. I say potentially, because there are so many factors that can change it dramatically. But use it as a smartwatch and keep your sensor use low, and you'll find a week to 10 days is possible. Even longer, if you pay closer attention to battery conservation. Either way, this isn't a watch you'll need to charge every night.
What I didn’t like about the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro
The price is the obvious sticking point. At nearly £1,000 before you start exploring the more expensive configurations, you really do need to understand which features you’re buying it for.
If your exercise routine consists of a few weekly walks and the occasional gym session, much of its capability will be wasted on you. But the aesthetics of it might just swing it, because it is a lovely thing to behold.
It’s also quite a substantial watch, even as the 47mm version. My wife loves a Garmin watch, but she wasn't keen on testing the Fenix 9 Pro because she has such small wrists and it felt a bit incongruous to her. It is pretty light though, at 78g.
Connected inReach services require an active plan, and coverage and functionality have limitations, so factor that in before you tick the option box.
Garmin's app still bamboozles me. It's probably about as well laid out as it can be, but it's just so incredibly comprehensive, you never feel like you've mastered it. I'm not sure what can be done to improve it, but it feels like a rethink is due.
The only other gripe I have is Garmin's insistence on a physical connection for its charger. It's not something you see across the entire range, but wireless charging is a thing for so many wearables now, and it's so much more convenient. I honestly hoped this would be something we'd see in a top-of-the-range product like the Fenix 9 Pro, but I'm afraid it's still a physical socket on the back. And another small USB lead you've got to remember to pack if you go away.
Overall verdict: Should you buy a Garmin Fenix 9 Pro?
The short answer is yes, definitely. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Fenix 9 Pro is basically one of the best smartwatches out there. But it does have a price to match its stature, and that's the reality check.
If outdoor navigation, detailed training tools, great connectivity, and solid battery life are genuine priorities the investment will be more justifiable. Or if you want a genuinely attractive titanium smartwatch with a luxury look and plenty of premium features, you might also find it appealing.
If you are tempted to take the plunge, I’d choose the version carefully and compare it with less expensive Garmins before reaching for your credit card. A huge feature list only represents good value if enough of those features matter to you.
On specification alone, this is a formidable bit of wrist-mounted technology. Whether the Fenix 9 Pro deserves nearly £1,000 of your money depends rather more on your ambitions than your step count.