Garmin Fenix 5S Plus review: So capable, so enviable, so expensive

Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino)

It may not look like it on the surface, but Garmin’s new Fenix 5 Plus fitness watches are quite different from last year’s models. Yes, they still have a design that tries to mesh sport and style as seamlessly as possible, but inside the 5S, 5, and 5X Plus models have much-needed new features.

Garmin Pay and music storage are now standard on the high-end smartwatches, making them better outdoor companions both when you’re out for a run and when you run out for coffee and forget your wallet. All three also have onboard mapping that lets you discover new training routes while also helping you navigate unfamiliar areas without your smartphone. The top-tier Fenix 5X Plus even contains a pulse oximeter to help you avoid dangerous situations during high-altitude training.

All of this comes at a high price—the Fenix 5 Plus series starts at $ 699. But if you’re a sports enthusiast, triathlete, or a Garmin fan, you probably could have guessed that. While ridiculously expensive for most, Fenix smartwatches have a reputation for offering exactly what some sporting people need to monitor their progress and push their training to the next level. The Fenix 5 Plus line is no exception.