Key Takeaways
- The Garmin S70 has better golf features than the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar because it has a more advanced virtual caddie and it comes with Swing Tempo and TruSwing sensor compatibility. Read this article to learn more about how the Garmin s70 compares to its predecessor, the s62: garmin approach s70 vs s62 comparison.
- The Garmin S70 has a brighter and larger 1.4-inch AMOLED display in comparison to the 1.3-inch LCD display of the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar.
- The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar has a more durable sapphire lens, titanium bezel, and titanium back cover in comparison to the gorilla glass lens, ceramic bezel, and stainless steel rear cover of the Garmin S70.
- The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar comes with a Power Sapphire solar charging lens that gives it a longer battery life than the Garmin S70. The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar can use solar charging to give you 22 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 73 hours in GPS mode with solar charging while the Garmin S70 can give you 16 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode.
- The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar comes with more running features than the S70 such as a virtual running partner, finish time estimator, pacing strategies, and additional running metrics such as stride length, ground contact time and balance, and vertical oscillation and ratio.
- The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar comes with more hiking features than the S70 such as an LED flashlight, topographical maps, and TracBack for retracing your path if you get lost. All of these additional fitness tracking features make it one of the top rated golf watches for running, hiking, and cycling.
- Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro have enough music storage to store about 2000 songs from either your Spotify or Amazon Music playlists.
- Neither the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro nor the s70 has a built-in speaker or microphone for making phone calls or listening to music.
So you’re in the market for a new Garmin smartwatch, but can’t decide between the top-of-the-line Garmin Approach S70 and Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar models. You’ve come to the right place!
In this in-depth showdown, we’ll compare every feature from battery life to golf functionality to help you determine which flagship Garmin is best suited for your active lifestyle.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how the S70 and Fenix 7 stack up across the key metrics that matter:
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Accuracy – Which provides more precise tracking across sports?
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Battery – Which lasts longer between charges?
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Sports Tracking – How do they compare for running, cycling, swimming, and more?
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Health Features – Which offers superior wellness monitoring?
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Smartwatch Capabilities – How do they work as everyday smartwatches?
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Durability – Which is built tougher?
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Overall Value – Which gives you more bang for your buck?
This battle won’t be won easily. The S70 and Fenix 7 Pro each have unique features and track different metrics that golfers, runners, cyclists, weight lifters, and swimmers can look at for insights on improving their performance. Let’s dig in and see which comes out on top!
Packed with Precision Sensors for Enhanced Accuracy
Sensor | Garmin S70 | Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar |
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GPS | Yes | Yes |
GLONASS | Yes | Yes |
GALILEO | Yes | Yes |
Multi-Frequency Positioning | Yes | Yes |
SATIQ Technology | Yes | Yes |
Garmin Elevate 5 Wrist HR Monitor | Yes | Yes |
Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor | Yes | Yes |
Barometric Altimeter | Yes | Yes |
Compass | Yes | Yes |
Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
Ambient Light Sensor | Yes | Yes |
Thermometer | No | Yes |
The S70 and Fenix 7 Pro come equipped with an array of sensors to track data with pinpoint accuracy both indoors and outdoors. They share an array of advanced sensors to precisely record activity metrics and environmental data including:
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GPS (USA’s satellite system), GLONASS (Russia’s satellite system), Galileo (the European Union’s satellite system) – These global satellite systems provide accurate outdoor location tracking for activities like running, cycling, hiking, and more. By using multiple satellite systems, both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro can provide more accurate and reliable positioning information during your hikes or runs, ensuring that you have the best possible navigation experience, even in challenging terrain like urbran canyons or under tree cover in dense forests.
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Multi-Frequency Positioning – Uses multiple GPS frequencies (L1, L2, L5, E1, E5) to communicate with multiple satellite systems for more precise location in challenging environments like forests and cities. Critical for outdoor sports.
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SatIQ Technology – Seamlessly switches between GPS, GLONASS and Galileo based on signal strength at any given time/location to optimize accuracy. Useful worldwide.
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Wrist-based Elevate Heart Rate – Uses LED lights to detect blood volume changes just under the skin. Tracks heart rate 24/7 for calorie burn, intensity, recovery, sleep, stress, and more. It can track your heart rate while you are running, hiking, or swimming underwater.
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Pulse Ox Sensor – Measures blood oxygen saturation via an LED light and receiver on the wrist. Reveals sleep quality, altitude acclimation, and health insights.
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Barometric Altimeter – Measures precise elevation data via air pressure changes. Used for hiking, skiing, climbing, and weather alerts.
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Electronic Compass – Provides real-time heading/orientation info. Helpful for navigation during hiking, climbing, skiing, etc.
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Gyroscope – Detects the watch’s rotation and orientation. Allows for gesture controls and tracking in sports like golf, tennis, rowing.
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Accelerometer – Measures linear acceleration and vibration. Enables tracking of steps, floors climbed, intensity minutes, reps/strokes, and more.
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Ambient Light Sensor – Automatically adjusts display brightness based on current light conditions. Optimizes visibility.
The one sensor the Fenix 7 Pro has that the S70 lacks is a thermometer for gauging environmental temperature.
When it comes to the core GPS and activity tracking sensors, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro are evenly matched, giving them both excellent accuracy across sports, health metrics, and environmental data. The precision comes down to the advanced algorithms and analysis behind the scenes.
Durability – Built to Withstand Abuse
When you’re constantly on the move during your outdoor adventures, you need a sportswatch that can take some abuse. Let’s see how the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro compare when it comes to ruggedness and durability:
- Lens Material – The Fenix 7 Pro uses sapphire glass, which scores a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. It resists scratches better than Gorilla Glass 3 (Mohs of 6 to 7) on the S70. Sapphire holds up better against rocks and abrasion during hiking, climbing, and mountaineering. A clear win for the Fenix.
Gorilla Glass 3 is more shatter-resistant than sapphire. But the Fenix 7 Pro’s solar lens adds impact protection. So the Fenix 7 Pro better survives bumps and drops from the trail.
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Bezel Material – The S70 uses ceramic for the bezel, which is scratch-resistant but prone to shattering. The Fenix 7 Pro’s titanium bezel is lighter, nearly indestructible, and more impact-resistant for hiking accidents or rock climbing falls. Advantage Fenix.
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Case Material – Both use reinforced polymer that is lightweight yet durable. The S70 has a stainless steel back while the Fenix 7 Pro uses titanium, which has a higher strength-to-weight ratio important for backpackers and climbers.
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Water Rating – With 10 ATM, the Fenix 7 Pro can be submerged deeper (328 feet) than the S70’s 5 ATM (165 feet). The Fenix is built for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, etc.
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Overall Ruggedness – The Fenix 7 Pro is built to military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance. And the solar lens even adds impact protection. The S70 lacks these reinforcements.
When you’re exploring the outdoors, the Fenix 7 Pro’s sapphire glass, titanium bezel, reinforced case, and 10 ATM rating allow it to take more abuse making it the durability winner – from scratching brush to raging rapids. It outlasts the S70 for outdoor pursuits. It’s built to better handle scratches, cracks, impacts, and underwater pressure over the long haul.
Battery Life – Keeping the Power On
There’s nothing worse than your watch dying mid-activity. Getting the most battery life helps you track longer activities outdoors. Let’s see how the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro compare when it comes to battery life longevity:
- Everyday Smartwatch Mode – With typical usage like notifications and tracking steps, the Fenix 7 Pro solar edition lasts 22 days in smartwatch mode thanks to solar charging while the S70 falls short with only up to 16 days of battery life. Both watches have optional always-on display modes that drain the battery life faster.
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GPS Mode – With only GPS running, the S70 lasts 20 hours while the Fenix 7 Pro solar lasts up to 57 hours without solar and up to 73 hours with solar. The Fenix 7 clearly has the edge for marathon trainers and ultra runners.
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Max Battery GPS Mode – When hiking multi-day expeditions, the Fenix 7 Pro solar can last a staggering 289 hours (over 12 days) with solar and 136 hours without solar in this mode. The S70 lacks an ultra battery saver option.
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Expedition GPS Mode – Mountaineers will appreciate the Fenix 7 Pro solar’s ability to operate 74 days in low power expedition mode utilizing solar charging and 40 days without solar.
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Battery Saver Watch Mode – If you get lost hiking and need to conserve power, the Fenix 7 Pro solar can operate in a low power watch mode for up to 173 days with solar and 57 days without solar telling just the time. Great insurance on extended trips. This gives you timepiece functionality when phones are unavailable.
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Rapid Charging – Both watches regain hours of use from just a 10-15 minute charge. However, only the Fenix 7 Pro has the Power Manager app that offers custom power management settings.
For multi-day expeditions or ultra-endurance training, the Fenix 7 Pro solar clearly comes out ahead for battery life thanks to its solar-charging lens and multiple extended GPS modes. The Fenix 7 Pro keeps going longer on adventures – whether you’re running 50 miles, climbing mountains for weeks, or navigating off-grid. The S70 simply can’t match its endurance capabilities.
Why Outdoor Sports Require More Battery Power
Battery life takes on greater importance for outdoor sports versus golf. Here’s why:
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Longer Durations – Activities like running ultramarathons, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and scaling mountain faces can last hours or days continuously. Golf rounds are comparatively short.
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GPS Navigation – When running remote trails or climbing obscure peaks, GPS tracking and navigation are essential, draining more battery. Golf relies less on extended GPS usage.
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Screen On Time – Reading detailed topo maps, looking at ascent profiles, and monitoring performance metrics require the screen to remain on for longer periods versus glancing at yardages on a golf round.
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Sensor Usage – Activities like running use more advanced sensors like wrist heart rate, accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass simultaneously. Golf needs fewer sensors continuously operational.
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Environmental Factors – Temperature extremes, stormy weather, dense tree cover all impact battery life more for outdoor sports. Golf is played in consistent conditions.
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Emergency Situations – If injured on a remote trail or stuck in foul weather, extra battery capacity can be a lifesaver where help is far away. Less crucial for golf near civilization.
The bottom line is that outdoor sports like running, hiking, and climbing require reserves of battery power that activities like golf just don’t demand. The Fenix 7 Pro delivers that peace of mind.
Golf Features – Mastering the Course
Golfing Features | Garmin S70 | Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar |
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Virtual Caddie | Yes | Yes | Shot Dispersion Chart | Yes | No |
Slope Technology (PlaysLike Distance) | Yes | Yes |
PinPointer Blind Shot Compass | Yes | Yes |
Tempo Training | Yes | Yes |
TruSwing sensor compatibility | Yes | No |
Swing Tempo | Yes | No |
For golfers looking to improve their game, next we will look at how the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro compare when it comes to must-have golf features. Both the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro come packed with many of the same golf technologies:
Golf Features Found in Both the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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43,000+ preloaded courses provide exact yardages for smarter club selection and shot planning.
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AutoShot auto-detects and tracks shot distances so you can dial in your club distances.
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PinPointer shows the direction to the pin on blind shots for more precise approach shots.
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PlaysLike Distance accounts for elevation changes for improved club and shot choices.
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Wind data when connected to Garmin golf app
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Virtual caddie suggests club selection based on past club use
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Green contour maps with premium membership
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Digital scorecards eliminate the need for pencils and paper while giving you insights into stats like putts, greens in regulation, and more.
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The Tempo Training activity app helps you refine your backswing timing and consistency.
Unique to S70: Swing Analysis
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Swing Tempo metrics are only available for shots recorded on your watch and they help you develop an optimal swing cadence and ratio.
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TruSwing sensor compatibility provides detailed club and swing metrics to perfect your form.
While both watches offer excellent course management and performance tracking, the S70 pulls ahead for swing analysis with its Swing Tempo metrics and compatibility with Garmin’s TruSwing sensor. For golfers seeking to analyze and improve their swing mechanics, the extra feedback gives the S70 the edge.
But for golfers wanting more well-rounded smart features, the Fenix 7 Pro is hard to beat. So both provide a phenomenal golfing experience from tee to green.
Running Features – Reaching New PRs
Running Features | Garmin S70 | Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar |
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Records road, trail, and treadmill running | Yes | Yes |
Records Virtual and Ultra Running | No | Yes |
VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
PacePro Pacing Strategies | No | Yes |
Race Time Prediction | No | Yes |
Virtual Partner | No | Yes |
For runners looking to improve performance and reach new PRs, let’s look at the key running features the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro provides runners to help them train smarter:
Running Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro for Training and Tracking Progress
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Built-in run profiles for road, trail, treadmill with precise GPS tracking of pace and distance during outdoor runs.
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Cadence metrics measure your real-time steps per minute to help optimize your form.
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Auto Lap automatically marks laps at preset distances.
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Manual Lap lets you mark laps with the push of a button.
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Configurable lap alerts can be set for pace, distance, time, heart rate zones, and more.
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VO2 Max estimates your cardiovascular fitness level from pace, heart rate, etc.
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Custom workouts and training plans coach you to new levels
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Foot pod compatibility adds stride data for hardcore runners
Fenix 7 Pro Exclusive Features for Advanced Insights
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Additional training profiles for ultra and virtual runs
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Hill Score rates trail run difficulty right on your wrist
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Run/walk detection automatically tracks your usage of each during activity
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Virtual Partner allows you to race against previous activities or a set target pace.
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Audio prompts provide updates on pace, laps, distance and more through headphones.
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Finish time estimator uses pace and distance left to predict your final time.
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Advanced running dynamics like stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation ratio showcase your true running form.
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PacePro gives you grade-adjusted guidance and pacing strategies customized to the route.
With all the advanced metrics and tools like PacePro, Virtual Partner, and audio guidance, the Fenix 7 Pro gives runners everything they need to tune their form, nail pacing strategy, and achieve new PRs. If you’re training for your next marathon or tackling new trails, the Fenix 7 Pro has the advanced features you need.
Hiking Features – Fenix 7 Pro Wins By a Mile
Hiking Features | Garmin S70 | Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar |
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Built-in LED Flashlight | No | Yes |
Topographical Maps | No | Yes |
ClimbPro Ascent Planner | No | Yes |
Breadcrumb Trail | No | Yes |
TracBack | No | Yes |
When you’re on the trail, the right watch can make all the difference. Here’s how the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro hiking features compare:
Hiking Features Found in Both the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro:
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Barometric altimeter provides real-time elevation data to monitor your ascent and descent.
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Built-in hiking activity profile lets you track route, distance, elevation gain and more with on-wrist GPS.
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Electronic compass keeps you oriented when trails fork or signs are absent. Never lose your bearings.
Fenix 7 Pro Exclusive Features for Advanced Trekking
Both watches provide the basics like GPS tracking and elevation data. But where the Fenix 7 Pro excels is advanced on-trail navigation:
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Point-to-Point Navigation provides turn-by-turn directions on your wrist to navigate trails.
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Breadcrumb Trail maps your real-time path in case you lose the route or need to backtrack.
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Back to Start directs you straight back to your starting point if you become disoriented.
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TracBack allows you to retrace your original path step-by-step if lost.
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UltraTrack Mode extends battery life up to 70 hours by reducing GPS accuracy – perfect for long expeditions.
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Around Me displays nearby landmarks, peaks, coordinates to orient yourself.
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Elevation Profile previews upcoming climbs and descents on your route.
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ClimbPro shows your progress when ascending major peaks or hills. See elevation left to summit.
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Preloaded Topographical and ski resort maps enhance navigation with contours and terrain details.
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Built-in LED Flashlight helps you see while you explore at night.
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Altitude Acclimation insights use your rate of ascent and rest times to estimate your readiness for high altitude treks.
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Expedition GPS mode extends battery to over 40 days by reducing tracking frequency – perfect for long-distance thru-hikes.
With these robust navigation tools, the Fenix 7 Pro gives hikers the confidence to traverse deep backcountry knowing they have a high-tech guide on their wrist to guide them on and off the trail. While both provide essential hiking features, the Fenix 7 Pro has the specialized features for navigating remote trails and bagging those big peaks. It’s built for the serious trekker.
Cycling Features – Ride Farther and Faster
The S70 and Fenix 7 Pro offer core cycling functions, but the Fenix excels with advanced capabilities. For cyclists looking to improve performance and adventure farther, let’s compare the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro cycling features:
Common Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro Cover the Basics
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Built-in cycling activity profiles like road, mountain, indoor biking track essential metrics like speed, distance, and route with GPS.
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Cadence and speed sensors capture pedaling strokes per minute and wheel speed for those training seriously.
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Alerts notify you when reaching set time/distance/calorie goals during rides.
Unique Fenix 7 Pro Features for Advanced Cycling Insights
In addition to the core cycling functions, the Fenix 7 Pro offers in-depth cycling capabilities for road, mountain, and competitive cyclists.
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Additional profiles for gravel biking, bike touring, eBiking, triathlon, and BMX let you customize data for each discipline’s needs.
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Compatibility with power meters, bike radars and bike lights
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Lap power metrics showcase your peak power intervals when paired with a power meter.
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Cycle map for turn-by-turn street navigation of planned routes on bike-friendly streets and round-trip route creation
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ClimbPro shows upcoming climb distances, gradients and elevation gain so you can strategize your effort.
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Bike light and radar connectivity improves visibility and awareness on roads.
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The race an activity function lets you virtually race past rides or personal records for motivation.
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FTP estimate evaluates your functional threshold power so you can precisely target training zones.
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Power curve workouts guide training intensity based on your FTP performance levels.
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Advanced dynamics like pedal balance, platform offset, etc. when paired with Vector pedals.
With these advanced features purpose-built for road, mountain, and competitive cycling, the Fenix 7 Pro transforms your ride – providing navigation, insights, and connectivity to make your cycling adventures more immersive.
Display Showdown – Pixel Count and Performance
Let’s explore how the displays compare on the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro. When evaluating and comparing the S70 vs Fenix 7 Pro displays, a few key factors stand out:
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Display Technology – The S70 uses AMOLED while the Fenix 7 Pro uses memory-in-pixel (MIP) transflective LCD. AMOLED provides more vivid colors and contrast but is less visible in direct sunlight. MIP excels in outdoor legibility but has more muted hues.
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Resolution – With 454 x 454 pixels in a 35mm diameter, the S70 packs 326 pixels per inch for crisp and detailed visuals. The Fenix 7 Pro has a slightly smaller 33mm diameter but lower 260 x 260 resolution amounting to 233 pixels per inch.
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Pixel Density – The S70’s higher pixel density enables sharper rendering of maps, data screens, notifications and graphics. But the Fenix 7 Pro’s resolution is still respectable for its size.
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Viewable Area – With a 35mm diameter and slim bezels, the S70 offers a bit more total viewable area versus the 33mm Fenix 7 Pro display. This expanded canvas is nice but not vastly different.
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Outdoor Visibility – MIP technology gives the Fenix 7 Pro the upper hand in direct sunlight readability. The AMOLED of the S70 is vibrant but suffers more glare outdoors.
Display Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Touchscreen functionality allows smooth scrolling and navigation
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Color display enables vibrant data visualizations and apps
Fenix 7 Pro Display Highlights
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Sunlight-visible, transflective MIP display is easy to read in bright light
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260 x 260 resolution provides sharp rendering of maps, data, and graphics
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33mm diameter offers ample screen real estate in a compact size
S70 Display Highlights
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AMOLED technology delivers more vibrant colors and contrast
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454 x 454 resolution enables extra crisp text and visuals
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35mm diameter provides a sizable viewing area with slim bezels
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Optional always-on mode keeps the screen viewable at all times
Both deliver excellent touchscreen interfaces, but the S70’s crisper and more vivid AMOLED display pops visually while the Fenix 7 Pro counters with sunlight viewability. There’s no universally superior choice – it depends if lifestyle favors vibrancy or outdoor visibility. You can’t go wrong with either.
Swimming Features – Direct Comparison From Pool to Open Water
For swimmers looking to track their strokes, pace, and improve technique, here’s how the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro swimming capabilities compare:
Swimming Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Pool swim profile tracks lengths, distance, pace, stroke count and more
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Stroke type detection recognizes freestyle, back, breaststroke, and butterfly
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Basic rest timer for intervals and pacing
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Underwater wrist-based heart rate
Fenix 7 Pro Exclusive Features
When looking at the swimming capabilities, the Fenix 7 Pro pulls ahead in several key areas:
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Open Water Profile – The Fenix 7 Pro lets you track pace, distance, stroke metrics and more with GPS during open water swimming. The S70 lacks open water profiling.
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Drill Logging – The Fenix 7 Pro can track kick sets, pulls, and other drilling with customized data pages. The S70 does not have drill logging.
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Auto Rest – For perfect interval training, the Fenix 7 Pro will automatically initiate rest periods between intervals. The S70 lacks an auto rest feature.
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Pacing Alerts – To help you stay on pace, the Fenix 7 Pro provides alerts when going above or below your target swim pace. The S70 does not have pacing alerts.
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Guided Workouts – The Fenix 7 Pro can guide you through structured swimming workouts and training plans. This coaching capability is absent on the S70.
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External HRM Support – For greater data like underwater heart rate, the Fenix 7 Pro pairs with external swim HRMs. The S70 is limited to wrist heart rate.
With features like open water tracking, automatic rest, pacing alerts, drill logging and workout integration, the Fenix 7 Pro provides the complete swim training toolkit – for both pool and open water swimmers wanting to take their training to the next level. It gives swimmers the edge.
Health & Wellness Features – Direct Comparison
When it comes to health and wellness tracking, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro are equally equipped to provide users with a holistic view of their physical condition, sleep, stress levels, and more. The features are on par. For overall health monitoring and maintaining wellness, both the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro offer these robust tracking features:
Health & Wellness Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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24/7 Heart Rate – Both watches provide continuous 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring including abnormal rate alerts to detect potential issues. This enables steady heart health tracking.
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Respiration & Pulse Ox – The respiration rate and pulse ox sensors let you monitor breathing patterns and blood oxygen saturation levels – critical metrics for understanding overall wellness.
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Body Battery – This feature tracks your energy levels throughout the day so you can find the best times for activity and rest. Optimizing your body battery promotes recovery.
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Sleep Monitoring – By tracking sleep stages, movement and heart rate, both watches deliver comprehensive sleep analytics and scores to help improve sleep quality.
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Hydration Tracking – The hydration tracking in both devices serves as a helpful reminder to drink water and stay hydrated throughout the day.
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Women’s Health – For female users, the menstrual cycle tracking provides insights into phases, symptoms, and patterns to enhance women’s health awareness.
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Stress & Relaxation – With all-day stress monitoring and guided breathing, these watches help you manage stress and promote relaxation at any moment.
Comprehensive Health Package
Both watches provide an extensive suite of health and wellness monitoring features to provide a holistic view of your physical and mental wellbeing. The capabilities are evenly matched between the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro.
For overall health and fitness enthusiasts, either Garmin watch will provide helpful tools to guide a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. It’s a tie when it comes to health insight features.
Daily Smart Features – Direct Comparison of Their Connected Conveniences
For day-to-day use outside of sports and training, both watches come equipped with handy smart features. Here is a detailed comparison of the daily smart features between the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro:
Smart Connectivity Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Smart Notifications – Both receive phone calls, app alerts, texts, and calendar events when connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This allows you to view essential info without pulling out your phone.
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Garmin Pay – With built-in contactless payment, each watch lets you pay for purchases quickly with just your wrist. No need to bring your wallet or phone.
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Music Storage – You can download playlists to each watch and connect Bluetooth headphones for phone-free listening. Great for workouts without your phone.
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Connect IQ Store – New watch faces, widgets, apps and data fields can be downloaded to both watches from Connect IQ to customize your experience.
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Connectivity – They share WiFi, Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity for syncing data to Garmin Connect and connecting sensors or headphones.
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Locate Paired Devices – If you misplace your phone or watch, both can find each other which is helpful.
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Battery Saver Mode – Exclusive to the Fenix 7 Pro, this extended smartwatch mode disables certain features to extend battery life to over a month in a low power state.
Additional Fenix 7 Pro Convenience Features
- Customizable battery saver watch mode to extend smart usage
- VIRB remote to control action cameras
- Smart trainer controls for indoor cycling
With robust connectivity, notifications, music, Garmin Pay, and the Connect IQ store, both deliver core smart functionality. But the Fenix 7 Pro pulls ahead slightly with its extended smart battery mode and device controls.
Safety & Tracking Features – Security On and Off the Grid
For safety and peace of mind during activities, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro provide:
Safety & Tracking Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Incident Detection – Both watches can automatically detect accidents like falls and crashes during certain activities and trigger alerts on your paired phone, providing vital automatic assistance.
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Assistance Alerts – If an incident is detected, each watch can send live tracking links to chosen emergency contacts and initiate an assistance call – critical safety capabilities.
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LiveTrack – With this feature on both devices, chosen contacts can view your real-time location and activity progress for added security during solo activities.
Additional Fenix 7 Pro Safety Features
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Group LiveTrack – Exclusive to the Fenix 7 Pro, Group LiveTrack expands live tracking to coordinate entire groups of people during activities for improved safety.
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Live Event Sharing – Also Fenix 7 Pro only, this lets chosen followers view your real-time event participation virtually like a spectator for races or competitions.
With automatic incident detection alerts and live tracking, both watches provide core safety and monitoring features. While the core incident detection and LiveTrack functions are matched, the Fenix 7 Pro takes safety a step further with Group LiveTrack for team coordination and live event sharing for virtual spectators. This gives it the edge for security during challenging solo and group pursuits.
Activity Tracking Features – Motivating You to Move
When it comes to the core activity tracking and motivation features, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro are identical. Both provide robust all-day monitoring, goal setting, and data syncing to encourage you to stay active and hit your fitness targets. For all-day activity tracking and motivating a healthy, active lifestyle, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro are evenly matched so it’s a tie.
Activity Tracking Features Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Step Tracking – Both devices use an accelerometer to track your steps taken throughout the day. Seeing your daily step count lets you monitor your movement and set step goals.
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Move Alerts – Sitting for too long triggers move alerts on both watches, encouraging you to get up and walk around for a couple minutes. This promotes healthy regular movement.
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Auto Step Goal – Based on your recent activity, an automatic personalized daily step goal is generated on each watch to motivate you. Adaptive goals keep you challenged.
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Additional Metrics – Distance traveled, floors climbed, intensity minutes, and calories burned are all tracked on both to quantify all aspects of your daily activity.
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TrueUp – This feature aggregates exercise data from your other Garmin devices for comprehensive activity tracking on your S70 or Fenix 7 Pro. No activity goes untracked.
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Move IQ – Both watches automatically detect activities like walking, running, biking, swimming using motion sensors. You get credit for every activity.
Full-Featured Tracking Package
With adaptive goals, full-day tracking, Move IQ, and TrueUp, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro provide unmatched 24/7 activity monitoring to motivate you to keep moving and pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
Gym & Fitness Features – Optimized for Indoor Training
The watches effectively mirror each other for built-in activity profiles and tracking features for most gym goers. But the Fenix 7 Pro adds profiles for boxing and MMA if you want specialized tracking for those types of workouts.
When it comes to tracking your indoor gym and fitness activities, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro share robust capabilities including:
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Indoor Activity Profiles – Both watches have dedicated profiles for cardio machines such as ellipticals, treadmills, and rowers, strength work, HIIT, yoga, pilates, stair stepping, rowing, and floor climbing. This allows you to track these gym activities with customized data pages.
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Animated Workout Guidance – On-screen animations demonstrate proper form and movements for exercises during strength, cardio, yoga and pilates activities. Helpful visual guidance.
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Muscle Heat Maps – These graphics display which muscle groups are engaged during strength workouts on your wrist. Lets you monitor and adjust your form.
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Auto Rep Counting – Both devices automatically count and log reps during sets for easier strength training tracking. Saves manually recording reps.
Additional Fenix 7 Pro Profiles
- Boxing & MMA Profiles – Only the Fenix 7 Pro has additional modes tailored for boxing and mixed martial arts workouts.
While both share robust gym activity profiles and tracking, the Fenix 7 Pro adds specialty modes for boxing and MMA. This gives it the slight edge for more customized tracking during those intense workouts.
Outdoor Recreation Features – Adventure Awaits
With vastly more activity profiles plus robust navigation, mapping, and environmental tracking features, the Fenix 7 Pro provides unmatched outdoor performance and awareness – making it the definitive outdoor sports watch.
For outdoor adventures on land and water, the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro deliver:
Outdoor Activity Profiles Found in Both the Garmin S70 and Fenix 7 Pro
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Hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and more
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Total ascent and descent metrics
Fenix 7 Pro Specialized Features
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Activity Profiles – The Fenix 7 Pro offers countless additional activity profiles beyond the S70 like tennis, pickleball, surfing, sailing, and more. This allows customized tracking data for nearly any outdoor sport.
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Navigation – Point-to-point navigation, Breadcrumb trail, Back to start, and TracBack give the Fenix 7 Pro on-watch route finding and retracing tools for hiking, biking, and more. The S70 lacks navigation.
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Mapping – Preloaded topographical, road, and ski resort maps on the Fenix 7 Pro enhance navigation and terrain awareness. The S70 does not have onboard maps.
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Elevation Features – The Fenix 7 Pro provides real-time elevation profiles, ascent planners, and acclimation data for climbing, hiking, biking in the mountains. The S70 is limited in elevation insights.
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Environment Tracking – Storm alerts, tides, and sunrise/sunset tracking give the Fenix 7 Pro greater environmental awareness. The S70 lacks these weather and solar tools.
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Outdoor Safety – The Fenix 7 Pro offers increased safety during adventures with navigation, mapping, descent/ascent stats, and weather alerts. The S70 trails in this regard.
While both provide profiles for core outdoor activities, the Fenix 7 Pro stands out with vastly expanded activity modes plus integrated mapping and navigation features purpose-built for hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and water sports. It’s the ultimate outdoor adventure companion.
Final Judgement – Fenix 7 Pro Edges Out the S70
When all is said and done in this Garmin showdown, both the S70 and Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar represent premium multisport GPS watches packed with features. But which reigns supreme?
Garmin S70 Strengths:
- Attractive AMOLED display with crisp graphics
- In-depth golf tracking and swing analysis
- Robust health/wellness tracking
- $699 price point provides value
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar Advantages:
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Rugged titanium and sapphire build for outdoor durability
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Vastly superior outdoor recreation profiles and mapping
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Advanced training features like PacePro and ClimbPro
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Solar charging extends battery life
Considering the vast outdoor navigation, mapping, and activity profiles – plus rugged construction – the Fenix 7 Pro is the clear choice for serious athletes, adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.
For golfers wanting a more handsome watch with swing metrics, the S70 warrants consideration at $200 less.
But So the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar’s extensive features and solar-powered battery earn it the title as the definitive multisport GPS watch – albeit at a $899 price.