Garmin’s new Enduro 4 promises up to 320 hours of GPS tracking with solar help, adds grade-adjusted training tools and weighs 66 grams.
How long does a watch need to last before battery anxiety goes away? Garmin’s answer with the new Enduro 4 is up to 320 hours of activity tracking, which is more than 13 days of continuous use. The company calls it its longest-lasting GPS smartwatch with solar charging. It is on sale now.
The Enduro 4 is aimed at trail runners, multiday hikers, backpackers and endurance athletes. Garmin is targeting the ultra-endurance crowd, which it says is growing in both interest and participation.
Battery Figures, With Fine Print
Garmin quotes up to 320 hours in activity mode and up to 90 days in smartwatch mode. Those are big numbers, but the conditions behind them are worth reading.
The activity figure assumes continuous use in 50,000 lux light with the extended battery mode selected. The smartwatch figure assumes all-day wear with three hours a day outdoors in the same light. In other words, these are Garmin’s own best-case numbers, and they rely on plenty of sunshine. (Runners who train under grey skies, take note.)
Two pieces of hardware make those figures possible. One is a 1.4-inch MIP display, a screen type chosen for its low power use. The other is a solar lens. Garmin also lists a range of power modes for stretching the battery further.
Training Tools Built for the Hills
For serious athletes, the more interesting news is in the software. Garmin has added several features that are new to the Enduro line, and many of them are built around climbing.
- Grade-adjusted pace targets for structured workouts
- Grade-adjusted rolling pace during activities
- Stamina zones and a stamina curve for tracking effort and remaining reserves
- Garmin Epic logging for multiday activities
Grade adjustment matters because raw pace tells you little on steep ground. A slow kilometre uphill can take more effort than a quick one on the flat. Taking gradient into account should give runners a fairer picture of their effort in hilly or mountainous terrain. The watch also comes with more than 100 activity profiles.
Light on the Wrist
Garmin quotes a weight of 66 grams and says the Enduro 4 is one of the lightest watches in its class. That claim comes from Garmin, not an independent test, but the materials back it up. The 51mm case is made of fibre-reinforced polymer, with a titanium bezel and a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens.
Practical extras include a built-in LED torch with white and red light, plus 10 ATM water resistance. A new ComfortFit fabric band wicks away moisture and uses QuickFit for quick swaps. Storage is 64GB, which leaves room for offline maps, music and activity data.
Pricing and Availability
The Enduro 4 is available now with a US suggested retail price of US$899.99. Garmin’s announcement does not give pricing for other markets.
That is serious money for a tool watch built around a frugal screen. But this buyer cares about endurance more than glamour. For an ultrarunner who wants to leave the charger at home for a multiday event, the specs that matter most here are the battery life and the 66-gram weight.
