If you are looking for a premium multisport GPS watch that can handle any outdoor adventure, you might be interested in the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series. These watches are designed to be rugged, reliable, and feature-packed, but they also come in different sizes and styles to suit different preferences and needs. In this blog post, we will compare the three models in the Fenix 5 Plus series: the Fenix 5 Plus, the Fenix 5S Plus, and the Fenix 5X Plus. We will highlight their differences and similarities and help you decide which suits you best.
The Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series are multisport GPS watches offering advanced fitness, adventure, and navigation features. They are the predecessors of the Fenix 6 series and come in three different sizes: 5 Plus (47 mm), 5S Plus (42 mm), and 5X Plus (51 mm).
The main features of the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series are:
- Transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display, bright and easy to read outdoors, and touchscreen
- Preloaded sport modes for various activities such as running, cycling, swimming, hiking, and more
- Up to 12 days long battery life in smartwatch mode (varies by model)
- Clock features include time/date, GPS time sync, auto daylight saving, alarm, timer, and stopwatch
- Download watch faces, widgets, data fields, and apps from the Garmin Connect IQ Store
- Built-in navigation sensors include GPS/GLONASS/Galileo support with preloaded TOPO maps and Trendline popularity routing
- Wrist-based heart rate monitor with advanced metrics such as VO2 max and training status
- Storage for up to 500 songs and compatibility with music streaming services such as Spotify
- Garmin Pay ready contactless payment solution that lets you pay with your watch
- Pulse oximeter sensor on the Fenix 5X Plus that measures blood oxygen levels
Check out the reviews of Garmin Fenix 5
The main differences of the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series are:
The main differences between the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, 5S Plus, and 5X Plus are their size, battery life, and features. According to the Garmin’s website, the 5S Plus is the smallest (42 mm) and lightest, suitable for narrow wrists. The 5 Plus is medium-sized (47 mm) and has a longer battery life than the 5S Plus. The 5X Plus is the largest (51 mm) and heaviest, but also has the most features such as a pulse oximeter sensor.
The Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series are multisport GPS watches offering advanced fitness, adventure, and navigation features. They are the predecessors of the Fenix 6 series and come in three different sizes:
- Fenix®️ Plus (47 mm),
- Fenix®️ Plus S (42 mm)
- Fenix®️ Plus X (51 mm).
Some differences between them are:
Battery life:
– Plus X has longest battery life upto 20 days🔋in smartwatch mode📱, 13 hrs⏰in GPS🛰️mode with music🎵and 70 hrs⏳in UltraTrac™️mode.
– Plus has battery life upto 12 days🔋in smartwatch📱mode,8 hrs⏰in GPS🛰️mode with music🎵and 42 hrs⏳in UltraTrac™️mode.
– Plus S has battery life upto 7 days🔋in smartwatch📱mode,4.5 hrs⏰in GPS🛰️mode with music🎵and 25 hrs⏳in UltraTrac™️mode.
Display size:
Another difference between the models is their display size and resolution. The Fenix 5S Plus has a display size of 1.2 inches (30.4 mm) with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. The Fenix 5 Plus has the same display size but a higher resolution of 260 x 260 pixels. The Fenix 5X Plus has a larger display size of 1.4 inches (35.6 mm) with a 280 x 280 pixels resolution. A larger display means more room for data fields, maps, and widgets but consumes more battery power.
Pulse oximeter:
– Only model featuring pulse oximeter sensor measuring blood oxygen saturation levels at high altitudes: Plus X.
Maps:
– Preloaded full-color TOPO maps for North America or Europe depending on the region purchased: Plus X. Other models have basic maps showing nearby points of interest.
Weight:
– Lightest model: Plus S: weighs between 65g & 69g, depending on the material case
| Feature | 5 Plus | 5S Plus | 5X Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case size (mm) | 47 | 42 | 51 |
| Display size (mm) | 30.4 | 27.9 | 30.4 |
| Display resolution (pixels) | 240 x 240 | 240 x 240 | 240 x 240 |
| Weight (g) with silicone band | 86.0 | 65.0 | 96.0 |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) (days) | 12 | 7 | 20 |
| Battery life (GPS mode with music) (hours) | 8 | 4.5 | 13 |
| Music storage | Up to 500 songs | Up to 500 songs | Up to 1000 songs |
| Navigation | Full-color maps | Full-color maps | Full-color maps |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Oximeter | No | Yes | Yes |
As a veteran fitness technology innovator and the founder of GearUpToFit.com, Alex Papaioannou stands at the intersection of health science and artificial intelligence. With over a decade of specialized experience in digital wellness solutions, he’s transforming how people approach their fitness journey through data-driven methodologies.