Garmin Changes Smartwatch from Geek Gadget to Status Symbol

Smartwatches are still somewhat of a niche product, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers from creating premium versions with some hefty price tags. The Fenix Chronos by Garmin (NASDAQ:GRMN) takes the proven and highly acclaimed functionality of the  company’s Fenix 3 line of smartwatches and adds some luxury for high-end customers.

The adoption rate of smartwatches is growing. Business people are using them because of the convenience they offer. Not having to take your smartphone out to see text and emails is a great feature, and if the watch looks professional like the Chronos line, so much the better.

However, the price might be a bit much for most people. The price Garmin has set can buy you a decent analog watch that will not become obsolete. It will continue to work years from now without having to worry about connectivity issues, end of life support, batteries and more. But if you can afford it, the Chronos line is a high end watch with smart device functionality.

Garmin Fenix Chronos Details

The Fenix Chronos is a stainless steel sapphire watch available in three different settings:

• Fenix Chronos with leather band: $899.99
• Fenix Chronos Steel: with stainless steel band: $999.99
• Fenix Chronos Titanium: with brushed titanium case and forged titanium links and buttons: $1,499.99

Garmin dominates the activity smartwatch segment with a wide range of products used by everyone from professional triathletes to sailors, pilots and more. And making a watch users don’t have to remove when they go back to work or out for the night ma add to its appeal with some business users.

The Chronos line is basically the same as the Fenix 3 HR, and just like that watch it has some important features to consider. The difference is the crafted premium jeweler’s grade materials which includes durable metal housing and a high-strength, scratch-resistant sapphire lens.

The metal housing contains within it the EXO omni-directional GPS and GLONASS antenna in the bezel, along with Garmin’s latest outdoor navigation and fitness training features. All of the information the watch provides is displayed on the 1.2-inch always-on, sunlight-readable color Garmin Chroma Display. You can view emails, texts and alerts as well as daily activity tracking, smart notifications, activity profiles and more.

The battery life for the Chronos will greatly depend on how you use it, and according to the company, you can expect up to 25 hours with the UltraTrac battery saver mode, up to 13 hours in GPS mode, and one week in smart watch mode depending on the setting. Some of the other features include, 32MB of storage that can track up to 100 hours of activity data, Bluetooth 4.0 LE for connectivity and a 10ATM (100m) water rating.

What makes the Garmin line of activity smartwatches stand out are the applications that take advantage of the technology. Connect IQ automatically lets users upload their data, start a LiveTrack session, and share their activity on social media. Some of the activity profiles include run, bike, lap swim, open water, SUP, row, golf and more. Users can also monitor their heart rate 24/7, the number of steps they have taken throughout the day, calories burned, stairs climbed, and use the sleep mode to see how well they sleep at night.

If you like going on long hikes, the nifty TracBack feature makes getting lost a thing of the past. The GPS plus ABC (altimeter, barometer and 3-axis compass) sensor features let you navigate back to your starting point the same way you began your journey. It does this by creating a bread crumb trail as you move. The sensor can display heading, elevation and weather changes, while letting you mark locations such as start/finish line, your vehicle, campsite or other point of interest for future visits.

Garmin is not the only company addressing this high-end market. Traditional watch makers such as TAG Heuer, Tissot, Movado, Hublot and Bulgari have products out in the market or have announced they will be releasing products in the future.  While these companies are well established in the luxury market, Garmin has a head start with the technology the company has been developing in the activity segment. The question is, will customers settle for Garmin when they can have brands like Bulgari and Hublot on their wrists?

Images: Garmin