Garmin: Built for adventure — Not Built to Last

Extremely disappointed with Garmin and the way they have handled the failure of my Fenix 7.

I purchased my Fenix 7 in September 2023. At the time, the Fenix 7 was a premium R21,000 watch. You would reasonably expect a watch at that price point to provide many years of reliable service.

Fast-forward to 2026 — barely three years later — and the Fenix 7 has completely failed. It stopped charging and will no longer operate.

Garmin’s own technical assessment confirmed that the battery has failed, the watch heats up while charging, and the battery cannot be replaced separately. So rather than replacing a battery, the entire watch effectively has to be replaced.

What is particularly disappointing is that this isn't a cheap fitness tracker. This was Garmin's premium Fenix range, marketed as a rugged, long-lasting device designed for years of use.

I understand that batteries deteriorate and that the watch is outside the standard warranty. But less than three years from a R21,000 premium watch is simply ridiculous.

When a premium watch fails after less than three years and Garmin's own design means the failed battery cannot be replaced independently, it raises serious questions about the long-term durability and value of these products.

If you're considering spending R20,000+ on a Garmin, I'd seriously think about how long you expect it to last — because my experience has been less than three years