If you already own an Enduro 3, the short answer is probably not. The battery ratings are the same, the screen is the same, and the case is the same. What Garmin changed is mostly under the surface: more storage, faster maps, and some new training software.
That does not make the Enduro 4 a bad watch. It just means the right choice depends on what kind of owner or buyer you are.
I covered the full launch in my Enduro 4 launch breakdown. This post answers one question: is it worth the jump from the Enduro 3?
The short answer
If you own an Enduro 3, keep it unless Garmin Epic or the extra storage solves a real problem for you.
If you own the original Enduro (2021), the upgrade is worth it. You gain preloaded maps, music, multi-band GPS, the flashlight and a lot more. The Enduro 3 gets you most of that for $100 less.
If you own an Enduro 2, I lean yes if you do long races. You gain the Course Planner, the ECG app, Garmin Epic and a much bigger solar GPS rating (320 hours vs 150). If you mostly run shorter distances, your watch is still fine.
If you are buying new, Garmin sells the Enduro 3 for $799.99 and the Enduro 4 for $899.99. Whether that extra $100 is worth it comes down to a short list of features, covered below.
My pick for most new buyers, going by the specs: the Enduro 3 at $799.99, unless you will use Epic on multi-day events or need more map storage. In that case the Enduro 4 is worth the extra $100.
Enduro 4 vs Enduro 3 at a glance
| Enduro 4 | Enduro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price at Garmin (US) | $899.99 | $799.99 |
| Storage | 64GB | 32GB |
| Weight with band | 66g | 63g |
| Case only | 57g | 57g |
| Strap | ComfortFit fabric | UltraFit nylon |
| Display | 1.4″ MIP, 280 x 280 | 1.4″ MIP, 280 x 280 |
| Lens and bezel | Power Sapphire, titanium | Power Sapphire, titanium |
| Garmin Epic | Yes | Not listed |
The case size, thickness (15.7mm), screen and water rating (10 ATM) are identical. If you are hoping for a smaller or slimmer watch, this is not it.
Battery: nothing changed
Garmin renamed some of the modes, but the ratings match.
| Mode (no solar / solar) | Enduro 4 | Enduro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | 36 / 90 days | 36 / 90 days |
| GPS, Normal | 80 / 144 hrs | 80 / 144 hrs |
| GPS, Extended | 120 / 320 hrs | 120 / 320 hrs |
| GPS, Max Accuracy | 60 / 90 hrs | 60 / 90 hrs |
| GPS with music | 22 / 25 hrs | 22 hrs only |
On the Enduro 3 these modes are called GPS Only, All Satellite Systems and All Satellite Systems plus Multi-band. The only real addition is a solar figure for music playback on the Enduro 4.
As always, Garmin’s solar numbers assume 50,000 lux, and the 90-day figure assumes about 3 hours outside every day. Cloudy weeks will not match them. The point here is that neither watch has the advantage.
What is actually new on the Enduro 4
Garmin Epic. This joins days or weeks of activity into one record in Garmin Connect, with your health and performance curves in a single view. It matters if you do stage races, multi-day treks or long training blocks. For example, a week-long backpacking trip becomes one record instead of seven separate activities. If you mostly do single runs, you may never open it.
Grade-adjusted pace workouts and rolling pace. You can set pace targets that adjust to the hills you are climbing, which is useful on trail and ultra courses.
Faster maps with a perspective view. Garmin says the Enduro 4 has 50% more RAM, with map panning up to 30% faster. The doubled storage means more map regions and more music.
Smaller extras. Lactate threshold now works without an accessory, there is a mixed session multisport option, and the rowing suite and gaming activity were added. Most people will not touch the last two.
What you lose by moving to the Enduro 4
This is the part most upgrade posts skip. Reading Garmin’s two product pages side by side, a few things that appear on the Enduro 3 are not listed for the Enduro 4:
- Hands-free voice control
- The Quick workout option
- Compatibility with the Varia Vision head-mounted display
- YouTube Music for offline playlists (the Enduro 4 page lists Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music)
- The WhatsApp app, which the Enduro 3 page mentions but the Enduro 4 page does not
These are launch-day product pages, and Garmin can add features later through software updates. I will update this post if that happens. For now, if one of these is part of your routine, check it before you pay for the upgrade.
Strap and fit: a detail worth checking
The Enduro 4 comes with a ComfortFit fabric band that is rated for wrists from 145 to 220 mm. The Enduro 3’s UltraFit band covered 127 to 225 mm.
That means anyone with a wrist smaller than about 145 mm may need to buy a different band for the Enduro 4. The silicone band is rated from 127 to 210 mm, and the 26 mm QuickFit bands still work. The extra 3 grams of weight (66g vs 63g) comes from this strap, not from the case.
Should you upgrade? By owner
Enduro 3 owners: Probably not. Upgrade only if you do multi-day events and want Epic, you load many map regions and have run out of space, or the new grade-adjusted workouts match how you train. If you use voice control or YouTube Music, stay put.
Enduro 2 owners: Lean yes if you do long races: the Course Planner, ECG app, Garmin Epic and the 320-hour solar GPS rating are all new to you. Stay put if you mostly run shorter distances.
Original Enduro owners: Yes, this is a big jump in every area. If the $100 matters, the Enduro 3 gives you most of it. Choose the Enduro 4 for Epic and 64GB.
If you are also considering switching to a bright AMOLED watch instead, my Enduro 4 vs Fenix 9 comparison explains the trade-off.
Buying new: Enduro 3 or Enduro 4?
Here is the question for a first-time buyer. For $100 more, the Enduro 4 gets you Epic, grade-adjusted pace workouts, perspective maps, 64GB, a faster map engine and a more comfortable band. The Enduro 3 keeps voice control, YouTube Music and Quick workout, and it is cheaper.
Buy the Enduro 4 if you plan multi-day events, load maps for several regions, or want the newest training tools while the watch is still getting software support.
Buy the Enduro 3 if you want the same battery and screen for less, you have a small wrist, or you use the features the Enduro 4 page does not list.
If Enduro 3 prices fall during sales, the gap may grow. Check today’s Garmin watch deals before you decide.
Still undecided? Answer these four questions
Do you already own an Enduro 3? Keep it. Nothing in the Enduro 4 fixes a problem the Enduro 3 has, apart from storage and software.
Do you do multi-day events, like stage races or week-long treks? Buy the Enduro 4. Garmin Epic is the one feature that changes how you review that kind of effort.
Do you use voice control or YouTube Music, or is your wrist under about 145 mm? Buy the Enduro 3. The Enduro 4 page does not list those features, and its stock band starts at 145 mm.
None of those apply? Pick on price. The Enduro 3 is $799.99 and has the same battery and screen. The Enduro 4 is $899.99 and gives you 64GB, faster maps and the newer training tools.
How does it compare with other flagship watches?
Some buyers end up comparing the Enduro with a mainstream smartwatch. Battery is where the Enduro line plays in a different league.
| Watch | Everyday battery | US price |
|---|---|---|
| Enduro 4 | 36 days (90 with solar) | $899.99 |
| Fenix 9 Pro Solar 51mm | 30 days (57 with solar) | $1,199.99 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | Up to 50 hours | $799 |
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | Up to 60 hours (Samsung’s claim) | $699.99 |
The gap is even bigger in GPS workouts. Apple rates the Ultra 4 for 18 hours of outdoor workout, or 25 and 45 hours in its Extended and Max Extended modes. The Enduro 4 is rated for 120 hours, or up to 320 with solar.
Samsung’s 60 hours is a lab figure. One reviewer who used the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with an always-on display, heart rate and sleep tracking got two to three days.
If you want a Garmin with a bright AMOLED screen instead, the closest match is the Fenix 9. My Fenix 9 size and tier buying guide shows which model to pick.
If you are an iPhone user weighing Apple’s Ultra against a Garmin, see my Apple Watch Ultra 4 comparison.
If you use Android and are looking at Samsung’s flagship, read my Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 breakdown. Note that Samsung’s Ultra watches do not work with an iPhone.
Questions people ask
Is the Enduro 4 battery better than the Enduro 3?
No. The ratings are the same in every mode. Only the music mode gains a solar figure.
Does the Enduro 3 have Garmin Epic?
It is not listed on the Enduro 3 spec page. It is listed on the Enduro 4.
Is the Enduro 4 lighter than the Enduro 3?
No. It is 3 grams heavier with its stock band (66g vs 63g). The case alone weighs 57g on both.
Is the Enduro 3 still worth buying?
Yes, if the missing Enduro 4 features do not matter to you. Garmin lists it at $799.99.
Does the Enduro 4 have a different screen?
No. Both use a 1.4-inch MIP display with a Power Sapphire lens.
Where to buy
The Enduro 4 on Amazon is the pick for Epic, bigger storage and the newest software.
The Enduro 3 on Amazon is the pick if you want the same battery and screen for less.
If you have a wrist size and a typical event length in mind, tell me in the comments and I will help you choose.
A quick note on testing: The Enduro 4 is brand new, so this comparison is built from Garmin’s official spec pages for both watches, not weeks on my wrist. I will add my own results as I log them, the way I describe in how I test smartwatches.
