You’re probably looking at a used Garmin Fenix 5 Plus and wondering if it’s a steal or just a piece of electronic landfill. It's a fair question. Back when this watch launched, it was the absolute peak of the mountain. It had everything. Music, maps, Garmin Pay—it was the watch that finally bridged the gap between "hardcore mountain tool" and "daily driver you don't feel weird wearing to a wedding."
But the tech world moves fast. Really fast.
Buying a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus today isn't like buying a new Fenix 8 or whatever the latest shiny sapphire-glassed monster is. It’s a calculated move. You’re trading some modern sensor accuracy and battery life for a build quality that still feels like a tank and a price tag that’s honestly hard to argue with if you find one in good shape.
What Actually Changed with the "Plus" Tag?
A lot of people forget that the "Plus" series was a massive pivot for Garmin. Before this, if you wanted maps, you had to buy the massive 5X. It was like wearing a hockey puck on your wrist. When the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus arrived, they squeezed full color TopoActive maps into every size—the 5S, the 5, and the 5X.
That was the game changer.
Suddenly, you could be trail running in a city you've never visited and see actual street names and contour lines on your wrist without your forearm getting tired. It also introduced onboard music storage. You could sync your Spotify playlists (assuming you have Premium) and pair some Bluetooth headphones. No more carrying a bulky phone in a bouncing armband.
The hardware is still weirdly relevant
Garmin didn't skimp on the materials here. We’re talking stainless steel or titanium bezels and, in many models, sapphire crystal. If you’ve ever slammed your wrist against a granite rock while hiking, you know why that matters. The screen is a Transflective Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) display. It doesn't look like an Apple Watch. It isn’t bright or "pretty" in a dark room. But in direct, blinding sunlight? It’s perfect. The brighter the sun, the easier it is to read.
Let's Talk About the Battery Elephant in the Room
Here is the truth: the battery life on a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus isn't going to win any awards by modern standards. Garmin says you get about 10 to 12 days in smartwatch mode.
In reality? If you’re actually using the GPS and listening to music, you’re looking at about 4 to 8 hours of juice.
That’s the "Plus" tax. Adding music and maps put a huge strain on the older processor architecture. If you’re planning on running a 100-mile ultramarathon, this is not your watch. You’ll be staring at a black screen by mile 60. But for the average person who runs for an hour after work or hits a local trail on Saturday? It’s plenty. Just don't expect the month-long battery life of the newer Enduro or Fenix 7 series.
The sensor gap
The heart rate sensor on the back is the Elevate v3. It’s fine. It’s okay. It’s... basically just "good enough" for steady-state cardio. If you’re doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or crossfit, the lag is noticeable. The watch will think your heart rate is 110 when your chest is actually thumping at 170.
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Honestly, if you care about data accuracy, just buy a cheap chest strap. Pair a Garmin HRM-Dual with the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus and suddenly you have pro-level data for a fraction of the cost of a new watch.
Navigating the Maps (The Good and the Bad)
The mapping capability on this watch is still its strongest selling point. It uses Trendline Popularity Routing. This means Garmin looks at billions of miles of data from other users to show you the paths people actually use.
It’s surprisingly smart.
However, the processor inside the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus is a bit slow. When you’re trying to pan across a map or zoom out to see where that river goes, it stutters. It’s not smooth like a smartphone. You have to be patient. It’s a "look once to confirm the turn" tool, not something you want to stare at for ten minutes while you're moving.
Galileo and GPS
One thing the Plus brought to the table was Galileo satellite support alongside GPS and GLONASS. In theory, this gives you better coverage in "urban canyons" or under heavy tree canopy. In practice, it’s a marginal gain, but it’s nice to have. The tracks are usually "clean" enough, though you might see yourself "walking through buildings" occasionally when you look at the map on your phone later.
Why You Might Actually Hate It
Let's be real for a second. This watch is thick.
If you have smaller wrists and you pick up the standard Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, it’s going to catch on your shirt sleeves. It’s heavy. You feel it when you run. Some people love that "heft"—it feels like a tool. Others find it annoying.
Then there's the screen resolution. It’s 240 x 240 pixels. Compared to the AMOLED screens on the newer Venu or Epix lines, it looks like a calculator from the 90s. If you want vibrant colors and smooth animations, stay far away from this. This is a tool for people who value function over aesthetics.
Smart Features: What Works in 2026?
Garmin Pay is still here. It works. If your bank is supported, you can tap your wrist at a gas station to buy a Gatorade. It feels like magic every single time.
The notifications are basic. You can see who texted you. If you’re on Android, you can send some pre-set "Quick Replies" like "On my way" or "Can't talk now." If you’re on iPhone, you can’t reply at all because Apple keeps its iMessage garden locked tight.
- Music Storage: You can shove about 500 songs on here.
- Garmin Connect: The app is still the best in the business for analyzing sleep and recovery.
- ClimbPro: This feature is underrated. It breaks down the climbs on your course so you know exactly how much more pain is left before the summit.
The Competition
Should you buy this or a used Fenix 6? Or maybe a new Forerunner 255?
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The Forerunner 255 will give you way better GPS accuracy (multi-band) and a much newer heart rate sensor. But it's plastic. It feels like a toy compared to the Fenix.
The Fenix 6 Pro is the natural successor. It fixed the battery issues and thinned out the lugs so it fits better. If the price difference is only $50, get the Fenix 6. But if you find a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus for under $150 in good condition? That’s a lot of watch for the money.
Final Verdict on the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus
This watch is for a very specific person. You’re likely someone who wants the "Fenix Look" and mapping capabilities but doesn't want to drop $700 on a hobby you might only do twice a week.
It’s for the hiker who wants a backup to their phone's GPS. It's for the gym-goer who wants a rugged timer and music player that won't shatter if they drop a dumbbell on it.
Is it "outdated"? Technically, yes.
Is it "obsolete"? Not even close.
How to get the most out of it:
If you decide to pick one up, do these three things immediately to make the experience better.
First, replace the band. The original silicone bands get "mushy" over time. A cheap nylon hook-and-loop strap from Amazon makes the watch feel 20% lighter and much more comfortable for sleeping.
Second, turn off the Pulse Ox sensor. It’s a battery hog and, on this specific model, it’s not accurate enough to be useful for anything other than stressing you out about your oxygen levels.
Third, use the "Battery Saver" settings during the night. Since you aren't checking your pace at 3 AM, there's no reason for the watch to be searching for sensors while you're dreaming.
The Garmin Fenix 5 Plus remains a landmark device. It was the moment Garmin stopped making "fitness trackers" and started making "adventure computers." Even years later, the core DNA of that ambition holds up. Just bring your charging cable if you're going for a long weekend in the woods.
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Next Steps for Potential Buyers:
Check the charging port on any used unit you buy; these older models were prone to some corrosion if not cleaned after sweaty runs. If the pins look green or dull, keep looking. Also, verify that the "Plus" you are buying actually has the maps pre-loaded—some international versions vary, and you don't want to spend your Sunday afternoon wrestling with OpenStreetMap files just to see where the nearest trail is.