Garmin Enduro 4: a GPS watch that runs on sunlight

What it is

The Garmin Enduro 4 is a solar-charging GPS smartwatch. Garmin places it in its Enduro line, built around ultra-performance watches geared towards endurance. It targets endurance athletes who spend long hours outdoors: trail running, hiking, trekking with a pack on their back.

On a multi-day crossing, it brings together maps, sensors and lighting on your wrist. The preloaded TopoActive maps cover several continents. An altimeter, barometer and 3-axis electronic compass support navigation. An LED torch is built in. In the evening, the Garmin Epic feature analyses and shares activity data spanning several days: the whole route can be reviewed as one.

The watch ships with a dark olive-green ComfortFit fabric strap, under reference 010-04799-00. In Medium size, this strap fits a wrist circumference of 145 to 220 mm. The watch also accepts 26 mm QuickFit straps, so you can switch straps without being tied to a single model.

Why it exists

Garmin presents the Enduro 4 as built for extreme conditions. The whole Enduro line revolves around one idea: stretching the time between charges, particularly with the help of the sun. On a trip lasting several days, battery life sets the limit for everything else — navigation, route recording, heart rate measurements.

Around this battery life, the watch stacks features aimed at long efforts. Climb sessions are based on grade-adjusted pace, which allows you to gauge a climb by its gradient rather than by raw speed. Pack weight is factored in during running, hiking and walking. Incident detection works during certain activities.

Each of these features speaks to the same profile: someone heading far, for a long time, often carrying a load.

What matters

Battery life, mode by mode. In smartwatch mode, the Enduro 4 lasts up to 36 days, and up to 90 days with solar charging. In standard activity mode, it runs from 80 hours up to 144 hours with the sun. Extended battery mode reaches 120 hours, and 320 hours with solar charging. Expedition mode goes up to 77 days, and becomes unlimited with solar charging. The solar figures assume all-day wear with 3 hours per day outdoors under 50,000 lux. These are the conditions to keep in mind when reading the numbers: they describe someone living outdoors for a good part of the day.

Music, which weighs on the battery. During activity with music, battery life drops to 22 hours, or 25 hours with solar charging. The gap with standard mode is clear: on a very long run, listening to music from start to finish costs hours of tracking. The 64 GB of storage holds tracks downloaded from Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music, sometimes requiring a subscription. For a short outing, the question matters less; for a multi-day event, it’s a trade-off to settle before setting out.

Navigation. Positioning relies on multi-band GPS. The TopoActive maps are already on the watch before you set off, covering several continents. The altimeter gives altitude, the barometer tracks pressure, the 3-axis electronic compass indicates direction. For mountain hiking, this trio is what lets you place yourself on the terrain.

Display, materials and size. The display measures 35.56 mm (1.4 inches) in diameter, with a resolution of 280 × 280 pixels; the brand states a MIP technology. The lens is Power Sapphire, the bezel is titanium, and the case is fibre-reinforced polymer. The watch measures 51 × 51 × 15.7 mm. It weighs 66 g, with the case alone at 57 g. This is a large case: on a slim wrist, it’s worth keeping these dimensions in mind before choosing.

Body tracking. The wrist heart rate sensor is the Garmin Elevate. The Pulse Ox sensor measures blood oxygen saturation. An ECG app detects signs of atrial fibrillation; it isn’t available in all regions. At altitude or after a long effort, these readings complement the activity data itself.

Activity profiles. The watch offers more than 100. Combined with climb sessions and pack weight tracking, they cover everything from a Sunday outing to structured training.

Day to day

Charging uses a proprietary Garmin connector charger. The charging and data cable is included in the box, along with the watch, its dark olive-green ComfortFit fabric strap and a manual. Between charges, the sun takes over as soon as you’re outdoors.

The watch connects via Bluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi. It works with an iPhone as well as an Android mobile phone, and pairs with the Garmin Connect app. That’s where recorded activities are stored.

The brand states a water resistance of 10 ATM. For the strap, the 26 mm QuickFit system allows you to swap the supplied fabric strap for another compatible one.

Technical specifications

Feature	Value
Reference	010-04799-00
Display diameter	35.56 mm (1.4 inches)
Display resolution	280 × 280 pixels
Display technology	MIP (as stated by the brand)
Dimensions	51 × 51 × 15.7 mm
Weight	66 g (case only: 57 g)
Compatible straps	QuickFit 26 mm
Wrist circumference (ComfortFit Medium strap)	145 to 220 mm
Battery life in smartwatch mode	up to 36 days / 90 days with solar charging
Battery life in activity mode (standard)	up to 80 hours / 144 hours with solar charging
Battery life in activity mode with music	up to 22 hours / 25 hours with solar charging
Battery life in activity mode (extended battery)	up to 120 hours / 320 hours with solar charging
Battery life in expedition mode	up to 77 days / unlimited with solar charging
Conditions for solar figures	all-day wear, 3 hours per day outdoors under 50,000 lux
Storage	64 GB
Water resistance	10 ATM (as stated by the brand)
Electronic compass	3-axis
Activity profiles	more than 100

What the brand says

Garmin presents the Enduro 4 as built for extreme conditions. This is the thread running through the whole Enduro line, which the brand directs towards battery life.

According to Garmin, its lightweight design — titanium bezel, sapphire lens and fabric strap — keeps it light on the wrist.

Garmin states that its TopoActive maps are smoother and more intuitive.

The brand also states that with this watch, every activity becomes an adventure.