Changes

The Garmin 920XT is an update to the [[Garmin 910XT]], adding many of the features from the [[Garmin 620]], while shrinking in size to become far less bulky than its predecessor. It's a large watch, but I found it comfortable even on my tiny wrists. Its [[GPS Accuracy]] is disappointing, and using the Russian GLONASS satellites makes this worse. However, the 920XT is the first of several watches in the Garmin range to support the revolutionary [[Connect IQ]]. This will allow the 920XT to run applications, much like a smartphone. The 920XT has a clear display, real buttons, and rich functionality that make it an attractive option if you can afford it. The [[Connect IQ]] extensibility adds some potential future proofing. For a simple evaluation of a GPS watch, I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:

* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and sadly, the 920XT has rather middling [[GPS Accuracy]], and while firmware updates might improve this slightly, I doubt it will get close to the accuracy of the [[Polar V800]]. The level of error will depend on your route; on straight lines it will be remarkably accurate (as will any other GPS watch), but on a twisty course like the one I run on, it is out by around 0.5 miles on a 20 mile run. That's enough to mess up your marathon training. If this is important to you, look for a more accurate watch.

* '''Where am I? '''The 920XT does not have full color maps, but you can download a course, and it will give directions back to the start.

* '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. Not only does the 920XT get [[Cadence]] from a [[Footpod]], it will also get it from the Garmin Run Heart Rate monitor. There is also support for Cadence from the internal accelerometer, though I find that's not as accurate. The Cadence alerts are especially useful for keeping you on track.

=Garmin 920XT Pros=

* The 920XT supports Garmin's Connect IQ, which allows for the creation of apps in much the same way you can run apps on Android or iOS. Just like the original iPhone, this has the potential to be revolutionary, making the 920XT an extensible platform for future functionality.

* The 920XT is quite a bit bigger than devices like the [[Garmin 620]] that look more like a traditional watch. However, I have tiny wrists (less than 6 inches) and I found 920XT was far more comfortable than watches like the [[Polar V800]].

* The display on the 920XT is color and a good size that is easier to read than some watches. Unlike the [[Garmin 620]], the color display on 920XT is quite strong. I'm not sure that color adds much functionality, but it does make the 920XT more visually appealing. While the 920XT has a slightly smaller display than its predecessor, the 910XT, it has nearly twice the resolution, creating a far crisper display.

Here are some of the watches that our competitors for the 920XT:

* [[Garmin 620]]. The features of the 620 are remarkably similar to the 920XT. The 620 is smaller, but has a shorter battery life. However, the biggest difference between the two is that the 920XT has the [[Connect IQ]] extensibility. I think that the extensibility of the 920XT makes it well worth the price premium over the 620, so only get the 620 if its small size is critical to you.

* [[Garmin 310XT]]. Like the 610, the 310XT is older and its price has dropped nicely. You could think of the 310XT as a larger 610 with better battery life.

* [[Garmin 910XT]]. The 910XT is a little better than the 310XT, but quite a lot more expensive. Until the price of the 910XT drops to be much closer to the 310XT, I don't think it's worth it; buy the 310XT or the 920XT, not the 910XT.

=What's Missing=

While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches. You'll notice that the 920XT has a rather short list of missing features ;}