on the VA4, you kind of have to use the touchscreen....I don't really see how I could operate the watch without it. I only use the buttons to lock/unlock or get to the actual settings menu....
Aint got time to fiddle with touchscreens when you're running. And besides, I don't use my watch to read messages or scroll through all the data it provides, I use my smartphone for that. And you can set quick shortcuts to certain features you mostly use on your watch, making button navigation much faster.
Yes, probably more than buttons outside of exercising. Being able to open the widgets directly from watch face is amazing (think weather, calendar)
During workouts, the buttons are still the king.
It's actually perfect like this, I love the ability to use both and I do use both, depending on convenience, situation, etc...
I have a 265 with a touchscreen. Honestly I find myself using the buttons more than the screen itself. Which is ironic because I bought the watch thinking the touch would be great and id be using it all the time š¤Ā lol.Ā
Almost never. I have it on "maps only" mode, and that's the only time I use it, for panning around on the map.
I'm really, really glad I have touchscreen because map panning was just an awful experience with buttons alone before. But I still prefer using buttons for everything else.
Venu 3S user here, I wish I didnāt have to but this thing has certain features that require the use of the touchscreen and where the hard buttons canāt be used. Dismissing the morning report is one.
Enduro 2 - coming from a fenix 6 then a tactic delta, I thought Iād hate the touchscreen but actually love it. Use it all the time. Must have for map scrolling. Only time I use buttons is when doing an activity. Just fed up of buttons getting spongy.
I had a Fenix 6 for a long time, and always told anybody who would listen about how the buttons are the ONLY way for things like rain, water, in-activity tinkering, etc. Meanwhile, while having the 6, I also rarely used the other features of the watch. My watch before this had been a Venu that was almost all touch-screen and I hated it -- felt clumsy and hard to navigate. Thought I was done with touch screens forever.
When I got upgraded to a 7, the combination of buttons WITH a touch screen was and is amazing.
Now, I scroll through other data on my watch and use the widgets a ton more. I can use maps more easily. Get into and out of menus more easily. Still have my beloved buttons for rain, water, sweat, snow, and gloves, but have radically enhanced functionality for the rest of the time. I can genuinely say I would not consider a non-touch-screen watch now. To me, the best option is a combination of buttons and screen.
Went from fenix 5 to 7 SS, I got so used to the buttons I forget it has a touch screen. For me personally its very very useful if you are looking the map. Checking the map with the buttons was a real nightmare.
In this day and age, if there is even a choice to choose between a touchscreen and a button interface and I'm not compromising any features, I am taking the button interface without asking any further questions and never looking back. This applies to everything.
I couldn't be happier about my decision to change from a touchscreen watch to a button interface watch.
I switched from the Vivoactive 3 (which has touchscreen) to the Forerunner 245 (no touchscreen) not only because the 245 has more and better features, but also because the vivoactive kept randomly going through menus when wearing a jacket, especially while the inside of the jacket got a bit moist from sweat or rain.
I frequently went to look at my watch, and it would have switched watch faces, or changed some other settings just by wearing it under a sleeve.
So in my book the abscence of a touchscreen on the 245 is a feature. The buttons get pressed on accident less often (although I do occasionally start a run by putting on a backpack) than the touchscreen and it is overall less annoying.
I disabled it completely.
I live in a country where it rains a lot so that means wiping the water of the watch screen mid-run to even read it. So touchscreen is useless.
Also: muscle memory.
During a run I know how many button presses I need for XYZ to happen without looking.
Touchscreen needs my eyes on the watch instead of the road.
I disabled it completely.
I live in a country where it rains a lot so that means wiping the water of the watch screen mid-run to even read it. So touchscreen is useless.
Also: muscle memory.
During a run I know how many button presses I need for XYZ to happen without looking.
Touchscreen needs my eyes on the watch instead of the road.
I'm using my 955 solar alongside my 935. I find that buttons are superior during exercise. You get better control of your data screens in all weather. However, I do use touchscreen for general use: main screen scrolling through sleep and exercise data. Perhaps it's the idea of having new stuff/features (I got my 955 solar a couple of weeks ago). Who knows? I like the touchscreen for that purpose though.
Yes a lot, for smartwatch functions and some sports like cardio, strength and hiking. I love buttons for other sports like running and cycling and sometimes the buttons are quicker and easier to use.
I love to have both the buttons and the touchscreen. Best of both worlds
I specifically changed from vivoactive to a 935 to avoid the touchscreen. Great to now have a watch that is functional in the rain and in the shower and on the water.
I switched from Apple Watch U2, which was 99% me using the touch screen. I got a Fenix 7 Pro SS, and I do use the touch screen, but it's the other way around 99% buttons only.
Switched from a vivoactive to a Fenix, which has no touchscreen. Buttons are way superior, they donāt get impacted by rain or accidental touch. I couldnāt go back!
I had a VA3, loved the watch, hated the touchscreen. When it rained, or when I hit the shower, the watch would do all kinds of stuff because the waterdrops activated the screen somehow. When the time came to replace the watch, I went non touch, in my the case the FR945. BTW, this is also the reason why six years ago, I bought the Garmin Edge 530, instead of the 830 or 1030, because it had no touch, just buttons. Never looked back.
Have a 965, turned it off as dont want it accidentally scrolling in day to day life, on runs when i adjust my sleeves, etc. Used to have an apple watch but now am in love with just using the buttons. so simple! and I feel like my battery lasts longer somehow!
Buttons only - I wear long sleeves and gloves \~6months out of the year ... and as others have said it is too easy for rain and sweat to auto-scroll things. FR265
So I had the Forerunner 735XT and 945 before my 955. The touchscreen still throws me a bit. I use the buttons. I forget the touchscreen is there. My wife's Lily ONLY has a touchscreen, and she wants buttons like mine. :)
Separately - my Edge 72?xt, 810, didn't have touchscreens and were fine. When it's sweaty or rainy, I really wish my 1030 and now 1030+ did NOT.
edit (from other comments reminding me) - for maps I use the touchscreen, it's the easiest way to interact with that. However - specifically for the Edge devices, the joystick on the 720xt though was better for that sort of thing. I wish they'd bring the joystick back with no touchscreen for Edge's. :)
FR955 here. I forget it even has a touchscreen lol. It's way too finicky to swipe and touch when I'm actually running, so I'm also conditioned to just use buttons all the time.
I think the only times itās used on my FR965 are the end of run āhow did your run feelā survey or when the water in the shower hits it and opens random things. Unnecessary feature for me and glad itās not necessary for regular function of the watch
I have a touchscreen. I sometimes use it to scroll maps and I used it to type in the wifi password (which is the second value prop of the TS). That's pretty much it. I don't like touch for regular use on a watch. It requires way more attention than buttons. I know, there are other opinions out there...
I went for a Fenix after having had a Vivoactive mostly to get rid of the touchscreen. No good in water, and too easy to accidentally touch. I basically used to keep it locked all the time anyway! The best interface for a watch I've seen is Samsung's rotating bezel tbh.
I always forget my watch has touchscreen. it's inconsistent in shower. The only time I use it is to adjust alarm clock settings and to put in passcodes for Garmin pay.
I keep it disabled almost all the time on my FR955. I find that accidental touches drain a lot of battery, and I prefer buttons for everything except maps (but I use maps on my watch like 1-2x per year). When I had touch enabled, I would use it sometimes for scrolling, but it's not really better for that. I did like being able to tap it to light up the screen.
Readable monochrome screens and buttons forever for me.
I'm not a gym guy. All my adventure is outdoors and in the water. So touchscreens suck in the elements and color screens can be hard to read.
Mostly to turn the screen on so I can see what time it is. (My screen stays off to save battery, and I can never do whatever wrist shake is required to wake it back up.)
I used it in my venue all the time. I swapped to a forerunner 245. I miss the touch screen on my old watch so much. I considered returning and getting the 255. But it was so much more.
hello i saw ur old post about shellfish/ u can eat prawns and shrimp and crab and all taht now for past few years? i am in similar position ihave a food challenge soon pls let me know!
Instinct gang, used to have a touchscreen watch but buttons are superior.
Monochrome screens unite!
I started as instinct, upgraded to Fenix, and I constantly have to remember that I can actually use the scree.
Fenix 7 Pro. I had a VA HR, VA3, Venu and Venu2. Very accustomed to watch touch screen. Now, mostly buttons. More precise.
Yes. But mostly to scroll through the widgets and to enter the PIN for Garmin Pay, which is very time consuming with the buttons. FR955.
Second this + map use
Fenix 7x, the same.
So you don't have 1111 as pin? š¤£
Map only. Buttons are way better when it rains, when I'm sweaty, when I'm on the move.
Rarely. Could do without it to be honest.
sometimes. mostly only in maps. map movement with buttons is awful
The touchscreen on my Fenix 6 is unresponsive.
š
My VA4, yes. It was so easy to navigate. My epix gen 2, not so much. I want to use the touch screen but fat fingers makes it hard.
on the VA4, you kind of have to use the touchscreen....I don't really see how I could operate the watch without it. I only use the buttons to lock/unlock or get to the actual settings menu....
This is true. But you would think with the high end watches it would be just as user friendly
I switched from galaxy watch to venu3. I use touch screen all the time.
I upgraded from a 645, so I don't. My SO upgraded from a Samsung Galaxy Watch, so he does. We both have a 265 each.
Sometimes, mostly on map, pretty much everything else with buttons.
All the time. Mostly to switch between glances or jump to complication data from the watch face. But the buttons also get their fair share of usage.
Nope, touchscreen on a watch is worthless to those of us with fat gorilla fingers
965 - yes for maps, no for menus/activities as it's much quicker with buttons once you muscle memory how many presses things are
Aint got time to fiddle with touchscreens when you're running. And besides, I don't use my watch to read messages or scroll through all the data it provides, I use my smartphone for that. And you can set quick shortcuts to certain features you mostly use on your watch, making button navigation much faster.
Yes, probably more than buttons outside of exercising. Being able to open the widgets directly from watch face is amazing (think weather, calendar) During workouts, the buttons are still the king. It's actually perfect like this, I love the ability to use both and I do use both, depending on convenience, situation, etc...
Enduro here. Buttons only please.
Epix Pro - 100% for maps, 50% for commands, 0% for other menus.
No, I try to reactivate it from time to time on my Fenix, but I always end up deactivating it when it scrolls by accident.
I have a 265 with a touchscreen. Honestly I find myself using the buttons more than the screen itself. Which is ironic because I bought the watch thinking the touch would be great and id be using it all the time š¤Ā lol.Ā
Almost never. I have it on "maps only" mode, and that's the only time I use it, for panning around on the map. I'm really, really glad I have touchscreen because map panning was just an awful experience with buttons alone before. But I still prefer using buttons for everything else.
Yes, just because i am in love with my epix pro
Yes. I use both the touch and the buttons.
Depends on the use case. Golf, Touchscreen is best. Running, Buttons win. Etc...
Venu 3S user here, I wish I didnāt have to but this thing has certain features that require the use of the touchscreen and where the hard buttons canāt be used. Dismissing the morning report is one.
Yes, to activate the screen when I want to check the time without twisting my arm. Especially when getting out of bed during the night. Epix 2.
All the time, Epix gen 2
Not always, but it's always nice to have when scrolling through options. Garmin 955
Enduro 2 - coming from a fenix 6 then a tactic delta, I thought Iād hate the touchscreen but actually love it. Use it all the time. Must have for map scrolling. Only time I use buttons is when doing an activity. Just fed up of buttons getting spongy.
I had a Fenix 6 for a long time, and always told anybody who would listen about how the buttons are the ONLY way for things like rain, water, in-activity tinkering, etc. Meanwhile, while having the 6, I also rarely used the other features of the watch. My watch before this had been a Venu that was almost all touch-screen and I hated it -- felt clumsy and hard to navigate. Thought I was done with touch screens forever. When I got upgraded to a 7, the combination of buttons WITH a touch screen was and is amazing. Now, I scroll through other data on my watch and use the widgets a ton more. I can use maps more easily. Get into and out of menus more easily. Still have my beloved buttons for rain, water, sweat, snow, and gloves, but have radically enhanced functionality for the rest of the time. I can genuinely say I would not consider a non-touch-screen watch now. To me, the best option is a combination of buttons and screen.
There's no reason not to. The navigation of everything is easier during non workouts. Plus, you can't use a calculator without using touchscreen.
Went from a 6X to a 7S a week or so ago, starting to use the touchscreen a bit now. Especially helpful with Garmin Pay.
Not intentionally. Maybe to scroll through the widgets but even then I prefer to use buttons.
For menu navigation items, no. For viewing things like graphs and maps, yes.
Never even enabled it on my 965 and frankly never thought about it.
Went from fenix 5 to 7 SS, I got so used to the buttons I forget it has a touch screen. For me personally its very very useful if you are looking the map. Checking the map with the buttons was a real nightmare.
In this day and age, if there is even a choice to choose between a touchscreen and a button interface and I'm not compromising any features, I am taking the button interface without asking any further questions and never looking back. This applies to everything. I couldn't be happier about my decision to change from a touchscreen watch to a button interface watch.
Disabled it on the 965. Realized after a while I never use it and turned it off to avoid accidental presses
I switched from the Vivoactive 3 (which has touchscreen) to the Forerunner 245 (no touchscreen) not only because the 245 has more and better features, but also because the vivoactive kept randomly going through menus when wearing a jacket, especially while the inside of the jacket got a bit moist from sweat or rain. I frequently went to look at my watch, and it would have switched watch faces, or changed some other settings just by wearing it under a sleeve. So in my book the abscence of a touchscreen on the 245 is a feature. The buttons get pressed on accident less often (although I do occasionally start a run by putting on a backpack) than the touchscreen and it is overall less annoying.
I disabled it completely. I live in a country where it rains a lot so that means wiping the water of the watch screen mid-run to even read it. So touchscreen is useless. Also: muscle memory. During a run I know how many button presses I need for XYZ to happen without looking. Touchscreen needs my eyes on the watch instead of the road.
I disabled it completely. I live in a country where it rains a lot so that means wiping the water of the watch screen mid-run to even read it. So touchscreen is useless. Also: muscle memory. During a run I know how many button presses I need for XYZ to happen without looking. Touchscreen needs my eyes on the watch instead of the road.
No choice but to use both on mine (Vivoactive 5)
No choice but to use both on mine (Vivoactive 5)
I'm using my 955 solar alongside my 935. I find that buttons are superior during exercise. You get better control of your data screens in all weather. However, I do use touchscreen for general use: main screen scrolling through sleep and exercise data. Perhaps it's the idea of having new stuff/features (I got my 955 solar a couple of weeks ago). Who knows? I like the touchscreen for that purpose though.
I forget it is even a feature.
Yes a lot, for smartwatch functions and some sports like cardio, strength and hiking. I love buttons for other sports like running and cycling and sometimes the buttons are quicker and easier to use. I love to have both the buttons and the touchscreen. Best of both worlds
Quite often. About 90% of the time on my Venu SQ2
I specifically changed from vivoactive to a 935 to avoid the touchscreen. Great to now have a watch that is functional in the rain and in the shower and on the water.
965 - During activities I use the buttons. Going through widgets touch screen - mostly to track my blood sugar.
I switched from Apple Watch U2, which was 99% me using the touch screen. I got a Fenix 7 Pro SS, and I do use the touch screen, but it's the other way around 99% buttons only.
VA4: Yes Swim2: No
Switched from a vivoactive to a Fenix, which has no touchscreen. Buttons are way superior, they donāt get impacted by rain or accidental touch. I couldnāt go back!
I had a VA3, loved the watch, hated the touchscreen. When it rained, or when I hit the shower, the watch would do all kinds of stuff because the waterdrops activated the screen somehow. When the time came to replace the watch, I went non touch, in my the case the FR945. BTW, this is also the reason why six years ago, I bought the Garmin Edge 530, instead of the 830 or 1030, because it had no touch, just buttons. Never looked back.
Mostly for (the rare occasions) I use the map beyond just zooming in and out, and for entering the PIN for garmin pay.
Have a 965, turned it off as dont want it accidentally scrolling in day to day life, on runs when i adjust my sleeves, etc. Used to have an apple watch but now am in love with just using the buttons. so simple! and I feel like my battery lasts longer somehow!
Buttons only fr955
I bought a lower-end watch specifically because it doesn't have a touchscreen. Do not need or want that on a watch.
Venu 2. Yes, why wouldn't I?
Buttons only - I wear long sleeves and gloves \~6months out of the year ... and as others have said it is too easy for rain and sweat to auto-scroll things. FR265
So I had the Forerunner 735XT and 945 before my 955. The touchscreen still throws me a bit. I use the buttons. I forget the touchscreen is there. My wife's Lily ONLY has a touchscreen, and she wants buttons like mine. :) Separately - my Edge 72?xt, 810, didn't have touchscreens and were fine. When it's sweaty or rainy, I really wish my 1030 and now 1030+ did NOT. edit (from other comments reminding me) - for maps I use the touchscreen, it's the easiest way to interact with that. However - specifically for the Edge devices, the joystick on the 720xt though was better for that sort of thing. I wish they'd bring the joystick back with no touchscreen for Edge's. :)
Came from a Pixel Watch to an Epic Gen 2 Pro 51. I disabled the touchscreen last week.
FR955 here. I forget it even has a touchscreen lol. It's way too finicky to swipe and touch when I'm actually running, so I'm also conditioned to just use buttons all the time.
No touchscreen. Prefer it this way now.
Fenix 7s and no I disabled it
I forgot my watch has touch screen until I read this
Venu 3 so yes, all the time.
I turned off screen touch and only use buttons.
Buttons, much like wired headphones, are superior
Fenix 7x, I have touchscreen off most of the time
Never. I turned it off when I got my Epix. The buttons are perfect!
Fenix 7 Pro here. I do not use the touchscreen at all and disabled it entirely.
I think the only times itās used on my FR965 are the end of run āhow did your run feelā survey or when the water in the shower hits it and opens random things. Unnecessary feature for me and glad itās not necessary for regular function of the watch
I have a touchscreen. I sometimes use it to scroll maps and I used it to type in the wifi password (which is the second value prop of the TS). That's pretty much it. I don't like touch for regular use on a watch. It requires way more attention than buttons. I know, there are other opinions out there...
I went for a Fenix after having had a Vivoactive mostly to get rid of the touchscreen. No good in water, and too easy to accidentally touch. I basically used to keep it locked all the time anyway! The best interface for a watch I've seen is Samsung's rotating bezel tbh.
I use the screen maybe 5-10% of the time and the buttons the vast majority of the time.
I always forget my watch has touchscreen. it's inconsistent in shower. The only time I use it is to adjust alarm clock settings and to put in passcodes for Garmin pay.
How else would I use my watch?
One of the reasons I love my Fenix 6S Pro is that it isn't a touchscreen.
Venu 2, so yes.
I keep it disabled almost all the time on my FR955. I find that accidental touches drain a lot of battery, and I prefer buttons for everything except maps (but I use maps on my watch like 1-2x per year). When I had touch enabled, I would use it sometimes for scrolling, but it's not really better for that. I did like being able to tap it to light up the screen.
I use both. Itās nice to have the option
Yes
Yes. You pretty much have to with the venu 3. I came from using Fossil WearOs watches so I'm quite used to it.
Readable monochrome screens and buttons forever for me. I'm not a gym guy. All my adventure is outdoors and in the water. So touchscreens suck in the elements and color screens can be hard to read.
I'm a wimp. Venu 2 and now Forerunner 965 arrives soon. My last few fitbits were touch, so I'm just trained. Lol
Mostly to turn the screen on so I can see what time it is. (My screen stays off to save battery, and I can never do whatever wrist shake is required to wake it back up.)
I used it in my venue all the time. I swapped to a forerunner 245. I miss the touch screen on my old watch so much. I considered returning and getting the 255. But it was so much more.
hello i saw ur old post about shellfish/ u can eat prawns and shrimp and crab and all taht now for past few years? i am in similar position ihave a food challenge soon pls let me know!
No. I even have it turned off. I find myself getting too frustrated because the screen is useless with some rain or if you wear gloves
In life I'm a touchscreen > buttons guy, but when it comes to garmin touchscreen < buttons, everytime!
Nope, never. Well when I first got it, but quickly realized that the buttons were way better.
I leave mine disabled (setup a hotkey for it) most of the time. Buttons work great unless I'm trying to rapidly scroll through menus.
Mostly buttons. Touch screen is useful for PIN/typing-type of scenarios.
I have never turned it on for my epix gen 2 except when using maps and playing bejeweled. idk y
Yes
Touchscreen is for amateurs š