The Garmin Enduro 4 is out Oct 22, 2026 (official) at ¥138,000. It's a buy if you want to walk traverses of 1 week or so without charging. If most of your hikes are shorter, there's little reason to pay this price.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The Enduro 4's battery numbers are within an hour of the Enduro 3's. What changed is the storage, now 64GB, how fast the map moves, and the price. So I'm not weighing it as "a new model with more battery." I'm weighing it as "an Enduro with the same battery, a faster map, and an official price ¥10,000 lower."
Key points
- About 320 hours is the mode that cuts location accuracy to save battery, plus 50,000 lux of sunlight. Standard mode is about 80 hours, high accuracy about 60
- Per gram, standard mode gives 1.21 hours of battery, almost level with the COROS APEX 4 (46mm) at 1.27 hours. The Enduro 4 wins on total hours, not per gram
- Versus the Enduro 3: 3g heavier, storage up from 32GB to 64GB, and a launch price ¥10,000 lower. Water resistance is 10 ATM on both
Is the Enduro 4 worth buying for hiking? Reading the "320 hours" claim
The "about 320 hours in GPS mode" in the announcement headline stacks two conditions. First, a mode that cuts location accuracy to save battery. Second, solar charging in 50,000 lux sunlight.
That assumption falls apart on days in forest or fog. Since it isn't out yet, I judged it only on the numbers published officially.
How I judged it
The first thing I looked at was battery time without solar: about 80 hours in standard mode. Then I lined it up row by row against last generation's Enduro 3 table, and the battery numbers were identical. That's what gave me pause. It's a new model, and the battery hasn't grown. I still say wait, because the storage doubled and the official price is ¥10,000 below the Enduro 3's launch price. It suits people who want to walk week-long traverses without carrying any charging gear.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Garmin Enduro 4
Pre-release: available from Oct 22When does the Enduro 4 come out? The official date and numbers
| Item | Official listing |
|---|---|
| Release date / price | Oct 22, 2026 · ¥138,000 (pre-orders from Oct 15) |
| Weight | 66g (57g for the case alone) |
| Size | 51×51×15.7mm · 1.4-inch display |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM |
| Battery: standard | About 80 hours (144 hours with solar) |
| Battery: high accuracy | About 60 hours (90 with solar) |
| Battery: extended battery | About 120 hours (320 with solar) |
| Battery: used as a watch | About 36 days (90 days with solar) |
| Maps and storage | Built-in Japan detailed topographic maps · 64GB |
How many days does the Enduro 4 battery last on a hike?
I did the division myself, assuming 10 hours of recording a day. Standard mode is 80 ÷ 10, or 8 days. High accuracy is 60 ÷ 10, or 6 days. That's without counting on an hour of solar. I'll get excited here: this is a watch that lets you plan a week-long traverse with no charging cable.
Treat the solar boost as a bonus. 50,000 lux is the brightness of a sunny day outdoors, and it doesn't reach under a sleeve or in a forest.
Enduro 4 vs Enduro 3, with the COROS APEX 4 alongside
| Model | Weight | Battery (per gram) | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enduro 4 | 66g | About 80 hours (1.21 hours) | ¥138,000 |
| Enduro 3 | 63g | About 80 hours (1.27 hours) | ¥148,000 (at its 2024 launch) |
| COROS APEX 4 (46mm) | 51g | Up to 65 hours (1.27 hours) | ¥69,960 |
The gap to the Enduro 3: 3g, ¥10,000, and storage
The battery gap is 0 hours. The Enduro 3 table reads "about 80 hours + 64 hours," "about 60 + 30," and "about 120 + 200." Add them up and they land exactly on the Enduro 4's 144, 90 and 320 hours. Size and water resistance were the same too.
What changed is the storage, from 32GB to 64GB. The press release says RAM is up 50% and map operations are up to 30% faster. It's 3g heavier. That's the catch.
"Wait, or buy the Enduro 3 now?" I wait. The case for the Enduro 3 only holds when shop prices fall clearly below the Enduro 4's.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Garmin Enduro 3
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥128,755 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥148,000, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanSee it on RakutenPer gram, it's almost level with the COROS APEX 4
That surprised me. Battery per gram is 1.21 hours for the Enduro 4 and 1.27 for the APEX 4. The Enduro 4 comes out ahead in total time: 80 − 65 = 15 hours, or 1.5 days at 10 hours a day. The question is whether that 1.5 days and the bigger display are worth ¥68,040 (138,000 − 69,960) and 15g more. For up to 2 or 3 nights in huts, I'd pick the APEX 4.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
COROS APEX 4 (46mm)
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥69,960 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on RakutenHow I think about weight, including cameras and power, is in how to choose a hiking GPS watch, and my pick. I also compared the Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar review, which costs ¥28,200 less and also has solar on its back (out Oct 29).
If you want one device that handles maps and a light too, the higher-end Garmin fenix 9 Pro Dual Power review sets it side by side with the Enduro 4.
Things to watch
First, maps. The built-in map is the Japan detailed topographic map, and the "Japan hiking topo map" is described as a separate download sold on its own. If you want more trail detail, budget for that extra cost.
Second, Garmin places a warning in the "Courses" section of the Enduro 3 manual, saying it doesn't guarantee the safety or accuracy of courses made by other people. A watch map is one tool for checking where you are. Carry a paper map and compass, and a smartphone map app, separately. For light gear in case you get lost, see how to choose an emergency blanket and emergency shelter (zelt).
Who is it for?
It suits people who want to walk multi-day traverses without worrying about charging.
If your hikes are mostly day trips and 1 or 2 nights in huts, the 65-hour APEX 4 fits. If you already own an Enduro 3, the battery numbers are the same, so there's a different way to choose too.
FAQ
When does the Enduro 4 come out, and what does it cost?
Garmin Japan's announcement gives a release date of Oct 22, 2026 and a price of ¥138,000 (incl. tax). Pre-orders open on Oct 15.
How is the Enduro 4 different from the Enduro 3?
By the official numbers, three things differ: weight (66g vs 63g), storage (64GB vs 32GB), and launch price (¥138,000 vs ¥148,000). Battery life and water resistance (10 ATM) are the same.
How many hours does the Enduro 4 battery last without solar?
About 80 hours in standard mode, about 60 in high-accuracy mode, and about 120 in extended-battery mode. The roughly 320 hours is the extended-battery mode plus 50,000 lux of solar charging.
