Garmin has rolled out a small but potentially important software update for the Fenix 8 Pro, addressing one of the biggest complaints reported by some owners in recent weeks.

While System Software 22.39 isn't packed with new features, it fixes a possible battery drain issue that could make a noticeable difference for affected users.

According to Garmin's official release notes, the update includes just two changes: a fix for "possible battery drain" and another for "possible issues when doing voice calls."

It's a brief changelog, but one that follows reports from some Garmin watch owners who experienced unusually high battery consumption after previous firmware releases.

The company hasn't revealed what caused the issue or how widespread it was, so it's worth noting that not every user was affected.

More than a maintenance release

The timing is also good news for anyone thinking about buying Garmin's flagship outdoor smartwatch.

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED (47mm) is currently available at Very for £869, £160 below its £1,029 RRP.

It's not quite the lowest price we've seen, but it's still one of the strongest deals available on Garmin's premium multisport watch.

The Fenix 8 Pro sits at the top of Garmin's adventure watch range and packs just about every feature an outdoor enthusiast could want.

Alongside comprehensive fitness and health tracking, it offers full-colour offline mapping, multi-band GNSS, advanced navigation tools, training readiness, endurance and hill scores, and Garmin's extensive suite of recovery and performance metrics.

The 47mm model also features a bright AMOLED display protected by a sapphire crystal lens, a titanium bezel for added durability, built-in LED flashlight, speaker and microphone for calls and voice commands, and LTE connectivity for additional safety and communication features.

Combined with Garmin's excellent battery life (now improved) and regular software support, it remains one of the most capable outdoor smartwatches you can buy.

[via NotebookCheck, Garmin Forums]

I thought it was a bit strange for Amazon to launch its latest event a week before payday until I realised the pay weekend fell on 4th July, which obviously enjoys priority in the US. With both now behind us, it's time to take deals seriously, starting with this Forerunner 570 offer at John Lewis.

Shop all wearable deals at John Lewis

As far as I can tell, the watch has never been this cheap before, even at Amazon. It dipped to £410-ish last December, but the current £400 price certainly is as cheap as the watch gets – at least for now. With marathon-training season in full swing, now is the time to get a new watch that can actually help you strain smarter.

The 47mm Garmin Forerunner 570 strikes a sweet spot between performance and everyday usability, packing many of the company's latest training features into a lightweight 50g case.

Its 1.4-inch AMOLED display is the brightest ever fitted to a Forerunner, offering crisp visuals and excellent readability, while the aluminium bezel gives it a more premium feel than previous mid-range models.

The watch uses Garmin's latest multi-band GPS and Elevate Gen5 optical heart rate sensor for improved accuracy during training.

It provides advanced metrics including Training Readiness, Training Status, wrist-based running power, running dynamics, VO2 Max, race predictions and recovery insights, alongside Garmin Coach and Garmin Triathlon Coach plans.

The running watch also adds a built-in speaker and microphone for taking calls, using your phone's voice assistant and issuing voice commands directly to the watch.

With support for music storage, Garmin Pay, incident detection and up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode or 18 hours in GPS mode, the Forerunner 570 is designed to be a capable companion for both daily wear and serious training.

I’m way overdue with this Garmin Fenix 8 Pro review. I tested the MicroLED version of Garmin’s flagship wearable when it came out and have worn the AMOLED version a lot since then, but somehow I never found the time to put my thoughts into words. Turns out, you can’t forever put off doing things!

Not like writing what’s admittedly the best Garmin watch (well, the most feature-rich, anyway) is a huge burden. I’ve always loved using Garmin products, and the Fenix line has always held a special place in my heart, thanks to its rugged build and excellent mapping functionality.

That said, it almost feels like the Fenix 8 Pro came a bit too soon after the Garmin Fenix 8. Don’t get me wrong, it was an important launch – the world’s first microLED smartwatch! – but from a features perspective, it offers little that is tangibly different from its predecessor.

Sure, inReach Messenger is nice, and so is the MicroLED panel, but otherwise, you’re getting the same sensors and, most importantly, almost the carbon copy of the Fenix 8 user experience, especially if you opt for the AMOLED model.

I certainly wouldn’t throw away my Fenix 8 to get a Fenix 8 Pro, but even with that, it’s hard to deny that the Fenix 8 Pro is the best outdoor watch right now, all things considered. If you have an older Fenix and are keen on staying in the Garmin ecosystem, you’ll love the Fenix 8 Pro. Should you get one? Let’s find out.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro review

Price and availability

The Fenix 8 Pro was launched in September 2025 and is available to buy now at Garmin UK, Garmin US, Garmin AU and Garmin EU.

The AMOLED version is available in 47mm and 51mm sizes, and starts at £1,030 / $1,200 / AU$2,100 / €1,300. The MicroLED option comes in one case size only (51mm) and costs a whopping £1,500 / $1,700 / AU$3,400 / €1,800.

The MicroLED retailed for more at launch, but Garmin has since permanently dropped the price to entice more people to get the watch. It’s still a huge investment, but there are often deals on the AMOLED version. Recently, Amazon knocked the price down to £726 in the UK.

Design

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is available in 47mm and 51mm case sizes, pairing them with a fibre-reinforced polymer case with a titanium rear cover, while the sapphire edition adds a lightweight titanium bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens.

You can opt for Garmin's familiar AMOLED screen or the brand's first-ever MicroLED display. Both offer the same resolution and user interface, but the MicroLED panel delivers significantly higher brightness – up to 4,500 nits – making it exceptionally easy to read in harsh sunlight.

In direct sunlight, the MicroLED looks almost as if the graphics have been printed onto the glass, with outstanding visibility from virtually any angle.

The AMOLED model, meanwhile, peaks at around 2,000 nits, which is commendable but not necessarily on par with some rivals, including the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the much more affordable Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2. That said, the Fenix 8 Pro is still among the brightest displays you'll find on a sports watch.

The Fenix 8 Pro is rated to 10 ATM, making it suitable for swimming, freediving and recreational scuba diving, while redesigned leak-proof buttons improve reliability during underwater activities. Unlike other brands (e.g., Huawei Watch Ultimate 2), Garmin doesn’t advertise the Fenix line as a dive-first smartwatch, likely because it has its own dive watch line (the Descent line).

An integrated LED flashlight, complete with white and red light modes, returns for everything from pre-dawn runs to campsite chores. The watch itself can also shift to red mode (the screen), which is handy for after-hours watch staring. You can also set the watch to automatically switch to red shift mode after sunset.

Like the standard Fenix 8, the Pro includes a built-in microphone and speaker for Bluetooth phone calls, voice assistant support and offline voice commands, while Garmin's QuickFit strap system makes it easy to swap bands without tools. It all adds up to one of the most capable and best-built adventure watches currently available.

Features

If you've used a recent Fenix 8 or Enduro 3, very little about the Fenix 8 Pro will surprise you. That's not a criticism; Garmin has spent years building arguably the most comprehensive fitness and outdoor ecosystem on the market, and this generation is more about refinement than reinvention.

The only genuinely headline-grabbing addition is support for Garmin inReach messaging over LTE, allowing users to send and receive messages via the satellite communicator without carrying a phone, provided they have a compatible inReach subscription.

Prices start at £7.99 / $7.99 / AU$11.99 / €9.99, which is way more than the Oura subscription, for example, and it ‘only’ lets you message people when there is no reception. As such, this feature is only really useful for people who spend a lot of time off grid and require the ability to communicate with others who aren’t (unless the whole team have Fenix 8 Pro watches).

Health tracking is handled by Garmin's latest Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor, which debuted in May 2023 on the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and the now discontinued (and very cheap) Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2). It supports 24/7 heart rate monitoring alongside Pulse Ox, skin temperature tracking, ECG, respiration, stress tracking, Body Battery, HRV Status and advanced sleep analysis with Sleep Coach and nap detection.

Training features are equally extensive, with Training Readiness, Training Status, Daily Suggested Workouts, Endurance Score, Hill Score, Race Predictor and Garmin Coach all returning. The Fenix is the brand’s top outdoor watch, and as such, the UI prioritises mapping and navigation, but you can find all other training, health and smart features in the menus.

Strength training has also continued to improve, with automatic rep counting, muscle maps and guided workouts making it genuinely useful in the gym, while support for dozens of activity profiles means everything from trail running and ski touring to paddleboarding and open-water swimming is catered for.

The built-in microphone and speaker enable Bluetooth phone calls when paired with a smartphone, while voice assistant support lets you interact with Siri or Google Assistant if that’s what your heart desires.

I’ve never been too keen on chatting with my watch (or phone or smart speaker, the latter of which I don’t have), but given the price and the flagship nature of the Fenix 8 Pro, this is a feature Garmin must include.

The company also includes offline voice commands, allowing you to start activities, set timers or control certain watch functions even when you're away from mobile reception. Music storage, contactless payments via Garmin Pay, smartphone notifications and access to the Connect IQ store round out the experience.

Mapping, navigation and accuracy

Navigation has long been one of the Fenix series' biggest strengths, and the Fenix 8 Pro continues to set the benchmark. It comes preloaded with TopoActive maps, detailed road and trail mapping, ski resort maps and golf course data, while downloadable regional maps ensure you can plan routes and navigate without needing a phone signal.

There aren’t many watches I would trust for offline maps and route planning in uncharted areas, but Garmin watches have never let me down. Maps can be downloaded via the Connect app, and the map options are clearly labelled (e.g., United Kingdom and Northern Ireland). It’s a system that works and has been working for a long time.

Features such as ClimbPro break down upcoming ascents, NextFork shows the distance to the next trail junction, and Up Ahead lets you see upcoming aid stations, summits or points of interest. None of these is new, but they are part of the ever-so-extensive Garmin training ecosystem.

Dynamic round-trip routing remains one of my favourite features, generating surprisingly sensible running and cycling routes directly on the watch, while turn-by-turn navigation makes it easy to stay on course without constantly referring to your wrist.

The Fenix 8 Pro supports multi-band GNSS across GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou. It features SatIQ (now called Auto Select), which automatically switches to the most sensible GNSS method to conserve battery life. For example, it might switch to single-band in open areas and to maximum-accuracy mode in the forest. The brand doesn’t disclose how this feature works, despite my efforts to find out over the years.

Across months of testing, I found GPS tracks to be consistently clean, with little evidence of corner-cutting or wandering, even on heavily tree-lined trails and urban routes between tall buildings.

As for the Elevate Gen 5, Garmin’s wrist-based heart rate monitoring has improved significantly over the past few years, and during steady-state runs, long hikes and strength workouts, the Fenix 8 Pro tracked closely with a chest strap.

As with almost every optical sensor, short, high-intensity intervals can still produce the occasional lag, but for the vast majority of users, the onboard sensor is accurate enough that a chest strap becomes optional rather than essential.

Battery life and charging

Battery life has always been one of the Fenix range's defining strengths, and while the Fenix 8 Pro continues that tradition, there's now a much clearer distinction between the AMOLED and MicroLED models. If endurance is your top priority, the AMOLED version remains the one to buy.

Garmin rates the 47mm AMOLED model for up to 15 days in smartwatch mode (or eight days with the always-on display enabled), while the larger 51mm AMOLED stretches that to 27 days (or 15 days always-on).

Even in the most demanding multi-band GNSS mode, you're looking at up to 30 hours on the 47mm and 53 hours on the 51mm, giving you more than enough endurance for everything from marathon training to multi-day hiking trips.

Despite using what many expected to be a more efficient display technology, the first-generation MicroLED panel is considerably more power-hungry than Garmin's AMOLED screen.

Officially, the 51mm MicroLED model lasts up to 10 days in smartwatch mode (or just four days with the display always on), dropping to 34 hours in multi-band GNSS mode. That's still respectable by smartwatch standards, but it's a noticeable step backwards for a Fenix, especially one carrying such a significant price premium.

In practice, I found Garmin's estimates to be realistic. As with every Fenix before it, battery life varies widely depending on how you use the watch. Daily GPS workouts, frequent GNSS / map use, pulse oximetry (which I always turn off first thing), music playback (very bad for battery life) and LTE LiveTrack all have a measurable impact.

On the other hand, you have SatIQ, which does an excellent job of balancing accuracy and efficiency by engaging multi-band GPS only when conditions require it. Unless you're intentionally trying to drain it, the AMOLED model is still a watch you'll measure in weeks rather than days, which remains a rarity among flagship smartwatches.

Charging is unchanged (pun intended). The Fenix 8 Pro uses Garmin's familiar proprietary four-pin charging cable rather than adopting USB-C or wireless charging. While I'd still like to see Garmin modernise its charging solution, the cable is secure and reliable, and thanks to the watch's excellent endurance you'll rarely need to reach for it.

Verdict

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is, without question, the best outdoor smartwatch money can buy.

It combines class-leading navigation, outstanding training tools, reliable health tracking and exceptional build quality into a package that's as comfortable pacing a marathon as it is guiding you across a mountain range. The new MicroLED display is genuinely impressive, too, delivering brightness that no other sports watch can currently match.

The problem is that most of those strengths were already present on the Fenix 8. Unless you specifically want the dazzling MicroLED display or the ability to use inReach Messenger directly from your wrist, the day-to-day experience is remarkably similar. In short, the AMOLED Fenix 8 Pro is a refined version of an already excellent watch.

That's made more complicated by timing. With the Fenix 9 likely on the horizon, potentially bringing a new optical heart rate sensor and perhaps even combining AMOLED with Power Glass charging, the Fenix 8 Pro doesn't feel like the obvious long-term investment it might have six months ago.

Fortunately, it's now available well below its original launch price, making it considerably easier to recommend than it was at launch.

Even so, I'd still point most people towards the cheaper Fenix 8, which delivers almost the same experience for less money. But if you simply want Garmin's most capable adventure watch and don't mind paying for the privilege, the Fenix 8 Pro wears the crown. At least until its successor arrives.

Amazon is pricing its deals very differently this Prime Day. Historically, the brand dropped prices across all key categories at the beginning of the sale, making it easier for people like me to report on the offers, but, admittedly, not thrilling for people expecting new discounts every day of the sale.

Shop all Garmin deals in the Amazon Prime Day Sale

This year, the retailer is going down a different avenue. Seemingly, the idea is to drop the price almost imperceptibly every day, so products are cheaper but not too much, making people think they made a bad choice by jumping on an earlier discount.

This happened to the Fenix 8, and now the same pricing strategy is being applied to the newer Fenix 8 Pro, which is around £25 cheaper than it was at the beginning of Prime Day. Again, not a huge amount, considering the overall price of the watch, but substantial enough to make people think they are getting an even better deal.

The good news is that, even with the higher price tag, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is one of the few smartwatches that genuinely justifies its premium positioning. It's built for people who spend as much time outdoors as they do training, combining rugged construction with a feature set that few rivals can match.

The 51mm model uses a bright AMOLED display that's easy to read in direct sunlight and is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens.

Battery life remains one of Garmin's biggest strengths, lasting for weeks rather than days in smartwatch mode, while dual-band multi-band GPS delivers highly accurate tracking whether you're running through city streets, hiking in dense forests or navigating mountain trails.

As with the standard Fenix 8, you get downloadable TopoActive maps, turn-by-turn navigation, ClimbPro, ski and golf maps, plus Garmin's comprehensive suite of training tools, including Training Readiness, Endurance Score, Hill Score and real-time stamina tracking.

Health monitoring is equally impressive, with 24/7 heart rate, Pulse Ox, ECG support, sleep coaching and detailed recovery insights helping you decide when to push and when to rest.

Built-in speaker and microphone allow you to take calls from your wrist when connected to your phone, while Garmin Pay, onboard music storage and a built-in LED flashlight make the Fenix 8 Pro just as useful during daily life as it is on big adventures.

This Amazon Prime Day(s) is a real treat for smartwatch fans. We've seen plenty of Garmin deals, including the cheapest-ever Fenix 8 offer, but if you can't quite stretch your budget that much, I have an excellent alternative for you.

Shop all smartwatch deals on Amazon's Prime Day Sale

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is currently under £200 and offers features similar to the Garmin, including long battery life, dual-band GNSS, offline Topo maps, an AMOLED screen, NFC payments, and 170 sports modes.

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is one of the best-value outdoor smartwatches you can buy, especially at this price. It earned a T3 Award in 2025 for good reason, combining premium outdoor features with a price tag that undercuts much of the competition.

Built to military-grade durability standards, the T-Rex 3 is designed for hiking, trail running, climbing and pretty much any outdoor adventure you can throw at it. Its bright 1.5-inch AMOLED display reaches up to 2,000 nits, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight, and it boasts a stainless steel bezel and robust construction.

You get dual-band GPS with support for six satellite systems, downloadable Topo maps with turn-by-turn navigation, advanced training metrics, offline route guidance, and health tracking covering heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep and stress.

Zepp Pay brings contactless payments, and the watch can even store music for phone-free workouts. Battery life is excellent, lasting up to 27 days in typical smartwatch mode or around 42 hours with GPS tracking enabled.

I feel like at this point, everyone who wanted a Fenix 8 has bought one, as the watch has been steadily dropping in price for the last 6 months or so. The last time I reported on the brand's flagship smartwatch was 2 days ago, when it fell to its lowest-ever price of £567.15.

Shop all Garmin deals on Amazon (prices from £141.55)

Now, the Fenix 8 has fallen to an even lower price. At £555.15, it's 30% off RRP, which is a very tempting offer. If you bought one two days ago for £12 more, I wouldn't lose sleep over it; however, if you haven't, now would be the time to jump on board.

A 30% discount makes the Garmin Fenix 8 much easier to recommend, especially if you've been waiting for the top-tier Garmin watch to become a little more affordable.

Even at launch, it was one of the most capable multisport smartwatches money could buy, combining premium hardware with a feature set that few rivals can match.

The bright AMOLED display is the headline upgrade, delivering crisp maps, colourful workout screens and excellent readability in almost any lighting conditions.

It also packs Garmin's latest training tools, including Training Readiness, Endurance Score, Hill Score, advanced recovery insights, wrist-based running dynamics and personalised daily workout suggestions.

Beyond running, the Fenix 8 excels across hiking, cycling, swimming, strength training and outdoor adventures. Full-colour TopoActive maps, multi-band GPS, SatIQ positioning and turn-by-turn navigation make it a superb companion for exploring unfamiliar routes.

New additions such as a built-in speaker and microphone for calls and voice commands, plus dive-ready hardware with a 40-metre dive rating, help separate it from previous generations.

Just last week, I reported on an excellent Fenix 8 Pro deal at Goldsmiths that brought the price down to £895 and thought, "Hmm, that's a pretty good offer."

Shop all Garmin deals on Amazon

Fast-forward a few days, and I'm writing about another discount on Garmin's flagship smartwatch, this time at Amazon, where the Fenix 8 Pro has been slashed by nearly 30% off its RRP.

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro LTE is one of the most feature-packed smartwatches Garmin has ever produced, combining advanced fitness tracking, outdoor navigation and smartwatch functionality in a rugged premium design.

The 47mm model features a bright AMOLED touchscreen protected by sapphire crystal glass and housed in a titanium bezel. The Fenix 8 Pro LTE includes multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology for improved positioning accuracy while helping preserve battery life.

It supports a huge range of activities, including running, cycling, swimming, hiking, strength training, skiing and triathlon, alongside Garmin's advanced training tools such as Training Readiness, Training Status, Endurance Score, Hill Score and daily workout suggestions.

Health monitoring is equally comprehensive, with 24/7 heart rate tracking, Pulse Ox blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, HRV Status, Body Battery energy monitoring, Sleep Coach and detailed recovery insights.

The built-in LED flashlight remains one of the watch's most useful features, providing quick access to white and red light during early-morning runs, camping trips or emergencies.

This LTE version also incorporates Garmin's inReach satellite communication technology, enabling messaging and safety features even when you're beyond mobile coverage. Battery life remains impressive despite the bright display, delivering up to 15 days in smartwatch mode.

Additional features include offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, Garmin Pay, onboard music storage, Wi-Fi connectivity and smart notifications, making the Fenix 8 Pro LTE a genuine do-everything watch for adventure, training and everyday life.

Day 2 of Amazon Prime Week (or whatever it's called) has brought along a new Garmin watch deal, and it's on one of the brand's most underrated models. The Vivoactive 6 has a bright AMOLED screen and well over a week of battery life, yet costs less than a pair of Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation).

Shop all Garmin deals on Amazon

As much as I love the Fenix and Forerunner series, it's hard to deny the appeal of the fitness-first Vivoactive, especially at this price point. You get offline music storage, all the Garmin features under the sun, and lightweight hardware you can wear all day.

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is designed for people who want a smartwatch that balances health tracking, fitness features and everyday convenience without stepping up to one of Garmin's more expensive Forerunner or Fenix models.

It features a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen housed in a lightweight 42mm case, offering vibrant colours and excellent visibility indoors and outdoors. The watch is rated to 5 ATM for water resistance, making it suitable for swimming, showers and everyday wear.

The Vivoactive 6 can last up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or up to 21 hours with GPS tracking enabled, meaning most users won't need to charge it every night.

Health and wellness tracking is comprehensive, with Garmin's Body Battery energy monitoring, Sleep Coach, sleep score, HRV status, stress tracking, Pulse Ox blood oxygen monitoring and women's health features all included.

The Garmin watch also provides Garmin's Morning Report, giving you a snapshot of your sleep, recovery and daily outlook as soon as you wake up.

For fitness enthusiasts, the Vivoactive 6 packs more than 80 sports modes, Garmin Coach training plans, PacePro pacing guidance, wrist-based running power and downloadable workouts.

Music storage is built in, allowing offline playlists from services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube Music, while Garmin Pay and smartphone notifications help it function as an everyday smartwatch as well.

Amazon's Prime Deal Days Sale is live, and unlike during the retailer giant's spring sale, there are a number of Garmin watches on offer. 12 in total, to be precise, including renewed offers.

Shop all Garmin deals in the Prime Deal Days Sale

Similar to the last Amazon shopping event earlier this year, the headliner deal is on Garmin's flagship adventure watch, the Fenix 8 AMIOLED, which is currently selling for 28% off, saving you over £220.

The Forerunner 265 has never been this cheap, either, making this mid-range running watch all the more appealing. The beginner-friendly Forerunner 165 plummeted to its lowest-ever price, too, if that's something you're interested in.

The sale also includes one of the lowest prices ever on the Instinct 3 Solar smartwatch, which offers up to 28 days of battery life when the solar panels are exposed to enough sunlight.

Below, I collected all the deals currently available, apart from the renewed models. If you're interested in seeing those, click or tap on the link above.

At the end of the article, I also included a price widget that collects prices from every site, not just Amazon, in case any Garmins are even cheaper somewhere else. Unlikely, but it can happen.

Google just recently unveiled the Fitbit Air, the brand's first screenless wearable, trying to compete with the likes of Whoop and Polar.

Now, Amazfit has announced its take on the screenless wearable concept.

The new Helio Strap Pro aims to measure how your body moves during exercise, giving hybrid athletes and gym-goers a more complete picture of their performance.

Building on last year's Helio Strap, the Helio Strap Pro adds a second sensor that sits at your waist to capture core-body movement and stability.

Amazfit says this allows the system to monitor movement quality, efficiency and muscle load alongside more traditional metrics such as heart rate.

The Helio Strap Pro isn't a single device, but rather a system that combines the Helio Core Motion HR sensor, worn on the upper arm, with the Helio Core Motion Waist sensor, which attaches around your midsection.

Together, they work with compatible Amazfit smartwatches to create what the company calls a "body-worn training system".

Built with HYROX athletes in mind

Amazfit evidently takes its global partnership with HYROX seriously.

The fitness racing series, which blends running with functional workout stations and has attracted a sizeable CrossFit audience, is now said to be one of the fastest-growing participation sports in the world.

At launch, the Helio Strap Pro is designed to work alongside the new Amazfit Balance 3 and Balance Ultra, using the watches' HYROX Race and HYROX Simulation modes.

During workouts, the watch and sensors collect data from different parts of the body, allowing Amazfit to analyse how movement patterns change as fatigue builds.

It's an interesting evolution of the screenless wearable concept. Devices such as the Fitbit Air, Whoop MG and the original Helio Strap focus heavily on recovery, readiness and health metrics.

The Helio Strap Pro still does that, but also attempts to understand how efficiently you're moving during training sessions.

The new system includes the Helio Core Motion HR sensor, Helio Core Motion Waist sensor, wristband, armband, clip and magnetic charger in the box.

The Helio Strap Pro is available for pre-order now at Amazfit US for $200 (~£152 / €175 / AU$286).

UK, EU and AU pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Father's Day is this weekend, and if you're still looking for a gift that will genuinely impress, this Garmin Fenix 8 Pro deal is well worth a look. The premium adventure smartwatch is currently over £200 off, making it one of the best discounts I've seen on Garmin's most capable wearable.

Shop all Garmin watch deals at Goldsmiths

The Fenix 8 Pro sits at the very top of Garmin's smartwatch lineup, combining inReach connectivity, impressive battery life and a vibrant AMOLED display with comprehensive health tracking, multi-band GPS, offline topographic maps and the brand's ever-useful built-in flashlight.

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is the brand's most advanced adventure smartwatch, combining rugged outdoor credentials with premium smartwatch features. Built around a bright AMOLED touchscreen display, it's designed to be easy to read in all conditions while offering a more modern look and feel than previous generations.

It has built-in inReach satellite connectivity, allowing you to send messages and trigger SOS alerts when outside mobile network coverage. It's a significant upgrade for hikers, trail runners, and adventurers who spend time in remote areas (an inReach subscription required).

The watch also packs Garmin's latest multi-band GPS technology for highly accurate tracking, along with offline topographic maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and route-planning tools. A built-in LED flashlight adds another layer of practicality, proving useful during early-morning runs, campsite tasks, and emergency situations.

For health and fitness tracking, the Fenix 8 Pro monitors heart rate, sleep, stress, recovery, training readiness and dozens of sports profiles. Advanced training metrics help athletes better understand performance and recovery, while smartwatch features such as notifications, contactless payments and music storage make it a capable everyday companion.

Battery life remains one of Garmin's biggest strengths, with the Fenix 8 Pro lasting significantly longer than most rival smartwatches. Combined with its durable construction, comprehensive mapping tools and safety features, it's a watch built for people who want one device that can handle everything from daily training to multi-day adventures.

The next ultra-endurance Garmin watch may have just made an early appearance.

According to recent reports, references to the Enduro 4 have been spotted in code associated with the Garmin Connect app, suggesting the company is already preparing software support for an upcoming device.

While Garmin has (understandably) yet to confirm the watch's existence, the leak immediately raises a bigger question than the watch itself: what happens to the Enduro lineup in an increasingly AMOLED-focused Garmin ecosystem?

While many of the brand's flagship watches, including the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, have moved towards brighter AMOLED and MicroLED displays, the Enduro remains firmly focused on battery life above all else.

Historically, the ultra-runner favourite wearable used a memory-in-pixel (MIP) display combined with Garmin's solar charging technology to deliver some of the longest runtimes available on any performance smartwatch (see also Leon's Garmin Enduro 3 review).

That's become the defining characteristic of the Enduro series, especially among long-distance runners, hikers and expedition athletes who value longevity over screen quality.

So, where does this all leave the Enduro 4? I can see three possibilities, one of which is the most likely, even though it also feels somewhat interesting coming from a brand that's been pushing new technologies for decades.

The watch that could keep MIP alive

Garmin's recent launches suggest the company is steadily moving towards premium display technologies.

AMOLED screens are now common across much of its range, while MicroLED appears to be the brand's long-term flagship display solution, making the upcoming Enduro a fascinating product from a strategic perspective.

If Garmin replaces the MIP display with AMOLED, it risks losing the very feature that makes the Enduro stand out from watches such as the Fenix, as well as alienating the model's core audience.

Even with improvements in battery efficiency, AMOLED displays consume considerably more power than reflective MIP panels, particularly during extended outdoor use with GPS turned on.

For that reason alone, the Enduro could become the last major Garmin product family to retain MIP technology. Well, there is also the Instinct 3, which launched in January 2025 and sports a MIP + Solar combo, but still – it was released over a year and a half ago, an absolute age in wearables.

That said, the most likely scenario is that the next-generation Enduro will feature updated sensors, a more efficient processor, enhanced solar charging, and improved GPS performance.

It would still have a clear purpose in the lineup without abandoning the battery-first philosophy that has defined the series.

Could AMOLED and solar finally coexist?

Of course, Garmin may have other plans.

One possibility is that the company has been working on a more advanced version of its Power Glass technology that can offset the additional power demands of an AMOLED display.

Such a combination would allow Garmin to modernise the Enduro while preserving much of its legendary battery life. The challenge is that expectations are exceptionally high among Enduro owners, who expect class-leading – not just very long – battery life.

An AMOLED Enduro that lasts a few weeks between charges would still be impressive by smartwatch standards, but it might not be enough to satisfy athletes who currently choose the series specifically because it can keep going for extended adventures without needing to visit a power socket.

While Garmin is surely working on this technology, it would also be strange for the company to debut such a game-changer feature in the Enduro line. Innovations are usually reserved for the Fenix, and should the AMOLED + Power Glass tech launch soon, it's likely to debut in the Fenix 9.

The subtle option

Another possibility is that Garmin's next-generation chipset could deliver meaningful efficiency gains through smarter power management.

Smartwatch manufacturers have increasingly relied on intelligent task scheduling and machine-learning-assisted optimisation to extend battery life without increasing battery size, and Garmin could adopt a similar approach.

Garmin doesn't like to talk about chips as much as other manufacturers, even though I'm sure it's been tinkering with machine learning/AI to optimise the performance of its wearables.

Even if the company won't use third-party chipsets (e.g., Snapdragon), AI-enhanced silicon that handles tasks more efficiently could improve battery life.

Of course, Garmin would have to admit in its marketing that it did something with its components for the improvements to make sense – it can't just launch the watch and say, "hey, the Enduro 4 has longer battery life, but we won't tell you why."

For now, all we know is that the Enduro 4 appears to be on Garmin's roadmap. The bigger mystery is whether it will become the watch that finally brings AMOLED and solar charging together, or the product that keeps MIP displays alive for another generation.

[via NotebookCheck, Gadgets&Wearables]

Amazfit has unveiled two new additions to its growing smartwatch portfolio, the Balance Ultra and Balance 3, introducing a range of hardware upgrades and new training features.

With titanium construction, sapphire glass, dual-band GPS, offline maps, and long battery life, the wearables are aimed at the same premium sports-watch buyers who typically shop Garmin watches.

Although the company is placing a strong emphasis on HYROX with the latest models, the Balance Ultra and Balance 3 also bring meaningful improvements to the hardware itself.

Both watches feature a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels, sapphire glass protection and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.

That's a significant jump from the 2,000-nit display found on the Balance 2 and should make the screens easier to read in bright sunlight.

More than just a brighter screen

The company has equipped both fitness watches with a new processor, which the company claims delivers up to 2.5 times faster rendering and 12 times faster map refresh rates than before.

Storage has also doubled from 32GB to 64GB, providing additional space for offline maps and other content.

Offline topographic and contour maps remain a key part of the experience, alongside dual-frequency GPS and support for six satellite positioning systems.

The flagship Balance Ultra features a Grade 5 titanium frame and bottom case, weighs 57g and packs a 780mAh battery.

Amazfit says it can last up to 30 days between charges or deliver up to 50 hours of GPS tracking.

The Balance 3 is available in Titanium or Stainless Steel and offers up to 21 days of battery life and 41 hours of GPS use.

An integrated dual-mode flashlight with white, red and SOS lighting modes is also new to the watches, although not to the brand, as the Cheetah 2 Ultra already has this.

Both watches are also rated to 10ATM, support diving activities, and meet "military-grade durability standards."

Amazfit goes all-in on hybrid training

Amazfit is introducing a suite of new hybrid training tools aimed at athletes balancing strength and endurance workouts, including Training Balance and Hybrid Charge.

The watches include access to a dedicated HYROX training library, personalised race strategies based on venue layouts and detailed post-race analysis.

The Balance Ultra and Balance 3 run Zepp OS 6 and support a wide range of third-party platforms, including Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot, adidas Running and Intervals.icu.

They can also connect to external accessories such as heart rate monitors, cycling power meters and Stryd foot pods.

The Balance Ultra is priced at £600 / €600 / $600 (~AU$848) and is available exclusively in titanium at Amazfit UK, Amazfit EU and Amazfit US.

The Balance 3 is available ot pre-order now, with prices starting at £370 / €370 / $370 (~AU$523) for the Stainless Steel version at Amazfit UK, Amazfit EU and Amazfit US.

We had a taste of summer already, which whetted my appetite at least and suggested there might be more where that came from in the coming months. And if you're looking for a new outdoor watch for your upcoming outdoor adventures, whether it's hiking, kayaking, or bouldering, I have a smartwatch recommendation for you.

Shop all Garmin deals at Go Outdoors

The Instinct series has always been the friendlier (and more affordable) Fenix alternative in Garmin's stable, and the third-generation is no different. This Alpine Rush Yellow colourway is said to be limited edition, too, making it all the more appealing for the price.

To access the deal, you'll need a Go Outdoors membership, which costs only £5 and lasts for 12 months. Similar to REI's system in the US, during this period, you get access to all Go Outdoors members-only deals, which there are many of at any given time.

As for the Instinct 3 Solar, it's housed in a rugged fibre-reinforced polymer case with a metal-reinforced bezel and engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance, carrying a 10 ATM water-resistance rating.

In smartwatch mode, the 45mm model can deliver up to 28 days of battery life, with Garmin claiming unlimited runtime under sufficient solar conditions. GPS performance is equally impressive, offering up to 40 hours in multi-band mode with solar assistance and significantly longer in battery-saving GPS modes.

Navigation is handled by multi-band GPS with support for multiple satellite systems and Garmin's SatIQ technology, which automatically balances accuracy and battery life. A built-in LED flashlight with adjustable brightness and red-light mode adds genuine utility on early-morning runs and late-night campsite visits.

Beyond the outdoor credentials, the Instinct 3 Solar packs Garmin's usual suite of health and training tools, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, Body Battery energy monitoring, recovery metrics and smart notifications when paired with a compatible smartphone.

Garmin has mastered the art of keeping its product launches under wraps, which, at least in my books, is a good development. Too long have publications, blogs and influencers leaked upcoming Garmin watches, taking the joy out of the actual launch.

The Forerunner 70 and its moderately higher-end sibling, the Forerunner 170, were launched earlier this month, and I’ve been lucky enough to secure the latter a few days before the official 15 May launch.

Two weeks later, I think I have a pretty good idea what the Forerunner 170 is, who it's for and its strengths and weaknesses. In essence, it’s a beginner-friendly running watch with personalised running workouts and a bright AMOLED screen, but it sacrifices the latest heart rate sensor and multi-band GPS to keep the price down.

Worth a buy? I’d think so, unless you’re very cash-strapped, in which case the entry-level Forerunner 70 is the best option for you. The Forerunner 170 has a lot going for it, is keenly priced and gets you access to a variety of Garmin ecosystem benefits, all in a handsome, colourful package.

Garmin Forerunner 170 review

Price and availability

The Forerunner 170 was launched on 15 May 2026 alongside the Forerunner 70 and is available to buy now directly from Garmin UK, Garmin US, Garmin EU and Garmin AU for the recommended price of £260 / $300 / €300 / AU$479.

The Forerunner 170 Music, which can store offline audio from most major streaming platforms, including Deezer and Spotify, retails for £40 / £50 / €50 / AU$80 more. Both versions have the same internal storage of 4GB.

The even more affordable Forerunner 70 carries a price tag of £220 / $250 / €250 / AU$399 but misses out on features such as Garmin Pay, has a much smaller internal storage (512MB), and fewer sensors (e.g. no ECG or skin temperature).

The Garmin Forerunner 570, the next step up in the Forerunner range, has a recommended retail price of £460 / $550 / AU$999, even though it retails for a little less these days.

The Coros Pace 4, an affordable Forerunner 170 alternative that launched around half a year ago, sells for £229 / $249 / €269, so cheaper than the Forerunner 170. Offers are harder to come by on this model, though.

Design and build quality

The Forerunner 170 follows the recent trend in Garmin wearables and comes in six different colours (two non-Music and four Music options), most of which feature two-tone straps, something Garmin engineers were very proud of last year when I visited the brand’s headquarters in Olathe, Kansas.

It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a maximum resolution of 390 x 390 pixels and appears to use the same panel as the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 570. It’s bright enough for everyday use, though I can’t tell exactly how luminous it is, since Garmin doesn’t disclose this information.

The case measures 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9 mm, which makes the Forerunner 170 a hair wider and taller than the Forerunner 570 but also 1 mm thinner (the same dimensions as the Forerunner 170). The watch weighs 41 g, which is roughly the same as the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 570.

The case and the bezel are both fibre-reinforced polymer (a.k.a. plastic), making the Forerunner 170 light but also not the most luxurious-looking smartwatch. Also, the company opted for chemically strengthened glass lens instead of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 or sapphire crystal lens found on more expensive models.

One of the big differences between the Forerunner 170 and the Forerunner 570 (and other Garmin watches, including the Garmin Fenix 8 and the Garmin Venu X1) is that the former uses the last-generation Elevate v4 sensor. This was introduced five years ago in the Garmin Venu 2, so at this point isn’t particularly cutting-edge technology.

The Forerunner 170 has an industry-standard 20 mm quick-release strap. I quite like the two-tone version that comes with the watch, but if you want to change it, rest assured, you can do so without hassle.

The watch uses the same four-pin proprietary Garmin chargers as all other Garmins from the last god knows how many years. The button layout is also the same as it’s always been. The Forerunner 170 is rated to 5 ATM, just like all other Forerunners, including the flagship Garmin Forerunner 970.

Features

One of the new features on the Forerunner 170 is Quick Workouts, which lets you create a custom workout based on time, intensity, and your overall training readiness. You can choose between 30-, 45-, and 60-minute sessions and four intensity levels, including easy, moderate, hard, and very hard.

This is a useful feature for beginners, who are admittedly the target market for the watch. Plus, it lets you create your own workouts instead of relying on the ones Garmin Coach suggest. Not like there is anything wrong with those; I quite enjoy the variety of Daily Suggestions.

One thing you might have noticed is that the maximum duration for a custom workout is an hour, which might be good enough for a beginner, but those training for half-marathons and full marathons might find this feature too inflexible. I find Garmin’s algorithm modest, at best, as it often avoids giving you long runs. This is clearly reflected in the new Quick Workouts feature.

One notable omission from the feature list is multi-band GNSS. The watch only has single-band positioning, which might make it less accurate in challenging environments, such as densely built urban areas or forests with thick foliage. I tested the watch in non-challenging areas, by the coast with good sky visibility, and tracking worked just fine.

I pitted the watch against another affordable model, the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2, which I found very accurate for outdoor positioning, and both watches marked distance almost exactly the same way; there was probably a half-second difference between the two. I haven’t taken the Forerunner 170 for long-long runs, but for anything up to 10k, it feels spot on.

Despite the Elevate v4 sensor, heart rate tracking is also on point, especially for running. I also tried the watch for home workouts, and the only time the Forerunner 170 tripped up was when I popped it down onto a shiny wooden surface, which might have tricked the sensor into thinking it was still on my wrist, as it kept measuring my heart rate.

I’d like to stress that even though it’s not new, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the Elevate v4 sensor. Most watches that have it work perfectly fine; if anything, we’re learning that old tech can do wonders when used correctly (see also the Artemis II Mission GoPro story).

The company has refined the algorithm many times over since the launch of the Elevate v4. Even five years ago, it felt good to me. Sure, the Elevate v5 has more LEDs and other sensors that can track ECG and skin temperature, but for running, the predecessor is good enough, to say the least.

You do miss out on a few advanced metrics, such as Heat and Altitude Acclimation, Realtime Stamina, Endurance Score, multisport tracking, and Garmin and Strava segment support. However, you get a ton of health and fitness features that you can actually use in your everyday training.

I won’t list these all because this review would go on absolute forever, but the Forerunner 170 has everything from sleep and stress management tools to Fitness Age and Body Battery.

Speaking of Body Battery, one of my smaller gripes with the wearable is its watch face. Garmin always makes a new watch face for its new models, and the Forerunner 170’s features three bars: steps, Body Battery and weekly running distance. The issue is, if you hit your step goals, your Body Battery will be way down, or vice versa, meaning that the bars will never be completed. Oh well.

One final thing to mention is that the non-Music Forerunner doesn’t have WiFi. In practice, this doesn't affect most day-to-day syncing as much as you might think. Garmin watches primarily sync via Bluetooth to the Garmin Connect app on your phone.

Battery life and charging

Official battery life on the Forerunner 170 is up to 10 days, which is on par with the Forerunner 570 but three days less than the Forerunner 70. The discrepancy between the two new watches is likely down to the Forerunner 170 having more sensors, NFC hardware, and music support on the Music version (plus Wi-Fi).

In my experience, the watch depleted about 10% in 24 hours without GPS enabled, which is in line with the brand’s official numbers. GPS battery life estimation proved to be accurate, too. I went for a three-and-a-half-hour walk with All Systems on, and the battery went from 50% to 25%, giving you 14 hours of GPS battery life.

As for charging, the watch went from 15% to 50% in 20 minutes and to 100% in 65 minutes. Garmins change fast, and the Forerunner 170 is no exception!

Verdict

The Forerunner 170 cuts a few more corners than I'd ideally like to see, especially when it comes to GPS, heart rate hardware and the lack of multisport support. Yet after spending time with the watch, it's difficult not to appreciate how focused Garmin has been with its design.

This isn't a wearable trying to be everything to everyone. It's a running watch for people who want guidance, motivation and reliable tracking in an attractive package without spending big Forerunner money. The AMOLED display is excellent, battery life is strong, and Garmin's training ecosystem remains one of the best in the business.

Multisport athletes should keep moving, and experienced runners may eventually outgrow some of the watch's limitations. For beginners, however, the Forerunner 170 hits a sweet spot few rivals can match, offering just enough features to help you improve without overwhelming you in the process.

Also consider

If your budget is tight, the Forerunner 70 is difficult to ignore. It offers the same AMOLED display, access to Garmin Coach and Daily Suggested Workouts, plus even longer battery life than the Forerunner 170. You lose Garmin Pay, some sensors and a few premium features, but the core running experience remains impressively intact.

The Coros Pace 4 is one of the Forerunner 170's closest rivals and arguably offers more value for experienced runners. It packs dual-frequency GPS, excellent battery life and Coros' increasingly capable training platform into a lightweight package. The software ecosystem isn't quite as polished as Garmin's, but serious runners may appreciate the extra hardware.

If you think you might outgrow the Forerunner 170, the Garmin Forerunner 570 is worth stretching your budget for. It adds Garmin's latest Elevate v5 sensor, multi-band GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity, multisport mode and a range of advanced training metrics. It's more expensive, but also a much more capable long-term training companion.

Garmin is rolling out a new software update for the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, bringing a range of new features, from golf tools and navigation improvements to a more accessible Silent Mode option.

Software version 17.33 is currently reaching users and adds eight new features to the two Garmin watches.

Among the additions is a new Silent Mode shortcut, which can now be accessed directly from the controls menu rather than through the settings pages.

The update also expands the watches' golf capabilities, including support for Garmin's Approach CT1 club-tracking sensors, while Golf Performance Glance and Green View updates provide additional on-course data and visual information.

More navigation and mapping tools

Away from the golf course, Garmin has added support for multiple coordinate formats and introduced a new option that allows you to navigate back to a Man Overboard location.

The feature is primarily aimed at marine users but could prove useful in a range of outdoor scenarios.

There are also several smaller usability improvements included in the release.

A swipe-up keyboard layout menu should make text entry a little easier, while Outdoor Maps+ subscribers can now scan QR codes to access additional information about map layers.

The company has spent much of the last year rolling out new features across its smartwatch portfolio, from training and recovery tools to navigation and lifestyle-focused additions.

The Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 were unveiled in May 2025 as the successors to the popular Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 965.

Both models introduced brighter AMOLED displays, speaker and microphone functionality, and expanded training and recovery tools.

While version 17.33 doesn't introduce any headline-grabbing new training metrics, it does add a collection of practical features that should improve the day-to-day experience for owners, particularly those who use their watches for navigation, golf or outdoor adventures.

The update is rolling out now and should be available to all eligible users over the coming days.

[via Notebookcheck]

You gotta love it when a Garmin watch finally drops to a price that's not only more affordable but also makes sense. The price of the brand's beginner-friendly Forerunner 165 has just plummeted to £165 – fitting, I say!

Shop all Garmin deals on Amazon

The wearable has previously reached a low of £168, but the new price is certainly the lowest I can remember. It's an excellent smartwatch, with some people calling it the "perfect workout/activity smart watch" on Amazon.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 might sit near the bottom of Garmin’s running watch lineup, but it packs in far more than the price suggests.

The watch features a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display housed in a lightweight 43mm case, giving it a much more premium feel than older entry-level Forerunners with memory-in-pixel screens.

Designed primarily for runners, the watch includes built-in GPS, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, Pulse Ox and Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitoring.

It also supports advanced running metrics such as cadence, pace, race predictions and recovery insights, alongside Garmin Coach adaptive training plans for 5K, 10K and half-marathon distances.

Training Effect and Daily Suggested Workouts are headliner features that were previously reserved for pricier Garmin models. The watch also includes safety and tracking functions, such as incident detection and live location sharing when connected to a smartphone.

Battery life is strong, too, with Garmin claiming up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or up to 19 hours in GPS mode. Music storage is available on select models, allowing users to download playlists from Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music for phone-free workouts.

Memorial Day is one of the biggest shopping events in the US, and Garmin is getting in on the action in a big way. Best Buy has discounted more than 80 Garmin watches, fitness trackers and cycling computers ahead of the holiday weekend.

Shop all Garmin deals in Best Buy's Memorial Day Sales

Savings are available across popular ranges, including the adventure-ready Fenix, sporty Forerunner, affordable and rugged Instinct and fitness extraordinaire Vivoactive families.

In fact, there are so many offers that you might find it overwhelming to make sense of them all, which is why I decided to comb through them and highlight the ones worth your attention.

As someone who's been covering Garmin for almost a decade – and has seen the brand's meteoric rise in recent years – I feel I have a good understanding of which watches are worth it and at what price point.

Not to mention, I've been reporting on Garmin deals for just as long, which is probably more important on this occasion than my intimate knowledge of specs and features.

All eyes are on Garmin again, thanks to the launch of the Forerunner 70 and 170. If you're a savvy person, though, you know full well that a watch launch also means that the predecessor will get incredible discounts to help retailers clear stock.

Shop all Garmin deals on Amazon

Seemingly, this is exactly what's happening with the Forerunner 165, which can be bought at Amazon for a whopping £100 less than usual in Whitestone colourway. For £150, this beginner-friendly Garmin is an absolute steal – I wouldn't miss out if you're thinking of upgrading from an old smartwatch.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is designed as an accessible entry point into Garmin’s running ecosystem, but it packs in far more features than you’d normally expect from a beginner-focused watch.

It features a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display paired with Garmin’s traditional five-button layout, making it easier to navigate during workouts or everyday use. The watch weighs just 39g and has a compact 43mm case, so it feels light and unobtrusive on the wrist.

Battery life is one of the standout features, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode. The Forerunner 165 supports GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite systems for accurate pace and distance tracking, while built-in sensors include wrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox, an altimeter, a compass, and an accelerometer.

Garmin Coach and adaptive race plans provide personalised workouts, while features such as Training Effect, recovery insights, HRV status, running power and cadence help runners better understand performance and fatigue.

It also includes sleep tracking, stress monitoring, Body Battery energy tracking, Garmin Pay and smartphone notifications. Unlike the Music model, the standard version does not support onboard music storage or Wi-Fi connectivity.

Amazfit has officially unveiled the new Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra, a premium, endurance-focused smartwatch designed for trail runners and ultra-distance athletes.

The new wearable sits at the top of Amazfit’s running-watch lineup and introduces a number of hardware upgrades over the original Cheetah series, including a Grade 5 titanium bezel, sapphire glass lens, offline contour maps and expanded onboard storage.

The Cheetah 2 Ultra features a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, along with dual-band GPS supporting six satellite systems.

The watch also includes 64GB of storage for maps and offline music playback.

Beyond the aid stations

Amazfit says the watch was designed specifically for mountain runners and endurance athletes who spend long periods training or racing away from urban areas.

The Cheetah 2 Ultra offers full-colour contour maps, turn-by-turn navigation and route import support, with the company also claiming improved map rendering and refresh speeds compared to previous generations.

Battery performance is one of the headline features, with Amazfit quoting up to 30 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, alongside up to 60 hours of GPS usage in accuracy-focused tracking modes.

The smartwatch also includes a range of advanced training and recovery metrics, including HRV tracking, training load analysis, recovery guidance and running dynamics.

Integration with third-party platforms such as Strava, Runna and TrainingPeaks is supported through the Zepp ecosystem.

More than just a bright screen

The launch comes at an interesting time for both companies.

Garmin is plugging gaps at the lower end of its smartwatch portfolio with the new Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 models to keep brands like Amazfit from gaining too much ground in the affordable wearable market.

Meanwhile, Amazfit is pushing premium materials and continues to broaden its ecosystem to rival higher-end Garmin models such as the Fenix 8 and the Enduro 3.

And while the Cheetah 2 Ultra can't replace either of those Garmin watches yet, it offers a viable alternative for those who aren't locked into the wearable titan's ecosystem (yet).

The Cheetah 2 Ultra is available now through Amazfit UK, Amazfit US and Amazfit EU for £600 / v / €600 (~AU$840).

Even though I report on Garmin almost every day, the launch of the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 caught me a bit by surprise. The brand is clearly getting better at keeping things under wraps until the announcement, which is great for us fans, as who likes a dragged-out, rumour-mill-fuelled product launch? Exactly – no one.

The timing of the new Forerunner releases feels deliberate. The company has been very quiet on the hardware front this year, which might come as a surprise after the absolute deluge of last year’s Garmin launches.

In 2026, all we had so far were rumours about the still-upcoming Circa band, the imminent Fenix 9 launch (likely during the summer season), and various smaller speculations about products that may or may not ever come out.

The watch no one expected to return

I bet no one had “successor of the now 5-year-old Forerunner 55” on their 2026 Garmin release bingo. The smartwatch, which even at the time of its launch felt slightly behind the competition, has become a bit of a cult favourite among beginner runners, mainly thanks to its affordable price point and long battery life.

Not to mention, the most basic Forerunner has always been the least intimidating of the lot, making it all the more appealing to beginners. If you’re new to running and want to make a leap from, let’s say, an Apple Watch to a Garmin, the Forerunner 55 feels like a safe bet.

That said, by now, the watch is old tech. Sure, it’s cheap, but it can’t keep up with other beginner watches in the same category. Sure, it grants you access to the vast Garmin ecosystem for not a lot of money, but that’s pretty much it. Most of the new features introduced in newer Garmin watches will never make it to the Forerunner 55, simply because its hardware can’t cope with them.

Cheap running watches aren’t simple to make anymore

And there lies the first reason why the company decided to launch the new wearables (especially the Forerunner 70): it was long overdue. Garmin needs an option for beginners, who will always outnumber pro runners (by default). It’s a big market, and Garmin can’t afford to miss out on it.

One reason the brand hasn’t launched the watch sooner could be hardware-related costs. Many tech brands struggle with supply issues because AI is gobbling up all available RAM. This affected wearable companies less, but the issue will affect them to some extent.

Also, AMOLED panels and newer heart rate sensors take time to get cheaper. One industry expert told me last year that AMOLED panels are actually cheaper than MIP (memory-in-pixel) screens these days, even though MIP used to be the norm. It simply takes time for tech to be affordable enough to include in lower-end products.

At this point, it’s highly unlikely Garmin will ever launch a new watch with an MIP screen, so it had no choice but to wait for components to become cheaper to launch an affordable Forerunner again.

Garmin can’t ignore the entry-level race forever

Hardware issues are one thing, competition is another. Garmin has gone from strength to strength in recent years, monetising on the running boom, big time. Rightly so; if you want a reliable running watch, most people will recommend a Garmin. The ecosystem is mature, and the software updates keep products up to date for years to come.

However, there’s no shortage of choice if you’re looking for an affordable running wearable. Coros, the last bastion of MIP watches, has plenty of options (see also: Coros Nomad review), and so does Amazfit, which has been coming after the lower end of the market hard in recent years (a good example is the recent Amazfit Active Max).

Both companies have very good wearable options for beginners and pros alike, with their software ecosystem growing by the day (well, almost).

Garmin had to do something to curb the advance of its competitors. The brand isn’t quite in the same position as DJI in the drone market, but Garmin is no stranger to flooding the market with all sorts of products to stay ahead of the rest.

A beginner watch suddenly became Garmin’s priority again

Of course, all of this is speculation, at best. Product pipelines for company giants like Garmin are set for years in advance, and no one in their right mind would rush a launch just to fill a market gap. Neither new Forerunner feels particularly rushed, either; if anything, they feel like the logical extension of last year’s Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970.

One thing is for sure: both watches are set to be incredibly popular with runners. I’ve been wearing the Forerunner 170 Music for less than two days and am already pretty impressed with it. The screen might be smaller and the feature set not quite as extensive as more advanced Forerunners, but that’s exactly the point.

The new watches will be available from 15 May via Garmin UK, Garmin US, Garmin AU and Garmin EU.

Garmin just announced two new watches, the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170, after a somewhat long, quiet period in 2026 with little to no hardware launches.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Forerunner 170 Music before the official launch on 15 May, and have been playing around with the new running watch for the last day or so.

If you’ve been testing Garmin watches for as long as I have, you know that the press release and the features listed on the website never tell you the full story – there are always ‘hidden’ settings to discover if you look hard enough.

Sometimes, these features jump right at you, like the Evening Report, which quietly debuted in last year’s Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970.

I remember being at a Kansas City Chiefs game, staring at my wrist, trying to figure out whether I’d seen the feature on any of my previous Garmin devices, asking all the Garmin folks around me to confirm whether the Evening Report was indeed new.

A familiar feature gets a fresh coat of paint

And, funnily enough, the new ‘secret’ setting on the Forerunner 170 is connected to the Reports, both the morning and evening varieties. It’s a subtle personalisation feature that lets you change the first and last screens of your report.

Historically, this was always related to the weather. If it were rainy that day, the report would have raindrops on the screen. Sunny? The report’s first page would feature sun rays. A simple yet effective way to gauge, if even subconsciously, what kind of day you’ll have (and how you should dress for your recommended run).

On the Forerunner 170 (and, I assume, Forerunner 70), you can swap the Weather theme to the following: Art (seen right at the top), Nature, System and Travel (oh la la). Both reports will have the same background.

The tiniest tweaks are often the most noticeable

Another tiny thing I noticed is also (somewhat) connected to the Morning Report. The alarms can now have different vibration patterns, including Beats, Waves and Stampede.

Beats is gentle, while Stampede, as you’d expect, goes hard. It’s nice to have these options, as I’m sure I’m not the only one who was scared out of his mind with a new smartwatch going bonkers with sound and vibration on their wrist in the morning.

I’m sure there will be plenty of new features and settings to find on the watch in the coming days and weeks, on top of the already announced Beginner and Instant Workouts, which I very much look forward to testing.

The Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 will be available to buy at Garmin from 15 May.

Garmin has unexpectedly unveiled the new Garmin Forerunner 70 and Garmin Forerunner 170, expanding its running watch lineup with two more affordable AMOLED-equipped wearables aimed at beginner and aspiring runners.

The company's recent wearable releases have largely focused on premium and enthusiast-focused devices, but the new Forerunner 70 and 170 instead push many of the brand’s more advanced training features into a noticeably lower price bracket.

Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, touchscreen controls and Garmin’s familiar five-button setup, combining smartwatch-style visuals with the physical controls many runners still prefer during workouts.

Flagship-style features at a lower price

Despite their more accessible pricing, the new Garmin watches inherit several tools typically found on Garmin’s pricier Forerunner models.

That includes Training Readiness, Training Status, wrist-based running power and running dynamics, as well as adaptive Daily Suggested Workouts and Garmin Coach plans that now support run/walk sessions and lower-volume training.

Garmin has also added a new “quick workouts” feature to the Garmin Forerunner 70, allowing runners to generate workouts based simply on desired duration and intensity.

The watches go beyond running, too. You get advanced sleep tracking, HRV status, Body Battery energy monitoring, breathing variations and access to more than 80 built-in sports apps.

Garmin is blurring the lines between entry-level and mid-range

The successor of the Forerunner 165, the Garmin Forerunner 170 builds on the standard model by adding Garmin Pay contactless payments, while the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music introduces offline music storage and playlist downloads from services including Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer.

That increasingly makes Garmin’s lower-end Forerunners feel closer to mid-range wearables than basic fitness trackers.

Battery life also remains strong despite the AMOLED screens: Garmin claims up to 13 days in smartwatch mode for the Forerunner 70 and up to 10 days for the Forerunner 170 lineup.

According to Susan Lyman, the watches were designed to include “premium running and training features pulled in from our more advanced Forerunners” while remaining approachable for newer runners.

The new watches will be available from 15 May via Garmin UK, Garmin US, Garmin AU and Garmin EU. Pricing starts at £220 / $250 / €250 for the Forerunner 70, rising to £260 / $300 / €300 for the Forerunner 170 and £300 / £350 / €350 for the Forerunner 170 Music.

Garmin has started rolling out a sizeable new software update for the Instinct 3 series, and while the rugged outdoor watch family is best known for its durability and long battery life, the latest release pushes the lineup further into serious fitness and recovery territory.

System Software 14.14 is now available for the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, and Instinct E, bringing a mix of new tools, recovery features, and quality-of-life improvements to the Garmin watches.

According to the brand, the rollout has already reached 20% of users and can be downloaded manually through the watch settings menu.

More recovery tools arrive on the Instinct 3

One of the most notable additions is the Recovery Time glance, which gives you a quicker overview of how long Garmin recommends resting before the next hard workout.

The feature has been available on some of the brand’s higher-end running wearables and multisport watches for a while, but its arrival on the Instinct 3 further blurs the line between Garmin’s outdoor- and performance-focused devices.

Garmin has also added a Morning Report card, expanding the personalised daily briefing feature introduced on more premium models in recent years.

The tool summarises sleep, training readiness, recovery information and other health metrics shortly after waking up.

Workout Execution Score is another interesting addition that evaluates how closely you followed a structured workout, helping users understand whether they trained at the intended intensity and duration.

Rugged watch meets everyday smartwatch

The update also adds the Stocks glance for tracking market information directly from the wrist, alongside a new Mobility app aimed at stretching and movement routines.

Backup & Restore support has also been included, making it easier to transfer settings and data between Garmin devices.

The release also introduces dive-aware training guidance that adjusts recovery recommendations after diving, alongside improvements to Body Battery accuracy and several bug fixes affecting GPS, notifications, and activity tracking.

The update continues Garmin’s recent trend of bringing advanced wellness and training features to more affordable, rugged models rather than keeping them exclusive to flagship watches like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Forerunner 970.

To download the update manually, head to Menu > Settings > System > Software Update on your Instinct 3 smartwatch.

[via Notebookcheck, Garmin]

Garmin's been busy trying to shift its Fenix 7 stock, and I've been busy reporting on where a good deal on the flagship watch cropped up in the last few weeks. Let's not forget there are other excellent wearable deals from the company, though, like this Forerunner 55 offer at Amazon.

Shop all Garmin deals at Amazon

The beginner running watch is currently down by £70.99, which is, in fact, the cheapest it's ever been, according to price-tracking apps. This watch sold like hot cakes last year when the price dropped to £122, so I expect the stock to disappear pretty soon this time around.

The Forerunner 55 is Garmin’s entry-level running watch, but it still packs in many of the brand’s most useful training and recovery features.

Designed primarily for beginner and intermediate runners, the watch uses built-in GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite support to accurately track pace, distance and routes during outdoor workouts. It also includes Garmin’s Elevate optical heart rate sensor for 24/7 heart rate monitoring directly from the wrist.

The watch features a lightweight 42mm polymer case weighing just 37g, alongside a 1.04-inch Memory-in-Pixel display that remains easy to read outdoors while helping extend battery life. Garmin claims up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode, which remains competitive even by modern standards.

Despite its affordable positioning, the Forerunner 55 includes several advanced training tools borrowed from pricier Garmin watches. These include Daily Suggested Workouts, Garmin Coach adaptive training plans, PacePro pacing guidance, recovery time recommendations, race time predictions and track running mode.

Smart features such as phone notifications, safety tracking and Garmin Connect integration round out the package, making the Forerunner 55 one of the most complete beginner running watches Garmin has released.

Garmin has released a new beta update for its flagship outdoor watches, and while version 22.29 doesn’t introduce flashy new tools or training metrics, it addresses one of the more frustrating navigation problems Fenix users have been dealing with for months.

The update, which is now rolling out over the air to compatible devices enrolled in Garmin’s Public Beta Program, applies to the Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Enduro 3, Garmin Quatix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro/MicroLED models.

According to Garmin’s official changelog, version 22.29 fixes “an issue that could cause the device to exit the map page during route recalculation” alongside a number of other navigation and stability-related bugs.

That line appears to be connected to a long-running issue that caused navigation sessions to fail after GPS interruptions, route deviations, or recalculations.

Users on Garmin’s forums have reported watches unexpectedly ending navigation after briefly losing satellite signal, particularly in urban environments, tunnels or wooded areas.

One Reddit user described the issue as “navigation death on GPS signal loss”, claiming earlier beta versions would sometimes wipe routes entirely after recalculation attempts when using third-party maps.

Yet more updates

Unlike some of Garmin’s recent software releases, which introduced larger additions such as WhatsApp support and Pokémon watchfaces, version 22.29 is almost entirely focused on reliability.

The update also resolves crashes that could occur when routing back to the starting point, fixes resets during software updates, and addresses inaccurate rep counting during strength workouts.

Garmin additionally says it corrected issues affecting maps in multisport summaries and inconsistent battery estimates when switching between power modes.

Owners of the Garmin Tactix 8 should also notice improvements to the watch’s Night Vision colour shift mode, which Garmin says has now been fixed as part of the same release.

Garmin’s software strategy looks increasingly important

Garmin’s update cycle has become one of the brand’s biggest strengths.

While rivals such as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra tend to reserve major changes for annual hardware launches, Garmin continues to refine the watches people already own through a near-constant stream of software updates.

And for outdoor users, reliability updates arguably matter more than cosmetic additions.

After all, losing navigation halfway through a hike or trail run is considerably more frustrating than missing out on a new watch face.

It's a beta update, so only those who signed up for Garmin's Beta Programme will receive it. The rest will likely get it in the coming weeks.

[via Garmin Forums, NotebookCheck]

Garmin has been busy clearing its Fenix 7 Pro stock, but as expected, people are gobbling up the watches as soon as they hit the market. Luckily, Go Outdoors decided to join the party and slashed the price of the largest 7X Pro model, which also happens to be the one with the longest battery life.

Shop all Garmin deals at Go Outdoors

It's not really a catch, but the deal is only available to Go Outdoors members. Annual membership costs a whopping £5, which is well worth it anyway, considering the excellent offers the retailer has on for its members throughout the year.

The Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar remains one of Garmin’s most feature-packed adventure watches. Built around a rugged 51mm case with a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens and titanium bezel, the multisport smartwatch is designed for endurance athletes, hikers and anyone who spends serious time outdoors.

It’s tested to military standards for thermal, shock and water resistance, and includes both touchscreen controls and traditional buttons for easier use in harsh weather.

One of the standout features is the solar-charging display, which can extend battery life to up to 37 days in smartwatch mode and up to 122 hours in GPS mode under ideal conditions. The watch also supports multi-band GPS for improved tracking accuracy in built-up areas and dense woodland.

Like other recent Garmin watches, the Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar packs in advanced training and recovery tools, including Endurance Score, Hill Score, Training Readiness and real-time stamina tracking. There’s also full-colour mapping, turn-by-turn navigation, music storage, Garmin Pay and a built-in LED flashlight with red safety lighting for night runs and campsites.

Garmin just posted one of its strongest quarters in years. The company says it saw “strength in many product categories… including wearables, which were a significant contributor to consolidated growth,” pointing to a surge in demand for its smartwatches and fitness devices.

Garmin’s fitness segment grew 42% year-on-year, driven by what it calls “strong demand for advanced wearables,” with strong interest across its entire range, from entry-level running watches through to high-end multisport watches.

"Advanced wearables" are driving everything

Garmin’s definition of “advanced wearables” is broader than you might expect and includes most of its core watch lineup, covering devices with GPS, app support and deeper training insights.

The company says growth is driven by higher unit volumes and market share gains, suggesting Garmin is selling more watches overall, not just newer models.

Garmin appears increasingly comfortable playing in the same space as mainstream smartwatches, without losing its edge in fitness and outdoor performance.

Teasing the new flagship

The outdoor segment dipped slightly this quarter, largely because last year’s numbers were boosted by the launch of the Instinct 3. At the same time, the company noted that its Fenix line still performed well despite those tough comparisons, potentially thanks to permanent price cuts.

More importantly, Garmin expects stronger performance later in the year, driven by the timing of upcoming product launches.

Garmin tends to hold back in the first half of the year before rolling out bigger updates later on, and with demand for premium wearables clearly intact, the conditions look right for the new Fenix 9 to drop sometime later this year.

A world beyond smartwatches

“We are planning to launch even more new products throughout the year, including some that represent new categories for Garmin,” the company said.

That’s a big statement, especially with rumours about products such as the Cirqa band circling online.

“Customers want choices when it comes to devices, especially those that they wear… we see this as expanded opportunity for everyone,” the company added, suggesting it’s not overly concerned about new competitors entering the wearable space.

The brand continues to push connected features, including messaging, safety tools and satellite communication (a.k.a. inReach), across more devices.

As the company puts it, “the obvious point of those devices with the connectivity hardware is to use the services… I would expect to see more of those kinds of products coming to market in the future.”

That opens the door to entirely new types of wearables: not just watches, but potentially screenless trackers, smart rings or other connected devices designed to plug into Garmin’s growing ecosystem.

The bigger picture

Garmin’s latest results show a company building from a position of strength.

Demand for its watches is rising across the board, its premium models continue to hold their appeal, and its ecosystem is expanding into messaging, health and connectivity.

Plus, the company says it serves customers who prioritise health and active lifestyles, a group it believes is “probably a little more resilient than what the average reporting out there is.”

That gives Garmin room to push further, both with high-end devices like the next Fenix and with entirely new product categories.

Head over to Garmin for more info.

Garmin has started aggressively discounting the Fenix 8. That can only mean one thing: the Fenix 9 is on the way! And, more importantly, cheaper AMOLED watches, which is arguably more exciting for most people.

Shop all Garmim deals on Amazon

Fenix 8 deals have been swirling in recent weeks, but this offer at Amazon takes the crown. The 47 mm AMOLED model is currently down to £618.27, the lowest it's ever been at the retailer giant. The watch is 22% off, which translates to a 22% saving. Lovely!

The Fenix 8 is Garmin's most premium multisport GPS smartwatch (bar the MARQ series), built for serious training and outdoor use. It features a bright 1.4-inch AMOLED display protected by a sapphire glass lens, housed in a rugged 47mm case with a steel bezel and 100m water resistance.

Battery life is strong for an AMOLED model (take note, Apple Watch), offering up to around 16 days in smartwatch mode and roughly 40–50 hours in GPS tracking, depending on settings. The watch supports multi-band GNSS with SatIQ for accurate positioning, alongside full-colour maps and navigation tools.

On the fitness side, it includes advanced training metrics such as training readiness, stamina tracking, strength workouts and sport-specific modes, backed by 24/7 health monitoring (heart rate, sleep, stress and more).

Newer smart features include a built-in speaker and microphone for calls and voice commands, plus a powerful LED flashlight and dive-rated design, making it one of Garmin’s most capable all-around adventure watches.

With this year's first Prime Day behind us, one would assume we won't see any more Prime deals before this summer's sale (which I assume will happen). Amazon clearly thinks otherwise, as it has a very good offer on Garmin's Vivoactive 5, which is even cheaper now if you have a Prime Membership.

Shop all Garmin deals at Amazon

Even without that, the watch is the cheapest it's ever been, especially in the Navy colourway, which is currently selling for £143.44 with Prime and £150.99 without. It has over 10,000 (!) reviews on the site with a 4.4 rating out of 5 – that's pretty impressive if you ask me!

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a mid-range GPS smartwatch that blends everyday smart features with solid fitness tracking. It sports a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen (390 x 390 resolution) housed in a lightweight 42mm case, offering a more premium look than earlier Vivoactive models.

Battery life is a standout, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or around 21 hours with GPS enabled, making it reliable for multi-day tracking. The watch includes built-in GPS with support for GLONASS and Galileo, ensuring accurate distance and pace tracking without a phone.

On the health side, it covers essentials like wrist-based heart rate, Pulse Ox, VO2 max, stress tracking and sleep monitoring, plus Garmin’s Body Battery and Sleep Coach for recovery insights. Fitness-wise, it offers 30+ sports apps, guided workouts and Garmin Coach training plans.

Smart features include music storage (Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music), Garmin Pay, notifications and safety tools, all backed by 5ATM water resistance and 4GB storage.

Amazfit has launched a new high-end running watch for a price tag that puts Garmin's mid-range Forerunners to shame.

The Cheetah 2 Pro weighs under 46g and uses a titanium case paired with sapphire glass, a combination more commonly seen on higher-priced Garmin watches, such as the Epix Pro (even though that only has an MIP display).

The 1.32-inch AMOLED display reaches up to 3,000 nits of brightness (Apple Watch Ultra 3 territory), and there’s even a built-in LED flashlight for low-light conditions (ala Garmin Fenix 8).

The successor of the well-received Cheetah Pro uses a dual-antenna GPS system for improved accuracy and includes new training metrics, such as lactate threshold and running economy assessments.

During races, the watch can also provide real-time projected finish times, a feature typically associated with more established performance-focused running watches.

The company positions the device as a full training companion with built-in programmes covering distances up to the marathon, and its Zepp Coach AI adapts plans based on fitness level and progress.

Post-run analysis includes training load, recovery time, and comparative insights against previous sessions, as well as metrics such as stride time and range of motion.

Battery life has also been extended, too, with Amazfit claiming up to 20 days of use under typical training conditions, based on around five to six (!) workouts per week.

Beyond running, the Cheetah 2 Pro supports over 170 sports modes, including strength training, and can automatically detect exercises and highlight the muscle groups engaged during workouts.

Recovery tracking includes heart rate variability, sleep quality, and cumulative fatigue, with Amazfit’s BioCharge feature providing real-time energy-level indicators throughout the day.

The watch integrates with a wide range of third-party platforms, including Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot and intervals.icu.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro is available now at Amazfit UK, Amazfit EU, and selected retailers, with a recommended retail price of £450 / €450 (~$530 / AU$740).

Just last week, I reported on a standout Fenix 7 Pro Solar deal, speculating that Amazon was clearing stock in anticipation of the upcoming Fenix 9. Now, John Lewis appears to be doing the same, and unlike Amazon, it’s not even being subtle, adding a “Reduce to Clear” tag directly on the product page.

Shop all Garmin deals at John Lewis

Better still, the offer is even cheaper than last week, albeit by just £1. John Lewis lists the original price at £659.99, and the £379, which translates to a total saving of £281. That said, at some point the retailer reduced the price to £399, so it's only £20 cheaper than the lowest price on John Lewis.

The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar is built for serious outdoor use, combining a rugged titanium bezel with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and Garmin’s Power Glass solar charging.

Battery life stretches up to 22 days in smartwatch mode or up to 73 hours with GPS and solar assist, making it well-suited for multi-day adventures.

It supports multi-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) for accurate tracking in challenging environments, alongside preloaded TopoActive maps, ski maps, and navigation tools, including an altimeter, compass, and gyroscope.

On the fitness side, it offers advanced training metrics such as endurance and hill scores, VO2 max, training readiness and recovery insights, plus 24/7 health tracking including heart rate, Pulse Ox and sleep analysis.

A built-in LED flashlight, extensive sport modes and Garmin’s ecosystem round out a feature set that still feels class-leading for endurance athletes and outdoor explorers.

Garmin might not have launched a new smartwatch this week, but it has quietly given its existing lineup something arguably more interesting

The brand has released three new Porsche watch faces via its Connect IQ Store, bringing a touch of Stuttgart styling to compatible Garmin watches.

And unlike a new Fenix or Forerunner, this is one upgrade you can apply in seconds.

The collaboration is inspired by Porsche’s design legacy, with each watch face taking cues from the brand’s distinctive aesthetic and motorsport heritage.

The Porsche Heritage face goes down the classic route, offering an analogue-style layout complete with the famous crest and red accents.

It’s the most traditional of the trio, but still packs customisable data fields and progress bars to keep it firmly in Garmin territory.

If you prefer something sportier, the Porsche Racing face takes inspiration from the legendary Porsche 917, with a bold digital layout that feels closer to a dashboard than a dress watch.

It’s clean, legible and unmistakably performance-focused, blending Garmin’s data-first approach with a more stylised presentation.

Last but not least, the Porsche Pure face features subtle branding, muted tones and just enough red detailing to tie it back to the wider collection.

It’s arguably the most versatile of the three, especially if you want something that looks premium without shouting about it.

A different kind of upgrade

Garmin has been relatively quiet on the hardware front so far this year, with rumours swirling around future launches rather than confirmed releases.

These new watch faces show the brand is still finding ways to keep its ecosystem fresh in the meantime.

If you’ve ever wanted your training watch to feel a bit more premium, this might be the simplest upgrade you’ll make all year.

You can download the Porsche Heritage (Crest) face here.

You can download the Porsche Racing (917 Salzburg) face here.

You can download the Porsche Pure (Wordmark) face here.

Garmin has been suspiciously quiet so far in 2026, a stark contrast to last year, when the brand was on a mission to launch a new product every week. That might be an exaggeration, but being the person in charge of testing Garmin watches, I was pretty busy in 2025.

This year, however, we have mostly had rumours. Everyone's talking about the Cirqua band, the new screenless wearable, which may or may not launch soon. A Whoop-rival band is right on trend, with more people looking for less distracting wearables to track their health and fitness.

I haven't seen a ton of rumours, but 2026 is supposed to be the year Garmin releases the successor of the Fenix 8 Pro, which landed a bit softer than anticipated. The world's first MicroLED smartwatch (it also comes in an AMOLED version) was probably too expensive and had too few unique features for people to consider the upgrade.

It would make sense for Garmin to launch the Fenix 9 with a MicroLED option, but what I’m more interested in is longevity. Even though MicroLED isn’t supposed to drain power, the Fenix 8 Pro offered the shortest runtime of any recent Fenix model.

Even AMOLED Fenix models have shorter battery life than their MIP counterparts, especially those with solar charging. If Garmin could find a way to marry an AMOLED Fenix with its Power Glass technology, that would be a game-changer.

Garmin’s secret weapon for endurance

For the uninitiated, Power Glass is Garmin’s take on solar charging. It’s a transparent layer built into the display that harvests sunlight and turns it into extra runtime, helping compatible watches last significantly longer between charges.

It's not a cheap technology, and it can't outpace the battery drain of AMOLED panels, which is why Garmin hasn't launched an AMOLED + Power Glass watch – yet. It's been years, though, since we've seen a major upgrade to the Power Glass, so it wouldn't be unimaginable to see a new version launch on the Fenix 9.

Garmin operates similarly to Apple, often leading with new innovations while the rest of the industry follows a few years behind. For example, most companies have only recently started adding physical LED lights to their watches, even though Garmin has had this feature for years.

A smarter, faster Fenix

We may or may not see the Power Glass on the Fenix 9, but rumour has it that there are other new features coming. Garmin is expected to continue pushing MicroLED, but in a more mature form than what we saw on the Fenix 8 Pro. That likely means a thinner build and better power management.

The Fenix 9 is widely expected to get a long-overdue processor upgrade. The company has been using variations of the same chipset for a while, so a new platform could bring faster performance, smoother mapping and improved efficiency across the board.

Health and fitness tracking will likely see more incremental improvements rather than headline-grabbing features. A next-generation heart rate sensor is expected, alongside continued work on more advanced insights around recovery and overall health trends.

Garmin has also been investing heavily in its software ecosystem, so more personalised coaching, smarter training recommendations and deeper integration with its Connect platform are all on the cards.

Beyond that, improved multi-band GPS performance, smarter satellite connectivity and small design tweaks, including the possibility of a thinner case or new input methods, have all been mentioned.

The real reason to wait for Fenix 9

For me, though, the biggest upgrade would be the Power Glass update. I can only assume the price will be astronomical, but if the Fenix 9 can crack the AMOLED/Power Glass conundrum, that'd be worth the money.

The Garmin Fenix 9 is expected to land in the second half of 2026, most likely around late summer.

If Garmin’s release cadence is anything to go by, a new Fenix model could arrive later this year. And if the current price of the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar is anything to go by, retailers may already be preparing for it.

Right now, Garmin’s flagship solar smartwatch has dropped to just £379.99 on Amazon, a massive 50% discount that undercuts many mid-range rivals. While nothing is confirmed, steep price cuts like this often point to stock being cleared ahead of a new release.

Either way, for anyone after one of the most capable outdoor watches on the market, this might be the best time to buy.

The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar is one of Garmin’s most feature-packed outdoor watches, built for endurance athletes and adventurers.

It uses a Power Glass solar-charging lens to extend battery life to up to 37 days in smartwatch mode or over 100 hours in GPS tracking with sufficient sunlight.

The watch features a large 1.4-inch MIP display housed in a rugged 51mm case with a steel bezel and fibre-reinforced polymer body, plus 10ATM water resistance for swimming and harsh conditions.

It supports multi-band GPS alongside systems like Galileo and GLONASS for improved accuracy, and includes full-colour topo maps and turn-by-turn navigation.

On the fitness side, it tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, stress, VO2 max, and advanced training metrics, while offering dozens of activity profiles.

Extras such as a built-in LED flashlight, 32GB storage for music, and smartwatch features like notifications and payments round out its all-in-one appeal.

Amazfit has rolled out a substantial software update to its T-Rex lineup, and it’s the kind of upgrade that makes you look twice if you’ve been eyeing a Garmin Fenix 8.

The update, which is now rolling out to models including the T-Rex 3, T-Rex 3 Pro and T-Rex Ultra 2, focuses on three key areas: training, navigation, and sport-specific features.

The standout addition here is lactate threshold tracking, a feature typically reserved for more premium multisport watches.

The watch can now help identify the intensity at which your body starts to accumulate fatigue more rapidly, which can help determine more precise training zones and better pacing guidance over time.

Navigation has also received a noticeable boost, and this is where the update starts to lean into proper adventure / outdoor watch territory.

Offline maps have been expanded with more detail, including terrain and road data, while route guidance has been refined with better rerouting and return-to-start options.

On certain models, you can even plan routes directly on the watch without relying on your phone.

A left-field addition that says a lot

Perhaps the most unexpected addition is a dedicated golf mode, though it’s currently limited to the top-tier T-Rex Ultra 2 model.

With access to tens of thousands of course maps, alongside distance measurements and digital scorecards, it’s a clear sign that Amazfit is expanding beyond its core audience.

Beyond the headline features, there are plenty of smaller tweaks that improve the day-to-day experience.

Sleep tracking has been refined, Bluetooth disconnect alerts have been added, and data screens are now more customisable.

There’s also support for additional niche modes, including recreational diving on certain models.

The gap is getting smaller

Amazfit has long positioned itself as the more affordable alternative in the rugged smartwatch space.

With this update, it’s starting to look less like an alternative and more like a genuine competitor.

You’re still not getting everything you’d find on a flagship Garmin, but the gap is narrowing, and crucially, it’s happening through software, not new hardware.

Amazfit says the update began rolling out in phases on 5 March 2026 and was fully released to all users on 7 April.

To trigger the update, open the Zepp app, go to Profile, select your watch, and tap “System Update.”

Visit Amazfit's blog for more info.

[via Notebookcheck]

Garmin appears to be expanding its social sharing tools with a new feature that will feel instantly familiar to Strava users.

The update introduces transparent activity overlays in the Garmin Connect app.

The feature lets you layer workout stats such as heart rate, distance and pace directly onto images or videos, creating more visually engaging share cards for social media.

While Garmin watches have offered activity-sharing options for years, this new design addition is a clear attempt by the running watch giant to encourage people to share their activities directly from the Connect app rather than on Strava.

The new system adds flexibility, including multiple aspect ratios and a transparent overlay option that can be placed over photos or videos in apps like Instagram.

A familiar idea, with a different execution

The concept itself isn’t new: Strava has long offered similar tools, letting you overlay stats on route maps or export ready-made images for social feeds.

What Garmin is doing differently here is giving users more control over how those overlays are used.

The transparent export option, in particular, allows for more creative editing outside the app, making it easier to integrate workout data into Stories or short-form video content.

To use it, you open an activity in Garmin Connect, tap the share option, choose a format (e.g. 1:1, 4:5, 9:16), then apply a transparent stats overlay that can be exported and layered over photos or videos.

Where sharing gets competitive

Garmin and Strava have been locking horns for the last year, the latter pushing back over the former's request to make the source of athletes' data visible on the platform.

And even though Strava eventually dropped the case, it also made sure it didn't quite deliver what Garmin wanted.

The new transparent overlay from the smartwatch company feels like a jab at Strava, albeit a subtler one.

That said, the move might not have anything to do with Strava, after all, as Garmin's been busy beefing up its Connect app for a while now.

Admittedly, the company have been focusing on the paywalled Connect+ a lot more, but that doesn't mean it has forgotten about the free version of the app.

For athletes, the main thing to note is that now you have multiple options to achieve the same chick look on social media; whether you prefer Strava's or Garmin's take, it's up to you.

[via Gadgets&Wearables]

Is it Black Friday yet? No? Alright. For a second, I thought it might be, especially looking at the savings one can make on a new Fenix 8 these days. The smallest 47 mm version is finally selling for under £700 at Very, which is the lowest I've ever seen it go at a major UK retailer.

Shop all Garmin deals at Very

The Fenix 8 is Garmin's best outdoor watch, especially for this price. It's been superseded by the Fenix 8 Pro, but that sells for much more and doesn't really offer anything tangible for the premium price (unless you want a MicroLED screen). The Fenix 8 is a better value-for-money choice, even at full price.

The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm smartwatch is a premium multisport watch that balances rugged outdoor performance with everyday smartwatch features. It has a bright 1.4-inch AMOLED display (454 × 454 resolution), which remains readable in direct sunlight.

The watch packs 32GB of storage for maps, apps and music, alongside multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology to optimise accuracy and battery life across different environments.

Battery performance is strong for an AMOLED model, offering up to 16 days in smartwatch mode or around 47 hours in GPS tracking, depending on settings.

Health and fitness tracking is comprehensive, including continuous heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox, stress tracking, advanced sleep analysis and VO2 max estimates. It also supports training readiness, real-time stamina insights and sport-specific workouts, making it suitable for both structured training and adventure use.

The Fenix 8 is built for durability, with water resistance up to 100 metres and testing against military standards for shock and temperature resistance. Extras include built-in LED flashlight, offline maps, Garmin Pay, music storage and voice features (via a connected phone).

Amazfit is rolling out a new software update that adds a Garmin watch-style running metric to more of its wearables, continuing its push into performance-focused training features at a lower price point.

The update, version 3.7.0.1, is starting to appear on the Amazfit Active Max and introduces lactate threshold tracking, a metric typically associated with more advanced running watches.

Alongside this, the update also improves sleep-stage tracking accuracy, suggesting Amazfit is refining both its fitness and recovery insights in tandem.

Lactate threshold is widely used by runners to gauge how hard they can sustain an effort before fatigue accelerates, making it a valuable tool for pacing and structured training.

It’s a feature long linked to brands like Garmin, where it’s often paired with guided tests and, in some cases, external heart rate monitors to improve accuracy.

A premium feature, now more accessible

By bringing lactate threshold to a sub-£200 device, Amazfit is continuing a broader trend in the performance wearables space, where features once reserved for high-end multisport watches are gradually filtering down to more affordable models.

The Amazfit Active Max retails for £169 / $170 / €170 (~AU$341), placing it well below many Garmin devices that offer similar advanced running metrics.

While implementation details may differ, the addition alone makes the Active Max a more compelling option for runners looking to train with more data without stretching their budget.

Software is closing the gap

The update highlights how quickly smartwatch capabilities are evolving through software alone.

Rather than launching new hardware, Amazfit is enhancing existing devices with more advanced analytics, narrowing the gap between mid-range wearables and premium sports watches.

This approach is similar to Garmin, famous for supporting its wearables years after their release.

As brands continue to push updates like this, the distinction between entry-level and performance watches is becoming less defined.

This is likely good news for anyone looking to get more out of their training without spending big.

[via NotebookCheck]

Just last month, I reported on the Forerunner 165 hitting its lowest-ever price on Amazon. Now, the popular AMOLED running smartwatch has shed even more of its recommended retail price. It's been oscillating between its full asking price and approximately £173 all March, before hitting the all-time low of £167.56.

Admittedly, it's not a massive saving compared to last month's price, but it's still the cheapest the wearable has ever been, which is worth celebrating, since the Forerunner 165 is one of the most affordable Garmins to begin with. Get this capable watch for one-third off while you can.

In my review, I gave the Garmin Forerunner 165 the maximum 5-star rating, praising its lightweight design, accurate tracking, and affordability.

It features a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a 390 x 390 resolution, paired with five physical buttons for easy control during workouts.

The watch offers multi-system GPS (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) alongside wrist-based heart rate tracking, sleep, stress, and recovery metrics, plus advanced running insights such as VO2 max, training effect, and daily suggested workouts.

Battery life is rated at up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or around 19 hours with GPS, while the lightweight 43mm case weighs roughly 39g and is water-resistant to 5ATM.

There are over 25 sport profiles included, and smart features such as notifications, Garmin Pay and optional onboard music storage round things out, making it a well-balanced entry-level performance watch.

Coros has announced a substantial Spring 2026 software update for its watches and app, introducing a suite of new tools designed to help runners plan, execute and analyse their efforts more precisely.

The update marks a clear push into territory long associated with Garmin watches' more advanced training and race planning features.

Pace Strategy is probably the most exciting addition, designed to help runners figure out how fast to run and when.

Not dissimilar to Garmin's PacePro, but simpler and more automated, the feature allows you to build a pacing plan based on either distance or a specific route.

You can select a target distance, such as 5K, 10K or marathon, and set an overall goal time.

The system then generates suggested splits, which can be adjusted to favour even pacing or positive and negative splits.

For trail runners and ultra-distance athletes, Pace Strategy goes further by analysing a route’s elevation profile alongside the user’s current fitness level.

Based on this data, the Coros app generates segment-by-segment target paces that adapt to climbs and descents.

It can also factor in waypoints, such as aid stations, allowing runners to plan expected arrival times throughout an event.

Once synced to a Coros watch, the pacing plan can be followed in real time, with data screens showing whether you’re ahead or behind target pace, alongside estimated finish time and segment progress.

Hill Alerts adds real-time course awareness

Alongside Pace Strategy, Coros is introducing Hill Alerts, a feature designed to provide more context during structured runs.

When following a route in Run or Trail Run modes, the watch can now preview upcoming climbs and descents and deliver alerts as you approach them.

During each segment, users can see key information such as distance, gradient and elevation gain or loss, as well as how much of the climb or descent remains.

Unlike Garmin's ClimbPro, the feature also uses colour-coded difficulty indicators, giving you a clearer sense of how demanding each section of the route will be before you reach it.

Smaller updates round out the experience

Beyond the headline additions, the update includes several smaller improvements aimed at everyday usability.

A new Weekly Distance widget allows users to track their mileage across activities such as running, cycling and swimming directly on the smartwatch.

Coros has also added a Hybrid Fitness activity mode, designed for multi-discipline workouts, with automatic detection when switching between stations.

Other updates include larger font options for notifications, expanded pause controls during activities, passcode protection for added security, and refinements to climbing metrics and statistics.

The update also introduces Zwift integration, allowing workouts created in the Coros app to sync with the platform and completed activities to be sent back to the Coros ecosystem.

A clear move into Garmin territory

The Spring 2026 update positions Coros more directly against Garmin in the race-planning and performance-analysis space.

With Pace Strategy offering route-aware pacing and Hill Alerts providing real-time terrain insights, Coros is moving beyond simple tracking and into guided performance, particularly for trail runners and long-distance athletes.

You can read more about the updates at Coros.

Garmin is famous for its watches being expensive, but some of its models are quite affordable. These include the entry-level Forerunner 55, which initially sold for £180. Now, you can grab one on Amazon for just £118.50, which is, in fact, the cheapest it's ever been!

Shop all smartwatch deals on Amazon

Truth be told, the Forerunner 55 hasn't been selling at its RRP for a while; it usually hovers around the £130-140 price range. That said, it's never been this cheap, even on Black Friday last year, when it sold for around £123.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 features a 42mm fibre-reinforced polymer case and weighs just 37g, making it one of the lightest running watches around and comfortable enough for all-day wear.

Up front, you get a 1.04-inch sunlight-visible MIP (memory-in-pixel) display with a 208 x 208 resolution. It’s not flashy like AMOLED, but it’s always-on, highly legible outdoors and far more battery-efficient.

Battery life is a standout at this level, offering up to two weeks in smartwatch mode or around 20 hours with GPS enabled, which is more than enough for most runners and even longer events.

In terms of tracking, the watch includes built-in GPS, GLONASS and Galileo support, along with wrist-based heart rate monitoring. It also has a 5 ATM water rating, so it’s safe for pool swimming.

Feature-wise, you get daily suggested workouts, Garmin Coach plans, PacePro pacing strategies and recovery time estimates. Add in sleep tracking, stress monitoring and Body Battery.

Polar has unveiled a new smartwatch that shows the brand is ready to move beyond the ‘wearables for hardcore athlete’ box it has long occupied.

The Street X leans heavily into durability and everyday wearability, positioning itself closer to rugged lifestyle devices than to traditional running watches.

It has a reinforced polymer case, exposed screws and chunky proportions reminiscent of G-Shock watches, while the lightweight build and 1.28-inch AMOLED touchscreen display (protected by Gorilla Glass 3) keep it firmly in modern smartwatch territory.

Polar says the Street X is “designed for a new generation of sport enthusiasts and health-conscious users whose routines move effortlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces.”

With the rise of hybrid training, including CrossFit and HYROX, many users now expect wearables to track multiple disciplines seamlessly.

That isn’t new in itself (see also: best triathlon watches), but the way these users engage with devices is changing.

Modern hybrid athletes are as interested in how a watch looks as how it performs, which is where the G-Shock-style build of the Street X comes into play.

As Sander Warring, CEO of Polar, says, “The new generation of city athletes want a watch that performs and fits their style.”

“With Street X, we responded to this demand by creating a rugged, design-led watch that combines Polar’s training credibility with bold, everyday wearability and durability at a more accessible price, ready to handle gym sessions, street runs, and daily life with equal confidence.”

The watch doesn’t just look rugged. It is tested to MIL-STD-810H standards and offers WR50 water resistance, suggesting it can handle more than just knocks, bumps and daily wear.

Despite that, the Street X weighs just 48g, which should make it more comfortable for all-day use than bulkier outdoor watches.

Familiar Polar features, new positioning

Despite the design shift, the Street X remains a Polar watch at its core. It supports more than 170 sports profiles and includes established training and recovery tools such as Training Load Pro and Nightly Recharge.

Sleep tracking covers duration, stages and quality, while overnight metrics include heart rate, heart rate variability and skin temperature.

Polar claims up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, or up to 43 hours of continuous training with GPS and optical heart rate tracking enabled.

A small feature with big implications

One of the more unexpected additions is Polar’s first integrated LED flashlight.

Positioned on the side of the case, it supports both white and red light modes, allowing for quick visibility in low-light conditions without reaching for a phone.

It’s a feature more commonly associated with Garmin watches, particularly the Fenix line, and its inclusion here reinforces the Street X’s crossover appeal as both a training tool and an everyday utility device.

The Street X is available now via Polar and selected retailers, priced at £219 / €249.90 / $249.90 (~AU$415).

At launch, it comes in two colours, Night Black and Snow White, with a third option, Forest Green, available first in a limited batch on Polar’s website, before wider availability in Q2 2026.

Garmin has unveiled a new look for one of its most rugged wearables, and it might be the most visually interesting update the Instinct line has seen in years.

The news came not long after the brand permanently cut the price of its MicroLED watch in the UK and parts of Europe, a month after slashing the price in the US.

Sadly, the new limited-edition Alpine Rush Collection isn't any cheaper than the standard Garmin Instinct 3, but it introduces a set of bold, nature-inspired finishes for the watch.

The lineup includes standout shades like Fern Green, Sunburst and Citrine, each clearly inspired by outdoor environments rather than the muted blacks and greys typically associated with adventure watches.

That said, the Instinct 3 has already been available in a number of exciting colours, which isn't surprising, given it's one of Garmin's best-selling watches among younger demographics who appreciate a bit of personality.

Same toughness, new attitude

Underneath the new colourful polish, you'll find the same reliable, durable Instinct 3 with its no-nonsense approach.

The two options are still AMOLED or a solar-charging lens with MIP display, depending on the model, alongside Garmin’s signature long battery life.

However, not all colours are available on all sizes and screen types.

The Citrine colourway is available as a 45mm AMOLED model, Fern Green comes as a 50mm AMOLED version, and Sunburst is offered in solar variants in both 45mm and 50mm sizes.

All versions have the built-in LED flashlight, inherited from the Fenix line, which has quickly become a fan-favourite feature on Garmin watches.

Health and fitness tracking runs around the clock, covering everything from heart rate and sleep to activity tracking, while you also get all the smart features under the sun, too, including smart wake alarms and lifestyle logging through the Garmin Connect app.

The Instinct 3 Alpine Rush Collection is available now at Garmin UK, Garmin US, Garmin EU and Garmin AU, with prices from £300 / $400 / €350 / AU$729.

Garmin has reduced the price of its most ambitious smartwatch in the UK, with the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED now listed at £1,500, down from its original £1,730.

The change follows a similar move in the US last month, suggesting this isn’t a temporary promotion but a broader pricing adjustment across regions.

At launch, the MicroLED edition was positioned as a showcase of what the brand could do at the very top end of the market.

It introduced a new display technology to the wearable category, with exceptional brightness and visibility in direct sunlight, and added features such as LTE connectivity and satellite messaging.

Pushing into luxury territory

This level of innovation came with a steep price tag, pushing the watch well beyond even premium multisport models and into territory usually reserved for luxury wearables.

Even within Garmin’s own lineup, the gap between the MicroLED version and its AMOLED counterparts made it a difficult sell for many athletes who prioritise performance over cutting-edge display tech.

The new pricing narrows that gap in a meaningful way, bringing the MicroLED model closer to the rest of the Fenix range and making it a more realistic option for those curious about the technology.

It also lands at a time when the wider Fenix 8 Pro lineup hasn’t generated the same level of momentum as previous generations, with signs that demand hasn’t quite matched expectations.

There are also practical considerations that may have influenced buying decisions.

While the display offers clear advantages in brightness and clarity, battery life in smartwatch mode sits at around 10 days, which is noticeably lower than some other models in the range.

Lowering the cost of entry could help put MicroLED in more hands, which in turn may be key if Garmin wants the technology to move beyond a niche feature and become part of its mainstream lineup.

[via Notebookcheck]

Following a strong 2025, Zepp Health, the company behind the Amazfit smartwatch brand, used its latest earnings call to outline a more aggressive product strategy built around premium devices, AI-led training features, and a steady stream of launches throughout 2026.

Zepp is trying to move beyond affordable fitness trackers and compete in the performance-driven category in 2026, a category long led by more established players such as Garmin.

“We have been transforming Zepp from a traditional wearable hardware company into what we call a hybrid training platform,” said CEO Wang Huang.

“Our goal is not simply to launch competitive devices, but to build a broader performance system that integrates endurance, strength, and recovery.”

More watches, higher prices, smarter features

Recent launches include the Amazfit Active Max, Active 3 Premium and the rugged T-Rex Ultra 2, the latter of which pushes the brand into a new ~$550 price bracket.

That move upmarket is deliberate, with Zepp confirming its plans to “strengthen our premium product lineup” in 2026, pointing to more high-end watches on the way.

After launching around nine products last year, the company expects a similar number, or slightly more, in 2026, suggesting a packed release calendar covering multiple use cases, from everyday training to outdoor performance.

Training features are becoming the main battleground

Amazfit is also investing heavily in software, with features like Zepp Coach and BioCharge designed to deliver structured training guidance and recovery insights.

Looking ahead, the company says it will double down on AI-driven training insights and performance technologies, pushing its devices closer to full coaching tools rather than simple trackers.

The addition of connected devices such as the Helio Ring and Helio Strap reinforces Zepp's new direction of providing guidance rather than devices alone, pointing to a broader ecosystem that works across multiple form factors.

Amazfit is also investing in credibility by partnering with elite athletes and embedding its products in competitive events like HYROX.

It’s a clear move away from lifestyle positioning and toward performance-first use cases, similarly to what Apple is doing by sponsoring the London Marathon.

For us, that means more choice in a category that has been relatively stable at the top. For the industry, it signals a brand that is no longer content with competing on price alone.

With more devices on the way, higher price points, and a growing focus on training intelligence, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Amazfit’s watch lineup.

[via Zepp Health]

Garmin wearables have long been some of the best running watches money can buy, but they’ve always lagged behind rivals when it comes to everyday smart features. Now, that’s finally starting to change.

The brand has announced a new WhatsApp app for select devices, allowing you to read, reply to and react to messages directly from your wrist.

It’s available now as a free download from the Connect IQ Store and works with compatible models across the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu and Vivoactive ranges.

Garmin finally gets serious about smart features

Until now, Garmin’s approach to messaging has felt functional rather than fully integrated.

You could see notifications and send quick replies in some cases, but the experience never quite matched what you’d get on an Apple Watch or a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

The new WhatsApp app lets you view recent conversations, read full messages, and reply with a built-in keyboard, as well as send emojis and quick reactions.

You can even scroll through chat history, with up to 10 messages visible on screen.

It’s still tied to your smartphone, so you’ll need your phone nearby with WhatsApp installed, but the experience is far closer to a proper smartwatch messaging system than anything Garmin has offered before.

What the WhatsApp app can actually do

Beyond basic notifications, the app adds a layer of interaction that makes Garmin watches more useful throughout the day, not just during workouts.

Incoming calls can be viewed with the option to decline them, while messages remain protected by WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, meaning conversations stay private, even when accessed from your wrist.

Garmin says the app is made possible through its Connect IQ platform, and it’s currently the first third-party messaging app available on its watches.

That alone suggests the company is opening the door to a broader app ecosystem.

If that happens, this could mark the beginning of a shift for Garmin, from a fitness-first wearable with limited smart features to something that better balances performance tracking with everyday usability.

It won’t turn a Garmin into a full Apple Watch rival overnight, but Garmin is clearly starting to take the “smart” part of smartwatch a lot more seriously.

You can download the WhatsApp app via the Connect Store for free.

Even though they aren't that different from your everyday Fenix, like most of us, I always dreamed of owning a Garmin Marq one day. There is something about a premium Garmin watch that just excites me: the materials, the finish, all of it.

Shop all Garmin watch deals at Goldsmith

Lucky for me, luxury watch retailer Goldsmith decided to make them a lot more affordable. And I mean, nearly a grand off more affordable! Not sure why the change of heart – as in, why Goldsmith is trying to get rid of its Marq stock – but I won't question when someone is happy to sell Garmins for a lot cheaper than usual.

The retailer is also selling the AMOLED Fenix 8 for £179 less, but you can get those for even cheaper on Amazon. Otherwise, the rest of the sale is very much Marq-only, which I have absolutely no issues with. If you want to check out other offers from the brand, check out T3's best Garmin deals roundup.

Garmin has unveiled a playful new way to personalise its smartwatches, launching Pokémon Sleep-themed watch faces to mark World Sleep Day.

The launch arrives shortly after Pokémon celebrated its 30th anniversary on Pokémon Day (27 February 2026), marking three decades since the franchise first appeared on Nintendo’s Game Boy.

Available now for free in the Connect IQ Store, the watch faces work with a range of Garmin devices, including models from the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu and Vivoactive line-ups.

Snorlax knows when you’re tired

Garmin has integrated the designs with the company’s Body Battery energy tracking, meaning the Pokémon displayed on the watch face change their expressions throughout the day depending on your energy levels.

When your Body Battery is high, the characters appear happy and energetic, but as your energy drops, they gradually become tired and sleepy.

The “Pokémon Sleep: Snorlax & Friends” features a group of familiar characters, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu and Snorlax, relaxing on Greengrass Isle.

The second option, “Pokémon Sleep: I Choose You,” lets users pick a single Pokémon from a selection of 48 characters.

Bedtime mode kicks in

Garmin has also added a nighttime feature designed to encourage better sleep habits.

The watch face automatically switches to night mode 90 minutes before the user’s scheduled bedtime, based on the sleep schedule set in the Garmin Connect app.

Alongside the watch faces, Garmin confirmed that some compatible devices can now sync sleep data with the Pokémon Sleep mobile app, allowing you to track your sleep and interact with Pokémon within the game.

The new watch faces are available in the Connect IQ ecosystem, which already offers thousands of downloadable apps, widgets and watch faces.

The Pokémon Sleep: Snorlax & Friends face can be found here.

The Pokémon Sleep: I Choose You face can be found here.

Garmin has built a reputation for making some of the most capable smartwatches in the fitness world, but not every model gets the attention it deserves.

Shop all Garmin deals in Amazon's Big Spring Deal Days Sale

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a good example. It doesn’t shout as loudly as flagship models like the Garmin Fenix 8 or the Garmin Forerunner 965, yet it packs a surprisingly rich set of health and training tools into a much more accessible package.

Right now, the Vivoactive 6 is also significantly cheaper than usual. The smartwatch has dropped to £210.29 on Amazon, down from its £269.99 RRP, making this the lowest price we’ve seen so far for the device.

For that money, you’re getting a well-rounded smartwatch designed for everyday fitness tracking as much as structured training. The Vivoactive 6 features a bright AMOLED touchscreen, built-in GPS, and support for 80+ sport modes, covering everything from running and cycling to strength training, yoga and indoor workouts.

Garmin’s fitness ecosystem is fully present here too, with tools such as Body Battery energy monitoring, stress tracking, Pulse Ox (blood oxygen), and advanced sleep tracking.

One feature that stands out is personalised sleep coaching, which analyses your sleep patterns and recovery metrics to suggest how much rest you should aim for each night.

Combined with Garmin’s readiness-style insights and daily health tracking, it helps paint a clearer picture of how well your body is recovering between workouts.

Battery life is another area where the Vivoactive line continues to impress. The Vivoactive 6 can last up to around 11 days in smartwatch mode, meaning you won’t be reaching for the charger every night like you would with many rivals.