Garmin announces feature updates for select smartwatches
Latest software release adds enhanced gear tracking, plus advanced fitness, health and connected features
Garmin today announced new software and feature updates for select smartwatches, including Venu® X1, vívoactive® 6, fēnix® 8 Pro, Forerunner® 570 and Forerunner 970 and more, along with updates available to all users in the Garmin Connect app. These features can help users as they work to improve their health and fitness, know their bodies better and get even more out of their smartwatch.
Enhanced gear tracking
Athletes and adventurers can log the gear they use during workouts and activities more seamlessly in the Garmin Connect™ app, allowing them to track stats like distance, hours and days of use. New updates include:
- More gear types: Choose from an expanded list of gear types including running shoes, skis, bike components, wheelchairs and more, while also including notes and photos of the gear.
- Gear collections: Group multiple items together and assign them to the same activity.
- Gear database: Save time and effort while logging gear by finding specific shoe brands and bike models within Garmin Connect.
- More automatic tracking flexibility: Auto-assign gear to specific Garmin Connect activities to track stats automatically.
- Tracking on the wrist: Users can now track their gear stats and see a progress bar showing them how close the gear is to the end of its life from their compatible Garmin smartwatch.
New to Garmin smartwatches
- Course planner: Prepare for an upcoming race by planning out the course with cut-off times, rest plans, checkpoints, aid stations and more in Garmin Connect, then see the course on a compatible smartwatch.
- Sports scores: Sports fans can track their favorite teams across 15 different leagues and see live scores, schedules and standings from their wristwhen paired with a smartphone.
Train and know your body better
Fitness features
- Mixed session: Track multiple activities in one session rather than saving separate activities.
- Garmin Fitness Coach: Get personalised workout plans based on fitness, activity history and background information. Plans include a variety of time duration and heart rate-based cardio workouts that vary in intensity, plus optional strength workouts and more than 25 activity types to choose from.
- Varia™ voice alerts: Cyclists can get audible alerts from their paired Varia radar to their smartwatch, letting them know about approaching vehicles1 to help them stay more aware of their surroundings.
Health features
- Sleep alignment: To help maintain a more consistent sleep cycle, users can see how aligned they are to their circadian rhythm2 and see their sleep consistency on their watch.
- Lifestyle logging on watches: Users can now log behaviors – such as caffeine and alcohol intake – on their watch and view reports on how those choices impact sleep, stress and HRV2.
Other notable updates
- Simplify life on the road: New trucking features help professional truck drivers stay connected, track their health metrics, follow workouts that fit into standard break times, manage schedules and enjoy extra convenience at travel plazas – all from their watch.
- Accessibility: Hear the time of day, health data and more spoken directly from the watch face, plus hourly alerts for the start of each hour. Color display options are also available – including gray scale, red/green, green/red or blue/yellow – to help with various forms of color blindness.
These free software updates have started to roll out to compatible devices. Customers can update their smartwatch by enabling automatic updates from their device and syncing with Garmin Connect or by using Garmin Express™. For a comprehensive list of features coming to associated devices, click here.
Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised the aviation, automotive, fitness, marine and outdoor markets. Dedicated to helping people make the most of the time they spend pursuing their passions, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminau on Instagram, or follow our blog.
1 When used with a compatible smartphone and the Garmin Connect app
About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, Venu, vívoactive, fēnix, and Forerunner are registered trademarks and Varia, Garmin Connect and Garmin Express are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2025, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). Copies of such Form 10-K are available at https://www.garmin.com/en-AU/investors/sec/ No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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