The most desirable material to use in fitness watch construction right now is titanium. It’s found across the best Garmin watches like the Fenix 9 Pro and recently, the Garmin Marq Generation 3.

But, as it turns out, the more of it you use, the more technical hurdles you face.

Let’s start off with why titanium alloys are such a good fit for watches, though. It’s pretty simple; titanium is typically lighter and stronger than aluminium and a whole lot lighter than stainless steel, which is often used in watches for its ability to weather well over the years.

Stainless steel used to be a mainstay of Garmin’s premium line-up, but it clearly doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s not even an option in the Garmin Fenix 9 range.

Having used plenty of titanium, plastic and stainless steel Garmins over the years, I get it. The more weight a watch carries, the more it picks up momentum as you perform an exercise like running. It makes for worse comfort, and leads to the watch moving around on your wrist more — which is bad news for heart rate reliability.

The Fenix 9 titanium problem

One part you might find a bit of a head-scratcher, though, is why even titanium watches like the Garmin Fenix 9 base model still have part-plastic bodies, despite costing $999 and up. Its entire sidewall is polymer, a super-tough reinforced plastic formulation, with the bezel and backplate as titanium elements. You need to upgrade to the Fenix 9 Pro — or even further to the Marq Generation 3 — to get a full metal jacket.

Garmin COO Brad Trenkle explained to me the difficulties in making this happen, which also helps to explain why these watches cost quite so much money.

“There are incredible benefits you can get from having a titanium case, but the all-metal case means radio signals can't get out,” says Trenkle.

In a Garmin watch this means anything that needs to transmit out of the casing, like Bluetooth, LTE, Satellite, ANT+, NFC, Wi-Fi. No signals out or in makes a connected smartwatch pretty useless.

The solution? You don’t use an all-metal case, but make the plastic parts that let the signal through as subtle, as minimal, as possible. But this in itself required some special processes.

“To get radio signals out, you have got to have a polymer in there. You add the polymer, you have to add multiple gaskets,” says Trenkle. “You add multiple gaskets you get thickness, and then suddenly you're wearing a tuna can on your wrist. And nobody wants to wear a tuna can on their wrist. We had that with Forerunner 201 years ago. We don't need to go back there.”

The Forerunner 201 was released in 2003, and is widely considered the first GPS-enabled runners’ watch. Yes, even though it does look a bit like a pager stuck to a watch strap.

Rubbery gaskets are required in a Garmin watch because, of course, water resistance is fundamental to series like the Garmin Fenix 9. You can’t just have relatively hard plastic sandwiched between two case elements of much harder titanium alloy: the gaskets act as seals.

Nano scale molding

The solution for the Fenix 9 and Marq Generation 3 is a process Trenkle calls ‘nano molding’, or NMT.

“The basic idea here is that you are bonding a polymer and a metal together at the nano scale,” says Todd Register, Garmin Creative lead for its Outdoor segment. It sounds like Iron Man-grade stuff, but the concept isn’t a million miles from the light, fine grain sanding you might give a surface before attempting to paint it or glue it. Nano molding involves very finely etching, or texturing, the titanium so it can much more perfectly fit the polymer parts without a gasket.

At the launch of the Marq Generation 3 watch, Garmin used a picture of a piece of titanium magnified by 100,000 times to show the NMT process.

“If you look at the surface of the case, it's almost completely smooth. So there's no way to bond to the metal before it's been etched, but if we look at after the etching, you can see immediately the different type of texture that you get, and as you zoom in, you can see the type of interlocking at that nano scale that's happening between the polymer and the metal case,” says Register.

“You're going to get a super tight, rigid bond that is great to be able to get all of our antennas in there where needed and execute that in a really thin design compared to what we had previously.”

This isn’t a process that involves conventional adhesive. The polymer itself ends up bonded directly to the titanium — it’s elegant engineering.

NMT history

This concept is not new, even in mainstream consumer technology. Back in 2011 PhoneArena reported on how HTC — amid its fun years of peak mobile phone tech experimentation — was testing NMT to streamline the construction of its high-end HTC Sensation 4G Android phone.

That it’s still a relatively novel idea is likely, unfortunately, bad news for the idea NMT processes might soon trickle down the Garmin range.

One sub-range that would suit an all-titanium casing is Garmin Venu. The current Venu 4 has a polymer rear, and it’s one of the few series to still use a stainless steel bezel. An all-titanium casing would work great for a Venu 5 but, then again, the last thing this series needs is another major price jump.

The Garmin Venu 4 already jumped to $549.99/£469.99/AU949 from $450/£450/AU749 in the Venu 3 generation, and we’re not sure how much more we can stomach, let alone the watch-buying public. However, having had a chance to test drive the Garmin Marq, it’s clearly an important part of making a dive-ready watch that doesn’t pull too much focus on your wrist, in terms of weight and girth if not provocative style.

Are you looking for a Garmin watch, but not sure what to get? Take our quiz below to find your perfect smartwatch.

The Google Fitbit Edge is Google's latest fitness tracker, and it's designed as a halfway house between the screenless, super-cheap Google Fitbit Air and the full-fat Google Pixel Watch 5 smartwatch. Costing $179.99 / £159.99 / AU$269, it's packing GPS (which the Air doesn't) and Fitbit's improved automatic activity detection, alongside the usual metrics like heart rate, sleep tracking, and estimated calories burned.

But is it accurate? That's the big question. While we found the Google Fitbit Air accurate compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a heart rate monitor, we've been burned by Fitbit in the past, with some accuracy issues plaguing this device's spiritual predecessor, the Fitbit Charge 6.

I've only been testing the Edge for a couple of days, but I wanted to test its mettle straight away. On my first 5km run with the new Fitbit, I compared its stats on one wrist against another wearable, the high-end Garmin Fenix 9 Pro.

The 9 Pro costs around five times as much as the Google Fitbit Edge, and has been tested against chest-mounted heart rate monitors and other premium wearables like the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to determine accuracy.

It's worth noting that devices normally take a few days to learn your movement patterns and baseline metrics, so I was expecting some deviation in metrics such as heart rate. However, I was hoping the Google Fitbit Edge's distance and pace information, calculated via GPS, would cleave closely to the Fenix 9 Pro's metrics, as that would indicate the little fitness tracker is almost as accurate as the powerful Fenix 9, making it good value for money.

The results

When I compare wearables during workouts, I use the average heart rate metric as a good indication of wearable accuracy. Heart rate, measured by LED-based PPG sensor arrays, is the cornerstone of wearable health tracking and a core basis of everything from estimations in sleep quality to calorie burn.

Average heart rate, which all wearables provide during a workout, is a great way to compare. While different devices use different algorithms and so forth, resulting in fluctuations in graphs, if two or more wearables show a similar average heart rate, it's a good indication that these devices are broadly accurate.

Fortunately, the cheaper Google Fitbit Edge does cleave very closely to the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, which I know is accurate thanks to past tests against the Frontier X2 heart rate monitor and Apple Watch Ultra 4. The Google Fitbit Edge showed an average heart rate of 156 bpm, while the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro showed an average heart rate of 153 bpm. That's a great result for the Fitbit.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the distance metric, which calculates how far I ran. During the run, while glancing at my Google Fitbit Edge, it was consistently overestimating my running speed, often showing 30 seconds or more ahead of my Fenix, and that was reflected in the final distance result. While the Google Fitbit Edge said I ran 5.45 km, the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro measured just 5.15 km — a distance of around 300 meters.

That's acceptable over a longer race, like a marathon (there was a similar discrepancy when I ran London with an Apple Watch and a Garmin), but that's 300 meters over 42 kilometers, not five. 300 meters on this run equates to an overestimation of around 6%, and I trust the thousand-dollar Garmin's multi-band SatIQ GPS more than the sub-200-dollar Fitbit's.

I will repeat the experiment with longer runs — with fewer trees — to see if I get a smaller deviation. It's not a dealbreaker for casual exercisers, but over 5% is enough for a keen runner to choose another device. Stay tuned for more testing and a full review of the Google Fitbit Edge very soon.

• Garmin's CEO Cliff Pemble mentioned the components crisis during Garmin's quarterly earnings call with investors
• Garmin had a cache of components and memory bought cheaply before the crisis hit, but now it's buying memory at "significantly higher" prices
• Pemble said pricing is "one of the things [Garmin] can look at", referring to increasing device costs

If you want to pick up the best Garmin watch, you'd be wise to do it soon, because the company's CEO Cliff Pemble has revealed that pricing changes aren't off the table due to the rising costs of electronic components.

During the company's quarterly earnings call, in which Garmin's C-suite speaks to its investors, CEO Cliff Pemble said that while the company is having a good year, he sees some headwinds in its near future.

The RAM crisis is a shortage of memory, as most of the available stock is being bought up to cope, in part, with the massive expansion of AI and the drive to build data centers. This leaves a shortage of memory for consumer devices such as computers and phones, which is driving up costs for device manufacturers.

Wearables, which use comparatively little memory compared to a phone or a computer, have so far largely escaped unscathed. Even when Apple raised prices across the board, it didn't do so for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. However, that reprieve appears to be over.

According to the transcript of Garmin's Q3 earnings call, as published on The Motley Fool investment website, Pemble said that Garmin has been spared because it bought a lot of surplus stock at the old prices, but the company is now buying components at prices "significantly higher than last year".

"Our results will soon reflect the higher cost of memory and other raw materials which have increased significantly since last year, driven by both high demand and limited supplies."

Does this mean price increases?

Later in the call, Pemble said: "Definitely pricing is something that, you know, when I mentioned the mitigations that we can use, it is one of the things that we can we can look at.

"It is one of the tools that we have, but we do not overfocus on one particular thing, and we try to get the best balance of all the different ways that we can mitigate cost increases in our supply chain in order to achieve an outstanding result.

"I would probably just remind people that a little more than a year ago now, everyone was faced with higher supply chain costs really driven by tariffs. And that was something that we were able to navigate because of the diversity of our business and our vertical integration and our ability to create products that people want."

It sounds like Pemble is hoping that Garmin's diverse portfolio of products and services can offset an Apple-style price increases for its smartwatches and other gadgets, but he stopped short of ruling it out. We'll have to wait and see what 2027 brings.

Are you looking for a Garmin watch, but not sure what to get? Take our quiz below to find your perfect smartwatch.

The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro is Garmin's latest — and greatest — watch. The Fenix series always occupies a flagship position in Garmin's lineup: while the company does make more expensive watches, most of those are specialist pieces of gear, such as the Tactix for soldiers, the Descent for professional divers, and the Marq series as an ultra-premium option for fashion-forward Garmin users.

The Garmin Fenix series is its top-tier 'generalist' watch, and considering it only comes out once every few years, anticipation is always high. Fortunately, the Fenix 9 Pro lives up to the hype, and is my Fitness Devices of the Year at the TechRadar Product of the Year Awards 2026.

It's a powerhouse of a watch, from construction and performance, and has coped with every test we have thrown at it, from hikes in Chamonix, to comparison tests against the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and an electrical heart rate monitor, the Frontier X2.

Let's start with construction. The Fenix 9 Pro's entire case is now made of titanium, rather than a titanium bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer (that's plastic, to you and me) elsewhere.

It's thinner, and the lack of visible screws (aside from the back plate) make for a refined, sleek aesthetic. The display is sapphire crystal as standard, too, protecting the super-bright AMOLED touchscreen display, with the usual MIP Power Glass solar charging options as an additional extra.

The construction makes for an amazing watch, and these upgrades make the Fenix 9 Pro really feel just that, Pro — more like a Marq. I'm wearing the 43mm version, and it really doesn't feel like an ultra-chunky Fenix. In fact, it feels far more like wearing an upmarket metal dive watch.

This sealed unit design necessitated a redesign in the buttons, according to Garmin's promotional material, in order to make sure it remained waterproof up to 40m deep, but Garmin cracked it and the watch retains Garmin's distinctive five-button design.

It's even revamped the LED light, with an introduction of a third green option to add to its black and red tones. The green light offers improved visibility compared to the red option, without sacrificing your night-eyes.

Software-wise, the UX is familiar to Garmin watch users, as everything is innately customizable, from the widget stack to workout views to watch faces. New features include Garmin Epic, which allows you to string several workouts together into one mega-event, such as multiple ski runs over one long weekend, for example. You can start it from the watch, and view or share it in the app. Rucking also got a useful redesign, while Maps has been updated to provide an angled POV option.

In our performance test, I was expecting accuracy — after all, the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro retains Garmin's Elevate V5 heart rate sensor array from previous years — but I wasn't expecting it to cleave so close to the heart rate monitor and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 (which Apple claims is the most accurate wearable to date) during my test workouts.

Rerouting course directions has proven to be responsive and speedy, while the battery performs as described, lasting for a week, and the watch is comfortable to wear during sleep, workouts and every day.

There wasn't really any doubt that the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro was going to be a good watch, or even a great one. Like the Apple Watch Ultra 4, it builds on everything Garmin has done before to create a worthy successor to the ever-popular Fenix line. When the Fenix 10 comes out in a few years, this one will come down in price just like the Fenix 8 before it, and we'll see far more adopters take it on and have fun with it.

I suppose I could have chosen something like the cheap Google Fitbit Air, the Garmin Cirqa, or the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to be our Fitness Device of the Year. But when I thought about what was going to dominate my limited wrist real estate if I sign up for a race, there was only ever going to be a handful of options, and the 43mm Garmin Fenix 9 Pro was first on the list.

It's smart enough not to look out of place in the office, it's got everything I need for training, it's got all the complications I need from the Connect IQ score, like Spotify and Komoot, and a week-long battery life (sorry Apple) that cinches it for me over the Ultra 4.

When an ageing fitness tracker finally needs to be replaced, sometimes you're tempted to switch brands — for example, trading in your ageing slim Fitbit for a bigger running watch. You might be getting a new running watch in the Black Friday sales, or hoping for one under your tree — but a new tracker sometimes that means losing years of data about your workouts, sleep, heart rate, and general activity.

Your historical health data is useful for more than just flexing on your Strava contacts or keeping those fitness rings closed. Changes in your resting heart rate or sleep pattern, for example, can contribute to a fuller picture of your health. That's why in 2026, many of the best options like the Apple Watch, Google's Fitbit lineup and the best Garmin models have made transferring your data remarkably simple – or at least easier than ever.

To help you upgrade to a newer model or switch brands entirely, we've broken down the data transfer processes for the major fitness tracker makers.

Check what you can transfer before switching

Not every move is tricky: going between different Garmin versions, or upgrading your Apple Watch, is a generally straightforward process that can take moments, due to operating from the same account.

Switching manufacturers, however, is where things can become a little more complicated. Going from a Garmin Forerunner to a COROS Pace 4 can require manually exporting your data and then importing it into a new platform.

Think of it as three distinct processes: backing up your data, syncing new activities between apps, and importing historical records, each with their own requirements.

Before we continue, it's worth noting that while common activity data (think workouts or routines) are transferable, proprietary metrics like sleep scores are unlikely to make the jump. Not every brand has Strain, Readiness or Sleep scores that are calculated the same way.

If you are unsure, check which file formats and historical records your new device's companion app supports could go some way to avoiding disappointment.

Back up your fitness data first

Before doing anything else, make sure that your fitness tracker has synced with its companion app on your smartphone, including any recent workouts and health measurements.

Most major platforms offer ways to export your data, either as an account archive or as individual activity files. Take some time to find out how to access these, and then download a copy somewhere safe and accessible, whether that's on your computer or in private cloud storage.

For example, Garmin requires you to access Garmin Connect using its web browser, then going to Data Management → Export Your Data. Apple, meanwhile, allows you to tap your profile in Apple Health, and hit Export All Health Data.

Individual activity files commonly come in formats such as FIT, TCX, and GPX, each of which preserves different types of workout information.

Keep your account active until you know the migration is successful and don't reset your old tracker just yet.

How to transfer data from Apple Health

If you're upgrading from one Apple Watch to another, the process is simple. Apple stores your Health and Fitness data in iCloud, provided syncing is enabled.

On your iPhone, head to Settings → your name → iCloud → See All → Health, and make sure Sync this iPhone is switched on. When pairing your new Apple Watch, you can also restore a previous backup to carry over your settings.

As you might expect, switching to another manufacturer takes a little more work. Open the Health app, tap Summary → your profile picture → Export All Health Data, and choose where to save the resulting XML archive.

You can also manage which third-party apps have access to your data under Apps or Devices in your Health profile.

It's worth noting that not every type of health data will make the journey. The resulting XML archive won't necessarily work directly with another manufacturer's app, but services like COROS support transferring historical Apple workouts using third-party apps.

How to transfer Google Health and Fitbit data

Google's fitness ecosystem has changed considerably in 2026, with the old Fitbit app replaced by the snazzy new Google Health platform.

If you're upgrading to a newer device, such as the Pixel Watch 5, your existing fitness history should remain accessible through the same Google Account.

To download a backup, head to Google Takeout, select Google Health, and follow the instructions to export your records, including any workouts, sleep, and heart rate data.

Google's Health Connect service is handy if you're moving between compatible Android apps.

On Android 14 or later, open Settings → Security and Privacy → Privacy Controls → Health Connect → App Permissions. From here, you can choose which apps can access different types of health data. (Some integrations must first be enabled within the destination app itself.)

Google Health also offers direct connections under Connections → Partner Apps or Apps and services. On iPhones, supported information can be shared through Apple Health instead.

As with Apple, there is unfortunately a catch: exporting an archive or connecting two services doesn't guarantee that years of historical measurements will appear in your new app.

Different integrations support different records, and Health Connect normally grants new connections access to only the previous 30 days unless additional historical permissions are available, so keep this in mind.

How to move Garmin Connect data

Sticking with Garmin is fairly straightforward, as with Apple and Google.

Whether you're upgrading an old Forerunner or moving to something like the Garmin Venu 4, your Garmin Connect account preserves your existing fitness history without needing to manually transfer it.

Switching manufacturers takes a little more effort. On the Garmin Connect website, open Activities → All Activities, select a workout, and click the settings cog to export it as a FIT, TCX, or GPX file.

If you have years of workouts, Garmin's data export service lets you request a complete account archive, with a download link sent by email.

These workout files can then be imported into compatible services, like the COROS Training Hub. However, if you want to move daily health measurements and proprietary recovery metrics, you might be out of luck.

How to preserve your workout history with Strava

For anyone switching between fitness trackers, Strava should be your best friend: the service lets you keep years of running, cycling, and other workout records in one place.

Unlike Apple Health or Garmin Connect, however, it isn't designed to preserve your complete health history.

To link a compatible tracker, open the Strava app and head to Settings → Connect an App or Device, then follow the instructions for your manufacturer. You can also check out our guide to using Strava with your smartwatch.

For older workouts, visit Strava's website, click the plus icon → Upload Activity → File, and select your exported FIT, TCX, or GPX files. Free users can upload 15 files at once, rising to 25 for subscribers.

It's worth remembering that connecting accounts won't necessarily import older activities automatically – you may need to upload these separately.

Check everything has transferred correctly

Once you've done the hard part, there are a few things to check to make sure your record and workout data made the switch – and then you can enjoy your shiny new fitness tracker.

First, open your fitness app and compare workouts, including any recent sessions, to see what has successfully transferred. Look for missing information (things like routes or heart rate data) and check if proprietary metrics made it.

Make sure to check for duplicates, which can happen if you are connecting multiple services at once, and allow for differences in how devices might track something, like your long-term trends.

Until you are completely happy, it's worth keeping your original account active and retain any downloaded data in a safe place.

Switching trackers definitely doesn't mean turning your back on years of data and progress, and we hope this guide has demystified the process. Now go and work on beating that PB!

• Garmin's Connect IQ store has seen an 'enormous influx' of new submissions
• These include apps and watch faces, and are causing a big backlog as developers struggle to get their submissions reviewed
• It's likely AI is to blame, as the sudden wave of submissions 'was never a problem in the past'

If you wear one of the best Garmin watches, you might have used the Garmin Connect IQ store to download an app like Spotify or Komoot, a new free or paid watch face (even a Pokémon-branded one), or a fun community-made complication like the Walk with Frodo app. However, downloading stuff from the Connect IQ store in future may involve sifting through thousands of low-quality, AI-generated submissions.

Watch face and app developers are complaining on Garmin's forums about delays in submission review: while the process typically takes 1-2 days, according to some devs, the process is now taking up to 13 days.

Garmin Connect IQ moderator/representative Brandon posted directly to one thread, stating: "This is not due to a bug — we have gotten an enormous influx of app submissions in the last month, with no signs of slowing down, and are working through approvals as quickly as we can.

"This was never a problem in the past, except perhaps delays because of a long holiday weekend (e.g. Christmas)."

The fact this glut of submissions is a sudden problem or new phenomenon points to one thing only — AI. Garmin Connect IQ has likely been flooded with vibe-coded or AI-generated products designed to make a quick buck by flooding the digital marketplace.

One Garmin user said in response to Brandon: "You need to limit the upload frequency for each developer; those poorly made AI-generated watch faces will consume everything."

Another said: "I have observed this trend worsening significantly as well. The Connect IQ Store is increasingly flooded with low-effort, repetitive submissions that hurt discoverability, degrade user trust, and crowd out well-crafted apps."

While this is bad for developers (who get charged $100 annually to sell apps on the Connect IQ store) it's also bad for Garmin users. We'll now have to wade through a sea of AI slop watch faces in order to get to faces and apps created the old-fashioned way — with human-led, thought-out complications developed and designed by real Garmin users.

It's just one more example of digital merchants being reduced to dealing with an avalanche of AI slop submissions, just like other app stores, and almost every other breed of online storefronts for digital products. We reported as far back as 2023 that AI-generated e-books were flooding Kindle Unlimited, making it difficult for users to find new books, and the problem has only gotten worse with time. The same will likely happen to the Connect IQ store.

I've reached out to Garmin for comment on the situation, and will update this article if I get any response. In the meantime, if you're a Connect IQ user and you've noticed the change, let us know in the comments below.

• Garmin users noticed huge battery drains after updating their watches
• The new ‘OK Garmin’ wake word could be to blame
• It’s enabled automatically but can be disabled quickly and easily

If you’ve installed the latest software update on your Garmin watch and have noticed a significant reduction in battery life as a result, there could be a simple explanation — but it’s one you might not even have thought to check.

According to multiple posts on forums and social media, many Garmin users have seen sizeable decreases in battery life when using their smartwatches on the latest software update. And the main culprit appears to be the device’s voice activation.

Starting with Garmin’s September update, you no longer need to press a button to launch voice activation on the Venu 4, Forerunner 970 and other smartwatches. Instead, you just need to say “OK Garmin,” then input your command.

The problem, as many users have found, is that this new feature can drastically reduce your battery life because it requires you watch to always be listening out for the wake word, adding a noticeable load to the battery.

Indeed, one poster on the official Garmin forums found that their battery life estimate had dropped from 15 days to nine days — a reduction of 40%. For another user, their estimate was cut in half from 12 days to six, while another went from 23 days to 12. For some people, disabling the OK Garmin feature instantly restored the battery estimate to its previous duration.

Disabling the culprit

Forerunner 970 owner’s manual, for example, warns that enabling the “OK Garmin” wake word “reduces battery life,” although the company doesn’t say how much of an impact it can have.

What some users might not have realized is that the voice activation for the Garmin assistant is enabled automatically when you update to the latest software. That could leave you wondering why your battery life has been cut in half without you changing anything manually.

If you want to disable the wake word, you’ll need to go to Watch Settings > System > Voice, then disable the OK Garmin feature.

It’s possible that something else might be causing significant battery drain on your Garmin watch. But with multiple reports indicating that the OK Garmin feature could be to blame, it’s worth trying to disable it if you’re more concerned about battery life than having an always-on voice assistant on your wrist.

Which Garmin watch is right for you? If you don't know which of the best Garmin watches to choose from, shopping for smartwatches can be a very frustrating experience.

Browsing the website, you have to deal with weird names like 'Fenix' and 'Vivoactive' and many of the watches offer the same features, making the brand's offerings tough to separate. What are the differences, for example, between a Forerunner 70, 170, 570 and 970? Should you get an Instinct 3, or a Venu 4?

That's where I come in. I've been writing about Garmins for many years. I've reviewed or tested almost every modern Garmin watch, and I've taken my knowledge and condensed it into one handy flowchart personality quiz.

All you need to do is click on the quiz below and answer five easy questions, only the first of which is multiple choice, to get my recommendation for your ideal smartwatch. I've even linked the full review of each watch, so you can read more about it and find the best deals.

The quiz operates first by finding out your preferred forms of exercise, then hits criteria like budget, watch size, importance of outdoor features, and so on.

If an activity profile you want isn't there, pick the closest one in spirit — for example, snowboarders should pick the 'skiing' activity profile in the first question, while I've lumped football, netball, rugby, baseball, etc. into 'team sports'.

Let me know your result in the comments — including whether your result was accurate!

Garmin has dropped the third-generation Garmin Marq series, a range of six of the best Garmin watches that are as much about luxury and style as they are about performance.

If you're already a Garmin user, there's a good chance you’re most familiar with its adventure and activity smartwatches like the Fenix, Instinct and Forerunner series’. They’re renowned for their practicality and a big well of features. However, the Garmin Marq series is its ultra-premium, style-forward luxury range that lets the company flex some different muscles, while still retaining the same featureset and software that people love.

The six models include the classy Aviator model, designed with complications for pilots; the debonair Adventurer; the serious military Commander; the Athlete with its energy drink colour accents; the ‘maritime blue’ Diver (new for this generation, replacing the seafaring Captain); and the exceptionally green Golfer.

The titanium price

The price of these watches varies a little between models, but you're looking at $2,500 / £2,199 / around AU$3,500 and up, double that of the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro. A higher budget lets Garmin indulge in the kind of watch manufacturing touches that just can’t be justified in its sport and outdoors models, like polished ceramic bezel inlays, micro-knurled buttons and a full grade-5 titanium casing, with no significant plastic elements on show.

This alone requires feats of engineering to ensure the antennas have enough room to figuratively breathe — metal blocks their signal, and a fitness watch without reliable GPS or Bluetooth is not going to be much use at all.

The solution is slim strips of plastic polymer in the frame that you probably wouldn’t even notice unless you look close, and know they are there. These polymer strips are fused to the titanium metal of the casing ‘at nano scale’ using a process called nano-moulding technology. In effect it’s similar to the little non-metal strips in an iPhone’s casing, applied with what sounds like a pretty expensive procedure.

Built to last, just not forever

Garmin COO Brad Trenkle explained to me the company isn’t fooling itself into thinking it’s making a direct alternative to a Patek Philippe, Rolex or Audemars Piguet here.

“We didn't set out to build a mechanical watch that was designed to be passed down from from generation to generation,” says Trenkle. Smartwatches inevitably have a shelf life due to being a sealed unit with lithium batteries. But the way people use their Garmin watches means they have more longevity than some other kinds of consumer gadgets, according to Garmin’s own user data.

“Most users actually tend to use their Garmin watches longer than they they use their smartphone,” says Trenkle.

Making an ultra-premium smartwatch is different to making an heirloom analog watch. Case in point: the buttons, and how you add them to a watch designed to dive over 40 meters deep. Over the last few years Garmin has played around with button tech, a move forced by dive-ready water resistance becoming a common feature in high-end sport watches.

When the Garmin Fenix 8 arrived in 2024 there was a lot of talk about how watch’s inductive buttons made the series’s 40m dive-ready water resistance possible. It’s a design that means there’s no hole made in the casing to house the buttons.

“We have this wall of polymer that makes a complete seal between the watch case. There's no gasket, and it's just one piece,” explains Trenkle of the new Marq.

The style is ideal for hardcore water resistance, but not so great for the feel of the buttons. A Garmin Fenix 8’s buttons feel pretty spongy compared with other models. But in a classic Garmin Marq exercise of low-to-no compromise design, these watches have a mechanical clicker purely for the feel, combined with an inductive button for actual function. The result is perhaps what I noticed most clearly about the Marq Adventurer while wearing it: it has exceptionally bright but substantive button feedback.

Garmin Marq’s leveled-up tech

The tactical Commander and scuba-friendly Diver relate to features like aircraft outboard systems and interfacing with dive equipment, but all six watches share some common upgrades. For example, while the Garmin Fenix 9 and Enduro 4 have shown 64GB storage is now the standard for higher-end Garmin models, the Marq Generation 3 has 128GB.

These watches don’t offer massively exciting ways to use that space beyond adding more maps, music, podcasts and audiobooks. But it’s an upgrade such a luxury watch surely deserves.

Similarly, when the second Marq arrived in 2022 I was half confident its unique magnetic charge interface would inevitably dip down to prestige series like Fenix. Years later, that still hasn’t happened, and now the Marq generation 3 has its own tweaked version of that standard — a four-pin magnet interface. Not more jamming in that classic Garmin charger bung, which would hardly befit a luxury watch.

A lot of the Garmin Marq’s design touches aren’t shouty, but they do add up to make the physical presence of these watches feel distinctly different to, for example, the Forerunner 970. I wore the 970 alongside the Marq Adventurer on a test hike, and could really feel the difference between the two watches.

Once you get deeper into watch specs, the Garmin Marq series starts to sound very familiar. These watches have 1.4-inch AMOLED screens with peak brightness of 3000 nits. There is no micro LED option, or any MIP display models.

All that changes in the display is a “borderless” design than lets the metal of the bezel reach right up to the start of the display panel. It’s a sleek look, but not an improvement I would necessarily have clocked without being pointed towards it.

All Marq models have a mid-table diameter of 47mm, and the same kind of Elevate V5 heart rate array used in other top Gamins (accurate as tested against a heart rate monitor and the Apple Watch Ultra 4). There’s a flashlight, support for ECG readings and battery life is rated at 18 days, or seven days with the always-on display mode engaged. Like the Fenix 9 Pro, the Garmin Marq also supports not just communication over 4G/LTE, but satellite too, when used with an InReach subscription.

Should you buy?

Is a Garmin Marq “worth it” for the average Garmin shopper? Absolutely not.

These watches are here for the person who wouldn’t baulk at the price tag, let alone the rising costs of the Fenix family. It nets you that series’ best bits in a more stylish chassis, plus even more storage and model-specific features if you pick one of the specialised Marqs like the Aviator.

Which of the six is your favourite? Let us know in the poll below.

The purpose of our weekly ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) rundown is to give you a chance to catch up on the biggest stories that have appeared on TechRadar over the last seven days — as you might have worked out from the name.

Life is often busy, so we'd readily forgive you if you haven't been able to read every single thing we've published this week (it's been a lot). With our ICYMI recap, you can stay on top of everything that's been going on.

It's been another hectic week of course. We've seen new gadgets from Garmin and Amazon, a serious mobile expansion for Starlink, and a refresh for ChatGPT that changes how its AI's responses appear. Let's get into it.

7. The iPod Classic got a spiritual successor

The iPod Classic — the one with the chunky, tactile clickwheel that revolutionized portable audio player interfaces when it was introduced — was discontinued by Apple in 2014, but it seems there are many people out there wishing it was still with us. Take the makers of the new Sudo player, for example, who have clearly styled their device after Apple's gadget.

There's the clickwheel of course, but also a touchscreen that's giving us distinct Microsoft Zune vibes (another ancient digital music player). We're also pleased to see a 3.5mm headphone jack included, as well as a memory card slot, and the price looks reasonable too. The only downside is that the player isn't expected to go on sale until late next year.

• Read more: New digital music player looks like a cross between an iPod Classic and a Zune — Walkman rival adds clickwheel and microSD card slot for extra retro appeal

6. We tried ChatGPT's 'Intelligent UI' makeover

OpenAI has given ChatGPT a fresh lick of (digital) paint this week, with its 'Intelligent UI' promising more visuals in the app's responses. So, rather than getting back a wall of text every time you submit a prompt, you'll also see maps, diagrams, pictures, and other visuals. If a graphic seems appropriate for an answer, ChatGPT will slide it into the chat.

This makeover is available now for all users, and we've been giving it a go. Neat interactive elements showed up in a savings calculator, while a prompt around bicycle mechanics resulted in a clear and well-presented diagram. It's a sign of where ChatGPT and the other AIs are heading, with more emphasis on each chat working like its own bespoke mini-app.

• Read more: ChatGPT just changed how it works with 'Intelligent UI'— here are 5 things you can do now that you couldn't before

5. Garmin revealed its 'longest-lasting GPS watch'

Any new models launched by Garmin will always get our attention, and this week the Enduro 4 and the golf-focused Approach S72 were unveiled. The former brings with it a 1.4-inch MIP display and up to 90 days of battery life — it's apparently the longest-lasting GPS watch ever from the company, a selling point which is likely to appeal to many.

As for the Garmin Approach S72, it replaces the Approach S71, and lets you analyze your heart rate and other biometrics as you play, while also providing access to more than 43,000 course maps right from your wrist. There's also a feature to help you improve your swing consistency. We've got all the details on these devices, including pricing, right here.

• Read more: Garmin just launched two new smartwatches, including the Enduro 4 — but you might be tempted by this Fenix 8 discount instead

4. Some Gemini fans lost access to Google’s best AI models

It seems Google is finding it a bit too costly to keep up with all the queries and commands that users are plugging into Gemini. From this week, unless you're on the most expensive Google AI subscriptions, you're going to start losing access to the most advanced (and most costly to run) Gemini AI models — so it's the free and Plus tiers that are affected.

The actual usage you get from your plan isn't changing — the number of prompts, image requests, and other demands you can make in a certain time frame — but you'll need to pay up or pay more if you want the most sophisticated and fastest AI models on the job. The move also makes Gemini closer to ChatGPT in terms of how AI models are accessed.

• Read more: If you're on the free or Plus tiers for Google AI, you're about to lose access to some Gemini models — here's what's changing

3. Sonos fans welcomed a long-requested app update

Sonos appears to be coming out of its rough patch. Following some very well-received new hardware, the company is now improving its software, with the latest 27.1 update bringing several features that users appreciate. The latest app version is rolling out now, for Android and iOS.

One of the changes here is that swapping between functions (like music playback and TV support) won't lose your place in a playlist — a relatively small improvement that's very handy nevertheless. Android users also get a virtual volume knob they can play around with on screen, matching iOS, while searching through your library is now easier as well.

• Read more: A new Sonos app update fixes one tiny but frustrating problem, and fans are loving it

2. Starlink revealed its plan to be ‘the world’s most advanced’ mobile network

Starlink Mobile has picked up some low-band 800MHz spectrum, it's been announced, which is ideal for providing cellular coverage indoors — and means the company is now another step closer to competing with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile as one of the big players in the carrier market in the US, lofty ambitions that it isn't being shy about.

As per Starlink Mobile's owner SpaceX, the goal is to build "the world's most advanced mobile network", using the newly acquired spectrum alongside existing mid-band spectrum and satellite constellations to get customers connected from anywhere. With another 15,000 satellites due to be launched, the Starlink network is expanding quickly.

• Read more: Starlink confirms plans to become 'the world's most advanced mobile network' and a 'major' US carrier

1. Amazon gave us a cheap iPad Air rival — and it runs Android

The Amazon Fire tablets have long been considered good picks if you're after a slate that's cheap and cheerful, especially if the kids are going to be using it. Now we have three brand new tablets from Amazon to consider: 'Fire' has been replaced by 'Alexa' in the branding, and there's also a significant and telling shift in the operating system on these models.

For the first time, Amazon is letting a fully-fledged version of Android on its tablets, complete with the Google Play Store, so you're no longer hampered in terms of what you can install (hello YouTube). It means they can compete more directly with the iPad, and as the Vice President of Amazon Devices told us, it also gives them broader appeal.

• Read more: Amazon's first full-Android tablet is a cheaper iPad Air rival that 'doesn't, in any way, force you to compromise' according to the VP of Amazon Devices — I got the inside track on the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro

The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are two of the best (and most expensive) smartwatches to come out this year. But just how accurate are they?

Much has been made of Apple's redesigned Health Sensing System, supposedly the most accurate ever on a wearable. It certainly measured my sleep well enough, and Apple says it tested its accuracy by pitting it against an electrical heart rate monitor — which, funnily enough, is my process for reviewing smartwatches too.

I set out to find out how accurate Apple and Garmin's best smartwatches were by putting them against each other in a head-to-head battle, wearing them both during a 30-minute run, one on each wrist. To create a benchmark, I wore an ECG-capable electrical heart rate monitor on my chest, just like Apple's own tests; I used the Frontier X2.

The 30-minute run was more challenging than usual, because it was a very hilly route with a long incline as the midpoint — it certainly made my heart rate spike.

The figure I'm most interested in during these tests is average heart rate. I recognize that different companies use different processing algorithms, so you'll never get a 1-1 match on all heart rate data points: all you can look for is consistency in your wearable of choice, and to make sure it's generally telling the same story as a benchmark-level tool such as a chest-mounted electrical HRM, which are generally more reliable than LED-based sensors.

The closer the average heart rate, calculated by the wrist-based LED-using wearables, can get to the average heart rate calculated by the electrical HRM, the better.

Generally, I classify under 5 bpm of difference as an insignificant margin of error, meaning that's a device I'd happily keep using and recommending to others. Under 10 bpm is generally fine for light or occasional exercisers for general trends, but not one I'd recommend to fitness buffs who care about things like heart rate zones.

Anyway, on to the results — how did the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Garmin Fenix 9 Pro stack up?

The results

The results were excellent. It’s really cool to see the Frontier X2 heart rate monitor, Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 all within two beats per minute of each other on average.

From left to right in the screenshots above, the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro measured 159 bpm, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 measured 160 bpm. The Frontier X2 measured 158 bpm.

All the devices being within 2 bpm of each other is a wonderful indication of accuracy across the board. Algorithmic processing differences aside, all three devices are telling the same story about my body during that 30-minute session of exercise.

Other metrics between the two watches are similar, too. Calorie counts for example, which can vary wildly between devices, look similar as both devices estimate a burn in the high 300s — 388 vs 375.

The Frontier X2 also estimates a calorie count that's very different than the watches, but I'm discounting that as the watches collect far more information to draw from. I'm only trusting its heart rate numbers.

So, I'm more than happy with the ratings I got from these watches, and can continue to recommend them as extremely accurate health and fitness tracking tools.

So, which do I prefer? Even though both watches are very accurate, they're tailor-made for serious sports and endurance, and they're both packing dive modes and satellite communication features, they're not quite made equally.

The Apple Watch's software, third-party apps and smartwatch functionalities far outshine the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, while the Garmin watch is built with a longer-lasting battery (10 days vs Apple's 48 hours) and features more survival tools, such as the LED flashlight.

If you're a multi-day adventurer type, I'd opt for the Garmin every time, but for day-to-day wear and shorter excursions, the Apple Watch is nicer to use — even if, unfortunately it'll need a charge every other day.

As TechRadar's Senior Fitness and Wearables Editor, it's my job to test every Garmin watch that crosses my desk. As a result, I've tested almost every modern Garmin watch released in the last five years, and I've parsed the Amazon Prime Day Garmin deals to find the best Garmin watches worth your time.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

It's tough to just say "buy this one" and be done with it, because there are a) so many different Garmin watches, each with their own target demographic — adventurers, runners, gym-goers and so on — and b) so many different deals across the US and UK.

I'm not seeing the broad swathes of discounts I've seen in previous years. However, the three deals I've picked offer good value for money — should get a lot out of whichever watch you choose, especially at these reduced prices.

Below, you can find the three models I've chosen, links to the deals, plus a little bit about why I've chosen these particular models, and who should buy them.

Garmin Fenix 8

• US deal: Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm): was $999.99 now $731.34 on Amazon US
• UK deal: Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm): was £699.99 now £595.56 on Amazon UK

The Garmin Fenix 8 is a powerful watch. In our official Garmin Fenix 8 review, we gave it five stars, calling it "rugged, expensive perfection". It's amazing for long-distance running, skiing, multi-day hikes, and any workout that involves finding your way outdoors. However, it's not cheap.

That's why it's nice to see some lowest-ever prices in the US and the UK for this watch. We know the reason why — the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and 9 have just been released, so it's only natural to see the Fenix 8 coming down in price. However, that doesn't stop a Fenix 8 for under $750 / £600 feeling less like an extravagant purchase and more like a smart deal.

This is the Garmin deal to get if you're a serious outdoor enthusiast, long-distance athlete, or hiker.

Garmin Forerunner 165

• US deal: Garmin Forerunner 165: was $249.99 now $198.99 at Amazon US
• UK price: Garmin Forerunner 165: now £160.99 at Amazon UK

The Garmin Forerunner 165, like the Garmin Fenix 8, has been replaced in the lineup this year by a more recent model, this time the Garmin Forerunner 170. As a result, we're seeing prices drop on the older model, which means you're getting a good watch at a great price.

When I reviewed the Garmin Forerunner 165, I gave it 4.5 stars, noting its wonderful bright screen, feature-rich software and 11-day battery life as good value for the price even then. It's all-plastic, so it can feel a bit cheap, but it does make the training tool very lightweight.

The US deal gets you 20% off, and while the UK Amazon deal doesn't state a temporary drop in price, it began life as a £249.99 watch, and Currys has it listed at £199 right now, meaning the above Amazon link is the cheapest place to buy it.

As the name suggests, regular runners should look closely at this watch. While it doesn't have full-color maps, it's got more than enough functionality for most people running distances from 5-10km up to marathons, in addition to daily health tracking.

Garmin Vivoactive 5/6

• US deal: Garmin Vivoactive 5: was $299.99 now $189.90 at Amazon US
• UK deal: Garmin Vivoactive 6: was £234.99 now £176.34 at Amazon UK

The Garmin Vivoactive series is a watch for generally active people, rather than one specifically geared towards runners or adventurers, and as a result, it's very popular. I gave the Garmin Vivoactive 6 an impressive 4.5 stars in my review, calling it "a pocket rocket" Its small size and cheaper price make it a great gift, and it's come down in price in the UK.

In the US, the Vivoactive 6 is still at full price. However, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is shockingly cheap in America, and there isn't that much difference between them. The Vivoactive 6 packs advanced running metrics, course mapping on-wrist, double the storage its Smart Wake alarm, but the two watches share the same screen, software, battery life, fitness tracking and general look.

I'd recommend these watches to gym-goers, joggers or sporty people — anyone who loves the gym or multi-disciplinary forms of exercise, and wants something longer-lasting than an Apple or Samsung watch.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: up to 67% off Fire, Ring & Blink
• Amazon Haul: extra 15% off for Prime members
• Appliances: up to 40% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: cleaning & groceries from £2
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: record-low Nintendo Switch 2
• Headphones: up to 50% off Anker & Sony
• Laptops: up to £800 off Microsoft & Asus
• Tablets: up to 50% off Fire tablets
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 50% off Shark & Dyson
• Wearables: Samsung & Oura from £31

Garmin has announced a brand-new golf watch to join its lineup, the Approach S72, and while it looks like an excellent watch already in terms of form and features, it's simply not the one I was really hoping would be revealed.

I'd long been anticipating the next Garmin to join our best golf watches list, so my hype levels were elevated, and looking into the pattern of releases, I had really high hopes for one model in particular: the MARQ Golfer Gen 3.

Don't get me wrong, I will absolutely be all over the Approach S72 — I reviewed the Approach S70 and really enjoyed it, and am sure the S72 will eclipse it and provide a really excellent golf experience. Garmin simply doesn't miss when it comes to golf wearables and tech.

It quadruples the memory over its S70 sibling, for starters, but I also love the sound of mixing golf and biometric data to understand a round of golf more.

There are two features that I'm also really keen on. First is the Swing metrics feature, which will offer golfers insights into their swings such as hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and more. Second is the Driving Range activity profile, which will give me information like my tendencies and habits on the range but also log it as a workout, working toward my fitness goals. These are definitely welcome and help to make a device that can be your golfing companion both in training and on the course.

The cherry on top is that it does look like a more lifestyle-friendly timepiece too, which is very welcome.

The addition of a flashlight, a speaker, and a microphone also gives it new functionality and day-to-day usage, which is definitely a plus. The shift from a rubber to a ComfortFit material strap is something I'm personally less keen on, though I can get the attraction if you're also going to be wearing it for running, in the gym, or other workouts — which you can, of course, because it'll make use of Garmin's excellent general fitness functions too.

But it just won't be that mega-premium, everything-turned-up-to-11 kind of wearable that the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) was for me. And that's what I really want the MARQ Golfer (Gen 3) to be — a hero piece.

The premium golf watch to rule them all

The Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) left such an impression on me when I reviewed it that I was sad to send it back. It's a complete package of a golf watch and — at least when I reviewed it last year — it was easily the most lifestyle-focused watch in the golf lineup.

It had all the features Garmin offered in golf at the time — although I really do wish Garmin would stop locking a lot of the coolest and most helpful features behind the Connect+ subscription, something it continues to be guilty of even with the new S72 — all displayed on a wonderful, punchy screen, and it was easy to navigate with intuitive controls. I even remember just using the screen for any function being a joy; it was that good.

And with that watch first releasing in late 2022, and with the S50 and S44 golf watches arriving earlier this year, I pinned my hopes on the next launch being the Gen 3. The time felt right for a new premium watch, encapsulating everything that Garmin has advanced and developed in the past few years, to be released and offer a new premium package to strive for. Heck, even the existing Gen 2 has seen price cuts, and that watch's availability is starting to wane, giving my prediction extra weight. But it wasn't to be, and my wait continues.

In reality, I don't think the Approach S72 will be anything to be disappointed about; of course it won't — but it's just not going to be quite the dizzying heights of what I will have to continue imagining the Gen 3 of the MARQ Golfer will be.

While I wait for the Gen 3, I'll just be over here, swapping out the ComfortFit fabric strap on the S72 with a nice leather one to get that MARQ feel.

The Garmin Approach S70 is available to order on October 9 and will cost $799.99 / £699.99 for the 47mm variant, with a smaller 43mm variant also available.

• Garmin has launched the Enduro 4 with 90 days of battery life
• The Approach S72 also lands with dedicated features for golfers
• If you’re after a bargain, the Fenix 8 might be a better option

Garmin has just released two new contenders for our best Garmin watches list: the Enduro 4, an update to its popular line of high-performance, battery-first smartwatches, and a new Approach S72 golf watch that is intended to help people “better understand their whole game,” according to Garmin.

The Enduro 4 uses a 1.4-inch MIP display to provide up to 90 days of battery life, which Garmin says makes it the company’s “longest-lasting GPS smartwatch.” There’s a new ComfortFit fabric band replacing the older nylon hook-and-loop style on the Enduro 3.

Dedicated power modes are on board to extend accuracy or battery life, with grade-adjusted pace-based workout targets and the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro's new Epic and Stamina features to help you better understand your endurance. Otherwise, it's very similar to the old Enduro 3, right down to the weight (57g) and materials (Power Sapphire lens, titanium bezel, polymer shell).

As for the Garmin Approach S72, it looks like an upgrade over the older, excellent Garmin Approach S70. It comes with 'golf biometric data' that allow you to analyze your performance on the green through your heart rate, matching it to key moments during your game.

You can also make phone calls, use voice commands, and get up to 20 hours of battery life (or up to 16 days with GPS switched off).

Enduro 4 vs Fenix 9 Pro

Garmin has priced the Approach S72 at $ $799.99 / £699.99 / €799.99, while the Enduro 4 will set you back $899.99 / £799.99 / €899.99. The cost of the latter is interesting because it’s $200 shy of the Fenix 9 Pro, one of Garmin’s most capable (and most expensive) smartwatches.

If you opt for the Enduro 4, there are a few things you miss out on from the Fenix 9 Pro. That includes a 3,000-nit AMOLED display, the titanium case, a built-in speaker/microphone combination, and double the internal storage.

However, the Enduro 4 has a few benefits of its own, notably relating to battery life: you’ll get up to 90 days of juice in smartwatch mode or up to 320 hours in activity mode, compared to up to 10 days with the Fenix 9 Pro. The Enduro 4 also boasts solar charging to keep itself topped up.

While the Enduro 4 is a little cheaper than the Fenix 9 Pro, whichever one you go for depends on your needs. The former focuses squarely on long-lived battery performance, while the latter is more of a high-end all-rounder for people who need the best of everything.

Today's best Garmin deals

In the US and UK, it's Amazon Prime Day, or Amazon Big Deal Days, and there are plenty of deals on top Garmins to be found.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

In the US, the Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm) in Black is currently available at Amazon for $729.99 (was $999.99) a saving of 27% off the RRP. We'd expect prices to start falling on the Fenix 8 now the 9 is out, but this is a great deal by any metric.

In the UK? The same Garmin Fenix 8 47mm model is available at Amazon for £595.96 (was £699.99) saving you a cool £105. Check out both deals in full below.

I've been wearing the Apple Watch Series 12 to bed every night for a week now, which means, after seven nights of calibration, I finally got the benefits of the revamped Vitals app and the new Readiness Score. The Watch has to learn your baseline metrics so it can see outliers, which is why it takes a week for the Vitals app to gauge whether your heart rate variability, respiratory rate, blood oxygen and more fall within your 'typical' range.

Readiness is the last metric, as it aggregates your sleep quality based on these parameters, compares it with your activity levels and gives you a score from 1 to 10 on how energetic and prepared-for-the-day you might be feeling.

This is the first time Apple devices have had a Readiness metric, compared to the long-serving nature of the features on the best Garmin watches, Samsung and Google wearables, and many others, so naturally, I wanted to compare it with another wearable device.

These days, I'm most often using my Garmin Cirqa for sleep tracking, so I kept wearing it on my right wrist, and the Apple Watch Series 12 on my left. Below, I've compared my sleep scores from across the week for accuracy, as well as my Readiness at the end of it all.

Sleep scores across the week

I fully expected Apple and Garmin to provide disparate scores at first, only to tighten up as the week progressed and Apple learned more about my body. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened, as Apple gave my first night a score of 93 compared to Garmin's dismal 62.

After that, you can see above that the graph follows the same general trends: a rising incline as the week progresses, with a dip in the middle, and a high final night.

The main outlier other than night 1 is night 6, for which I have no explanation. Garmin gave me a score as high as 87, while Apple gave me a mere 68. You can see the difference in the graphs above, but I've listed all my scores in the table below, too.

Perhaps there will always be these outliers here and there. Research from health data API creator Terra measured 77,000 nights' sleep across six major wearables companies, and found that while most trackers are accurate enough to converge on duration and general trends, sometimes outliers in their data exist due to the different sensors and algorithms used between manufacturers.

The study stated that "once you break sleep into stages [light, deep, REM phases of sleep], agreement [between wearables] falls apart: REM, deep, and light can diverge by hours in direct comparisons."

However, are these outliers statistically important, as long as the wearables are all charting similar trends coming to the same conclusions?

Readiness

At the end of the week, I got my first Readiness score from Apple. It was a 7/10, indicating that I was 'ready' without being 100% prepared for a mammoth workout.

Checking the Garmin Connect app, I was surprised to see a Readiness score of 70/100, indicating that even though there were some outliers along the way, the wearables came to the exact same conclusion after a week of constant wear. Success!

Conclusion: Pay attention to the trends

While some discrepancies were present during the week, Garmin and Apple both came to the same conclusion on Readiness and offered a similar-shaped sleep score graph, indicating that they're internally consistent and generally quite accurate.

I'd be happy to wear either one to track my sleep, Readiness and fitness in general terms. However, the differences in individual data points are a reminder not to get too caught up into the weeds of the data: as clever as they are, these devices are imperfect, and they estimate. You can see differences in my Apple Watch Series 12 vs Garmin Fenix 9 Pro test too.

If you find yourself stressing too much over your scores or your data, or you feel differently than your watch says you ought to feel, prioritize the messages from your body over the ones from your wearable — and don't be afraid to get a night of untracked sleep now and again to free yourself from sleep score anxiety.

It's October, and while the best of the year's weather is behind us, if you're a keen runner your thoughts might already be turning to next spring. April onwards is marathon season, and if you've entered the New York or Berlin events, London's mammoth two-day event, or one of the many other marathons held in cities around the world, you'll want to start getting race-ready over winter.

Alternatively, you might be getting fit for the first time, or after a long absence, and deciding to do what the kids call a 'winter arc' after a summer of indulgence.

The best Garmin watches are perfect tools for runners of all levels preparing for the next step, and there are tons of deals up for grabs right now at retailers, including Amazon, ahead of its Big Deal Days sales event next week. I've reviewed almost every modern Garmin watch, and tested them all, so I'm well qualified to help you find your perfect watch at a great price.

I'm seeing discounts on loads of Garmin watches, such as the high-end Garmin Fenix 8 (we gave this incredible watch a full five stars in our Garmin Fenix 8 review), the budget Garmin Vivoactive 5, and everything in between. I've picked the eight watches getting the best discounts on Amazon, and I've applied our price-checking tool to them all. If those prices change, or a better deal pops up elsewhere, you'll always see the best deal.

Scroll down to see the best deals on the eight Garmins I recommend to get race-ready for less this winter.

Today's best Garmin watch deals

Garmin released its newest iterations of its flagship Fenix smartwatches in August in the form of the Fenix 9 and 9 Pro and, as expected, they come with super-premium materials, brighter-than-ever displays and improved maps. So it’s no surprise that they also carry sky-high price tags starting from AU$1,599.

If you’ve been eyeing one but don’t want to spend flagship smartphone-level money on a smartwatch, this deal on the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition for AU$849 will get you most of the core functionality for a much lower price.

• Follow our dedicated live coverage of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 sale for more deals and discounts

Having launched in 2023, our Garmin Epix Pro review called the watch “essentially an AMOLED-screened version” of the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, but still earned itself 4.5 stars out of 5 for being one heck of a multisport wearable. Some of the features introduced here include the Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor, Up Ahead, Hill and Endurance scores and fast charging support.

You can also find your typical Garmin fare here like sleep scores, VO2 max, notification functionalities, music control, onboard music storage, estimated race prediction times, maps for golf courses and ski resorts, and many more usually found in a premium multisport outdoor watch.

The Fenix 9 offers a faster processor, brighter screens, more onboard file storage, improved mapping, a 40m dive certification, built-in speakers and microphones for calls, and new sport profiles that, honestly, aren’t really necessary for every athlete.

If you’re not too fussed about having all the latest and greatest additions but want a very capable premium watch to track all your adventures this summer, you can’t go wrong with the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 for almost half the price.

The brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are reportedly the most accurate heart rate-tracking smartwatches on the market and the best Apple Watches yet, largely thanks to the wearables' new Health Sensing System. A redesigned LED sensor array, the Health Sensing System is said to be more accurate than ever before, measuring active and resting heart rates up to 60 times more often than previous generations.

Considering all my tests with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 had it cleaving remarkably close to an electrical heart rate monitor, I was ready to believe Apple's accuracy claims were true.

Barely an hour after I got my Apple Watch Series 12 review unit from Apple, I hit the gym and gave the smartwatch its first test drive. While I didn't have my heart rate monitor available, I did have the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, so I strapped it onto the other wrist and tracked the same workout on both wearables.

The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro is a five-star watch, an expensive do-it-all device that's stuffed with features and boasts highly advanced health tracking credentials. It uses Garmin's Elevate V5 heart rate sensor, which previously fell within around 5 bpm (in terms of average heart rate) of an Apple Watch Ultra 3 during previous tests with a Garmin Venu 4. Hardly a significant margin of error for most people, and enough to give a good impression of your general fitness.

I was also interested in other statistics, like calorie counts, and how alike the two wearables' readings would be to each other.

The results

During my 40-minute strength session, my average heart rate was 125 bpm, according to Apple. According to Garmin, it was 132 bpm: a seven-point difference between the two wearables.

It's slightly outside my 5 bpm threshold for insignificant differences, but only just. My theory is that as I wear each watch more, their algorithms will tighten up, and I'll see closer results. It will be very interesting to compare both to an electrical Polar H10 heart rate monitor.

However, the difference in calorie expenditure was more worrying. Garmin recorded a calorie expenditure of 340 kcal — meanwhile, Apple recorded 242 kcal as my total expenditure for the session. This 88 kcal difference is equivalent to one smallish apple, or a couple of spoonfuls of your average Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Calorie expenditure on a smartwatch isn't an exact science. One research paper published this year in the journal PLOs One said that 'proprietary differences in device algorithms and sensor design introduce another layer of variability, with comparative studies reporting an error of more than 20% in [energy expenditure] across widely used models.' So we should expect some deviations between watches, based on differences in algorithm, and it shouldn't matter so long as measurements on that device are consistent.

However, an 88 kcal difference is over that 20% margin for error, which is very interesting. Stay tuned: I'll be testing the Apple Watch Series 12 further, over longer workouts and against different wearables, to determine whether its accuracy claims hold water.

• Garmin may have bought a fitness company aimed at serious athletes
• The purchase could add ‘muscle oxygen’ stats to future Garmin products
• The acquisition has not yet been officially confirmed

The best Garmin devices can do a lot, but there are a few ways they fall short right now. But if a new rumor is correct, Garmin fans could expect to see an interesting new feature for dedicated athletes in future products.

That idea comes from the5krunner, which recently published a report claiming that Garmin has quietly snapped up specialist fitness firm Moxy Monitor, with that impression supposedly confirmed by “a source with direct knowledge of the transaction.”

Moxy Monitor makes muscle oxygen (SmO2) sensors that are used by elite athletes to help them train more effectively. It’s a market that Garmin has apparently been considering entering, with the company filing a patent for an algorithm to measure SmO2 data earlier this year, the 5krunner says.

The report adds that a response by Moxy Monitor’s founder to the outlet’s questions “implicitly confirms the deal.” That’s because Moxy Monitor’s founder directed questions towards Garmin rather than his own company’s press office. Garmin itself has made no comment on the rumored acquisition.

Keeping up with rivals

If you’re a high-level athlete, the revelation of Garmin’s rumored purchase might be an exciting one. If it proves to be accurate, future Garmin wearables might be able to integrate SmO2 measurements and help serious sportspeople improve their performance.

As the5krunner points out, the deal could also lead to Garmin releasing new devices. Since you can’t take SmO2 readings from your wrist and instead need to use a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor, the5krunner says that new hardware would be required if Garmin were to put Moxy Monitor’s tech to good use.

And the report points out that Garmin competitor Whoop has patented its own SmO2 strap. That means that Garmin’s purchase of Moxy Monitor gives it a way to keep up with its rivals in this area without having to build an entirely new system from scratch.

Garmin products can already read SmO2 data from third-party straps, and that will likely to continue to be refined with Moxy Monitor on board. That might be the most immediate change we see, with new hardware further out on the horizon.

Whatever the outcome, anyone wanting to get more serious fitness metrics from their Garmin devices might just get a boost if this acquisition turns out to be the real deal. But with Garmin not confirming anything for now, we’ll likely have to wait for confirmation before knowing exactly how this could play out.

• Garmin Cirqa users’ workouts are disappearing when they’re finished
• Garmin is apparently investigating the issue
• For now, there’s a temporary workaround that can help

We loved Garmin’s screenless Cirqa tracker when we reviewed it earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect device. And that’s exactly what some Garmin users have discovered recently, with the device seemingly deleting many people’s workouts as soon as they’re finished.

The issue has surfaced in reports posted on Garmin’s support forum. There, users have complained that workouts are not logged when they are ended in a certain way, despite the Garmin Connect app showing the exercise in progress and the Cirqa wearable vibrating to indicate it has received the instruction to end the session.

Specifically, users noted that the problem arose if they began a workout using the dedicated button on their Cirqa, then ended it in the Connect app. When that happened, the session seemingly went missing. As one forum member put it, “If you start an activity with the button, you have to end it with the button.”

Garmin appears to be aware of the bug, with a company representative posting a potential solution on the forum. There, the rep said that “if an activity is started from the CIRQA, Garmin Connect may first display an ‘Activity in Progress’ message with Resume and End options. Selecting Resume opens the activity recording screen, where the activity can then be stopped and saved. Once the activity is saved and a sync has completed, it should appear in Garmin Connect.”

Confusion and frustration

What’s confusing about this bug — and what has clearly rankled many members in the Garmin forum — is how a logical action is having the opposite effect to the one that is expected. You would think that ending a workout in the Garmin Connect app should automatically log the workout’s details, regardless of whether the exercise was started in the app or on the Cirqa itself. Instead, the workout is apparently deleted.

The good news is that Garmin appears to be aware of the issue, as the company rep followed up with another message acknowledging that “Several users in this thread have reported losing activity data after selecting End from the initial prompt.”

They then explained that “We’ve shared the feedback mentioned in this thread internally for further review, and are reaching out to some users to gather additional information.” Despite that, there’s not yet any solid date for when a fix might arrive.

The news comes at the same time as another report of glitchy Garmin behavior (via the5krunner). People using the Garmin Fenix 9 smartwatch with Mac computers have noticed that the Garmin Express app — which updates the watch’s software and installs offline maps — is not compatible with the latest macOS 27 release. That’s because it’s not compatible with Apple silicon chips and requires Apple’s Rosetta 2 translation layer, which has been removed from macOS 27.

While most Fenix 9 functions can be managed in the Garmin Connect app, the Express app issue will still be irritating in some scenarios. In this instance, Garmin has said it is working on a fix.

If you’ve noticed disappearing workouts with the Cirqa wearable, though, there could be a longer wait, as Garmin has not announced when a patch might land. For now, you’ll have to remember to start and end workouts on the Cirqa itself or use the workaround provided by the Garmin forum rep.

As the weather cools, outdoor activities like running, biking, and hiking will resume, and a Garmin smartwatch can be the perfect companion. Garmin watches are packed with premium features, and with that comes an expensive price tag, but that's where Amazon is here to help.

• Shop more deals at Amazon

The retailer has a huge fall sale on Garmin's top-rated watches, with up to $250 off and prices starting at just $181. You can find a wide range of models on sale with features like GPS tracking, a large AMOLED display, fitness analytics, long battery life, and an ultra-durable design.

You'll find the 12 best Garmin watch deals at Amazon below, all of which have recieved impressive discounts and are on sale for a limited-time. Amazon's Garmin discounts let you score a helpful, insightful companion for your fall outdoor activities and save money at the same time.

The best Garmin smartwatch deals at Amazon

The 2026 Apple September Event is today, and rumors suggest the tech giant will introduce its newest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 12.

While we can't comment on what new features the smartwatch will offer, we can recommend the excellent Garmin Venu 3, which I've spotted on sale for a record-low of $288 (originally $449.99) at Amazon. That's a whopping $161 discount and an incredible price for a smartwatch that's packed with health and fitness features.

The Garmin Venu 3 earned four and a half stars in our review, and we said it was a 'near-perfect balance of smartwatch and health tracker'.

Great for outdoor and fitness enthusiasts, the Venu 3 offers advanced GPS tracking, a water-resistant design, a dedicated LED flashlight, and up to 14 days of battery life. The smartwatch also tracks heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen saturation, sleep, and stress levels, and includes a speaker and microphone so you can take calls from your wrist.

While the newest Apple Watch will undoubtedly be packed with new technology and health insights, most people won't need these features, and it will likely start at $399.99 based on its predecessor. The Garmin Venu 3 is down to just $288, making it a fantastic smartwatch, especially for runners, cyclists, hikers, and swimmers.

Get the Garmin Venu 3 for a record-low of $288

• Garmin has redesigned its Drive sat-nav with a new display
• EV drivers are now catered for
• Optional Truck and Camper Pack adds specialist routing

Despite the seemingly unending rise in the use of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as smartphone apps like Waze and Here WeGo for navigation, Garmin has seen fit to completely redesigned its Drive automotive GPS unit. It's just given the traditional dashboard navigation device a much-needed modern makeover with an ultra-wide display, more connected features and dedicated tools for EV drivers.

The new device comes in 7.1-inch and 8.8-inch versions, both using a high-resolution ultra-wide display with edge-to-edge glass. Garmin says the low-profile design is intended to be "unobtrusive to the driver’s line of sight", while making it easier to see the route and upcoming road information at a glance.

It is sleeker, crisper and generally nicer to look at than Garmin’s existing car navigation range, which includes devices such as the 5-inch Garmin Drive 53 and the 6-inch DriveSmart 66.

The new Drive models are designed to put considerably more information into the driver’s eye line without making the device taller or bulkier. The new Drive is also considerably more connected than the basic satellite navigation systems of old, which often required a SIM card to receive the latest traffic data.

Now, Garmin says drivers can select routes and destinations directly from the map, with voice commands and touch controls available for navigation via a connected smartphone (with data) and the Garmin Drive app.

The device can also highlight upcoming traffic lights and stop signs, while also warning about sharp curves in the road, changes in speed limits, school zones and other potential hazards.

There’s live traffic and weather information, as well as the ability to search for and share points of interest. TripAdvisor ratings are on board for hotels, restaurants and attractions, and the maps and software can be updated over Wi-Fi, too.

The biggest change for EV drivers, though, is the addition of more detailed charging information.

Garmin Drive can locate EV charging stations along a route, with the ability to filter them by charging power and see live availability. For drivers of gasoline-powered cars, meanwhile, the connected Garmin Drive app can provide dynamic fuel prices.

The Garmin Drive units are available in both 8.8-inch and 7.1-inch sizes and suggested retail prices start from $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499.

Keep on truckin'

Garmin has increased the breadth of the Drive’s capabilities with optional packs that are aimed at professional drivers and more specialist motoring requirements.

Owners can purchase the optional Truck and Camper Pack for a one-time $149.99 / £129.99 / (around AU$208) fee, unlocking features aimed at professional truck drivers and people traveling in campers, motorhomes and caravans.

The pack adds routing based on a vehicle's height, weight, length and load, as well as warnings for steep grades, sharp curves and weight restrictions. It also adds high-resolution satellite imagery that can help drivers identify loading docks, truck entrances, security gates and campsites before they arrive.

There's a dedicated directory of motorhome and caravan parks and services, plus a wind-speed overlay that can warn about potentially hazardous crosswind conditions. Truck drivers can also access Dēzl Community ratings to find preferred truck stops and parking locations.

While the standard Google Maps app doesn’t account for large vehicles, the tech company does offer software developer kits that cater for this sort of thing, while there are several dedicated route-planners online for oversized vehicles.

Plus, there’s an argument that says Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze all offer the same — if not more — functionality than Garmin’s Drive unit.

But for those with older vehicles, or drivers that simply want a dedicated sat-nav or GPS device, the new Garmin Drive represents a sizable leap forward in design and technology.

• Brazilian regulatory filings might have just leaked the Garmin Cirqa
• Ten variants of the smart ring were included in the documents
• It suggests the device might be close to launching

In recent months, we’ve seen quite a few tidbits consisting of news and leaks surrounding Garmin’s unannounced Cirqa Smart Ring, and it’s starting to feel increasingly likely that the company is about to launch a new product to take on the likes of Samsung and Oura.

As spotted by Gadgets & Wearables, a new certification listing on the website of the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency has revealed a spate of mysterious product codes, all of which were filed by Garmin on the same day.

The codes all sit underneath the same certification listing, which implies that they could be different models of the same product – perhaps different colors or sizes, for example. Probably different sizes, as many other smart rings cover sizes ranging from 3-5 or 13-15, and that might be the key clue that points towards this product’s true identity.

If it is indeed the Cirqa Smart Ring, it would be Garmin’s first attempt at a device like this and the second in the Cirqa line. It would follow the Cirqa band, which thoroughly impressed us when we reviewed it earlier this year, and would be designed to take on Oura and Samsung, which are currently responsible for some of the best smart rings on the market.

Not long to go

Couldn’t the devices in the Brazilian certification documents be Garmin watches rather than smart rings? After all, Garmin has never acknowledged that it’s even making a smart ring, so how do we know this listing points to that seemingly top-secret device?

While we can’t be sure, the fact that there are ten separate models appears to point towards a smart ring. A watch wouldn’t need so many different variants, as you’d normally only have a couple of different sizing options. A smart ring, though? They tend to come with far more variations to account for the different finger sizes users will have.

One of the model numbers in the Brazilian listing was AA5124. This number also surfaced in a leak in August, whereby a Garmin product explicitly named the Cirqa Smart Ring appeared in Indonesian regulatory filings. Also included in that filing was an unknown device with the AA5124 model number, suggesting it was part of the same family. With AA5124 appearing among the ten variants in the latest leak, the links to the Cirqa are strengthened.

There’s no solid estimation of when the Cirqa might finally be released, so we’ll have to keep waiting for now. But with the strong suggestion that the Cirqa has just appeared in another official certification process, we might not have long to go.

I hold my hands up. I got this one wrong. In 2022, when Garmin announced the headline feature for the Garmin Fenix 7X was an LED flashlight, I might have had a bit of a chuckle to myself about it.

Since moving to multiple model sizes for its premium outdoor smartwatch, the largest ‘X’ models quickly came to represent the introduction of exciting, cutting-edge innovations that then start to filter down to the rest of the best Garmin watches. But I wasn;t convinced a multi-LED flashlight on the top of the watch case was something prospective Garmin watch owners should get excited about.

Garmin claimed it would be a “game-changer for sport, adventure and daily life”. In the early weeks of testing the 7X, that wasn’t my experience. I’d quite quickly written it off as rather gimmicky. The question I kept on asking myself was; ‘why would I choose it over reaching for the pretty good LED flashlight I have on my phone?’

It probably wasn’t until being out of that testing bubble of a month with the 7X and I started simply living with it, that my opinion began to change. I was using it more and more each week.

It probably wasn’t until being out of that testing bubble of a month with the 7X and I started simply living with it, that my opinion began to change. I was using it more and more each week.

It started to become the flashlight I used when trying to quietly hunt out charging cables at night moving around my flat without turning on the main light and getting a telling-off. I didn’t need to be a further nuisance and look for my phone because I already had an exceptionally bright light on my wrist. Then it became the source of light on darker sections of my nighttime running routes or helping me to navigate my way back home from the gym. When I was dabbling in some DIY, it was less awkward to use than a phone to line up fixings.

I began to appreciate that Garmin didn’t just slap on a flashlight because it could. It wanted to show how useful a wrist-based source of light could be. I now also had a flashlight I could set to strobe or match my running cadence to improve visibility. It could also switch from white to red light for a still bright, yet less intrusive way to illuminate what lay ahead and around me.

As Garmin moved to share the flashlight love to other watches in its range, it also continued to evolve its abilities to become smarter. Now when I went out for a run or walk after sunset, the watch would display a prompt to turn on the strobe mode to make sure I was thinking about staying seen as day turned into night. There’s a distress mode that when set up from the Garmin Connect app, can display emergency contact information on screen while flashing an SOS light pattern.

It’s no big surprise that rival watchmakers thought it was a great idea too. Suunto, Coros, Amazfit and Polar now all have torch-toting smartwatches.

Are there any downsides of having a flashlight on a smartwatch? Well, it does mean creating more space on the watch case for it. That’s likely why so far it’s mainly been included on larger more rugged watches like the Suunto Vertical 2, Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro and the Polar Street X, although Garmin has managed to plant it onto its slimmer Forerunner and Venu series watches.

Another consideration is battery life. Running a flashlight while also using GPS or any other onboard watch sensors will contribute to that battery drain, but unless you’re planning to keep it switched on continuously for hours, I’m not sure the type of battery life drop you’ll experience is going to be anything to be massively worried about.

How could it become even smarter? I think Garmin in particular has shown it can be more ingrained with your current environment or the time of day. Further integrating with safety features is an obvious one. Especially for anyone that goes on solo adventures. Could we get a UV mode or even be one strong enough to start a fire for that added outdoor appeal? As smartwatch makers focus on making brighter watch displays, should the same happen for the built-in flashlight?

When it feels like there’s more of a focus on breaking new health tracking ground or cramming our lives and screens with more metrics , it’s easy to forget about some of the simpler gadgets that makes a smartwatch a useful thing to own. I’d now put the LED flashlight in the bracket of things I hope to see on any new smartwatch. We’ve not seen one on an Apple Watch Ultra model yet, so maybe that’s to come. I’ve definitely seen the light and it’s in the form of a feature I thought had gimmick written all over it. How wrong I was.

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: one-minute review

When the Fenix 8 finally dropped in 2024, it quickly earned a reputation as the best Garmin GPS watch money can buy, even if that meant parting with a lot of money. I gave it a thorough test on the 11-day trek to Everest Base Camp, and with Garmin’s full suite of training features, a bright AMOLED display, microphone and speaker, plus an LED torch, there was no doubt that it was a big step up from the hugely popular Fenix 7.

Last year, Garmin followed the Garmin Fenix 8 up with the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, which took the winning formula and added built-in LTE cellular and inReach satellite connectivity for phone-free messaging and SOS alerts. I tested it at the Love Trails running festival this summer, and genuinely started to doubt the rumours that a Fenix 9 could really be imminent. What more could there possibly be to add?

I went along to the Fenix 9 release in Chamonix to find out, and immediately afterwards I strapped the Fenix 9 Pro on and hit the trail. It hasn’t been off my wrist since, and between its refined design, faster processing, plus some very fun new navigation and tracking features, I can say it’s a clear improvement over the Fenix 8.

Built with a titanium case and bezel, the 9 Pro is lighter, more durable and resistant to the elements. Side-by-side with my 8 Pro, it looks nicer and more expensive thanks to a nanomoulding construction process that produces a more streamlined build without the need for screws. This also makes it significantly thinner, in all sizes, and with the arrival of a 43mm case option (which I’m testing), it’s more wearable day-to-day than its predecessor.

The 3,000-nit AMOLED display is brighter, sure (although not as bright as the 8 Pro’s MicroLED option), but it’s more the improved clarity that I find myself appreciating. The green light option that’s been added to the LED torch makes a fantastic difference to my night vision, whether I’m out late on the trail or trying to make a cup of tea in the middle of the night without disturbing my entire household.

Garmin is already the industry leader in maps, and the Fenix 9 Pro map loads faster and adds a new Perspective orientation, which I think is useful when navigating in urban areas, and it’s more useful to be able to see what side streets and road junctions are up ahead.

Rolled out with the Fenix 9 are improved Stamina readings, including new Stamina Zones, which I’ve started using to help me manage my effort and pace when I’m on the trail. Brand new is the Garmin Epic feature, which essentially lets you group workouts such as training blocks, long-distance treks or adventure holidays so you can see their cumulative effect. There are also updates to the Rucking activity mode, so it now reflects the additional energy demands of your pack weight.

Like the Fenix 8 Pro, this watch boasts LTE-M cellular technology, which means I can easily respond to messages and phone calls from my wrist so long as my phone is nearby. There are some improvements to LiveTrack and Location Tracking, which are useful for both urban explorers and long bouts in the wild.

For hikers like myself, inReach satellite connectivity means I can reach emergency response from almost anywhere on the planet, and it does mean I can message friends and family when I’m offline; however, that’s only through the Garmin Messenger app. When I spoke to Garmin’s Global Lead Product Manager Jon Hosler in Chamonix, he admitted that the brand’s functionality here does lag a bit behind competitors like Apple, which have more control over the cellular ecosystem, but he also stressed that the Fenix remains a performance watch first and foremost.

In summary, the Fenix 9 Pro plants a flag firmly at the GPS watch summit as a top-of-the-line option. It’s brighter, faster, ludicrously well-featured, and, unsurprisingly, even pricier. All of that said, this shouldn’t be considered a realistic upgrade for Fenix 8 users, who are already sporting a fantastic timepiece. But compared to anything before the 8, it’s better by a country mile.

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: specifications

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: price and availability

• Starts at £949.99 for smallest 43mm
• Prices for Fenix 9 start at £859.99
• Reaches up to £1,209.99

The Fenix 9 Pro starts at $1,099.99 / £949.99 / AU$1,749 for the 43mm case size without inReach connectivity. With inReach, pricing starts at $1,199.99 / £1,029.99 / AU$1,899. The Fenix 9 Pro Solar is the same price, while the regular Fenix 9, which has a fibre-reinforced polymer case instead of titanium, starts at $999.99 / £859.99 / AU$1,599, and that’s for both the 43mm and 47mm.

The largest and most expensive 51mm Fenix 9 Pro with inReach is priced at $1,399.99 / £1,209.99 / AU$2199, and for that you get yourself a considerable increase in battery life with up to 31 days in smartwatch mode / 56 hours in activity mode compared to 10 days / 18 hours in the 43mm watch.

If you’re looking at a model with satellite technology, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of an inReach subscription if you actually want to use it (which starts at £7.99 / $7.99 a month), and all in, it definitely prices a lot of people out.

But the high price shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone familiar with Garmin Fenix watches, and it’s hard to criticize it on being a high-performing piece of tech made with premium materials. There are plenty of other great options out there right now, including the Fenix 8, which you’re likely to find at a discount now that the Fenix 9 has been unleashed.

• Value score: 4/5

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: design

• Titanium case and bezel
• Slimmer design
• Brighter AMOLED display

I tend to feel a bit indifferent to changes in materials in my GPS watches, but I have to admit that the titanium case and bezel on the Fenix 9 Pro do make this look and feel like the expensive watch that it is. It’s sleeker and less rugged, down to both the materials and the nanomoulding process, which removes the need for screws.

It’s not totally fair to do a side-by-side comparison with the Fenix 8 Pro here because the latter isn’t available in 43mm, and that accounts for some of the 15g weight difference (equalling an almost 25% increase), but suffice to say that my Fenix 9 Pro is considerably lighter and thinner (to the tune of 16%, according to Garmin), and it has a less sporty aesthetic, which for me is a huge upgrade. If I’m being honest, this is the first Garmin watch I’ve tested that I’m happy wearing all of the time, though I might take it off to go to a wedding.

The AMOLED display is brighter than both my Fenix 8 and 8 Pro models, while the new, more subdued colour scheme is a bit more sophisticated, and it’s all a little sharper whether I’m looking at the stats of a run or using maps to navigate. I’m also amazed at how accurate the touchscreen keyboard is for typing out text messages, even on the smallest display available.

Other than that, everything will feel familiar to existing Fenix users, including the five-button setup, intuitive widget-based layout and responsive touchscreen (that is sometimes a little too responsive, pulling up the weather forecast when I’m in the shower). I’ve finally taken the time to add a bunch of widgets that I use frequently to my quick list, such as my endurance score and recovery estimates, last activity, moon phases and tides, so it’s ready to go before I even leave the house.

You’ll need the enormously comprehensive Garmin Connect app to view your metrics, and the slightly clunkier Garmin Messenger app if you want to use satellite technology for messaging, and if I were to pinpoint a weakness, I’d say it’s a shame that these two aren’t yet integrated into one app.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: features

• Updated build
• Better maps and LED torch
• New training and adventure tools

First up, maps have been updated, and according to Garmin, they render 40% faster than on the 8 Pro and pan 30% faster when you’re searching for something up ahead. There’s a new perspective view added to the map orientation, which you can enable to better see what’s up ahead.

Also new are Stamina Zones, which use heart rate, pace and speed, and Hosler explains that they can be more useful than Heart Rate Zones for managing your effort. I’ve added them to the data screens in different activity modes, so I can see what zone I’m in and how much of my potential stamina I’m using. It’s more obvious in interval training, where I can see my zones dip and rise, but even on long plods it’s an interesting way to see how much gas I might have left in the tank at a current pace.

After an activity, I can view the top contributors to my Endurance Score (hiking for me), and see estimates of how long I should be able to run at a given pace: apparently over seven hours at my easy pace and nearly 20 minutes at max effort, which I’m yet to put to the test.

Garmin’s commitment to upgrading Rucking mode in recent years signals that this is an activity in ascendancy, and it now calculates better estimates of your energy expenditure rather than just being a way to catalogue different activities. The Fenix 9 allows you to set a calorie goal rather than distance or time, and to edit your pack weight mid-activity, which Hosler explains gives ruckers more accurate readings when they’re hiking uphill with water or rocks that they ditch for the descent. I often hike with a heavy pack, and now my activity report shows the difference between my calories burned through activity and the additional calories from the weight of my pack. This is mildly interesting, and could in theory change my fuelling strategy on a long thru hike.

A very fun – if non-essential – feature rolled out with the Fenix 9 and 9 Pro is called Garmin Epic, which lets you group workouts. When I heard about it in the press conference, I worried it might be similar to the gratuitous Adventure Journal in the Coros Nomad, but after testing it out, I genuinely love it. I gave it a quick test in Chamonix by grouping together all five hikes and trail runs I went on so I could see my cumulative distance, time on the trails and related health stats. But it’s also retrospective, so I’ve been able to make an Epic for last year’s trek to Everest Base Camp and finally see that entire, unforgettable trip as one adventure, from the map of my entire 11-day route to my total elevation gain. I can share my Epic with friends and family, but I can see the demand for Garmin to develop this into a video that users can share on social media.

As for connectivity, I have an active inReach subscription, so I’m able to signal for help from anywhere, but fortunately haven’t had to do so yet. This feature does rely on the Garmin Messenger app, and most of my friends and family are not on there, so this is an area where the Fenix lags behind the Apple Watch Ultra 3. In our conversations, Hosler was clear that he doesn’t consider this watch a true replacement for a satellite device like my Garmin inReach Mini 2, but more of a nice-to-have backup. LiveTrack has improved and now you can send a tracking link directly from your phone, which has good implications for urban runners as well as hikers.

And last but not least, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention everyone’s favourite feature: the upgraded LED torch, which was being heralded by elite trail runners like Katie Schide, Tom Evans and Elsey Davis in Chamonix, who all said this was among their top Garmin features.

The Fenix 9 and 9 Pro have both added a green light option, which is better for night vision, though perhaps not quite as kind to your significant other when you’re looking for your running socks at 5 a.m. It may not be a substitute for a headtorch on a night run, but when your torch runs out of batteries, you’ll be glad you have your Garmin.

Add on to this all the features of the Fenix 8, and I can’t imagine what else you could possibly want from your watch.

• Features score: 5/5

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: performance

• Reliable sensors
• Lightning-fast maps
• Better night vision

The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro has all the same sensors as its predecessor, and after testing the two out on the same run, I’m confident that the readings were all virtually identical (though Hosler did explain that GPS differences can be down to the two watches being on different wrists and pointing in different directions).

I prefer the smaller case size, but it does mean I’m sacrificing battery life. My battery lost 17% during my first two-hour hike, which was a little shocking, but going forward I’ve been using Max Battery mode for longer sessions, which uses energy-saving measures and means a little less accuracy from GPS.

In the last 10 days, I did four short hikes and runs in Chamonix, two spin sessions, a pool swim, a long trail run, a short treadmill workout and a base run. I ran the battery all the way down, had to charge it once, and now it’s at 61%. In regular use, where I’ll typically have it in activity mode for at least 30 minutes a day, I expect to have to charge it once a week, and for a multi-day trek, I’d expect to be charging it at least every other day. That said, if you compare the 51mm Fenix 9 Pro and 8 Pro side by side, the 9 Pro has a better battery life, so if you’re after endurance, size up.

The display is really easy to see in all light conditions, brilliant sunshine and torrential rain and is really responsive when I lift my wrist, although this naturally declines as the battery runs low.

I put maps to the test straight away in Chamonix, charting a course to a mountainside cafe on the Tour du Mont Blanc, and it all renders so quickly and smoothly I don’t even really have to stop and think about it. Though I didn’t find the perspective view that helpful on the trails, it was great for navigating through the busy streets of Chamonix, which often poses a challenge as my phone doesn’t work well there. On my first test, I tried going off-course to see if the maps would reroute me and it didn’t work, but I’ve since been able to chalk that up to Garmin rolling out the watch to the world at the very same time I was testing it, as when I got back to Scotland, I went out on a 12k trail run and found the rerouting to work perfectly.

he LTE connectivity means I can leave my phone in my backpack, and that is really quite refreshing. I did send my boyfriend a link to track me on my most recent trail run via Garmin Connect, and he was able to do so, if not with a fair amount of apathy. I’ve also sent some test messages to my few Garmin Messenger contacts; it’s easy to type directly on the watch, and the message sends in a flash.

I don’t love wearing a watch to bed, but thanks to the slimmer design, I’ve been able to test out the sleep tracking, and it’s really accurate. My subsequent training Readiness scores and Recovery predictions have been pretty in line in accordance with how I feel.

Also at night, the green light function on the torch has quickly rendered my beloved red light nearly obsolete, making it easier than ever to creep around the house without bumping into things and even read a book in bed without turning my lamp on.

• Performance score: 5/5

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: should I buy?

Buy it if…

Your adventures take you into the wild

The Fenix 9 Pro has all the field tools for a backcountry adventure, and the technology to help get you out of there if things go wrong.

You’ve been running on a Fenix older than the 8 for years

Even the fabulous Fenix 7 pales in comparison to this one.

You’re a tech junkie with a big budget

All the best tech is on display here at an aspirational price.

Don’t buy it if…

You have the Fenix 8

The Fenix 8 is a cracking watch, and while we admit this is an upgrade, we can’t make a compelling case to switch

You’re saving up for a down payment on a house

This watch comes with some serious sticker shock

Also consider

How I tested

I’ve tested this watch from the French Alps to Scotland, over multiple hikes, trail runs and road runs, with a few indoor workouts on the bike, treadmill and in the pool thrown in. I’ve compared it with the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro and the Suunto Vertical 2 for good measure, and spent hours talking to Garmin experts and poring over the data in the watch and on the Garmin Connect app.

It seems like the Garmin Fenix 9 (and the ultra-premium Garmin Fenix 9 Pro) has just been unveiled, but we're already seeing price crashes on the previous generation, the Garmin Fenix 8. The Labor Day sales are in full swing, and Amazon is offering some lowest-ever prices on the Garmin Fenix 8 range.

Right now, you can get the smaller 43mm Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED discounted from $999.99 to just $749.99, a 25% saving and the cheapest a Fenix 8 has ever been on Amazon (and therefore, likely anywhere else), according to our deals-tracking tools. That's in its fetching Silver and Whitestone color, and even though 43mm is relatively small for a smartwatch, its chunkiness means the 43mm version is eminently wearable for all wrist sizes throughout the day.

If you're looking for something heavier duty, though, there are savings on larger sizes, and models equipped with Solar Power Glass or ultra-tough Sapphire glass screens.

The Labor Day sales also cover this Garmin Fenix 8 Pro model with inReach (was $1,199.99, now $949.99 at Amazon), which allows you to use satellite messaging with a subscription and can connect to your phone's data plan. This is available in both 47mm and the massive 51mm size for the same price, with larger watch sizes also netting you increased battery life.

Check out both deals in full below.

Today's best Garmin Fenix 8 deals

When I reviewed the base Garmin Fenix 8, I gave it five stars and called it "rugged, expensive perfection", and our writer Matt Ray gave the same coveted full marks to the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro.

Even though they're no longer the latest model, you can pick one up at a discount and be safe in the knowledge that you're getting a really top-quality adventure companion that'll last you for years to come.

Shop more of today's best Labor Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Appliances: up to $1,200 at Samsung
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $349
• Saatva: up to $625 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off 4K, QLED & OLED TVs
• Target: 45% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: 58% off back-to-school, furniture, & clothing

Another massive Garmin sale is underway at Amazon for Labor Day, offering yet another chance to score big savings on many of the manufacturer's top smartwatches. Several of these models are considered the best running, fitness, and outdoor wearables, according to our expert testers, so I've hand-picked the eight top deals that you need to see.

• See all Garmin deals at Amazon

I've included everything from entry-level fitness trackers that'll help track your workouts at the gym, dedicated running watches that can follow your progress over time, and rugged wearables that are built to survive some of the most extreme and demanding outdoor adventures.

Most of these get a strong recommendation from us and are considered to be some of the best Garmin watches you can buy. Specifically, you can get the Garmin Forerunner 265 for $349.99, which is still an excellent pick for runners, or the cheaper Garmin Vívoactive 5 at $189.99, which is a smart buy for beginners dabbling with the tech for the first time.

Have a browse through all of my recommendations below to see if there's a deal on a Garmin smartwatch or wearable that perfectly meets your needs.

8 best Garmin deals at Amazon

• The Garmin Enduro 4 might have appeared in a new leak
• Details emerged in Indonesian regulatory filings
• The device might arrive before the end of 2026

We’ve barely had time to catch our breath after the Garmin Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro announcement, but here comes news of another high-end Garmin watch looming over the horizon. Only this time, it’s not an official announcement that has shone a light on the device, but instead an intriguing leak that Garmin would probably rather you didn’t see.

The leak in question first appeared in regulatory filings from Indonesia (via Garmin News). There, listings mentioned an unnamed Garmin device bearing the model number A05197 in the “Outdoor Product” category.

Other details are pretty thin on the ground, but there is reason to believe it could point towards the unreleased Enduro 4. For one thing, Garmin News reports that Garmin uses the Outdoor Product category for “almost all of its high-end multisport smartwatches during testing phases, including past Fenix, Tactix, and Enduro generations.” That could therefore be an indicator that this mystery device belongs to one of those product families.

Then there’s the issue of previously leaked code references. We’ve already seen mention of the Enduro 4 in code contained within the Garmin Connect app, suggesting that the wearable is in development at the very least. Combine that with the new Indonesian regulatory filings and an Enduro 4 launch is looking increasingly likely.

A battery champ

Prior to the Fenix 9 Pro announcement, we had hopes that the Enduro 4 would also appear at Garmin’s launch event. That never came to pass, but it hasn’t dampened our expectations that the device exists and is on the way.

Interestingly, the unnamed Garmin device was granted regulatory approval in Indonesia on August 25 — the same day as the Fenix 9 event. Garmin News notes that it can take one to three months for a Garmin device to be unveiled after it is approved, suggesting that we could see the Enduro 4 — or whatever this unknown wearable is — before the end of 2026.

If and when that happens, it should be good news for fans of the best Garmin watches who want a device with phenomenal battery life. After all, as our Garmin Enduro 3 review noted, this line of watches “puts battery first.” We can expect the Enduro 4 to continue that tradition.

Do you ever feel that some smartwatches have just too much smartwatch in them? That’s what struck me when Garmin announced the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro today. Sure, they look like great devices — but at over $1,000 / £850 / AU$1,500 a pop, I’ve been wondering how many people actually need everything they have to offer.

I know I don’t. While I love working out, I’m not a pro athlete and don’t need anything like the suite of features you get with Garmin’s new watches — but Garmin's first live event launch seemed aimed at people like me, the Apple Watch crowd. It's telling Garmin didn’t actually mention how much they cost during the show itself.

If you feel like me and baulk at the expense required to slap one of these devices on your wrist, it’s not all bad news. There are plenty of other options out there, and none of them will break the bank in quite the same way.

Or you could just wait for the features to trickle down to more affordable devices. Either way, there’s no need to open your wallet just yet unless you’re 100% sure you need one of these watches.

Top devices, high prices

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro look like great smartwatches — possibly even some of the best smartwatches money can buy. They’re full of top-of-the-range features that are perfect for people who push their exercise regimes to the fullest, who regularly stride off into the wilderness in search of adventure, and who demand some of the most specialized features you can get in a consumer smartwatch.

The brighter AMOLED display in particular looks fantastic, especially if you previously struggled to read your watch’s screen in certain weather conditions. I was also heartened to see the rumors of solar charging were bang on the money — while it might be limited to the 47mm models and up of the Fenix 9 Pro, its ability to extend the life of your watch exponentially is tailor-made for off-grid escapades.

But there’s a big difference between interesting features and interesting features that cost a minimum of $1,099.99 / £949.99 / $1,749 AUD. I’m an Apple Watch Series 10 owner, and while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been on my radar, its $799 / £749 / $1,399 AUD price has moved it out of “must-buy” territory for me. It’s therefore unsurprising that Garmin’s latest launches haven’t ratcheted up my temptation meter.

There might be some wider context here. Garmin doesn’t normally do big, flashy events like it did for the Fenix 9 series, so the fact that it did this time suggests to me that it wants to introduce its smartwatches to a wider audience. Instead of its core crowd of sports buffs and fitness fanatics, it might be looking to broaden its horizons a bit and crack the more casual market.

The problem is that the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro have done exactly the opposite of that with their pricing. They’re not exactly entry-level options for people who have never heard of Garmin before. The flashy show puts it in the same company as Apple and Samsung — who also do glitzy product launches — but by limiting its announcements to some of its most premium devices, Garmin hasn’t quite hit the nail on the head.

Patience is a virtue

If Garmin’s Fenix 9 show has whetted your appetite for a smartwatch but you just can’t justify spending almost a thousand smackers on one, what can you do? Well, luckily you’re spoiled for choice.

You don’t even have to look outside the Garmin ecosystem to find some excellent options. How about the Garmin Venu 4, which is our pick for the best Garmin smartwatch? We summed it up as being “perfect for people who wouldn’t describe themselves as hardcore adventurers or triathletes, but still lead an active lifestyle, and might take on a big challenge once a year such as a marathon.” It’s full of top features that you need without breaking the bank thanks to its $549.99 / £469.99 / AU$949 price.

For an even more affordable option, there’s Garmin’s Vivoactive 6, which will set you back a mere $299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549. But this isn’t some undercooked offering that you’ll regret buying. You get 11 days of battery life, a beautiful AMOLED display, and plenty of premium features that once lived exclusively on Garmin’s more expensive products.

And that highlights a key point about the latest Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro releases. While they’re incredibly high-end options right now with price tags to match, I’m willing to bet that it won’t be long before many of their features are rolled out to much more affordable devices in Garmin’s smartwatch line-up. That kind of move has happened plenty of times in the past, and there’s no reason to think that Garmin is going to change its tune.

So, while I won’t be buying the Fenix 9 or Fenix 9 Pro right now, who’s to say I won’t pull the trigger further down the line? As these products’ prices drop and their features migrate to other wearables, chances are I’ll no longer be obstructed by an eye-watering price tag. A little patience is all it takes.

Garmin watches often see attractive price cuts as summer winds down, especially this year, as the brand gears up to release the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro this Friday. I've headed to Amazon's end-of-summer Garmin sale to hand-pick today's 12 best deals.

• Shop more of Amazon's best daily deals

The retailer has up to $250 in savings on Garmin's top-rated watches for running, swimming, hiking, and everyday wear. Garmin watches are the perfect companion for outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to their robust features, durable build, long battery life, and GPS capabilities. These capabilities come with an expensive price tag, so discounts are always welcome.

Below are Amazon's best Garmin watch deals, organized by price, starting at just $129. You'll find everything from our best premium Garmin watch, the Fenix 8, at a record-low $749.99 to our best outdoor watch, the Garmin Instinct 3, for $299. Just remember, these are limited-time offers and a great chance to grab a new premium watch at an all-time-low price.

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $200

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $300

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $500

The best Garmin smartwatch deals $500 or more

After months of leaks, rumours and anticipation, Garmin unveiled its full Fenix 9 smartwatch range, including the Fenix 9 Pro, and I was in Chamonix for all the action. Immediately after the press conference, I strapped a shiny new Fenix 9 Pro onto my left wrist and hit the trails to find out if it can really live up to the hype.

For the past two years, the Garmin Fenix 8 has been widely considered the best performance smartwatch money can buy. I rated it as the best premium watch for hikers after wearing it for the 11-day trek to Everest Base Camp, and things only got better when the Fenix 8 Pro came along with integrated inReach technology.

Over the past few months, as rumours swirled that the 9 was imminent, I found myself wondering what the brand could really do to improve upon such a brilliant gadget, besides increasing battery life and slimming the case down. Would today’s announcement produce any meaningful changes, or just cosmetic upgrades?

After only a few hours with it, I’d be lying if I said I’ve reached my final verdict, but I’ve already found some epic features that are available in both the Fenix 9 and 9 Pro, plus a few I need to spend more time with.

Testing the Fenix 9 Pro

I got my hands on the Fenix 9 Pro with a 43mm case and summery Shell Pink strap. Whereas the Fenix 8 Pro only comes in either a 47mm or a ginormous 51mm size that looks positively ridiculous on my wrist, the dainty 43mm case turns this into a watch I’d wear all the time, not just for the trails.

This model has a titanium case and bezel (the Fenix 9 is made with a blend of fiber-reinforced polymer and titanium). It’s made using nano moulding technology, and it all makes for a noticeably lighter and more streamlined feel – it’s about 16% thinner than the Fenix 8 in the same size.

The AMOLED display is also significantly easier to view, and in comparison, my Fenix 8 Pro suddenly looks rather dim. The Fenix 9 is twice as bright as its predecessor, and the 9 Pro is up to 3,000 NITS, all of which means I didn’t find myself squinting in either bright sunny or low light conditions.

If you do decide to go for the 51mm size, you’ll get an absolutely cracking display as it’s the first Fenix to feature a 1.5-inch AMOLED screen.

An epic upgrade

By far and away, the feature I’m most excited about is Garmin Epic, which allows you to group together activities and metrics. If you like adventures that last for days or weeks, you’re going to love it too.

Rather than just a gratuitous adventure journal like the one found in the Coros Nomad, Garmin Epic lets you see the cumulative impact of multiple workouts, whether that’s a multi-day trail run or backpacking excursion, an active holiday, a ski trip or a marathon training block. It also shows each run or hike on a single map, so for example if you were to hike the West Highland Way over a week, you’d be able to view it as a single workout.

To start to test Garmin Epic straight away, I decided to divide today’s adventure up into two separate activities. I used Rucking mode to head about 5k up one of my favourite trails in Chamonix, then ended the activity and switched to Trail Running for my descent.

Once in Rucking mode, I started a new Epic within the activity settings, which I just called Chamonix. When I got back to my hotel, after a little searching, I found my Chamonix Epic under Activities in the Garmin Connect app and added both activities as well as a short hike I went on this morning. Already I can see my total distance and elevation for this trip at a glance, view stats like calories and heart rate, and I’ll be able to add tomorrow’s run to it as well for a little capsule of everything I’ve done on the trails this trip.

Epic includes metrics such as sleep, recovery and performance gains, and you can log activities under one epic for up to 92 days, so it’s ideal for anyone working towards a particular training goal. I only wish I had this feature last year when I was training for Everest Base Camp, and for the trek itself, where I’d have loved to have been able to see my distance, elevation and performance stats all in one cohesive presentation.

Green light gets the green light

Garmin might boast all the top-of-the-line training tools and software, but the LED torch is almost everyone’s favourite feature – including mine. Once winter rolls around, I’m heavily reliant on the red light function when I’m getting up for a run in the dark and don’t want to disturb my sleeping partner. Now, my night vision is going to be even better.

Earlier this year, Amazfit added a green light function to the T-Rex Ultra 2 on the premise that, while red light is better for your eyes, green light makes it easier to see objects and the nature of the terrain, which is why hunters prefer it. Clearly, Garmin has the same idea.

I went back out after dark to test the green light function, and it is significantly better than the red light at illuminating the trail. For those runs and runs that go long, I’ll still use white light to navigate after dark, but the green light is the clear winner for fumbling around campsites at night.

A shift in perspective

Garmin’s maps are easily the best out of any smartwatch brand I’ve tested, and I can’t say I felt that they desperately needed to be improved upon, and yet the 9 comes with maps that render 30% faster than the Fenix 8, while the 9 Pro renders 40% faster than the 8 Pro.

Was I bowled over by the difference in speed? Not really, but there are some clear advantages to the new map engine, and overall it makes for a very smooth navigation experience.

Eager to hit the trail as quickly as possible, I quickly created my route in Garmin Connect and set off. Even though I’m testing the smallest case size available (43mm), the map was easy to see and follow, and there was almost no lag at all when I wanted to zoom in or out.

For my return trip, rather than use the Back to Start function, I decided to use the Explore Nearby function to see if I could find my hotel and create a route back. Without any delay at all, my hotel popped up, and soon I was trotting back down the mountain.

When I got back into town, the streets felt a little chaotic, so I switched the map orientation from the default North Up – the usual mode where you’re looking down at your route from above – to Perspective mode. This essentially tilts the map up slightly so it’s more like you’re looking at the route ahead, and it makes it a little easier to see what’s coming up, something I think gets more important the faster you want to move.

What else is new?

The upgrades to Rucking mode are worth a mention here. Last year, Garmin introduced Pack Weight logging, and now they’ve added the ability to edit your pack weight while you’re on the move, set calorie goals and follow rucking workouts thanks to a collaboration with Go Ruck.

I tested the pack weight editing and set myself a goal of 500 calories today, which was all straightforward, but I was mostly interested to see the difference between the calories I’d burned through the actual hiking and the additional calories from my pack. I don’t go rucking as an activity by itself, but for long jaunts with a heavy pack, it could help me fuel accordingly.

One thing that needs work

I haven’t been able to get rerouting to work yet in maps, and I’m not seeing much data yet in the enhanced Stamina tracking, which promises to use stats like VO2 max, lactate threshold and training history to calculate your maximum tolerable distance to help you with pacing. I’m going to chalk those up to it being day zero, and the fact that the brand was pushing out new features at the same time as I was testing. But there was one big disappointment for me, and that was the watch’s battery life.

There’s no doubt that with up to 151 hours in Max Battery mode, the 51mm Fenix 9 Pro has a better battery than the 51mm Fenix 8 Pro, but because I’ve gone for a more wrist-appropriate case size, I’ve lost even more battery power than I would have anticipated.

My watch started out at 83%, and after two hours on the trail it was down to a paltry 66%. At that rate, on a multi-day trek I’d be looking at charging this daily, making it even less powerful than my Fenix 8 and rather reducing its potential as an adventure watch. Of course, you can get around this by simply buying a bigger case size, but it would be great to see Garmin working on a watch for small wrists and big adventures.

Every time that a new Garmin smartwatch appears we know that our list of the best Garmin watches on the market is likely to be disrupted, and from what we've seen so far that certainly seems to be the case with the brand new Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro.

These wearables take over from the Fenix 8 and the Fenix 8 Pro at the very top of Garmin's product range, but are they the right buy for you? How much do they offer above and beyond the older models, and how do they compare to what's already available?

If you're weighing up a potential Fenix 9-themed upgrade, here's what you need to know in terms of what's new and what you get for your money.

All the models

If you're interested in a new Garmin Fenix 9, there's no shortage of models to pick from: there's the standard Fenix 9 in three sizes, the Fenix 9 Pro in three sizes, and the Fenix 9 Pro with InReach in three sizes.

On top of that (try and keep up at the back), there's a Fenix 9 Pro Solar model in two sizes, and a Fenix 9 Pro Solar with InReach model in two sizes.

Our comprehensive pricing table might make everything a little easier to digest.

You can also check out the key specs of the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro models below: we've compared the two 43mm OLED versions to make it a little easier to understand.

Mapping upgrades

The on-board map is of course core to a lot of outdoor activities with the Fenix 9 series, and there are some useful-looking tweaks coming here. They include a new perspective view, which lets you see what's coming up more easily, at various different zoom levels, and there's more storage across the board with more map content already preloaded.

There's extra RAM inside these watches compared to their predecessors too, which Garmin says will make getting around the map on your wrist more fluid and responsive — panning is apparently now 30% faster, for example. Those are genuine improvements that should be noticeable if you're making the jump up from an older Garmin Fenix smartwatch.

New activity features

There are some new activity features to talk about. The Fenix 9 watches offer stamina zones and stamina curves, to check how your endurance levels change over time, in relation to your training and fitness. The rucking features have been expanded meanwhile, to support pack changes during activities, and to enable more specific target metrics.

There's good news for regular indoor rowers. The new wearables are able to read data off selected machines directly, covering power curves and power zones, while the watches are able to calculate VO2 Max and certain other metrics from rowing sessions — which wasn't the case before. It means more detailed fitness insights from your rowing sessions.

Improvements to LiveTrack and location tracking

We're already big fans of the Garmin LiveTrack feature, which lets you share your real-time location, route, and associated stats with other people, and it's getting better on the LTE version of the Fenix 9 Pro. Sharing can now be done inside Garmin Messenger from your wrist, with some preset messages available, and improved notifications.

There's also a brand new feature called Garmin Locate, which again works through Garmin Messenger from the other end: Here a contact requests your location, as a one-time share, if they need to know where you are. It's all a bit more elegant and social, but it does mean you're getting gently pushed more towards Garmin's own messaging platform.

Garmin Epic

An 'Epic' is a new idea from Garmin, arriving with the Fenix 9 series. Essentially, it lets you selected group activities and workouts together, almost like a folder in a filing cabinet: the examples Garmin gives are backpacking trips, cycling stage races, and strength plans. Data from individual sessions can be collected in an Epic, and viewed and analyzed together.

At first glance, it looks like an interesting expansion of what you can do with your Garmin, and you can create these Epics from past activities too — potentially letting you unlock new insights from records going back years. Notes and photos can be added along the way as well, together with health data collected between the main activities of each Epic.

• Casio’s GBX-H5600KI-5 Kanoa Igarashi watch has gone on sale
• It’s aimed at surfers, with a range of features for the sport
• It could rival the Garmin Fenix 9, which is due to be announced soon

Garmin is just about to launch the Fenix 9 watch, and it’s fair to say there’s plenty of hype surrounding the upcoming model. Yet Casio has just arrived to steal Garmin’s thunder with a new wearable that could take the air out of the Fenix 9’s sails — particularly when you consider who the devices are apparently aimed at.

Casio’s device is the wordily named GBX-H5600KI-5 Kanoa Igarashi. It’s just gone on sale in the US for $370, which translates to roughly £270 GBP / $515 AUD — way cheaper than the majority of Garmin’s range, and the Ultra-branded rugged adventure smartwatches from the likes of Apple and Samsung.

It makes up for its lack of a snappy moniker with a feature list that includes a tide graph function, plus moon, sunrise, and sunset info for optimal surf timing. It also boasts blood-oxygen sensors, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, training load powered by Polar, and more.

On the design front, it comes in a dark brown case with lavender highlights. Because of the molding process, each watch has a slightly different look. There’s a MIP display that sports the signature of Japanese-American surfer Kanoa Igarashi, for whom the device is named. You’ll also find the number 50 on the wrist strap, which is a reference to Igarashi’s World Surf League bib code.

Designed for surfers

It’s that surfing connection that might rain on Garmin’s parade. Garmin’s Play Harder event — where the Fenix 9 is widely expected to be revealed — features a surfer as its livestream cover image, perhaps giving a hint as to what the Fenix 9 could be oriented towards.

But with Casio’s surfer-themed watch going on sale right before the Fenix 9 makes an appearance, picking a smartwatch for your surfing sessions just got a little more complicated. And then there’s the price: the Garmin Fenix 8 starts at $849.99 /£749.99 GBP / $1,499 AUD, a cool $480 / £480 GBP / $984 AUD more than Casio’s latest effort. The Fenix 9 is likely to be priced around $1,000 / £1,000 GBP / $1,399 AUD — if it is, the difference compared to Casio’s device will be stark.

Of course, you get a lot more from Garmin in terms of features, including a larger AMOLED screen and many more tools and metrics. But if all you want is a simple smartwatch to take out on your morning surf, Casio believes it has the answer — presumably much to the chagrin of Garmin.

UPDATE 25/08: the Garmin Fenix 9 has been revealed. Get all the latest Garmin Fenix 9 info here.

• Garmin has scheduled a YouTube live event
• Titled 'Play Harder', it's scheduled for 25 August at 12:00pm BST (4am PT / 7am ET / 9pm AEST)
• It's likely to be the launch of the Garmin Fenix 9

Garmin has scheduled a live event on YouTube, without much fanfare. Titled 'Play Harder', the event — we're not sure if this is a live event, or merely a trailer or series of trailers for another of the best Garmin watches — is scheduled to go live at 12:00pm BST. You can follow all of our live reaction right now on our Garmin 'Play Harder' liveblog.

For America, that translates to 4:00am Pacific Time (sorry) or 7:00am Eastern Time. For Australian watchers, it's a slightly more reasonable 9:00pm AEST.

Garmin doesn't normally schedule live events to announce new products — as far as I know, this is a first. So to schedule a live event to generate some build-up, presumably culminating in a public product reveal, means whatever's coming has to be pretty special indeed.

Fenix rising

It may well be a slate of new products Garmin are announcing, but the star of the show is sure to be the Fenix 9. The Garmin Fenix 9 has been rumored to launch in the second half of 2026 for months, and recent retailer leaks suggest a launch is now imminent.

We're expecting to get three new kinds of Fenix: a standard AMOLED Fenix 9, like the Garmin Fenix 8 before it, and two different kinds of Pro watch: one with InReach satellite messaging connectivity, and one without, plus solar charging options.

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro launched around a year after the original, but Garmin seems to be dropping the whole range at once this time around.

We've not heard much around the Garmin Enduro 4, the latest version of Garmin's massive watch line that promises near-infinite battery on sunny days. It could launch with the Fenix 9, as the Enduro 3 did with the Fenix 8, or Garmin could be saving it for a rainy day (well, we hope not, or the solar charging won't work!).

You can check out the approaching live stream on the embedded video below, but there isn't much to see right now: just an image of a surfer and a date. But check back with us tomorrow, as we'll be covering the announcements live.

If you're in the market for a capable smartwatch and a robust health tracker, then Garmin's Venu 3 is an excellent choice. While it's an older model (released in 2023), it's packed with insightful features, and in our Garmin Venu 3 review, we called it 'a near-perfect balance of smartwatch and health tracker'.

Amazon has dropped the Garmin Venu 3 to $294.99 (originally $449.99), which is the lowest price we've ever seen and a whopping $155 discount.

• Shop more daily deals at Amazon

The Garmin Venu 3 is the predecessor to the Venu 4, which currently holds the top spot in our best Garmin watch guide. Great for outdoor enthusiasts, the Venu 3 features advanced GPS tracking, a water-resistant design, and an extended battery life of up to 14 days. The smartwatch also tracks heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen saturation, sleep, and stress levels and includes a speaker and microphone so you can take calls from your wrist.

Today's limited-time offer on the Garmin Venu 3 from Amazon is not only a new record-low price, but it's also superb value for a rugged smartwatch that's packed with health and fitness features.

Garmin's Venu 3 for a record-low price at Amazon

It's been a while since the last one, so Amazon is back with another sale on a handful of top Garmin smartwatches. We rate several of these devices for their stunning displays, excellent tracking, and slick designs — with many of them our top picks for various health and fitness needs at a range of different budgets. My top eight picks from the latest Garmin sale at Amazon are below.

• See all Garmin deals at Amazon

I've picked out entry-level fitness trackers for those just starting out, dedicated running watches for those working up to everything from a first 5k to a first marathon, and hardy all-purpose wearables that will guide you on more challenging outdoor adventures.

Our expert health and fitness testers have tried many Garmin devices and these are the ones they would recommend as the best Garmin watches you can buy. For example, there's the classic Garmin Forerunner 265 for $349.99 for runners, a more affordable Garmin Vívoactive 5 at $189.99 for the gym-goer, and this Garmin Fenix 8 for $749.99 for multisport enthusiasts.

Even though summer is drawing to a close, there's still time to get your exercise regimen in place and one of these smartwatches could offer just the extra incentive you need to get your routine in place for the cooler months ahead and start tracking your progress.

8 best Garmin deals for Memorial Day

Hiking is all about getting away from screens and into the healing embrace of nature, sure, but over the past few years I’ve often embraced the help of a GPS watch when I hit the trail.

These crafty devices have banished my trusty map and compass into the deepest recesses of my hiking backpack, only to be pulled out in dire circumstances. Their offline maps and handy turn-by-turn navigation have me blowing past every trail junction without slowing down, and never again do I have to wonder how far I’ve walked or how much ground I still have to cover.

Not every smartwatch feature matters for hiking – I personally don’t need a reminder every time I receive a text, and training tools like Race Predictor on the best Garmin watches are only depressing, as handy as they are for trail runners – but a watch with offline maps, a great battery life and a flashlight is like gold when I’m taking the long road.

Over the last few years, I’ve tested dozens of GPS watches on trails from the Highlands to the Himalayas to find out which are best for trekking adventures.

Best premium GPS watch: Garmin Fenix 8

• Maps: Full color topo maps preloaded
• Torch: LED
• Display: AMOLED
• Materials: Titanium bezel, Power Sapphire lens, fibre-reinforced polymer case
• Battery life: Up to 28 hours in GPS mode

The fully-featured Garmin Fenix 8 is one of the absolute best GPS watches that money can buy, it’s true. But don’t think its inclusion here is merely a lazy catch-all – I wore this watch all the way to Everest Base Camp and back to find out whether or not it really has the chops for hiking. Suffice to say, it’s nearly perfect for intrepid adventures.

For my 11-day trek, I played around with both Mountaineering mode, which gave me precise altitude readings that were really helpful as we climbed up to 5,364m, and Rucking mode, which allowed me to input my exact pack weight for more accurate fitness tracking and calorie counting.

In the Nepalese teahouses, the LED torch was ideal for midnight trips to the loo, and on a pre-dawn hike up Kala Patthar to watch the sun rise over Everest, the red light function proved more useful than my super bright headtorch.

The Fenix 8 comes with full colour maps already preloaded, and with 32GB of storage, it holds up to 100 GPX routes, far more than I’d ever need. I trekked with a guide in the Himalayas, so I didn’t need to download the route, but a few months later, I wore it for a five-day hike of the Cumbria Way, and the route was lightning-quick to render and meant I barely had to break my stride if I came across an unmarked trail junction.

The only gripe I can find is the battery life, which is more than suitable for regular day hikes, but lacks a little on multi-day treks. On adventures where I’m using the Fenix 8 in GPS mode for 6-8 hours a day, I typically have to charge it every third day.

If you’re planning on going very far off-grid, consider the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, which adds the ability to make an SOS call when you’re out of service and need help.

• Who should buy it: Hikers with a big budget who don’t want to compromise on quality or features.

Best for multi-day treks: Suunto Vertical 2

• Maps: Full color topo maps available for download
• Torch: LED
• Display: AMOLED
• Materials: Sapphire crystal screen with a choice of stainless steel or titanium aluminium alloy bezel
• Battery life: Up to 65 hours in GPS mode

If the price of the Fenix 8 makes you wince, but you’re not willing to compromise on quality and performance, allow me to introduce you to the Suunto Vertical 2.

This watch doesn’t boast the full suite of smart and training features that let the Fenix 8 leapfrog over the competition, but if it’s a reliable navigation and training watch you’re after, this high-quality watch checks a lot of boxes.

I first tested it out on a five-day solo trek along the St Cuthbert’s Way, which covers a lot of remote ground. I was doing it in late fall when the days were short, so I didn’t want to take any wrong turns if I could help it.

I had to download the map of the UK before I set off, but after that it was all straightforward. The map rendered quickly each morning and was really clean and easy to follow on the giant, bright screen. I opted for the watch’s Nordic Walking mode since I hike with poles, and it gave me more accurate readings.

The LED torch really came in useful on the longer days, where I ran out of daylight before reaching my lodging, and it gave me comfort knowing that I had a backup light source.

It only holds 15 routes at a time, which means I do have to operate a strict one-in, one-out policy, but that’s not a dealbreaker by any means and enough for most people.

But the real showstopper here is the Vertical 2’s incredible battery life, which makes it a better choice than the Fenix 8 if your adventures don’t stop at dinner time. Until this watch came along, an AMOLED screen meant a tradeoff in battery life, but Suunto turned that narrative around with a whopping 65 hours even in Accurate Mode. I started the St Cuthbert’s Way with it fully charged, used it for 6-8 hours a day for five days, and I still had more than 50% battery life remaining when I was done.

• Who should buy it: Thru-hikers and backpackers who want a battery that can last as long as their legs and don’t prioritise smart capabilities.

Best mid-range: Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2

• Maps: Full color topo maps available for download
• Torch: LED
• Display: AMOLED
• Materials: Sapphire glass screen, titanium bezel and back panel
• Battery life: Up to 50 hours in GPS mode

Do you want everything but the kitchen sink from your GPS watch? You have two choices: spend a lot of money on a Garmin, or accept the quirks of the cheaper Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2.

I recently hiked nine Munros in the Scottish Highlands and islands over a two-week period, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to test out this burly, fully-featured watch. Per the name echoing the world’s most famous dinosaur, it’s by far the biggest watch on this list, which does make it a bit of a pain to wear with hiking layers, but in the summer months, this doesn’t pose much of an issue.

Amazfit says the watch comes with preinstalled maps, but I had to download the map of Scotland before using it for the first time. The watch has a massive 64GB of storage and holds up to 50 GPX routes, so I had no issues storing everything I needed before I left the house.

Once I got out on the trail, the maps looked great and provided lots of detail, like trails showing up as dotted lines to differentiate them from roads. The extraordinarily comprehensive Points of Interest feature lets me search for and navigate to just about everything nearby, from coffee shops and water sources to police stations and parks. But when I’m following a route, some aspects are a little sluggish. It’s often slow to update my distance remaining or elevation, and despite ongoing promises of an automatic rerouting feature, it always fails to recalibrate when I change course.

Interestingly, the LED torch has a green light function instead of the usual red light, which survival experts say provides better clarity in the dark (red light is kinder on your eyes). There’s also an option to long-press the bottom left button to record a voice memo during an activity, which can be nice for taking notes along the way. The Coros Nomad also has this feature, called Voice Pin.

The T-Rex Ultra 2 has full smartwatch functionality, so it’s a good option if you want (or need) to stay connected on trails, but it can mean a lot of annoying notifications if not. I get around this by keeping it on Do Not Disturb when I hike.

• Who should buy it: Hikers who want a lot of bang for their buck, and don’t mind a few pain points.

Best value for money: Coros Nomad

• Maps: Full color topo maps available for download
• Torch: White screen
• Display: MIP
• Materials: Hardened mineral glass screen and aluminium alloy bezel
• Battery life: Up to 50 hours in GPS mode

Are you allergic to bright screens, bells and whistles? If so, the no-nonsense Coros Nomad is a great choice on a smaller budget.

Its memory-in-pixel (MIP) display might look a little dated next to the now-standard AMOLED models, but MIP displays are generally more battery efficient, so remain good choices for long trips. I took it to Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) for a week of hiking, and I was impressed.

I had to download color maps before my trip, and I think they’re some of the best on this list. They’re really quite detailed with distinguished trail markings, Points of Interest, and mountain peaks and show up really well in all light conditions, even when I’m wearing polarised sunglasses. The device holds up to 100 routes, matching the capacity of the Fenix 8, and they render quickly.

Once I hit the trail, I really liked how easy it is to zoom in (up to 50ft) using the digital crown, and the GPS is as accurate as any watch on this list. I used it in Mountain Climb mode, which takes altitude changes into account to track true 3D distance.

There is a reason that it’s inexpensive, and it’s not just down to cheaper materials and a low-power MIP display. There’s no LED torch, and there’s no in-watch rerouting, so when I do decide to go off-route, it keeps vibrating to let me know, which gets a little annoying. Also, the Back to Start function is buried in the settings menu, instead of being an option when I pause the activity. It’s not make-or-break stuff, but it does show the difference between a budget watch and a more premium model.

What you do get for the sacrifice of some features is a very good battery life, thanks in part to that display. I didn’t have to charge it once during my trip to Wales and would feel confident taking this on a multi-day trek without carrying a battery pack. A nice addition is the Adventure Journal, which lets me drop a pin, add a photo or record a voice memo to a route during a hike, and I do find it really useful for record-keeping as an outdoors journalist.

There is an Emergency Safety Alert system that could be of interest to hikers, but it’s a bit limited. You can set up designated emergency contacts in the app and then send an instant SOS with your live location coordinates by long-pressing the digital crown. However, you need a mobile signal for this to work, so while it could save your life if you fall down a cliff and drop your phone, it’s not really a substitute for a Garmin InReach or other satellite connectivity feature in the wild.

• Who should buy it: Hikers on a budget looking for a no-frills, but reliable watch.

Best for fitness: Polar Grit X2 Pro

• Maps: Full color maps preloaded for Europe (UK needs to be downloaded)
• Torch: White screen
• Display: AMOLED
• Materials: Stainless steel bezel, sapphire glass lens
• Battery life: Up to 43 hours in GPS mode

If you’re interested in training science or preparing for a feat of endurance that might entail weeks or months on the trail, the Polar Grit X2 Pro offers some of the best research-backed metrics and guidance.

I’ve been testing out the Nordic Walking and Rucking modes on this watch around Scotland for a few weeks, and I’ve found it to be a high-quality and distraction-free design.

You will need to download UK maps, and the watch doesn’t have WiFi, so maps and routes need to be dragged over on your laptop, which is a little nostalgic to say the least, and I do have to be a little more organised about where I want to go, but it’s all fairly painless. On the trail, the GPS accuracy has been as good as any, and the maps are nice and clear, although if you’re looking for turn-by-turn guidance, you’ll need to use maps from Komoot, and you do have to calibrate the compass before every hike, which I find a little frustrating.

The battery life is on par with the Fenix 8. In GPS mode, it gets about 40 hours from a full charge, which means you’ll want to bring a battery pack for multi-day treks, and that does slightly negate its worth for endurance efforts.

What makes this watch stand out is its training and recovery tools. Every time I finish a hike, I get an immediate report of the energy sources I’ve used (carbohydrates, protein and fat). With the FuelWise feature, I can receive customised carb and drink reminders during long treks, which is really valuable as I’m terrible at remembering to eat enough on long days.

The Finnish brand really prides itself in training research; Polar’s Research Library features over 17,000 peer-reviewed references, and it shows in this watch. This watch boasts lots of hiking-specific tools, such as Vertical Speed to track your climbing rate, 3D Speed, which is a separate feature which factors in horizontal movement and vertical elevation changes, and Hill Splitter, which automatically detects and breaks down every uphill and downhill on your route.

While this watch doesn’t really stand head and shoulders above the rest, its recovery tools and sleep tracking are excellent, and it excels in cold weather, so for big efforts and those who want distraction-free data, it’s a solid contender.

• Who should buy it: Data-driven endurance hikers who miss the olden days when a walk in the wild meant no one could reach you.

What makes a good hiking watch?

These days, any good GPS watch will provide you with some level of navigation, fitness and health tracking and smart features. But not all are created equally, and not all are built with hikers’ needs in mind. For a watch to be great for hiking, it should have the following features:

Offline maps

Though you can get by with breadcrumb navigation, for a watch to be considered one of the best for hiking, it first and foremost needs to have offline maps that you can use to create routes or follow GPX files. These should be colour, with topographical lines as an option, and show lots of detail.

Clear display

It’s best if a hiking watch has a big and bright display since you’ll be looking at it frequently if you’re using it for navigation, in every possible weather condition, and often while wearing sunglasses. That said, if it’s too high-profile, it can be tricky to wear with hiking layers and gloves, so the biggest isn’t necessarily the best.

Rugged build

Because you’re going to be exposing your hiking watch to all of the elements in every season, it needs to be rugged, so look for something that operates within a wide range of temperatures (-20°C to around 50°C) and has a waterproof rating of at least 10ATM. The most robust materials to look for include a sapphire crystal lens and a titanium or stainless steel bezel.

Big battery

Your hiking watch needs to stand up to the test of time, and by that I mean a robust battery life. An Apple Watch that needs charging every 24 hours is fine for gym use or short, half-day hikes, but if you’re going to be on the trail for a week, choose a watch that’s not going to die on you halfway.

Multiple hiking modes

Activity modes beyond Hiking and Walking are useful, and they should do more than just categorise your activities. Modes like Nordic Walking should take into account the additional energy expenditure from pole use, and if a watch offers Rucking mode, you should be able to input your pack weight for more accurate metrics.

Light source

Finally, though this is certainly an optional extra, most of the best hiking watches have an LED torch. Not to say that you should ditch the headtorch altogether, but when you just need a little illumination for a short distance, it’s preferable to be able to press a button on your watch than stop and dig around for your torch.

This week Google debuted its Pixel 11 tech, and Honor wowed us with a Robot Phone. Though we doubt it's the next iPhone revolution, we did also celebrate the birthday of a phone that did spark one back in the 90s — the Nokia 9000 Communicator, which just turned 30 years old.

But that's enough nostalgia for now — to catch up on all of the freshest gadget news, scroll down for the seven biggest tech news stories from the past week, plus links to the wider picture if you're desperate to learn more.

And before that test your memory against last week's biggest tech news stories with our quiz.

7. We reviewed Garmin’s 5-Star smartwatch

We spent months with the latest Garmin Fenix Pro 8 smartwatch — it survived heatwaves, blizzards and 4,000m altitudes — and our reviewer decided to declare it “the pinnacle of multisport smartwatch performance.”

Why? Well, it boasts the full suite of Garmin functionality from sleep tracking to a bewildering array of activity tracking options, as well as the ability to follow stats like altitude and atmospheric pressure. Plus, it can operate as a full-on dive watch, and boasts satellite messaging for the extreme wilderness wanderers amongst us.

The only downside is that it costs significantly more than the AMOLED version and has a shorter battery life (it’s still four days, though, and turning the always-on display off will see it jump to over 10), but these don’t stop it from being the champion of the sports tracking world right now.

• Read our full Garmin Fenix Pro 8 microLED review

6. Spotify labelled AI music

Earlier this week, Spotify announced its new AI Persona tags, a new feature designed to differentiate human artists from those that are AI-generated. The tags are tipped to roll out in mid-September.

Once AI Persona becomes available, it will give users some peace of mind knowing that they’re listening to music that hasn't been generated by AI. Spotify added that artists with AI Persona tags will be excluded from all personalized recommendations by default — which is an added bonus.

Artists can disclose to Spotify if they are AI musicians, but Spotify will conduct reviews of profiles where it thinks an artist’s images have been created using generative AI to imitate a lifelike persona. The only caveat is that Spotify uses an artist’s image to determine if they’re an AI Persona, and not the music itself.

• Read more: Spotify is introducing AI Persona tags to differentiate real artists from fake ones

5. We spent two hours with Honor’s Robot Phone

Look. We love to call out marketing department hyperbole as much as the next tech news outlet, but while we must disagree with Honor’s attempt to position its new device as the evolutionary successor to the iPhone — the best-selling phone of all time — it is fair to say the Robot Phone is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

TechRadar’s Axel Metz was among the first tech journalists to touch and test the new phone, and the device’s unfolding gimbal is genuinely impressive as a content capture tool — effectively combining the DJI Osmo Pocket with Honor’s flagship Magic 8 Pro.

It also allows the phone’s assistant, YOYO, to express itself in a physical way. This is the definition of gimmicky, though controlling the gimbal with hands-free controls can be genuinely useful.

• Read more: I spent two hours with the Honor Robot Phone, and this ridiculous, remarkable device made me feel like a kid again

4. We photographed the solar eclipse

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower, with perfect viewing conditions and a rare six-planet alignment, was a celestial treat on August 12, but it was the total solar eclipse hours before that captured the world's attention. In select parts of Europe, northern Spain and in Iceland, totality lasted around 2 minutes while a partial eclipse could be seen as far afield as northern North America. Viewers lucky enough to get solar glasses could enjoy the phases around totality, while others came outside with their DIY pinhole cameras and colanders. Predictably, we've been treated to spectacular images in the aftermath of this once-in-a-generation show.

• Read more: 9 of the best photos from Europe's 2026 solar eclipse

3. Google gave us its answer to Apple’s AirTags

Apple’s AirTags launched over five years ago, and we now finally have a Google-made equivalent for Android fans. The Pixel Tag is a little tracker that weighs only 12g and helps you follow the location of your keys, luggage, or devices via a web browser or Android app.

Unfortunately, it won’t actually be launching until November, but when it does, you’ll be able to buy one for $29 / £29 / AU$49 for a single Tag or $99 / £99 / AU$169 for a four-pack. That’s pretty competitive considering the Pixel Tag is water-resistant and has ultra-wideband (UWB) support for more precise location tracking.

However, as you can read below, the Find Hub network still has weaknesses compared to its Apple Find My equivalent, which we hope Google addresses by the time its Tag launches in a few months.

• Read the full story: The Pixel Tag is here — but it won't be an AirTag for Android until Google fixes these Find Hub issues

2. Google’s Pixel Watch 5 debuted

Along with Google's cornucopia of new phones, the Google Pixel Watch 5 was also released in two sizes and with the same teardrop design as previous years. However, we've got a bunch of new features and improvements at play, with more accurate GPS, the redesigned Google Health app with its AI coach, better on-device Gemini, and a suite of Health Guardian features. These include Breathing Emergency Detection, which alerts emergency services and contacts if you have a consistent blood oxygen drop, and Insulin Resistance Trends, which helps users control their blood sugar levels. Apple and Samsung haven't quite cracked this technology yet, and we can't wait to test them for ourselves — although hopefully we don't have any breathing emergencies during our review.

• Read more: Sorry, Apple and Samsung — I test smartwatches for a living, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 specs beat the Series 11 and Galaxy Watch 9 in these five key areas

1. Google debuted its Pixel 11 lineup

Of course, the stars of Wednesday's Made by Google 2026 event were the debut of new Pixel 11 phones.

They boast the usual slew of updates you should expect from flagship refreshes by now, but also a brand new ‘HiLight’. This is an array of LED lights built into the camera’s flash module, which can alert you to calls from favorite contacts via customized color glows when your phone is face down and silenced. And these lights will also pulse when Gemini is listening, thinking, or responding.

Not everything is an improvement, disappointingly. You'll only get 12GB of RAM as standard rather than 16GB, perhaps a reflection of the surging computer memory costs.

• Read more: I’ve used the new Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Google's made nearly all the improvements I wanted to see

• Garmin has apparently filed documentation for a smart ring
• It seems to be carrying over the Cirqa branding from the fitness tracker
• The device could potentially launch in the coming months

It seems Garmin is on a tear when it comes to expanding its range of fitness wearables: having challenged Whoop with the launch of the screenless Cirqa band in July, it's now apparently mulling over taking on the likes of Oura with its very own smart ring.

As per an Indonesian certification filing spotted by the rumor site Garmin News, the proposed smart ring would carry on the 'Cirqa' branding. It's categorized as a 'fitness product', and is a strong sign that a Garmin smart ring is coming — though not quite a guarantee.

Garmin has previously played down the idea of launching a smart ring to go with all of its smartwatches, but it seems something may have now shifted. It's not clear exactly when we might see the Cirqa smart ring, but a launch within a few months seems likely if the rumor is true; according to Garmin News, upcoming devices 'usually show up in database approvals right before manufacturing'.

The smart ring market is certainly a competitive one, with the recent launches of the Oura Ring 5 and the Ultrahuman Ring Pro. There have also been persistent rumors that Apple might eventually launch a smart ring to go alongside the Apple Watch.

What I want to see

I already have a Garmin Instinct 3 Solar which I love, for the breadth of its tracking features and the excellent battery life (the solar aspect helps here). If Garmin gets it right with the Cirqa ring, I could be tempted to invest in another fitness wearable.

First and foremost, it has to be thin and light enough that I forget I'm wearing it. As great as my Instinct 3 is, it is bulky, and it's not particularly comfortable to wear during strenuous exercise or while sleeping (I tend to use my phone as a sleep tracker instead).

Secondly — and apologies for being very predictable here — it has to offer excellent battery life. Smart rings work best when they're worn constantly. This is an area Garmin has done well in historically, so I'm quite confident here.

Thirdly, I'd like to see it offer as full a range of features as possible, without a Garmin Connect+ subscription. The subscription has already caused enough controversy, and if too many of the Cirqa smart ring features are paywalled, it'll be a no thanks from me.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED: One minute review

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED is both a fantastic always-on, lifestyle-support smartwatch, and a 51mm, titanium-bodied multisport watch bulked out with the kind of rugged design that could survive the entire Die Hard franchise. It's absolutely one of the best Garmin watches ever made, but also one of the most expensive.

Of course, the headline ‘brightest smartwatch screen ever built’ feature of this microLED edition is justifiably front and centre, but it also provides the 8 Pro microLED with best-in-class performance, screen clarity and brightness.

It’s bursting at the seams with activity, performance and health tracking features backed up by snappily accurate sensors, which enabled real-time monitoring of everything from shifts in barometric pressure outside in the hills to automatically detecting the start of another eight-metre vertical rep in the indoor climbing wall.

Once you dial the brightness up to maximum in the settings (despite all the hype, the default is befuddlingly set to 75%) the step up in brightness from AMOLED is dazzlingly obvious, and contributes to an impression of increased definition too. In fact, the watch screen is so bright that I could easily use the inbuilt mapping mode to navigate in direct overhead summer sunshine while wearing sunglasses, which is a quality of life gamechanger for outdoor adventurers. And putting it side by side against a maxed-out-brightness iPhone in these conditions really hammers home the benefits of the 4,500 NITs of light coming from those microLEDs.

This next-level brightness is maintained even when viewing the watch face from an acute angle, which can be surprisingly useful when glancing at your watch mid-run or taking quick compass bearings, for instance.

Despite the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED’s 51mm, beefed up form factor (it’s 1mm thicker and 3 grams heaver than the already-thick AMOLED version) I quickly grew used to wearing it 24/7 so that I could really dig into Garmin’s lifestyle, training and health monitoring features. It’s chunky, of that there’s no doubt, but I found the combination of a supremely comfortable, flexible strap and well-designed watch body surprisingly easy to wear all-day and overnight. For the first time in a long time, possibly ever, I found that the sleep monitoring data matched my lived experience almost exactly, which gave me faith in the smartwatch to provide useful, actionable data and insights into how to improve the duration and quality of my sleep without feeling ‘nagged’ to do so.

As befitting a true multisport smartwatch, I took the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED everywhere from trail running around London to hiking national parks in sideways rain and from snowboarding at 50mph down a French Alp in -18°C windchill to scaling routes in an indoor climbing wall. I was consistently impressed with the automatic tracking and accuracy of the various activity modes once they’re activated (and there are a lot of modes, including eight running sub-modes and not just Snowboarding but Backcountry Snowboarding too).

I love data but I hate lots of pain points in the tracking experience, so the ability of this smartwatch to intelligently detect and log activity is unsurpassed, in my experience. I found that this smartwatch wasn’t flustered by extreme conditions or environments and the battery life remained consistent even as the iPhone in my pocket was spluttering and dying in sub-zero temps.

Speaking of battery life, it’s nominally less than the AMOLED version, but in practice I got at least four days life on a single charge with Always-On Display on and was pleasantly surprised by its longevity. In situations where battery life was critical, I got used to toggling off the Always-On screen, which made battery life jump to 10 days+. Unlike some smartwatches, there was no perceptible lag when turning your wrist to activate the screen so you don’t sacrifice much usability with this setting.

I also appreciated the rugged design, which shrugged off knocks and scrapes when high in the mountains. Ironically, the biggest impact was when I punched the bezel into a plastic hold when climbing indoors and made the whole wall shake. The sapphire screen remained resolutely unmarked and while I did scrape the very edge of the adonised black finish off the bezel, the titanium itself was undamaged. I look forward to the time when the form factor can be shrunk down, but until then the durability of this smartwatch will see you through despite its egregious, easily-knocked size.

On paper, the brightness upgrade of microLED over AMOLED seems like a ‘nice to have if you have the cash’. But in practice, the real-world experience of discovering unexpected performance and quality of life improvements from a brighter screen are compelling. The upgrade is worth it, and makes me hopeful for the future of microLED technology coming to other smartwatches.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED: Price and availability

• $1,699.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$3,399.99
• A significant leap above the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED
• In a price class of its own for a multisport smartwatch

The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED retails for £1,399.99, $1,699.99, AU$3,399.99

That breaks out from the upper reaches of multisport smartwatches and approaches the terrain of luxury connected watches such as Tag Heuer’s Connected Caliber E5. So, you need to be convinced of the benefits of brightness, because that’s 100% what you’re paying for.

• Value score: 4/5

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED: Scorecard