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Garmin Hits 15% of Global Smartwatch Shipments, Pulling Even With Samsung
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Venu 4
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Venu X1
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Forerunner 570 Series
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Forerunner 970
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Vivoactive 6
Garmin Launches Tacx NEO 2T Bundle With Zwift Cog and Click
Garmin Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, and More Are on Sale
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 22.43 For Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro
Garmin CIRQA vs WHOOP: Who Is CIRQA Actually For?
Garmin to Release a Smart Ring
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 15.18 For Instinct 3 Series
Garmin FCC Filing Shows LTE and Satellite on a Wrist Device — Possible Fenix 9 Pro inReach Fit
Three Fenix 9 Models Reported: Standard, Pro, and Pro inReach — MIP Solar on the Pro Tiers
Garmin Q2 Call Takeaways: CIRQA Backorders, a Busy Outdoor H2, and Thailand in 2027
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Garmin captured 15% of worldwide smartwatch shipments in Q2 2026, up from 11% a year earlier, according to new estimates from research firm Omdia. That puts Garmin effectively tied with Samsung for the number two spot behind Apple.
For years the smartwatch market has been framed as Apple, then Samsung, then everyone else. This table changes that framing. Apple still dominates at 46% (down from 48%), but Samsung slipped from 17% to 15% while Garmin climbed four points in a single year — the biggest gain of any brand in the table. Omdia says Samsung stayed only “marginally ahead” of Garmin in actual units. Garmin is now within striking distance of becoming the world’s second-largest smartwatch maker.
What’s driving it? Omdia credits exactly what Garmin fans already know: demand for serious sports watches. “Consumers are increasingly willing to pay premium prices for devices that deliver accurate, advanced training data and translate it into actionable insights,” said Jason Low, Omdia’s Research Director, pointing to running, cycling, and outdoor use cases — plus the newer Forerunner models that made Garmin’s lineup accessible to more buyers.
Garmin is climbing in the bigger wearables picture too
Omdia also tracks the entire wearable-band market — smartwatches plus fitness bands and trackers combined. Garmin grew there as well, from 4% to 6%.
Garmin’s share looks smaller here because this table includes the flood of low-cost fitness bands from Huawei (18%) and Xiaomi (17%), which lead the combined market. The notable Garmin storyline: Samsung dropped from 9% to 6% in this table, which means Garmin caught Samsung here too — from below, while Samsung fell to meet it.
Garmin grew while the market shrank
Total wearable shipments declined 2% year over year in Q2.
Underneath that decline, the market split in two. Smartwatches grew 6%, powered by advanced sports models — Garmin’s home turf. Basic fitness bands fell 9%. Omdia’s read is that buyers now want one of two things: a feature-rich sports watch with multi-day battery, or a minimalist screenless tracker they can wear 24/7. The mid-tier is getting squeezed out.
That polarization is almost perfectly aligned with Garmin’s current strategy. And here’s the kicker: CIRQA, Garmin’s screenless band, went on sale July 25 — after this quarter closed. Omdia already notes screenless trackers passed 15% of basic-band shipments in Q2, led by Google’s Fitbit Air. Garmin posted these gains on watches alone, with its entry into the other growth category still to come in the Q3 numbers.
Garmin has released stable System Software 17.38 for the Venu 4 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Venu 4 Updates:
For all Venu 4 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 17.38
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
Garmin has released stable System Software 17.38 for the Venu X1 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Venu X1 Updates:
For all Venu X1 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 17.38
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
Garmin has released stable System Software 17.38 for the Forerunner 570 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Forerunner 570 Updates:
For all Forerunner 570 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 17.38
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
Garmin has released stable System Software 17.38 for the Forerunner 970 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Forerunner 970 Updates:
For all Forerunner 970 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 17.38
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
Garmin has released stable System Software 17.38 for the Vivoactive 6 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Vivoactive 6 Updates:
For all Vivoactive 6 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 17.38
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
Garmin has announced the Tacx NEO 2T with Zwift Cog and Click, a new package that combines its existing NEO 2T indoor trainer with a pre-installed Zwift Cog and the handlebar-mounted Zwift Click controller.
The Tacx NEO 2T is a direct-drive smart trainer for indoor cycling. A rider removes the bike’s rear wheel and mounts the bike to the trainer, which measures riding data and automatically changes resistance in response to workouts or virtual routes.
The package is intended to reduce setup for riders using virtual shifting. The Zwift Cog replaces a conventional cassette and is compatible with bikes using 8- to 13-speed drivetrains. Zwift Click mounts on the handlebars and controls virtual shifting in Zwift. It can also be used to steer, navigate menus and send “ride-ons” within the platform.
Trainer features and compatibility
Garmin says the trainer is ready for Zwift and ROUVY without calibration and measures power and cadence with accuracy within 1%. Ride data is shown in the selected training platform and can be uploaded automatically to Garmin Connect when that option is enabled.
The trainer also supports two separately sold accessories. Tacx NEO motion plates add multidirectional movement, while the Tacx Alpine gradient simulator can reproduce climbs up to 25% and descents down to -10%. The Alpine accessory also includes integrated steering.
Price and availability
The Tacx NEO 2T with Zwift Cog and Click is available now with a suggested retail price of $1,099.99. Garmin says buyers who are new Zwift subscribers are eligible for a free membership offer, although the announcement does not specify the length of that offer. Availability varies by region, and a subscription is required to use the connected training platforms.
Garmin’s announcement focuses on the pre-installed Cog, Click controls and simplified platform setup rather than changes to the NEO 2T trainer’s core hardware.
Nearly every current Garmin flagship is discounted on Amazon right now. Fenix 8 AMOLED and Solar models are up to $250 off, both Fenix 8 Pro AMOLED sizes are $250 off, and the 47 mm Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED has reached its lowest Amazon price ever at $450 off. The Enduro 3, Fenix E, and Instinct 3 AMOLED are also on sale.
The timing is notable because the Garmin Fenix 9 lineup is likely to launch soon. That means these watches may not remain Garmin’s newest models for long, but it also makes this a great time to buy a deeply discounted flagship. If you do not need the next generation simply because it is newer, the current Fenix 8 family still delivers Garmin’s best mapping, training, health, and outdoor features.
Amazon prices can change quickly. The boxes below show the latest available pricing.
Fenix 8 AMOLED deals
Fenix 8 Solar and Fenix E deals
Fenix 8 Pro deals
Fenix 8 Pro adds LTE and satellite messaging through Garmin’s inReach services, although an active subscription is required for connected features. The 47 mm MicroLED model is now at its lowest Amazon price ever, dropping from $1,699.99 to $1,249.99.
Enduro 3 and more Garmin deals
Waiting for the Fenix 9 makes sense for buyers who always want Garmin’s latest hardware. For everyone else, discounts this large make the proven Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, and Enduro 3 especially compelling.
Garmin has released stable System Software 22.43 for the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix 8 Solar, Enduro 3, Fenix E, Tactix 8, and Quatix 8 watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Fenix 8 Updates:
For all Fenix 8 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 22.43
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
I wear a Garmin watch essentially all the time. It tracks my sleep, stays on through the workday, and obviously handles my workouts. I like having the health data, I like being able to glance at the time, and after years of wearing one, having a Garmin on my wrist is just part of my routine.
That raised an obvious question when CIRQA launched: if I already wear a Garmin watch 24/7, what would CIRQA actually add?
For someone like me, the answer is not much. Nearly everything CIRQA is designed to track is already being captured by the Garmin watch on my wrist. Where CIRQA becomes much more interesting is for Garmin users — or potential Garmin users — who do not want to wear a smartwatch all day.
What CIRQA actually is
The easiest way to think about CIRQA is that it is Garmin’s health and training experience stripped of the screen and GPS/GNSS. Its sensor module measures 27 × 47 × 9 mm and weighs about 14.8 grams on its own, or roughly 21 grams with the included ComfortFit strap.
Because there is no display, everything runs through Garmin Connect. The major features include Training Readiness, Training Status, VO2 Max, HRV Status, Body Battery, and Health Status, along with advanced sleep tracking, all-day heart rate, stress and respiration, more than 80 activity types, automatic activity detection, optional Pulse Ox, skin temperature, LiveTrack, and Smart Wake. The full feature and specification list is on the CIRQA Smart Band page.
There is also a physical button that can be used to start a favorite activity directly from the band.
Price-wise, CIRQA sits between Fitbit Air and WHOOP: the band costs $199.99 once, with no required subscription for its core Garmin Connect features, which is $100 more than Google’s Fitbit Air. WHOOP hardware is tied to an annual membership ranging from about $199 for One to $359 for Life, depending on the hardware and software tier. Our full CIRQA, WHOOP, and Fitbit Air comparison breaks down the differences.
CIRQA looks very different from a Garmin watch, but the data it feeds into Garmin Connect should feel familiar to anyone already in the ecosystem.
Size, fit, and everyday comfort
CIRQA is noticeably lighter than wearing a Garmin watch, and its soft 24 mm ComfortFit strap can be worn on the wrist or swapped for an optional upper-arm band. The hook-and-loop closure also makes it easy to adjust the fit for sleep or workouts.
The sensor module itself is long, though, spanning a noticeable amount of the top of the wrist. I noticed it at first, but like most wearables, it became easier to ignore with prolonged wear.
Where CIRQA fits for existing Garmin users
If you already wear a Garmin watch day and night, CIRQA adds very little. The latest Garmin watches already capture everything CIRQA does.
CIRQA makes more sense for people who wear a Garmin only for workouts, prefer a mechanical watch (or no watch) during the day, or do not want to sleep in a full-size GPS watch. It fills those gaps while keeping health and recovery data in one place: Garmin Connect, without a required subscription for the core features.
Garmin will inevitably earn another $200 from a percentage of loyal existing users who want CIRQA as a second device, but the bigger opportunity lies elsewhere.
The bigger opportunity for Garmin
The bigger opportunity is converting non-Garmin users into the Garmin ecosystem with CIRQA. Whoop proved there is a market for sleep, recovery, and health tracking without another screen, and CIRQA gives those buyers access to Garmin Connect without requiring them to buy a traditional Garmin watch.
With no display or meaningful on-device interaction, nearly the entire experience happens in the app. That is where Whoop already has a clear advantage.
Where Whoop beats Garmin: the app
Hardware is only half the story. If CIRQA is Garmin’s way into the screenless category that Whoop built, the comparison that matters most is what happens on the phone — because that is where both products actually live.
I have spent real time in both apps. On design and on depth of detail, Whoop is clearly ahead of Garmin Connect right now.
Garmin Connect’s homepage is useful, but its new Essentials tiles rely on icons that are not especially intuitive. Sleep, Body Battery, Training Readiness, and HRV Status are all in one place, although the symbols take a moment to decode. I often have to pause and analyze a logo before understanding which metric it represents.
Whoop’s home looks cleaner and is easier to scan: Sleep, Recovery, and Strain are clearly labeled as the three rings you organize your day around, with Healthspan updates pushed forward instead of buried. Same idea when you open the daily recovery views side by side.
Training Readiness is a useful Garmin feature and I use it, but Whoop’s Recovery screen puts the contributing numbers — HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep performance — on the same card as the score, with baselines and trend arrows. You see why the day is yellow or green without digging through four separate glances.
Fitness Age vs Whoop Age / Healthspan
The difference between the two platforms becomes especially noticeable in how they approach fitness age.
Garmin Fitness Age tells me I am 26.5 versus a chronological age of 35, then lists four “On Target” cards: vigorous minutes, vigorous days, resting heart rate, body fat. It is fine as a summary, but it is much less clear how hard each lever moves the score, or what happens if one slips.
Whoop Healthspan leads with Whoop Age, years younger, and Pace of Aging on one screen. That alone is a different product pitch, not just “are you fit now” but “how are you aging.”
Garmin’s year chart is a single line. Whoop shows Whoop Age against chronological age, plus a separate Pace of Aging trend with storytelling built into the UI.
Then Whoop goes further and breaks the age score into weighted inputs — each with an impact measured in years, 6-month vs 30-day averages, and plain-language coaching.
VO2 Max is worth −3.5 years. RHR is worth −1.7. Sleep consistency, hours of sleep, time in zones, strength minutes, steps — each one shows whether you are outperforming or falling off, and by how many years. Garmin Fitness Age never gets that specific. You get maintain-this checklists, but do not get “this metric is pulling your age down by X.”
In both design and depth of detail, Whoop still has the advantage here.
Conversational AI vs Garmin Connect+ AI
The AI gap extends beyond Whoop and Garmin. Whoop Coach lets you ask about strain, sleep, recovery trends, or the day’s workout and then continue with follow-up questions, making it an interactive layer over your health data rather than a one-time summary.
Garmin’s Active Intelligence is available only through the paid Connect+ subscription and appears as a short card on the Connect home feed. Mine recently reported that my time in heart rate zones 3–5 had increased 12% over four weeks and that my load balance was on target. That is useful as a quick observation, but there is no chat or follow-up, and the insight is often too generic to change what I do.
Even Strava’s non-interactive Athlete Intelligence provides a more useful activity summary, covering pacing, negative splits, recent mileage, and time in heart rate zones. Whoop remains the strongest of the three because it is conversational, although it has one important limitation for me: most of my running history lives in Garmin, so Whoop cannot see the full picture.
That makes Connect+ feel like a missed opportunity. Garmin already has my health data and complete run and activity history; if Active Intelligence let me explore that data through an ongoing conversation, the subscription would become far more valuable—especially for a screenless product like CIRQA, where the app is central to the experience.
Hardware and bands vs Whoop
I also wore CIRQA and Whoop together for a direct feel comparison.
I liked the subtler look of CIRQA’s band. Whoop’s clasp with the big W logo is fine, but it has become a statement piece. CIRQA’s ComfortFit strap is just fabric — no branded metal plate sitting on top of the wrist — and that cleaner look worked better for me day-to-day.
On size, though, CIRQA felt noticeably bigger because its module runs farther across the wrist, as seen in the photo above. It has a larger overall footprint than Whoop’s puck, although it is a bit thinner.
It is possible that one device is more accurate than the other for a particular health metric, but both were directionally consistent and produced relatively similar results in my use. That makes accuracy unlikely to be the deciding factor for most buyers.
Battery should not be a major deciding factor either: Garmin claims up to 10 days for CIRQA, while WHOOP claims 14+ days for 5.0 and MG. WHOOP Peak and Life have the convenience advantage of a waterproof wireless PowerPack that clips on and charges the device while it remains on your wrist, although the entry-level One bundle does not include it.
The top-tier WHOOP Life membership also includes WHOOP MG hardware with on-demand ECG and daily blood pressure insights, neither of which CIRQA offers, which could be deciding features in their own right.
Who CIRQA is for
CIRQA is not for me because my Garmin stays on around the clock, but it makes sense for existing Garmin users who want continuous data while their watch is off. For someone choosing a first screenless tracker, its one-time $199.99 price and lack of a required subscription are compelling.
That being said, WHOOP offers the stronger app, deeper interpretation, and interactive AI, but costs roughly $199 to $359 every year. Garmin could narrow that software gap with a sharper Connect experience and better AI, but it is unclear whether it will succeed at that.
Whatever you choose, Garmin’s strategy is clear: it wants a device for everyone. Its broad watch catalog already spans nearly every sport, design style, wrist size, and audience, while the screenless CIRQA Smart Band and evidence of an upcoming CIRQA Smart Ring show that it is extending that same breadth beyond traditional watches to people who may not want a watch at all.
It appears Garmin is going to release a smart ring.
CIRQA SMART RING Render
That comes from a new Indonesia equipment certificate — first spotted by Garmin News — listing a Garmin fitness product under the model name CIRQA SMART RING.
Certificate 125338/DJID/2026 in Indonesia’s e-Sertifikasi database. Model name: CIRQA SMART RING.
Wiki: CIRQA Smart Ring
This comes just two years after Garmin executives publicly explained why the company would not launch a smart ring.
At the 2024 Garmin Health Summit in Prague, Vice President of Fitness Joe Schrick and Senior Director of Health Engineering Scott Burgett argued that the wrist was the better form factor — more power budget, more LEDs, more sensor real estate, and better signal quality, especially at rest. Rings were comfortable, they said, but watches were the stronger platform for health tracking.
Even then, that post left the door slightly open. Sensor miniaturization and battery efficiency were still improving, and Garmin could still ship a Whoop-style tracker with sensors it already knew how to build. The second part happened first: Garmin launched the CIRQA Smart Band (wiki) in July at $199.99 with no required subscription.
Reusing the CIRQA name on a ring suggests Garmin may be expanding that screenless line beyond the band — into a category already occupied by Oura, Samsung, Ultrahuman, and others.
What the filing shows
The certificate is in Indonesia’s official DJID / e-Sertifikasi equipment database, the radio/telecom register products typically need before they can be sold there. Details listed:
- Model name: CIRQA SMART RING
- Certificate: 125338/DJID/2026
- Date: August 12, 2026
- Applicant: PT Garmin Indonesia Distribution
- Country of origin: Taiwan
There is still no information Garmin.com or release information. Filings like this often show up closer to manufacturing and regional availability than years ahead of a launch. What we have for now is the model name on a public certificate and a clear change from the company’s 2024 stance on rings. With Garmin’s entry into smart bands, and now a potential smart ring, the company is clearly willing to meet consumers however they want to track their health.
Garmin has released stable System Software 15.18 for the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, and Instinct E watch models. This stable update provides new additions and fixes.
Below is a timeline of all Instinct 3 Updates:
For all Instinct 3 updates, see our software updates page.
Change Log
- Improved gear suggestions for Hike activities.
- Fixed possible lag in glances list.
- Fixed issue in Strength activity where weight value could display incorrectly when editing a set.
- Fixed issue where pace could drop out during intervals.
- Fixed dog pointer direction in DogTrack glance.
- Fixed issue where CIQ data field was obscured.
- Fixed issue where watch face data field could be blank in some languages.
- General security improvements.
How to Update to Stable Version 15.18
You can manually download the update from your device by navigating to: Main Menu > Settings > System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
A fresh Garmin FCC filing looks like a wrist-worn device with both LTE and satellite (NTN) radios — the same connectivity mix that would fit a next-gen outdoor flagship with built-in inReach. Gadgets & Wearables was first to report the filing.
The Fenix 8 Pro.
The filing is FCC ID IPH-05170, model A05170, with a final action date of August 5, 2026. Public exhibits describe it as a portable digital transceiver, and the SAR report explicitly treats it as a wrist-worn device — including testing with nylon and vented titanium straps.
On the radio side, the public docs show:
- LTE Cat-M1 / LTE-M on North American bands 2 / 4 / 12
- NTN satellite operation on bands n23 and n255
- Plus the usual wearable stack: Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, ANT+, and NFC
That is a much stronger signal than a Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi-only module filing. Photos and the full user’s manual are still under short-term confidentiality, so there is no consumer name or product shot in the public packet yet.
Could this be the Fenix 9 Pro inReach?
Possibly. We recently reported that Garmin appears to be preparing three Fenix 9 models — standard, Pro, and Pro inReach — with cellular / LTE sitting on the Pro inReach tier, not on every SKU.
A brand-new wrist wearable filing with both LTE-M and satellite messaging fits that Pro inReach lane cleanly. The FCC packet does not name Fenix 9, so this is still a fit, not a confirmation.
Either way, the important part is hard: Garmin is actively certifying another cellular + satellite wrist device right now — and if our three-tier Fenix 9 read is right, Fenix 9 Pro inReach is the most obvious place for it to land.
New reports suggest Garmin is preparing three Fenix 9 models — not just a standard Fenix 9 and a Pro. That builds on our earlier Fenix 9 / Fenix 9 Pro reporting. The lineup now looks like a Fenix 9, a Fenix 9 Pro, and a Fenix 9 Pro inReach.
On Fenix 8, Pro meant LTE and built-in inReach. Next gen may split that into its own Pro inReach tier.
That last model is the new split versus today’s Fenix 8 Pro. On Fenix 8, “Pro” basically meant the cellular / LTE and built-in inReach watch. This time, those radios appear to sit only on the Fenix 9 Pro inReach.
What the middle Pro actually adds over the standard Fenix 9 is still unclear. It could bring extra features, or it could mostly be upgraded materials, closer to how sapphire models worked in past generations.
MIP Solar stays — but not on the base Fenix 9
MIP fans everywhere, rejoice.
The standard Fenix 9 is not expected to offer an MIP option, but the Fenix 9 Pro and Fenix 9 Pro inReach would both have MIP Solar variants, alongside AMOLED.
That also fits the broader pattern we’ve been watching: AMOLED as the default path, with MIP Solar surviving in some models for its core fans. For more on that tradeoff, see our AMOLED vs MIP deep dive.
43mm across every tier — just not in MIP
Signs point to a 43mm option across all three tiers, which would fix one of the bigger misses on the Fenix 8 Pro (no 43mm at all).
The catch: there likely won’t be a 43mm MIP option. Smaller wrists get into every Fenix 9 tier on AMOLED, but MIP Solar stays on the larger sizes.
Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro
None of this is official yet. But if these reports hold, the next Fenix generation would be a three-lane lineup: a standard Fenix 9, a Fenix 9 Pro, and a Fenix 9 Pro inReach that carries cellular / LTE — with MIP Solar surviving on the Pro tiers, 43mm across the board, and no 43mm MIP.
After Garmin’s strong Q2 2026 results, the earnings call filled in more from CEO Cliff Pemble — especially around Fitness, Outdoor launch timing, CIRQA, and TrainingPeaks.
Fitness stays the growth story
Pemble said Garmin still expects Fitness to lead consolidated growth for the full year:
We continue to expect the Fitness segment will be the strongest contributor to 2026 consolidated growth.
That tracks with the quarter — Fitness hit $757 million, up 25% — and with the products Garmin highlighted on the call, including the new Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170, plus the just-launched CIRQA Smart Band.
CIRQA demand ran ahead of plan
Asked about early feedback and the multi-week ship dates showing up on Garmin.com, Pemble was blunt:
I think it is demand and supply driven, definitely ahead of anything that we had imagined… The actual result, once we announced the product, was very strong, ahead of our expectations. We will be chasing back orders for a while.
That matches what buyers have already seen: most CIRQA colors on Garmin.com went weeks out almost immediately, with only limited near-term availability elsewhere.
On the subscription question, Pemble’s framing was that CIRQA ships richly featured without requiring Connect+, while Connect+ remains the add-on for AI, nutrition tracking, “and other features that we’ll add in the future.” Asked whether Garmin would chase more wearable form factors beyond the wrist and CIRQA’s band, he wouldn’t discuss roadmap specifics — then said Garmin tends to “move into categories and explore new things,” and that he’d expect “additional new product in the future.”
Outdoor’s soft Q2 was framed as launch timing
Outdoor revenue fell 2%, “primarily due to consumer auto and adventure watch product categories.” The important line for watch watchers was the forward look:
Looking forward, we expect to achieve stronger revenue performance in the back half of 2026 due to the timing of product launches, resulting in improved full-year growth when compared to 2025.
That H2 launch calendar is where the signs have been pointing — a Fenix 9 / Fenix 9 Pro and Enduro 4 wave and a MARQ Gen 3 refresh on the same tech generation. Garmin didn’t name those products on the call, but “timing of product launches” is as close as you’ll get to a busy Outdoor second half from the company itself.
TrainingPeaks: a 360° coaching loop, not cost cutting
On the TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic deal, Pemble said it’s early and Garmin is “really not thinking about” traditional synergies. The synergy he did describe is product-shaped:
The synergies we’re thinking about in TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic really has to do with our product line and the ability to offer what I would call a 360-degree experience for our customers, where using our devices, they record information that is then loaded into the training platform. Coaches are able to review that and provide recommendations, which then modifies the behaviors of the user.
We laid that out in our deeper take on why Garmin bought TrainingPeaks, and explained in detail the same 360° loop Cliff is alluding to here.
Memory costs hit the back half — Thailand capacity lands in 2027
Q2 margins were excellent, helped by mix and a $21 million tariff refund. On memory, Pemble said Garmin has been protected by strategic inventory so far:
The higher costs that are in the market today have not yet impacted our financials. We do expect that to start to impact us in the back half, and we’ve included that in our guidance.
Management’s posture was familiar — use the same playbook that worked on tariffs, and keep leaning on vertical integration and scale. CFO Doug Boessen also noted that updated full-year gross-margin guidance (about 59.7%) does not bake in more tariff-refund upside beyond what already hit in Q2.
On the manufacturing side, Thailand is getting real. Garmin has been building a new manufacturing facility there to expand and diversify production beyond its existing global footprint — something that already showed up in earlier guidance as operational in early 2027.
On this call, Pemble said the project is “on track” and in “probably the most intense part of our capital expenditures,” with the facility expected to finish toward the end of 2026 and start being used in early 2027. Phase one is about 400,000 square feet, with potential over time to double Garmin’s capacity across the company. Cost structure: “probably the same or even slightly less” than Garmin’s current global setup — with the bigger point being diversification and manufacturing optionality as the business grows.
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Garmin Hits 15% of Global Smartwatch Shipments, Pulling Even With Samsung
Garmin Launches Tacx NEO 2T Bundle With Zwift Cog and Click
Garmin CIRQA vs WHOOP: Who Is CIRQA Actually For?
Garmin to Release a Smart Ring
Garmin FCC Filing Shows LTE and Satellite on a Wrist Device — Possible Fenix 9 Pro inReach Fit
Garmin FCC Filing Shows LTE and Satellite on a Wrist Device — Possible Fenix 9 Pro inReach Fit
Three Fenix 9 Models Reported: Standard, Pro, and Pro inReach — MIP Solar on the Pro Tiers
Garmin Connect to Introduce Exclusive Discounts for Connect+ Subscribers
Garmin Connect Soon Gaining New Features to Support CIRQA, Its Screenless Fitness Device
Vivosmart 6 Leaked in Garmin Connect Survey After Months of Silence
Garmin Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, and More Are on Sale
CIRQA Available on Amazon With 2-Day Shipping – Limited Quantity
Garmin Prime Day 2026: Best Live Deals on Garmin’s Flagship Watches
All of Garmin’s Latest Watch Models Are on Sale, Many at Their Lowest Price Ever
Garmin Forerunner 570 Drops to Lowest Price Ever (22% Off)
Garmin CIRQA vs WHOOP: Who Is CIRQA Actually For?
Curious How CIRQA Looks on Your Wrist? Try It in Our Photo Booth
CIRQA Is Live in Our Garmin Comparison Tool — See How It Compares
CIRQA First Looks: DC Rainmaker and Other Early Reviews
Garmin Connect Essentials: What It Is and How to Turn It On
Garmin Natural Cycles Integration Brings FDA-Cleared Birth Control App to Smartwatches
Garmin officially adds nutrition tracking to Garmin Connect (Connect+ required)
Garmin Partners with King’s College London on Pregnancy Health Research
Garmin’s Women’s Health Tracking Features
How to Boost Your Sleep Score
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Venu 4
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Venu X1
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Forerunner 570 Series
Garmin Releases Stable Software Update 17.38 For Forerunner 970
