Garmin Fenix 8 Rumours and Release Date

The Garmin Fenix 8 is still a ways off, but rumours about the upcoming premium multisport watch are starting to surface. Read more in this blog about the rumours and release date of the Garmin Fenix 8.

What We Know About the Garmin Fenix 8

• A possible release between 2024 and 2025
• The expected price is around £700.00
• The Fenix 8 will again be a multisport watch with premium features

Garmin Fenix 8 Rumours: Expected Features

AMOLED Display

Despite multiple generations, Garmin has maintained the flagship design of the Fenix series. The Garmin Fenix 7 is available in three sizes, and we expect at least three sizes for the Fenix 8 as well.

Garmin has been consistent here; the round display and five buttons have remained largely unchanged over the years, with minor adjustments.

One such adjustment is the AMOLED display. The Epix closely resembles the Fenix 7 but features an AMOLED display. The Fenix 7, however, uses a transflective screen, which is less bright and colourful than AMOLED but more energy-efficient.

Eventually, AMOLED displays will become efficient enough to replace the transflective screens on Fenix and Forerunner watches.

A Slimmer Fenix Smartwatch

Compared to other smartwatches, Fenix models are thick, which doesn’t enhance comfort. This thickness partly stems from a larger battery, with sizes ranging from 14.1mm to 14.9mm depending on the model.

A slimmer Fenix 8 could improve comfort, though this depends on how much it affects battery life. The thinner the watch, the less room for a battery.

You can make the weight and size appear smaller and lighter with one of our Garmin straps.

Preloaded Maps

Garmin is renowned for its advanced GPS navigation systems, and we expect even more and better navigation tools with the Garmin Fenix 8. The Fenix 7 includes a free map package, and for the Fenix 8, we anticipate more built-in maps and increased storage for downloadable maps.

A Microphone

Earlier this year, Garmin unveiled the Venu 2 Plus with a microphone for interacting with the smartwatch’s voice assistant.

This allows you to send voice messages and commands. You can answer calls without pulling out your phone, for instance. It seems logical that Garmin would want to advance with the Fenix 8, making this feature a likely inclusion.

ECG Sensor

ECG sensors are now almost standard in smartwatches and activity trackers. This isn’t the case with Garmin watches; the Garmin Fenix 8 might be the first to feature ECG sensors.

LTE Connection

A useful addition to your Garmin smartwatch would be an LTE connection, allowing you to receive messages without your phone nearby. Fitness enthusiasts might not seek this in the Fenix 8, but it could be handy for receiving messages and streaming music.

Garmin Pay

Currently, Garmin Pay supports a limited number of banks for payments. Rumours suggest Garmin is working to support more banks. Releasing the Fenix 8 could be a perfect opportunity to announce improved debit card compatibility.

Improved Sleep Tracking

A weakness in Garmin watches is sleep tracking. To measure sleep, you must manually input sleep times in the Garmin Connect app. The watch isn’t smart enough to detect sleep automatically, making afternoon naps hard to record.

For the Fenix 8, we expect this issue to be addressed to enhance usability and improve the Fenix series’ functionality.

Garmin Fenix 8 Release Date

Here are the recent release dates.

• Garmin Fenix 3 (January 2015)
• Garmin Fenix 3 (January 2016)
• Garmin Fenix 5 (January 2017)
• Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (June 2018)
• Garmin Fenix 6 (September 2019)
• Garmin Fenix 7 (January 2022)

We notice that the Fenix 7’s release was three years after the previous model, while Garmin typically unveiled Fenix models annually. The coronavirus likely played a role, disrupting manufacturers’ production schedules.

For the Garmin Fenix 8, we don’t expect such a large gap. At the earliest, we anticipate a release around early 2024, with early 2025 being the latest expectation.

Conclusion

We still know little about the Garmin Fenix 8, so for now, it’s all speculation based on available information. We’ll keep our ears and eyes open for Fenix 8 news and update this blog with any new developments!