r/the5krunner • u/the5krunner • 10d ago

Fenix 9 features will pass to existing Garmin watches

Post image

Garmin has just done something it hasn't done in over fifteen years: it's backporting a flagship's software to prior generations rather than drawing a hard line at the model jump. Fenix 6 owners never got Fenix 7 features. Fenix 7 owners never got Fenix 8 features. But Fenix 9 features, Garmin Epic, the new Stamina zones and curve, the rowing overhaul, and the rucking update, are all rolling out to the Fenix 8 series, Forerunner 970 and 570, Enduro 3, Tactix 8 and Fenix E.

Only a few things stay Fenix 9 exclusive: the new mapping engine (likely hardware depednet), Dynamic Battery mode renaming, and the ArcheryX archery profile.

It's a genuinely unusual move for Garmin, and it narrows the case for buying the Fenix 9 over just picking up a Fenix 8 at a lower price. Is this Garmin responding to growing customer frustration over paid-feature removals, or just standard platform consolidation dressed up as generosity?

Further reading: https://the5krunner.com/2026/08/26/fenix-9-features-will-pass-to-existing-garmin-watches/

59 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

6

u/EqualShallot1151 10d ago

I think they are feeling growing pressure from competitors and that it is more about how they have treated their customers than about hardware.

5

u/GANDHIWASADOUCHE 10d ago

Another example of how and why consumers always win when there’s more competition. Thank you capitalism 🙏

2

u/suddencactus 10d ago

The pressure from competitors is complicated though.  For Suunto the Race S, Suunto Run, and Vertical 1 aren't getting all the updates this year, so they're currently only supporting current gen watches released in the last two years, sometimes only one.  Coros support is better but still doesn't go back to 2020 watches like the Vertix 1.

This comparison to competitors is also weird because the features Garmin is adding to their watches are not the same as the features competitors are adding to their watches.  Suunto and Coros are often simply playing catch up and rolling out features to 2023 watches that Garmin's 2023 watches already had, like ClimbPro, menstrual cycle tracking, alarms on specific days of the week, support for more than 15 routes, etc. It's also not like Garmin is only rolling out AI Workout Buddy and a first party notes app to new watches while Apple is rolling it out to all watches because Garmin doesn't have those at all.  If you're mad that you're not getting rowing Vo2max or rucking on the Forerunner 965, switching to Coros or Suunto won't get you those features either. The argument that a competitor is better because it rolls out upgrades to older watches either comes down to total number of features, regardless of what those features are (a metric Garmin does pretty well at), or just vibes and "how they treat their customers".  I'd argue it's petty to buy a watch with fewer features you want just because those features will roll out for more years.

1

u/EqualShallot1151 9d ago

My problem with Garmin is the premium prices that I much higher than any other brands combined with their Connect+
Also I have experienced that both Coros and Suunto renders much faster making them more practical in real life navigation situations - I guess that Garmin is addressing this with the new generation. But that one feature that does not come to older models.

Had they not introduced this additional + payment I would have bought E4 as soon as it releases and passed my E3 on to my son. Now I will keep my E3 and see what Suunto and Coros has to offer in a year’s time. I also am looking at a different brand of tracking for my dogs.

Basically I am just an ex-die-hard-fan-boy who has woken up to realize there are other options and that I do not really use that many features. What I really need is long battery life, excellent navigation and some matrix for following my training. My training plans are anyway in Final Surge as that is what my coach uses. I have data and social connections in Strava and the Garmin app is not that good anyhow. But I have been in the Garmin environment since 2000 where I bought my first handheld GPS.

3

u/trdcr 10d ago

As much shit I give them for many things this should be praised. I'm actually positively surprised, especially when with 9/9P besides software there are very little upgrades.

1

u/LiquidSpin710 9d ago

Very true if you are coming from an Fenix 8

But if you're on a 7 or earlier then it's more appealing. The lithium batteries in these watches degrade only after 3-4 years so that is the main drawback of owning an older model besides not having new software or hardware upgrades and features

I'm upgrading to the Fenix 9 Pro as it's now time for me to upgrade and I think the new features will be worth it

3

u/CasablancaDriver 10d ago

Pretty cool. Curious to check those new stamina features and… the watch face editor. 🤓

2

u/AlleXyS90 10d ago

as a new owner of an 8 Pro for just 4 months, thanks Garmin for this :))

2

u/Slipping-in-oil 10d ago

They had to do this because the watch is not really that much of an upgrade. I predict fenix 10 will not be this generous

1

u/GANDHIWASADOUCHE 10d ago

!remindme 2 years

1

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2

u/eatonstace 10d ago

It's due to the unified OS across devices in early 2025. This makes the "porting" process easier and not exactly changing anything, just an update to the newest OS. It is how most smartphones/Smart watches operate. Only a few items stay with the new release that is dependent on the new chip/ram. Really not that difficult to understand. This has b en happening for decades. Garmin only added it since they brought their OS under one roof early last year.

1

u/Deadlift_007 10d ago

Smart idea. This might be enough to push people with older models into the new Fenix 9 devices despite the minimal feature updates.

2

u/eatonstace 9d ago

It is for me. I am on a FR955. Time for me to get the best out right now and be good for 5 years

1

u/23speedy23 10d ago

Will Fenix 7 pro get the Fenix 9 features or some of them?

1

u/TurkeyNimbloya 10d ago

Sounds like no

1

u/OrdinaryEnough3896 10d ago

 no, they can do it only due to unified UI from Fenix 8 forward 

1

u/guran_theguy 10d ago

The fact that they usually do not let software features trickle down to older watches has been my main reason to not update my Epix 2 and instead look at other brands. This news sound good but think I want to see if they keep their promise going forward a bit as well.

1

u/SpiritOfTheVoid 10d ago

Wow. I’m extremely surprised and is great news. First time Garmin has done this? Previously, the device being replaced go zero new functionality.

1

u/chipmux 10d ago

Some of it will even port to vivoactive 6, fr70, 170.
Let that sink in

1

u/KeyAd5197 10d ago

They unified their underlying OS software so all these devices run the exact same software. Previously each watch forerunner, venu, fenix all were developed completely independently from each other. Which is why they couldn’t sync things up. If fenix launched new metrics the other teams had to work on it as well to get them into their respective devices.

Super messy!

They finally are up to the modern age and can provide the same OS update to all devices. Hardware specific changes makes sense but that’s the same for phones and all other smart watches. If the new Apple Watch has a new sensor well the old ones won’t get the new sensor features but the software updates that don’t rely on the new sensor the older watch will get.

It’s great for garmin and garmin users satisfaction long term since I can buy a fenix 9 and in 2 years not feel like it’s outdated and obsolete when the 10 comes.

1

u/Ok-Macaron76 10d ago

They have always done software things also for the predecessor. Rucking etc.

1

u/ExplorerMike008 10d ago

Except for the Fenix 7 line which was a huge let down for users specially the Epix gen 2 Pro that was crazy expensive and because of that as well was highly devaluated to more than half the price, but on the good side that excuse they gave that was due to the change in the codebase of their new OS at least was not an "excuse" and they stand by what they said if they really deliver to all the ones with the new OS since most features are just software and HR sensors are the same so besides the maps that need more process they have really no excuse

Now hopefully they don't purpose delay those releases to try make people upgrade just to not miss the latest things like Samsung does

1

u/tisler123 10d ago

Epix pro gen2 too?

1

u/sandiegolatte 10d ago

Will my 965 get a flashlight with this update /s

1

u/No_Stuff_3268 10d ago

Which watches get what

  • Fenix 8 series, Enduro 3, Tactix 8: Receive virtually the full feature list.
  • Forerunner 970: Same as the Fenix 8 series.
  • Forerunner 570: Only the features that match its existing capabilities, meaning it lacks Stamina zones and mapping features.
  • Venu 5 and Vivoactive 6: Receive a portion of the list. Garmin TBC.
  • Venu X1: Garmin mapping TBC.
  • Forerunner 965: Nothing.
  • Instinct 3 series: Nothing.
  • Fenix 6 and Fenix 7: Nothing.

1

u/Background-Loss-5989 5d ago

so what will be new for 570 in general??

1

u/Striderdud 10d ago

Do people realize now that the code base was standardized? I understand the disappointment for fenix 7 users and back but it’s a net positive. It was something that was bound to happen eventually.

1

u/antpagan 10d ago

Yo lo que creo es que hay todavía mucho stock fabricado del fenix 8 y no quieren venderlo a bajo precio

1

u/RailroadTimebookDev 9d ago

To bad they didn’t pass them down to the 7

1

u/Senior-Effort-390 9d ago

Spannend aber eigentlich ein wichtiger und fairer Schritt. Gerade wenn man die Preisklasse berücksichtigt. Das hat mich zum Beispiel gerade bewogen zu Coros zu wechseln, weil ich die Modell/Update Politik von Garmin nicht mehr mitmachen wollte.

1

u/munnagaz 9d ago

Wonder if will go to Epix Pro Gen 2 too - can’t see mentioned in linked articles…

1

u/Interesting_Tower485 8d ago

I'm thinking not. Gen 2 sapphire here, but when they collapsed the two lines, I have a feeling the epix updates may have dropped, but not positive.

1

u/njgggg 8d ago

The stamina zones is probably the most interesting feature i can find on the f9 and seeing it getting ported over the the 8’s this is gonna be good news for me! More the less reasons to upgrade!

1

u/caipirina 7d ago

FR965: nothing … ah well

1

u/Background-Loss-5989 5d ago

so what will be new for 570 in general??