Garmin's 2026 Roadmap: Every Rumor, Leak, and Prediction Worth Tracking

I've been a Garmin user for years. My Enduro 3 has logged everything from pre-dawn trail runs in the Norwegian mountains to those half-hearted Tuesday treadmill sessions where I convince myself that 20 minutes "still counts." So when Garmin CEO Cliff Pemble told investors the company has "a very active year plan for outdoor" with "a significant number of new product introductions," I did what any reasonable person would do: I went down a very deep rabbit hole.

Here's what I found. Buckle up — 2026 is shaping up to be Garmin's biggest year in a decade.

TL;DR: Garmin is planning up to 25 product launches in 2026, with most major hardware dropping in H2. The Fenix 9 is virtually confirmed for late summer/fall, CIRQA is a brand-new Whoop-rivaling health band arriving around May, and LTE connectivity is expanding across the lineup. If you're thinking about buying a Garmin right now, you might want to wait.

What Did Garmin Actually Confirm?

During Garmin's Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Cliff Pemble didn't name specific products — they never do — but he gave us more breadcrumbs than usual. He confirmed the company expects "full year growth in outdoor to accelerate in 2026 compared to 2025" and specifically noted "stronger performance in the back half of the year due to the timing of product launches" (Tom's Guide, 2026).

That's CEO-speak for: we have some big stuff coming, and it's landing in the second half of the year. Analysts at The5kRunner are tracking up to 25 potential product launches for the year (The5kRunner, 2026). Twenty-five. Even if half of those are minor updates, that's an extraordinary pipeline.

For those of us impatiently refreshing rumor sites, the message is clear: the real fireworks start this summer.

The Fenix 9: What's Actually Coming?

Let's start with the one everyone's asking about. The Fenix 9 is coming — and it's coming in 2026, not 2027. The5kRunner analyzed Pemble's exact phrasing and concluded that Garmin's own words essentially confirm a Fenix 9 for late 2026 (The5kRunner, 2026). The expected release window is June through October 2026, based on historical launch patterns (Garmin Rumors, 2026).

Rather than a radical redesign, the Fenix 9 will likely refine the technologies Garmin introduced with the Fenix 8 Pro:

• MicroLED display improvements — The Fenix 8 Pro's MicroLED was impressive but power-hungry. A newer generation should improve battery efficiency significantly.

• LTE and satellite refinement — Expect smoother connectivity and potentially better coverage.

• A return of MIP? — The Fenix 8 Pro launched only with AMOLED and MicroLED. A MIP variant could return for the Fenix 9, giving battery-focused users what they want (Tom's Guide, 2026).

• Smaller 43mm case option — Widely requested and could finally materialize.

• Thinner profile — The Fenix 8 Pro was chunky. Every millimeter Garmin shaves off matters for daily wear.

Speaking personally? I'm most excited about the MIP possibility. I don't need my watch to look like a tiny smartphone — I need it to last a week of mountain hut trips without charging.

Garmin CIRQA: Garmin's Whoop Killer

This is the one that caught me off guard. In January 2026, Garmin accidentally published — then quickly pulled — a product listing for something called the CIRQA Smart Band (Wareable, 2026). A screenless, dedicated health and recovery wearable. That's Whoop territory.

Here's what we know from the FCC filing and the leaked listing:

• No GPS, no screen — WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy only

• ECG, skin temperature, and high-fidelity HRV — Garmin's latest sensor array

• Two band sizes (S/M and L/XL) in Black and French Grey

• Metal case construction — Premium, not plasticky

• 10–14 days battery life — That no-screen advantage at work

• Direct integration with Body Battery and Training Readiness in Garmin Connect

The shipping window points to May or June 2026 (The5kRunner, 2026). I'm cautiously excited. Whoop's subscription model has always felt like paying rent on your own body data. If Garmin delivers comparable recovery tracking with a one-time purchase and the existing Connect ecosystem, that's a game-changer for athletes who want passive 24/7 recovery tracking.

Enduro 3 vs. Enduro 4: What I'm Hoping For

As an Enduro 3 owner, this is the upgrade I'm watching most closely. The Enduro 3 launched in August 2024, making a successor a perfect fit for H2 2026. While nothing is confirmed, here's my best-guess comparison based on the rumor mill and Garmin's technology trajectory:

Feature	Enduro 3 (Current)	Enduro 4 (Expected H2 2026)
Display	1.4" MIP, always-on	1.4" MIP with improved contrast and motion, possible AMOLED or version - hopefully not! Possibly three size version versions as the fenix 9 Solar with mip is more and more unlikely.
Solar Charging	Power Glass solar lens	Next-gen solar with higher efficiency
Battery Life (GPS)	Up to 320 hours (solar)	350–400 hours with solar
Battery (Smartwatch)	Up to 90 days (solar)	90–120 days
Processor	Current generation	Newer chipset, faster UI performance
Satellite	Multi-band GNSS	Multi-band GNSS + possible satellite messaging
LTE	No	Quite possible given its outdoor-focus and beeing a variant of the fenix line.
Health Sensors	Elevate v5 HR, SpO2, HRV	Elevate v6 expected, improved accuracy
Weight	63g (titanium bezel)	~60g - most likely quite similar
Maps	TopoActive, preloaded	TopoActive with faster rendering
AI Features	Training Readiness, Body Battery	Enhanced AI coaching, Connect+ integration
Price (est.)	$899 / €899	$899–$999 expected

Note: Enduro 4 specs are speculative, based on rumored Garmin technology trends and the Fenix 8 Pro feature set. Nothing is officially confirmed.

For ultra-runners and multi-day adventure racers, the Enduro line is all about battery life. I'd bet the Enduro 4 doubles down on that advantage rather than adding LTE or AMOLED — the whole point of this watch is to outlast everything else on the market and cater towardss thi special niche of users. If Garmin can push GPS battery life past 350 hours with solar, while adding satellite messaging for backcountry safety, that's the upgrade that would get me to open my wallet. That beeing said a lot of users are fine with the Fenix 8 and 8 pro with amoled as well, and I would not be surprises if Garmin is cutting R&D costs and rolls out an enduro 4 with amoled, and emphasize the battery saving features instead of the screen tech. I really do hope not.

The Forerunner Family: Gap-Filling Mode

Garmin refreshed most of its Forerunner lineup in 2025 with the 570 and 970, but there are obvious gaps. The 2026 strategy appears to be filling them (The5kRunner, 2026):

• Forerunner 170/370 — Entry-level to mid-range models below the 570/970. The Forerunner 165 didn't get refreshed, so a replacement is overdue.

• Forerunner 975 LTE — A top-tier running watch with cellular connectivity, giving runners LTE safety features without a Fenix.

• Smaller case options — A 41mm Forerunner 970 Pro LTE could arrive in spring.

  
  

Everything Else: Vivosmart 6, Aviation, Cycling, and More

The rumor list goes way beyond watches:

Vivosmart 6 — One of the biggest leaks ahead of CES 2026 pointed to built-in GPS for the first time. Expected to be the first hardware launch of the year (Garmin Rumors, 2026).

MARQ Gen 3 — Garmin's luxury line follows a three- to four-year refresh cycle, making 2026 a likely window. Expect the latest flagship tech in a premium titanium package.

Aviation watches — The D2 Air X15 (Venu-based) and D2 Mach 2 (Fenix-based) have been leaked for pilots.

Edge 1060 — The flagship cycling computer is expected to get updated display tech. Garmin also launched the Varia RearVue 820 with vehicle threat-level detection (T3, 2026).

Smart ring? — Don't hold your breath. Oura's aggressive patent lawsuits have kept competitors at bay, and Garmin seems focused on the CIRQA band instead (The5kRunner, 2026).

The Technology Trends That Matter in 2026

Across all these products, four themes keep surfacing:

LTE is expanding. After debuting on the Fenix 8 Pro, cellular connectivity is trickling down to models where battery life and case size can support it. The Forerunner 975 LTE and a possible Venu X1 Pro with LTE are prime examples.

MicroLED is the future — but it's early. The sunlight readability of MIP combined with the vibrancy of AMOLED. Whether it drops below the Fenix tier in 2026 is the big question. My bet? Not yet — probably 2027 for Forerunner.

Solar AMOLED is on the horizon. Garmin secured patents in 2022 for integrating solar charging into AMOLED displays. This could debut on high-end models in the 2026–2027 timeframe and would fundamentally change the battery equation.

AI remains Garmin's blind spot. While Apple, Samsung, and Polar push AI-driven insights, Garmin's AI efforts haven't gone much beyond workout summaries. 2026 needs to be the year they define a real strategy, or they risk losing the narrative to competitors who make health data feel more actionable.

My Personal Wait-or-Buy Verdict

I'll be honest — I don't need another Garmin. My Enduro 3 works great. But "need" and "want" are different things, aren't they?

• CIRQA — Buying day one. I've been curious about Whoop for recovery tracking but hate subscription models. If Garmin delivers this with full Connect integration, it's a no-brainer.

• Enduro 4 — If satellite messaging is included, I'm upgrading. If it's just a spec bump, I'll wait another cycle.

• Fenix 9 MIP — If it exists with a MIP display option, it's tempting. But I love the Enduro's ultra-battery focus.

• Edge 1060 — I'm a fair-weather cyclist at best. But that new Varia RearVue 820 with threat-level detection? That's genuinely useful for safety.

The general advice for anyone considering a Garmin purchase right now: if you can wait until summer, wait. The back half of 2026 is going to be stacked.

Should I buy the Fenix 8 Pro now or wait for the Fenix 9?

If you can wait six months, wait. The Fenix 9 is expected between June and October 2026, and even if you end up preferring the Fenix 8 Pro, prices will drop once the successor launches. The exception: if you need a watch right now for a specific event or expedition, the Fenix 8 Pro is still outstanding.

Will Garmin CIRQA smartband require a subscription like Whoop?

Based on Garmin's track record, almost certainly not. Garmin has never charged subscriptions for health data access through Connect, and the CIRQA will feed into the existing Body Battery and Training Readiness ecosystems. This would be a major competitive advantage over Whoop's $30/month model.

Is Garmin falling behind on AI compared to Apple and Samsung?

It depends on your priorities. Garmin's algorithms for metrics like Training Readiness, Body Battery, and HRV Status are arguably the best in the business. What they lack is the conversational AI layer — the ability to ask your watch "should I run today?" and get a nuanced answer. Whether that matters is a personal call, but it's an area Garmin needs to address. Also genertive Ai is difficulte to steer and regarding health and fitnes, that is a really slippery slope from a legal perspective. Hopefully Garmin will go full on MyFitness-pal and offer integration with external services such as the upcoming ChatGPT Health, or future services from Google and Anthropic. Stay tuned for a future article about that.

Will MicroLED come to the Forerunner lineup in 2026?

Unlikely in 2026 — MicroLED is still expensive and currently exclusive to the premium Fenix tier. Industry watchers expect it to trickle down to Forerunner in 2027 at the earliest. For now, AMOLED remains the standard for mid-to-high-end Forerunners.

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This article is based on publicly available rumors, leaks, patent filings, and analyst speculation as of February 28, 2026. Garmin has not officially confirmed any of these products. I'll update this post as new information becomes available.