The existing Garmin Fenix 5, 5S and 5X have JUST had GALILEO support rolled out in beta. It doesn’t yet appear to be available for the Forerunner 935 but will surely follow in due course.
To be clear: This is NOT the Garmin Fenix Plus (review ed here) series. It’s the regular 5 Series
This is beta software and it’s race season…update at your peril. But, yes, I’m going to 🙂
My understanding is that this is single band GALILEO…so hopefully it’s better than GPS-only but there are hopefully more improvements to come in future watches. Fenix 6 anyone 😉
Galileo on the Fenix 5 + Chronos
Full details of the beta release are shown below and here are the links…enjoy! :
- Fenix 5x firmware – link to: Garmin.com
- Fenix 5 firmware – link to: Garmin.com
- Fenix 5s firmware – link to: Garmin.com
- Fenix Chronos firmware – link to: Garmin.com
Double check your GPS version is v4.40 (mine is v.4.4 even on the FR935…which hold out hope for the same GALILEO upgrade on the FR935)
Details:
Changes made from version 9.20 to 9.53:
- Added GPS + GALILEO support (Activity Settings > GPS). (Requires GPS version 2.20)
- Added abnormal heart rate alerts. Enable these in Heart Rate widget > Heart Rate options > Abnormal HR alert. An abnormal heart rate will be detected if your heart rate exceeds the entered threshold for an extended period of time while sedentary.
- Fixed a bug causing Cadence values to be ‘stuck’ when not pedaling instead of returning to 0.
- Fixed a crash seen when viewing SwimRun activities.
- Fixed a crash sometimes encountered when selecting apps.
- Fixed a bug causing some activities performed on multiple devices to be double-counted when viewing Training Load on Physio TrueUp devices.
https://the5krunner.com/2018/06/29/galileo-is-it-rubbish/
Last Updated on 16 January 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
Do you expect the 645 to get Galileo too? I think the chipset is compatible.
i would tentatively expect: edge 1030, 645 and maybe vivoactive 3. maybe also forerunner 245 and edge 830
Fenix Chronos also with Galileo support in beta: https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=11421
good find thank you!!
I think Descent and Tactix will receive either, and F935 and F645 because of M5 GPS chipset (1621) now in version 4.40: https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=10475. This is version of F5 that receive now Galileo support. Simple logical.
yes i have 4.4 already on my 935.
what you say is logical. But…..
When available, please bring us some tests of accuracy. Generally people have curiosity to see if things improved.
Thanks for this link. My f5x was stuck on GPS v4.3 despite having system software v9.20. The 9.20b package has GPS_v430 and Garmin Express won’t offer me just the GPS update. I was able to download the GPS firmware from your link. The USB version is virtually identical to the GPS_v430 firmware .gcd file from the recent betas except for a small range of bytes at the end of the file. I was able to add this to the /Garmin/REMOTESW directory on the watch and update the GPS. That’s consistent with a minor tweak.
On the other hand, the v2.20 GPS firmware that enables Galileo is totally different in a binary diff and is almost 25% larger.
Galileo won’t fix bad antenna design. As well as most of the part is dependant on software algorithm which interprets data from antenna. We will have Galileo system support, but it has nothing to do with GPS accuracy until antenna design and interpeting algorith is fixed. I suggest to keep expectations low.
List of devices that will get Galileo support (no specific timeframes yet):
• Forerunner 645/Forerunner 645 Music
• Vivoactive 3
• Vivoactive 3 Music
• Edge 820
• Edge 520 Plus
• Edge 1030
Source: DCR (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/06/tech-tidbits-friday-powerpods-new-199-model-fenix-5-non-plus-gets-galileo-tacx-lowers-prices-eurobike-preview.html/comment-page-1#comment-2910702)
yep i just got the same info.