Sports Watch & Bike Computer Update – November 2022
V2.403 – 14 Nov 2022
This frequently refreshed & super-detailed post shows which GPS Run, Bike and Triathlon sports devices are rumoured to be pending release, available NOW, discontinued or which are due to be superseded.
Elsewhere on the site, there are LOTS of detailed hands-on reviews on virtually all of the key run/tri watches and bike computers that you can BUY NOW.
If you are here for the first time and interested in ‘future sports devices & feature sports tech developments‘ then this entire post and another discussing the future of individual features (also linked at the end) will be of interest. Note that most info here is based on high-quality leaks, dual-sourced rumours and the extrapolation of past product release cycles, wider technological changes & their availability. Almost all of these new product ‘predictions’ will happen but the precise timing will differ.
Table of Contents (Click to Expand)
Recent Highlights and the INBOUND Queue
2022 has been great and there is more to come. Fenix 7, Epix 2 and the Forerunner 955 have sold like hotcakes and we’ve already had new Polar and Suunto sports watches and new Stages cycling computers. There is still some sports watch excitement to come later in 2022 but Garmin has finished most of their launches – as usual, after the summer it’s the smartwatches we can look forward to.
Key Trend: Most manufacturers release a new model that genuinely often has significantly improved hardware bits inside and out. Maybe the features haven’t changed too much sometimes but the watch or bike computer genuinely has. So try not to give the makers too much of a hard time as you may often find separate releases of key features that either weren’t quite ready or simply a separate PR buzz was planned for them to occur later. Apple, Garmin and many more all do this.
The full table of everything, past & future is towards the end of this post.
Here are headlines from recent months and likely headlines for the months to come:
- LEAKED: Garmin Forerunner 265 AMOLED (a 965 is also equivalent also highly likely)
- EXPECTED: Edge 540 and 840 are now likely for 2023
- IMMINENT 2022: Moto Watch 200 and 200s
- LAUNCHED: Polar Ignite 3
- LAUNCHED: Coros Apex Pro Gen 2
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Instinct Crossover
- LAUNCHED: Oppo Watch 3 Pro
- LAUNCHED: Suunto 9 Peak Pro
- LAUNCHED: Wahoo ROAM 2
- LAUNCHED: Google Pixel Watch
- LAUNCHED: Garmin MARQ 2
- LAUNCHED: Apple Watch 8, SE (2022) & ULTRA
- LAUNCHED: Venu SQ 2 Sep 2022 (Music, maybe LTE option too)
- LAUNCHED: Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 with LTE options (Inspire 3 as well)
- LAUNCHED: Samsung Watch5
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Enduro 2
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Explore 2 and Explore 2 Power Bundle
- LAUNCHED: Forerunner 255 & 255s plus music options. Expected Wed 1st June 2022
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Forerunner 955 and 955 Solar
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Epix (Fenix 7X with lights!)
- LAUNCHED: Fenix 7 series (January 18, 2022)
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Tactix 7 (Tactical, soldier)
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Quatix 7 (Water, yachts)
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Instinct 2 and 2s
- LAUNCHED Garmin D2 Air X10
- LAUNCHED: Garmin D2 Mach 1
- LAUNCHED: Tag Heuer Calibre E4
- LAUNCHED: Skagen Falster Gen 6 (Fossil, Wear OS)
- LAUNCHED: Polar Pacer and Pacer Pro
- LAUNCHED: Suunto 5 Peak
- LAUNCHED: Stages Cycling M200 and L200 next-gen bike computers
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Venu 2 Plus
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Varia RTL715
- LAUNCHED: Garmin Edge 1040 with solar option
Monthly Commentary
Q1/Q2.2022 was a nice start to the year as we saw lots from Garmin, Pacer Pro from Polar and the 5 Peak from Suunto not to mention Stages M200/L200 cycling computers that I’m enjoying very much. Coros officially said something was coming from them but for later in the year. So as of NOW it’s really more Garmin products that we are waiting on with the mish-mash of wellness/smart products much more likely to hit later in the year with the run-up to Christmas.
We are currently seeing every Garmin CIQ 5-capable device getting that update
Personally speaking, I’ll be excited to see the next generation of Garmin MARQ althought I won’t be paying for that premium shell.
Edge 1040 Solar and 1040 were also interesting additions but not too exciting on the new features front.
Apart from that, I have no intel on Wahoo but am looking forward to ANYTHING new from them. Be that a revamped RIVAL or new ELEMNT bike computer. Logic would say that a next-gen ROAM is next (no intel) but I can’t see RIVAL being superseded this year with another tri-watch, maybe something else?
Garmin Running & Triathlon Tech for 2022
If you analyse previous release cycles, a LOT of Garmin products were due for a refresh in 2021. Covid got in the way and 2022 is when most surfaced. So if it hasn’t been iterated it WILL be…soon. Exceptions being the 265, 965 and Edge 840/540.
The new move for high-end running tech in 2022 will, for sure, be AMOLED. We saw with the Epix2 but there will be more of a material impact as Solar is rolled out to a wider range of products although it will certainly still remain a premium option. LTE remains a mystery; I strongly suspect that it’s not as popular as the industry hoped, especially Garmin. Garmin seems only to be able to use LTE for emergency or positional updates to 3rd parties when really the vast majority of the market wants it for making calls and streaming music…Garmins can’t do that (yet).
As predicted, the Forerunner 955 is now with us.
For all new higher-end iterations from Garmin in 2022 expect to eventually see LTE as an option, perhaps eventually in the high-end bike computer formats.
Garmin has just about refreshed all their accessories to include BLE and ANT+ support. The most glaring omission is the footpod and that appears unlikely, especially now that Garmin has finally made running gpower proprietary.
Garmin’s approach to the smart tech and wellness tech aspect of the market is again at a turning point as 2022 continues. It’s not clear to me how the likes of Vivoactive 4/5 perform in the market. Reasonably well, I’m sure, but I suspect they are becoming less of the money-earners they once were. WearOS 3 and Watch OS9 will cause Garmin ever-increasing problems as more competent competitors emerge and strengthen their positions.
Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Coros & Other Sport-focussed GPS Watches
I don’t expect anything excitingly new here in the entirety of 2022 unless either Suunto or Polar goes deeper with Wear OS, which is unlikely in the latter’s case.
Coros iterated the Apex/Apex Pro which is a well-made Venu/Vivoactive competitor but lacking in smarts and trying to compete as a finely made and more sporty version in a crowded part of the market. Just as Garmin might find issues in that space then so might Coros. Still, Coros is MUCH smaller so growth might be easier there for it at present.
Polar has iterated almost all their range except the Unite. That one next but then what? Back to Vantage 3 in 2023?
For Suunto, the next ‘obvious’ new watch is the Suunto 7 gen 2 (Wear OS) which would be the only possibility of a game-changer. Suunto has just iterated Suunto 5 to the 5 Peak. We also saw with Suunto 9 PEAK and 9 PEAK Pro that Suunto is also considering a variety of case/screen sizes as well as new quality case materials to augment their usual approach that lets buyers customise their watch. My bet (no intel) is that Suunto will iterate a larger Suunto 9 with the new tech on the S9Peak and S5Peak and then iterate a larger Suunto 5 in 2023 rather than any new play with Wear OS.
The Wahoo Rival competes against the V2/935/945 as a true sports watch. I could possibly see a refreshed Gen 2 model in late 2022 but far more likely is a continuous improvement in the features of the existing RIVAL and ‘something else’ in Spring 2023.
The sporty-smart-fitness watches then sit as uneasy bedfellows at the low/mid-price points, all trying to differentiate themselves from the out-and-out smartwatches made by the smartphone manufacturers (Samsung, Apple, etc). The main differentiator of these products seems to be their claimed sportiness/healthiness for the price points they occupy. Ultimately an app or two on an Apple Watch will do the same job(s) and therein lies the long-term fate of companies like Polar & Garmin.
Apple’s Watch ULTRA is a decent triathlon-ready watch that also has running dynamics & native running power…yes, really butthe rumoured outdoors competitor to the Fenix was simply a MASSIVE over-exaggeration of the addition of a few mini-navigation and running features.


2022 once again sees these brands & products at an interesting juncture.
- Polar has thrown the PACER Pro/Vantage M2 refresh dice for 2022. Where next? A move to Wear OS, a revamped web platform? Newer sensors or just a same-old, same-old round of new refreshes? Interestingly the Pacer/Pacer marketing material seems to suggest that Polar admits to itself that it can’t compete in triathlon and that might signal a refocussing on only running – a lack of track mode is a glaring omission.
- Suunto has more scope to refresh its product line further. However, it is smaller than Polar and we must not forget that its Chinese owners will be looking to massively boost the brand’s fortunes in the Far East. So this could be the start of geographic growth for Suunto it’s just that we won’t see much of it in the West. Suunto focuses on the outdoors and yet fails to have maps on their watches albeit compensated by good maps on the partner app – Coros manages maps, why can’t Suunto?
- Coros is likely to iterate rather than release new models. They have a conundrum though, the app needs significant work and, with the exception of the Pace 2, Coros must realise that their company strengths are “quality materials” and “number of sports features” – its products definitely sell well when they get the price right – Pace 2, but less so the rest. If the Apex 2 was $200/£150 cheaper, then it would be a game-changer. At the current price levels, it’s just tickling the toes of the Garmin Venu rather than giving it a stern push.
- Wahoo might not release another watch in the foreseeable future but as a company, they have a huge range of options open for their progress. I last moves were an iterated Kickr’22 and a new Roam Gen 2. The earlier acquisition of Wahoo RGT and a round of redundancies (source:dcr), so they still have platform integration work to do.
- Smaller companies like Sigma, Mio Labs, Bryton and one or two others may well treat us to more good-value and focussed products in 2022.
From all that, what I personally would class as interesting are a Suunto 7 gen 2 (2022 would fit past product lifecycles but mid-2023 is more likely); a feature-full & revamped Coros data platform (which apparently will happen); and many more Wahoo RIVAL features like an expansion of running power.
Smart Fitness, Wear OS, WatchOS & Similar Smarts
The game is set to be: Apple’s watchOS vs Google/Fitbit/Samsung’s Wear OS vs Domination of low prices by Asian brands. I’ve been saying that for years and have no reason to change my belief. Apple’s annouinced changes to watchOS 9 indicate that to be true.
Proprietary sports platforms like Garmin, Polar, Suunto will still be here in 3 year’s time. But…
I would bet money that this year will bring: high-end Fitbits/Pixel, Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch SE Gen 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch5. Sadly I will get very poor odds on that bet!
The Wear OS bounce has started and will be more obvious by End-Of-Year-2022, as we see the impact of:
- Next generation of Fitbit Versa/Sense on FitOS
- Re-purposed high-end Fitbit devices for Wear OS
- and Google Pixel Watch for Wear OS (a pixel watch was literally left in a coffee store in April so a release before October 2022 is a certainty).
- Accelerated take-up of the new SnapDragon 4100/4100+ processors (eg by Fossil) and next-gen 5xxxx processors are already talked about.
- New strategic movers into Wear OS like Oppo, although at least one Oppo watch will skip Wear OS.
- Samsung has at least partly committed to Wear OS. It’s likely they will go all-in.
- Casio released their first Wear OS watch on G-Shock (Protrek too), there could be a revamped PRO TREK in 2022, though Casio needs to produce something much better than before to do well here.
- Further, Wear OS platform updates which are now accelerating
Interestingly, Samsung appears to have exclusive access to Wear OS 3 on its Galaxy Watch4 models, at least for a while. The future of Wear OS appears to be a Google/Fitbit and Samsung duopoly perhaps with Fossil hanging on in the periphery. That could be a pattern that continues for years – ie Samsung/Google giving themselves exclusive access to the latest version of Wear OS for significant periods.


Also interestingly, the image above shows two of 10 new watch faces for the as-yet-unreleased Google Pixel Watch that will run Wear OS 3. Notice the Fitbit logo? Kinda gives a slam dunk to prove that Fitbit will run Wear OS 3, yet there are other concrete rumours to the contrary so let’s wait and see.
Huami (Amazfit/Zepp), Huawei, Realme, Redmi, TicWatch and others will continue in the battle of the budget smartwatches. Several of these have significant sales figures in some Far Eastern markets and some of the products might even be described as increasingly competent. Indeed what we are perhaps seeing right now are the Chinese companies building up significant competencies and sales volumes in their domestic markets before using that strength in other geographic markets. Most of them lack the ability to be cross-sold with a top smartphone from the same brand.
There will be an Apple Watch 8 in Sep 2022, preceded by watchOS 9 in August.


Bike Computers – Hope or Hopeless?
Garmin is clearly dominant in this sector and Wahoo is clearly the main challenger brand. The jury is firmly OUT on the potential longterm impact of SRAM/Hammerhead Karoo 2 but it is ‘one of the great hopes’ with a realistic chance of success
Other than an occasionally misplaced FCC filing, Wahoo is very good at keeping quiet, so don’t expect any leaks…just hope quietly for something exciting. But Wahoo already has a medium-format and large-format performance satnav. Those models cover most of the commercial bases so, other than an iterative model strategy, what gaps are there in the bike computer market for a significant number of profitable sales?
Apple, Google and maybe “China” will eventually clean out the watch markets but Garmin holds a dominant position with bike computers. Many challengers exist to Garmin’s Edge Series but only Wahoo/SRAM-Hammerhead(Android) seem to be coherent challengers and they are lagging behind if the number of features is how you judge bike computers. Will Bolt 3/Roam 2 be able to withstand an onslaught from Edge 540/840? It’s an interesting market position to debate as Garmin Edge will NOT pull further ahead either in terms of features or market share as their tech is already well-advanced and their market position too dominant. Catching up in each of those respects is MUCH easier than Garmin pulling further ahead. Interestingly the next Edge we see will be the Edge 1040 (leak first reported here), alongside a new Edge Explore and that will be followed by the 140/840/540 in 2023. The Edge 1040 bringsSolar, predictive ClimbPro and a new GNSS chipset but no NFC payments.
How difficult is it for smaller companies to catch or even beat Garmin at cycling? Read this: How to Beat a Garmin Edge. The answer is ‘VERY‘. If there is ever a new product to beat Garmin it will likely be another device based on Android. Why?… Answer: “apps” and a shorter, easier product development cycle, which sounds a bit like the Karoo!! Go figure. That said, Stages seem to be interested in playing this game with the L200/M200.
I suspect that Garmin doesn’t care too much about lower price points, so Bryton, Sigma, Lezyne, CatEye, Polar and other smaller bike computer companies can fight out the price-per-feature battle in that very messy and less profitable arena. One hopeful rumour even suggested that Polar might release a bike computer but I think that ship has sailed especially considering Polar’s reluctance to support ANT+ on their watches (their newer chest straps DO support ANT+)
There are good, well-featured bike computers like Stages M200/L200, Sigma ROX 12 and the high-end Bryton models but all of them, in my opinion, lack that certain ‘je ne sais quoi‘ that could propel them to the same levels as Wahoo. But remember that the ever-successful Wahoo BOLT Gen 1 prospered even past its 4th birthday, so you have to conclude that it’s not high technology that bike riders necessarily want. Maybe it’s the ‘just works’ factor or the platform or the brand image. [Manufacturers, if you are reading that, re-read it and take action before you make a slightly better ClimbPro that no one really needs. Just make your devices super slick and never, ever crash or lose a ride]
Garmin also doesn’t seem to care too much about MTB, gravel or e-bike-specific models. Maybe they know something that we don’t? (A: probably!). Maybe the SPD Rally pedals are the first indication that Garmin will take off-road/gravel more seriously. (Don’t forget, cargo biking, electric bikes and many other bike markets are growing and might eventually be attractive distractions to Garmin)


Lists of All GPS Sports Watches & Bike Computers
This is my opinion of current & future devices across the GPS running/cycling market. Updates to this will be issued as and when information emerges which may include rumours, although please note that any information provided to me under NDA by manufacturers will *NOT* appear here and I won’t talk about it as I always honour agreements I make either written or verbal. So there will be a few more surprises over and above all of this 😉
Garmin – Current and Rumoured Models
? = Discontinued or effectively discontinued and replaced
? = Expected Future Model or ‘very recent’.
Category | Links to Review and opinion article | Price Check Link | Comments | |
Bike | ?Edge 1000 | Superseded | ||
Bike | Edge Explore | Current: Jul 2018’s smaller version of the Edge 1030. Most performance features removed. Good for navigation | ||
Bike | Edge 1030 | Price Check | Current, Q3-Q4.2019 saw big updates to the 1030 to match the new 530/830. | |
Edge 1030 Plus (2020) | Price Check Price Check: Bundle | Edge 1030 Plus was June 2020 | ||
? Edge 1040 (2022) ? Edge Explore 2 | Soon! | |||
Bike | Edge 20, Edge 25 | Price Check Price Check | Entry-level cycling computer | |
Bike | Edge 130 | Price Check | Entry-level cycling computer with very interesting specs. May 2018 | |
Bike | Edge 130 Plus | Price check Price Check: MTB Bundle Price Check: HRM Bundle | Jun-20 | |
? Edge 140 (due 2021) | ||||
? Edge 200, Edge 500, | Price Check | |||
Bike | ? Edge 510 | Price Check | Effectively Discontinued | |
Bike | ? Edge 520 | Price Check | Still a great cycling computer and getting CHEAPER but a bit slow with no maps | |
Bike | Edge 520 PLUS | Current. Updated hardware capability (CIQ3), maps and software. Replaced by faster 530 | ||
Bike | Edge 530 | Price Check | Available May 2019 | |
Edge 540 | 540 could be Spring 2022 probably 2023 | |||
Bike | ? Edge 800, 810 | Effectively Discontinued | ||
Bike | Edge 820 | Price Check | Top-end, medium-sized, nav cycling computer. Dodgy touchscreen. Replaced by 830 | |
Bike | Edge 830 | Price Check | May 2019 | |
Edge 840 | 840 could be Spring 2023 (or 830+) | |||
Bike | ? Edge MTB (something more than the 530 MTB bundle) | There are gaps in the market here at least two price points. It could be filled by Garmin – just like the Instinct did for budget outdoors. | ||
Outdoors | ? Epix | Nice But Effectively Discontinued and replaced by Fenix 5X | ||
Outdoors | ? Fenix, Fenix 2, Quatix | Price Check | Effectively Discontinued, not as good as subsequent models. | |
Outdoors | ? Fenix 3 Fenix 3 HR + variants | Price Check Price Check 3HR | Current, still great devices | |
Outdoors | Fenix 5 PLUS, 5s PLUS, 5x PLUS | Price Check | Garmin’s flagship model for 2018-2019. These are notably updated Fenix 5 models. Superseded in with better hardware in the Fenix 6. | |
Outdoors | ? Fenix 5, Fenix 5s, Fenix 5x | Price Check 5 Price Check 5x Price Check 5s | Garmin’s flagship model for 2017-2018. Caveat Emptor. The Plus version is the one you want to buy NOT these… | |
Outdoors | Tactix Bravo (disc), Tactix Charlie, Tactix Delta (2020), Descent MK1/MK22s, D2 Bravo, D2 Charlie, Quatix, D2 Delta (& S and PX) Solar & Sapphire | ‘military’/hunting, diving, aviation, solar, durable variants of Fenix 5/6 | ||
Outdoors | Fenix 6, | Price Check | ||
Fenix models are 6S (Base, Sapphire and Pro), 6 (Base, Sapphire and Pro) 6x (Pro and Solar) | ||||
? Tactix Delta, D2 Echo, | ||||
? Descent MK2i (Q4.2020) | ||||
Quatix 6 (2020) | ||||
? D2 Delta (base, sapphire, solar) | ||||
Fenix 6 (further Solar and Sport variants for 2020) | ||||
? Enduro | Ultra Watch | |||
Outdoors | ? Fenix 7 Epix2 | Q1.2022 | ||
Outdoors | ? Fenix Chronos | Price Check | Super Premium: Quality innards, Quality shell and finish. F5s firmware. Expensive. Replaced by the MARQ. | |
Outdoors | MARQ (effectively Fenix Chronos 2) | Announced. the MARQ range is the Fenix range in a fancy shell eg MARQ ATHLETE is a 945 in an expensive shell. | ||
AUSTIN (effectively MARQ 2) | ||||
Aviator (aero), Captain (marine), Athlete (multi-sport), Expedition (Hike/Outdoors), Driver (car). | ||||
MARQ Commander 1 Oct2019. | ||||
Outdoors | ? MARQ2/CHRONOS3 | Q2.2022 | ||
Outdoors | Instinct | Price Check | Oct 2018 A cut-down outdoors-focussed Fenix. Kinda | |
Instinct Solar (plus Tactical, Camo and Surf versions) | Price Check | Jul 2020 | ||
The Instinct Tactical edition is now available and differs only with the NIGHT VISION and STEALTH modes, as well as the JUMPMASTER profile. |
| August 2019 TACTICAL COYOTE edition | ||
Outdoors | Instinct 2 (plus SOLAR version) | Due in 2021. This WILL eventually come as the Instinct is popular. My guess is Q3.2022 | ||
Run | ? Forerunner 210, Forerunner 220, Forerunner 225 | Effectively Discontinued | ||
Run | ? Forerunner 230 | Probably won’t be replaced. Effectively Discontinued. | ||
Run | ? Forerunner 235 | Price Check | Replacement 245 & 245M released | |
Run | ? Forerunner 235L | Apr 2018’s cut-down version for the Chinese market. | ||
Run | Forerunner 245 & Forerunner 245 Music | Current | ||
? Forerunner 255 and 255s (2022) | ||||
Run | ?Forerunner 25 | Price Check | Entry-level run/sports watch | |
Run | ? Forerunner 30 | Entry-level run/sports watch | ||
Run | ? Forerunner 35 | Price Check | Entry-level run/sports watch | |
Run | Forerunner 45, 45S | Current, Announced April 2019 FR45 Plus, August 2020 silent announcement | ||
Forerunner 45 Plus | ||||
? Forerunner 55 (2021) Forerunner 65 (2023) | ||||
Run | ? Forerunner 610, Forerunner 620 | Effectively Discontinued but good enough | ||
Run | ? Forerunner 630 | Great device, superseded | ||
Run | Forerunner 645 and 645M | Current. | ||
? Forerunner 655 (2022? never?) | 655 Overdue. may never materialise | |||
Run/Tri | Forerunner 735XT | Current, great mid-range tri watch (no barometer). it’s the last remaining CIQ2 device hence next to be replaced | ||
Run/Tri | ? Forerunner 745 Forerunner 755 (2023) | September 2020, top-end smaller tri watch | ||
Run/Tri | ? Forerunner 910XT | Great tri watch in its day, still good enough if you can find one | ||
Run/Tri | ?Forerunner 920XT | Price Check | Great tri watch…all you need really. Sometimes CHEAP | |
Run/Tri | Forerunner 935 | Still a Top tri watch, with no gimmicks (2022!) | ||
Run/Tri | Forerunner 945 | Top Tri Watch, all the features plus LOTS of gimmicks. LTE for 2021 | ||
? Forerunner 945LTE (June 2021) | ||||
? Forerunner 955/955 Solar, Q2-3.2022 | ||||
Forerunner 955 LTE, yup it WILL happen maybe late 2022 at the earliest | ||||
Fitness | ? Vivoactive | Price Check | Effectively Discontinued | |
Fitness | Vivoactive 3 | A contender to Fitbit Ionic and Apple Watch 3 | ||
Fitness | Vivoactive 3 MUSIC, Vivoactive 3M | VA3 with music. Q2.2018 | ||
Fitness | Vivoactive 3 Plus Music LTE Verizon | Jan-19 | ||
Fitness | Vivoactive 4 & 4S with a great AMOLED screen on the top-end VA4 called VENU.
| Sep-19 23 Sep 2020 | ||
Venu SQ Venu Plus Venu Plus 2 Venu SQ 2 | ||||
? Vivoactive 5 (q2-3.2022) | ||||
Fitness | ? Vivoactive HR | Great device, effectively Vivoactive 2, replaced by Vivoactive 3 | ||
Fitness | Vivofit 2, Vivofit 3, Vivofit 4 | December 2017: supersedes VivoFit 3. Vivofit 5 due for Xmas 2019. | ||
Fitness | ? Vivomove | Price Check | Dress watch, superseded September 2017 | |
Fitness | ? Vivomove HR | Sept 2017 | ||
Fitness | Vivomove 3 / 3s /Style / Luxe | Sep-19 | ||
Swim | ? Swim | Effectively Discontinued | ||
Swim | Swim 2 | Oct-19 | ||
Swim | Swim 3 | 2023? this will be on a 3-4 year release cycle if it continues to be sold |
Polar, Suunto, Wahoo, Fitbit, Apple, etc – Current and Rumoured Models
Category Links to either a review, opinion article or your local AmazonLinkComments
Manufacturer | Category | Review, opinion article Links | Price Check Link | Comments |
adidas | Run | ?Smart Run | Discontinued | |
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami/Zepp) | Run | Bip (#A1608 – Bip S Supercedes) | Price Check | Current products |
Pace (#A1612, #A1602) | Price Check | |||
Huami is renaming to ZEPP | ||||
Bip Lite (#A1915) | ||||
Bip S (2020) | ||||
Ares (Rugged, hexagonal Bip, May 2020) | ||||
Xiaomi Mi Watch Color (2020), plus sports edition | ||||
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami) | Run | Pace 2 | Pace 2 is Stratos. The only difference between the Chinese (A1609 Amazfit Pace 2) and the International version (A1619 Amazfit Stratos) is the firmware. | |
Amazfit Stratos 2 means Stratos (A1619) | ||||
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami) | Fitness | Verge, Verge Lite, | Current model A1811 (Lite #A1818), as over 1 Dec 2018 now selling in the USA. Verge 2 / Nexo imminent with eSIM. | |
Verge 2 / Nexo | ||||
? GTR, GTR2, GTR 3 | GTR2 released Aug2020 GTR 3 released October 2021 | |||
?GTS , GTS2 | GTS2 announced Aug 2020, it’s their version of the apple watch | |||
?Neo | Garmin Instinct rip off Aug 2020 | |||
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami) | Run/Tri | ?STRATOS 1/2 | Current, Multisport 2018 watch. Intl versions v1 & v2 are same. | |
?STRATOS 3 | STRATOS 3 Aug 2019 – model #A1929 | |||
Huami Amazfit T-Rex – model #A1919, | ||||
?T-Rex | ||||
T-Rex 2 (April 2022) | ||||
?Ares | ||||
Apple | Fitness | ?Watch Series 1 (Sport), | Current, great pricing on the AW3 beware inferior hardware compared to AW4. | |
? Watch Series 2 w/Nike, | ||||
Series 3 GPS+Cellular, | ||||
Apple | Fitness | ? Watch Series 4 w/Nike | Current. A notable hardware upgrade from the AW3. Discontinued | |
Apple | Fitness | ? Watch Series 5 | Aluminium, stainless steel, titanium and ceramic versions as well as the 40mm and 44mm versions. Also a Nike co-branded version. | |
Apple | Fitness | ? Watch Series 6 Watch SE Gen 2 (my bet for September 2022) Apple Watch Series 7 – Sep 2021 Apple Watch Series 8 (may have ‘explorer’ variant) Sep 2022
| WatchOS 8 September 2021,
| |
Bontrager | Bike | TREK Ride Time Elite, Trip 300, Bontrager Garmin Edge 1030 | low spec own-branded devices and Bontrager-branded Garmin device | |
Bryton | Bike | RIDER 100, 310, 320, 330, 410, 450h, 530E, Rider 530 T, 50, aero 60, one, Rider 860, Rider 420, Rider 750, Rider S500 with one thing in common…few people in Europe/USA buy them | Current, 450E is the top model @<$200 with all functions even 310 @<$150 supports a PM (Full model list here). Aero 60 is a fully-featured bikenav. The Sep 2019 Rider 860 and Rider 420 might see the 860 as the new top-end model built on Android – a first for Bryton | |
CicloSport | Bike | HAC 4 Plus (basic) Navic 400 (OSM-based bikenav with touchscreen) | ||
Casio | Outdoors | Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20 | Current, replaced by F20/F30 announced Aug 2018 | |
WearOS | ||||
Casio | Fitness | Pro Trek Smart WSD-F21 HR | Sep 2019. Updated F20 with oHR | |
WearOS | ||||
Casio | Outdoors | Pro Trek Smart WSD-F30 | Announced: Jan 2019, replacing WSD-F20. Expect a WSD-F40 in Jan 2020 😉 | |
Casio | Outdoors | |||
WearOS | Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 G-Shock Pro GSW-H1000 (Wear OS) | |||
CatEye | Bike | STEALTH 50, Stealth EVO, STEALTH EVO, STRADA, PADRONE Smart+, Stealth evo+ CC-GL51 (2015), full spec’d Aventura | 2016 models are current (full model list here), Avventura might only be available in Japan | |
COROS | Run/Tri | Pace Multisport M1 | Current, the Garmin 735XT lookalike | |
Pace 2 Pace 3 ?2023? | 2020 should see an update of the Pace, as Coros return to revisit their road running roots | |||
COROS | Run/Tri | Apex 42mm 46mm | Current Oct 2018. Highly credible endurance run and tri alternative. A competent small format is available. Jan 2019 a special edition announced for 46mm. | |
COROS | Run/Tri | Apex PRO Will iterate in 2022 | Q4.2019 Somewhere between Apex and Vertix | |
COROS | Outdoors | Vertix | Current May 2019. Premium case and SpO2 | |
CooSpo | Bike | BC200 | Current (hey! they made the effort to include power meter support, I made the effort to include it in this list, I’ve no idea who they are) | |
Epson | Run/Tri | ?ProSense 17, ?ProSense 57, ?ProSense 307, ?ProSense 347 | Discontinued | |
?SF-series | ||||
Fitness newOS | After failing to buy Fitbit, Facebook will enter the market possibly with WearOS possibly in 2022. | |||
Fossil | Fitness WearOS | Sport | Nov-18 | |
Fitbit | Fitness | ?Blaze | Price Check | Replaced by Versa |
Fitbit | Fitness | ?Charge, Charge 2 | Discontinued | |
Fitbit | Fitness | Charge 3 | Price Check | Current |
Fitbit | Fitness | ?Versa, | THE current SE version has Fit Pay payments | |
? Versa 2 | Versa Lite – March 2019 | |||
Versa 2 – available 15 September 2019 with Aug 28th Announcement | ||||
Versa 3 / Versa 3 SENSE Versa 4 – Q3.2022 | September 2022ish | |||
Fitbit | Fitness | ?Charge HR (Band) | Discontinued, replaced by Charge 2, Charge 3, Charge 4 (2020). | |
Fitbit | Fitness | Ionic | Current, September 2017 | |
Overdue, might never happen | ||||
Fitbit | Fitness | Ionic Adidas | Announced Feb 2018, has an Adidas app | |
Fitbit | Fitness | ?Surge | Superseded by Ionic | |
Fossil | Fitness WearOS | Puma SmartWatch | Sep 2019 (Prob same watch inside as the Fossil sport) | |
Michael Kors MKGO | Sep 2019 (Prob same watch inside as the Fossil sport) | |||
Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 | Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 | |||
Fossil | Fitness | Sport | Sport Uses 2019 Snapdragon processor. Fossil is a BIG WearOS watch producer for many sub-brands. Sport uses a new 3100 processor. | |
WearOS | ||||
Fossil | Fitness WearOS | Gen 5 Gen 6 (27 Sep 2021) | Still 3100 chipset but looks sweet and runs smoothly enough 4100/4100+ chipset for fall premium models | |
Giant | Bike | NeosTrack | Cycling Computers. The NeosTrack is a reasonably high-spec model. | |
Neos ANT+ | ||||
AXACT 13W | ||||
Fitness WearOS | Pixel Smartwatch | To be released in 2020 maybe. Unclear if a SPORT/FITNESS version will be released as well. | ||
Decathlon | Bike | BC900 | Cycling Computer, records power | |
iGSPORT | Bike | iGSPORT iGS60 iGSPORT iGS618 | Cycling Computer, I think these guys are owned by Xiaomi and could be one to watch at the budget end | |
Hammerhead | Bike | Karoo | Feb 2018. | |
Expect even more significant firmware updates throughout 2020 | ||||
Hammerhead | Bike | Karoo 2 Karoo 3 ?2023? | Cycling Computer, small format, Xmas 2020 | |
Huawei | Fitness WearOS/Harmony OS | Fit, Watch 2 Sport, Watch GT Active | Price Check | WearOS and a good spec. Current (Watch 2 was 2017 with an incremental 2018 update) The Fit was effectively the “Watch 1 Sport”. |
Watch Gt2e | Watch 3 Watch GT and this was codenamed FORTUNA (GT is not WearOS anymore) | |||
Watch 3 GT Runner Watch 3 GT Pro (May 2022) | To run Harmony OS | |||
Huawei | Fitness WearOS | Honor Magic | WearOS and a good spec, November 2018 | |
Huawei | Sport ?WearOS? | Honor GS Pro/Kanon | Q4.2020, TomTom map partnership could be interesting | |
Huawei | Proprietary Android? | Watch Fit | ||
Lezyne | Bike | Mini, Macro Plus GPS (Macro, Macro Easy, Micro, Micro Watch, Super Pro (Super GPS), Mega, Watch variants | MEGA announced July 2018 | |
MACRO EASY GPS announced Jul 2019 | ||||
Macro Plus & Super Pro are revamped from earlier models, announced Jul 2019 with FE-C…cheap, sturdy and highly featured. | ||||
Full, current list here | ||||
LG | Fitness WearOS | Watch Sport | Price Check | apparently one of the better WearOS devices. Watch2 has seen e-sim in China only |
LG | Fitness WearOS | LM-W315, LM-305, LM-W325, LM-W319, | LM-W315 could be called ICONIC. With one of the other models being the ICONIC SPORT. LM-W319 could be as soon as Sep 2018 (likely this is now the W7 which is a non-sports hybrid.) but a Watch3 derivative will be 2019. | |
Mont Blanc | Fitness WearOS | Summit 2 | Announced – several quite advanced sporty features | |
MIO/MiTAC/Magellan | Bike | Cyclo 605, | Nice devices. The 505HC appears to now be discontinued and replaced with a slightly superior 605HC (Q2.2017). Other models include Cyclo 210 (re-announced Aug2018?), 215, 215HC, 305, 315HC, 400, 405, 405HC, Discover/Plus (May 2020) | |
Discover | Unsure of the situation in USA with sister company MAGELLAN. Who have dated ECHO/SWITCH run/bike products | |||
Discover Plus | ||||
?505HC+ others | ||||
Mio Labs | Running | ? Mio Alpha 2 | revolutionary at the time | |
Mio Labs | Running/Triathlon | mioEXP | First sports watch in a long time by Mio. in fact since about 2015. Triathlon focussed and looking good for Q4.2020 | |
Misfit | Fitness WearOS | Vapor | Price Check | WearOS. Replaced by Vapor 2 |
Misfit | Fitness WearOS | Vapor 2 | WearOS. Current. | |
MiVia | Fitness | Run 350 | 2017 Fitbit Versa look-alike | |
Mobvoi | Fitness | Ticwatch 2 aka Ticwatch Active | 2017 budget sports watch with GPS & Music | |
Mobvoi | Fitness WearOS | Ticwatch E2 | 2018 budget sports watch with GPS & Music, the replacement for Ticwatch E | |
Mobvoi | Fitness WearOS | Ticwatch S2 | CES2019 replacement for Ticwatch S (ie S1). S=Sport | |
Mobvoi | Fitness WearOS | Ticwatch S | 2017 WearOS 2.0 budget sports watch. Ticwatch E is a cheaper and non-sport version. Ticwatch 2, Active and Classic are different – not WearOS. Replaced by S2. | |
Mobvoi | Fitness WearOS | Ticwatch Pro Ticwatch Pro 3 TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Ticwatch E3 | WearOS 2.0, Pro 3/Ultra & E3 have snapdragon 4100 | |
? Ticwatch Pro, 4G LTE ? new Ticwatch Pro Jul 2019 with LTE (USA only). | ||||
Moto (brand bought by CE) | Fitness WearOS | 100S and 200 will be Wear OS probably Snapdragon 3100.
| ||
?360 Sport – 2nd Gen/Sport | Price Check | |||
?Gen 3 November 2019 ?Moto G Smartwatch,(Summer 2021) ?Moto Watch,(Summer 2021) ?Moto One,(Summer 2021) ?Moto Watch 100S and Moto Watch 200 – by March 2022 | ||||
New Balance | Fitness WearOS | RunIQ | WearOS. Current | |
Omata | Bike | Omata One | Price Check | Trendy Bike Computer Current |
BKK, OnePlus | Fitness | Likely WearOS Sister brand RealMe introduce Watch 2 and Watch 2 Pro Vivo (2020) Vivo (2021) | Probably due Q4.2020, probably based heavily on the Oppo Watch RealMe are a cheap and proprietary OS. June 2021.
| |
BKK, Oppo | Fitness Android Fitness Wear OS | Watch Watch (Wear OS Version) Watch 2 | Looks like an Apple Watch with very limited EU/USA availability as of July 2020. Based on Android Wear OS version released 31 Jul 2020 Watch 2 – 27 Jul 2021 | |
Ordnance Survey | Bike | OS Horizon GPS | High-quality MAPS on a bikenav | |
OS Velo GPS | ||||
OS Trail Bike GPS | ||||
OS Trail 2 Bike GPS (2019) | ||||
Polar | Bike | V660 | V650 refresh 2020? Well Overdue…perhaps never | |
Polar | Run/Tri | ? Vantage V Vantage V2 EDITION | V800 replacement | |
There are no published plans to take the features any further. Polar will fix bugs though. | ||||
V2 new for October 2020 | ||||
Who knows if they will iterate either the hardware or software. | ||||
Polar | Run/Tri | Vantage V Titanium Vantage V2 Titan | high-end case variant of the Vantage V | |
Polar | Run/Tri/Outdoors | Grit X Grit X PRO Grit X PRO Titan | Polar Grit X – outdoors version of Vantage V | |
Polar | Run/Tri | ? Vantage M Pacer Pro takes over here | More run-focussed than the V model and a bit more than the M430. | |
I’m not convinced there will be a Vantage M lite model ie something to theoretically replace the M200. Looks like the Ignite/Unite covers that. | ||||
No intel on the M2. My guess would be Q1.2021 | ||||
Polar | Fitness | A370 | A360 replacement with linked-GPS | |
Polar | Fitness | A380 | I guess you could speculate that there is an A380 due but I would not be so sure that Polar (or anyone else beyond Garmin/Fitbit) will pursue a premium band format. | |
Polar | Fitness | ? Ignite | Fitness & Running watch. With GPS. Scope for a 3Fitness-like model with no GPS. Scope also to beef up the shell quality a little. | |
Polar | Run | ?M200 | Entry-level oHR running/sports watch 2016. Replacement due in 2020 maybe? M200 looks out-of-date | |
Polar | Run | ?M400 | Replaced by M430 in Q1.2017 | |
Polar | Run | ?M430 | An optical M400, released. this is mostly replaced by the Vantage M, although the Vantage M has notable extra stuff kinda making it a model higher. M430 has been confirmed as remaining in the Polar product set as a full-featured running watch BUT it will not receive new functionality. | |
M430 looks out-of-date | ||||
Polar | Bike | ?M450 | Replaced by M460 in Q1.2017 | |
Polar | Bike | ?M460 | M450 with STRAVA LIVE. M460 looks out-of-date | |
Polar | Run WearOS | ?M600 | WearOS sports watch for Android | |
Polar | Bike | ?V650 | A good Bike Nav Cycling device. Might get an ANT+ refresh but fine as-is. Does Polar want to go down the route of giving this proper onboard maps? | |
Polar | Run/Tri | ?V800 | One of the greatest multisport watches of all time, replaced by Vantage | |
Samsung | Fitness | ?Gear Sport | Price check | Current (Gear Fit Pro is BAND format and the Samsung Gear Fit Plus could be the 2018 version of that) |
Samsung | Fitness | ?Galaxy Watch Active | Galaxy Sport is Galaxy Watch Active | |
Samsung | Fitness | ? Galaxy Watch Active2 | Jul-19 | |
?Galaxy Watch2 (never existed) | ||||
?Galaxy Watch3 (SM-R840) Galaxy Watch4 / 4 Classic | Aug 2020 Galaxy Watch 4 Released 27Aug with Wear OS 3 (4 is the sport version) Galaxy Watch5 leaked November 2021 for release in Aug/Sep 2022 | |||
Sigma Sport | Bike | Rox GPS 7.0, ROX GPS 10.0, Rox GPS 11.0, Rox 12.0 Sport, id.TRI, id.FREE, Rox 2.0, Rox 4.0, Rox 11.1, Rox 9.1 | Good feature set, current. | |
Rox 12.0 Sport June 2018 looks like a massive leap forward for the company. Highly competent bikenav | ||||
Rox 2.0, Rox 4.0, Rox 11.1 – new editions in June 2021 | ||||
id.TRI – budget TRI watch offering | ||||
Full list of Sigma products here | ||||
Skagen | Fitness WearOS | Falster 2 | With GPS & oHR added, this now counts as a sports watch. It aims to be seen as the prettiest WearOS | |
Falster 3 | Falster 3 uses the fastest processor | |||
Sony | Fitness WearOS | Smartwatch 3 SWR50 | Price Check | WearOS. Current |
IndieGogo – Sports and other stuff | ||||
Pioneer | BIKENAV | SGX-CA500, SGX-CA600 | Cycling Computer looks nice. OSM, ANT+, power | |
Pioneer was bought by Shimano in Feb 2020 | ||||
Specialized | Bike | SpeedZone Sport / SpeedZone II | Basic Cycling Computers | |
SRM | Bike | PowerControl 7 (PC7) / 8 (PC8) | Cycling Computer | |
Shanren | Bike | Discovery Pro | ||
Stages | Bike | Dash (L10) Dash L50, M50 Gen 2? | Cycling Computer. cheap and well-featured New models for release Q1-2.2019 Not sure we will get a Gen 2. | |
Suunto | Various | ? Ambit 3 variants (Peak, run, Sport…) | Still great devices. In many ways superior. Discontinued | |
Suunto | Various | Ambit 4 | The SPARTAN TRAINER is the replacement to the AMBIT3 and then to the Suunto 5 | |
Suunto | Various | ? Ambit/Ambit 2 | Effectively Discontinued | |
Suunto | Run/Tri | ? SPARTAN Sport | Current, OK to buy now | |
Suunto | Run/Tri | ? SPARTAN Sport with oHR (WHR) | Current | |
Suunto | Outdoors | ? Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro | Current | |
Suunto | Run/Tri | ? SPARTAN Trainer | New outdoor variants in Jan 2018, superseded in 2019 with Suunto 5 | |
Suunto | Outdoors | ? SPARTAN Ultra | Current, OK to buy now. Suunto 9 is an effective replacement | |
Suunto | Fitness | ? Suunto 3 | Current. A low-end model with interesting specs. GPS only from a paired and present smartphone. | |
? Suunto 3 Fitness (April 2018) Gen 2 overdue but may not happen. | The Suunto 3 dropped the FITNESS suffix in 2020 and DOES have very slightly different hardware | |||
Suunto | Fitness | Suunto 9 Baro (spring 2018) Suunto 9 Peak (smaller with new hardware) Suunto 9 Gen 2 (larger 9Peak) my bet for what’s next Suunto 7 Gen 2 perhaps due in H2.2022 Suunto 5 Peak (smaller version of 5 with new hardware) Suunto 5 Gen 2 (larger 5Peak) my bet for what’s next | Current. High-end Spartan ULTRA replacement. My GUESS is that this will iterate next in some way in 2021 (no intel) S7 Wear OS Smart sports watch, Suunto might iterate bi/tri-annual versions of 3/5/7/9 S5 Good mid-range tri watch. Replacement for SPARTAN Trainer. | |
Tahuna | Bike | ? Teasi Pro ? Teasi One 4 | ||
Trimm | Run/Tri | One | ||
Tag Heuer | Fitness | Connected Gen 1 | Wear OS on snapdragon 3100 and a big price tag. yet still a smart fitness watch | |
Connected Gen 2 | ||||
Connected Gen 3 | ||||
Timex | Run/tri | IronMan R300 | #Sigh | |
TomTom | Run | ? Adventurer | TomTom sports division is closed down. Firmware updates as of 8 May 2018 | |
? Spark, Runner, Runner 2 | ||||
? Runner 3, Spark 3
|
| |||
TwoNav | Bike | TwoNav Trail 2 TwoNav Cross TwoNav Anima+ | Some interesting and well-featured devices have crossed over from hand-held hiking computers and some include OS maps. | |
Vivo | Smart | Watch | Smartwatch running FunOS, from BKK who own Oppo, Realme and One Plus. | |
Withings | Fitness | Move & Move ECG | CES2019, Sweet Fitness ecosystem | |
Withings | Fitness | Steel HR Sport | Current | |
Wahoo Fitness | Bike | RFLKT, RFLKT+ | RFLKT – is where it all started for Wahoo A great cycling computer, due a refresh. Might not happen if ROAM is seen as the replacement | |
Wahoo Fitness | Bike | ? ELEMNT BOLT (launched in 2017!) | A great cycling computer, due a refresh | |
Wahoo Fitness | Bike | ELEMNT ROAM (Sep 2019) | Colour version of a super-sized Bolt with navigation | |
Wahoo Fitness | Bike | ? ELEMNT MINI | Cut down cycling computer no GPS, no power compatibility, Wahoo-only sensors. Due a refresh but unlikely | |
Wahoo Fitness | Run/Tri | ELEMNT RIVAL (Nov 2020) I think they will surprise us here in 222 | A mid-tier, mass-market triathlon watch. Gen 2 is not imminent and I would instead inspect another watch or two from Wahoo before a reinvigorated RIVAL. Maybe a small format RIVAL maybe a run-only rival. | |
Wahoo Fitness | Bike | BOLT 2 | 25 May 2021 | |
XOSS | Bike | Sprint G+ | ||
XPLOVA/Acer | Bike | ? G3, G5, E5, E7 X3 EVO X2 (May 2021) | Effectively discontinued Current, FYI they are releasing a turbo trainer Q3.2019 X2 Bolt-sized unit, most features except maps. | |
XPLOVA/Acer | Bike | ?X5 (March 2017) | Superseded by X5 EVO | |
XPLOVA/Acer | Bike | X5 EVO (Nov 2017) | Current, refreshed model. onboard video, guess there’ll be an X6 next… | |
Zepp | Smart Fitness Watch | Zepp E Zepp Z | Zep E: 2x Apple watch wannabes Zep Z: likely sports watch |
Notes
- There are many other low-priced brands, several of which are visual rip-offs of the main brands’ models.
- Some low-priced brands include PARNERME, UWEAR, GoLife, GooPhone, Reabeam, FitCare, iGPSport, Xoss
- There are probably also some Kickstarter and Indegogo-type new models planned. My broad opinion is that if this is the first sports watch from a company with no track record then you will lose your money or receive a pile of junk. Spend a little bit extra and instead get a real product now.
- If you’ve found a brand that I’ve not listed above and the price looks too good to be true…there’s probably a reason. Just go for the brands above…eg Lezyne & Bryton offer cheap and perfectly good bike computers that support complex usage.
What have I missed? Are there others?
Note: information that has become available about accessories is NOT included here as there are too many of them to keep up-to-date with. There are also too many Power Meter variants for me to keep track of. I have more than a passing interest in PMs for triathlon disciplines but I don’t keep an eye on the whole market – the document I keep up-to-date on PM is my guide to the best power meter. I’m generally going to exclude wristbands from the lists above, like the Vivokids v2, although some bands have sneaked in there already.
Lists of all Firmware Updates
- Suunto Spartan is here: link to Suunto.com
- Suunto 5 is here: link to Suunto.com
- Suunto 7: is here: link to Suunto.com
- Suunto 9 is here: link to Suunto.com
- Suunto 3 is here: link to Suunto.com
- Polar updates are here: link to Polar.com
- Garmin updates are here: link to gpsinformation.net
- Elemnt Updates are here: link to wahoofitness.com and here
- Fitbit updates are here: link to Fitbit.com
- Hammerhead Karoo is here: link to Hammerhead.io
- Lezyne is here: link to Lezyne.com
- WatchOS 5 is here: link to Apple.com
- WatchOS 6 is here: link to Apple.com
- WatchOS 7 is here: link to Apple.com
- WatchOS 8 is here: link to apple.com
- WatchOS 9 preview is here: https://www.apple.com/uk/watchos/watchos-preview/
- Stages DASH is here: stagesdash.com
- Sigma Rox 12 here: sigmasport.com
- Mio Cyclo: mio.com
- Coros: link to Coros
- Bryton: Facebook page for announcements
Please let me know of any I’ve missed
Also useful for checking compatibility and new ANT+ devices. VERY occasionally you might see a special ‘leak’ appear here first by accident.
- thisisant.com
- ANT+ Specification updates here: thisisant.com
Subscriber-Only Content
This link covers a discussion of the trends in emerging technology and new technology – for example covering payments, GPS, OHR, Safety, Mapping and much more.
Recommended Reading: Endurance Technology Trends
END
Instinct Analog is missing in your table 😉
https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2022/04/15/garmin-forerunner-255-255s-955-venu-sq-2/
i’d heard about that link from the original source of the Swedish Retailer’s site but unsure if it’s meaty enough to be included in this post. I’ll wait for more details to emerge.
that link otherwise only confirms what is above although no mention is made of 955 Solar which I’m fairly certain of.
So 255 and 955 ll not show up the same date?
idk that detail.
it seems likely as there is multiple intel on both devices.
but a 955 and 955 solar could be a launch in itself
It would be nice if you added the most popular in the world sportband “Xiaomi Mi Band 7” (it is supposed to have GPS) to the list, which premiere at any moment.
ty for the suggestion. the list above generally omits bands tho. it’s GPS watches and GPS bike computers plus other random bits
Edge Explore had a five-eight week ship time removed and along with the option to buy on the Garmin website. Canceled my heavily discounted backorder on another website when the ETA was pushed out to 2035.
1040 WILL come in Q3. may well be explore/140/840/540 along with it.
Normally its about a month from FCC filing to product release, why would they wait until Q3? Can’t see 140/540/840 on the FCC site either. Would have thought it makes sense to go for the premium option first.
you’re right in normal times but normality has gone out of the window this last 2 years.
my bet is for a sole release of 1040 and 1040 solar with some new software feature maybe linked to Air maybe linked to Group radar (those two are just guesses)
recent history might support the 1040 plus another of 140/540/840/Explore gen 2
I did wonder about parts availability being a reason to delay with supply chain issues. Air would be very cool and so would be building on the Radar, I love the idea of camera/radar integration to save camera battery life. They have all the tech from the Virb days, and the patent now. Guess we’ll find out in a few weeks (or in Q3) 🙂
i dont think we will see physical camera integration into an edge unit (xplova did this years ago). i’m reasonably sure its forerunners before Edge in the release schedules.
I have seen in SUUNTO´s website SUUNTO 3 with a large discount for a while. Would it be a new gen is coming or just dropping the model? Realized also added Suunto Guides in the latest firmware so is bringing the latest integration with various platforms. In addition, not having a GPS, if going out with a phone anyway, is something attractive. For the price bracket is good value for money.
yes for those who like to have their phone with them its good
Have you seen FCC IPH-A4211? They forgot to remove “Edge 1040” text from Label Sample document 😉 Both versions (04211 and A4211) don’t have frequency range for NFC payments.
You spoilt my day! hope you’re happy now;-)
yes well spotted and, no I hadn’t noticed the NFC omission !
I can’t remember looking at those FCC filings but as there are two I guess it’s yet another confirmation of the Solar option.
don’t forget dates can change and this is destined for Q3.
haha, very happy 😀 you’ve missed the same comment few days ago in 255 article
Hmm, they did the exact same leak for the 1030plus, makes me wonder if it might be caused by a quick ssearch/replace job which might hint at a very “lightweight” update that does little more than ensuring potential buyers that there won’t be a replacement right around the corner.
The A4211/04211 parallel is certainly intriguing, could be anything from solar/regular (if they keep porting over endurance improvements from the watches, perhaps with the regular version also opting for a smaller battery, for a slim/light “racer” device, and the solar going all in on endurance?), to an “S” version replacing the 530/830, to a boring (for us) Explore variant offering the same big screen to ebikes and tour operators (tour operators are the invisible market that keeps the Explore variants afloat I think). I’d certainly hate not seeing a synchronous release of 1040 and the yet to be named “540/840”, not because I’d buy one but because I’ve spent too much time predicting a shared release.
Regarding Garmin pay, I don’t think that it would ever come to an Edge. Not only because it would provoke that kind of naysayer who would rather not see a feature than one that isn’t quite as convenient as in a watch (“I refuse to pay for something I won’t use!”, as if NFC hardware would cost more than cents…), but also because the entire security premise of Garmin pay is that you can keep the PIN primed as long as the watch is worn, requiring retyping as soon as the sensor detects detachment from the wrist. An Edge can’t offer that. Still safer to enter the PIN on your own device than on a pad that might be rigged, but I don’t think that Garmin would consider that second class use case for pay.
hi
yes you are right but the 1040 is leaked in multiple places and i would bet money on a q3 release.
solar regular – maybe the explore version and regular+solar?
NFC – yes you make an excellent point about skin contact. that’s probably a killer against my wishes to have it included. maybe a time-based pin would suffice.
ik the UK my unscientific research suggests that something like only 1% of smart payments are made with a watch (as opposed to card or phone) and I live in an affluent part of London (always an odd one out isn’t there? 😉 ) people simply don’t leverage the tech they have would be my concussion. for 20-somethings in Manhattan maybe the ratio is very different.
Hypothetically if you had a 735XT with a dying battery that you want to replace before starting to really train for a fall marathon in July/August. Would you buy a Fenix7/Epix today or wait for the (hopefully thinner and lighter) 955?
my bet would be for the 955 before your race date. but it is not a certainty. wait until wed 18 May. then buy based on info then (IDK release date)
Thanks for the response! I *think* I can wait until then before buying a new toy I’m long overdue for!
Another one! IPH-04457 is Edge Explore 2.