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Garmin fenix 8 microLED – leaked a second time

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Garmin Fenix 8 microLED – leaked a second time.

A second developer leak, this time spotted by Gadgets & Wearables, references Garmin Fenix 8 MicroLED.
Note: I have my own indirect sources within Garmin who confirm the existence of this watch and the likely release in ‘about a year’.
 
MicroLED display technology is undoubtedly coming to wearables. Apple had plans but recently cancelled one of the contracts with their display panel manufacturer, OSRAM.
The benefits of the technology are several: the screens have better colours, are brighter, significantly more energy-efficient, can bend, and can be used for edge-to-edge displays. The technology has already been proven to various degrees, but the current issue is volume manufacturing – manufacturing yields are around 10%—meaning only 1 in 10 displays can be used. Consequently, the cost to a company like Garmin will likely be $100 per display rather than $10. To give an indication, this means the retail price of the finished watch would have to increase by about $200 above current levels to include that technology – tricky for the Fenix 8. Another problem is that such low yields make producing large volumes complex – thus, it won’t appear on a Venu or Forerunner 275 any time soon.

Tactix 8

I expect to see the Fenix 8 MicroLED next year, as both leaks indicate that an actual product exists beyond the prototype stage. Companies like AUO are already producing MicroLED watch displays for TAG Connected and maybe for Garmin. However, I expect Fenix 8 MicroLED in the latter half of the year, as some time must pass after the launch of the Fenix 8 before successor versions arrive.

Another, though unlikely, option is that the Fenix 8 MicroLED supersedes the MARQ range. This would align with Garmin’s recent strategy to reduce the number of brands, i.e., Fenix, MARQ and Epix, merging to become Fenix. MARQ also fits the criteria of being a more expensive product. The cost and volume arguments disappear with MARQ; the only flaw in this argument is that MARQ tends to use slightly older, proven technology—MicroLED certainly isn’t that.

 

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6 thoughts on “Garmin fenix 8 microLED – leaked a second time”

    2. it would be the truly worst name. Techy focussed not consumer focussed. How many apple Watches are labelled LTE Sapphire (AM)OLED?…none

      the fenix 8 pro has been leaked separately so it wont be that.

      Reply

  2. It could make sense for Garmin to be first Smartwatch brand to release a mLED watch, simply because they work on much lower volumes and have a niche audience. Mass market brands like Apple and Samsung are going to cancel manufacturing partnerships if they cannot deliver the volume.

    However, I still don’t see mLED launching until the F8 Pro models are ready, where I expect the lowest model in the range will be Sapphire AMOLED, and the next tier up will be Sapphire mLED. There won’t be a non-Sapphire version.

    Another expectation would be the F8 Pro mLED would have a Titanium and a Carbon Fibre case option.

    Perhaps as others have mentioned the next sub-brand to go will be MARQ, and that will essentially be absorbed into F8 Pro mLED/carbon model.

    Reply

    1. yep they work for sure.
      as noted elsewhere they are expensive due to low production yields meaning a higher component cost and lower component production availability. TAG Heuer Connected is the favourite

      Reply

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