Will “OK Garmin” Become a Future Way to Activate the Fenix 8 Pro’s New Voice Command Capabilities?
The title suggests that Garmin has not used the wake phrase “OK Garmin” to activate voice features. This is not the case. Only today, Garmin released another RV management product that uses “OK Garmin” voice activation. So let’s dial back and discuss when and why Garmin has used voice activation, then if and how it may use it in the next generation of smartwatches, potentially starting this year with Fenix 8 Pro.
Background
Garmin has incorporated the “OK Garmin” wake phrase in several products dating back to DriveSmart 66 in 2021 and the SERV+ RV display from Feb 2025, allowing users to activate voice controls hands-free. However, this feature is unavailable in the latest Garmin Fenix 8 smartwatch, which requires a button press to activate voice recognition.
Current Role of “OK Garmin” in Garmin Products
In devices like the SERV+ RV display, the “OK Garmin” wake word enables continuous voice recognition. This allows users to control various smart functions, such as music or temperature settings, hands-free.
However, the Garmin SERV+ must always listen, which requires power. Still, as SERV+ is mains-powered, power consumption is significantly less of a concern than in battery-operated devices like the Fenix 8.
Power Constraints and Battery Impact in Garmin Wearables
Garmin wearables, particularly the Fenix 8, face significant battery limitations, making an always-listening voice assistant challenging to implement without impacting the overall battery life – a key selling feature. An efficient, always-on listening device requires a dedicated voice co-processor, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip. These processors are designed to handle voice recognition with a low-power draw. Since Garmin’s current wearables lack such a co-processor, implementing “OK Garmin” would lead to a substantial battery hit, as the microphone would need to remain on constantly, consuming power and draining the battery more quickly. The likely hit on battery with the current tech stack could be 10-20%.
So that’s why we haven’t seen “OK Garmin” in a wearable. Yet one of the strategic futures of wearable features is novel interaction methods – including hand gestures, eye movement and voice.
Garmin’s existing voice command capabilities are cumbersome to use without this kind of technology and limited in scope. Users must manually activate voice controls and press a button – it’s often easier to do the action manually.
Potential for a New Feature in 2025
There is potential for introducing a dedicated voice co-processor in Garmin wearables, possibly as part of a new feature in 2025.
Garmin is expanding its smart features, and, as we saw with Fenix 8, voice features are evidence of another move in that direction. As I’ve often said on this site, Garmin is heading for a mid-market showdown with Apple. How well it competes there will shape the company’s future thereafter, and if it lacks even half-decent smart features, it will lose the battle. I would argue voice command and haptics are of strategic importance to Garmin. I suspect the company doesn’t need me to tell them that.
Take Out
So. Will we see “OK, Garmin” on Fenix 8 Pro in 2025? I reckon we might.
Having just inadvertently bought a TV that introduces Alexa to my Google+Apple smart home, I don’t relish the prospect of yet another OK-something.
Thoughts?
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The question is, in what situations do you need voice activation to do what and do you need it 24/7? As for me, the only time I wish I had it, is when I cook, have sticky fingers and need to start a timer. Other then that…I would not stop or start an activity because pressing a button will always be quicker and 100% more reliable. I use Alexa in the house and almost everyday she gets something wrong…so if you are out of breath after a run, Garmina might not get what you are saying either or even worth, does the wrong thing.
Or imagine being at the start line of a run and 300 runners suddenly yell at their watch to start the run…Maybe if you can activate and de-activate the microphone so you can use voice commands when you actually need them, just before you start cooking…
I can see why Garmin needs this functionality in the long run but this would not be enticing enough to pay another 1400 for a new Fenix upgrade.
🙂
“OK Garmin start the race” shouted by 300 people. That would be funny!! I hadn’t thought of that. Perhaps a double pinch gesture is better ….or just pressing the button.
seriously tho, the more you use voice commands, the more you want to use them. and the more you are let down by their seemingly increase inability to understand and act as you wish.
I regularly use my apple watch to make a call or send a text when exercising “eg , turn the hot water on!”. I carry that as a second watch rather than a phone. with my apple watch i can answer my video doorbell, i can see where my family are or where my keys are, etc etc.
I use a windows PC and multi task by asking my google home assistant speaker questions. maybe i could go all-Apple but from my experience of Siri….its a bit rubbish at the voice stuff yet currently trying to master AI.
I owned an AW5 a few years ago and was quite happy for a while…but after 6 month I returned back to Garmin because of don’t like the rectangular design, the battery life and the whole mini-iPhone on the wrist. I don’t really need the connectivity which you cherish, but that’s just me. I can see the appeal and I am sure many people want to use the watch for a better integration into the IoT. Garmin has to do something in this regard. Even if I doubt they will be able to close the gap to Apple, Samsung or the other BIG players. If you see all the other stuff Garmin is producing, whether for golf, hunting, achery, shooting, boating, diving…a lot of that stuff is super cool and innovative but it’s super niche too. I wonder how many GPS/LTE dog collars are being sold world wide, or archery sights for that matter.
Their watch line needs to connect to more stuff then just HRM and my Concept2 rower if they want be competive, especially in the price segment where Marq and Fenix are located. I think the F8 and the I3 where somewhat (F8) or even totally (I3) disappointing and we will never know how well both models are selling, but if the next generation of watches is equally “unexciting” but expensive, Garmin could be in hot water….or needs to sell a hell of a lot more dog collars ;-))
I would be glad if the Fenix would understand me in only 1 out of 5 tries. It’s recognition is so bad I could tell a car wheel to set a timer and have better results.
have you tried Siri ;-)?