Garmin Fenix, Tactix, Enduro – new 970 Feature rolldown confirmed
via dcraimaker, Garmin has confirmed its strategy on New Features, New Watches and Old watches. Let’s see what the strategy means for Fenix 8 and Fenix 7 Pro owners keen to get their hands on the juicy new features we have seen coming to the Forerunner 970.
TL;DR – New mode watches generally get new features; old ones don’ #Upgrade
what new Features are we talking about?
If you recently bought a Fenix 8, you might not necessarily be aware of new features coming to other Garmin watches, so here is a very quick recap of what Garmin has just released. If you are a runner or triathlete, then, like me, you can be forgiven for getting very excited. These are good features…if you get them.
- Garmin Triathlon Coach
- Multisport Structured Workouts (a Garmin Connect feature, not paywalled)
- Running Tolerance (links to detailed explainer)
- Impact Load Factor (tolerance-related)
- Timing Gate-driven Autolap (adjusts autolap to GPS course lap points – eg marathon mile markers)
- Suggested Finish Line
- Projected Race Time (in-race)
- Step Speed Loss (links to detailed explainer, requires HRM 600)
- Running Economy (links to detailed explainer, requires HRM 600)
- Improved Ovulation Cycle Predictions (using skin temp in Elevate Gen 5)
Compatibility Table: Which Watches Get Which Features
The table starkly illustrates that your new Fenix (or its derivative model) gets the feature, but nothing else does.
| Feature / Watch Series | FR970 | FR570 | Fenix 8 | Enduro 3 | Tactix 8 | FR965 FR265 | Fenix 7 Pro Epix Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Tolerance | ✅ | ❌ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Impact Load Factor | ✅ | ❌ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Autolap by Timing Gates | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Suggested Finish Line | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Projected Race Time Predictor | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Step Speed Loss (HRM 600 required) | ✅ | ❌ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Running Economy (HRM 600 required) | ✅ | ❌ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Garmin Triathlon Coach | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multisport Structured Workouts | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
| Ovulation Cycle (Improved using skin temp) | ✅ | ✅ | Planned | Planned | Planned | ❌ | ❌ |
Also announced today
Also in the news today, Garmin confirmed new software and feature updates for some smartwatches, including Fenix 8, Forerunner, Instinct 3, Lily 2 Active, and Venu 3.
Some notable features1 for smartwatches in this software release include:
- Breathing Variations: For a closer glimpse of health, the breathing variations feature uses Pulse Ox help better understand shifts in breathing patterns during sleep.
- Rucking Activity: Weighted hiking feature allows users to manually input their pack weight for load-carrying exercises to enable more accurate tracking and analysis of metrics like pace, distance, heart rate, VO2 max, calorie burn, elevation and more.
- Pack Weight: For training or trekking, this feature allows pack load to be entered for various activities – including running, trail running, hiking and walking – where carrying extra weight may be involved. Adding pack weight will ensure VO2 max estimates are not negatively affected.
- Passcode: Help protect sensitive data with a passcode to access smartwatch data. For even greater security, an automatic wrist detection option allows users to set up a pin to regain access once the watch has been removed from their wrist.
- Stage Timer: A new tool for competitive marksmen that alerts them via paired hearing protection or from the speaker, so they know the remaining time in their current stage.
Garmin Forerunner 570
Well-featured GPS triathlon smartwatch.
Take Out
Ray’s contacts in Garmin did not give timeframes. However, as Forerunners and Fenixes now share much more similar software than previously, I expect to see these in the Q3 feature update – ie we should see them in June 2025 in beta.
As detailed on this site previously, Garmin’s strategy here is to make money by encouraging you to upgrade – your set of features becomes outdated/obsolete, rather than your watch itself becoming obsolete. This strategy differs from other smart/sportwatch companies like Apple, which tend to give free features for as long as the hardware on old watches can support it. The latter, Apple, is generally deemed to operate a fairer pricing strategy than Garmin when factoring in the high prices paid for the watches.
TIP: When buying a slightly old Garmin model at a discount, remember that the features on the watch could be all you’re ever going to get. The watch WILL be supported, but you might not get any new features worth mentioning.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Premium GPS triathlon smartwatch. Features a bright AMOLED touch screen and a built-in LED flashlight.
the5krunner.com © 2010-2025
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Garmin Triatlon Coach is also available for FR 570 I thought?
yes.
thank you will change
With the current behavior of Garmin, I have to use a German proverb: “Other mothers also have beautiful daughters”.
Garmin is not the only manufacturer on the market.
There are others with a much better price/performance ratio.
Garmin devices are too expensive to replace every year.
The price and update policy does not exactly encourage you to stick with Garmin.
but the features and ecosystem do encourage you to stay.
‘too expensive’ is relative. garmin targets certain kinds of customers that it believes can afford its watches. that strategy seems to work so far if you consider the company’s financials
If you like more bs functions and data then, yes, there is no brand like garmin.
Take the step speed loss as example. There is really someone out there that needs a watch to tell them ground contact costs speed?
Everyone is free to buy whatever they want and even buy every garmin model (although expect comments about the pile of e-waste you create).
But I feel that reviewers who just tell watches with the most features are the best are not very trustworthy. Garmins are the best bs watches but definitely not the best sportwatches, considering the price.
step speed loss, i agree, looks not so good by itself.
however it feeds to running economy,which is an important running factor. I tend to trust the accuracy of running dynamics merics (trended) than physiology metrics.
i agree the physiology features have a lot of BS in them – both in terms of the likely accuracy of the inputs and the interpretation and invention of the metrics around them. they are a bit of fun and sometimes a bit insightful. I hope I often highlight and state that these features contain a lot of bs.
hopefully you don’t see me as one of the reviewers that judge a watch’s worthiness by the number of features. although i do often state the obvious that garmin has more features (and some people DO want more features)
The only sound running advice is, buy a cheaper watch (really, no one needs a 500+ euro watch) and use the money you save to join an athletics club. You will see that your running for becomes better and your performance increases.
or you could buy an expensive watch, enjoy the toy, AND join a running club 😉
Oh, and I definitely don’t see you as a reviewer that just reads out spec lists and don’t freak out if someone dares to challenge your opinions. We always have good discussions here and respect each others opinions.
I think a lot of reviewers are just happy with long featurelists. Summing them up makes it easier to make longer youtube clips which will earn them more money.
thank you.
yes i’m only interested in people with opinions. Ideally i want to listen to people with different opinions to challenge what i think.
several reviewers have some good opinions.
I think the runner community is somewhat excited about the new features….especially their ovulating members who bought the additional 160$ HRM 600…for anyone else, these new features bring NOTHING new or interesting to the table.
The fact that the Epix Pro is totally cut off, tells me that you can’t trust Garmin going forward. Unless they proof that from now on, that all F8 will get everything that the F9 and FX will get (unless it requires different hardware) and that all mayor features will still be free, I will not buy anything MSRP but wait until I get it on eBay or somewhere else for much less.
agreed.
the TRUST point is a good one.
I suspect we caan trust Garmin to leave old models out in the cold when it comes to new features. we now know where we stand.
Crazy what they all can do/invent/make up with only one, and not so accurate wrist heart rate sensor. Therefore I am a non-believer of all features/metrics on wearables. That is sells, sure, but it can’t be valid information as there is no industry standard for all this or calibrated referenced equipment to test against it.
So I’ll leave it at: as long as you believe in it.
And as you payed for it (lot’s), that’s a bit easier. Some might say, the more you pay the greater the believe.
Well. I’m glad you’ve figured it out!
I’ve been saying pretty much the same thing for about 10 years! mostly its falling on deaf ears.
#WearAChestStrap (and even then some of the metrics are still made up) – it’s fun tho.