Garmin Fenix 8 – Significant New Features Coming

Garmin has just announced a series of new features in beta. They are a combination of new features to the Fenix and the inevitable slew of bug fixes.

New Features – NOT in the beta

Let’s start with some excitement that other sites won’t or can’t cover, which have only been shared by this site. This information is accurate and originates from the same sources as the timing gates and 5Hz recording, which were first reported on this site.

Ultra Running Features

Garmin is about to introduce new features designed specifically for ultra runners and, more broadly, endurance athletes. Of specific note are Cutoff Times, Rest Breaks, Course Point Notes, Multi-Crossing Support, and Bulk Management. These features are all linked to following courses, specifically related to managing points on the course and the timing of those points. The full details known so far are in this post (Source).

Ultra Runners + Endurance Athletes to get new Garmin Running Features

Deeper Links to Apple Health and Google Health Link

Deeper and wider links are soon to be added to health and wellness data as Garmin Connect becomes more open to both Apple Health and Google Health Connect. (Sources: here and here).

Deeper Links with Google Maps

Google is keen to get Garmin owners using their maps. Deeper integrations are at an advanced stage, and we will first see Google add a Connect IQ app for its maps, possibly also incorporating POI support from Google Maps into the Garmin ecosystem, allowing you to route to those POIs using Garmin’s onboard maps. (Source: here)

Notable or Significant New Beta Features Specifically for Fenix 8, Fenix E, Tactix 8 and Enduro 3

You can access these beta features today by enrolling in the beta program for your device in Connect. Nothing has changed in the sign-up process. These features are not yet reliable (beta), so you may want to wait for them to go live for everyone sometime before September.

• Added Calculator App. This contains standard calculator features plus a neat restaurant tip splitter.
• Added the Ability to Access the Apps List by Swiping Left on the Watch Face.
• Added Custom Focus Modes to the existing SLEEP and ACTIVITY focus modes.  (More Info: here). Your focus mode can include features such as brightness, vibration settings, satellite accuracy levels, and more.
• Added Evening Report Support. (More Info: here, Access at Select Watch Settings > Notifications & Alerts > Report Settings > Evening Report) Currently limited to countdown, calendar, alarms,  steps, body battery, sleep coach, tomorrow’s event, Jet Lag Advisor, weather, workouts and my day items
• Added Garmin alerts to Notification Centre. (More: here) Previously, the notification centre showed things like smartphone notifications; it now includes alerts from Garmin, such as sensor battery status alerts.
• Added Expanded Morning Report Support. (More: here and here). Minor changes to add customised messages.
• Added Triathlon Adaptive Training Plan Support. (More: here). This is a major feature. It allows you to create a multisport adaptive plan that recommends daily workouts to support your training for the race.
• Added Triathlon Race Events Support. (More: here) Schedule a race and receive a countdown to the event, along with helpful information such as weather updates as the day approaches. The adaptive training plan works towards this race.
• Added Multisport Workout Support. (More: here). Previously, you could create a multisport profile for Run-bike-Run. You can now schedule the same combination as a workout. This is a nice feature that saves your list of rarely used custom sports profiles from becoming too large. I’ve been using this quite a bit on the Forerunner 970 for Hyrox simulations (More on Hyrox), where it adds a bit more flexibility should you want to incorporate multiple, different Strength Profiles into one workout, and you can add different notes for each step. Unlike a sports profile, the downside is that these must be created on Connect.
• Added Provisional Finish Point Support. This is a renamed version of the Suggested Finish Line feature from the Forerunner 970. In a nutshell, you crop your completed course to the correct finish point.
• Added Impact Load, which quantifies the higher effects of impacts when running downhill. This is a major feature.
• Added Running Tolerance Support from the Forerunner 970, which models your Impact Load to give a suggested range. Staying within range might reduce the chances of injury.
• Added Step Speed Loss Support.
• Added Running Economy Support, which requires the HRM 600 (review: here). This is a major feature, perhaps similar to vVO2max, which is a more critical determinant of performance than VO2max (in my opinion). An efficient running form is often subconsciously learnt when running slower. This should be an interesting metric to track over the course of a year.
• Added Track Run Option for Daily Suggested Workouts (DSW). DSWs can now be executed using the Track sport profile, and the GPS trace will snap to the track in the stats afterwards.
• Added Smart Wake Alarm from the Vivoactive 6, which
• Added Editing for All Previous Sets in Strength.

Added in v18.12

• Added Focus Mode Power Controls.
• Added Rest Countdown to Strength Activities.
• Added Resting Heart Rate Insight to Heart Rate Widget.
• Added Temperature Sensor Page.

Other New Beta Features Specifically for Fenix 8, Fenix E, Tactix 8 and Enduro 3

• Added Race Timer Data Field to Sail Race Activity.
• Added Running Power to the Lactate Threshold Page.
• Added Support for Track/Road Display Transitions.
• Added Emoji Keyboard.
• Added Golf Range Finder Settings Menu.
• Added Japanese Kana Keyboard.
• Added More QWERTY Keyboard Layouts.
• Added Music Options to Music More Controls Page.
• Added New Help Dialogues for Breathing Variations.
• Added Performance Glance Updates.
• Added Tack Assist Data Page in Sailing Activities.
• Added Thai Keyboard.

Take Out

The beta features are all ones expected to be added, and I believe the calculator feature is wholly new. Also as expected, these make their way to Enduro 3, Fenix E and Tactix 8, but not to recent watches like Fenix 7 – bad luck if you spent $1000 there. You might feel somewhat aggrieved by Garmin’s tactics, which aim to ‘encourage’ you to upgrade to access new features that other brands, such as Coros or Apple, would have provided for free.

Putting gripes and expectations aside, these are an impressive set of quarterly goodies for the Fenix, featuring some rich features that many of you will hopefully find helpful.

Sources & Resources

• Garmin Fenix 8 Review
• Garmin Fenix 8 Product Page (Garmin.com)
• Garmin Fenix 8 Beta Update Information Page
• Garmin Tactix 8
• Garmin Fenix E
• Garmin Enduro 3
• Garmin Fenix 8 Manual – These features are not included at the time of writing but will be added later.
• Garmin Forerunner 970 Manual – these features are mostly already listed in the FR970 manual.