[caption id="attachment_102571" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] microLED helps an angled display view[/caption] Sports Watch & Bike Computer Update, Garmin Rumours and more V2.7.01 - 5 Oct 2025 It's been the busiest year ever for wearable sports tech, at least it feels that way. Garmin has introduced many new watches, new types of tech components, and a new product category, and the year is not yet finished. Believe it or not, there probably will be one or two more surprises in October, followed by the usual burst of activity in January 2026. Google and Samsung have gotten their acts together on the wearable front, and Apple has iterated its 3 key Watch versions. The former was the first company to introduce satellite connectivity on the wrist, and Garmin and Apple followed a few weeks later. Innovative tech keeps on rolling in. Coros seems to be stabilising its market position, perhaps predictably. Still, it now faces stiff competition from cheaper watch brands, most notably Amazfit, which has introduced a Whoop-wannabe and several competent watches. How This Article Determines Upcoming Sports Tech Models Here, we cover all the recently released sports watches and bike computers and the expected next-gen models from Garmin, Polar, Coros, Apple, Wahoo, Suunto, Samsung, Amazfit, Magene, and others. The information here is typically based on industry discussions, dual-sourced rumours, high-quality leaks, the extrapolation of past product release cycles, broader technological trends, and their availability. Almost all the new products I discuss here will happen, but precise timings and model names are not always set in stone. As we advance into 2026, Garmin has tightened up its information security, so, sadly, you will have to expect fewer product leaks going forward. Note I never include info that contravenes NDAs. I never include infromation from press releases once received I never publish information obtained illegally. Regular readers are aware that this article is frequently updated. If you're here for the first time and interested in 'future sports devices and feature sports tech developments,' this post is a good read. It focuses differently and discusses new technologies and features rather than specific watch models. What's Next From Garmin for 2026 2026 doesn't look like it will be as exciting as 2025. I'll add detailed thoughts below, but here's an overview of what's coming. We will see range fillers where obvious gaps are plugged, like lower-end Forerunners, smaller case format watches, and cheap Edges. But that's not the story Garmin wants you to hear (buy). Garmin will find technological developments to give us more higher-end products—a good thing. Thus, these will be the big thrusts for 2025 4G LTE on more Pro models (Garmin is sticking with 4G LTE, unlike Apple moving to 5G RedCap). A new MARQ - will Garmin double down on microLED? It could even be in 2025. Start of the new Edge x60 series with Edge 1060. Enduro 4 - H2.2206 (August) a Varia HUD a Whoop competitor [caption id="attachment_99774" align="aligncenter" width="1110"] Whoop MG[/caption] We won't see any mainstream microLED models until the technology realises its long-promised energy-saving potential, which it has failed to achieve in F8 Pro. Surprisingly, we won't see any more satellite-enabled watches other than further updates to the Fenix range. However, we might see onboard satellite capabilities on high-end handhelds, giving an alternative to handheld inReach. RETROSPECTIVE: Garmin 2025 - a recap Very briefly, here is what we had in 2025. Instinct 3 Series (6 January 2025), Descent G2 (12 Feb 2025), Instinct 3 TACTICAL (24 April 2025), Tactix 8: Feb 2025, Vivoactive 6: April 2025, Forerunner 970 (15-May 2025), Forerunner 570 (15-May 2025), ️Venu X1 (June 2025), Quatix 8: 25 June 2025, Venu 4 (Sep 2025), Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED (September 2025), Garmin Fenix 8 Pro LTE (September 2025), Rally X10 (Q3.2025), Instinct Crossover (Instinct 3, September 2025), Bounce 2 (September 2025), Edge 850/550 (September 2025), HRM 200, ️HRM 600, Varia Vue: 8 April 2025, Garmin TACX Alpine 25 June 2025, Garmin Index Sleep Monitor (June 2025), plus various handhelds like eTrex Touch. Emerging tech trends will be teased from that list later. Still, simply from a product range perspective, Garmin seems to have ditched sub-brands with a poor image (Rally RS>Rally X Series), confirmed the PRO models as an interim release between major model upgrades, and rationalised numbering conventions (x65> 570/970). RETROSPECTIVE: The broader market - a recap Key Trend: The latest models of key sports watches commonly adopt AMOLED screens. Improvements to MIP screens will continue to give longevity to that tech in niche scenarios, and transflective display tech seems to be the tech of choice for Garmin and Wahoo bike computers. The disappointment to top all disappointments was Garmin's microLED Fenix. The company gets Kudos for releasing the tech, but its component supplier, AUO, couldn't deliver performance savings, and we got battery performance degradation! [caption id="attachment_102570" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] microLED brilliance[/caption] Dual-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS chipsets are the norm, but mini generations of tech have slipped quietly into use. For example, Suunto has stuck with the older, slightly less accurate Sony tech, whereas Garmin uses Synaptics, which appears superior. Garmin's addition of 5Hz GNSS recording (first reported on this site)—more frequent recording hampered by the constraints of the FIT format—is particularly interesting to me, albeit with only edge-case uses. Optical HR tech seems to have plateaued and refined its current capabilities to high degrees of accuracy. The next generation of OHR sensors that can sense new physiological parameters has long been promised, but it doesn't appear imminent, even in 2026. Sports physiology metrics have also plateaued. Sure, Garmin seems to invent a new one every month, but the foundational innovations were determined years ago and backed by some science (Oura, Eight Sleep, Polar, etc). There are two sub-trends worth mentioning. Firstly, some companies are playing catch-up to get the metrics in place (occasionally inventing metrics on a whim). Secondly, there is a race to present this data coherently in the smartphone app to appeal to a mass market - Whoop exemplifies this, Garmin tries hard, and Polar (LOOP) must try harder still. Expect further innovation with ECG-grade data from chest straps during sports, 24x7 ECG monitoring (subscription), and more novel uses of DFA a1/Suunto's DDFA. It seems we are close to a stage of maturity in both commonly used technology and the sports functionalities that watches offer. Software/chip platforms seem to have settled, with most brands adopting impressively performing tech stacks. Suunto has settled on a responsive platform, probably for the next couple of years. Garmin is said to have merged its internal software features into one branch of code, meaning features and bugs will not be replicated in different parts of the company—a good thing. EU-driven legal changes are afoot. Whether it's user-serviceable batteries or standard USB-C charging mechanisms, you have at least that to think about the EU for. Those are peripheral issues to the general direction of tech travel, though. More importantly, the EU seems determined to break Apple's grip on its ringfenced smart features. Apple is not happy. However, Garmin is delighted, and if the EU gets its way, it will enable Garmin to produce far more coherent smart features that more deeply integrate with iPhone features. This is strategically significant to Garmin's future; you cannot underestimate what is happening here. Pricing Update from 2025 After a few years of relative price stability, companies like Suunto, Coros, and Garmin generally increase the prices of replacement models. Tariffs: The long and short of the complexities of early 2025 is that some companies are now putting prices up. American consumners are generally paying more but in niche cases are being spared the full shock by companies raising prices elsewhere to compensate. The rises are more notable for Suunto and Coros, which benefited from low-cost models that boosted sales and raised awareness. That little game is over, and both revert to a pseudo-premium brand pricing strategy. Onshoring, Re-shoring and de-China-ing (that is a word) 99% of all wearable sports tech is made in Asia, and a substantial portion is made in China. Some companies are trying to de-risk their operations from China for various reasons, but it isn't easy or cheap. For example, Apple moved the production of the watch from China to Vietnam, at least for models destined for the USA, to avoid tariff implications. https://the5krunner.com/2025/09/29/who-owns-whom-in-sports-tech-is-that-comapny-chinese-a-comprehensive-list-of-wearables-electronics-platforms-bike-and-running-hardware/ The 2026 Landscape for New Garmin Products OK. This is what you came for 2026 will be a good year for Garmin lovers. But you had too much excitement in 2025, so things will calm down a bit now. Sorry! That said, the Fenix brand historically targets a 12- to 18-month annual refresh cycle, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Garmin wants to make that yearly. There is a very good chance we will see a Fenix 9 in September 2026 (Jan 2027 at the latest). I'll have to dig more to see what Fenix 9 could add. Maybe 5G Redcap, certainly satellite, maybe Elevate 6, certainly deeper smart features, hopefully an improved microLED option. Edge 1060 is also on my list of highlights for 2026. Garmin seems to have doubled down on the odd case shape format (it's even on the latest eTrex). Maybe the display tech will be tweaked with a newly iterated model to be more power-efficient? (This will trickle down in 2027 to 560/860.) I'm struggling to see the next big thing in bike computer tech besides NFC payments. Bike computers seem to do all they need to. Instinct 3, with its hybrid and AMOLED versions, is popular. We will undoubtedly see the usual raft of Surf, Camo, and other variants, none of which will have maps. I suspect that in 2027, Instinct will start to get a few of the trickle-down features added from Fenix—like maps. With the Forerunners, there is scope for a 170/370 model(s) below 570/970. We will see at least one of those. There's also scope for smaller case versions—I would not be surprised if Spring brings a Forerunner 970 41mm Pro LTE version. So, the Forerunner 2026 strategy will be one of gap-filling. That's OK, though. Various gaps will be filled for the Fenix/Instinct variants that target specific verticals. Thus, D2 Air X15 (Venu) and D2 Mach 2 (Fenix) have both been leaked for aviators. On the smartwatch side, don't be surprised to see a Venu X1 Pro with LTE soon. On the indoor training side, expect a new TACX trainer or two later in 2026. For accessories, I expect the Varia radar taillights to get a refresh of the base model. But I also expect the Varia brand to be extended once again back to a HUD, which might even happen in 2025. The most straightforward cycling product to predict last year was the Edge 140, but it did not materialise and will likely be skipped and appear as Edge 150, but only if Garmin decides to remain at the 'low' end of the market. Key Trends: Unlike 2025, expect 2026 to be full of new trickle-down products with existing software and hardware features passed down from top-end to middle and lower-end models. Expect one new technology from Garmin, such as microLED view-through panels (HUD). Expect Garmin's naming convention to become clearer, e.g., FRx70 and Fenix E. Garmin Forerunner for Runners & Triathletes Thanks to the introduction of the Forerunner 165 a couple of years ago, the AMOLED transition is now complete on the running/triathlon side. MIP/solar has become a niche running feature; perhaps only Enduro 4 will continue to use this technology. Here's the current range Currently Garmin offers: FR55 (42mm, MIP)> FR165 (43mm) > FR265/265s > FR570(42/47) > FR970 and Enduro 3 (large, MIP, Solar) I view the FR570 as a continuation of the older 645/655 model, which we thought was discontinued. I.E., a high-end model that is pared back in some ways. This leaves the entry-level and mid-level in Garmin's range as the next to be updated. We will probably see it transition to handle two sizes and focus solely on running with the two lower models. Thus, the higher-end models retain the multisport and other niche focus: Garmin Next Stage (2026): FR170 (43mm) > FR270(42/47) > FR570(42/47) > FR970 and Enduro 3 (large, MIP, Solar) Subsequently, Garmin will add PRO versions. I suspect these will be the FRxx5 models or existing models labelled with a Pro suffix. Incrementing model numbers in the future by 5 rather than 10 might give Garmin a few more years with this numbering scheme, and the PRO name explicitly stated is more meaningful to consumers. This might emerge as the PRO models being 4G LTE without having 'LTE' specifically added to the name. Garmin Stage II (2026-27): FR170 (43mm) > FR270(42/47) > FR570(42/47)/575 > FR970 (47)/975(42) and Enduro 4/3 Pro (large, MIP, Solar) Perhaps later we get this.. Garmin Stage III - After Stage II, I would see microLED (2027) as the next boost of tech innovation perhaps also 5G RedCap/Satellite (2027) on the very top Forerunner models once proved on other models. Enduro is a Fenix MIP solar device targeted at trail and ultra runners. MIP will only be replaced if AMOLED+Solar becomes available in one panel, i.e., without a solar ring. Adventurers For adventurers, the Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix 8, and Fenix E are high-end products differentiated by maps and other high-end tech components (Elevate 5). The Fenix models underwent iterations and tweaks to accommodate the specific needs of niche markets, including marine, diving, aviation, driving, and military applications. It seems sensible to assume that the Instinct Range will mirror Fenix regarding its technologies and target customer demographics. Features and price will differentiate Instinct from Fenix. The most apparent feature omission is MAPS and the Elevate sensor version. Solar+AMOLED Garmin secured patents for SOLAR (AM)OLED in 2022, which may be the new feature innovation for high-end watches in 2026-27, alongside 4G LTE/5G RedCap/Satellite connectivity. In my opinion, Solar has its place only in MIP-screen watches and possibly on bike computers. The usefulness of SOLAR is restricted by the fact that sufficiently awesome battery lives are possible without solar. So, do we ever need solar on FENIX AMOLED watches? I think not. That said, we will see solar Fenix models despite there not being a widespread need for them. Smart features on sports watches https://the5krunner.com/2025/03/20/garmins-ios-victory-eu-dma-will-disadvantage-apple-watch/ Given its restricted access to iPhone features, I'm unconvinced that Garmin can produce meaningful LTE features beyond those it already supports. That said, December 2023 revealed insights into the new CIQ capabilities for 2024, providing substantial clues about the upcoming headline features for new watches. They mostly hint at new 5G/LTE capabilities rather than anything else. Garmin's addition of audio quality microphones and speakers is solely to make them more competent smart watches. It just so happens that secondary uses are found in sports. https://the5krunner.com/2025/01/07/connect-iq-8-what-we-know-so-far-about-system-8/ The current Elevate Gen 5 HR sensor (2023) is a relatively recent innovation with on-demand ECG capabilities. That ECG tech will eventually be rolled out to most watch geographic markets and Product Series from now until the end of 2026, but I'm not at all excited by the prospect and suspect that much of the sports market won't be either. Garmin is actively including the prior-gen Elevate gen 4 sensor (Instinct) on some new, lower-end models. I expect a similar strategy to emerge if/when Elevate 6 arrives. IE, Elevate 6 and 5 would be added to new watches, most likely the older of the two kept for second-tier devices as a differentiator. Garmin's wrist-based ECG is highly limited and nothing like what is offered by the 24/7 ECG on a Fourth Frontier X2 strap or, indeed, by the passive nature already provided by Apple's Afib - Garmin lacks passive ECG and true AFib detection (it infers it), requiring a manual reading for the former. Perhaps better passive monitoring is a feature for Elevate 6? With Whoop, Apple and Samsung offering hypertension (blood pressure) trends, Garmin will likely respond in 2025-26. Elevate 6 needs to have blood pressure and passive ECG capabilities for resting levels of exertion. [caption id="attachment_88547" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] FR164, Elevate gen 4[/caption] Features - A quick look at emerging feature areas Next-gen biomarker sensors So, where are the next-gen HR sensors that can sense novel biomarkers? Apple is supposedly lining up its new sensor package (it is supposedly doing many things). Is it plausible that conservative Garmin could sneak ahead of cautious Apple? It showed it could do that with microLED. The following link discusses some of these novel biomarkers that were relatively advanced in 2023, but are still not in the mass market three years later. https://the5krunner.com/2023/01/02/next-gen-sports-sensors-for-2023-and-beyond-lactate-blood-pressure-hydration-creatinine/ Wellness/Medical Features Blood pressure/Hypertension TREND sensing is the current trend for the addition to watches' sensor capabilities. As 2025 draws close, there is an ominous silence around brands claiming FDA-approved blood pressure features. We've seen a few like Whoop, but the tech seems tricky to certify. Additionally, all wearable platforms will integrate more closely with medical health record platforms—your doctor or insurer could easily access your data (with your permission). Satellite/5G As predicted here, Garmin introduced satellite connectivity to the Fenix 8 Pro. The surprises were a move from Iridium Satellites to Skylo and a failure to introduce 5G RedCap, instead sticking to 4G LTE. Garmin will move PRO-grade models to 5G RedCap at some point...but it might not be 2026. Garmin already has a feature-rich satellite and LTE set of features. Its inReach tariffs are complicated and will rationalise over time. However, the super key drawback is that Garmin's new non-emergency location sharing features only work with people who use the Garmin Messenger app, which is highly restrictive. User Repair Google Pixel Watch 4 (2025) is the first notable smartwatch to allow owners to change the battery. Regulation will eventually force user serviceability of watches, most likely driven by the EU (love or loathe them, they are the only region willing to legislate against powerful tech companies). Apple will resist this, which benefits from battery degradation and prompts an upgrade. [caption id="attachment_95271" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Coros Pace Pro Topo Map[/caption] Companies: Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Hammerhead, Coros & Other Sport-focused GPS Watches What's Next for Garmin's Competitors? Feature catch-up to Garmin Fleshing out the competencies in individual feature sets Deeper physiology More refined mapping More true audio features using microphones and speakers rather than old-fashioned beepers. Regular iterations of new hardware models supported by features along these lines might be exciting in a marketing sense if they are competitively priced. Suunto seemed to be going down that route in 2024-25 but has since backtracked. Companies seem fixated on high-margin commercial moves supported by even more features that bring them into more direct competition with Garmin, a battle they will usually lose. I expect no inspiring new tech moves for the Challenger brands in 2026, unless Suunto or Polar reenters the Wear OS market. Challengers have no easy way to get widespread support for on-device payments (see the linked article for a workaround) and Spotify inside the watch, so you would have thought they would have to jump on the Wear OS wagon at some point in the next five years or be left a long way behind on the smart features they can offer. Countering that is the ringfencing of the latest versions of WearOS to Samsung and Google-only products. Coros This is speculative information Coros NOMAD - August 2025 - chunky adventure watch (like Garmin Instinct) Apex 4, October 2025 Vertix 3 + 3 AMOLED, 2026 Coros Dura 2, 2026 Coros' next move should be a distinct positioning as an AMOLED-only watch at its mass market, lower end and MIP-only for its outdoor performance models. Vertix must continue the company's tradition of market-leading battery life, similar to Garmin, and offer solar or smaller case variants. I don't foresee any new watch sub-brands created by Coros. Instead, a larger version of Pace 3 (like Garmin Enduro) or a smaller version of Vertix 2 makes more sense. This would follow a similar theme to what the company did with the Apex 2 Pro, successor to its smaller Apex 2 sibling. Maybe we will see something completely different. The Coros DURA bike computer features a solar boost, complementing its market-leading battery life. It's not the prettiest bike computer, but it's one of the easiest to operate, thanks to a Digital Crown on the side. I suspect it hasn't sold well and won't sell well in the future, even when 'fixed.' Perhaps the company won't add Dura 2 in 2026. If so, where will new products be produced? Coros will become one more niche sportswatch player trying to compete in the higher pricing tiers (like Suunto and Polar). Suunto Suunto is the most likely to surprise us, as evidenced in 2024 by the excellent Suunto RACE and Suunto RUN watches (possibly the best outside of Garmin) and the Shokz-like Suunto Wing headphones. Suunto has also opened up its app to Xiaomi and Hammerhead. Suunto's new Chinese parent owns the Haylou watch brand. A dramatic cross-branding of watches in its stable could result in newer, more affordable Suunto watches. Suunto RUN might indicate more of this to come. Suunto Race 2/RUN features new internals and is not adopting the Wear OS route. They seem to have dialled in a future on their proprietary OS, and Suunto RUN is the first of a new hardware generation, the tech stack for the company's future direction of travel. Indeed, Run/Race(2) and Race S have been successful for the company; perhaps they will double down in that area with more iterations and variations. This is speculative information ✔️New Suunto Vertical SOLAR, March 2024 (minor iteration replacing non-solar version from May 2023) ✔️New Suunto OCEAN ✔️ New Suunto Race S (larger Race was Q4.2023) ✔️ New Suunto Race 2, 27 Aug 2025 ✔️ Suunto RUN - 13 May 2025 ✔️ Suunto Vertical 2 - 30 Sep 2025 Ocean 2 summer 2026 at the earliest, I suspect 2027 Race 3/3s 2027 Vertical 3 2027 Polar This is speculative information ✔️ Vantage M3 (2024) ✔️A Polar LOOP (September 2025) Pacer 2 AMOLED, 2 PRO AMOLED Q4.2024 - this was the Vantage M3 Unite, 2026??? - This line may be dropped ✔️ Grit X2 - June 2025 Grit X3 - 2027 Vantage V4 - 2026 - the new Polar hardware platform for 2026-2028. Next up from Polar might be AMOLED versions of the Pacer (Pro) and Unite (fitness) watches. It's unclear if or how a next-gen Pacer can be differentiated from M3. Polar is taking a similar but distinct route to Suunto by opening its platform to Sennheiser's optical HR earbuds. TAG HEUER I only mention the TAG brand here as the company is the most likely to release microLED, which should be an interesting update on its battery performance. Like Garmin, TAG was known to be prototyping with AUO microLED screens and would have been the first to release that technology in volume. The TAG Heuer Calibre E5 was expected last year but will be released in October 2025. Wahoo Wahoo released its entire third generation of bike computers in four months. Besides a mini or off-road format, I can't see any updates to Ace 2, Bolt 4, and Roam 4 until 2027. Similarly, it also released TRACKR RADAR, KICKR RUN, and KICKR BIKE PRO. What does that leave for Wahoo to release in 2026? A: Not a lot on the bike computer front. Smart watch? A: No, that ship has sailed New accessories—Yes, we will likely see TRACKR HRMs with higher-end features. Perhaps a front light to match TRACKR RADAR. I expect an improved CLIMB 2, HEADWIND2 and a KICKR MOVE 2. I hope that Wahoo has built on the pedal power meter tech it acquired from Speedplay and that we see Shimano and LOOK variants. Hammerhead Released ✔️ Karoo 3 Karoo 4 Q2.2026 (speculative) A possibility would be for a smaller-format Karoo, but this is doubtful considering the battery life of Karoo 3. Karoo 3 just about gets away with its battery life, but any less would be a difficult sell (like Edge 540/840) Apple This is speculative information. ;-) ✔️Apple Watch 12 - Sep 2026 No SE 4 or Ultra 4 versions are expected until 2027 Google Google will iterate the Pixel watch annually, which will contain Fitbit technology and sports-like features. The AI-personalised Health watch is destined for Fitbit premium users and offers Gemini-powered insights into fitness, sleep, and wellness. The Fitbit brand will only continue in software and appears to have ditched lower-end fitness trackers. There will be no more Fitbit watches. Versa and Sense have effectively been discontinued, but Charge, Inspire, and Ace bands should continue to be supported on August 20, 2025: Pixel Watch 4 August 2026: Pixel 5, 41mm and 45mm Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (Standard) - Q3.2026 Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (Ultra) - Q3.2026 2026 creates some interesting decision points for the brands The era of companies quickly adopting technological leaps to expand global markets has ended. An example is microLED has shown, there is great promise, but first-gen displays are more of a step backwards than forwards. Significant advancements are still possible but are ever more challenging to achieve, and the certainty of ongoing economic growth in Europe is gone. Supply chain disruptions (China sanctions) and increasingly regionalised/deglobalised markets will make smartwatch development more challenging than in years past. Garmin has filled all the main product niches and then some. It seems to be aiming for annual refresh cycles of its key products and a strategy of swamping market segments with numerous product options, perhaps deliberately trying to confuse customers into asking "Which Garmin?" rather than "Which watch?" Regarding geographical expansion, can a US-Taiwan-based company (Garmin) improve market share in underperforming markets like China? Probably not. Polar still has no running track mode, and once admitted, it can't compete against Garmin in triathlon. Its web platform and app are undergoing a revamp. Polar LOOP might be the company's greatest hope to start moving in a different direction, as a return to Wear OS is unlikely. Suunto seems to be moving in many right directions—aesthetics, quick lifecycles, and on-watch apps. Its Chinese owners can likely make the Suunto brand sell more in Asian markets and hence have more confidence in expanding the brand beyond what we currently see with Haylou (part of the same group). It will need more than third-party watch faces from its app store or a Wear OS model to become a key player. It should compete against Garmin in areas where Garmin is poorer - like usability; rather than playing never-ending feature catch-up. Coros has done well commercially in the last few years. 2025 seemed to clarify a few key decisions the brand made, namely to raise prices and mostly stick with MIP displays. I can't see how Coros' newer, higher price points will help the company—it now competes directly with some Garmin models and just isn't as good. It's a small company with a good public profile and a generally loyal customer base. Wahoo has many technological ways forward for its excellent product range, but the indoor bike training market must not be the cash generator it once was. There's probably little scope for Kickr Move 2 to differ in any material sense from the current model. The company is refocusing its online training services, and the competition is red-hot at the lower end of the trainer market. Smaller companies like Sigma, Bryton, igSport, and Magene will continue to innovate as they catch up with the technology. Still, I can't see them progressing much in their Western Europe or North America market shares. Magene and Amazfit are most likely to be the 'best of the rest' in the bike and watch markets, respectively. Both have relatively good hardware and core features, but their ecosystems lack punch. Even lesser-known smartwatch and sports watch brands emanate from Southeast Asia and India. It would just take one of them to get some financial backing and buy Polar to become a global player rather than a struggling regional player few in the West have heard of or trust. Smart Fitness, Wear OS, WatchOS & Similar Smarts As I've said for several years, the end game is Apple's watchOS vs. Google/Samsung's Wear OS vs. Asian brands' Dominance of low prices (China/India). That endgame seems as clear in 2026 as it was five years ago, although Garmin continues to fare much better than I expected. Proprietary sports platforms like Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Wahoo, (Coros?) will still be here in 2030. But...how big will they be? As ever, increasingly competent SMART watches will continue to eat into the traditional customer base of sports watches: high-end Pixel 3, Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Samsung Galaxy Watch. They improve yearly, but the continuing growth of sports uptake in younger demographics gives many brands a lifeline as sports-specific watches. The derailment that was Wear OS is now back on track. Samsung and Google get first pick with the latest versions of Wear OS before competitors. They have decided to ringfence the entire market, and third-party alternatives from years gone by will become ever less common, along with dated Wear OS versions. Something significant needs to happen to disrupt markets and change the medium-term trajectory, such as a war over Taiwan, the EU forcing Apple to open up iMessage to a standard API, or a stock market crash and recession. Without such disruptions, the inevitable trajectory is the Apple vs. Google/Samsung stand-off. [caption id="attachment_86401" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Coros Pace 1 vs Pace 3 vs Pace 2 - rear view[/caption] Huami (Amazfit/Zepp), Huawei, Realme, Redmi, TicWatch, and others will continue in the battle of the budget smartwatches. The endgame is "Who makes the best do-it-all $150 commodity watch?". Several of these have significant sales figures in some Far Eastern markets, and some products might even be described as increasingly competent - e.g. T-Rex 3. Indeed, we now see Chinese companies building significant competencies and sales volumes in their domestic markets before using that strength in other geographic markets; 'dumping' is an issue in non-smartwatch markets (EVs, solar panels); maybe that will also happen to smart tech. That will be a big potential disruptor to value brands and value models. Many companies cannot effectively cross-sell smart watches without a top smartphone from the same brand. Even those with a decent partner smartphone like Huawei face other political issues. [caption id="attachment_65287" align="aligncenter" width="856"] This is it. Image|Coros FB[/caption] Bike Computers - Hope or Hopeless? Garmin dominates this sector, with Wahoo as the leading challenger brand. The long-term impact of SRAM/Hammerhead Karoo 3 remains uncertain, but it is viewed as a hopeful contender with realistic success potential. Lower-end brands, such as Lezyne or budget, high-spec options like Bryton (Taiwan)/Magene (China), Mio Cyclo (MiTAC, Taiwan), Navihood, TRIMM, CYCPLUS and iGPSPORT (Korea) appear to face challenges to get even the smallest of footholds in non-Asian markets Wahoo, adept at maintaining secrecy, is not expected to leak information. With three sizes of performance satnavs, Wahoo now covers most commercial bases in the bike computer market. Apart from iterative model strategies, there are no significantly new gaps for it to exploit there. Where else can it look? While Apple, Google, and potentially Asian players in domestic markets may dominate the global watch market, Garmin indisputably leads the bike computers. Many challengers exist to Garmin's Edge Series, but only Wahoo & SRAM-Hammerhead seem to be coherent challengers with decent marketing and tech combos. Whilst they lack in the feature count stakes, they are catching up, but catching up is difficult. But Bolt 3 and Roam 3 have been thrown a lifeline by Edge 550/850 and their poor battery lives. Garmin's market position is interesting to debate, as Garmin Edge will NOT pull further ahead regarding features or market share. Their tech is already well-advanced, and their market position is too dominant. They can't improve! Catching up in each respect is more straightforward than for Garmin to pull further ahead. Smaller companies face a challenging task in getting close to Garmin in cycling. The likelihood of a new product eventually outperforming Garmin is higher if it's Android-based, owing to the potential advantages of easier app integration and a shorter development cycle, as seen with the Karoo. Stages seemed interested in this competition with its DASH L200/M200. Still, its bankruptcy has dealt a fatal blow to the DASH models, and it is unlikely that the new owner, Giant, will pursue bike computer development in any way but tokenistically...if at all (see: Planet 9). For starters, the old Stages bike computers would need a design overhaul from the ground up. Garmin's focus on higher price points leaves plenty of room for smaller companies like Bryton, Sigma, Lezyne, iGSport and CatEye to compete in the lower-priced, less profitable arena. Ancient rumours about Polar releasing a bike computer are wishful thinking. Phones are increasingly used as recreational bike computers, and they do a good job at it - Apple has already covered this base. While well-featured bike computers like Stages M200/L200, Sigma ROX 12 EVO, and high-end Bryton models exist, they seem to lack the unique appeal that propels them to Wahoo's level. Wahoo BOLT Gen 1's enduring success beyond its fourth birthday suggests that many riders prioritise reliability, user-friendliness, or brand image over high technology. That's all. Further Sources: Lists of all Firmware Updates Suunto updates are 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 is here: link to apple.com WatchOS 10 is here: link to apple.com WatchOS 11 is here: link to apple.com WatchOS 26 is here: link to apple.com Stages DASH is here: stagesdash.com Sigma Rox 12.1 here: sigmasport.com Mio Cyclo: mio.com Coros: link to Coros Bryton: Facebook page for announcements Magene: magene.com iGPSPORT: igpsport.com Coospo: coospo.com Please let me know if I've missed anything, like the Pixel Watch! It is also helpful for checking compatibility with new ANT+ devices. Occasionally, a special 'leak' might appear on that site by accident. As of Q1.2025, Garmin is rolling back on ANT+, so expect this site to eventually not be updated. thisisant.com ANT+ Specification updates here: thisisant.com Subscriber-Only Content The following link discusses emerging and new trends, including payments, GPS, OHR, Safety, Mapping, and much more. Recommended Reading: Endurance Technology Trends END, thank you for your support. This all takes a considerable amount of time, and we appreciate any support you can give.
