If you follow sports tech, your inbox fills up fast. Most of what lands is minor patches dressed up as news. This cuts through all that with one weekly post covering every feature addition across the major brands, nothing else. Trivial bug fixes are excluded. Subscribe via RSS at the5krunner.com.
Garmin Fenix 8 / Enduro 3 / Tactix 8 / Fenix E — v22.35 — 27 May 2026
the5krunner insight: A large stable release after two months of testing — worth installing.
The most useful addition for most people is the new silent mode shortcut, which can now be switched on quickly without digging through menus. The golf additions take up most of the update but will only matter to a fraction of users. Garmin has also quietly added read and delivered status to its Messenger app — and the release notes hint at more Messenger improvements coming without saying what they are, one to watch. The Fenix 8, Enduro 3, Tactix 8 and Fenix E are all covered by this release.
- Silent mode now accessible directly from the controls screen or a button shortcut
- Approach CT1 club tag support — tracks every stroke on any club
- Golf performance summary added
- LTE option added within activity battery modes
- Last Man Overboard navigation point added
- Messenger now shows read and delivered status on messages
- Keyboard layout menu now accessible by swiping up from the bottom of any page
- Spoken Watch face restored (Fenix E)
- Night vision colour shift restored (Tactix 8)
Find your model’s release notes: Fenix 8 / Fenix 8 Pro / Enduro 3 / Fenix E / Tactix 8
Garmin Forerunner 970 / 570 / Venu X1 / Venu 4 / vivoactive 6 — v17.33 — 27 May 2026
the5krunner insight: A modest update across five devices — Forerunner 970 owners get the most.
Silent mode and CT1 golf sensor support land across all five models. The Forerunner 970 picks up two navigation additions that the others do not get. The Forerunner 570, Venu X1, Venu 4 and vivoactive 6 share the core additions. The golf subscription features on the Venu and vivoactive models are secondary for the endurance audience but worth knowing about if you play.
- Silent mode shortcut added — all five models
- Approach CT1 golf sensor support added — all five models
- Keyboard layout menu accessible by swiping up from the bottom of any page — all five models
- Multiple ways to enter location coordinates now supported — all five models
- Outdoor map layer descriptions added, accessible via QR code (Forerunner 970 only)
- Last Man Overboard navigation point added (Forerunner 970 only)
- Outdoor map layer descriptions added, accessible via QR code (Venu X1 only)
- Last Man Overboard navigation point added (Venu X1 only)
- Golf performance summary added (Venu X1 only)
- Putt marking on Green View map added (Venu X1 only)
- Green contour data, improved course maps and adjusted distance figures added with an active Garmin Golf subscription (Venu 4, vivoactive 6)
Find your model’s release notes: Forerunner 970 · Forerunner 570 · Venu X1 · Venu 4 · vivoactive 6
Amazfit — Cheetah 2 Pro — v3.13.0.2 — 28 May 2026
the5krunner insight: A small release — only relevant if you use navigation or lactate threshold tracking.
No new features here. The two changes are refinements to things already on the Cheetah 2 Pro — turn prompts during navigation are clearer, and the lactate threshold calculation has been adjusted.
- Navigation turn alerts and distance prompts improved
- Lactate threshold calculation refined
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 30 May 2026: COROS, Suunto, Wahoo, Polar, Samsung and Huawei either had no release or released stability and bug fix updates only.
Quick answers
What is new in the latest Garmin Fenix 8 firmware update?
The May 2026 update adds a silent mode shortcut accessible directly from the controls screen, removing the need to dig through menus. It also adds read and delivered status to the Messenger app and hints at further Messenger improvements to come.
Does the Garmin Fenix 8 now support Approach CT1 golf club sensors?
Yes. The May 2026 update adds Approach CT1 club tag support, enabling per-stroke tracking on any club.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 970 have a silent mode shortcut?
Yes. The May 2026 update adds silent mode as a direct shortcut from the controls screen, shared across the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu X1, Venu 4 and vivoactive 6.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 970 have Last Man Overboard navigation?
Yes, as of the May 2026 update. This addition is exclusive to the Forerunner 970 and Venu X1 within this release. The Forerunner 570, Venu 4 and vivoactive 6 do not get it.
What is new in the latest COROS PACE 4 firmware update?
The most significant addition is voice control, which lets you start activities, set alarms and check the weather by holding the Action button and speaking. The update also redesigns lap tracking and adds direct connection to the Wahoo KICKR Run treadmill for pace, incline and cadence.
Does the COROS PACE 4 connect to the Wahoo KICKR Run treadmill?
Yes. The May 2026 update adds direct connection to the Wahoo KICKR Run, sending pace, incline and cadence straight to the watch without a phone.
What is new in the latest Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro firmware update?
A small update. Navigation turn alerts and distance prompts are clearer, and the lactate threshold calculation has been refined. No new features were added.
Previous edition: this is issue #1.
Last Updated on 28 June 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — The small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
