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 Forerunner 165 / 255 / 265 / 955 / 965 — v28.05 — 18 June 2026
the5krunner insight: A small release, of interest mainly to runners who train with structured intervals.
This is a stable release across the mid-range Forerunner line, and almost all of it is bug fixes that fall outside this post. The one qualifying addition concerns audio prompts. The Forerunner 165, 255, 265, 955 and 965 are all covered.
- Audio prompts now announce completion time for distance intervals
Full release notes: Forerunner Series
Amazfit Balance 2 — v3.50.4.1 — 15 June 2026
the5krunner insight: A decent update for outdoor runners, with grade-adjusted pacing and offline routing the additions that matter.
The Amazfit Balance 2 gains Equivalent Pace, which converts uphill and downhill effort into a flat-ground figure, the same idea as Garmin’s Grade Adjusted Pace. Offline route planning and GPS heading inside the topographic map app are the other navigation additions. A HYROX Race integration with Stryd and a multi-device sync feature round out the release.
- Equivalent Pace converts uphill and downhill effort into a flat-ground pace estimate
- Offline route planning in the topographic map app, with automatic recalculation when off course
- GPS heading added to the topographic map app
- On-watch route creation to points up to 100 km away
- Activity Data Fusion syncs data across multiple Amazfit devices for consistent records
- HYROX Race integration with Stryd for real-time pace metrics
- Bluetooth speaker support for phone audio playback
- Diving additions: depth calculation, descent and ascent detection
Full release notes: Amazfit Balance 2
Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra — v6.1.114.1 — 16 June 2026
the5krunner insight: Worth installing for Cheetah 2 Ultra owners, with HYROX tools and the first Zepp OS 6 build the substance.
The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra gets a structured HYROX suite, an upgraded recovery score and the watch’s first official Zepp OS 6 build. Navigation picks up a route preview image and additional map scale levels.
- HYROX workout library with templates that sync from the Zepp app
- HYROX Virtual Pace generates a race strategy from venue conditions, with live ahead or behind tracking
- HYROX simulation training for full, half, first half, second half and custom modes
- HybridCharge recovery scoring upgraded with sport-specific calculation
- Route preview image shown on the workout preparation page
- New map scale levels (75 m, 200 m, 750 m, 2 km, 8 km) with imperial equivalents
- Zepp OS 6 included
Full release notes: Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra
Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro — v4.10.5.1 — 17 June 2026
the5krunner insight: A sport-focused update, of most interest to HYROX athletes and golfers.
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro adds Golf and a deeper HYROX toolset, and upgrades its recovery metric from BioCharge to HybridCharge. The release notes point to Zepp OS 6 arriving on the watch next month without further detail, one to watch.
- HYROX Simulation Training for full, half, first half, second half and custom modes
- HYROX Race Strategy created in the Zepp app and sent to the watch
- HybridCharge replaces BioCharge for recovery status
- Rowing machine distance calibration now supports metric and imperial units
- Golf added, with downloadable maps for more than 40,000 courses
Full release notes: Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro
Wahoo ELEMNT ACE / BOLT 3 / ROAM 3 — build 302553 — 17 June 2026
the5krunner insight: The week’s most substantial release, bringing live physiological sensor data to the ELEMNT Series 3.
Wahoo has added live data and recording for four physiological sensors across the ELEMNT ACE, BOLT 3 and ROAM 3. The ELEMNT ACE also gains a dedicated wind page that uses its onboard air pressure sensor. Komoot Live Sync and custom waypoint support arrive across the Series 3 range.
- Live data and recording from four physiological sensors: CORE core temperature, FLOWBIO and hDrop sweat and sodium loss, and TymeWear breathing rate
- Wind page showing wind impact, potential speed, wind grade and resistance ratio from the onboard air pressure sensor (ELEMNT ACE only)
- Komoot Live Sync pushes route changes to the head unit mid-ride without Wi-Fi
- Custom waypoints from Strava, Komoot and Ride with GPS (water, food, hazards, rest) shown on the map, cue sheet and a dedicated Waypoints page
- Voice turn-by-turn directions added in Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Thai, Portuguese and Chinese
Find your model’s release notes: ELEMNT ACE · ELEMNT BOLT 3 · ELEMNT ROAM 3
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 20 June 2026: COROS, Suunto, Polar, Hammerhead, Samsung and Huawei either had no release in the window or released stability and bug fix updates only.
Previous edition: #3 Deep Dive Feature Files: Week Ending 13 June 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Amazfit Balance 2 have a grade-adjusted pace metric?
Yes. The latest update adds Equivalent Pace, which combines your physiological data, fitness level and gradient changes to convert uphill and downhill running into a flat-ground pace estimate. It is the Amazfit equivalent of Garmin’s Grade Adjusted Pace.
Can the Amazfit Balance 2 plan routes offline?
Yes. The update adds offline route planning inside the topographic map app, including loop routes and routes to a destination, with automatic recalculation if you go off course.
What is new in the latest Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra firmware update?
The update adds a structured HYROX suite with a workout library, Virtual Pace race strategy and simulation modes, an upgraded HybridCharge recovery score, a route preview image and new map scale levels. It is also the watch’s first official Zepp OS 6 build.
Does the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro support golf?
Yes. The update adds Golf, with downloadable maps for more than 40,000 courses available through the Zepp app before you head out.
What physiological sensors does the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE now support?
The update adds live data and recording for four sensors: CORE for core body temperature, FLOWBIO and hDrop for sweat and sodium loss, and TymeWear for breathing rate. The same support reaches the ELEMNT BOLT 3 and ROAM 3.
Does the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE show wind data?
Yes. The update adds a dedicated wind page that uses the onboard air pressure sensor to show wind impact, potential speed, wind grade and resistance ratio. This page is exclusive to the ELEMNT ACE.
What is new in the latest Garmin Forerunner firmware update?
The qualifying change is that audio prompts now announce your completion time for distance intervals. The rest of the release is bug fixes, which this post excludes.
Last Updated on 22 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 cable tidy at the stem. 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 mix engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — 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 end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
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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
