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 Instinct 3 AMOLED / Instinct 3 Solar / Instinct E — v15.13 Beta — 12 July 2026
the5krunner insight: This is a small release that is only relevant if you shoot with a Xero rangefinder.
Beta 15.13 reached the Instinct 3 range on 12 July. The one new capability is Xero range sensor data feeding the Applied Ballistics app on the Tactical editions of the AMOLED and Solar models. The rest of the changelog covers Garmin Pay, treadmill calibration, DogTrack and watch face fixes.
- Xero range sensor data now feeds the Applied Ballistics app (Instinct 3 AMOLED and Instinct 3 Solar, Tactical editions only)
Full release notes: Instinct 3 series
Garmin Forerunner 970 / Forerunner 570 / Venu X1 / vivoactive 6 / Venu 4 — v18.14 Beta — 15 July 2026
the5krunner insight: This is a modest update, and its one new feature reaches a single model.
Public beta 18.14 went to twenty per cent of enrolled users on 15 July across the Forerunner 970, Forerunner 570, Venu X1, vivoactive 6 and Venu 4. Automatic detection of cycling FTP appears as a setting on the Venu 4 alone. Button tones now default to off while headphones are connected, and the touch lock registers fewer false unlocks. The remainder of the changelog is fixes, weighted towards music playback and alarm volume behaviour.
- Automatic detection of cycling FTP available as a setting (Venu 4 only)
- Button tones default to off while headphones are connected
- Fewer false unlocks when using the touch lock
Find your model’s release notes: Forerunner 970 · Forerunner 570 · Venu X1 · vivoactive 6 · Venu 4
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 18 July 2026: Amazfit, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo (source unavailable this week), Hammerhead, Samsung and Huawei either had no release in the window or released stability and bug fix updates only.
Previous edition: #6 Deep Dive Feature Files: Week Ending 11 July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Garmin Venu 4 detect cycling FTP automatically?
Yes. The beta adds a setting that enables automatic detection of cycling FTP. No other watch in this release receives it.
What is new in the latest Garmin Forerunner 970 firmware update?
The beta brings no new features to the Forerunner 970. Button tones now default to off while headphones are connected, and the touch lock registers fewer false unlocks. Everything else is a fix.
What is new in the latest Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED firmware update?
The Applied Ballistics app can now use range data from a Xero range sensor. This applies to the Tactical editions of the Instinct 3 AMOLED and Instinct 3 Solar only.
Does the Garmin Venu X1 still play button tones when headphones are connected?
No. Button tones now default to off whenever headphones are connected, so button presses no longer interrupt audio.
Last Updated on 19 July 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
