Deep Dive Digest #22: Garmin’s September Fenix Crop, CIRQA Post-Launch Insights & Three Reviews
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Multiple, new Garmin filings now point to a full crop of next-generation Fenix devices in September: Fenix 9 AMOLED, Fenix 9 MIP Solar, Fenix E2, and Enduro 4 are all in the frame. A Fenix 9 Pro inReach special with LTE-M and Satellite may follow as early as January 2027. If the September window holds, this is the most significant Garmin hardware moment since the Fenix 8 generation, and the filing details are examined in full on site.
CIRQA has now been in the market long enough for a pattern to emerge. A sourced list of bugs drawn from Garmin Forums and Reddit covers sensor dropouts and connectivity failures.
Then we look at the King of Bands. A five-way comparison (CIRQA against Whoop MG, Polar Loop, Fitbit Air, and Amazfit Helio Strap Pro) ranks each device on the genuine factors that people consider when buying for daily wear and training use, rather than rehashed spec tables. CIRQA is competitive on most of them.
Two reviews this week. The Amazfit Balance 3 is the first sports watch built explicitly for HYROX, with dedicated race modes tested in a full simulation. The Fourth Frontier X Plus is an FDA-cleared ECG chest strap tested side by side against a clinical 12-lead ECG. Both pieces go into the details that matter.
Elsewhere: Coros Pace 4 Pro has appeared in Indonesia’s SDPPI database. Motorola has an unannounced 46mm smartwatch in leaked renders. The Google Pixel Watch 5 leak confirms new colours and more memory on the same processor, a minor refresh dressed as a generation.
Garmin Fenix E2, 9 AMOLED, 9 MIP SOLAR, 9 Pro and Enduro – likley dates and evidence
A new Garmin filing carries LTE-M and satellite hardware missing from the Fenix 9, Fenix E 2 and Enduro 4 filings already spotted. Here’s what the numbering means for launch timing.
Coros Pace 4 Pro Leaked
A Coros Pace 4 Pro has surfaced in Indonesia’s SDPPI database under model number W337, filed by distributor PT Denka Pratama Indonesia. The filing points to a launch within weeks.
Garmin CIRQA – All the Bugs So Far
A grouped, sourced list of Garmin CIRQA bugs from Garmin Forums and Reddit, covering sensor dropouts, alarms, Body Battery, HRV and workout data.
Amazfit Balance 3 Review: HYROX Watch Tested
The Balance 3 is the first sports watch built for HYROX, with dedicated race modes and a hybrid recovery score. GPS trails the Balance 2, but heart rate holds up well.
Fourth Frontier X Plus Review: FDA-Cleared ECG Chest Strap
A clinical 12-lead ECG and the Fourth Frontier X Plus, tested side by side. The X Plus matched rhythm, rate and QRS shape exactly, then held that accuracy through a cycling session and a hard running effort.
CIRQA vs WHOOP vs LOOP vs Fitbit Air vs Helio Strap Pro
Five screenless trackers now compete for the same wrist. This comparison ranks Garmin CIRQA, Polar LOOP, WHOOP, Amazfit Helio Strap and Fitbit Air on cost, app quality, battery life and buyer fit.
Motorola Moto Watch Ultra leak: what’s confirmed so far
Leaked images reveal an unannounced Motorola smartwatch running the internal name Moto Watch Ultra. A 46mm stainless steel case, built-in LTE and GPS, and IP68 protection are confirmed. Price, release date and operating system remain unknown.
Google Pixel Watch 5 leak: all we know so far
Just in new colours. Inside, it’s the same processor as before, but with more memory to help the on-device Gemini AI assistant run properly. A price rise looks likely too.
The Deep Dive Podcast
Listen to one of our recent discussions on the Deep Dive podcast – EP73 Can Amazfit Hardware Outrun Garmin Software (ft. AI Insights)
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Last Updated on 11 August 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 — A small keyring adapter you can use anywhere. Essential when away. 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 Wahoo. 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
