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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 8 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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. See the gear tfk uses. ID
