Deep Dive Digest #25: CIRQA Pro Leaked, Fenix 9 Pro Tested Hard & Apple Watch Ultra 4 Arrives
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This issue is heavier than most. Launches, post-launch tests, deep comparisons, a significant leak and industry news have all landed in the last two weeks. Coverage runs in brand order: Garmin, Apple, Suunto, Huawei and industry news.
A leaked filing points to a Garmin CIRQA Pro with two buttons, a speaker and the Elevate 5 sensor, the generation Garmin chose not to put in the original CIRQA. The Pro is shaping up as a more watch-like device with audio alerts, physical controls and a sensor upgrade that would address the accuracy ceiling the original hits in demanding conditions.
Post-launch Fenix 9 Pro testing produced two findings worth reading. The map display still lags in real-world zoom and pan tests, negating Garmin’s “faster map engine” claims. The Pro also drops an entire GNSS constellation mid-run to manage power, confirmed behaviour with accuracy implications the spec sheet does not mention. The Q3 2026 feature update adds hands-free voice control and fall detection across existing watches. Garmin’s calorie accuracy came last among four major brands in a new FIU study. Garmin resale value beats Apple at every price point.
Apple launched Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 this week. The Ultra 4 vs Ultra 3 comparison is on site, as is the Series 12 vs Series 11 breakdown. Apple’s 2026 heart rate white paper is one of the most rigorous accuracy studies the wearables industry has produced, the methodology and the gaps are both examined. Wahoo’s Apple Watch app arrived 8 September, an intriguing way to replace the gap left by the exit of its Rival watch.
Suunto’s Run 2 is covered in full review and in direct comparison with the original Run. Same 46mm shell, everything else changed: new GNSS chipset, new heart rate sensor, 29% more battery. It is a new watch in the same case.
Three Huawei comparisons are on site: Watch D3 vs D2, Watch 6 vs Watch 5, and GT 7 Pro vs GT 7. Across all three the pattern is the same, meaningful internal upgrades, modest case changes, and a premium that requires careful justification.
Elsewhere: HYROX has been sold, with founders reclaiming majority control. Oura posts $1.21 billion in nine-month revenue ahead of its Nasdaq listing. Amazfit won UTMB 2026 on the wrist of Ben Dhiman, the fastest time ever run over the course, and confirms further 2026 launches with no subscription model. Google’s own Pixel 11 ads show an unannounced wearable that matches a Fitbit Charge 7 or something more intriguing.
new Garmin CIRQA PRO Leaked – is this the SmO2 sensor?
Garmin appears to be building a CIRQA Smart Band Pro with two buttons, a speaker and at least one new health sensor. Here is what the evidence shows so far.
Garmin Sales: 5.6% Global Share, 11% Quarterly Growth
Garmin’s smartwatch shipments grew 11% in Q2 2026, lifting its global share to 5.6%, according to Counterpoint Research, even as the wider market shrank 4%.
Fenix 9 Pro’s GPS constellation shedding-Opinion-new chipset
The Fenix 9 Pro drops an entire GNSS constellation mid-run to save power, confirmed by testing. A new GPS chipset looked like the explanation, but that theory doesn’t hold up.
Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and the Display Lag Hall of Shame. Test Results.
Real-world tests show the Fenix 9 Pro still struggles with map zoom and pan, contradicting Garmin’s own speed claims. Rival watches beat it comfortably.
Garmin calories worst among four brands, science shows
Garmin posted the largest calorie error of four major smartwatches in a new FIU accuracy study. Samsung came close behind, while Apple and Fitbit measured lower, though Fitbit’s clean average hid a string of implausible readings.
Garmin resale value – Depreciation beats Apple
A Fenix 8 or Fenix 9 buyer keeps more of their money at resale than an Apple Watch Ultra or Galaxy Watch owner. Garmin’s average retention of 69% after six months beats every rival brand in a new eBay study.
Garmin’s Q3 2026 Feature Update: Every New Feature
Garmin’s Q3 2026 update adds hands-free voice control, fall detection and six further features across existing smartwatches and Edge cycling computers. The rollout is free and already underway. Coverage varies sharply by model, from six of the eight tracked features down to just one.
Why is the Fenix 9 Pro Garmin’s Fastest Ever Watch?
The Fenix 9 Pro currently tops the overall speed leaderboard on WristBench, a public Connect IQ benchmark for Garmin watches. Its overall score of 176 is the highest on record.
Garmin Forerunner 70 Review
The Forerunner 70 is Garmin’s cheapest running watch at $249.99/£219.99, and it carries the full physiology stack. Tested across a parkrun, a 10-mile run and a 63km ride, producing the best single-frequency GPS accuracy I have recorded. Battery life is where it falls down.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 upgrade guide: Ultra 1, 2, 3 or Watch 7?
Every Apple Watch owner’s upgrade question answered. Ultra 1 through to Series 6, what Ultra 4 adds that your current watch genuinely cannot do, even after a software update.
Apple Watch 12 heart rate white paper: the good, the gaps, and the questions
Apple’s 2026 heart rate accuracy study is one of the most rigorous in the wearables industry. Here’s what it proves and what it leaves open.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Ultra 3: Full Comparison
Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Ultra 3 compared: every spec that’s changed, plus battery life, satellite connectivity and price.
Apple Watch Series 12 vs Series 11: Full Comparison
Apple Watch Series 12 vs Series 11 compared: every spec that’s changed, plus battery life, health sensors and price.
Suunto Run 2 vs Run: It’s Basically a New Watch
Same 46mm shell, almost nothing else the same. New GNSS chipset, new heart rate sensor, 29% more battery and offline maps arrive without adding a gram. Here’s exactly what changed, and what didn’t.
Suunto Run 2 Review
The Suunto Run 2 pairs offline maps with heart rate accuracy under 1 bpm across five test sessions, at a price no Garmin mapping watch can match. Daily battery life is shorter than the original Run’s. Full GPS, HR and battery testing inside.
Wahoo now on Apple Watch: Quick Hands On and Thoughts
Wahoo’s Apple Watch app arrives 8 September, years after its own RIVAL watch was quietly discontinued. Workout tracking, structured training and sensor support land on a device millions already wear.
Huawei Watch 6 vs Watch 5: Same Price, Less Premium Material, Is It Worth It?
The Huawei Watch 6 costs the same as the Watch 5’s launch price, but drops titanium and ceramic entirely. Here’s whether the software additions make up for it.
Huawei Watch D3 vs D2: Is the Newer Model Worth £50 More?
The Huawei Watch D2 is still on sale at a discount. The D3 costs £50 more, and the core blood pressure measurement is identical between them; here’s what the price difference actually buys.
Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro vs GT 7 Comparison: Better Case Materials, Is That It?
The GT 7 Pro costs £100 more than the GT 7. Case material and the diving rating are the only real reasons to pay it; the ECG sensor isn’t one of them.
Amazfit Confirms More 2026 Launches, Clarifies Subscriptions
Zepp Health’s Q2 call confirmed one or two more Amazfit launches this year and no plans to charge for core features. Falcon 2 has gone quiet; T-Rex Dual Solar looks like the stronger bet.
HYROX Sold – What it means to you
Hyrox’s founders have reclaimed majority control as Infront exits and L Catterton and WndrCo join as minority partners. Here’s what that ownership structure means for entry fees, race growth and Amazfit’s exclusive tech deal.
A Day Return to Garmin Please…Yes Really!
A Red Line metro station is now named Garmin Metro Station under a 10-year naming rights deal. The station has changed names three times since 2010.
6,000 nit smartwatch displays are coming
BOE and Samsung have shown wearable MicroLED panels rated at 6,000 nits, brighter than any smartwatch needs outdoors. Garmin’s Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED already proves what chasing that number costs: battery life cut to a quarter of the AMOLED model’s, and a quiet $300 price cut to match.
Oura IPO: Revenue Declared Up 74%
Oura’s public S-1 confirms $1.21 billion in nine-month revenue, a Nasdaq listing under OURA, and four new board members added a day before filing. The numbers replace May’s confidential-filing estimates with audited figures, including a $924 million net loss driven entirely by preferred-stock accounting.
Amazfit Wins UTMB 2026, Garmin and COROS Own Most Wrists
Ben Dhiman ran the fastest UTMB in history in an Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra, but Garmin and COROS still equip most of the field. Four years of watch data from Montre Cardio GPS show who the pros trust, and how accurate their tracks were.
What is the fastest watch on the UTMB
Ben Dhiman won the 2026 UTMB in 18:16:29, the fastest time ever run over the course, wearing an Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra a year after finishing second in a COROS. Amazfit signed him six weeks before the race and now has both UTMB titles in two editions.
Pixel 11 Ads Show a Mystery Wearable: New Pixel Device or Fitbit Charge 7?
Google’s own Pixel 11 ads show an unannounced wearable that matches neither the Pixel Watch 5 nor the Fitbit Air. The device turns up twice, in the same shape and colours, ruling out a single stray render.
Menopause Wearables: Every Major Brand Has the Sensors but Few Trials.
Garmin, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Fitbit and Withings all feed menopause-tracking apps. None has a published trial proving the data works for perimenopause.
Speedo iQ Launches Screen-Free, Priced Above FORM
Speedo iQ launches with no display, at a higher price than FORM’s screen-equipped Smart Swim 2 LT. It tracks pace, stroke, breathing and turns for review after the swim, not during it. The bet rests on Speedo’s brand recognition and retail reach, not its spec sheet.
The Deep Dive Podcast
Listen to one of our recent discussions on the Deep Dive podcast – EP58 Garmin’s Tricky Wellness Accuracy Task With Wrist Based Accuracy (Ft. AI Insights)
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Last Updated on 12 September 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro — I’ve just bought one.
- 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
Cirqa Pro? That will certainly delight all previous Cirqa buyers and cause many who were still considering a purchase to hold off. Good timing, Garmin!