Why the Fenix 9 Pro Skipped MicroLED
In September, Garmin launched the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED smartwatch, described as the world’s first smartwatch to use a microLED display. The watch features AUO’s 1.4-inch, 454x454px display with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits.
Garmin has since introduced its next-generation Fenix 9 Pro range, but this time there is no microLED model. Instead, the watches use AMOLED displays with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
Until recently, it was unclear whether Garmin planned to stick with microLED technology in the new range. However, the company recently said:
“MicroLED is an exciting emerging technology that continues to evolve. While it played an important role in the Fenix 8 Pro 51mm lineup, we’re excited for the opportunity to bring our brightest and largest 1.5″ AMOLED screen to Fenix 9 Pro 51mm. We will always monitor advancements in display technology and will look to bring those to the Fenix lineup when they make sense”.
The statement suggests that Garmin currently sees AMOLED as capable of meeting the needs of its Fenix watches, including brightness requirements. For microLED to become more competitive with OLED, AUO may need to develop panels that are thinner, far more power-efficient and less expensive.
Brightness alone is also becoming less of a clear advantage for microLED. Samsung recently launched Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a 5,000-nit OLED display, which is brighter than the 4,500-nit microLED panel used in the Fenix 8 Pro.
The Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED was generally well received, with reviewers highlighting its very bright screen and strong viewing angles. However, the technology also brought a critical drawback. The watch is considerably thicker than the AMOLED version because it doesn’t integrate the touch layer into the display; worse still, it uses more power, cutting smartwatch-mode battery life from 27 days to 10 and adding a $700 premium.
Garmin has since cut the price of the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED, quietly reducing it by $300 in February 2026. It now sells for $1,699, compared with its original launch price of $1,999.
the5krunner’s Take
Garmin’s quote seems like a sensible defence of its actions. The company likely invested significant internal resources in developing microLED and deserves applause for experimenting with new technology. Indeed, it may still consider it for other products and accessories.
However, the component suppliers, in this case AUO, just haven’t been able to live up to their earlier claims, including claims on their websites, that microLED will result in power savings over AMOLED. That is clearly some way off. That is the real reason that Garmin isn’t going forward with microLED…at least for now.
If you’re weighing a Fenix 9 Pro against an existing Fenix 8, our buying guide covers where the real differences lie. For what Garmin is expected to launch next, see the Garmin rumors and release radar.
Quick answers
Why doesn't the Fenix 9 Pro have a microLED display?
Garmin says its 3,000-nit AMOLED already meets the Fenix range’s brightness needs. The company calls microLED an “exciting emerging technology” it may revisit once it makes more sense.
How much brighter is the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED than the Fenix 9 Pro's AMOLED?
The Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED peaks at 4,500 nits against 3,000 nits on the Fenix 9 Pro’s AMOLED, though Garmin’s own comments suggest the real-world gap is small.
How much does the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED cost now?
$1,699, down $300 from its original $1,999 launch price, still a $400 premium over the equivalent AMOLED model.
Last Updated on 16 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
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“with reviewers highlighting its very bright screen and strong viewing angles.”
Has any of that ever been an issue with AMOLED? The microLED Fenix 8 was a solution looking for a problem, while creating new problems: thicker, more expensive, even worse runtime.
The question is not why did Garmin skip microLED for the Fenix 9, the question is why did Garmin do it for Fenix 8. I guess the answer is gullible early adopter buyers who will happily spend money just for the sake of novelty (a repeat of microLED in the next Fenix iteration would not deliver in that metric). And “reviwers” willing to praise pretty much anything that does not quite explode in their hands.
i suspect they were either 1. lured in by the promise of battery savings that failed to materialise or 2. spent a lot of time assessing a new tech, deciding to include it in a sold version to recoup some of the investment
i think you are a bit harsh on new adopter being gullible. perhaps less price sensitive and less risk avers, is better phrasing!
reviewers are mostly positive i agree. tech is pretty good tho on the whole, especially where you compare back 15 years. where it could be is the enticement of future tech clouding others’ views and where it should be is having the current tech properly implemented and bug free, reviews can’t test today’s complex devices fully. its’ just not possible.