Garmin has had a good 2025, thanks to the release of new Forerunners, Instinct, Venu, Vivoactive and the Fenix 8 Pro series of watches. Its entire range has effectively gotten a revamp.
With 2026 just around the corner, I've been thinking about my wish list for 2026's best Garmin watches. Not necessarily the models (although I'm sure the Fenix 9 is probably on the horizon), but the features those models will contain.
I've whittled down the options, and you can read about them below. What Garmin has in store, only they know, but I hope they'll make some bold decisions so we're not discussing the same old problems next year.
1. Power Glass AMOLED
Introducing Power Glass AMOLED would end the restriction of solar charging to MIP-only models. Currently, users must choose between the long battery life of solar and the modern, vibrant display of AMOLED. Combining these features would allow premium AMOLED watches like the Forerunner series to regain the passive battery extension we last saw on the Garmin Forerunner 955, eliminating a significant trade-off for high-end users.
Garmin would rightly cite the technical challenges of implementing this feature, such as the difficulty of creating a solar layer that can harvest light without blocking and degrading visibility. How a solar layer and AMOLED display can coexist is way beyond my pay grade, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it.
Integrating solar charging into AMOLED would future-proof Garmin's flagship lineup. By adding Power Glass, Garmin would retain its fantastic battery life while delivering the high-quality visual experience we've come to expect.
2. Hypertension detection
A hypertension monitoring smartwatch uses optical sensors (PPG) to track heart rate and blood flow patterns, analyzing data over time to detect potential signs of high blood pressure (hypertension). Key models like the latest and best Apple Watches use sophisticated algorithms and PPG signals, while others, like Huawei Watch D2, incorporate micro-pump cuffs for more direct measurement.
Rather than integrating this technology into their smartwatches, Garmin has so far opted for a standalone smart blood pressure monitor that syncs readings to the Garmin Connect app to track trends and share with doctors. Garmin views this as a complementary offering, but it would be cool to see Garmin integrate the technology directly into their watches as Apple has done.
Onboard hypertension monitoring might be seen as a deviation from the brand's fitness credentials, but if it's to maintain a competitive edge over its rivals, it should take action while there's still time. Even Whoop has added additional heart health features to its fitness offerings with the Whoop MG.
3. Gesture Controls
Apple and Samsung are ahead of Garmin in this area. Given that most Garmin users will have their hands full while exercising, I'd like to see Garmin take some strides towards enhancing hands-free operations. Apple has the simple Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures, which lets users perform common actions with one hand, and Samsung has universal gestures that include fist and pinch actions.
The Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch lineups are arguably more intuitive to use than rivals like the Garmin Venu 4 or Garmin Vivoactive 6. If Garmin is going to retain users who desire both top-tier fitness and modern smart features, then it'll need to add a few features like gesture controls to make the experience of using them just as intuitive.
Also, hands-free gestures are just cool.
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