Garmin Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro, Epix 2, Enduro 2, Quatix 7, MARQ Gen 2 and Tactix 7 smartwatches receive first update of 2024 with nearly 25 improvements and new features

Garmin has published Beta Version 16.10 for the Fenix 7 series following a slew of stable updates that the company released for the same smartwatches at the end of last year. For context, the company pushed v15.74 with nearly 50 changes to Epix 2, Enduro 2, Fenix 7, MARQ Gen 2, Quatix 7 and Tactix 7 smartwatches shortly after its beta release. Following that, it introduced v15.76 and v15.77, each with minor bug fixes.

By contrast, Beta Version 16.10 marks the start of Garmin's next public beta testing phase for the Fenix 7 series and its peers after Beta Version 15.74's release in late November. Unsurprisingly, Garmin has packed its first v16.xx build with numerous changes. On the one hand, its Beta Version 16.10 changelog lists 24 changes, of which 9 are new features. Additionally, this build bundles new GPS, Wireless and Sensor Hub firmwares, which have been updated to v7.02, v28.09 and v28.10, respectively.

On the other hand, changes to Audio Prompts require the download of new associated files. In its forum post, Garmin states that these Audio Prompt files can only downloaded once an eligible smartwatch is updated to Beta Version 16.10. The full changelog for Beta Version 16.10 is as follows:

• Added Sleep Coach widget glance.
• Added support for Male audio prompts.
• Added the lost phone during activity feature and turned it on by default.
• Added database of 400m running tracks all over the world.
• Added the ability to double-tap the screen in golf green view to mark your current position as the hole location, if you are standing on the green.
• Fixed bug where sleep mode would end too early overnight during Daylight Savings Time changes.
• Fixed bug with "Footpod Connected" banner showing when paired to HRM strap.
• Fixed issue where navigation could incorrectly also include a straight-line routing back to start
• Fixed issue where primary race widget would not show results of race completed earlier in the day.
• Fixed issue where Spotify shuffle and repeat controls would not work.
• Fixed issue with error icon incorrectly drawing next to the smart notification widget glance.
• Fixed issue with some widget glance folder views when in large font mode.
• Fixed potential issue with temperature data fields on CIQ watch faces.
• Fixed potential shutdown when listening to music during an activity.
• Fixed potential shutdown with CIQ widget glances.
• Fixed widget glance folder view for Fish Forecast widget.
• Improved incident detection not supported banner to only show once per power cycle of the device.
• Improved Max Heart Rate prompt.
• Improved scaling on elevation charts to show more variation in elevation where it previously looked flat.
• Improved weather to not show misleading information if it's older than an hour.

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