Garmin Fenix 9 launching very soon? These new features seem plausible

It’s safe to say that Garmin is working on a successor to the Garmin Fenix 8 (on Amazon). In a recent YouTube video, TechAvid summarizes the latest speculation, much of which is based on information that is already familiar. Garmin has not yet officially commented on the Fenix 9—at least not directly. However, Garmin has already confirmed plans for the second half of 2026, which would fit the usual release cycle. TechAvid’s claim that Garmin’s Enduro and Fenix watches tend to launch around the same time is at least supported by the Enduro 3 and Fenix 8 launch. That makes the appearance of the Enduro 4 in the Garmin APK a possible, if still weak, hint at an upcoming Fenix 9 launch.

It remains unclear which new features the Fenix 9 might bring. One obvious possibility — also mentioned in the video — is that Garmin could eventually bring solar charging to its AMOLED watches. Garmin is still actively working on solar charging, as patents suggest. Just today, there were also reports that Amazfit may be developing solar charging for its own smartwatches. If both companies manage to combine solar cells with AMOLED displays, an interesting showdown could follow. Amazfit could also target MIP fans with a MIP-based solar watch, a segment Garmin appears to be gradually moving away from.

Another plausible improvement — and one we consider entirely realistic — is better GNSS accuracy. We have already reported on a relevant patent and also looked at where even higher location accuracy might actually matter in practice. There is also discussion of muscle oxygen saturation. In our view, however, this would not necessarily be a feature exclusive to the Fenix 9. Muscle oxygen saturation is measured locally and refers to a single muscle rather than the body as a whole. For most sports, the wrist is still not the ideal measurement location, so a multi-sensor setup would likely be the more practical approach.