Garmin distributes new update to mid-range smartwatches with claimed bug fixes and new features

Roughly three weeks have passed since Garmin released a new stable firmware update for the Venu 3 and Venu 3S. To recap, Firmware Version 9.24 introduced nine changes from Firmware Version 8.25, full details of which we have covered separately. Incidentally, the company debuted the former as Beta 9.24 late last month.

Now, the company has returned to offering new updates through its Beta Program. This time, Garmin has offered up Beta 9.26. However, it seems that some Beta Program participants received Beta 9.25 earlier this month, despite there not being any official announcement that such a build had been prepared. At any rate, Beta 9.26 ships with the following official changes:

• Added jump rope activity
• Added support for male audio prompts (requires a download of new audio files)
• Fixed an issue where music will randomly start playing
• Fixed an issue where higher rate of battery drain could occur with wrist heart rate turned off
• Fixed an issue where changing a setting during a golf activity could cause scoring to be turned off

Thus, Garmin is reporting the same changelog as earlier 9.xx builds. Presumably, the company has made some changes from Firmware Version 9.24, although it is unclear what differences exist at this stage. As always, you can download the new update for the Venu 3 and Venu 3S through Garmin Express or on the smartwatches themselves by heading to the Main menu, Settings, System and then Software Update. Please see Garmin's forum post for more details.

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