Garmin explains absence of Fenix 9 MicroLED, warns of price increases
While the Garmin Fenix 8 (Pro) was still offered with a choice of a MiP display with solar cells, an AMOLED panel or a MicroLED display, the last of these options is missing from the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro ($1,099 on Amazon). This is despite the MicroLED display achieving 50 percent higher brightness at 4,500 nits, albeit at the expense of shorter battery life.
Garmin's COO Brad Trenkle has now explained this decision in an interview with Forbes. According to Trenkle, Garmin sees potential in the technology, but it would be difficult to find multiple suppliers for the displays and scale up production to meet customer demand. It is currently simply not possible to manufacture panels in the different sizes and quantities that Garmin would need for a Fenix 9 MicroLED.
However, that could change as early as next year, as Garmin's MicroLED supplier AU Optronics is already working on a new production line that is scheduled to begin operating in the first half of 2027 and manufacture a new generation of panels. However, it could take some time before the next Garmin smartwatch with a MicroLED screen hits the market, as Brad Trenkle currently does not expect Garmin to launch a Fenix with a MicroLED display before the next smartwatch generation launches.
The COO also warns that Garmin would not be immune to the effects of the DRAM crisis, so price increases cannot be ruled out. However, the executive suggests that Garmin could offset rising production costs better than most competitors thanks to its comparatively high margins, meaning prices may not rise as sharply as one would expect during the DRAM crisis.
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