Garmin introduces battery life tracking and more with new update for recent mid-range smartwatch

Garmin has just delivered a host of new beta updates to several of its recent smartwatch releases. Arguably, the Fenix 8 and its peers have received the most significant changes with over 80 to be found in Beta Version 21.12. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 have been furnished with around three dozen improvements in an equivalent update.

For some reason, Garmin has not been as forthcoming with the Venu 4 (curr. $549.99 on Amazon). Despite arriving in September, the Venu 4 has only received four beta updates, including today's Beta 16.11. Although the update shares its build number with those offered for the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, it misses almost all the thirty-something changes Garmin has made.

Instead, Beta 16.11 introduces half a dozen refinements from Software Version 15.33. On the one hand, the new update updates Audio Prompts to firmware v2.07, albeit without Garmin specifying any further. On the other hand, it also adds three new glances while adding the option of trimming an activity if you forget to stop a related timer. The full changelog between Software Version 15.33 and Beta 16.11 is as follows:

• Adds a glance for tracking your favourite sports teams.
• Adds a glance that tracks battery life details and performance.
• Adds a glance that tracks your weight.
• Audio Prompts - 2.07
• If you forget to stop the timer at the end of a course, you can trim the activity using * the course finish point.
• Updates your training guidance with consideration to recent dives.