Garmin releases long-awaited new Fenix 8 stable update with dozens of new features, improvements and important bug fixes

The Enduro 3, Fenix E and Fenix 8 have got off to a somewhat rocky start, having been presented simultaneously at the end of August. Setting aside the decision to switch some of its outdoor recreation smartwatches to AMOLED displays, there were countless reports on forums that Garmin had shipped all three with buggy launch software. To that end, Garmin has been piling bug fixes high in recent beta updates.

Conversely, early stable updates tinkered around the edges with small change logs that did not address all the issues that were being discussed online. In short, Garmin has not publicly acknowledged the litany of bugs that have affected the Enduro 3, Fenix E and Fenix 8 (curr. $1,099.99 on Amazon) since their release. However, the extensive changelog offered with System Software 11.89 effectively confirms as much.

Reproduced below, the changelog for System Software 11.89 stretches to an almost unbelievable fifty lines, of which eleven are dedicated to new features. For example, one can now adjust display brightness using voice commands and use Solar watch face layouts on AMOLED models without solar charging functionality. Moreover, there are almost as many 'improvements', which are said to cover various areas from reducing power consumption on the map page to making the UI feel more responsive than it did on earlier builds.

System Software 11.89 introduces over three dozen bug fixes too though, all of which we have reproduced below and can also be found in Garmin's accompanying forum posts. Supposedly, Garmin has now 'fully released' System Software 11.89 for the Enduro 3, Fenix E and Fenix 8. While the company has not provided any other details about the update's global rollout yet, you can trigger the download of System Software 11.89 by heading to Menu, System and Software Update before tapping 'Check For Updates'.

System Software 11.89 changelog

• Added Display Brightness to Voice Commands.
• Added ability to toggle third party maps in Map Layers menu.
• Added Autolap by Position.
• Added data screen for Ski/Snowboard difficulty tracking.
• Added option to connect to WiFi in Map Manager.
• Added PacePro and Power Guides to the Active Navigation loop.
• Added solar percentage on the watch face (Solar models).
• Added support for alarm volume settings and fixed an issue where alarms could be muted when Do Not Disturb is enabled.
• Added support for Water Ejection feature.
• Added the Location Info drawer to the Map page.
• Added two of the Solar watch face layouts as options on AMOLED models.
• Fixed a potential crash when saving Run, Walk, or Hike activities.
• Fixed accidental touches during phone calls.
• Fixed an issue where Turn Prompts were not alerting when using Navigation.
• Fixed an issue where you could not save or discard Expedition activities after skipping the saving of the last point.
• Fixed broken re-dial button after a missed call.
• Fixed bug affecting pairing with an InReach Device.
• Fixed bug preventing workout cancellation.
• Fixed button and touchscreen handling of backlight in Do Not Distub mode.
• Fixed button functionality for Transfer Call to Phone feature.
• Fixed ClimbPro behavior in Active Navigation loop.
• Fixed ClimbPro preview visibility.
• Fixed crash in Battery Saver for various languages.
• Fixed Golf map rendering (Solar models).
• Fixed inability to do Strength Free workouts.
• Fixed incorrect active timer count.
• Fixed incorrect waypoint elevation in the Saved App.
• Fixed map cursor in Pan/Zoom Mode.
• Fixed missing weight values on Strength workout page.
• Fixed potential crash in HIIT and Indoor Climb activities.
• Fixed potential crash when searching for locations in the Weather app.
• Fixed potential for Battery Drain after saving Activities.
• Fixed Save Location list layout in Hunt Activity.
• Fixed Saved App listing items out of order.
• Fixed scrolling in very large lists.
• Fixed Ski Run descent value truncation.
• Fixed some charts not displaying properly when launched from Recent Menu.
• Fixed workout scheduling in the Calendar App.
• Improved Always-On watch face brightness (AMOLED).
• Improved animations and speed when scrolling through the Watch Face Editor.
• Improved handling of the touch screen turning on the backlight (Solar models).
• Improved Off/Disabled icons for Power Controls menu.
• Improved power consumption on the map page.
• Improved processing time of large courses.
• Improved Saved app performance.
• Improved visuals for disabled power controls.
• Improved Waypoint draw speed on the map.
• Removed Daily Suggested Workouts from Calendar if suggestions are disabled.
• Set default Position format to DEG.