Garmin releases major new software update for popular smartwatches with multiple changes and improvements

Garmin has finalised its latest round of beta development for the Instinct 3, Instinct E and Instinct Crossover AMOLED (curr. $649 on Amazon). As such, it has now transitioned v15.xx builds to its stable software branch with the launch of System Software 15.18. For context, the same update arrived earlier this week for Beta Program participants.

A major release, System Software 15.18 has already reached around 50% of Instinct 3 series smartwatches running stable software. If that is not the case for your smartwatch, then you can trigger a manual download by navigating through the main menu to System and Software Update before selecting 'Check for Updates'.

Across multiple forum posts, Garmin claims that System Software 15.18 makes seven changes from the older System Software 14.17, which arrived almost a month ago. For instance, the new update is said to improve gear suggestions for Hike activities while also fixing a Strength activity bug present in earlier builds. The full changelog between System Software 14.17 and System Software 15.18 is as follows:

• Improved gear suggestions for Hike activities.
• Fixed possible lag in glances list.
• Fixed issue in Strength activity where weight value could display incorrectly when editing a set.
• Fixed issue where pace could drop out during intervals.
• Fixed dog pointer direction in DogTrack glance.
• Fixed issue where CIQ data field was obscured.
• Fixed issue where watch face data field could be blank in some languages.
• General security improvements.