Garmin releases major new update for high-end smartwatches with dozens of new features and improvements

Garmin has furnished owners of its latest high-end smartwatches with one final update before Christmas. Hardly any time has passed since the company issued System Software 20.24 for the Fenix 8 Pro (curr. $1,116 on Amazon) and its peers with the promise of a map app bug fix.

Nonetheless, Garmin has now moved the Fenix 8 Pro and all associated smartwatches onto the first truly new software branch since the introduction of Beta Version 20.07 in mid-September. This time, the company has transitioned the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix E, Tactix 8 and the Enduro 3 to Beta Version 21.12 with over two-dozen new features from System Software 20.24:

• Added ability to show seconds when in Always on Display mode.
• Added Accessibility menu.
• Added Album art background for Music Controls.
• Added Battery Manager.
• Added confirmation page when selecting language.
• Added Course Planner.
• Added Cycling safety Voice Alerts.
• Added Display Color Modes.
• Added font scaling to Garmin Messenger.
• Added Garmin Fitness Coach.
• Added help text to many menus.
• Added Lifestyle Logging glance.
• Added missed notifications prompt after finishing an activity.
• Added Mixed Session activity type.
• Added more Alarm sounds options.
• Added new Voice settings menu.
• Added Optimal Sleep Window.
• Added option to see floors climbed in Evening Report.
• Added Post-Dive Activity guidance.
• Added Sleep Alignment to Sleep glance.
• Added Smart Notifications to the Stage Status menu.
• Added Sports Scores.
• Added support to launch the Health Status app with Voice Commands.
• Added translated "Loading" string when switching languages.
• Added Weight Tracking glance.

Not only that, but Beta Version 21.12 brings 49 bug fixes to the table that touch almost all aspects of Garmin's smartwatch OS. Moreover, Garmin has thrown in 10 ancillary improvements and updates, including one that should reduce the loading speed of the activity history glance. The full list of bug fixes, improvements and other updates are as follows:

• Fixed abnormal heart rate alerts showing invalid heart rate.
• Fixed Archery crashing when saving and disappearing when resetting the device.
• Fixed Asian date formatting.
• Fixed blank page showing when leaving CIQ music during activities.
• Fixed Bouldering activity difficulty selection list not starting focused on the last difficulty selected.
• Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing after using Find My Phone in Sleep Mode.
• Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing on keyboard.
• Fixed Geographical Points missing from the Places of Interest list.
• Fixed issue where 5% backlight could not be selected through Garmin Connect Mobile.
• Fixed issue where always-on display toggle in Garmin Connect Mobile would not save.
• Fixed issue where Assistance would show a focus mode settings updated toast.
• Fixed issue where battery saver mode would not turn off the always-on display.
• Fixed issue where device would crash when editing pinned activities through Garmin Connect Mobile.
• Fixed issue where edit weight option was present in Cardio activity.
• Fixed issue where Messenger voice messages would not display the text caption.
• Fixed issue where mobility move time would be inconsistent between device and Garmin Connect.
• Fixed issue where palming Evening Report would briefly flash the watch face.
• Fixed issue where there is extra vertical space in the sunrise/sunset widget.
• Fixed issue where tone could not be disabled on a quick timer.
• Fixed jumpy breathwork activity animation on Solar devices
• Fixed lag when loading a long course.
• Fixed Messenger notifying old messages when repairing and reactivating .
• Fixed music stopped message not appearing when launching the ECG app while connected to headphones.
• Fixed Navigation Shortcut showing inaccurate prompt during GPS activity.
• Fixed not being able to access the InReach controls menu via buttons during activities.
• Fixed Pace/Speed Preference not applying to activity summaries.
• Fixed possible crash in the Weather map.
• Fixed possible crash when quickly toggling the flashlight on and off.
• Fixed possible crash when returning to the activity detail page after checking Runs in a Backcountry Ski activity.
• Fixed possible crash when saving Dive activities.
• Fixed possible crash when using Garmin Coach from a Yoga activity.
• Fixed possible issue where a Messenger voice message would send unexpected text along with the message.
• Fixed possible issue where evening report shows an invalid bed time recommendation
• Fixed possible issue where running economy would show different values on the glance vs. app.
• Fixed possible issue where steps labels in Evening Report overlapped.
• Fixed Race event and DSW feedback phrases using miles when in metric.
• Fixed radial watch face complications not dashing out sensitive data when pin lock is active.
• Fixed save menu when stopping navigating a Komoot course.
• Fixed Saved Data App duplicating items when changing filters.
• Fixed small GroupTrack icons.
• Fixed step speed loss fields not working on lap banner.
• Fixed Structured Repeat workout edits not saving.
• Fixed the current location triangle indicator reorienting when the watch moves on the Sunrise/Sunset map.
• Fixed the Flashlight active app overlay not going away.
• Fixed Theater Focus Mode disappearing when restoring to defaults.
• Fixed using touch to select a location on the map.
• Fixed watch face shortcuts in the Phone Assistant app causing button tones to stop.
• Fixed watch faces not restoring from backups.
• Fixed Weather Radar not properly showing military time.
• Improved display of watch face when Red Shift is enabled.
• Improved font selection on ski difficulty summary page.
• Improved loading speed of activity history glance.
• Improved missed Messenger calls experience.
• Improved spacing on focus mode customization menu.
• Improved wallet app relocking very fast.
• Improvements to the Map App during activities.
• Updated italics fonts to bold.
• Updated Running Track database.
• Updated touch and hold on watch face battery complications to open the Battery Manager app.