Garmin releases new stable update for older high-end smartwatches, but there's a catch
Garmin has finally delivered a new stable update for the Fenix 7 series, albeit with a catch for the time being. For context, the company has been engaging in a new beta development round since the end of July.
Less than 24 hours ago, Garmin started rolling out Beta Version 23.18 as the sixth build in its latest development cycle. Carrying over the same change from Beta Version 23.17 that arrived a few days earlier, Beta Version 23.18 only enabled Dive and ECG features.
Typically, the company waits a few days before transitioning a build of this kind to its stable software branch. However, Garmin wasted no time by releasing System Software 23.18 across the Enduro 2, Epix Gen 2, Tactix 7 and Fenix 7 (curr. $599.99 on Amazon).
Despite offering Beta Version 23.18 to all models, Garmin has restricted the distribution of System Software 23.18 to just non-Pro variants without explanation. Presumably, models like the Fenix 7 Pro will be added in the next few days, though. At any rate, System Software 23.18 introduces 20 changes from System Software 22.06 that arrived in June, including two new features and over a dozen bug fixes:
- Added a new tip to display during a rest set in a Pool Swim activity.
- Added new feature for certain sensors to pair over ANT and BLE+
- Fixed a possible crash on the climb pro data page.
- Fixed AB connection issues with Kestral device.
- Fixed an issue where course distance data would sometimes incorrectly be set to nautical miles.
- Fixed an issue where pairing CT10 sensors would fail.
- Fixed an issue with golf club tracking
- Fixed an issue with navigation in the Hunt activity.
- Fixed an issue with rep counting in Strength activities.
- Fixed an issue with the displayed weight in Strength activities.
- Fixed an issue with the IR widget so that it will always automatically get added after the first pair
- Fixed an issue with where selecting the Last Ride data would incorrectly show the Last Run page.
- Fixed incorrect data being displayed on the laps review page in the Pool Swim activity.
- Fixed incorrect distance data from sometimes being displayed when navigating a course.
- Fixed Navigation prompts from sounding when all audio prompts are disabled.
- Fixed the displayed weight on Strength edit set page to match other Strength-related page.
- Fixed Wind Direction Changing When Connecting to a LRF (Tactix Only.)
- Updated the breath variation page to use a line graph.
- Updated the Recent Stress Widget to now match the appearance of Fenix 8
