Garmin releases new update for high-end smartwatches with display improvements

Garmin has just launched the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro globally. Ultimately, neither of those new smartwatches will be available to order until August 28. In the meantime, the company has furnished the existing Fenix 8 series with a new update, including the Fenix 8 Pro (curr. $949 on Amazon).

To recap, System Software 22.44 arrived only a few days ago on August 22. As we discussed at the time, that update replaced Sysstem Software 22.43, itself only released on August 18. Amongst these sat Beta Version 23.26, which Garmin claimed contained multiple bug fixes, including several related to minor but unspecified 'minor issues'. Now, the company has issued Beta Version 23.27, the eleventh 23.xx beta so far.

In a forum post, Garmin stresses that the new update features the following known issue:

We have identified an issue that could cause the device to crash when recording an Indoor Climb, this will be fixed in a future version, if you use the Indoor Climb activity type you may way to wait until the next beta release.  

Moreover, the company claims to have already offered Beta Version 23.27 to all Enduro 3, Fenix E, Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro Beta Program participants. If that has not happened in your case, then you can request the new update manually by navigating through the main menu to System and Software Update before tapping 'Check for Updates'.

Dive and ECG features remain disabled in this build. Hence, we expect Garmin to offer more 23.xx beta updates before transitioning development to its stable software branch. In the meantime, Garmin states that Beta Version 23.27 ships with four major changes. All bug fixes, these have been joined by more resolutions to 'other minor issues' again, too. The full changelog between Beta Versions 23.26 and 23.27 is as follows:

Beta Version 23.27 changelog

• Fixes a potential issue with the display that could cause unexpected behaviour and inconsistent gesture response.
• Fixes an issue that could cause the always-on display setting to fail to take effect.
• Fixes an issue where phone assistant won't work after it is interrupted by an incoming call.
• Fixes an issue with pausing music when the music provider is set to control phone.
• Fixes other minor issues.