Garmin releases new updates for older high-end smartwatches with connectivity improvements

Garmin has begun rolling out a new update for Enduro 2, Epix 2, Fenix 7, Marq Gen 2 and Quatix 7 smartwatches (curr. $399.99 on Amazon) enrolled on its public Beta Program. Please note that the Marq Aviator Gen 2 and Tactix 7 remain absent from Garmin's beta rollouts. This time, Garmin has moved the smartwatches above onto Beta Version 23.08, which it is distributing as an over-the-air (OTA) update.

As always, the company is gradually distributing its new firmware. Typically, Garmin takes between 24 and 48 hours to finish a beta update rollout. For those who are Beta Program participants but outside the current rollout window, one can manually request Beta Version 23.08 by navigating to Menu, System, Software Update and then tapping 'Check for Updates' on their smartwatch.

In a forum post, Garmin clarifies that the new update improves sensor connectivity by adding support for pairing certain but unspecified sensors via Advanced and Adaptive Network Technology (ANT) and Bluetooth Low Energy+ (BLE+). Moreover, Beta Version 23.08 resolves Kestrel environmental monitoring device connectivity issues that existed in earlier builds. Garmin stresses that ECG remains disabled on this build. Therefore, the company intends to release subsequent beta updates before transitioning v.23.xx builds to its stable software branch.