Garmin rumoured to be releasing magnetic digital crown technology with mockup of future smartwatch already revealed

Garmin only recently introduced more advanced LTE functionality to its line-up with the Fenix 8 Pro (curr. $1,199.99 on Amazon). While its latest Pro-branded model is also the first mass-produced smartwatch to feature a microLED display, it appears that Garmin already has another major change up its sleeve. Namely, Garmin is said to be experimenting with prototyping a rotating crown control system on a future smartwatch, albeit with a different implementation from Apple's or Samsung's Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra ranges.

Allegedly, this new hardware would not compromise on water resistance or overall durability, either. According to Gadgets & Wearables, it has received information that Garmin is not looking to implement a conventional mechanical crown with moving parts. Instead, the website reports that Garmin is utilising a Hall effect sensor to detect rotation via magnetic movement. Theoretically, this would eliminate the need for direct contact between mechanical and electronic components, which should be less susceptible to the elements than a physically moving mechanism would be.

Currently, Gadgets & Wearables is only available to show concept images of this alleged design. Thus, we would recommend viewing the images with a healthy amount of scepticism at this stage. Reportedly, Garmin's adoption of a digital crown would coincide with a move away from its conventional five-button layout, too. As the image below shows, two buttons sit on the smartwatch's left-hand side with a digital crown protected by a crown guard on the other.

Presumably, the digital crown could be used independently of the touchscreen to navigate the UI or use apps. As it stands, this new digital crown is expected to debut in a mid-range model like the Venu or Vivoactive series rather than a higher-end Fenix or Tactix equivalent. Thus, the image below may reflect a future Venu 5 or Vivoactive 7 model. Unfortunately, an exact release date remains unknown for now.