Garmin signs contract for supply of MicroLED displays amid Fenix 8 MicroLED rumours

Garmin only recently released new Fenix smartwatches by way of the Fenix E and Fenix 8. However, evidence subsequently emerged that the company may be planning to expand the latter series with at least three other options. To recap, the Garmin Connect app briefly listed the Fenix 8 Pro in 47 mm and 51 mm variants, as well as a third unreleased option called the 'Fenix 8 MicroLED'.

Ultimately, the release of 'Pro' models should not come as a surprise given recent Fenix generations like the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar (curr. $899.99 on Amazon). However, Garmin has not dipped its toes into the world of MicroLED displays so far. Instead, it has been gradually pivoting its portfolio from Memory in Pixel (MiP) displays to more vibrant AMOLED panels in recent years.

With that being said, rumours have been circulating for some time that companies like Apple and Samsung have been attempting to mass-produce smartwatches with MicroLED displays. To that end, the5krunner recently discovered that Garmin began collaborating earlier this year with Vuzix to develop what the latter describes as a 'next generation nano-imprinted waveguide-based display system' over a 'multi-phase development contract. Thus, it seems that Garmin intends to release something MicroLED-based at some stage, although it remains to be seen whether that will sit within the Fenix 8 series. For reference, Vuzix added the following when announcing its collaboration with Garmin:

Under the terms of the contract, Vuzix will develop and deliver in succession, waveguide based optical systems with full custom projection engines, and then ultimately production units. Vuzix capabilities around the design and development of custom waveguide optics with volume production nano imprinting for vision based optical systems will power solutions for Garmin that offer significant cost, form factor, and space savings versus current deployed technologies.