Garmin smartwatches receive fresh improvements with new update release

Garmin has returned with a new update for the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro and related smartwatches like the Tactix 8 (curr. $1,299.99 on Amazon). To recap, the company rolled Beta Version 21.18 almost a week ago with a resolution for an outstanding heart rate variability (HRV) issue, among other improvements. Shortly before that, Garmin claimed to have addressed four other bugs with Beta Version 21.16.

Now, it has moved 21.xx development onto Beta Version 21.19. Importantly, this new beta build keeps Aviation, Dive and ECG features disabled. Thus, we can reasonably expect more v21.xx beta updates to arrive throughout February before Garmin transitions development to its stable software branch. The volume of changes that Beta Version 21.19 introduces suggests that a new stable build could be coming sooner rather than later, though.

In a forum post, Garmin clarifies that Beta Version 21.19 should prevent blank data fields from occurring on the map split screen for smartwatches with memory in pixel displays (MiP). Also, the new update contains a fix for a bug that caused the Backcountry Ski post activity summary to not show Max Speed or Mileage. Beta Version 21.19 should reach Beta Program-enrolled smartwatches within the next few days, with 50% of smartwatches said to have already received a notification to download the new update.