Notebookcheck Logo

New firmware leak hints at solar-powered Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

The Garmin Instinct could be getting a solar-powered revamp. (Image via Garmin)
The Garmin Instinct could be getting a solar-powered revamp. (Image via Garmin)
A leaked firmware update from Garmin all but confirms that a new solar-powered wearable is coming from the outdoor tech company. The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, as the device is likely to be called, will feature a solar-powered recharge system, a Pulse Ox sensor, and a few other features.
Accessory Smartwatch Wearable Leaks / Rumors

A new leaked firmware update has essentially confirmed that Garmin will soon unveil a new solar-powered smartwatch, namely the Instinct 2 Solar.

Spotted by Reddit user /mbirth, the firmware update (v. 0.31) has revealed quite a bit about the next wearable from Garmin. For one, the update names its device as the “Instinct Solar.” The update also contains data for a solar status widget, heavily implying that the smartwatch will rely on solar power for recharging the battery.

The new wearable will also have a Pulse Ox sensor for measuring the wearer’s current oxygen saturation, will have a heart-rate monitor that can be used while swimming, and will add a new watch face.

Most of these features are present in Garmin’s Fenix 6X Pro Solar Edition, but that watch starts at US $1150. The Instinct series is Garmin’s affordable line of smartwatches, starting at about $300 MSRP. While adding a solar-powered recharging system will likely cause the price of the Instinct 2 Solar to go up, it should be much more affordable than the feature-dense Fenix 6 line.

Source(s)

Reddit

Related Articles

Garmin's latest bike computers start at US$349.99. (Image source: Garmin)
Garmin presents Edge 540 and Edge 840 as two new GPS bike computers with solar models and e-bike compatibility 04/14/2023
A new Venu 2 Plus render. (Source: WinFuture)
A bumper leak purports to spoil Garmin's entire CES 2022 product showcase 12/19/2021
Garmin has provided multiple Forerunner smartwatches with new features. (Image source: Garmin)
Garmin rolls out updates with new features to multiple Forerunner smartwatches 06/18/2021
The Garmin Enduro retails for US$799.99 and is orderable now. (Image source: Garmin)
Garmin Enduro: A smartwatch with up to 65 days of battery life thanks to solar charging 02/17/2021
Year-on-year changes in the smartphone market. (Source: Counterpoint Research)
The smartwatch market grew by 20% in the first half of 2020, driven by devices from Huawei, Garmin and Apple 08/29/2020
Fitbits were found to detect 'flu at least as well as the CDC in a recent study. (Source: Fitbit)
Fitbit use may be used to help predict flu outbreaks, study finds 01/19/2020
The new Xiaomi Watch Color. (Source: Xiaomi)
Xiaomi launches the Watch Color in China 01/03/2020
Images via Apple App Store
"Smoke" Apple Watch app puts Steam on your wrist 01/01/2020
The new Xiaomi Watch Color. (Source: Weibo)
Xiaomi's next smartwatch will have a round face 12/30/2019
The Wearbuds will be at Aipower's CES 2020 booth. (Source: Aipower)
Aipower is going to CES 2020, bringing its innovative Wearbuds and more 12/18/2019
Huami announces its presence at CES 2020. (Source: Huami)
Huami will go "beyond the smartwatch" with its 2020 product portfolio 12/13/2019
Fitbit may owe its market share to uptake by older users. (Source: iMore)
Fitbit's success in the wearables market is due to its popularity among older consumers, new study finds 12/12/2019
The OPPO smartwatch trailer. (Source: GSMArena)
OPPO drops glimpses of its 2020 smartwatch and truly wireless earbuds 12/10/2019
The Garmin Venu. (Source: Garmin)
The Garmin Venu smartwatch launches in India 12/06/2019
The Amazfit GTS reportedly did very well this Black Friday. (Source: Huami)
Huami asserts that its Amazfit GTS smartwatch had an outstanding Black Friday 12/02/2019
The Huawei Watch GT 2 will get a new market soon. (Source: Twitter)
The Huawei Watch GT 2 will see an Indian launch in December 2019 12/01/2019
The new Amazfit GTS' titanium edition. (Source: MyDrivers)
The Apple Watch-esque Amazfit GTS now has a titanium variant 11/28/2019
The Amazfit Stratos3. (Source: Amazfit)
The Amazfit Stratos3 is a new sports smartwatch coming to Europe soon 11/11/2019
Fitbit was the most familiar name in a new study of wearables awareness. (Source: Wired)
Fitbit is the best-known name in wearables, even though Apple owns the market 09/27/2019
Garmin Fēnix 6: A rugged smartwatch series suited for all environments. (Image source: Garmin)
Fēnix 6: Garmin announces Fēnix 6, Fēnix 6S, Fēnix 6X and Solar smartwatches 08/30/2019
Practically professional: The SmarchWatch. Not available in stores. (Image source: Samson March)
The SmarchWatch: An open-source smartwatch that you can build yourself 05/02/2019
The action-cam market is said to grow steadily over the next few years. (Source: MEC.ca)
Action-cam market set to be worth US$10.25 billion by 2026 04/10/2019
The Garmin Approach S40 currently comes in three colours (Image source: Garmin)
Garmin Approach S40 Smartwatch: A GPS golf watch that costs less than US$300 03/28/2019
Three non-Wear OS-based brands dominated the US smartwatch market in 2018. (Source: Wareable)
Is Wear OS in trouble? About 88% of smartwatches sold in 2018 ran proprietary software 02/14/2019
Image: IDC
Wearables market grows by 5.5% year over year, showing wearables aren't dead yet 09/05/2018
Garmin Disney Princess vívofit jr. 2 fitness tracker for kids (Source: Garmin)
Garmin intros the Disney Princess vívofit jr. 2 fitness tracker for kids 08/24/2018
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2019 12 > New firmware leak hints at solar-powered Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
Sam Medley, 2019-12-13 (Update: 2019-12-13)