Every part it’s essential to learn about Garmin & LTE—multi function place.
The rumor mill is abuzz with whispers of Garmin reintroducing mobile help to its lineup of sports watches, with a Fenix 8 LTE improve reportedly being ready for 2025.
If realized, the return to mobile would mark a big step for the model. In principle, it may improve stay monitoring, assist empower new security instruments, and doubtlessly bridge the hole to LTE smartwatches when it comes to linked, on-the-go options.
Nonetheless, as ever with Garmin, this alleged return to LTE is shaping as much as be barely quirky; the most recent indications counsel it may mimic the extra restricted mobile options of the Forerunner 945 LTE, the final Garmin to function standalone help.
To maintain you updated, this information serves as a catch-up on the current timeline and hub for all the most recent rumors. We’ll additionally study the probability that the performance turns into tied to the Connect+ subscription tier, and which Garmin watches are more likely to obtain the replace sooner or later.
Garmin & LTE: The timeline and up to date leaks
Garmin’s journey with LTE has been a cautious one, marked by a single, targeted launch and a prolonged hiatus. If the rumors are to be believed, we’re as shut as ever to a return.
Nonetheless, it’s value noting that we nonetheless haven’t any credible info concerning a launch date for the rumored upgraded fashions.
Right here’s a have a look at the important thing moments and the most recent leaks shaping the narrative:
- June 2021: Garmin launches the Forerunner 945 LTE
Garmin releases its first and, to this point, solely watch with mobile capabilities (except for the Bounce smartwatch for youths). This system utilized LTE primarily for security options like LiveTrack, emergency help, and spectator messaging, although is now lengthy discontinued.
- April 2025: First credible leak emerges
Lastly, indicators of life. A major leak reveals a purported screenshot of an LTE setup option within the Garmin Connect app. The picture options the Fenix 8, suggesting a possible mid-cycle refresh. This reignites hypothesis about Garmin’s return to the mobile house.
- Could 2025: Extra particulars leak, together with ‘Garmin-only plan’
Whereas admittedly from a sketchy source citing undisclosed ‘intel’, extra particulars emerge concerning a Fenix 8 LTE. This newest piece of knowledge means that LTE is perhaps the only improve within the mid-cycle Fenix 8 replace, with different {hardware} and software program options remaining largely unchanged.
It’s additionally prompt that Garmin will go for its personal LTE service, unbiased of conventional cell carriers. The main target is predicted to stay on security options, together with enhanced LiveTrack and emergency SOS.
It’s anticipated that, no less than initially, it received’t help direct cellphone calls or data-heavy actions like music streaming with out a cellphone close by, particularly on iOS as a result of Apple’s ecosystem restrictions.
Which Garmin watches might be within the LTE roadmap?
The frontrunner for Garmin’s LTE revival is undoubtedly the Fenix 8 sequence, seemingly within the type of a Fenix 8 Professional. The timing aligns with Garmin’s product cycles, and the leaks particularly mentioning the Fenix line lend weight to this principle.
Wanting additional forward, it’s believable that Garmin will regularly introduce LTE to different standard traces. The Venu sequence, with its give attention to smartwatch options and a broader attraction, may see a Venu 4 with LTE in late 2025 or early 2026.
The subsequent top-end Forerunner would even be a logical candidate. Nonetheless, with the current launch of the Forerunner 970, an LTE iteration is perhaps a few years away. That is additionally true for the Enduro, provided that Garmin doesn’t presently launch mid-generation updates of this line.
May Garmin’s LTE options be tied to Join+?
Contemplating the instance set by the Forerunner 945 LTE’s month-to-month subscription service, and with the model reportedly exploring a comparable strategy for its new mobile help taste, it appears seemingly that sure (if not all) options might be tied to the controversial Join+ subscription revealed earlier this 12 months.
In fact, there are a number of routes Garmin may take right here. It may embody all options ‘at no cost’ with the system, supply some options to non-subscribers whereas additionally offering a premium layer for Join+ customers, or restrict all the pieces to these paying the month-to-month subscription. At this stage, that’s clearly unclear.
Nonetheless, if Garmin strikes the appropriate stability on this, it might immediate many customers to contemplate the Join+ subscription. On the time of writing, and after dwelling with Join+ since launch, we wouldn’t essentially say {that a} ‘killer function’ or cause to pay exists proper now; the AI summaries are most likely essentially the most compelling differentiating issue, and, whereas good to have, are nonetheless very a lot in growth.
Whereas what’s rumored isn’t essentially the all-in-one mobile resolution many would have hoped for, some degree of improved connectivity would characterize a large win for Garmin followers—and this does really feel as shut as we’ve received since that 2021 Forerunner launch.
As we progress into the second half of the 12 months, extra particulars will undoubtedly emerge. We’ll be watching carefully to see how Garmin navigates its potential return to the LTE world.
