Jan Kobilka The upcoming event, aptly named “Play Harder,” is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, and all signs point to Garmin updating its flagship model after two years. While the American manufacturer is keeping the details under wraps, a glitch in the database of one of the Czech retailers has offered an unusually detailed look at what’s in store for us.
The Czech online store SkiAndBike prematurely listed a total of 18 variants of the new Fenix 9 watches. Although the pages were quickly removed from the website, the price and dimension information remained.
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The Return of Compact Sizes and the inReach Satellite Device for All Pro Models
The leaked lists reveal several major changes in the product strategy:
- Response to reader complaints: The smallest 43mm model—which was completely absent from the previous-generation Fenix 8 Pro—is returning to the lineup.
- No more MIP displays on base models: The standard Fenix 9 will be available exclusively with an AMOLED display. The more energy-efficient MIP Solar display remains exclusive to the higher-end Pro models in 47 mm and 51 mm sizes.
- Built-in inReach: Satellite two-way communication is no longer exclusive to standalone devices. Models with the “inReach” designation bring this safety feature directly into the watch itself.
Prices in the Czech Republic for the base AMOLED model start at 24,490 Kč for the 43 mm version. The top-of-the-line Fenix 9 Pro AMOLED inReach model, made of carbide and titanium and available in a 51 mm size, costs 32,990 Kč, including VAT.
No More Map Cutting: The Watch Will Finally Get a New Chip
The biggest weakness of the previous Fenix 7 and Fenix 8 generations wasn’t a lack of features, but the hardware. For many years, Garmin relied on the older NXP RT595 processor, which was introduced in early 2022. As a result, users experienced annoying lag when rendering complex topographic maps.
According to unofficial reports, the Fenix 9 is expected to switch to the more modern NXP RT700 architecture. An increase in the number of cores, graphics chip speed, and available SRAM should result in smooth map rendering, instant route recalculation, and sufficient performance for advanced analysis of training data right on your wrist.
The new Elevate 6 sensor and the upcoming luxury MARQ
The debut of the 6th-generation Elevate optical heart rate sensor is also expected. With competitors like the Apple Watch and Google Pixel Watch aggressively rolling out health metrics, Garmin must respond. The main selling point of the new sensor could be its ability to provide an indicative blood pressure reading.
The MARQ Gen 3 lifestyle series, based on the Fenix 9, will arrive—as usual—a few weeks later. In contrast, MicroLED displays will have to wait a little longer—the technology still faces challenges related to high power consumption and module thickness.
Tuesday’s broadcast will provide official confirmation of the specifications. One thing, however, is already certain: Garmin is preparing the most extensive overhaul of its outdoor lineup in recent years.
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