Will the Fenix6 family ever be updated to CIQ API level 4?

Such a great question. 

I'd love a clear and concise answer from someone Garmin-Josh

garminpeter100

JOHNGARMINAPPROACHG8

@Jon_ODQA 

The official word in the developer forum is no the F6 will not get CIQ API 4.x.  This is part of the reason for the system designation in addition to the API version.

System 4 = SDK 4.0.x and 3.2.x

System 5 = SDK 4.1.x and 3.3.x

The reason is CIQ 4 brings in support for new hardware features that came along in the venu2 and F7 devices such as graphics pools.  The F6 HW does not support these but will still get new CIQ functionality as designated by the system level.  The new SDK features, if they are possible in the F6 will be included in a 3.3+ version of API.

That's what I was afraid of.  graphics pool is such an important thing for watchface development.  It's really quite limiting without it.

Look over this blog post for more info.  But it does come down to HW limits.

forums.garmin.com/.../welcome-to-connect-iq-system-4

Hi,

API 3.3.x is CIQ 5 with some limitations, so when CIQ Apps will be updated you will receive the enhancement.

This topic is not updated, but reflect what you can expect with the latest API implementation 4.1.x for latest 2022 device and 3.3.x for older https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/b/news-announcements

What limitations are you referring to?  Every one of the new metrics are tagged as part of SDK 3.3.x, as is the authentication module.  The other items in the announcement are either features of the SDK (profiler), or implemented in the CIQ apps on the phone or Garmin Express (settings).

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/b/news-announcements/posts/connect-iq-system-5-sdk-now-available

I will admit that what is supported in the API, vs what gets implemented in the FW can be two different things.

It rather impossible because probably 4.x need GPU and it doesn't exist in f6.

So updating to 4.x would require software emulation of GPU.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/10/garmins-connect-iq-system-5-platform-updates-a-round-up.html

Before we get to the last item, here’s which platforms are getting Connect IQ System 5, though as with before, there are certain features within the family that only apply to certain hardware (such as the fancier display bits and features on the Venu 2)

https://the5krunner.com/2021/10/13/garmin-ciq-level-5-inbound-for-2022-what-is-it/

Seems pretty clear to me from this chart and all the other info that the Fenix 6 IS getting CIQ5. So I get the hardware limitations sabeard mentioned, but it looks to me like he's wrong about the Fenix 6 not getting this updated API. Unless there's something I'm missing here.

I never said the F6 was not getting the APIs.  I just said that it would be in API version 3.3.x instead of 4.x.  Frankly unless you are a developer, the details don't really matter.  Users just need to know what FW supports the latest features.