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Fenix 8 and onwards

2331063
over 1 year ago

Technology is rapidly evolving. I never expected the Fenix 7Pro to get ECG (though it is still not approved or activated in many countries such as Australia). The competition on health and fitness features is ramping up. Where Garmin, Polar and Suuonto used to dominate, the likes of Samsung are now racing ahead with metrics like AGEs and sleep apnea. Perhaps Garmin could consider those new features in future models?

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  • 0 over 1 year ago

    In think it should be opposite. Garmin has zero chance competing in the health and general fitness monitoring with big brands like Apple or Samsung. Garmin watches are designed to run on underpowered hardware with barebones software that doesn't even have a proper operating system or multitasking. Trying to push more and more sophisticated features into Garmin watches without the proper operating system with process isolation, etc will only make them increasingly buggy and unstable. We are already seeing some of that  that.

    Garmin should continue focusing on their devices being the best possible sport and outdoor recreation watches with awesome battery life - there are a lot of things that can still be improved. 

    As a cautionary tale, Suunto had tried at some point to go after the general fitness market, and that turned out a complete disaster that Suunto barely survived. Garmin should not repeat the same mistake.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to silentvoyager
    silentvoyager said:
    Garmin should continue focusing on their devices being the best possible sport and outdoor recreation watches with awesome battery life - there are a lot of things that can still be improved. 

    Then their addressable market will first stagnate and then start to shrink as Apple, Samsung etc gradually rollout all of the features that make Garmin stand out. Apple and Samsung will  eventually provide a "good enough" battery life for most athletes and outdoor enthusiasts and many will consider moving over because they're just getting better integration with their phone/pc etc whilst having enough health / training features.

    This is something shareholders won't accept. Garmin only has one route forward and that is to integrate yet more "smart watch" type features and more health metrics that "normies" find useful. A lot of us won't like this, but they're public company and they're obligated to find ways in which to continue to grow their market share.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 2529455

    Completely agree with you. Garmin would end up like Kodak and blockbuster if they dont evolve around smart/health and better AI algorithms. 

  • 0 10 months ago

    Apple is struggling too. Both companies are attempting to be all things to all people. The data presentation in the Apple ecosystem sucks and a number of 3rd party apps are required to get remotely close to Garmin Connect.