Should I bother moving to the latest version?

I was following the normal releases until about 2 months ago when I got fed up with various issues:

- Map cut off at the top

- Painfully slow map rendering when panning around

- Turn prompts from my phone (I know this is not fixed, and don't think it will ever be fixed)

At which point I downgraded to the last version that didn't make me want to sell my F7 Pro SS and move to another company, 16.22. But I cannot install several apps like Minutecast because they require the latest version. I can also not send locations to navigate to from Apple Maps.

People who are still tracking the latest version, is v21 worth upgrading to?

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0 5811112 9 days ago

I am interested also. I have the firmware 17'28 at the moment. Is not perfect but is usable. I am afraid to update

0 7553771 8 days ago in reply to 5811112

Its sad that all are afraid to update to new system(including me). However, Garmin seems not to care.

0 6793129 8 days ago

Upgrade if you don’t mind reboot/crashes and loss of data.

0 7553771 7 days ago in reply to 6793129

I did and facing inacuraccy of the grade. On 18.16 all was fine. Stupid me I upgraded.

0 8253847 7 days ago

I'd say it depends. Do not upgrade if this is your main sports tracking device and you need it for upcoming races/events/whatever. If you have an alternative watch and it's not a huge risk, then you may try 21.19. Map rendering is very slow. Navigation prompts cannot be disabled. Oh and the colors on the rest screen of swim activities make it barely readable. So far these are the problems that I've found but since I jumped to Coros I just play every now and then with the Fenix 7, after so much time with Garmin pushing half-cooked firmwares I'm done with them.

0 GregorS 7 days ago

I am still on 16.22 which works well enough for me. I am done with updating and will stick to this version as long as possible. I don't want to introduce new bugs the recent firmware versions are riddled with.

0 druidh 7 days ago

I always upgrade to the latest public version when it becomes available. Other than that annoying reboot during navigation that happened a few months ago (and it only happened to me twice) my F7S Pro.has been working just fine.

0 royta 7 days ago

16.22? I thought 15.77 was the last perfect working version. That's what's on my 7 Solar.

0 Erik T7 3 days ago in reply to royta

royta said:
15.77 was the last perfect working version

I wouldn't say perfect but usable with some issues, way better than what I saw with 21.19 so far. I prefered it over later 16.xx & 17.xx b/o the backlight problem not being there and fewer crashes during activities - not non thus I'd not call it perfect. ;-) I did some testing as described in more detail here:

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-7-series/413518/altimeter-barometer-not-accurate-anymore

and while I'm not done yet with testing I'm sure already that I don't upgrade my "production" system to 21.19 - maybe some very far time later we get a solid software which would be working with CIQ - that being the drawback being on a downlevel software.

0 RASV 3 days ago

I ran with 21.19, it says 7.14km but real distance is 7.74. zooming out takes forever because watch retains all map detail and it brings the watch to a crawl. I want to use 17.28 I Think

edit; going with 18.09 so far so good,