Fenix 7 may well be my last Garmin: lack of software updates

Question: why did you buy the expensive f7 if it didn't have all the functions you needed at the time you decided to buy it?

Never again Apple! My expensive iphone 15 doesn't get Apple intelligence. Apple wants me to spend another 1600€ for an iphone 16 ;)

This (why buy when not having all the features you needed) is a false position to take (and in bad faith I guess). It provided all the -possible- features at the time of buying. Then, as insights/possibilities expanded, these new features get rolled out in new devices.So, it's not a case of "I bought a device that didn't conform to my wishes", I bought a device that I thought would be updated with the latest and greatest insights from the people at Garmin, as they became available. I was, and am perfectly content with my Fenix 7X. 

What I thought, and figured, as it was so the last couple of years, the premium prize was also a sort of insurance for those latest and greatest featues.

Sure, I'll keep buying Garmin, I think the watches look nice, the competition is closing, but not yet there (imho), but.... And this is where I have some second thoughs... Why on earth should I buy into the new devices in the premium line, if the next much cheaper forerunner gets features that I want, and are not coming to older devices (at whatever price point). That premium for the more expensive watches, isn't for getting new features back ported. Or at least, that is how it looks now.

I think I'll sit on my F7X for a while, and see what happens with the F8 once the F9 comes out, how long will the back ports continue... one generation? Two? None? And by that time, well, maybe some other brand has popped up, who's to say. 

Just my 2ct.

GJR

GJRodenburg said:

bought a device that I thought would be updated with the latest and greatest insights from the people at Garmin, as they became available

GJRodenburg said:

What I thought, and figured, as it was so the last couple of years, the premium prize was also a sort of insurance for those latest and greatest featues.

GJRodenburg said:

That premium for the more expensive watches, isn't for getting new features back ported. Or at least, that is how it looks now.

Yeah this is the problem right here.

Nobody ever said that getting new features on your existing watch was some kind of reward for buying a top end Garmin.

In contrast:

- Forerunner 255 isn't the the top-end Forerunner but it still got new features for the past couple of years, alongside newer watches (e.g. FR265) and higher-end watches (e.g. FR955, FR965)

- In previous generations (e.g. FR235 / FR935 / Fenix 5 era), Garmin apparently had a totally different policy where they didn't add major new features after release, but only added small features and made bug fixes

Sure it could be argued that Garmin has been adding new features to mid-range and high-end Garmins in an attempt to foster customer goodwill. Part of it could be an attempt to stave of criticism/backlash for releasing two "generations" of Forerunners in a short period of time (255/955 vs 265/965), which mostly differed by screen type (MIP vs AMOLED).

But I don't think they ever made any promises to continue doing so indefinitely (or for whatever period of time people would find "acceptable").

I've seen similar complaints from MARQ owners who say stuff with a straight face like "I spent $3000 on my MARQ expecting the best watch money can buy. I'm not dumb, I can see my watch is no longer the latest and greatest because it's no longer getting new features. This is an outrage!"

Garmin charges $X for Fenix, MARQ, and any other watch based on how much we are willing to pay, not based on some guarantee that your watch will be the best watch in the world forever, simply because you paid a lot of money for it.

GJRodenburg said:

Sure, I'll keep buying Garmin

All of us (including me) who complain about Garmin but continue to buy their stuff aren't exactly making a good case for Garmin to change their behaviour.

However, I do think it's more valid to complain about bugs and design issues, as at least one can make the case that Garmin isn't delivering what was promised. (i.e. if Garmin promises feature X, but X doesn't work so well, that's a valid gripe). To complain about not getting new features is less valid imo, when it's clear that Garmin has always used new features to sell new devices and never made any promises to the contrary.

Either way, Garmin doesn't really care - the only thing that will move the needle is decreased sales.

The confusing part for customers being that there appears to be no set policy.

My F6 got way  more updates  for longer it feels. One reason to by an F7 because of that update schedule.

Samsung on their phones and tabs give multiple  release updates and years of security updates. It has become  one of their selling points. Google does the same with their devices often. So, does Apple. 

I see no reason why Garmin can't do the same.

It just feels like being nickle and dimed.

The F7 is marketed as triathlon watch as well. Yet, it is not getting tthe triathlon  coach update.

It is not getting the rucking update either.

I can't even use the new HRM 600 because multiple features won't  work on a F7. So that is a $160 HRM that multiple customers won't buy.

And why should I buy a F8 when the next F9 is already planned to make it obsolete, within a year or so. 

Garmin is just making glorified paperweights then, so much for sustainability.

I was trying the new Connect+ subscription, but there isn't  enough value add, especially  when my watch is not being updated.

So in 1 update with 1 customer they lost $160 in HRM sales, 1 monthly $8 Connect+ membership, and at least 1 future $1000 watch sale. 

Management lately has been massively raising prices while greatly reducing what it gives. Feel like Garmin is trying to cash in on it's popularity, while burning long time customers who helped get it there. Or at least as Management explained the direction better please?

So, in the end it becoming a self fullfilling prophecy and losing to Google, Samsung and Apple.

Now, it feel they are just throwing different  stuff at the wall, and seeing what sticks. 

I am not going to beg for some features,  I rather switch brands then. However I hope Garmin sees how much this  upsets the community, and realises a better path forward.