Garmin has long been a dominant force in the worlds of GPS navigation and personal fitness tracking. From its origins in marine and aviation to becoming a household name for athletes and wellness enthusiasts, the company has built a reputation on relentless innovation. A recent press conference provided a glimpse into their next chapter, showcasing a commitment to pushing boundaries with three new smartwatches and a landmark research collaboration aimed at redefining maternal health.
The event, led by executives like Susan Lyman, VP of Consumer Sales and Marketing, and Joe Schrick, EVP of Fitness and Outdoor Segments, was a testament to Garmin’s growth. With a goal of hitting $7.1 billion in sales by the end of 2025, the company continues its mission to “#beatyesterday” by consistently delivering tools that empower users to live healthier, more active lives. Let’s dive into the exciting announcements that are shaping the future of Garmin.
A Trio of Innovation: Meet the New Smartwatches
Garmin’s philosophy of launching nearly 100 new products a year was on full display with the introduction of three distinct wearables, each designed for a specific user.
Venu 4: The Ultimate Health and Wellness Companion
The star of the show was the Venu 4, a sophisticated health and wellness smartwatch designed to provide a holistic view of your body. Building on the success of its predecessors, the Venu 4 is a true multisport watch, now with integrated support for platforms like Tridot and Training Peaks, making it an ideal choice for triathletes and serious amateurs.
One of its most impressive features is an extended battery life of up to 12 days, ensuring it keeps up with your life without constant charging. The Venu 4 is designed to help you know your body better through several key advancements:
- Lifestyle Logging: Over a 28-day period, the watch learns your habits. You can log caffeine and alcohol intake, track 46 different lifestyle factors, and even create custom entries to see how they impact your well-being.
- Advanced Health Status: The Venu 4 continuously monitors key biometrics like heart rate, HRV (Heart Rate Variability), skin temperature, and Pulse Ox. After three weeks, it provides a comprehensive health status report.
- Garmin Fitness Coach: This feature delivers heart-rate-based workouts tailored to your fitness level across 25 different activities, acting as a personal trainer on your wrist.
- Sleep Alignment: By analyzing 21 days of your sleep patterns, the Venu 4 shows you how closely your sleep schedule aligns with your natural circadian rhythm, offering insights to improve your rest and recovery.
Bounce 2: A Smartwatch for the Next Generation
Garmin is also focused on getting kids active and engaged. The Bounce 2 is a vibrant and durable kids’ smartwatch designed to encourage movement and provide parents with peace of mind. It makes fitness fun with activity tracking, games, and challenges, all within a secure, parent-managed environment.
Instinct Crossover Amoled: Rugged Meets Refined
For the adventurers who demand durability without sacrificing screen quality, Garmin introduced the Instinct Crossover AMOLED. This hybrid watch combines the rugged, classic design of the Instinct series with a brilliant, high-resolution AMOLED display. It’s built to withstand the toughest conditions while providing crisp, clear data at a glance, making it the perfect tool for outdoor enthusiasts who need both toughness and technology.
Redefining Maternal Health: The EMBRACE Study
Beyond new hardware, Garmin highlighted its deep commitment to health research. Jorn Watzke, Senior Director of Garmin Health, explained how the company’s biometric sensor data is contributing to over 1,000 studies around the globe. The most significant announcement in this space was a pioneering partnership with King’s College London for the EMBRACE study.
Professor Josip Car, a leading medical expert, presented this ambitious global study aimed at redefining maternal and family health through technology. The EMBRACE study will involve 60,000 pregnant women, their partners, and their babies to investigate how exercise can be optimized during pregnancy.
The core mission is to challenge outdated advice that often discourages pregnant women from exercising. Using Garmin wearables, the study will collect vast amounts of data to power AI-driven health interventions. The primary goals are to:
- Reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes by 40%.
- Reduce pregnancy-related hypertension by 40%.
This study has the potential to create new, evidence-based guidelines for prenatal care worldwide. It represents a monumental step forward in using consumer technology for large-scale clinical research, proving that a smartwatch can be a powerful tool for improving public health outcomes.
Looking Ahead
The latest announcements from Garmin reinforce its position as a leader not just in product development, but in health and wellness innovation. The Venu 4, Bounce 2, and Instinct Crossover AMOLED each cater to a unique need, demonstrating the company’s understanding of its diverse customer base.
Perhaps most importantly, the collaboration on the EMBRACE study shows that Garmin’s vision extends far beyond the individual user. By partnering with world-class research institutions, Garmin is helping to answer critical health questions and improve the lives of entire communities. From tracking a morning run to helping ensure a healthier pregnancy, Garmin continues to find new ways for us all to beat yesterday.
