Garmin has had a good 2025, thanks to the launch of the new Forerunners, Instinct, Venu, Vivoactive watches and the Fenix 8 Pro series of watches. Its entire range has effectively been revamped.
With the year 2026 just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about my wish list for the best Garmin watches of 2026. Not necessarily the models (although I’m sure the Fenix 9 is probably on the horizon), but the features those models will contain.
1. AMOLED Power Glass
The introduction of Power Glass AMOLED would end the restriction of solar charging to MIP-only models. Currently, users must choose between the long-lasting battery life of solar power and the modern, vibrant AMOLED display. The combination of these features would allow premium AMOLED watches like the Forerunner series to recapture the passive battery extension we last saw in the Garmin Forerunner 955, eliminating a major compromise for high-end users.
Garmin would rightly cite the technical challenges involved in implementing this feature, such as the difficulty of creating a solar layer that can capture light without blocking or degrading visibility. How a solar coating and an AMOLED display can coexist is well beyond my pay grade, but that doesn’t stop me from loving it.
Integrating solar charging into AMOLED would future-proof Garmin’s flagship line. By adding Power Glass, Garmin would maintain the fantastic battery life while still providing the high-quality viewing experience we’ve come to expect.
2. Detection of hypertension
A hypertension monitoring smartwatch uses optical sensors (PPG) to track heart rate and blood flow patterns, analyzing data over time to detect possible signs of high blood pressure (hypertension). Key models like the latest and The best Apple Watches use sophisticated algorithms and PPG signals, while others, like the Huawei Watch D2, incorporate micropump bracelets for more direct measurement.
Instead of integrating this technology into its smartwatches, Garmin has so far opted for a standalone smart blood pressure monitor that syncs readings with the Garmin Connect app to track trends and share them with doctors. Garmin sees this as a complementary offering, but it would be great to see Garmin integrate the technology directly into its watches like Apple has done.
Hypertension management on board could be seen as a departure from the brand’s fitness credentials, but if it wants to maintain a competitive advantage over its rivals, it should take action while there is still time. Even Whoop has added additional heart health features to its fitness offering with Whoop MG.
3. Gesture controls
The Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch lines are arguably more intuitive to use than rivals like the Garmin Venu 4 or Garmin Vivoactive 6. If Garmin is going to retain users who want top-notch fitness and modern smart features, then it will need to add some features like gesture controls to make the experience of using them just as intuitive.
Plus, the hands-free gestures are great.
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The best Garmin watches
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