Garmin announces Fenix 8 Pro
Garmin is attempting to stay one step ahead of Apple’s expected Watch Ultra 3 announcement by unveiling the new Fenix 8 Pro. The new Garmin comes with a Micro-LED screen – a first for smartwatches – and LTE connectivity. The Micro-LED comprises of more than 400,000 LEDs according to Garmin and is said to be “revolutionary display that produces rich colors… and superior readability.” Or, as I’m sure they really wanted to say, “we did it before Apple.”
LTE is a welcome addition but comes with a major caveat: it appears to be designed for Garmin-to-Garmin communication via Garmin Messenger, rather than as an alternative to always carrying a smartphone. That still, to our mind, is a mistake. Yes, there’s a benefit to a Garmin walled garden in terms of trying to hold onto the base’ loyalty, but that has been tried many times in the past with less than stellar outcomes (remember AOL’s messenger app, AIM? Or Boost Mobile’s Push-to-Talk “where you at?”). Broadening the LTE to more general use will allow potential use cases such as streaming music while you run.
Garmin has also added satellite communication for location check-ins and text messages (again via Garmin Messenger). Satellite hits a key spot for Garmin users who are more likely to roam to more remote locations.
The Circana Take:
- Garmin’s new additions come with a hefty price tag: $1,200 for the 47mm version (with an AMOLED screen) up to $2,100 for a 51mm version with the micro-LED. But there again, when you consider Garmin’s core focus on the seriously-active, many of them are higher income.
- The LET and inReach (satellite service) cost $8 per month (messages over satellite are additionally billed per message). For $8 per month, many consumers would expect full data freedom, rather than being tied into a Garmin walled garden.
- Garmin continues to have a strong core base and the new Fenix watch helps ensure the company maintains its market share.
Polar take on Whoop
Polar has launched a screenless fitness tracker, Loop, that looks very like Whoop. Unlike Whoop, the Polar device has no ongoing subscription and is priced at $199, the same price as a Whoop one-year subscription. Polar says that the Loop battery will last eight days on a single charge.
The Circana Take:
- The screenless device market opportunity is small: most consumers are still looking for a watch (telling the time is the number one use case on a smartwatch). Having said that, the niche category has potential to grow – smart rings are proof of that – so Polar is gambling that it is one step ahead of the market demand.
- At $199, the new Loop is well priced not just in comparison to Whoop, but also compared to the price of smart rings.
Pixel Watch 4
A couple of weeks ago, Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 4, along side the new Pixel 10 smartphone series. The new smartwatch comes in two sizes – the same as last year – but the big news with the new Watch 4 is that it is repairable (battery and screen for example). The new Watch also has a longer battery life, enhanced health and fitness tracking and (of course) more AI infused into the device. The device also supports satellite emergency comms for off-the-grid exploration
The Circana Take:
- It’s a solid – and expected – upgrade for the Pixel Watch 4, but will it have any impact on market share? Probably not: most consumers who are likely to buy a Pixel Watch are those who own a Pixel phone… and that is still a relatively small part of the market.
- On Apple seems to have built a watch that actually drives consumers into the Apple ecosystem (i.e., I want the Apple Watch, therefore I will switch from Android to iOS for my phone too). On the Android/Wear OS side, most watches are still seen as an addition to the currently-owned smartphone.