Your favorite fitness watch products have issues that need to be fixed. From Garmin’s long-running struggles to Fitbit’s renaissance, here are my predictions for 2026 and what improvements I want to see
Sunday Monday
In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness technology related to running and health, in his quest to get faster and more.
We’ve had a solid 2025 for fitness watches and wearable technology, but like you, I’m already focusing my attention on what 2026 has in store for us, from new Garmin technology to increased cases and improved fitness integration for glasses.
My 2026 Pixel and Galaxy Watch predictions include plenty of exciting health and fitness gadgets, but I’m focusing here on the dedicated fitness brands — Garmin, COROS, Polar, Suunto, Amazfit, and so on — and the new hardware and software we should expect this year, with some ring and glasses info thrown in.
And, I count all that I have search to see in the qualification area in 2026. Let’s get into what should be an exciting year (if I’m right)!
Garmin will receive the Fenix 9 feature signature for the silent year 2026
The Garmin of 2025 it is full with new Forerunners, Venus, Instincts, Vivoactives, and more. This should be an off year: Apart from the already leaked Vivosmart 6 fitness band, we could see the Instinct 3X or the Venu Sq 3; a Forerunner 170 or Lily 3 is possible but unlikely, as they’ve followed three-year schedules so far.
The only confirmed release is Fenix 9, with Enduro 4 and most likely. Garmin’s stock fell because the Fenix 8 Pro didn’t sell as expected, so there will be a lot of pressure to innovate.
We’ve seen Garmin’s patents for tracking “glycated hemoglobin” and “pulse spectrometry” data for your hydration levels and red blood cell count; or it could be a signature feature of sixth-gen Elevate sensors. Two other recent patents – Solar charging on AMOLED displays and a crown instead of Up/Down buttons – could indicate design changes to make the Fenix 9 stand out.
Garmin’s competitors will continue to downsize their watches and focus on Whoop-style bands
The COROS had a strong finish in 2025 with three new watches, but there is one obvious missing link: the VERTIX series, which launched 2 in 2021 and 2S in 2024. After the APEX 4 skipped a generation to match the PACE 4, the VERTIX 4 in 2026 looks like a less expensive competitor.
If not, I expect COROS to implement a diving or snorkeling feature with the APEX 4’s inactive depth sensor. It even approved an “Underwater Motion Trajectory” device in October that will track the smartwatch’s swimming movements with sonarwhich sounds cool.
Polar should continue to focus on the Polar Loop in 2026, with an emphasis on redesigning the Polar Flow app to make the experience more enjoyable. Gadgets & Wearables has Polar on record about its three-step app update system; finally, we’ll get a “dynamic and data-centric” home screen customized by the user, a “layered navigation system where a quick glance leads to detailed information,” and “cards” for metrics like HRV, similar to what we see in other fitness apps.
G&W wants too Suunto created its own Whoop/Polar Loop style band, which we could theoretically see in 2026. It will be designed for 24/7 wear, tracking both sleep and exercise data. I’m also expecting a budget version of the Race 2 (the Race 2S) that will dwarf the Forerunner frame.
We also saw leaks about Amazfit The Active Max is coming soon, priced at $170 and featuring 25-day battery life and a 1.5-inch display. This, too, will appeal to thrifty athletes who have been put off by Garmin’s ever-increasing prices. Amazfit already sells its own Whoop-style Helio Strap.
Fitbit is getting back into the fitness hardware game
The Google-owned Fitbit brand hasn’t released new hardware in the past few years. But it is guaranteed that we will get new hardware of the Fitbit brand in 2026, accompanied by the new Fitbit Personal Health Coach AI that creates a personalized, flexible training program for all different types of sports.
Fitbit executives have made it clear that the Pixel Watch is i It’s an official Fitbit smartwatch, which means we’re more likely to see the Inspire 4 or Charge 7 than the Sense 3 or Versa 5 — although this isn’t confirmed.
Legal battles over eligibility will intensify in 2026
This past year, we’ve seen Oura use smart ring patents to block Ultrahuman and sue Samsung and Amazfit. Strava sued Garmin before finally settling the dispute, but Suunto also sued Garmin over patents related to golf ball tracking, breathability, and antenna design. Polar, meanwhile, failed to beat Suunto and Garmin’s Firstbeat in court over the heart rate patent, while Whoop sued Polar for IP infringement over the Whoop-esque design of the Polar Loop.
Samsung will continue to fight Oura in court in 2026, with their latest lawsuit claiming that a dozen of Oura’s patents should be invalid. And the Garmin/Suunto and Polar/Whoop battles must continue. But broadly speaking, fitness watch brands may be at fault in 2026, leading to obsolete features or removed devices.
Garmin desperately needs a performance upgrade (and a software fix)
Garmin watches pack more features than any other fitness watch product, and the last generation has improved the UI to match a smartwatch. But the hardware inside Garmin watches hasn’t kept up: Menus are flimsy, and using maps is painfully slow on premium models. Garmin may want to prioritize battery life, but COROS has managed to bring its watches to 2025′ zipper performance while offering 2-3 weeks per charge.
The summer launch of Fenix 9 is a great opportunity to pack a new chipset and more memory to make it feel like a flagship. It could help Garmin improve smart features on Fenixes that aren’t particularly reliable — like automatic routing and voice commands — and add new features to the watch like live challenge progression.
At the same time, Garmin it should reassure consumers by promising to support Fenix 9 with Fenix 10 features.
Garmin alienates its most loyal customers every time they end software support for $800+ watches after 1–2 years, and that will only increase when Fenix 8 owners are shut out. A software warranty of three or four years, similar to that offered by Apple and Samsung, may reduce users who think that buying the expensive Fenix 9 is “worth it” in the long run.
More smart glasses integration
This year, the Meta glasses added Garmin integration, reading real-time Garmin stats, automatically capturing photos of important workout moments for a montage you can share, and alerting you if you’re outside your target HR zone. I would like Meta and Garmin to keep the new tag integration features for 2026, and for Meta to open up this feature to fitness watch brands.
Accordingly, we know that Samsung AI glasses with Google software will be launched in 2026 and will be compatible with Wear OS watches with features such as touch shortcuts. Google could easily make Android XR compatible with Fitbit and Samsung Health.
In particular, Samsung glasses with HUD can show your real-time workout data, like ENGO 2 glasses, for sports like cycling, when you want to keep your eyes on the front. And they can use Gemini’s integration for personalized AI audio training, too.
A fitting update for Fitbit for 2026
I think that we will only get basic Fitbit trackers in 2026. What I can do search the new Sense 3 or Versa 5 — actually the Pixel Watch 4 Lite.
I want a Fitbit watch with all-week battery life and a simple, slim design. But I also want the last few years of the Pixel Watch’s fitness benefits to continue, like dual-band GPS, HR algorithm improvements, and Gemini-based workouts sent from your phone to your watch. A Fitbit Ring would be great too!
Better customization of the fitness watch
Fitness watches like Garmin are known to work for years until the battery dies, but if something goes wrong, you can’t fix it because their parts are glued together, both water resistant and easy to manufacture. Even if it’s under warranty, companies will just throw away your old unit and send you a new one.
I’m looking for watch brands to emulate Google’s adjustable design for the Pixel Watch 4. Basically, any regular person can follow the instructions to take apart their Pixel Watch 4 if they want to replace a new battery or replace a cracked display. This will allow people to keep their old watches running for longer, instead of being forced to upgrade them.
