Various Forerunner smartwatches have been affected by a wide range of issues (Symbolic image, Forerunner 745, source: Inge Schwabe, Notebookcheck)
Following a recent software update, many users have reported severe issues with their Garmin smartwatches. In some cases, devices appear to have lost a significant portion of their functionality, effectively rendering them unusable as smartwatches.
Several Garmin Forerunner models have been plagued by flaws following a recent software update. After installing software version 27.09, many users have reported massive issues with their Garmin Forerunner 165, Forerunner 265, and Forerunner 965 (available here on Amazon). Far from minor bugs, these problems severely limit the watches’ functionality, effectively crippling many of their smart features. It remains difficult to gauge how widespread the situation is, as some users reportedly experienced no issues at all with the new software. Restarting the watches seems to help in certain cases, but not consistently. One Reddit user also noted experiencing lag after the update.
According to a specific post, the Garmin Forerunner 165 can no longer track sleep data, making it impossible to evaluate sleep quality and duration. The step counter has also stopped working, and heart rate monitoring has become unreliable or fully inconsistent. Whilst not entirely unusable, the Forerunner 165 appears to have lost a substantial chunk of its smartwatch capabilities. For example, users can’t accurately assess their workouts without dependable heart rate data. Garmin has been notified of these issues, though an official fix – such as a firmware update – has yet to be announced. Runners preparing for a race may feel the impact of these problems more than the average user.
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Zhiwei Zhuang – Translator – 553 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, I moved from Singapore to
Cologne in 2014 and began pursuing a career as a freelance translator. Much of my translation work
focuses on science, engineering and technology. My fascination with computers and mobile
electronics began when I was young. And I have fond memories reading countless tech and gaming
magazines. Working with Notebookcheck gives me the opportunity to incorporate my personal
interests into my professional work.