ⓘ Garmin
There could be ongoing issues with the runtime of Fenix 8 smartwatches
According to user reports, Garmin smartwatches continue to suffer from high power consumption and reduced battery life even after a recent software update. This ongoing issue could significantly impact the everyday usability of the flagship Fenix 8 series.
For many Garmin smartwatch owners, “battery drain” is a familiar and frustrating issue. It describes a sudden, drastic drop in battery life that is often triggered by software updates. Given that exceptional battery life is one of Garmin’s key competitive advantages over rivals like the Apple Watch, such problems are particularly disruptive for users.
Garmin typically addresses these issues with subsequent patches. Most recently, firmware version 22.39 for the Fenix 8 lineup (Fenix 8 AMOLED on Amazon) was deployed to reduce power consumption and restore expected battery performance. However, early user feedback suggests the fix may not be fully effective. At least one user has noted that the battery drain persists even after updating to version 22.39. While this appears to be an isolated case so far, a comment from another user, Mingui, points to a potential cause. According to Mingui, recent firmware versions cause the smartwatch to maintain an active Wi-Fi connection even after it is unplugged from the charger following a Spotify playlist sync. Since Wi-Fi is highly power-intensive, this would easily explain the increased drain.
Interestingly, previous updates have shown that unintended setting changes, rather than actual code bugs, can often play a role. For example, firmware version 22.35 automatically re-enabled continuous blood oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) measurement, which significantly increases power usage. In such cases, performing a full factory reset has often proven to be an effective workaround.
Silvio Werner – Senior Tech Writer – 17673 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017
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.