Garmin fēnix® 8 Pro - MicroLED

Existing smartwatches have problems with poor screen readability under strong sunlight, and high-resolution displays increase battery consumption. In the case of watches for outdoor activities, in particular, it is difficult to check information in direct sunlight and there is the inconvenience of frequent charging. In addition, due to the limitations of LCD, OLED, etc., there were also limitations in reducing lifespan when implementing an always-on display.

The fēnix 8 Pro adopts a self-luminous MicroLED screen to provide a much brighter and clearer screen than before[26][27]. MicroLED maintains high contrast even under strong outdoor light, providing excellent readability under sunlight, and its power efficiency extends battery life.

Combined with Garmin's unique GPS and health tracking functions, it enables 24/7 monitoring during outdoor sports such as mountain climbing and marathons, while also increasing the charging interval. In addition, the screen refresh rate and responsiveness have been improved, improving the user experience by smoothly displaying complex information such as maps. In other words, the differentiation from existing products is that the display technology innovation greatly improves ease of actual use.

Among individual consumers (B2C), hardcore outdoor users such as runners, mountaineers, and triathlon athletes are the main targets. As a premium-priced product, demand is expected to be high in the professional sports equipment market.

As Garmin is a global brand, this product is likely to be launched simultaneously worldwide. As the application of MicroLED can spread to wearables in general, it will have ripple effects on smartwatches and AR glasses from other brands in the future. From Garmin's perspective, technology expansion is possible to other lineups such as Forerunner in addition to fēnix.

A real-world preview was held at CES, and user expectations were considerable. In terms of technological completeness, the judges are positive about the performance improvement of the MicroLED display[27], and it is evaluated as a realistic upgrade when combined with Garmin's existing sensor ecosystem.

Rather than overestimation factors, the actual release date and price are of interest, and the prevailing opinion is that the market success is highly likely.