The Garmin LED flashlight is no gimmick, here’s how the community is using it

People rolled their eyes when Garmin stuck a flashlight on a watch. Now those same folks are using it every day without thinking twice. From midnight snack runs to hospital operating rooms, it’s become part of the routine. Turns out, having a light always strapped to your wrist is a lot more useful than it sounds. Maybe other smartwatch brands should take note.

What the flashlight actually does

For those not in the know, the flashlight isn’t just a brightened screen. On select models, it’s a dedicated LED built into the top edge of the case. You activate it by double-tapping the light button, and depending on the model, it can switch between white and red light, multiple brightness levels and even different strobe modes.

There are presets like Beacon, Blink, Pulse and Distress. You can tie it to certain activities so it kicks in automatically at night or in low light. It can even flash in cadence with your running stride.

You can also access the settings through the control menu, where you’ll find options for brightness and color. If you use it once, it’ll remember that setting next time. That way you’re not fumbling through menus in the dark. And yes, if you’ve configured your emergency contacts in Garmin Connect, the distress pattern flashes an SOS and shows your info on screen.

Around the house in the middle of the night

Now, all of this is more useful that it might sound. Just ask the users. Look through social media posts and forums, and you’ll notice that it has become one of Garmin’s most loved features.

A lot of users say they use the flashlight to go to the toilet without waking up a partner, check on their baby, or avoid stepping on a pet. Red light mode is popular here because it’s less disruptive and easier on the eyes.

Others use it for bedtime story reading, grabbing a snack, or finding the right clothes without turning on a bedroom light. One comment simply says: “I use it every single night.”

One dad uses it to find pacifiers and milk bottles. Another wears it around the house just so they can navigate quietly. Someone said they use the red mode every morning while getting dressed. “Win-win and worth it just for that alone.”

Practical tools in the workplace

Healthcare workers were quick to share their praise. One anesthesia provider said they use it to find ECG leads or start IVs in the OR without disrupting the sterile field. A CNC operator mentioned using it regularly while working inside dim industrial machines. Electricians said it’s perfect for tight, low-light spaces. A flooring estimator even uses it to inspect dark corners. These aren’t rare one-off situations. People are reaching for the watch light constantly throughout their shifts.

There were also comments from people who rely on it during power outages, when walking the dog at night, or to read menus in dark restaurants. One user even called it their “rear light” during night runs thanks to the red strobe.

It replaces the phone flashlight more than expected

Several comments boiled down to the same thing: they use their phone flashlight far less since getting a Garmin with this feature. The convenience of having a light on the wrist wins out. You don’t have to fumble for your phone or tie up one hand. “It’s just faster,” one person said. Another put it bluntly: “I use the flashlight more than I use the GPS.”

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Some were so convinced by the feature that it tipped their buying decision. One went for the Epix Pro over a Forerunner after reading about how many people found the flashlight unexpectedly useful. They were not disappointed.

Another summed it up nicely: “It’s my favourite feature next to battery life.”

So which Garmin watches actually have the flashlight?

At the moment, Garmin is the only major smartwatch brand offering a dedicated physical LED flashlight on some of its models. Sure, other brands have flashlights. But these work by turning the screen white at full brightness. That’s just a screen glow. It doesn’t come close to the brightness, directionality, or usability of Garmin’s actual LED module.

The feature first appeared on the Fenix 7X, but it’s now made its way to a broader lineup. That includes the Fenix 7 Pro range, Fenix 8, Epix Pro (Gen 2), Enduro 2, Instinct 2X Solar, Quatix 7 Pro, Tactix 7 AMOLED Edition, Tactix 8, D2 Mach 1 Pro and most recently on the Forerunner 970. You’ll also find it on the latest MARQ models, such as the Golfer Gen 2 Carbon Edition.

Not every model uses the same LED hardware, and some still rely on the screen to simulate a flashlight. But if you’re picking up one of the premium outdoor or multisport watches, chances are you’ll get the full LED treatment. And based on what users are saying, it’s not a feature you’ll want to give up once you’ve tried it.

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