What it means when Garmin discontinues your watch

A long list of Garmin wearables has now officially landed on the company’s discontinued products page. These watches may be out of production but many are still usable, supported and in some cases repairable.

You might come across one of these models selling at a deep discount. Retailers often lower prices on older Garmin devices. But is it worth picking one up? Particularly as their recent models seem to be quite pricey.

The good news is – Garmin takes a generous approach to legacy hardware. Just because your watch is on the discontinued list doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. It might serve you well for years to come.

What discontinued really means for Garmin

When Garmin says a device is discontinued, it simply means the watch is no longer being manufactured or sold through official channels. It might still pop up on third-party sites or as new-old stock, but Garmin itself has moved on. However, this is not the same as abandonment.

The company continues to support discontinued models through software documentation, FAQs, accessory availability, and in many cases, repair services. In fact, Garmin states clearly on its support site that “although a device may be out of production, our technical support will be happy to answer questions about your product.” You may even get the odd firmware update.

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In practical terms, this means you can keep wearing your old Forerunner or Fenix without worry. It will probably not get the latest software features, but core functionality usually continues working without issue. Garmin’s ecosystem is built for long-term use. Syncing, workout uploads, badges, and analysis in Garmin Connect all continue working normally, even for models launched a decade ago.

Repair, replace or keep going?

If your device breaks or the battery dies, you still have a few options. Garmin sometimes offers like-for-like replacements for out-of-warranty units. These can be refurbished or come with a discount toward a newer model, typically around 20 percent.

So it is definitely worth reaching out to Garmin support directly. In many cases, they’ll provide options based on availability. If repairs are needed, some specialist electronics shops may also be able to help, but pricing and success can vary depending on the model. Disassembly isn’t easy on these devices and parts may be limited. If you go down that route, it is a risk.

For those who are even more adventurous, battery replacements and minor repairs can be done at home with the right tools. Replacement batteries for older Forerunner or Vivoactive units are available online, often for under ten bucks. The catch is that you’ll need patience and a steady hand. Teardowns require care and waterproofing may not survive the DIY route. So proceed at your own risk.

These are the devices Garmin has now discontinued

Here’s the full list of watches currently marked as discontinued by Garmin. This includes early GPS models, the entire Fenix 6 and older lines, many golf-focused Approach watches, along with several Forerunners that are still widely worn. You can always check for the latest list on Garmin’s website.

Should you still use one?

Unless you’re running into major hardware issues or really want the latest sensors, there’s little reason to ditch a discontinued Garmin. Many of these watches still do the job for runners, swimmers and casual users. And while they may not support every new feature like nap tracking or Body Battery TrueUp, the essentials are all there.

Garmin doesn’t shut the door on older devices, so you shouldn’t have any worries there. You can still sync your workouts, view your stats and stay connected in the same ecosystem, even if your watch is years out of production.

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