Garmin opens Beta programme to Fenix 8 Pro owners
Garmin has added the Fenix 8 Pro to its public Beta programme. The watch, which launched in early September, now joins other Garmin devices eligible for early feature testing. This move allows owners of the Fenix 8 Pro, including the premium MicroLED edition, to preview updates before general release.
What Beta access brings
The Garmin Beta programme is not for everyone. Installing such software may come with bugs which need to be ironed out. The benefit is that the updates often include new tools, UI tweaks or even unreleased health and training features. While not all firmware versions pushed through this channel end up being released publicly, they give an early glimpse at what Garmin is working on.
For those sporting the Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED, it’s a way to squeeze more value from the $2,000 investment. Early updates may optimise the new display tech, fine-tune satellite tools or address quirks in battery performance.
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It also means that new features, like tweaks to inReach messaging, LTE connectivity or visual enhancements to topo maps, could be tested sooner on the wrist.
How to join the Beta programme
Getting started is straightforward. You’ll need to log into your Garmin account and opt in to the Beta programme through the Garmin Connect web dashboard, not the app. Head to the Devices section, pick your Fenix 8 Pro, then scroll down to the section marked “Join Beta Software Programme.” From there, just follow the prompts.
After that, updates will be delivered over the air, similar to regular firmware. Garmin will also notify users when Beta builds are available and list what’s changed in each version.
For those unfamiliar with the process, these Beta builds are generally stable, but occasional glitches can pop up. It’s worth backing up any important data before updating, especially on a high-value watch like the MicroLED model.
Fenix 8 Pro standing alongside its siblings
The Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED already set itself apart with a dazzling 4,500-nit display, built-in LTE, and full satellite messaging support. Now it gets feature parity with its Fenix 8 siblings when it comes to software access.
Garmin didn’t rush this update. The broader Fenix 8 series and Enduro 3 have been eligible for Beta firmware for a while now. Adding the Fenix 8 Pro might indicate that development on the MicroLED and LTE stack has reached a level of stability where Beta testing won’t create conflicts with core connectivity.
This also opens the door to optimisations and software-driven refinements tailored to the high-spec model. That could be particularly relevant for screen behaviour, LTE transitions or battery calibration, areas where the MicroLED version behaves differently than standard AMOLED models.
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