Solar AMOLED could be coming to the Garmin Fenix series
Garmin may have found a way to make solar charging work with AMOLED screens. A new patent reveals a clever method to lay down delicate solar materials without damaging them, targeting advanced compounds like perovskites.
It’s a familiar compromise in Garmin’s current lineup. You can get a bright AMOLED screen on many models, but none of them support solar charging. That limitation might not stick around much longer.
The trade-off Garmin has been stuck with
Solar charging on Garmin watches works well only when paired with Memory-in-Pixel screens. That’s because these displays need very little backlight, so a tinted layer of photovoltaic glass doesn’t impact their readability much.
But AMOLED is different. It relies on self-illumination and vibrant color, both of which suffer when you cover the screen with even a slightly opaque layer. Garmin hasn’t solved that problem yet, which is why solar and AMOLED have remained separate paths.
The usual workaround is to create a grid of tiny solar cells with transparent spaces in between. But manufacturing those grids is tricky. The current method uses laser or chemical etching to remove parts of a solid photovoltaic sheet. That’s fine for tough materials like silicon, but it tends to destroy more fragile ones like perovskites or organic photovoltaics.
A non-destructive way to build solar grids
Garmin’s new patent proposes a different method entirely. Instead of starting with a full solar sheet and carving bits out, the process begins by building microscopic columns onto the screen surface. These are capped with a hydrophobic coating, meaning the tops repel liquid.
When a liquid solar material is applied to the surface, it slides off these caps and pools neatly in the channels between them. Once the liquid dries, you’re left with a precise solar grid that includes clear spaces – without having to cut or burn anything away. This allows an AMOLED display underneath to remain visible.
It’s a clean method that relies on fluid dynamics and surface energy rather than brute force. The patent also notes that this process works with perovskites and organic materials, which are far more sensitive than traditional silicon.
Here is an illustration we’ve put together on how this potentially works.
Why perovskites make sense for wearables
Silicon-based solar cells need direct sunlight to generate meaningful power. That’s not ideal for a wearable device, which often sits under sleeves, in shade, or indoors. Perovskite and organic solar materials, on the other hand, can function more efficiently in diffuse light.
This means the watch could harvest useful energy even in less-than-perfect conditions. If Garmin adopts these materials, solar charging might finally feel like a real benefit during daily use, not just on long hikes or summer runs.
Clearer screens and finer grids
The patent also describes using nano-imprint lithography to stamp the column pattern onto the glass. This suggests the potential for extremely fine grids, small enough to become invisible to the human eye.
Current solar-equipped watches often show a reddish tint or faint grid texture if you look closely. This new method could eliminate that, allowing for a truly clear screen with solar power embedded within it.
What it could mean for the next Fenix
It’s obvious from this patent that Garmin is trying to solve the AMOLED plus solar puzzle. The current Garmin lineup forced users to choose between solar and screen tech. This could be the missing piece that finally combines both.
If this method makes it into production, we might see future Garmin watches with bright OLED screens and genuine solar contribution, without the design compromises seen today. It’s still a patent, and there’s no guarantee of when it will appear in a product. But this approach directly targets the core issue with OLED-based solar wearables.
This article originally appeared on Gadgets & Wearables, the first media outlet to report the story.
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