Garmin Connect 5.26 hints at Enduro 4 and smarter call handling

Garmin Connect 5.26 contains a new Enduro4 device entry with internal ID 5179, according to our latest app teardown. The same update also adds deeper phone call handling, new safety feature wording and several activity screen changes, so this looks like more than a routine app refresh.

Enduro 4 is the headline

The biggest find is simple. The string “Enduro_4”  appears in Garmin Connect 5.26, but it does not appear in Garmin Connect 5.25. That makes it a new addition in the latest version of the Android app.

This is not just a loose text string sitting in a forgotten corner of the APK. The teardown shows the name inside a Garmin device registry-style table, with an internal ID and category flags for fitness, outdoor, golf and wellness. That is the same sort of broad category mapping Garmin uses for multi-sport watches.

That does not confirm a launch date. It also does not give us images, pricing, sensor details or battery claims. But it does suggest Garmin Connect is being prepared to recognise a next-generation Enduro watch.

The naming is also worth noting. There has been some speculation about whether Garmin might skip the number 4, as it did years ago with the Fenix line. This app entry points the other way. For now, the internal name is clearly Enduro 4.

What Enduro 4 might bring

The timing makes sense. Enduro 2 arrived in August 2022 and Enduro 3 followed in August 2024. So an August or September 2026 window would fit Garmin’s recent rhythm for the series.

The obvious bet is that Garmin keeps Enduro focused on battery life first. This is the watch for people who want long GPS tracking, solar charging, a light case and fewer battery compromises than the Fenix line. That makes a MIP display more likely than AMOLED, at least if Garmin wants to protect the identity of the range.

AMOLED remains possible, but it would change the product’s logic. Garmin already has plenty of bright-screen premium watches. Enduro works because it feels more ruthless. Less polish, more time away from a charger. If Garmin moves it to AMOLED, it will need a very good reason.

The more interesting possibility is communication. Some speculation around Enduro 4 points to LTE, satellite-style messaging or voice features, especially if Garmin wants the Enduro line to sit closer to the most capable outdoor models. Our teardown does not tie those features to Enduro 4, so this remains speculation.

Call handling gets new plumbing

Garmin Connect 5.26 also adds more serious phone-call infrastructure. The app now includes the Android permission MANAGE_ONGOING_CALLS, along with a new Garmin in-call service called GNCSInCallService.

That lines up with new call-related strings for incoming calls, ongoing calls, call screening, answering, rejecting and disconnecting. The notification database also gains a new callType field, which suggests Garmin is improving how the app classifies phone call events before passing them to a watch.

Safety features get more structure

Safety also receives a visible refresh. Garmin Connect 5.26 contains expanded wording around Assistance Plus, Emergency Calling, Incident Detection, SOS and the Garmin Response team. There is also clearer language around LTE plans and data coverage.

That matters because Garmin’s safety stack has become more complicated. Some features depend on phone connection, some on LTE-capable devices and some on service coverage. The new wording suggests Garmin wants the app to explain those differences more clearly.

More device and subscription clues

The local device database gains a new capability flag called startStopWorkoutCapable. That is an interesting technical addition because it points to devices that can start and stop workouts through app or device interaction. No mention of Cirqa, though.

Garmin Connect 5.26 also adds a direct path for Device Priority settings. That feature already existed, but the new deep link suggests Garmin is making it easier to surface.

There are also fresh signs of Garmin Connect+ gating. New strings refer to coach plans requiring Garmin Connect+, along with plan selection for cycling, fitness, triathlon and other coaching categories. Another new string mentions discount codes for selected Garmin devices and accessories for eligible subscribers.

Our takeaway

There is enough info here to suggestion Garmin is preparing app-side support for Enduro 4. So dont be surprised if the device lands in the next couple of months.

If the company keeps the Enduro formula intact, the next model should focus on longer endurance, lighter materials and better outdoor tools. If Garmin decides to push harder, emergency communication and voice features would fit the series better than smartwatch extras.

This article originally appeared on Gadgets & Wearables, the first media outlet to report the story.