A bigger push into advanced health metrics

What we are likely to get is a move towards more advanced physiological data. The current Fenix line already covers the basics extremely well, with heart rate, HRV, sleep tracking, training readiness and recovery time all forming part of the package. But it has been a while since we’ve had something truly new.

What Garmin now appears to be exploring goes a layer deeper, looking at biomarkers and longer-term indicators that move beyond day-to-day training stats. This would fit with the way the wearables market is evolving, as serious users increasingly want devices that can bridge the gap between performance tracking and broader health monitoring.

The HbA1c-related work is a good example of this direction. Instead of trying to mimic live glucose readings, the idea seems to centre on offering a view of longer-term metabolic health trends, which could eventually sit alongside Garmin’s existing wellness tools. That would be incredibly useful.

There is also the possibility of other new health metrics. Garmin’s patents reference hydration, hematocrit and tissue oxygen estimation through pulse spectroscopy. This could give the Fenix 9 users some genuinely new insights. Granted, these are unlikely to arrive in 2026 – but one can always hope.

Muscle Battery may be part of a bigger ecosystem

The Muscle Battery trademark we uncovered a few days ago is another interesting clue. This is not a patent – it’s a trademark – so Garmin is most likely actively working on it.

But it probably should not be viewed as a direct wrist-based Fenix 9 feature. Muscle oxygen saturation is not something that can be captured from the wrist.

Existing solutions that track SmO2, such as dedicated sports sensors, are usually worn on specific muscle groups like the thigh or calf. Because of that, Garmin will probably prepare a separate accessory device that pairs with the Fenix 9.

This could take the form of a strap-based wearable or something conceptually similar to Garmin’s existing chest straps and cycling accessories. In that setup, the Fenix 9 would act as the central display and analytics hub, while the sensor itself sits much closer to the muscle being measured. Or perhaps the upcoming CIRQA band might play a part.

That would actually make a lot of sense from Garmin’s perspective. It allows the company to extend its performance ecosystem without compromising the design of the watch itself, while also giving serious athletes access to more specialised data.

Other upgrades

As far as hardware, last year we saw a Garmin patent that combines solar charging with AMOLED. If the company has found a way to make that work without compromising screen clarity, it could finally remove the trade-off between the bright, vibrant display of the AMOLED model and the longer battery life of the Solar variants.

Another patent filing hints at a magnetic rotating crown that uses a Hall effect sensor rather than a traditional physical shaft. That would make map zooming and menu navigation feel much smoother while also avoiding another opening in the case. But this is more likely to debut on something like the Venu than the Fenix.

Recently, Garmin has also filed patents around a redesigned antenna system built directly into the watch case. Instead of relying on fixed dedicated antennas, parts such as the bezel, bottom plate and internal conductive elements could double up for GNSS, LTE and even satellite communication duties.

What this means for the upcoming launch

Taken together, these patents and trademark filings suggest the Fenix 9 may be less about cosmetic changes and more about smarter data and stronger ecosystem integration. So we may get a bigger upgrade this year than what we have become accustomed to.

As far as timing, there have been a few clues. Based on recent executive comments and Garmin’s usual release cadence, the most likely launch window looks to be the second half of 2026, with late summer to early autumn, most likely August to October, feeling like the sweet spot.

That would fit with Garmin’s recent pattern of major outdoor watch launches landing in the back half of the year. It also gives the company time to position the Fenix 9 as the centrepiece of what could be a broader performance ecosystem refresh.

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The 27.09 story is back again

Back in January, reports first emerged that firmware version 27.09 was causing problems on several Forerunner models. At the time, complaints centred on step tracking, sleep detection, heart rate accuracy and general instability, with the Forerunner 165 appearing to be one of the models most frequently mentioned.

A fresh Reddit thread posted this week shows the frustration has not gone away. The user behind the post says their Forerunner continues to produce erratic heart rate readings and inaccurate elevation data. In one example, a completely flat route allegedly appeared as if it involved major climbing, which in turn affects training load, VO2 Max and recovery estimates that depend on that data.

That is what makes this more than a minor software annoyance. When core sensors are not behaving as expected, every metric built on top of them becomes harder to trust.

The frustration has shifted

What seems to be driving the latest backlash is not simply the existence of bugs, but the sense among some users that Garmin has not clearly communicated what is happening.

The latest discussion points to the fact that the Forerunner 165 later received a follow-up firmware update, while owners of other models such as the 255, 265, 955 and 965 feel they are still waiting for a comparable fix. That contrast is clearly adding to the frustration, particularly among owners of higher-end devices.

It creates an awkward perception issue for Garmin. When users of watches are still reporting heart rate and elevation inconsistencies months after rollout, questions naturally start to be asked about the update process and whether the issue has been fully identified.

Not everyone seems affected

At the same time, this does not appear to be a universal problem.

Even in the latest discussions, some users report that their watches are running 27.09 without any obvious issues. That mixed feedback suggests this may be one of those difficult firmware bugs that only appears under certain conditions, perhaps linked to individual hardware units, sensor calibration states or specific use cases.

That inconsistency is partly why the story remains newsworthy. Some runners are seeing no problems at all, while others say the update has had a noticeable impact on key metrics they rely on every day. It also makes the issue harder for Garmin to pin down, which may help explain why some users are still waiting for a clear resolution.

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Amazfit Active 3 Premium: One minute review

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium does not really try to break new ground, and that is perfectly fine. What Zepp Health has done here is take the proven feature set from its recent watches and package it into a more compact design with slightly more premium materials.

That means you are getting a familiar mix of solid health tracking, strong sports features, offline maps and dependable battery life, all wrapped in a watch that feels good on the wrist and looks a step up from the standard model. The Zepp Health app has also continued to improve, which helps the overall experience feel more polished than it did a year or two ago.

The main appeal is the balance between features and $170 price-tag. If you want much of what Zepp Health already offers on its recent lineup, but in a smaller and more refined package, this watch makes a lot of sense.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

Design, hardware

Look & feel

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium leaves a good impression from the start. It feels closer to a mid-range sports watch than something in the sub-$200 bracket, and much of that comes down to the materials. You get a stainless steel frame, sapphire glass over the display and a clean round design that gives it a premium look.

In terms of size, the watch comes in at 45 x 45 x 11 mm and weighs 38g without the strap. On the wrist, it feels light enough for 24/7 wear without ever coming across as flimsy.

The four-button layout is also worth mentioning. It gives the watch more of a sports-watch feel and, from a practical point of view, makes navigating workouts, maps and menus easier, particularly when moving.

The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is decent. It runs at 466 x 466 resolution with 353 PPI and can hit up to 3,000 nits brightness, so outdoor visibility is no problem. In bright daylight it remains easy to read, whether checking pace data during a run or looking at notifications.

The sapphire protection is another plus, especially if the watch is going to be used regularly for training. On the downside, the screen does attract fingerprints quite easily, and it is a shame there is no anti-fingerprint coating.

In many ways, the device feels like a sibling to the Amazfit Active Max. But while that one comes with a larger 48.5mm case and feels more substantial on the wrist, the Active 3 Premium comes across as more of a unisex option, better suited to those with smaller wrists. So while the Max goes bigger with its 1.5-inch display and larger case, the Active 3 Premium strikes a better balance for anyone after something less bulky.

I, personally, prefer the Active Max. Sure it’s a less premium design. And you get two physical buttons instead of four. But I prefer the larger size. Of course, not everyone will agree with this.

Overall, the design of Active 3 Premium works well. The lighter weight means it never feels cumbersome, and for a watch at this price, the combination of sapphire glass, steel frame and a bright AMOLED screen is a strong selling point.

Under the hood

Under the hood, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is well equipped and shares much of its hardware with Zepp Health’s recent watches. There is no sense that anything important has been stripped back here.

At the core is the latest BioTracker optical sensor, using a 5PD plus 2LED setup. This handles heart rate, blood oxygen and the wider set of health and fitness data the watch tracks. It is the same generation sensor tech found on the newer models, which is good to see.

Backing that up is a full sensor array that includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, barometric altimeter, ambient light sensor and temperature sensor. For outdoor use, the barometric altimeter is particularly useful as it helps track elevation changes more reliably during runs, hikes and climbs. The geomagnetic sensor also helps with direction when using on-wrist maps and route guidance.

GPS hardware is another important part of the package. The watch supports five satellite systems, which should provide solid location tracking in most environments. It does not use dual-band GNSS, so this is something worth noting.

A nice touch is the inclusion of both a microphone and speaker. That means Bluetooth calling, voice assistant features and audio prompts during workouts are all available. These are still extras you do not always see on watches at this price.

Battery life

Battery life is pretty decent. Zepp Health quotes up to 12 days of typical use, and while real-world results obviously depend on settings and workout frequency, that figure does not feel unrealistic. I switched on pretty much all the bells and whistles apart from the always-on display, and the watch is capable of comfortably lasting well over a week with a few exercise sessions thrown in.

Once you start leaning more heavily on GPS, the picture changes a bit, but it still holds up well. For longer activities, the GPS battery performance feels strong enough to comfortably cover long runs, marathon sessions and day hikes without any real battery anxiety. That matters because it means the watch’s sports credentials are not let down by weak endurance.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium*

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The always-on display also has a noticeable impact, so anyone who likes the screen permanently visible should expect shorter endurance. Even then, it remains far more forgiving than watches that struggle to get through two full days.

Tech specs

Health & fitness tracking

Health and fitness tracking is very much in line with what you get on Zepp Health’s recent watches. There is nothing radically different here.

As mentioned, the Active 3 Premium uses the same latest-generation sensor setup as the company’s newer devices. So you are getting the full suite of metrics you would expect, including heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, stress and recovery-focused insights. Nothing important missing here.

Performance is broadly where you would expect it to be as well. Accuracy in day-to-day health tracking feels solid, particularly for continuous heart rate, sleep trends and general wellness data. If you have used other recent Amazfit watches, the experience here will feel very familiar.

What’s worth a special mention is the smartphone side of the experience. Zepp Health has been steadily improving the app over the past year or so, and it now does a much better job of presenting data in a way that is useful.

A good recent example is the rollout of the updated BioCharge tools on the Amazfit Balance 2, which will almost certainly make their way to other Amazfit watches soon. Alongside Life Log, which lets you manually add things like stress, alcohol intake, travel and illness, the update also introduces boundary alerts during workouts and a new Self-check feature designed to flag unusual trends in your recovery data. 

That is the bigger point here. Zepp Health is not just tweaking the visuals of the app, it is actively improving the way the data is interpreted and presented, which makes the whole ecosystem feel more mature.

Sports tracking

Sports tracking is also very much in line with what Zepp Health has been doing on its recent watches, and that is a good thing. The Active 3 Premium gets the same broad workout tracking platform, so if you have used the Balance 2, T-Rex 3 or Active Max, the experience here will feel very familiar.

For running, most of the advanced metrics are here. I did several runs and the watch performed well. Here’s an example of my most recent run as compared to a Garmin Forerunner.

Distance tracking was almost identical. The Amazfit recorded 5.50 km, while the Garmin came in at 5.52 km. A 20 metre difference over a run of this length is negligible in real-world terms and well within what you would expect even between two high-quality devices.

Pace data also lined up extremely well. The Amazfit reported an average pace of 5:58/km, while Garmin showed 5:56/km. That two-second gap is about as close as you could realistically hope for, and it suggests both GPS tracking and pace calculation are working very well on the Zepp Health watch.

Heart rate was virtually spot on. Both watches returned the same average of 135 bpm, while maximum heart rate was 155 bpm on the Amazfit versus 154 bpm on the Garmin. That is an excellent result and suggests the optical sensor is doing a very solid job, at least for this type of steady run. It helps that the watch is very light – so does not move much on the wrist while you are exercising.

The same applies to running dynamics. Cadence was 173 spm on the Amazfit and 172 spm on the Garmin. Stride length was effectively identical at 97 cm on both. Ground contact time was 260 ms versus 265 ms, which is again very close. The only noticeable difference was vertical oscillation, where the Amazfit came in at 9.1 cm compared with Garmin’s 8.3 cm. That is still in the same ballpark, but it is one area where the numbers are not perfectly aligned.

Power tracking was also close enough to inspire confidence. The Amazfit averaged 298 W, while Garmin showed 311 W. A 13-watt difference is not huge and could easily come down to how each brand calculates wrist-based running power.

Plus Zepp Health has recently added a lactate Tthreshold figure. That is also in line with my Garmin, at 155 bpm only 1 bpm difference.

Beyond running, the usual wide range of sports profiles is present, covering cycling, swimming, walking, gym sessions and the other activity modes you would expect from a recent Zepp Health device.

Offline maps and route navigation are also included, which remains one of the stronger parts of Zepp Health’s sports offering. At this price, having mapping on the wrist is still a real advantage, particularly for outdoor runs and hikes.

The main takeaway here is that Zepp Health has not stripped anything back for this model. It gets the same strong sports feature set as the company’s other recent watches, just in a smaller and more premium-feeling package.

Smartwatch features

On the smartwatch side, the Active 3 Premium covers all the essentials you would expect from a modern Amazfit device. Notifications come through reliably, calls can be taken directly from the wrist thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker, and there is support for voice assistant functionality as well.

Music controls are present and work well, which is handy for day-to-day use as well as during workouts. More importantly, the watch also offers 4GB of onboard storage for offline maps and audio, so you can load music or podcasts directly onto the device and head out without your phone.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium*

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You also get the usual collection of alarms, timers, calendar reminders, weather and other everyday tools that most users will rely on. And as with other recent Amazfit watches, there is a decent selection of apps and watch faces available through the Zepp Health ecosystem. It is not trying to compete with the depth of Apple’s App Store or Wear OS, but for most people the core functionality is all here.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

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The filing has gone unnoticed and we just spotted it today. But it was published on February 19th.

Its wording is unusually specific. And importantly, this kind of tracking would require dedicated sensors capable of measuring muscle oxygen levels. That suggests Garmin may be preparing new hardware alongside the software feature.

Muscle oxygen, or SmO2, is still a fairly niche metric in wearables. Right now it is mostly tracked by specialist sports sensors like the Moxy Monitor, rather than mainstream smartwatches, so if Garmin brings it to a consumer device it would be a pretty interesting move.

A natural extension of Body Battery

The name Muscle Battery feels instantly familiar. Garmin users already know Body Battery as one of the platform’s best-known features, giving an easy-to-understand view of overall energy levels based on stress, sleep and recovery signals.

Rather than looking at full-body readiness, Muscle Battery is more targeted. In practical terms, it could help runners, cyclists and strength athletes understand how well specific muscle groups are recovering after hard sessions.

That would make it especially useful for interval work, long runs, leg-heavy gym sessions or back-to-back training days. This is where muscular fatigue often outlasts general cardiovascular recovery.

Here’s how it’s described in the filing.

A feature of computer software that captures, processes, and analyzes muscle oxygen saturation or related sports performance metrics using special algorithms; feature of operating software with muscle oxygen saturation or related biometrics measurement algorithm for personal electronic devices; electronic software algorithm for the purpose of capturing, processing, and analyzing muscle oxygen saturation or related sports performance metrics; algorithm feature sold as an integral component of personal electronic devices, namely wearable fitness trackers, smartwatches, and health monitoring devices.

Could this tie into CIRQA?

Most likely, Garmin plans to introduce a new sensor capable of measuring muscle oxygen directly. Given the CIRQA trademark filing, and the growing signs that Garmin is exploring more recovery-focused wearables, the timing feels particularly notable.

The filing date stands out because it comes just six days before Garmin’s CIRQA trademark application. That may be coincidence, but it also raises another possibility. A screenless recovery band paired with a new muscle-focused readiness metric would generate lots of interest.

That becomes even more interesting in light of a recent Whoop patent that points to a future wearable capable of measuring muscle oxygenation. If Garmin gets there first, CIRQA could end up offering something beyond what the current generation of the Whoop provides.

For now, this remains a trademark filing rather than a confirmed product feature. Still, the specificity of the wording makes this one worth watching closely, as it may offer an early look at where Garmin’s performance tracking is heading next.

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

Source: USPTO

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A second sighting makes this look far more deliberate

When the watch first appeared in the Grant Fisher training clip last month, it was easy to see it as an early teaser or even an accidental reveal. That is much harder to argue now.

The same unreleased device now appears to have been shown again in official athlete footage, this time during a real race setting. Amanal Petros, who recently broke the German record at the Berlin Half Marathon, can be seen wearing a large round smartwatch that closely matches the device from the earlier clip.

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That second appearance changes the tone of the story. Two separate athlete videos strongly suggest this is part of a planned pre-launch tease rather than a one-off glimpse. It feels increasingly likely that Zepp Health wants the device seen ahead of an official announcement.

More of the design is now visible

This latest footage also gives us another look at the hardware.

The watch appears to feature a round case with a relatively large display, a metal body and a black silicone sports strap. One of the more interesting visual details is the button design. Unlike the buttons on the recently launched Active 3 Premium, this watch seems to use larger buttons with the same 4 button setup.

That detail helps distinguish it from other recent Amazfit models and points toward a more premium running-focused design. It also lines up with the look of the original Cheetah Pro, while still suggesting Zepp Health has refined the chassis.

From what we can see so far, the design seems aimed at runners who want a lightweight sports watch without giving up a premium finish. In fact, we previously compiled a mockup based on all the images seen so far. This is what the device is likely to look like.

What this could mean for launch timing

The specifications still remain under wraps, but the name “Cheetah 2” had already surfaced earlier this year in app code, which was the first strong clue that a successor was on the way. Now that the device has appeared in two athlete-focused videos, the case for an imminent launch looks stronger.

Not just that. But there have also been two recent regulatory filings of yet to be released Amazfit watches. One goes under the number A2441, the other model under the number A2564. Most likely, one of these two is the Cheetah 2 Pro. The other one might be Falcon 2. Zepp Health has clearly already secured regulatory approvals for two new devices.

Brands tend to place unreleased wearables on sponsored athletes once the final design is largely locked in. While that remains informed speculation, the pattern now looks increasingly clear. The Cheetah 2 Pro seems to be moving from rumour stage into late pre-launch visibility.

Sources: Instagram via Frandroid

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The update appears to be the next step in Zepp Health’s steady expansion of BioCharge. Over the past few months, the company has been building this into one of the watch’s key software features, and this latest release pushes it further into daily health and recovery use.

BioCharge gets more context

The biggest addition here is something called BioCharge Life Log. This looks to be a manual logging feature that lets users record real-world events that may affect recovery and energy levels through the day, including stress, alcohol intake, travel and illness.

That added context should make BioCharge easier to interpret. If your score suddenly drops after a long-haul flight, poor sleep or a particularly stressful work day, the watch and Zepp Health app can now help explain why rather than simply showing a lower readiness value.

The update also introduces a BioCharge boundary alert, which appears to notify users when they are approaching or reaching their daily BioCharge limit during workouts. In practical terms, that acts as a soft warning that strain may be starting to outweigh recovery.

Self-check adds a more proactive layer

While Life Log is based on manually recorded events, Self-check appears to work from the watch’s own physiological data. According to the update notes, it is designed to identify unusual trends and help flag potential health risks earlier.

That suggests the system is monitoring deviations from your personal baseline rather than relying on fixed thresholds. A sustained drop in HRV, elevated resting heart rate, poorer sleep metrics or prolonged stress signals could all feed into this.

This gives BioCharge a more proactive role. Instead of simply helping explain why your score has changed, the watch may now be able to alert you when something in your recovery profile looks out of the ordinary. Those alerts are also expected to sync with the Zepp Health app homepage, making them easier to spot at a glance.

Alongside the new BioCharge tools, Zepp Health says it has further refined the underlying algorithm to cover more scenarios and improve the accuracy of energy use and recovery estimates. That is arguably just as important as the visible additions.

Rollout should begin soon

While this update is rolling out first to the Balance 2, these BioCharge additions will likely make their way to most recent Amazfit watches. Features like Life Log, boundary alerts and Self-check feel like software-level tools rather than something tied to specific hardware.

Zepp Health has followed this approach before, first introducing new features on one device before expanding them across the wider lineup. This update may simply be the first phase of a broader rollout.

Change-log

New

• Added BioCharge Life Log, supports logging events such as stress, alcohol intake, travel and illness
• Added BioCharge boundary alerts, provides notifications when you approach your daily BioCharge limit during workouts
• Added BioCharge Self-check, designed to detect unusual physiological trends and help identify potential health risks earlier
• Related alerts now sync to the Zepp Health app homepage

Optimisations

• Improved the BioCharge algorithm to cover more scenarios and events
• Improved the accuracy of energy consumption and recovery estimates

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where the music player could not play music
• Fixed issues with the music list refresh and song switching
• Fixed display issues on Zepp Coach training reminder pages
• Fixed other known issues to improve system stability and smoothness

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The USPTO application numbered £99670310 itself is unusually specific. Rather than using broad fitness tracker wording, Garmin describes wearable devices placed on the body that measure physiological data, bio-signals and bodily behaviour, alongside metrics linked to stress recovery, alertness and performance.

Taken together, this points well beyond a conventional fitness band. The language strongly suggests a recovery-first wearable designed for continuous wear, with a focus on sleep, training load and daily readiness, which lines up closely with what earlier leaks had hinted at.

A stronger signal than the original leak

Back in January, we reported that Garmin had briefly exposed a product page reference to a “CIRQA Smart Band” on its own site. That leak pointed to two sizes, multiple colour options and an estimated shipping window that suggested a mid-2026 release.

At the time, the main question was whether this was simply another fitness band or something aimed more directly at the recovery wearable space currently dominated by devices like Whoop. There was speculation about the upcoming device including a screen-less design and deeper recovery analytics.

This latest trademark filing adds more weight to that theory and makes the earlier leak feel far more significant in hindsight. The wording around stress recovery, alertness and performance feels very deliberate, and Garmin could easily have filed something much broader.

Instead, the language closely mirrors how recovery-focused wearables are typically positioned, which strengthens the view that CIRQA may be designed as a dedicated recovery and readiness device rather than a conventional fitness band.

The filing hints at Garmin’s direction

What stands out most is that the application is filed on an intent-to-use basis. In other words, this is not a legacy product name being renewed. It strongly suggests something Garmin intends to bring to market.

The legal description covers electronic sensors and monitors worn on the body, along with devices for storing and transmitting the collected data. That fits with a band-style wearable that relies heavily on app-based insights rather than an onboard display.

If Garmin does take CIRQA in this direction, it could represent a different kind of product from its existing smartwatch and band lineup. This may be designed as a dedicated recovery and readiness device.

That would also make sense strategically. Garmin already has the software foundation in place through Body Battery, HRV Status, sleep analytics and training readiness metrics. CIRQA could simply package those ideas into a more discreet form factor.

Release date

The trademark timeline may also offer a small clue on launch timing, although it is not a direct release indicator. Garmin filed the CIRQA name on February 25 and the application is still listed as awaiting assignment to an examining attorney. But that does not prevent the company from launching the device before the trademark is formally approved.

In practice, brands often release new hardware while the legal process is still moving through the USPTO. When viewed alongside the earlier smart band leak, which pointed to a mid-2026 shipping window, the latest filing still fits with a potential late spring or early summer launch rather than suggesting any delay.

For now, nothing is official beyond the trademark filing, but it does make the earlier leak look far less accidental and much more like an early glimpse of a product already moving through Garmin’s launch pipeline.

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

Source: USPTO

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A sensor designed for different parts of the body

One diagram shows the device placed on the upper thigh, while another highlights use across the chest, arm and waist. You may be wondering – why would Whoop want the device worn in different places in the first place? The answer likely comes down to data quality and the type of physiological signal being measured.

Different areas of the body offer very different insights. Larger muscle groups such as the quadriceps can provide a clearer view of muscle oxygen use during exercise, which could be particularly useful for running, cycling and strength work. By contrast, areas such as the chest or torso may offer more stable readings for broader cardiovascular signals and recovery metrics.

This suggests Whoop may be building a system that adapts to the metric. That is a notable shift from the traditional smartwatch approach, where heart rate, recovery and activity tracking are all constrained to a single location whether or not it is the best place to capture the signal.

Muscle oxygen could be the real target

The patent repeatedly points toward combining optical sensing with pressure data to extract deeper physiological signals. One of the most interesting of these is muscle oxygen saturation, which has so far been limited mostly to niche devices and specialist sensors.

Placing a sensor on the thigh or arm makes much more sense for this type of measurement. It allows the device to monitor how muscles are using oxygen during effort, rather than relying purely on heart rate as a proxy for intensity.

If Whoop moves in this direction, it could open the door to new types of training insights. Instead of only tracking strain through cardiovascular response, the system could begin to reflect how hard the muscles themselves are working and how quickly they recover.

Pressure sensing adds another layer

Another important part of the patent is the use of pressure sensing within the strap.

Rather than assuming the device is worn correctly, the system can detect how tightly it is pressed against the skin and adjust its readings accordingly. This has a direct impact on data quality, especially for optical sensors, which are sensitive to both movement and contact consistency.

It also enables more advanced interpretations of the data. Changes in pressure can affect blood flow and tissue response, which can then be used alongside optical signals to refine measurements.

The patent points to more than muscle oxygen

While the muscle oxygen angle is arguably the most eye-catching part of the filing, the patent itself points to a broader set of physiological metrics.

Among the signals referenced are blood oxygen saturation, oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, and total hemoglobin levels. That suggests Whoop may be exploring deeper tissue and blood flow analysis.

The filing also references tissue perfusion and blood flow related signals, which could potentially be used to enhance recovery and strain insights. In practical terms, that could help provide a clearer picture of how blood flow responds during exercise and how quickly the body returns to baseline afterwards.

There is also mention of pulse waveform data and pressure-based vascular measurements, which could support more advanced cardiovascular metrics, including refinements to blood pressure trend estimates. That is particularly notable given Whoop already offers Blood Pressure Insights, suggesting this patent may point to future hardware designed to improve the quality and reliability of those readings.

What this could mean for the next Whoop

Of course, this is not a confirmed product roadmap, so it should be treated as an early signal rather than a direct preview of the next device. What makes this filing particularly interesting is that the patent drawings do not appear to show wrist placement, instead focusing on other parts of the body.

That opens up the possibility that this is not a direct replacement for the standard Whoop. Instead, it may be a separate device designed to work alongside the core wearable, potentially as part of the company’s broader body-based tracking ecosystem.

What gives this filing weight is that, in the past, pretty much all of Whoop’s patents have gone on to appear in real-world products. While that is never a guarantee, it does make this feel more than just a theoretical concept on paper.

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

Source: USPTO

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The big news here is that this is not shaping up to be a China-only release. Oppo has now confirmed a global unveiling for April 21, which immediately makes this a much more relevant launch for international smartwatch buyers.

That is especially interesting because Oppo and OnePlus have a track record of sharing hardware across markets. So there is already speculation that this device could eventually surface internationally under the OnePlus name, much like previous smaller smartwatch variants.

A smaller design with a more premium look

The design is clearly one of the main talking points.

Oppo seems to be positioning the Watch X3 Mini as a more fashion-led smartwatch rather than simply a reduced-size version of the standard model. The use of sapphire crystal glass and a stainless steel body gives it a more premium feel straight away, while one of the finishes adds gold-plated detailing for an even more polished look.

Based on the teaser images, the watch keeps a circular display but trims down the overall footprint. That should make it a better fit for smaller wrists and for users who found larger smartwatches too bulky for everyday wear.

Health features go beyond the basics

The health tracking side is also worth paying attention to. Alongside the expected heart rate, sleep, stress and blood oxygen tracking, Oppo is highlighting hypertension risk detection as one of the standout features.

It is important to be precise here because this is not direct blood pressure measurement. From what has been shared so far, the watch appears to estimate elevated blood pressure risk using trends in optical sensor data rather than delivering an actual cuff-style reading.

Still, it gives Oppo a stronger health-led message for the launch and lines up with where the wider smartwatch market is heading. Skin temperature monitoring and menstrual cycle insights are also expected to be part of the package, so this looks like a fairly complete health suite.

A full smartwatch in a smaller body

The “Mini” name does not appear to mean reduced functionality. Quite the contrary.

Oppo is expected to keep the full smartwatch experience intact, including wrist calling, remote camera control and support for a large app ecosystem. Battery life is said to reach around two and a half days in standard use, extending to as much as seven days in power saving mode.

Overall, this looks less like a cut-down model and more like a smaller premium alternative to the main Watch X3. With the April 21 global launch now confirmed, this is one launch worth keeping an eye on, especially if it later makes its way into international markets under the OnePlus brand.

Source: Oppo

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To use it, open a completed activity, tap the share button and choose from the available layouts. From there, the finished image is ready to post wherever you want, whether that is social media, messaging apps or elsewhere.

A cleaner way to share your workouts

The update is aimed at users who like posting their sessions online without needing third-party editing tools. Garmin has clearly leaned into social-friendly formats here, with the three aspect ratios covering the most common use cases.

The 1×1 layout works well for standard social posts and feeds. The 4×5 format is more suited for portrait-style feed posts where you want the image to take up more screen space. Then there is the 9×16 option, which is ideal for Stories, Reels and other vertical formats.

What stands out is the transparent design itself. Rather than placing the route map and workout figures inside opaque boxes, Garmin lets the image remain front and centre. The data sits more naturally on top of the photo, which gives the final result a much cleaner and more modern look.

As shown in these examples, the app overlays average heart rate, distance and average pace alongside a route outline. It makes the share card feel much less like a screenshot and more like something intentionally designed for posting.

A subtle shift

What makes this interesting is less the feature itself and more what it says about where Garmin Connect is heading. The app has long been centred on data analysis, training load and post-workout insights, but updates like this suggest Garmin is also paying more attention to presentation.

This is not an entirely new idea in the fitness app space. Strava and several third-party tools have offered activity share cards with route and stat overlays for some time, so Garmin is not breaking new ground here. What it is doing is bringing a cleaner, more polished version of that experience directly into Connect.

For many users, the workout no longer ends when the run or ride is over. Sharing progress, routes and milestone sessions has become part of the wider fitness experience, whether that is with friends, training groups or a broader online audience.

That is why this update feels relevant even if it is a relatively small addition. Garmin is making sure shared workouts look just as polished outside the app as the data looks inside it.

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