Now a regular feature, here’s the round-up of recommendations so everything is in one place, and so we have a nice record of speculations updated for February 2017…
OK, so I dropped the ball in January with this one, and February is late. I’m sorry! To be fair, with all the CES kerfuffle it was worth skipping one anyway, and now we’ve had to rethink what’s on the way and when.
In alphabetical order of manufacturer.
| Manufacturer | Device | Current Speculation |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin | Fenix | Don’t buy – this is very old |
| Garmin | Fenix 2 | Don’t buy – Fenix 3 is now cheap and Fenix 4 is due imminently |
| Garmin | Fenix 3 Fenix 3 HR, Quatix 3, D2 Bravo, Tactix Bravo | This has finally been superceded. Don’t panic though, the Fenix 5 adds very little, so if the Fenix 3 is cheap it’s a great watch to buy. Updates will stop within the next year though, but there isn’t a lot they need to add to this stable and mature watch. |
| Garmin | Fenix 5 | Brand new, although pricey. This looks to be the Fenix 3 firmware so the usual “don’t buy Garmin until 6 months in” shouldn’t apply in theory! |
| Garmin | Fenix Chronos | Brand New, buy if you wear solid gold underpants. This has been replaced by a Fenix 5 so it’s not without risk, especially given the cost. Garmin have confused the market here and nobody knows the future of the Chronos. In theory it’s a 5 underneath so safe, but I wouldn’t put my money on it at that price. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 910XT | Don’t buy – this is very old |
| Garmin | Forerunner 920XT | Replacement imminent but this is a very capable and mature device |
| Garmin | Forerunner 930XT/935XT | Imminent. Yes, still imminent despite CES coming and going! |
| Garmin | Forerunner 25 | This has been out a while but nothing obvious seems planned in the near future. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 35 | Buy – this is still fairly new |
| Garmin | Forerunner 230 | Buy – this is still fairly new |
| Garmin | Forerunner 225 | Don’t buy. Garmin immediately replaced this with the 235 using their own sensor. |
| Garmin | Forerunner 235 | Buy – this is still fairly new |
| Garmin | Forerunner 630 | Buy – this is still fairly new |
| Garmin | Forerunner 735XT | Buy – this is brand new and seems to be running Fenix code so hopefully isn’t buggy |
| Garmin | Epix | Buy if you really, really need it – this probably won’t be updated until winter. It does appear abandoned by Garmin though with no new firmware for a very long time |
| Garmin | Epix 2 | Probably abandoned, the Epix has had no firmware updates for a very long time. Expect maps in the Fenix 4 instead |
| Garmin | Edge 510 | Don’t buy, this is very old |
| Garmin | Edge 520 | Buy, this is very new |
| Garmin | Edge 810 | Buy if very cheap, but it will feel dated fairly soon compared to the new lineup |
| Garmin | Edge 820 | Buy, just released |
| Garmin | Edge 1000 | Buy if you get a good deal, this is overdue for replacement |
| Garmin | Edge 1010 | Coming soon…Sea Otter? I don’t even know any more. It’ll have to be this year though. |
| Polar | v800 | Wait – update is probably imminent |
| Polar | v800.next | Overdue, expected announcement at…who knows! H7i Sensor has been leaked which is likely to be packaged with this watch |
| Polar | M200 | Buy, this is just released |
| Polar | m400 | Wait – update is probably imminent |
| Polar | m400.next | Possibly replaced by M600 so may not be updated. This also may be replaced by an M200 to differentiate with M600 |
| Polar | M600 | Buy, this is brand new |
| Suunto | Ambit 2 | Don’t buy unless you need Ant+ |
| Suunto | Ambit 3 | Replaced by Spartan Ultra – buy if you get a good deal and are not bothered by being a generation behind |
| Suunto | Ambit 4 | Officially not going to happen, Spartan Series has replaced Ambit |
| Suunto | Spartan Ultra | Buy, just released. Be aware there may be more models coming |
| Suunto | Spartan Sport | Buy, just released. Be aware there may be more models coming |
| Suunto | Spartan Trainer | Announcing shortly, just leaked. Be aware there may be more models coming |
| Suunto | Kailash | Buy if you can work out what it’s for or who it’s aimed at |
| Suunto | Traverse | Why Suunto, WHY!? |
v800.next h7i nooo, h10!!
What about the Polar Cycle GPS (V650) ? Is it due to replacement ?
Polar have confirmed that an upgrade to V800 is coming but that’s it.
@Zoja Where have you read this? Could you please provide a link? Thanks 🙂
Source? When did you hear that? Any ETA?
No ETA.
Found it in this post: https://www.facebook.com/PolarGlobal/posts/10154573161919915
Why is the Edge 520 “new” was released in 2015 no?
Well spotted, sometimes I miss an update to a box 🙂
What about vivoactive hr?
This year there should be coming:
Edge 1010
Forerunner 935
Vivofit 4
Vivosmart 3
Quatix 5
Approach S60
Dash Cam 45
Information form 2017 dummy list:
https://mega.nz/#!jZd0RAwQ!3-mqORa9PRN1EZil2x5w3BtEYJyU6m78htZV5xR974Q
Thanks for the update.
For the other readers the link is part of the Merchandising list and specially the Merchandising Dummy unit list (M08-xxxxx).
It allows the shop to buy dummy units of products which are released (or a about to be released)
We have seen the 935 with the New Running Dynamics Pod (also in the list).
Nice to see The Quatix will be the first Fenix 5 variant.
No mentions about 635
635 might be just 935 with less functions.
So there is no reason to make a 635 dummy unit.
That’s what i first thought but at the moment the FR935 order/”buy me now” links are “semi” live. This also true for the Pod and the Approach plus some not in your list. The FR635 looks a little different at the moment.
Also for the FR235 every colored version could be bought, so there should be no reason to do the same for the FR635 in my eyes.
I noticed on Evans Cycles that the Edge 1000 was marked as “clearance”. Here is their reply when asked if its being discontinued.
“Nothing has been confirmed yet on a new Edge model however we have dropped our prices in line with Garmin’s UK supplier. Whilst being in clearance, it isn’t yet discontinued so this could be a great time to pick up an Edge 1000.”
Please consider listing the vivoactive; it’s one of Garmin’s most recommended watches these days and the vivoactive HR is one of the few that support all the latest connectiq sdks.
Also, for your march update, you may want to go through this and replace all those references to the (never-made due to Chinese number superstitions) Fenix 4.
there was never a windows 4 was there?
not sure there will be a new vivoactive this year.
Yes, Windows NT 4 was one of the most widely used operating systems of the 90s!
i too request that the Vivoactive HR be included on this list. As the “budget Fenix”, it fills a very unique position in Garmin’s lineup. It’s arguably more capable than the Forerumner line due to its sensors (compass, barometer) and mapping functions.
I have just definitively proved to myself how old I am. yes I had nt4 on an old Tosh. Super sigh! (directed at self)
I wish they release a GPSMAP 66
March roundup? 🙂