ⓘ Garmin
The new Garmin Fenix 9 Pro ($1,149 at Amazon) doesn’t always record reliable GPS data. According to a developer on the Garmin Community Forum this issue only affects third-party applications, not Garmin software. The smartwatch disables the GPS module after just 14 seconds in about half of the sessions started.
As a result, users who use third-party apps for navigation and workouts often cannot access GPS data without restarting the app in question, sometimes multiple times. This, in turn, leads to numerous negative reviews of these apps in the Garmin Connect IQ Store – so it’s no surprise that developers are frustrated with Garmin. According to this developer, the GPS bug on the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro is just the latest example in a long list of software issues, ranging from lack of access to the Forerunner 170’s gyroscope to incorrect timestamps for sensor readings.
Even when app developers receive dozens of customer complaints, identify the cause of the problem, and report it to Garmin, it sometimes takes months for the bug in question to be fixed. Ultimately, however, developers aren’t the only ones struggling with the quality of Garmin software; Firmware bugs are also commonplace, such as the faulty ambient light sensor on the Garmin Fenix 8, which has been plaguing users for a month. Shortly after the launch of the Fenix 9 (Pro), over 100 bugs had already been reported.
Since 2009 I have been writing for various publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this space. Furthermore, my background in design as an art director at an advertising agency has allowed me to have a deeper insight into the peculiarities of this sector.
