Garmin Boosts Smartwatch Precision with New 5Hz GNSS Data for Enhanced Athlete Tracking
June 14, 2025
This upgrade is particularly beneficial for athletes involved in variable speed activities or those navigating winding paths, as they could gain substantial advantages from the increased recording frequency.
Garmin is set to enhance its smartwatch capabilities by introducing a new 5Hz GNSS data recording frequency, which will significantly improve data accuracy.
Downhill mountain bikers, who require precise tracking due to their high-speed movements, are expected to benefit the most from this enhancement.
The new recording frequency may also provide more accurate real-time data, such as current speed and initial acceleration during activities like sprints or interval runs.
However, for endurance athletes running at a constant speed on straight paths, the advantages of this upgrade might be minimal.
It's important to note that despite these improvements, the effectiveness of the GNSS module can still be compromised in areas with dense tree coverage, which may affect location accuracy.
While the specific Garmin models that will support this feature have yet to be confirmed, speculation suggests it may be available on the Fenix 8 and other models utilizing a Synaptics GNSS module.
Currently, Garmin smartwatches record GNSS locations once per second, making this upgrade a significant leap in tracking capabilities.
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Notebookcheck • Jun 14, 2025
Fenix 8 and other Garmin smartwatches could become more accurate thanks to 5Hz data recording