Garmin launched its first screenless wearable, the $200 Garmin Cirqa, in July and now it appears to be prepping a new version of its flagship smartwatch. Based on an FCC filing spotted by Notebookcheck, the company is testing a device with the same support for satellite and cellular connectivity as its Fenix watches, which could suggest one or multiple versions of the Fenix 9 are on the way.
The filing omits the actual name of the device Garmin is testing, instead referring to it by “A05170,” but it does describe it as “a portable wrist-worn device” that features interchangeable bands and can “operate in speaker mode for voice communication” when the device is “positioned next to the mouth.” Those features, combined with the device’s support for LTE and satellite communication, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth Low Energy, all point to it being a version of one of Garmin’s premium smartwatches.
References to two similar Garmin devices were also spotted by the5Krunner in the online database of Indonesia’s telecommunications regulator, the Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure (DJID). The AMOLED and MIP Solar (a solar-powered display panel) versions of the Fenix 8 appeared in the same database ahead of their launch, the5Krunner writes, which could mean Garmin is prepping similar Fenix 9 variants for a launch before the end of the year.
Garmin itself hasn’t announced anything official about a Fenix follow-up beyond teasing in February 2026 that it has “a significant number of new product introductions” to make this year. The timing would line up, though. The company releases a new Fenix model every two to 2.5 years, and the Garmin Fenix 8 debuted in 2024. Garmin typically doesn’t release all versions of its new smartwatch at once, but rumors from early August have suggested that could change. Garmin Rumors claims that the company will release three versions of the Fenix 9 at the same time: an entry-level model, a Pro model, and a Pro InReach model with satellite and cellular connectivity.
Wherever Garmin lands, the Fenix 9 will likely be expensive. The Garmin Fenix 8 started at $1,000, and the new features introduced on the Fenix 9, whether it’s a more durable design or new software features, likely won’t arrive without a price increase.
