Garmin’s first Forerunner 965 update is a laundry list of bug fixes
Garmin Forerunner 965 just got a big update
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TheGarminForerunner 965 has received its first big update, and it reads like a laundry list of pre-existing bug fixes rather than adding any new features.
The update, dubbed Beta version 4.12, is currently in its beta stage. Beta version 4.12 is currently only available to Garmin beta testers, but is expected to be rolled out to allGarmin Forerunner 965devices worldwide soon.
The AMOLED-packing timepiece will receive almost thirty fixes. The biggest new feature is that support had been added for new watch faces downloaded through Garmin’s Connect IQ, but UI fixes to cycling, strength training, and golf modes are all included in the update. Bugs that cause inaccurate sunrise/sunset times, flawed navigation to previously saved locations, and turning on Incident Detection, have all been allegedly fixed.
It’s not uncommon for devices to be patched after launch, and thebest Garmin watchestypically receive regular updates to add new features and solve issues raised by the community. However, the extensive list here does make us wonder if some of these could have been fixed before the Forerunner launched last month.
You can check out the list in full below, first brought to our attention by a post onNotebookCheck:
There’s currently no word on updates to its smaller sibling, theGarmin Forerunner 265.
Analysis: Early Forerunner fixes
Does the new update make the Forerunner 965 worth buying? Our biggest problem is that it’s very similar to last year’sGarmin Forerunner 955, with the big differentiator being that gorgeous and vibrant AMOLED display. It’s bright, easy to read in all lighting conditions, has a sharper 454 x 454 px resolution, and it’s a slither larger at 1.4 inches (the 955 is a 1.3-inch display).
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There are other improvements, too, but they’re a little less obvious. For example, the bezel is now made of Titanium, and the whole watch is a little thinner, but the price has jumped from $499 to $599. The latest batch of bug fixes makes the watch run a little smoother, and it’s nice to be able to pick and choose from a new selection of watch faces. But it’s not adding any major new features, such asa firmware update to the Fenix 7 last year bringing the Training Readiness score feature to the older watch.
Is it worth it? It really depends on what you’re looking for, since the Garmin Forerunner 955 is still such an excellent running watch. We even called the Solar version “the best Forerunner yet”, just a few months ago.
That means that this improved version is naturally even better, but for the price, there’s sure to be a bargain to be had on the previous model.
The elephant in the room is theApple Watch Ultra, which is one of thebest running watchesavailable right now if your budget allows and you’re an iOS user. It offers watchOS which has its own benefits like an onboard app store, but it has less battery life than the Garmin, lacks fitness features like recovery time and training load, and is considerably more expensive.
Lloyd Coombes is a freelance tech and fitness writer for TechRadar. He’s an expert in all things Apple as well as Computer and Gaming tech, with previous works published on TopTenReviews, Space.com, and Live Science. You’ll find him regularly testing the latest MacBook or iPhone, but he spends most of his time writing about video games atDexerto.
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