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Garmin’s Q2 2026 software update is smaller than its February release, but it still adds several useful features across newer watches and Edge cycling computers, including expanded golf tools, Recovery Mode, Health Status History, Instinct 3 additions, and more on-device Edge gear controls.
One of the more interesting parts of this update is Garmin’s continued push to bring premium golf tools to more non-Approach watches.
The Venu 4, vivoactive 6, and D2 Air X15 now get access to Premium Golf Features through a Garmin Golf Membership. That appears to include higher-end golf functionality like full-color course maps, though Garmin is keeping it tied to the subscription. The full list of watches shown with Premium Golf Features includes the Venu X1, Venu 4, vivoactive 6, D2 Air X15, fēnix 8, fēnix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, tactix 8, quatix 8, quatix 8 Pro, D2 Mach 2, D2 Mach 2 Pro, and fēnix E.
Oddly, the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 are not listed for Premium Golf Features, even through a Golf Membership.
The Forerunners will however get Approach CT1 tag compatibility. Approach CT1 tags are Garmin’s club-tracking sensors. They allow golfers to track which club they used for each shot and build stats over time, including how far they typically hit a specific club.
The watches now listed with Approach CT1 compatibility include the Venu X1, Venu 4, vivoactive 6, D2 Air X15, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, fēnix 8, fēnix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, tactix 8, quatix 8, quatix 8 Pro, D2 Mach 2, and D2 Mach 2 Pro.
Garmin is also adding Recovery Mode across most of its current higher-end smartwatch lineup. According to Garmin’s support page, Recovery Mode is designed to help the watch recover after a failed software update or when the device is otherwise having trouble starting properly. In other words, it gives users another troubleshooting path before needing a more disruptive reset.
The watches listed with Recovery Mode include the Venu X1, Venu 4, vivoactive 6, D2 Air X15, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, fēnix 8, fēnix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, tactix 8, quatix 8, quatix 8 Pro, D2 Mach 2, D2 Mach 2 Pro, and fēnix E. Notably, the Instinct 3 is not listed for Recovery Mode.
Garmin is also adding Health Status History to many of the same watches. This lets users view their Health Status over time instead of only seeing the current status snapshot.
The watches listed with Health Status History include the Venu X1, Venu 4, vivoactive 6, D2 Air X15, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, fēnix 8, fēnix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, tactix 8, quatix 8, quatix 8 Pro, D2 Mach 2, D2 Mach 2 Pro, and fēnix E. Again, the Instinct 3 is not listed for this feature.
The Instinct 3 does get several new features in this release, though most of them are already present on Garmin’s other current watch platforms.
The additions include Workout Execution Score, which scores how closely you followed a planned workout, Stocks Tracker, for viewing stock information from the watch, Mobility Activity, a dedicated activity profile for mobility work, and Post-Activity Dive Guidance, which provides guidance after dive-related activities.
The Instinct Crossover AMOLED also receives Workout Execution Score, Stocks Tracker, and Mobility Activity, while the Instinct E receives Stocks Tracker and Mobility Activity.
Garmin’s Edge cycling computers also receive a couple of practical updates. The first is expanded on-device gear management. Riders can now add, change, and remove gear directly from the Edge device, rather than managing everything only through Garmin Connect. This applies to compatible gear and gear collections, making it easier to track usage for bike setups, drivetrain components, wheels, tires, and other equipment.
Garmin is also adding compatibility with eBikes using the Bosch smart system. With a compatible eBike, supported Edge computers can show battery status, smart range routing, power, and cadence data.
The Edge devices listed for these updates include the Edge MTB, Edge 540, Edge 840, Edge 1040, Edge 550, Edge 850, and Edge 1050.
Garmin’s June 2026 update is a narrower release than the February update, but it still fills in several useful gaps. Garmin continues to only introduce new software to its latest generation of products.
Is this the first time a feature that exists on other devices without a subscription gets added when you have a subscription? Be interesting if this expands in the future. i.e. fenix 9 comes with feature x built in but a lower end device which doesn’t have it will get the feature if you pay for a subscription.
Maybe also use it to keep adding features to older generations? For example when the fenix 8 came out the fenix 7 didn’t really get the new features. With all watches sharing a common base OS now maybe when the fenix 9 comes out some features will come to the fenix 8 generation with a subscription?
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