Sports Watch & Bike Computer Update – November 2022

V2.403 – 14 Nov 2022

This frequently refreshed & super-detailed post shows which GPS Run, Bike and Triathlon sports devices are rumoured to be pending release, available NOW, discontinued or which are due to be superseded.

Elsewhere on the site, there are LOTS of detailed hands-on reviews on virtually all of the key run/tri watches and bike computers that you can BUY NOW.

If you are here for the first time and interested in ‘future sports devices & feature sports tech developments‘ then this entire post and another discussing the future of individual features (also linked at the end) will be of interest. Note that most info here is based on high-quality leaks, dual-sourced rumours and the extrapolation of past product release cycles, wider technological changes & their availability. Almost all of these new product ‘predictions’ will happen but the precise timing will differ.

Recent Highlights and the INBOUND Queue

2022 has been great and there is more to come. Fenix 7, Epix 2 and the Forerunner 955 have sold like hotcakes and we’ve already had new Polar and Suunto sports watches and new Stages cycling computers. There is still some sports watch excitement to come later in 2022 but Garmin has finished most of their launches – as usual, after the summer it’s the smartwatches we can look forward to.

Key Trend: Most manufacturers release a new model that genuinely often has significantly improved hardware bits inside and out. Maybe the features haven’t changed too much sometimes but the watch or bike computer genuinely has. So try not to give the makers too much of a hard time as you may often find separate releases of key features that either weren’t quite ready or simply a separate PR buzz was planned for them to occur later. Apple, Garmin and many more all do this.

 

The full table of everything, past & future is towards the end of this post.

Here are headlines from recent months and likely headlines for the months to come:

• LEAKED: Garmin Forerunner 265 AMOLED (a 965 is also equivalent also highly likely)
• EXPECTED: Edge 540 and 840 are now likely for 2023
• IMMINENT 2022: Moto Watch 200 and 200s
• LAUNCHED: Polar Ignite 3
• LAUNCHED: Coros Apex Pro Gen 2
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Instinct Crossover
• LAUNCHED: Oppo Watch 3  Pro
• LAUNCHED: Suunto 9 Peak Pro
• LAUNCHED: Wahoo ROAM 2
• LAUNCHED: Google Pixel Watch
• LAUNCHED: Garmin MARQ 2
• LAUNCHED: Apple Watch 8, SE (2022) & ULTRA
• LAUNCHED: Venu SQ 2 Sep 2022 (Music, maybe LTE option too)
• LAUNCHED: Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 with LTE options (Inspire 3 as well)
• LAUNCHED: Samsung Watch5
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Enduro 2
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Explore 2 and Explore 2 Power Bundle
• LAUNCHED: Forerunner 255 & 255s plus music options. Expected Wed 1st June 2022
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Forerunner 955 and 955 Solar
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Epix (Fenix 7X with lights!)
• LAUNCHED: Fenix 7 series (January 18, 2022)
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Tactix 7 (Tactical, soldier)
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Quatix 7 (Water, yachts)
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Instinct 2 and 2s
• LAUNCHED Garmin D2 Air X10
• LAUNCHED: Garmin D2 Mach 1
• LAUNCHED: Tag Heuer Calibre E4
• LAUNCHED: Skagen Falster Gen 6 (Fossil, Wear OS)
• LAUNCHED: Polar Pacer and Pacer Pro
• LAUNCHED: Suunto 5 Peak
• LAUNCHED: Stages Cycling M200 and L200 next-gen bike computers
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Venu 2 Plus
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Varia RTL715
• LAUNCHED: Garmin Edge 1040 with solar option

 

 

Monthly Commentary

Q1/Q2.2022 was a nice start to the year as we saw lots from Garmin, Pacer Pro from Polar and the 5 Peak from Suunto not to mention Stages M200/L200 cycling computers that I’m enjoying very much. Coros officially said something was coming from them but for later in the year. So as of NOW it’s really more Garmin products that we are waiting on with the mish-mash of wellness/smart products much more likely to hit later in the year with the run-up to Christmas.

We are currently seeing every Garmin CIQ 5-capable device getting that update

Personally speaking, I’ll be excited to see the next generation of Garmin MARQ althought I won’t be paying for that premium shell.

Edge 1040 Solar and 1040 were also interesting additions but not too exciting on the new features front.

Apart from that, I have no intel on Wahoo but am looking forward to ANYTHING new from them. Be that a revamped RIVAL or new ELEMNT bike computer. Logic would say that a next-gen ROAM is next (no intel) but I can’t see RIVAL being superseded this year with another tri-watch, maybe something else?

 

Garmin Running & Triathlon Tech for 2022

If you analyse previous release cycles, a LOT of Garmin products were due for a refresh in 2021. Covid got in the way and 2022 is when most surfaced. So if it hasn’t been iterated it WILL be…soon. Exceptions being the 265, 965 and Edge 840/540.

The new move for high-end running tech in 2022 will, for sure, be AMOLED. We saw with the Epix2 but there will be more of a material impact as Solar is rolled out to a wider range of products although it will certainly still remain a premium option. LTE remains a mystery; I strongly suspect that it’s not as popular as the industry hoped, especially Garmin. Garmin seems only to be able to use LTE for emergency or positional updates to 3rd parties when really the vast majority of the market wants it for making calls and streaming music…Garmins can’t do that (yet).

As predicted, the Forerunner 955 is now with us.

For all new higher-end iterations from Garmin in 2022 expect to eventually see LTE as an option, perhaps eventually in the high-end bike computer formats.

Garmin has just about refreshed all their accessories to include BLE and ANT+ support. The most glaring omission is the footpod and that appears unlikely, especially now that Garmin has finally made running gpower proprietary.

Garmin’s approach to the smart tech and wellness tech aspect of the market is again at a turning point as 2022 continues. It’s not clear to me how the likes of Vivoactive 4/5 perform in the market. Reasonably well, I’m sure, but I suspect they are becoming less of the money-earners they once were. WearOS 3 and Watch OS9 will cause Garmin ever-increasing problems as more competent competitors emerge and strengthen their positions.

 

Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Coros & Other Sport-focussed GPS Watches

I don’t expect anything excitingly new here in the entirety of 2022 unless either Suunto or Polar goes deeper with Wear OS, which is unlikely in the latter’s case.

Coros iterated the Apex/Apex Pro which is a well-made Venu/Vivoactive competitor but lacking in smarts and trying to compete as a finely made and more sporty version in a crowded part of the market. Just as Garmin might find issues in that space then so might Coros. Still, Coros is MUCH smaller so growth might be easier there for it at present.

Polar has iterated almost all their range except the Unite. That one next but then what? Back to Vantage 3 in 2023?

For Suunto, the next ‘obvious’ new watch is the Suunto 7 gen 2 (Wear OS) which would be the only possibility of a game-changer. Suunto has just iterated Suunto 5 to the 5 Peak. We also saw with Suunto 9 PEAK and 9 PEAK Pro that Suunto is also considering a variety of case/screen sizes as well as new quality case materials to augment their usual approach that lets buyers customise their watch. My bet (no intel) is that Suunto will iterate a larger Suunto 9 with the new tech on the S9Peak and S5Peak and then iterate a larger Suunto 5 in 2023 rather than any new play with Wear OS.

The Wahoo Rival competes against the V2/935/945 as a true sports watch. I could possibly see a refreshed Gen 2 model in late 2022 but far more likely is a continuous improvement in the features of the existing RIVAL and ‘something else’ in Spring 2023.

The sporty-smart-fitness watches then sit as uneasy bedfellows at the low/mid-price points, all trying to differentiate themselves from the out-and-out smartwatches made by the smartphone manufacturers (Samsung, Apple, etc). The main differentiator of these products seems to be their claimed sportiness/healthiness for the price points they occupy. Ultimately an app or two on an Apple Watch will do the same job(s) and therein lies the long-term fate of companies like Polar & Garmin.

Apple’s Watch ULTRA is a decent triathlon-ready watch that also has running dynamics & native running power…yes, really butthe rumoured outdoors competitor to the Fenix was simply a MASSIVE over-exaggeration of the addition of a few mini-navigation and running features.

 

 

2022 once again sees these brands & products at an interesting juncture.

• Polar has thrown the PACER Pro/Vantage M2 refresh dice for 2022. Where next? A move to Wear OS, a revamped web platform? Newer sensors or just a same-old, same-old round of new refreshes? Interestingly the Pacer/Pacer marketing material seems to suggest that Polar admits to itself that it can’t compete in triathlon and that might signal a refocussing on only running – a lack of track mode is a glaring omission.
• Suunto has more scope to refresh its product line further. However, it is smaller than Polar and we must not forget that its Chinese owners will be looking to massively boost the brand’s fortunes in the Far East. So this could be the start of geographic growth for Suunto it’s just that we won’t see much of it in the West. Suunto focuses on the outdoors and yet fails to have maps on their watches albeit compensated by good maps on the partner app – Coros manages maps, why can’t Suunto?
• Coros is likely to iterate rather than release new models. They have a conundrum though, the app needs significant work and, with the exception of the Pace 2, Coros must realise that their company strengths are “quality materials” and “number of sports features” – its products definitely sell well when they get the price right – Pace 2, but less so the rest. If the Apex 2 was $200/£150 cheaper, then it would be a game-changer. At the current price levels, it’s just tickling the toes of the Garmin Venu rather than giving it a stern push.
• Wahoo might not release another watch in the foreseeable future but as a company, they have a huge range of options open for their progress. I last moves were an iterated Kickr’22 and a new Roam Gen 2. The earlier acquisition of Wahoo  RGT and a round of redundancies (source:dcr), so they still have platform integration work to do.
• Smaller companies like Sigma, Mio Labs, Bryton and one or two others may well treat us to more good-value and focussed products in 2022.

From all that, what I personally would class as interesting are a Suunto 7 gen 2 (2022 would fit past product lifecycles but mid-2023 is more likely); a feature-full & revamped Coros data platform (which apparently will happen); and many more Wahoo RIVAL features like an expansion of running power. 

 

Smart Fitness, Wear OS, WatchOS & Similar Smarts

The game is set to be: Apple’s watchOS vs Google/Fitbit/Samsung’s Wear OS vs Domination of low prices by Asian brands. I’ve been saying that for years and have no reason to change my belief. Apple’s annouinced changes to watchOS 9 indicate that to be true.

Proprietary sports platforms like Garmin, Polar, Suunto will still be here in 3 year’s time. But…

I would bet money that this year will bring: high-end Fitbits/Pixel, Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch SE Gen 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch5. Sadly I will get very poor odds on that bet!

The Wear OS bounce has started and will be more obvious by End-Of-Year-2022, as we see the impact of:

• Next generation of Fitbit Versa/Sense on FitOS
• Re-purposed high-end Fitbit devices for Wear OS
• and Google Pixel Watch for Wear OS (a pixel watch was literally left in a coffee store in April so a release before October 2022 is a certainty).
• Accelerated take-up of the new SnapDragon 4100/4100+ processors (eg by Fossil) and next-gen 5xxxx processors are already talked about.
• New strategic movers into Wear OS like Oppo, although at least one Oppo watch will skip Wear OS.
• Samsung has at least partly committed to Wear OS. It’s likely they will go all-in.
• Casio released their first Wear OS watch on G-Shock (Protrek too), there could be a revamped PRO TREK in 2022, though Casio needs to produce something much better than before to do well here.
• Further, Wear OS platform updates which are now accelerating

Interestingly, Samsung appears to have exclusive access to Wear OS 3 on its Galaxy Watch4 models, at least for a while. The future of Wear OS appears to be a Google/Fitbit and Samsung duopoly perhaps with Fossil hanging on in the periphery. That could be a pattern that continues for years – ie Samsung/Google giving themselves exclusive access to the latest version of Wear OS for significant periods.

 

Also interestingly, the image above shows two of 10 new watch faces for the as-yet-unreleased Google Pixel Watch that will run Wear OS 3. Notice the Fitbit logo? Kinda gives a slam dunk to prove that Fitbit will run Wear OS 3, yet there are other concrete rumours to the contrary so let’s wait and see.

Huami (Amazfit/Zepp), Huawei, Realme, Redmi, TicWatch and others will continue in the battle of the budget smartwatches. Several of these have significant sales figures in some Far Eastern markets and some of the products might even be described as increasingly competent. Indeed what we are perhaps seeing right now are the Chinese companies building up significant competencies and sales volumes in their domestic markets before using that strength in other geographic markets. Most of them lack the ability to be cross-sold with a top smartphone from the same brand.

There will be an Apple Watch 8 in Sep 2022, preceded by watchOS 9 in August.

Bike Computers – Hope or Hopeless?

Garmin is clearly dominant in this sector and Wahoo is clearly the main challenger brand. The jury is firmly OUT on the potential longterm impact of SRAM/Hammerhead Karoo 2 but it is ‘one of the great hopes’ with a realistic chance of success

Other than an occasionally misplaced FCC filing, Wahoo is very good at keeping quiet, so don’t expect any leaks…just hope quietly for something exciting. But Wahoo already has a medium-format and large-format performance satnav. Those models cover most of the commercial bases so, other than an iterative model strategy, what gaps are there in the bike computer market for a significant number of profitable sales?

Apple, Google and maybe “China” will eventually clean out the watch markets but Garmin holds a dominant position with bike computers. Many challengers exist to Garmin’s Edge Series but only Wahoo/SRAM-Hammerhead(Android) seem to be coherent challengers and they are lagging behind if the number of features is how you judge bike computers. Will Bolt 3/Roam 2 be able to withstand an onslaught from Edge 540/840? It’s an interesting market position to debate as Garmin Edge will NOT pull further ahead either in terms of features or market share as their tech is already well-advanced and their market position too dominant. Catching up in each of those respects is MUCH easier than Garmin pulling further ahead. Interestingly the next Edge we see will be the Edge 1040 (leak first reported here), alongside a new Edge Explore and that will be followed by the 140/840/540 in 2023. The Edge 1040 bringsSolar, predictive ClimbPro and a new GNSS chipset but no NFC payments.

How difficult is it for smaller companies to catch or even beat Garmin at cycling? Read this: How to Beat a Garmin Edge. The answer is ‘VERY‘. If there is ever a new product to beat Garmin it will likely be another device based on Android. Why?… Answer: “apps” and a shorter, easier product development cycle, which sounds a bit like the Karoo!! Go figure. That said, Stages seem to be interested in playing this game with the L200/M200.

I suspect that Garmin doesn’t care too much about lower price points, so Bryton, Sigma, Lezyne, CatEye, Polar and other smaller bike computer companies can fight out the price-per-feature battle in that very messy and less profitable arena. One hopeful rumour even suggested that Polar might release a bike computer but I think that ship has sailed especially considering Polar’s reluctance to support ANT+ on their watches (their newer chest straps DO support ANT+)

There are good, well-featured bike computers like Stages M200/L200, Sigma ROX 12 and the high-end Bryton models but all of them, in my opinion, lack that certain ‘je ne sais quoi‘ that could propel them to the same levels as Wahoo. But remember that the ever-successful Wahoo BOLT Gen 1 prospered even past its 4th birthday, so you have to conclude that it’s not high technology that bike riders necessarily want. Maybe it’s the ‘just works’ factor or the platform or the brand image. [Manufacturers, if you are reading that, re-read it and take action before you make a slightly better ClimbPro that no one really needs. Just make your devices super slick and never, ever crash or lose a ride]

Garmin also doesn’t seem to care too much about MTB, gravel or e-bike-specific models. Maybe they know something that we don’t? (A: probably!). Maybe the SPD Rally pedals are the first indication that Garmin will take off-road/gravel more seriously. (Don’t forget, cargo biking, electric bikes and many other bike markets are growing and might eventually be attractive distractions to Garmin)

 

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Lists of All GPS Sports Watches & Bike Computers

This is my opinion of current & future devices across the GPS running/cycling market. Updates to this will be issued as and when information emerges which may include rumours, although please note that any information provided to me under NDA by manufacturers will *NOT* appear here and I won’t talk about it as I always honour agreements I make either written or verbal. So there will be a few more surprises over and above all of this 😉

Garmin – Current and Rumoured Models

? = Discontinued or effectively discontinued and replaced

? = Expected Future Model or ‘very recent’.

Category	Links to Review and opinion article	Price Check Link	Comments
Bike	?Edge 1000		Superseded
Bike	Edge Explore		Current: Jul 2018’s smaller version of the Edge 1030. Most performance features removed. Good for navigation
Bike	Edge 1030	Price Check	Current, Q3-Q4.2019 saw big updates to the 1030 to match the new 530/830.
	Edge 1030 Plus (2020)	Price Check Price Check: Bundle	Edge 1030 Plus was June 2020
	? Edge 1040 (2022) ? Edge Explore 2		Soon!
Bike	Edge 20, Edge 25	Price Check Price Check	Entry-level cycling computer
Bike	Edge 130	Price Check	Entry-level cycling computer with very interesting specs. May 2018
Bike	Edge 130 Plus	Price check Price Check: MTB Bundle Price Check: HRM Bundle	Jun-20
	? Edge 140 (due 2021)
	? Edge 200, Edge 500,	Price Check
Bike	?  Edge 510	Price Check	Effectively Discontinued
Bike	?  Edge 520	Price Check	Still a great cycling computer and getting CHEAPER but a bit slow with no maps
Bike	Edge 520 PLUS		Current. Updated hardware capability (CIQ3), maps and software. Replaced by faster 530
Bike	Edge 530	Price Check	Available May 2019
	Edge 540		540 could be Spring 2022 probably 2023
Bike	? Edge 800, 810		Effectively Discontinued
Bike	Edge 820	Price Check	Top-end, medium-sized, nav cycling computer. Dodgy touchscreen. Replaced by 830
Bike	Edge 830	Price Check	May 2019
	Edge 840		840 could be Spring 2023 (or 830+)
Bike	? Edge MTB (something more than the 530 MTB bundle)		There are gaps in the market here at least two price points. It could be filled by Garmin – just like the Instinct did for budget outdoors.
Outdoors	? Epix		Nice But Effectively Discontinued and replaced by Fenix 5X
Outdoors	? Fenix, Fenix 2, Quatix	Price Check	Effectively Discontinued, not as good as subsequent models.
Outdoors	? Fenix 3 Fenix 3 HR + variants	Price Check Price Check 3HR	Current, still great devices
Outdoors	Fenix 5 PLUS, 5s PLUS, 5x PLUS	Price Check Price Check 5S Plus Price Check 5X Plus	Garmin’s flagship model for 2018-2019. These are notably updated Fenix 5 models.  Superseded in with better hardware in the Fenix 6.
Outdoors	? Fenix 5, Fenix 5s, Fenix 5x	Price Check 5 Price Check 5x Price Check 5s	Garmin’s flagship model for 2017-2018. Caveat Emptor. The Plus version is the one you want to buy NOT these…
Outdoors	Tactix Bravo (disc), Tactix Charlie, Tactix Delta (2020), Descent MK1/MK22s, D2 Bravo, D2 Charlie, Quatix, D2 Delta (& S and PX) Solar & Sapphire		‘military’/hunting, diving, aviation, solar, durable variants of Fenix 5/6
Outdoors	Fenix 6,	Price Check
	Fenix models are 6S (Base, Sapphire and Pro), 6 (Base, Sapphire and Pro) 6x (Pro and Solar)
	? Tactix Delta, D2 Echo,
	? Descent MK2i (Q4.2020)
	Quatix 6 (2020)
	? D2 Delta (base, sapphire, solar)
	Fenix 6 (further Solar and Sport variants for 2020)
	? Enduro		Ultra Watch
Outdoors	? Fenix 7 Epix2		Q1.2022
Outdoors	? Fenix Chronos	Price Check	Super Premium: Quality innards, Quality shell and finish. F5s firmware. Expensive. Replaced by the MARQ.
Outdoors	MARQ (effectively Fenix Chronos 2)		Announced. the MARQ range is the Fenix range in a fancy shell eg MARQ ATHLETE is a 945 in an expensive shell.
	AUSTIN (effectively MARQ 2)
	Aviator (aero), Captain (marine), Athlete (multi-sport), Expedition (Hike/Outdoors), Driver (car).
	MARQ Commander 1 Oct2019.
Outdoors	? MARQ2/CHRONOS3		Q2.2022
Outdoors	Instinct	Price Check	Oct 2018 A cut-down outdoors-focussed Fenix. Kinda
	Instinct Solar (plus Tactical, Camo and Surf versions)	Price Check	Jul 2020
	The Instinct Tactical edition is now available and differs only with the NIGHT VISION and STEALTH modes, as well as the JUMPMASTER profile.	Instinct Price Check	August 2019 TACTICAL COYOTE edition
Outdoors	Instinct 2 (plus SOLAR version)		Due in 2021. This WILL eventually come as the Instinct is popular. My guess is Q3.2022
Run	? Forerunner 210, Forerunner 220, Forerunner 225		Effectively Discontinued
Run	? Forerunner 230		Probably won’t be replaced. Effectively Discontinued.
Run	? Forerunner 235	Price Check	Replacement 245 & 245M released
Run	? Forerunner 235L		Apr 2018’s cut-down version for the Chinese market.
Run	Forerunner 245 & Forerunner 245 Music		Current
	? Forerunner 255 and 255s (2022)
Run	?Forerunner 25	Price Check	Entry-level run/sports watch
Run	? Forerunner 30		Entry-level run/sports watch
Run	? Forerunner 35	Price Check	Entry-level run/sports watch
Run	Forerunner 45, 45S		Current, Announced April 2019 FR45 Plus, August 2020 silent announcement
	Forerunner 45 Plus
	? Forerunner 55 (2021) Forerunner 65 (2023)
Run	? Forerunner 610, Forerunner 620		Effectively Discontinued but good enough
Run	? Forerunner 630		Great device, superseded
Run	Forerunner 645 and 645M		Current.
	? Forerunner 655 (2022? never?)		655 Overdue. may never materialise
Run/Tri	Forerunner 735XT		Current, great mid-range tri watch (no barometer). it’s the last remaining CIQ2 device hence next to be replaced
Run/Tri	? Forerunner 745 Forerunner 755 (2023)		September 2020, top-end smaller tri watch
Run/Tri	? Forerunner 910XT		Great tri watch in its day, still good enough if you can find one
Run/Tri	?Forerunner 920XT	Price Check	Great tri watch…all you need really. Sometimes CHEAP
Run/Tri	Forerunner 935		Still a Top tri watch, with no gimmicks (2022!)
Run/Tri	Forerunner 945		Top Tri Watch, all the features plus LOTS of gimmicks. LTE for 2021
	? Forerunner 945LTE (June 2021)
	? Forerunner 955/955 Solar, Q2-3.2022
	Forerunner 955 LTE, yup it WILL happen maybe late 2022 at the earliest
Fitness	? Vivoactive	Price Check	Effectively Discontinued
Fitness	Vivoactive 3		A contender to Fitbit Ionic and Apple Watch 3
Fitness	Vivoactive 3 MUSIC, Vivoactive 3M		VA3 with music. Q2.2018
Fitness	Vivoactive 3 Plus Music LTE Verizon		Jan-19
Fitness	Vivoactive 4 & 4S with a great AMOLED screen on the top-end VA4 called VENU.		Sep-19 23 Sep 2020
	Venu SQ Venu Plus Venu Plus 2 Venu SQ 2
	? Vivoactive 5 (q2-3.2022)
Fitness	? Vivoactive HR		Great device, effectively Vivoactive 2, replaced by Vivoactive 3
Fitness	Vivofit 2, Vivofit 3, Vivofit 4		December 2017: supersedes VivoFit 3. Vivofit 5 due for Xmas 2019.
Fitness	? Vivomove	Price Check	Dress watch, superseded September 2017
Fitness	? Vivomove HR		Sept 2017
Fitness	Vivomove 3 / 3s /Style / Luxe		Sep-19
Swim	? Swim		Effectively Discontinued
Swim	Swim 2		Oct-19
Swim	Swim 3		2023? this will be on a 3-4 year release cycle if it continues to be sold

 

Polar, Suunto, Wahoo, Fitbit, Apple, etc – Current and Rumoured Models

Category Links to either a review, opinion article or your local AmazonLinkComments

Manufacturer	Category	Review, opinion article Links	Price Check Link	Comments
adidas	Run	?Smart Run		Discontinued
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami/Zepp)	Run	Bip (#A1608 – Bip S Supercedes)	Price Check	Current products
		Pace (#A1612, #A1602)	Price Check
			Huami is renaming to ZEPP
		Bip Lite (#A1915)
		Bip S (2020)
		Ares (Rugged, hexagonal Bip, May 2020)
		Xiaomi Mi Watch Color (2020), plus sports edition
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami)	Run	Pace 2		Pace 2 is Stratos. The only difference between the Chinese (A1609 Amazfit Pace 2) and the International version (A1619 Amazfit Stratos) is the firmware.
				Amazfit Stratos 2 means Stratos (A1619)
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami)	Fitness	Verge, Verge Lite,		Current model A1811 (Lite #A1818), as over 1 Dec 2018 now selling in the USA. Verge 2 / Nexo imminent with eSIM.
		Verge 2 / Nexo
		? GTR, GTR2, GTR 3		GTR2 released Aug2020 GTR 3 released October 2021
		?GTS  , GTS2		GTS2 announced Aug 2020, it’s their version of the apple watch
		?Neo		Garmin Instinct rip off Aug 2020
Amazfit (Xiaomi-Huami)	Run/Tri	?STRATOS 1/2		Current, Multisport 2018 watch. Intl versions v1 & v2 are same.
		?STRATOS 3		STRATOS 3 Aug 2019 – model #A1929
				Huami Amazfit T-Rex – model #A1919,
		?T-Rex
		T-Rex 2 (April 2022)
		?Ares
Apple	Fitness	?Watch Series 1 (Sport),		Current, great pricing on the AW3 beware inferior hardware compared to AW4.
		? Watch Series 2 w/Nike,
		Series 3 GPS+Cellular,
Apple	Fitness	? Watch Series 4 w/Nike		Current. A notable hardware upgrade from the AW3. Discontinued
Apple	Fitness	? Watch Series 5		Aluminium, stainless steel, titanium and ceramic versions as well as the 40mm and 44mm versions. Also a Nike co-branded version.
Apple	Fitness	? Watch Series 6 ? Watch Series SE Watch SE Gen 2 (my bet for September 2022) Apple Watch Series 7 – Sep 2021 Apple Watch Series 8 (may have ‘explorer’ variant) Sep 2022		WatchOS 8 September 2021,
Bontrager	Bike	TREK Ride Time Elite, Trip 300, Bontrager Garmin Edge 1030		low spec own-branded devices and Bontrager-branded Garmin device
Bryton	Bike	RIDER 100, 310, 320, 330, 410, 450h, 530E, Rider 530 T, 50, aero 60, one, Rider 860, Rider 420, Rider 750, Rider S500 with one thing in common…few people in Europe/USA buy them		Current, 450E is the top model @<$200 with all functions even 310 @<$150 supports a PM (Full model list here). Aero 60 is a fully-featured bikenav. The Sep 2019 Rider 860 and Rider 420 might see the 860 as the new top-end model built on Android – a first for Bryton
CicloSport	Bike	HAC 4 Plus (basic) Navic 400 (OSM-based bikenav with touchscreen)
Casio	Outdoors	Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20		Current, replaced by F20/F30 announced Aug 2018
	WearOS
Casio	Fitness	Pro Trek Smart WSD-F21 HR		Sep 2019. Updated F20 with oHR
	WearOS
Casio	Outdoors	Pro Trek Smart WSD-F30		Announced: Jan 2019, replacing WSD-F20. Expect a WSD-F40 in Jan 2020 😉
	Casio		Outdoors
WearOS		Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 G-Shock Pro GSW-H1000 (Wear OS)
CatEye	Bike	STEALTH 50, Stealth EVO, STEALTH EVO, STRADA, PADRONE Smart+, Stealth evo+ CC-GL51 (2015), full spec’d Aventura		2016 models are current (full model list here), Avventura might only be available in Japan
COROS	Run/Tri	Pace Multisport M1		Current, the Garmin 735XT lookalike
		Pace 2 Pace 3 ?2023?		2020 should see an update of the Pace, as Coros return to revisit their road running roots
COROS	Run/Tri	Apex 42mm 46mm		Current Oct 2018. Highly credible endurance run and tri alternative. A competent small format is available. Jan 2019 a special edition announced for 46mm.
COROS	Run/Tri	Apex PRO Will iterate in 2022		Q4.2019 Somewhere between Apex and Vertix
COROS	Outdoors	Vertix Vertix 2		Current May 2019. Premium case and SpO2
CooSpo	Bike	BC200		Current (hey! they made the effort to include power meter support, I made the effort to include it in this list, I’ve no idea who they are)
Epson	Run/Tri	?ProSense 17, ?ProSense 57, ?ProSense 307, ?ProSense 347		Discontinued
		?SF-series
Facebook	Fitness newOS			After failing to buy Fitbit, Facebook will enter the market possibly with WearOS possibly in 2022.
Fossil	Fitness WearOS	Sport		Nov-18
Fitbit	Fitness	?Blaze	Price Check	Replaced by Versa
Fitbit	Fitness	?Charge, Charge 2		Discontinued
Fitbit	Fitness	Charge 3	Price Check	Current
Fitbit	Fitness	?Versa,		THE current SE version has Fit Pay payments
		? Versa 2		Versa Lite – March 2019
				Versa 2 – available 15 September 2019 with Aug 28th Announcement
		Versa 3 / Versa 3 SENSE Versa 4 – Q3.2022		September 2022ish
Fitbit	Fitness	?Charge HR (Band)		Discontinued, replaced by Charge 2, Charge 3, Charge 4 (2020).
Fitbit	Fitness	Ionic		Current, September 2017
				Overdue, might never happen
Fitbit	Fitness	Ionic Adidas		Announced Feb 2018, has an Adidas app
Fitbit	Fitness	?Surge		Superseded by Ionic
Fossil	Fitness WearOS	Puma SmartWatch		Sep 2019 (Prob same watch inside as the Fossil sport)
		Michael Kors MKGO		Sep 2019 (Prob same watch inside as the Fossil sport)
		Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3		Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3
Fossil	Fitness	Sport		Sport Uses 2019 Snapdragon processor. Fossil is a BIG WearOS watch producer for many sub-brands. Sport uses a new 3100 processor.
	WearOS
Fossil	Fitness WearOS	Gen 5 Gen 6 (27 Sep 2021)		Still 3100 chipset but looks sweet and runs smoothly enough 4100/4100+ chipset for fall premium models
Giant	Bike	NeosTrack		Cycling Computers. The NeosTrack is a reasonably high-spec model.
		Neos ANT+
		AXACT 13W
Google	Fitness WearOS	Pixel Smartwatch		To be released in 2020 maybe. Unclear if a SPORT/FITNESS version will be released as well.
Decathlon	Bike	BC900		Cycling Computer, records power
iGSPORT	Bike	iGSPORT iGS60 iGSPORT iGS618		Cycling Computer, I think these guys are owned by Xiaomi and could be one to watch at the budget end
Hammerhead	Bike	Karoo		Feb 2018.
				Expect even more significant firmware updates throughout 2020
Hammerhead	Bike	Karoo 2 Karoo 3 ?2023?		Cycling Computer, small format, Xmas 2020
Huawei	Fitness WearOS/Harmony OS	Fit, Watch 2 Sport, Watch GT Active	Price Check	WearOS and a good spec. Current (Watch 2 was 2017 with an incremental 2018 update) The Fit was effectively the “Watch 1 Sport”.
		Watch Gt2e		Watch 3 Watch GT and this was codenamed FORTUNA (GT is not WearOS anymore)
		Watch 3 GT Runner Watch 3 GT Pro (May 2022)		To run Harmony OS
Huawei	Fitness WearOS	Honor Magic		WearOS and a good spec, November 2018
Huawei	Sport ?WearOS?	Honor GS Pro/Kanon		Q4.2020, TomTom map partnership could be interesting
Huawei	Proprietary Android?	Watch Fit
Lezyne	Bike	Mini, Macro Plus GPS (Macro, Macro Easy, Micro, Micro Watch, Super Pro (Super GPS), Mega, Watch variants		MEGA announced July 2018
				MACRO EASY GPS announced Jul 2019
				Macro Plus & Super Pro are revamped from earlier models, announced Jul 2019 with FE-C…cheap, sturdy and highly featured.
				Full, current list here
LG	Fitness WearOS	Watch Sport	Price Check	apparently one of the better WearOS devices. Watch2 has seen e-sim in China only
LG	Fitness WearOS	LM-W315, LM-305, LM-W325, LM-W319,		LM-W315 could be called ICONIC. With one of the other models being the ICONIC SPORT. LM-W319 could be as soon as Sep 2018 (likely this is now the W7 which is a non-sports hybrid.) but a Watch3 derivative will be 2019.
Mont Blanc	Fitness WearOS	Summit 2		Announced – several quite advanced sporty features
MIO/MiTAC/Magellan	Bike	Cyclo 605,		Nice devices. The 505HC appears to now be discontinued and replaced with a slightly superior 605HC (Q2.2017). Other models include Cyclo 210 (re-announced Aug2018?), 215, 215HC, 305, 315HC, 400, 405, 405HC, Discover/Plus (May 2020)
		Discover		Unsure of the situation in USA with sister company MAGELLAN. Who have dated ECHO/SWITCH run/bike products
		Discover Plus
		?505HC+ others
Mio Labs	Running	? Mio Alpha 2		revolutionary at the time
Mio Labs	Running/Triathlon	mioEXP		First sports watch in a long time by Mio. in fact since about 2015. Triathlon focussed and looking good for Q4.2020
Misfit	Fitness WearOS	Vapor	Price Check	WearOS. Replaced by Vapor 2
Misfit	Fitness WearOS	Vapor 2		WearOS. Current.
MiVia	Fitness	Run 350		2017 Fitbit Versa look-alike
Mobvoi	Fitness	Ticwatch 2 aka Ticwatch Active		2017 budget sports watch with GPS & Music
Mobvoi	Fitness WearOS	Ticwatch E2		2018 budget sports watch with GPS & Music, the replacement for Ticwatch E
Mobvoi	Fitness WearOS	Ticwatch S2		CES2019 replacement for Ticwatch S (ie S1). S=Sport
Mobvoi	Fitness WearOS	Ticwatch S		2017 WearOS 2.0 budget sports watch. Ticwatch E is a cheaper and non-sport version. Ticwatch 2, Active and Classic are different – not WearOS. Replaced by S2.
Mobvoi	Fitness WearOS	Ticwatch Pro Ticwatch Pro 3 TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Ticwatch E3		WearOS 2.0, Pro 3/Ultra & E3 have snapdragon 4100
		? Ticwatch Pro, 4G LTE ? new Ticwatch Pro  Jul 2019 with LTE (USA only).
Moto (brand bought by CE)	Fitness WearOS			100S and 200 will be Wear OS probably Snapdragon 3100.
		?360 Sport – 2nd Gen/Sport	Price Check
		?Gen 3 November 2019 ?Moto G Smartwatch,(Summer 2021) ?Moto Watch,(Summer 2021) ?Moto One,(Summer 2021) ?Moto Watch 100S and Moto Watch 200 – by March 2022
New Balance	Fitness WearOS	RunIQ		WearOS. Current
Omata	Bike	Omata One	Price Check	Trendy Bike Computer Current
BKK, OnePlus	Fitness	Likely WearOS Sister brand RealMe introduce Watch 2 and Watch 2 Pro Vivo (2020) Vivo (2021)		Probably due Q4.2020, probably based heavily on the Oppo Watch RealMe are a cheap and proprietary OS. June 2021.
BKK, Oppo	Fitness Android Fitness Wear OS	Watch Watch (Wear OS Version) Watch 2		Looks like an Apple Watch with very limited EU/USA availability as of July 2020. Based on Android Wear OS version released 31 Jul 2020 Watch 2 – 27 Jul 2021
Ordnance Survey	Bike	OS Horizon GPS		High-quality MAPS on a bikenav
		OS Velo GPS
		OS Trail Bike GPS
		OS Trail 2 Bike GPS (2019)
Polar	Bike	V660		V650 refresh 2020? Well Overdue…perhaps never
Polar	Run/Tri	? Vantage V Vantage V2 Vantage V2 EDITION		V800 replacement
				There are no published plans to take the features any further. Polar will fix bugs though.
				V2 new for October 2020
				Who knows if they will iterate either the hardware or software.
Polar	Run/Tri	Vantage V Titanium Vantage V2 Titan		high-end case variant of the Vantage V
Polar	Run/Tri/Outdoors	Grit X Grit X PRO Grit X PRO Titan		Polar Grit X – outdoors version of Vantage V
Polar	Run/Tri	? Vantage M ? Vantage M2 Pacer Pro takes over here		More run-focussed than the V model and a bit more than the M430.
				I’m not convinced there will be a Vantage M lite model ie something to theoretically replace the M200. Looks like the Ignite/Unite covers that.
				No intel on the M2. My guess would be Q1.2021
Polar	Fitness	A370		A360 replacement with linked-GPS
Polar	Fitness	A380		I guess you could speculate that there is an A380 due but I would not be so sure that Polar (or anyone else beyond Garmin/Fitbit) will pursue a premium band format.
Polar	Fitness	? Ignite Polar Pacer (non-Pro) takes over here		Fitness & Running watch. With GPS. Scope for a 3Fitness-like model with no GPS. Scope also to beef up the shell quality a little.
Polar	Run	?M200		Entry-level oHR running/sports watch 2016. Replacement due in 2020 maybe? M200 looks out-of-date
Polar	Run	?M400		Replaced by M430 in Q1.2017
Polar	Run	?M430		An optical M400, released. this is mostly replaced by the Vantage M, although the Vantage M has notable extra stuff kinda making it a model higher. M430 has been confirmed as remaining in the Polar product set as a full-featured running watch BUT it will not receive new functionality.
				M430 looks out-of-date
Polar	Bike	?M450		Replaced by M460 in Q1.2017
Polar	Bike	?M460		M450 with STRAVA LIVE. M460 looks out-of-date
Polar	Run WearOS	?M600		WearOS sports watch for Android
Polar	Bike	?V650		A good Bike Nav Cycling device. Might get an ANT+ refresh but fine as-is. Does Polar want to go down the route of giving this proper onboard maps?
Polar	Run/Tri	?V800		One of the greatest multisport watches of all time, replaced by Vantage
Samsung	Fitness	?Gear Sport	Price check	Current (Gear Fit Pro is BAND format and the Samsung Gear Fit Plus could be the 2018 version of that)
Samsung	Fitness	?Galaxy Watch Active		Galaxy Sport is Galaxy Watch Active
Samsung	Fitness	? Galaxy Watch Active2		Jul-19
		?Galaxy Watch2 (never existed)
		?Galaxy Watch3 (SM-R840) Galaxy Watch4 / 4 Classic		Aug 2020 Galaxy Watch 4  Released 27Aug with Wear OS 3 (4 is the sport version) Galaxy Watch5 leaked November 2021 for release in Aug/Sep 2022
Sigma Sport	Bike	Rox GPS 7.0, ROX GPS 10.0, Rox GPS 11.0, Rox 12.0 Sport, id.TRI, id.FREE, Rox 2.0, Rox 4.0, Rox 11.1, Rox 9.1		Good feature set, current.
				Rox 12.0 Sport June 2018 looks like a massive leap forward for the company. Highly competent bikenav
				Rox 2.0, Rox 4.0, Rox 11.1 – new editions in June 2021
				id.TRI – budget TRI watch offering
				Full list of Sigma products here
Skagen	Fitness WearOS	Falster 2		With GPS & oHR added, this now counts as a sports watch. It aims to be seen as the prettiest WearOS
		Falster 3		Falster 3 uses the fastest processor
Sony	Fitness WearOS	Smartwatch 3 SWR50	Price Check	WearOS. Current
				IndieGogo – Sports and other stuff
Pioneer	BIKENAV	SGX-CA500, SGX-CA600		Cycling Computer looks nice. OSM, ANT+, power
				Pioneer was bought by Shimano in Feb 2020
Specialized	Bike	SpeedZone Sport / SpeedZone II		Basic Cycling Computers
SRM	Bike	PowerControl 7 (PC7) / 8 (PC8)		Cycling Computer
Shanren	Bike	Discovery Pro
Stages	Bike	Dash (L10) Dash L50, M50 Gen 2?		Cycling Computer. cheap and well-featured New models for release Q1-2.2019 Not sure we will get a Gen 2.
Suunto	Various	? Ambit 3 variants (Peak, run, Sport…)		Still great devices. In many ways superior. Discontinued
Suunto	Various	Ambit 4		The SPARTAN TRAINER is the replacement to the AMBIT3 and then to the Suunto 5
Suunto	Various	? Ambit/Ambit 2		Effectively Discontinued
Suunto	Run/Tri	? SPARTAN Sport		Current, OK to buy now
Suunto	Run/Tri	? SPARTAN Sport with oHR (WHR)		Current
Suunto	Outdoors	? Spartan Sport Wrist HR Baro		Current
Suunto	Run/Tri	? SPARTAN Trainer		New outdoor variants in Jan 2018, superseded in 2019 with Suunto 5
Suunto	Outdoors	? SPARTAN Ultra		Current, OK to buy now. Suunto 9 is an effective replacement
Suunto	Fitness	? Suunto 3		Current. A low-end model with interesting specs. GPS only from a paired and present smartphone.
		? Suunto 3 Fitness (April 2018) Gen 2 overdue but may not happen.		The Suunto 3 dropped the FITNESS suffix in 2020 and DOES have very slightly different hardware
Suunto	Fitness	Suunto 9 Baro (spring 2018) Suunto 9 Peak (smaller with new hardware) Suunto 9 Gen 2 (larger 9Peak) my bet for what’s next Suunto 7 Gen 2 perhaps due in H2.2022 ? Suunto 5 from May 2019 Suunto 5 Peak (smaller version of 5 with new hardware) Suunto 5 Gen 2 (larger 5Peak) my bet for what’s next		Current. High-end Spartan ULTRA replacement. My GUESS is that this will iterate next in some way in 2021 (no intel) S7 Wear OS Smart sports watch, Suunto might iterate bi/tri-annual versions of 3/5/7/9 S5 Good mid-range tri watch. Replacement for SPARTAN Trainer.
Tahuna	Bike	? Teasi Pro ? Teasi One 4
Trimm	Run/Tri	One
Tag Heuer	Fitness	Connected Gen 1		Wear OS on snapdragon 3100 and a big price tag. yet still a smart fitness watch
		Connected Gen 2
		Connected Gen 3
Timex	Run/tri	IronMan R300		#Sigh
TomTom	Run	? Adventurer		TomTom sports division is closed down. Firmware updates as of 8 May 2018
		? Spark, Runner, Runner 2
		? Runner 3, Spark 3
TwoNav	Bike	TwoNav Trail 2 TwoNav Cross TwoNav Anima+		Some interesting and well-featured devices have crossed over from hand-held hiking computers and some include OS maps.
Vivo	Smart	Watch		Smartwatch running FunOS, from BKK who own Oppo, Realme and One Plus.
Withings	Fitness	Move & Move ECG		CES2019, Sweet Fitness ecosystem
Withings	Fitness	Steel HR Sport		Current
Wahoo Fitness	Bike	RFLKT, RFLKT+ ? ELEMNT		RFLKT – is where it all started for Wahoo A great cycling computer, due a refresh. Might not happen if ROAM is seen as the replacement
Wahoo Fitness	Bike	? ELEMNT BOLT (launched in 2017!)		A great cycling computer, due a refresh
Wahoo Fitness	Bike	ELEMNT ROAM (Sep 2019)		Colour version of a super-sized Bolt with navigation
Wahoo Fitness	Bike	? ELEMNT MINI		Cut down cycling computer no GPS, no power compatibility, Wahoo-only sensors. Due a refresh but unlikely
Wahoo Fitness	Run/Tri	ELEMNT RIVAL (Nov 2020) I think they will surprise us here in 222		A mid-tier, mass-market triathlon watch. Gen 2 is not imminent and I would instead inspect another watch or two from Wahoo before a reinvigorated RIVAL. Maybe a small format RIVAL maybe a run-only rival.
Wahoo Fitness	Bike	BOLT 2		25 May 2021
XOSS	Bike	Sprint G+
XPLOVA/Acer	Bike	? G3, G5, E5, E7 X3 EVO X2 (May 2021)		Effectively discontinued Current, FYI they are releasing a turbo trainer Q3.2019 X2 Bolt-sized unit, most features except maps.
XPLOVA/Acer	Bike	?X5 (March 2017)		Superseded by X5 EVO
XPLOVA/Acer	Bike	X5 EVO (Nov 2017)		Current, refreshed model. onboard video, guess there’ll be an X6 next…
Zepp	Smart Fitness Watch	Zepp E Zepp Z		Zep E: 2x Apple watch wannabes Zep Z: likely sports watch

 

Notes

• There are many other low-priced brands, several of which are visual rip-offs of the main brands’ models.
• Some low-priced brands include PARNERME, UWEAR, GoLife, GooPhone, Reabeam, FitCare, iGPSport, Xoss
• There are probably also some Kickstarter and Indegogo-type new models planned. My broad opinion is that if this is the first sports watch from a company with no track record then you will lose your money or receive a pile of junk. Spend a little bit extra and instead get a real product now.
• If you’ve found a brand that I’ve not listed above and the price looks too good to be true…there’s probably a reason. Just go for the brands above…eg Lezyne & Bryton offer cheap and perfectly good bike computers that support complex usage.

What have I missed? Are there others?

Note: information that has become available about accessories is NOT included here as there are too many of them to keep up-to-date with. There are also too many Power Meter variants for me to keep track of. I have more than a passing interest in PMs for triathlon disciplines but I don’t keep an eye on the whole market – the document I keep up-to-date on PM is my guide to the best power meter. I’m generally going to exclude wristbands from the lists above, like the Vivokids v2, although some bands have sneaked in there already.

Lists of all Firmware Updates

• Suunto Spartan is here: link to Suunto.com
• Suunto 5 is here: link to Suunto.com
• Suunto 7: is here: link to Suunto.com
• Suunto 9 is here: link to Suunto.com
• Suunto 3 is here: link to Suunto.com
• Polar updates are here: link to Polar.com
• Garmin updates are here: link to gpsinformation.net
• Elemnt Updates are here: link to wahoofitness.com and here
• Fitbit updates are here: link to Fitbit.com
• Hammerhead Karoo is here: link to Hammerhead.io
• Lezyne is here: link to Lezyne.com
• WatchOS 5 is here: link to Apple.com
• WatchOS 6 is here: link to Apple.com
• WatchOS 7 is here: link to Apple.com
• WatchOS 8 is here: link to apple.com
• WatchOS 9 preview is here: https://www.apple.com/uk/watchos/watchos-preview/
• Stages DASH is here: stagesdash.com
• Sigma Rox 12 here: sigmasport.com
• Mio Cyclo: mio.com
• Coros: link to Coros.com
• Bryton: Facebook page for announcements

Please let me know of any I’ve missed

Also useful for checking compatibility and new ANT+ devices. VERY occasionally you might see a special ‘leak’ appear here first by accident.

• thisisant.com
• ANT+ Specification updates here: thisisant.com

Subscriber-Only Content

This link covers a discussion of the trends in emerging technology and new technology – for example covering payments, GPS, OHR, Safety, Mapping and much more.

Recommended Reading: Endurance Technology Trends

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