Olathe, Kansas

Garmin's New Software Update Adds Fall Detection, Voice Control to Watches

Olathe, Kan. – September 22, 2026 -- Garmin has rolled out a free software update for several smartwatches and cycling computers, adding fall detection, hands-free voice commands and new training tools.

Venu 4 owners now get automatic fall detection

The feature, new to the Venu 4 smartwatch, sends a message with the wearer's live location to preset emergency contacts if a hard fall is detected. Users can turn on monitoring all day or limit it to specific activities. The feature requires pairing with a smartphone.

Users can now control watches by saying 'Okay, Garmin'

The update brings hands-free voice control to the fēnix 8 series, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, Venu 4 and vívoactive 6. Saying "Okay, Garmin" lets users start a timer, launch an activity or turn on a compatible watch's flashlight without touching a button. Saying "phone assistant" pulls up the virtual assistant on a paired smartphone.

Garmin's New GMI 40 Puts Boat Data on a Sleek 4.3-Inch Touchscreen

Olathe, Kan. – September 04, 2026 -- Garmin has launched the GMI 40, a multipurpose marine instrument with a 4.3-inch, high-resolution color touchscreen, priced at $599.99, with bundles ranging from $1,099.99 to $1,899.99.

The touchscreen replaces cluttered dashboards with one clear display

The GMI 40 features an edge-to-edge glass touchscreen designed to give sailors, cruisers and coastal anglers an uninterrupted view of live boating data. Garmin says the compact design fits cleanly at the helm and complements its GPSMAP chartplotters.

It connects to existing onboard electronics and wearables

The device integrates with compatible marine electronics through the NMEA 2000 network and Garmin's own BlueNet network. It also connects wirelessly to gWind sensors, marine remote controls and Garmin quatix marine smartwatches, letting boaters share data across devices in real time.