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Garmin's muscle oxygen move: acquisition of Moxy signals shift for serious training. Garmin has acquired Moxy Monitor according to the5krunner, gaining muscle oxygen sensor technology for its upcoming Muscle Battery feature. The move promises deeper insights into localized muscular fatigue and recovery beyond wrist-based metrics. Serious athletes stand to gain precise data for pacing, training load, and recovery decisions. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Garmin just took a decisive step into a once-niche corner of sports science. According to a report from the5krunner published Tuesday, the company has acquired Moxy Monitor. The deal, confirmed by a source with direct knowledge but not yet officially acknowledged by either party, brings in-house a leader in near-infrared spectroscopy sensors that measure muscle oxygen saturation, or SmO2. This changes things. For years Garmin watches have displayed SmO2 data from third-party ANT+ sensors like Moxy or Train.Red. Raw numbers appeared. Real insight stayed locked in separate apps. Now Garmin owns the hardware, the calibration data, and years of field testing. A dedicated sensor pod seems inevitable. One that straps directly onto the working muscle. One that feeds a new proprietary metric called Muscle Battery. Why muscle oxygen matters more than wrist-based metrics alone Heart rate tells a systemic story. Blood oxygen via Pulse Ox offers another view. But neither captures what happens inside the specific muscles under load. SmO2 does. It reveals in real time how well oxygen reaches the tissue that actually produces force. A drop signals fatigue setting in locally. A quick rebound shows recovery capacity between intervals or sets. Serious athletes already chase this data. Elite runners, cyclists, and strength trainers use it to pace efforts, adjust training zones, and avoid overreaching. Current Garmin features like Training Readiness and Body Battery draw from heart rate variability, sleep, and activity load. Muscle Battery promises to add a direct window into muscular fatigue. The kind that often lingers after cardiovascular markers look fine. And the kind that determines whether tomorrow's session should be easy or hard. The original TechRadar article laid out the case months ago. Serious athletes want it because it moves training from guesswork to precision. An endurance athlete can see exactly when their quadriceps deoxygenate during a hard climb. A lifter can track recovery between heavy sets on the bench press. The data lets them optimize rest, intensity, and volume with evidence rather than feel. But. Implementation matters. SmO2 sensors must sit flush against the target muscle. Ambient light must stay blocked. Strap tension affects readings. Moxy's devices already solve many of these problems. Garmin gains that expertise without starting from scratch. An APK teardown reported by Gadgets & Wearables in July showed the Garmin Connect app already prepared for rich data. Fields include average, minimum, and maximum saturated hemoglobin percentage. Separate fields track total hemoglobin concentration. These go beyond a single percentage. They show how oxygen levels fluctuate throughout a session. How low they drop. How fully they recover. Such granularity lets algorithms build a meaningful score. One that ordinary athletes can act on without interpreting raw spectroscopy graphs. Garmin filed the Muscle Battery trademark in February 2026. The description spoke of software that captures, processes, and analyzes muscle oxygen saturation using special algorithms. It listed wearable fitness trackers and smartwatches as the target devices. Yet the sensor itself won't live in the watch. Wrist placement can't measure leg or chest muscles accurately. Expect a separate pod. Likely similar in form to existing Moxy units but integrated into Garmin's ecosystem. Data will flow to Forerunner, Fenix, and Edge devices. It will feed Training Readiness, recovery recommendations, and strength training plans. Competition adds pressure. Whoop received a patent in April 2026 for its own NIRS sensor with pressure-aware strap technology. The design aims to solve consistency issues across sessions. Garmin's acquisition leapfrogs licensing deals and gives control over both hardware and software. The5krunner noted that the purchase aligns with Garmin's pattern. Take a proven sensor. Wrap it in a consumer-friendly score. Deliver it alongside existing metrics like Cycling Dynamics or Body Battery. Early signs appeared in app code and trademarks. By summer 2026, references to muscle oxygen data fields multiplied. Analysts predicted a 2027 launch alongside new Fenix or Forerunner models. The reported acquisition accelerates that timeline. Garmin now holds validated scientific hardware and a trove of real-world data. Calibration becomes easier. Accuracy improves faster. Athletes who train with power meters or lactate testing already understand localized fatigue. Muscle oxygen adds another layer without blood draws or lab visits. During interval sessions, it can show which muscle groups fatigue first. In strength work, it quantifies recovery between sets more objectively than perceived exertion. Over weeks, trends reveal whether a training block builds muscular resilience or simply accumulates fatigue. Of course challenges remain. Multiple sensors may be needed for different muscle groups. Cost could limit adoption to dedicated athletes. Data interpretation still requires context. Garmin's strength has always been turning complex physiology into actionable guidance. If Muscle Battery succeeds, it will translate SmO2 fluctuations into simple recommendations. Train now. Recover longer. Adjust volume. The same approach that made Body Battery useful for millions could elevate this metric. Recent coverage reinforces the momentum. A September 2026 Frandroid article explained the science behind Moxy's NIRS technology. Light penetrates tissue. Different wavelengths are absorbed differently by oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. The sensor calculates saturation percentage. Garmin's interest in muscle data also shows in its strength training plans and the Muscle Battery trademark itself. So the acquisition fits a broader pattern. Garmin continues to expand beyond wrist-based heart rate and GPS. It targets the precise physiological signals that separate good training from optimal training. For endurance athletes chasing podiums or personal records, the difference matters. For strength athletes managing volume and recovery, it offers new visibility. For the company, it strengthens its position against rivals moving into the same territory. Details of the deal remain sparse. Neither Garmin nor Moxy has issued statements. Yet the source's credibility and timing suggest serious progress. When official confirmation arrives, expect announcements around new hardware and software features. Watches will display the data. The real value will come in how Garmin synthesizes it with sleep scores, training load, and readiness metrics. A more complete picture of an athlete's capacity. One measured at the muscle itself. That represents real progress. Not hype. Not another sensor for its own sake. A tool that addresses a genuine limitation in current wearable data. Serious athletes have waited for this level of insight to reach the mainstream. With Moxy now reportedly part of Garmin, that wait may soon end. Subscribe for Updates

Garmin rolls out new beta update for Fenix 8 series: what you need to know. Garmin has quietly pushed out another beta update for its popular Fenix 8 lineup, and while it might not be the most dramatic release Gsmgotech has seen, it brings a solid mix of new features and important bug fixes that smartwatch enthusiasts will appreciate. The company has jumped straight to Beta Version 23.38, skipping several iterations in the process. This marks the second 23.xx beta update since Garmin released System Software 23.31 on its stable channel just a few weeks ago. According to a forum post, Garmin claims the new beta has already reached 100% of Beta Program participants, though those who haven't received it yet can manually request the over-the-air download. What's new in this update? One of the most notable additions is the "OK Garmin" wake word for voice commands, making hands-free operation much more convenient. Garmin has also introduced an XC Ski Indoor activity for fitness enthusiasts who want to track their indoor skiing workouts, plus a suggested quick workout feature specifically for running. For divers, the update adds dive computer settings sharing through the Garmin Share app. Meanwhile, those using the Applied Ballistics app will now see support for Xero range and sensor data. Key bug fixes worth mentioning. The changelog includes several fixes that address some frustrating issues users have reported. Spotify users will be relieved to know that Garmin has resolved problems with music playback after skipping songs via Bluetooth headphones, as well as potential shutdowns when switching playlists. Other notable fixes include: * Resolving pace and speed dropouts during interval training * Fixing device resets during strength activity free workouts * Correcting volume issues after alarms sound or water ejection * Improving the flashlight shortcut to cycle through on, off, and strobe modes during activities * Reducing false unlocks when using the touch lock feature The update also addresses issues with training days not matching Garmin Coach plans, problems starting suggested multisport workouts, and selecting rest days for daily suggested workouts. The bottom line. While Garmin hasn't specified when these changes will make their way to a stable release, beta testers can enjoy these improvements now. If you're interested in joining the Beta Program or want to check out the full changelog, you can visit the Garmin forums for more details. For those looking to pick up a Fenix 8, the device is currently available on Amazon at around $949. Whether you're a dedicated athlete, an outdoor adventurer, or simply someone who appreciates cutting-edge wearable technology, Garmin's latest beta shows the company remains committed to refining its flagship smartwatch experience.

Garmin just gave some of its best smartwatches a big free upgrade. Published 47 minutes ago Garmin's latest smartwatch update adds fall detection, voice controls, and personalized run workouts. * Garmin is rolling out a new software update to select Fenix, Forerunner, Venu and Vivoactive smartwatches. * The Venu 6 is getting fall detection, which can automatically share your live location with emergency contacts. * Select Garmin watches are also gaining hands-free "OK Garmin" voice controls and personalized run workouts. Garmin has released a new software update for some of its smartwatches, bringing a variety of new features to the ecosystem. Garmin makes some of the best smartwatches for fitness tracking, and the company continues to improve its devices with regular software updates. Now, Garmin has announced its latest round of features for select watches, including the Fenix 8 series, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, Venu 6, and Vivoactive 6. Garmin says the new features are designed to help users get even more from their devices and take their training to the next level. With the fall update, Garmin is bringing fall detection to the Venu 6. The feature can send the user's live location to emergency contacts after detecting a hard fall. It's something Android Central has already seen on plenty of Apple and Wear OS smartwatches, but thankfully, Garmin is adding it as well. Several Garmin smartwatches are also getting hands-free voice controls with a new "OK Garmin" command, allowing users to access certain features without touching their watch. Garmin is also improving its running features. The update brings personalized run workouts alongside a new adaptive Garmin Run Coach plan, which can adjust training based on the user's performance and progress. Garmin says the software updates have already started rolling out to compatible devices. Users can check for the latest software through the Garmin Connect app on their phone. If you don't see the update or new features just yet, it's worth checking again over the next few days as the rollout continues. Be an expert in 5 minutes