- A new leak suggests a change in the design of Garmin watches
- Some upcoming models may have a digital crown.
- This new mechanism is said to be designed to last
According to a recent leak, some of Garmin’s top watches may soon have a design change directly inspired by the Apple Watch: a rotating digital crown that acts as an additional control.
This information comes from Gadgets and wearables (Above Check the notebook), who also shared a model of the expected representation. The crown would be placed on the right side of the case, with protection on both sides, like the “Quick” button on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
According to the leak, this crown is not physically connected to the watch’s internal electronics. Ideally, it would work thanks to a magnetic recognition system that can recognize gestures and touches. A technology that would strengthen the waterproofness and robustness of the whole.
Ruggedness is one of the strengths of many Garmin watches (resistance to sweat, rain, snow or shock) and this integration of a digital crown would in no way compromise the image of reliability loved by outdoor adventure enthusiasts.
Future
The Apple Watch Series 11 already has a built-in digital crown.
It is not yet known when this digital crown can be integrated into a Garmin watch, but the leak hints at a possible launch of a “high-end model” or a design-oriented line such as the Venu or Vivoactive series.
Other brands have already adopted it, starting with the best Apple watches. The crown provides simple and intuitive operation, often faster than a touch screen or traditional button.
With new Garmin models arriving regularly, we can expect prices on current product lines to drop, especially this time of year. Several pre-Black Friday deals are already underway and smartwatches are expected to be among the affected products. Garmin remains one of the most marketed brands during these sales periods.
2025 has been a particularly busy year for Garmin, with a number of high-profile launches including the Garmin Instinct 3, Fenix 8 Pro and Venu 4. More models are expected to follow in 2026, perhaps this time with a digital crown.