I don’t know about the lesser Garmin models but I have a Fenix 6 Pro Solar and there isn’t enough panel surface area on it to indefinitely power the watch. Garmin only state that it “extends” the battery life by a few days. I haven’t tested it to see of you power the thing off completely if it will refill the battery from dead by any meaningful amount but I suspect not.
Not all of them have the solar option. In fact, very few of their lineup do.
Also: Garmin recently enshittified by simultaneously adding an AI slop component that works by taking all of your recorded fitness and location data and doing gods know what with it, as well as a paid subscription tier to their obligatory smartphone app – the latter after explicitly promising for many years that they wouldn’t. So not only is their hardware expensive (and their owners are now rightly pissed), they’re also liars. I would not give them any money until they shape up, if I were you. Assuming they ever do…
Also: Garmin recently enshittified by simultaneously adding an AI slop component that works by taking all of your recorded fitness and location data and doing gods know what with it, as well as a paid subscription tier to their obligatory smartphone app – the latter after explicitly promising for many years that they wouldn’t. So not only is their hardware expensive (and their owners are now rightly pissed), they’re also liars. I would not give them any money until they shape up, if I were you. Assuming they ever do…
Gadgetbridge works with most Garmin models. I have the Instinct 2 Solar and have never created a Garmin account or downloader the app.
It does not work with either my Fenix 6 Pro Solar (specifically that one, other Fenix 6 variants are listed as working) nor the Forerunner 230 that somebody just gave me. Both of which are a drag, and I can’t be arsed with learning how to add my own support right now at this minute.
Honestly, I’ve just been using my Fenix unconnected and it’s really surprising all it can still do. The only function I don’t have that I cared about was receiving notifications. The sensors and topo map and all still work fine and you can even still track rides and hikes, but you have to offload thr GPX tracks via USB and figure out what to so with them yourself.
It’s almost like the dumbass limitations of the app are all just artificial, to the surprise of absolutely no one.
The good Garmins last 2 and half months no charge. An hour in the sun adds a week. Ink display and solar glass. It’s awesome. In the smart watch health space garmin is second to none. Especially so for battery.
As a current Garmin user I really like a lot of the features of the Garmin but the app for smart watch health tracking is atrocious and some of the values you get are clearly wrong like it recording my resting heart rate at 15 bps lower than it actually is.
The battery life is still insane which makes things like sleep tracking really nice
I and my family have had Garmin’s like the venu line for years and I am in the hospital all the time. I’ve tested mine against the polar h10 and multiple medical tests and during times of Hospital stays for lengths of time. Mine has always been accurate and within a beat or two in the heart rate and a single percentage or 2 on pulse ox.
Garmin has fantastic customer service. Perhaps updating your device, or contacting them for an exchange would be worth while. All their watches I have had, seen, have been accurate. I’m not refuting what your saying just trying to give my perspective.
You can also set to track every second vs the default smart tracking every few minutes. Hope any of this helps. Don’t settle for subpar results or experience. They make good equipment IME.
mesamunefire@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
Ive heard it works with solar too? Does it stop working after a certain timeperiod of just go into low power mode until it gets enough sun?
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I don’t know about the lesser Garmin models but I have a Fenix 6 Pro Solar and there isn’t enough panel surface area on it to indefinitely power the watch. Garmin only state that it “extends” the battery life by a few days. I haven’t tested it to see of you power the thing off completely if it will refill the battery from dead by any meaningful amount but I suspect not.
Not all of them have the solar option. In fact, very few of their lineup do.
Also: Garmin recently enshittified by simultaneously adding an AI slop component that works by taking all of your recorded fitness and location data and doing gods know what with it, as well as a paid subscription tier to their obligatory smartphone app – the latter after explicitly promising for many years that they wouldn’t. So not only is their hardware expensive (and their owners are now rightly pissed), they’re also liars. I would not give them any money until they shape up, if I were you. Assuming they ever do…
jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Gadgetbridge works with most Garmin models. I have the Instinct 2 Solar and have never created a Garmin account or downloader the app.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It does not work with either my Fenix 6 Pro Solar (specifically that one, other Fenix 6 variants are listed as working) nor the Forerunner 230 that somebody just gave me. Both of which are a drag, and I can’t be arsed with learning how to add my own support right now at this minute.
Honestly, I’ve just been using my Fenix unconnected and it’s really surprising all it can still do. The only function I don’t have that I cared about was receiving notifications. The sensors and topo map and all still work fine and you can even still track rides and hikes, but you have to offload thr GPX tracks via USB and figure out what to so with them yourself.
It’s almost like the dumbass limitations of the app are all just artificial, to the surprise of absolutely no one.
LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
I had one with solar and one without, I think the solar is mostly useless.
It only takes a short time to charge it up with the USB charger (proprietary charger, FYI) so I don’t think it really matters.
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
The good Garmins last 2 and half months no charge. An hour in the sun adds a week. Ink display and solar glass. It’s awesome. In the smart watch health space garmin is second to none. Especially so for battery.
BussyCat@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
As a current Garmin user I really like a lot of the features of the Garmin but the app for smart watch health tracking is atrocious and some of the values you get are clearly wrong like it recording my resting heart rate at 15 bps lower than it actually is.
The battery life is still insane which makes things like sleep tracking really nice
OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
I and my family have had Garmin’s like the venu line for years and I am in the hospital all the time. I’ve tested mine against the polar h10 and multiple medical tests and during times of Hospital stays for lengths of time. Mine has always been accurate and within a beat or two in the heart rate and a single percentage or 2 on pulse ox.
Garmin has fantastic customer service. Perhaps updating your device, or contacting them for an exchange would be worth while. All their watches I have had, seen, have been accurate. I’m not refuting what your saying just trying to give my perspective.
You can also set to track every second vs the default smart tracking every few minutes. Hope any of this helps. Don’t settle for subpar results or experience. They make good equipment IME.