The GNSS chipset is probably the most significant factor when it comes to the accuracy and reliability of GPS watches. Additional factors include antenna design, GNSS firmware, watch firmware, and user settings. The activity profile and / or app choice are also really important.
This page lists the GNSS chipsets of the many Garmin watches that people may wish to use for GPS-Speedsurfing (GP3S). The information is intended for people choosing a Garmin watch, or curious about the suitability of their current watch.
You should also take a look at the article Which Garmin for Watersports? to help you choose between the various Garmin watches.
When choosing a Garmin watch it is highly recommended that you choose a model which incorporates an Airoha or Synaptics GNSS chipset. The speeds from the these chipsets are a lot more trustworthy than earlier watches, especially the ones using a Sony GNSS chipset.
There are numerous Garmin watches that incorporate the Synaptics SYN4778 (multi-band GNSS), Airoha AG3335M (multi-band GNSS) or AG3335MN (single-band GNSS). The following sections list all of the Garmin watches that use an Airoha or Synaptics GNSS chipset that you might wish to consider for wind sports.
Disclaimer: It should be noted that not all of these watches have been tested extensively. Whilst they all use Airoha or Synaptics chipsets there are other factors that impact GNSS accuracy, such as the antenna design and watch firmware. Testing different watches is an ongoing activity.
All of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, but APPro Windsurf is strongly recommended.
| Series | Model | Brand | Multi-Band | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fēnix | fēnix 8 Pro - MicroLED | Synaptics | Y | - |
| fēnix 8 Pro - AMOLED | Synaptics | Y | - | |
| fēnix 8 - AMOLED | Synaptics | Y | - | |
| fēnix 8 - Solar Sapphire | Synaptics | Y | - | |
| fēnix E | Airoha | - | - | |
| fēnix 7 Pro - Sapphire Solar | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| fēnix 7 Pro - Solar | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| fēnix 7 - Sapphire Solar | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| fēnix 7 - Solar | Airoha | - | - | |
| fēnix 7 | Airoha | - | - | |
| epix | epix Pro (Gen 2) - Sapphire | Airoha | Y | Y |
| epix Pro (Gen 2) | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| epix (Gen 2) - Sapphire | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| epix (Gen 2) | Airoha | - | - | |
| quatix | quatix 8 | Synaptics | Y | - |
| quatix 7 - Pro | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| quatix 7 - Sapphire | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| quatix 7X - Solar | Airoha | - | - | |
| quatix 7 | Airoha | - | - | |
| tactix | tactix 8 - Solar | Synaptics | Y | - |
| tactix 8 - AMOLED | Synaptics | Y | - | |
| tactix 7 - AMOLED | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| tactix 7 - Pro | Airoha | - | - | |
| tactix 7 | Airoha | - | - | |
| Enduro | Enduro 3 | Synaptics | Y | - |
| Enduro 2 | Airoha | Y | - | |
| D2 | D2 Mach 2 | Synaptics | Y | - |
| D2 Mach 1 Pro | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| D2 Mach 1 | Airoha | Y | Y |
The fēnix 8 (and its variants) have yet to be fully tested and verified, but please get in touch if you can help.
All of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, but APPro Windsurf is strongly recommended.
| Series | Model | Brand | Multi-Band | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instinct | Instinct Crossover AMOLED - Tactical | Airoha [1] | Y | - |
| Instinct Crossover AMOLED | Airoha [1] | Y | - | |
| Instinct 3 - AMOLED, Tactical | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Instinct 3 - Solar, Tactical | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Instinct 3 - AMOLED | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Instinct 3 - Solar | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Instinct E | Airoha | - | Y [2] | |
| Instinct 2X | Airoha | Y | N [3] | |
| Instinct Crossover | Airoha | - | N [3] | |
| Descent | Descent G2 | Airoha | - | - |
| Descent Mk3i | Airoha | Y | - | |
| Descent Mk3 | Airoha | Y | - |
Notes:
None of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, so APPro Windsurf is recommended.
| Series | Model | Brand | Multi-Band | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forerunner | Forerunner 970 | Synaptics | Y | - |
| Forerunner 570 | Synaptics | Y | - | |
| Forerunner 165 | Airoha | - | Y [1] | |
| Forerunner 965 | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Forerunner 265 | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Forerunner 955 | Airoha | Y | Y | |
| Forerunner 255 | Airoha | Y | Y |
The Forerunner 570 + 970 have yet to be fully tested and verified, but please get in touch if you can help.
Notes:
None of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, so APPro Windsurf is recommended.
| Series | Model | Brand | Multi-Band | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vívoactive | vívoactive 6 | TBC | - | - |
| vívoactive 5 | Airoha | - | N [1] | |
| Venu | Venu 4 | Synaptics | Y | - |
| Venu X1 | Synaptics | - | - | |
| Venu 3 | Airoha | - | N [1] | |
| Venu Sq 2 | Airoha | - | N [2] | |
| D2 | D2 Air X15 | Synaptics | Y | - |
The reliance on a touchscreen makes the vívoactive and Venu difficult to operate when the watch (or hands) are wet.
Notes:
The following app is highly recommended, due to its features and ease of use:
The following data field may be worth trying if you compete in the GPS Team Challenge:
If you are using a standard Garmin activity profile, it is VERY important that you use one that is suited to wind sports.
This is because the vast majority of Garmin activity profiles perform undesirable filtering of the speed data.
Several suitable activity profiles can be found on all of the rugged watches.
In the absence of suitable activity profiles, you should use the generic profile.
The following is a list of activity profiles that are NOT suitable, due to their filtering / smoothing.
Technical specifications, including GNSS details are provided for the following Garmin watches:
Notes about the GNSS product numbers inside FIT files are available on another page, accessible via this link.
These watches are rarely / never used on GP3S, but ARE supported by APPro Windsurf.
These devices are rarely / never used on GP3S, and NOT supported by APPro Windsurf.
These devices do not have built-in GPS, only “connected GPS”.
Most of the information has been gleaned from watch reviews, disassembly / teardown photos, testing and / or deduction.
Notes about the GNSS product numbers inside FIT files can be found on another page, available via this link.
Chipsets for the very oldest watches have been determined using a variety of sources, including fellrnr.com and test results by Mark Gee.
API levels obtained from Garmin developer site.