gps-details

Garmin Watches

Overview

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.

Airoha or Synaptics GNSS Chipset

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.

Rugged - fēnix variants

All of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, but APPro Windsurf is strongly recommended.

Series Model Brand Multi-Band
fēnix fēnix 8 - Solar Synaptics Y
  fēnix 8 - AMOLED Synaptics Y
  fēnix E Airoha -
  fēnix 7 - Pro Sapphire Solar Airoha Y
  fēnix 7 - Pro Solar Airoha Y
  fēnix 7 - Sapphire Solar Airoha Y
  fēnix 7 - Solar Airoha -
  fēnix 7 Airoha -
epix epix Pro (Gen 2) - Sapphire Airoha Y
  epix Pro (Gen 2) Airoha Y
  epix (Gen 2) - Sapphire Airoha Y
  epix (Gen 2) Airoha -
quatix quatix 8 Synaptics Y
  quatix 7 - Pro Airoha Y
  quatix 7 - Sapphire Airoha Y
  quatix 7X - Solar Airoha -
  quatix 7 Airoha -
tactix tactix 8 - Solar Synaptics Y
  tactix 8 - AMOLED Synaptics Y
  tactix 7 - AMOLED Airoha Y
  tactix 7 - Pro Airoha -
  tactix 7 Airoha -
Enduro Enduro 3 Synaptics Y
  Enduro 2 Airoha Y
D2 D2 Mach 1 Pro Airoha Y
  D2 Mach 1 Airoha Y

Rugged - other ranges

All of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, but APPro Windsurf is strongly recommended.

Series Model Brand Multi-Band
Instinct Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Airoha Y
  Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Airoha Y
  Instinct 3 AMOLED Airoha Y
  Instinct 3 Solar Airoha Y
  Instinct E Airoha -
Descent Descent G2 Airoha -
  Descent Mk3i Airoha Y
  Descent Mk3 Airoha Y

Running / Triathlon

None of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, so APPro Windsurf is recommended.

Series Model Brand Multi-Band
Forerunner Forerunner 970 TBC Y
  Forerunner 570 TBC Y
  Forerunner 165 Airoha -
  Forerunner 965 Airoha Y
  Forerunner 265 Airoha Y
  Forerunner 955 Airoha Y
  Forerunner 255 Airoha Y

Health / Wellness

None of these watches include native windsurfing / kiteboarding activities, so APPro Windsurf is recommended.

Series Model Brand Multi-Band
vívoactive vívoactive 6 TBC -
  vívoactive 5 Airoha -
Venu Venu X1 TBC -
  Venu 3 Airoha -

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:

Activity Profiles

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.

Important Settings

Watch Specifications

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.

Sources

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.