Garmin just reported its biggest Q1 in company history. Revenue, profit, earnings — all records.

And while that’s great news for shareholders, the more interesting stuff for athletes came in the fine print: hints about new products, more connected watches, and a CEO who basically admitted something totally new is coming.

They’re Selling a Lot of Watches

Garmin brought in $1.75 billion in revenue last quarter — up 14% from the same time last year. Their fitness division, which covers basically everything runners and triathletes buy, was the biggest story: up 42% year-over-year.

The important part? That growth came from selling more watches — not just charging more for them. Garmin is gaining market share at every price point, from the entry-level GPS watches up through the Fenix and Forerunner 970.

People are buying Garmins. A lot of them.

The Outdoor Lineup Took a Step Back — but there’s a Reason

Products like the Fenix and Instinct were down slightly compared to last year. But the comparison is a little unfair because Q1 2025 included the Instinct 3 launch, which gave last year a big artificial boost.

More importantly: Garmin said the back half of 2026 is when the outdoor lineup gets interesting again. They’re loading product launches into the fall. They didn’t say what. But they were pretty deliberate about flagging it.

“New categories” for Garmin

CEO Cliff Pemble said on the earnings call that Garmin is planning to launch products this year that represent entirely new categories for the company.

Not just updated versions of existing watches, but genuinely new things.

He also said, when asked about brands like Whoop that make screenless recovery trackers: Garmin is “open to all kinds of devices and form factors.”

There’s a strong rumor — backed by trademark filings and a brief accidental appearance on Garmin’s own website — that they’re developing something called CIRQA. The details point to a screenless, always-on recovery wearable. Think Whoop or Oura, but Garmin. Designed to track recovery, stress, and physiological data without a screen getting in the way.

Nothing confirmed. But Pemble’s comments on the call were about as close to a confirmation as you get in a corporate earnings call.

More Watches with Satellite Messaging

Garmin’s inReach technology, the thing that lets you send messages and trigger an SOS from anywhere on Earth, no cell signal needed — is showing up in more watches. Pemble said directly that more connected watches are coming.

This isn’t Garmin trying to compete with Apple Watch on notifications. It’s a different pitch entirely: if you go somewhere remote and something goes wrong, your watch can save your life. That’s a real differentiator, especially for trail runners, hikers, and endurance athletes who spend time in the backcountry.

One Flag to Watch For

Garmin flagged that some component costs are rising due to tariffs and supply chain pressure. They said 2026 is fine as they stocked up ahead of the increases. But 2027 could mean slightly higher prices on new products. File that away for when you’re budgeting for your next upgrade.

Big Year Ahead

Garmin is doing great, their running and fitness gear is the hottest part of the business, and something genuinely new and probably recovery-focused is coming before the end of the year. The second half of 2026 is shaping up to be a big one.