Garmin has another watch or bike computer on the way, judging by its FCC filings.
A new device application has been posted at the FFC, as spotted by the5krunner. The FCC is the agency through which products that have some wireless component, like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, need to pass before hitting the market.
The device is dubbed IPH-04968, but Garmin has been far more careful about the details included in this initial public filing than it has been in the past.
It’s listed as a “mobile transceiver” but this does not rule it out from being, for example, a bike computer rather than a classic wrist-worn wearable. And the two referenced frequency ranges could equally refer to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi unit or Bluetooth, which also operates in the 2.4GHz range.
What could our IPH-04968 mystery Garmin be?
One this thing mystery device probably is not is a high-end fitness watch. Such wearables typically have NFC, which does not appear to be referenced in Garmin’s filings, as it operated on a quite different frequency to those mentioned. NFC is used in Garmins for wireless payments via Garmin Pay.
A very basic diagram of the device also suggests it’s rectangular in shape. This could either be the brick shape of a bike computer, or perhaps even a lozenge shaped fitness tracker — minus a strap.
It also suggests this is probably not the rumoured Garmin Forerunner watch some are hoping for. The Forerunner 965 and 265 are now more than two years old, and therefore potentially ready for an update —leading to some chatter about a potential Forerunner 975. But this doesn’t quite match the limited substance in the FCC filing.
The5krunner posits “Garmin will likely release at least one Edge or Forerunner in the next 10 days.” Both the Garmin Edge 500 and 800 could be due an update, having last been refreshed in 2023.
These are lower-end bike computers that, sure enough, could roughly tally with the rectangular diagram seen in the FCC documentation. Either way, I’ll be on the lookout for the next product drop from Garmin.
