Garmin, the smartwatch company, is facing criticism after customers around the world reported problems with their devices. Some users have encountered a blue triangle when trying to turn on their watches, while others are stuck on the startup screen. The issues have affected Garmin’s Fenix 8 smartwatches, which are priced at nearly £1,000 ($1,200), although not all devices are experiencing the same problems. Garmin acknowledged the issue on its website, stating that it is aware of the situation and working on a solution.
Customers have taken to social media to voice their frustration over the malfunctioning watches and what many perceive as the company’s slow response to the problem. Garmin has proposed a possible solution for the issues affecting some of its smartwatches, suggesting users reset their devices and connect them to the Garmin app. However, the company has acknowledged that this may not resolve the problem for everyone, and in such cases, it recommends performing a factory reset.
Despite these efforts, some users on social media have reported that even after a factory reset, their smartwatches still aren’t functioning correctly. One frustrated user shared on X, “Their instructions don’t fix it and Garmin is silent.” Among those expressing dissatisfaction is Absolute Radio DJ Leona Graham, who also shared a video showing the blue triangle issue.
Garmin’s website lists several devices affected by the issues, including:
• Approach Watch
• Edge Cycling Computers
• Epix Watch
• Fenix Watch
• Forerunner Watch
• Instinct Series Watch
• Vivoactive 4 and 5
• Venu 3 and 3S
While the company has not provided a specific explanation for the problems, some experts suggest the issues may be linked to a faulty update, which could prevent the devices from properly communicating with GPS. Despite updating its support page, Garmin has faced criticism for its lack of communication on social media, which has angered many users. One customer urged the company to prioritize resolving the ongoing issues, while another expressed frustration, calling it “unbelievable” that the company hadn’t addressed the root cause yet. One user pointed out that, considering the high price of the watches, Garmin should be more transparent and responsive rather than ignoring the concerns of their customers.