Garmin has been busy expanding its reach across land, sea, and air, announcing a series of hardware updates and industry milestones. The company is currently refreshing its high-end wearable lineup while celebrating long-term success in aviation retrofits and marine safety technology.
A 1.4-inch borderless AMOLED display defines the visual update for the third-generation MARQ collection. This represents the largest screen size to date for the series, housed within a Grade-5 titanium chassis protected by a sapphire lens and ceramic bezels.
Beyond the visual changes, Garmin has integrated inReach connectivity directly into the hardware. According to Garmin, this allows for calls, texts, voice messages, and SOS functions when paired with an active plan and LTE or satellite connection. The watches also feature a new Garmin Locate tool for sharing live locations via the Garmin Messenger app. Technical specifications for the series include:
- Battery Life: Up to 18 days in smartwatch mode.
- Hardware: Built-in speaker, microphone, and an LED flashlight with microlensing optics.
- Health Tools:
- Specialized Models:
Aviation Milestone: 1,000 King Air G1000 Retrofits
On a different front, Garmin reached a significant aviation milestone by delivering its 1,000th G1000 integrated flight deck retrofit for King Air aircraft. The specific installation was performed by Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems on a U.S. Army C-12 Huron. The U.S. Army has now upgraded more than 40 C-12 Huron aircraft with the G1000 NXi platform.
The G1000 NXi system includes Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) as standard features. The program, which received its first supplemental type certificate in November 2007, covers a wide range of variants including the C90A/B, 200, B200, 300, and 350 series. Garmin reports it expects to certify Autothrottle and Garmin Autoland for King Air aircraft with gross weights up to 16,500 lbs later in 2026.
Marine Industry Recognition and Safety Innovation
In related news, Garmin’s marine division received several honors at IBEX 2026. The Garmin Signal VHF 400 earned an IBEX Innovation Award in the OEM Electronics category. The unit integrates VHF, DSC, and a Class B SOTDMA AIS transponder into a single color touchscreen interface, simplifying the visual layout of a boat's helm.
Safety technology also saw recognition as the Garmin OnBoard System won the Sea Tow Foundation’s National Boating Safety Award. The system is designed to monitor up to eight tags to provide wireless man-overboard (MOB) detection and automatic engine cutoff. These accolades coincide with Garmin being named Manufacturer of the Year by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) for the 12th consecutive year.
These updates across the MARQ wearable line, the King Air aviation program, and the marine electronics sector show Garmin's current focus on integrating communication and safety features into high-resolution hardware. As the company moves toward the end of 2026, the focus shifts to upcoming certifications for autonomous flight technologies and the continued rollout of its satellite-linked wearables.