Garmin Smartwatches Gain Full WhatsApp Messaging Capability
- Garmin has released a native WhatsApp app on its Connect IQ store, letting users send, receive, reply to, and react to messages directly from their wrist while still requiring a paired smartphone. news.google.com+1
- The rollout supports over a dozen devices across the fēnix, Forerunner, Venu, and vivoactive families, including select fēnix 7/6, Forerunner 255/265/955, Venu 2/2 Plus, and vivoactive 4/5 models. the5krunner.com+1
- Users can view up to ten recent chats, type replies with an on‑watch keyboard, send emojis, and manage incoming WhatsApp calls directly from the watch. samsungmagazine.eu+1
- Activation requires the Garmin Connect app on a paired iOS or Android phone, and the current version lacks media sharing, voice messages, and deep chat history, with occasional sync hiccups reported. the5krunner.com+1
- By adding a full‑featured WhatsApp client, Garmin narrows the functional gap with competitors like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch, enhancing its appeal to fitness enthusiasts and reinforcing its shift toward a true smartwatch platform. forbes.com+1
news.google.com
Sources
7 references
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Full coverage - Garmin smartwatches now support WhatsApp messaging and notifications - Google News
google.com · Mar 17
WhatsApp Officially Lands on Garmin Smartwatches: Full Support for Over a Dozen Models - Garmin News
garminnews.com · Mar 17
WhatsApp on My Garmin — Tested on Launch Day: Setup, Problems and What Actually Works
the5krunner.com · Mar 17