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New fēnix 9 lineup is designed for ultramarathons, diving, hiking, and more

Garmin has just unveiled its latest flagship smartwatches, the fēnix 9, fēnix 9 Pro and fēnix 9 Pro Solar, bringing a thinner design, new fitness-tracking features and a sapphire crystal screen designed to help protect against scuffs and scratches.

They're premium smartwatches with very premium price tags, starting at £859.99 for the fēnix 9 and £949.99 for the fēnix 9 Pro and Pro Solar also starts at £949.99.

If you want the optional upgrade to send SOS messages and make calls via satellite when there's no mobile signal, you can spend as much as £1,199.99 on the 51mm models of the fēnix 9 Pro and fēnix 9 Pro Solar.

Each of the new fēnix 9 lineup is a GPS-equipped smartwatch designed for anyone who wants the best training tools, navigation, and battery life available for activities like mountaineering, ultramarathons, diving, hiking, and more.

As the name suggests, the fēnix 9 Pro Solar sets itself apart with its solar charging capabilities. It's the successor to the fēnix 8 Solar — relying on sunlight to extend its battery life during long periods outdoors, which could be particularly useful if you enjoy multi-day hikes, ultramarathons, or camping trips where you may not have access to a charger.

Depending on the case size, the fēnix 9 lasts up to 29 days between charges, while the fēnix 9 Pro reaches a maximum of 31 days. The Pro Solar offers up to 30 days normally, but that can stretch to as much as 57 days with solar charging, provided it gets enough sunlight.

With the updated range, you can expect enhanced stamina features, more memory for your maps, new sharing abilities on the Garmin Connect app, and more.

Susan Lyman, Garmin's Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing, said: "fēnix 9 and fēnix 9 Pro are purpose-built for those who want to perform better and venture farther. Athletes can better understand endurance gains and train smarter with advanced stamina metrics, while superior navigation tools help adventurers stay confidently on course.

"And with the new Garmin Epic feature, activities are turned into stories for users to relive. With these fēnix smartwatches on their wrist, our customers can redefine what they thought possible."

Here are all the new features you can expect from each of the models.

The new 9 Pro and 9 Pro Solar models are the first fēnix to sport a titanium watch case, which blends a premium look with a lighter, slimmer build. It also features the biggest and brightest AMOLED screen ever fitted to a fēnix, with the 51mm version boasting a 1.5-inch display — that's 15% larger than the fēnix 8, without making the case any bigger.

The sapphire crystal front on the full range is one of the biggest durability upgrades. Sapphire is an extremely hard material, second only to diamond on the Mohs hardness scale, making it far more resistant to scratches than the standard glass you’ll find on many smartwatches.

That matters particularly on an outdoor-focused watch, as the screen is more likely to come into contact with rocks, branches, equipment, or other rough surfaces during activities such as hiking, climbing, and diving. It means you can spend more time worrying about your activity and less time worrying about scratching the expensive display.

On the training front, there are some other useful upgrades for all the models if you're focused on improving your endurance.

There are new stamina zones and a stamina curve tool to show you how your staying power shifts over time, based on your fitness level and training history. This helps you work out how hard you can push during a race or long session without hitting the wall too early.

Indoor rowers will love the added insights too — you can now get VO2 Max readings and power curve data during rowing sessions, making it easier to track progress and fine-tune workout intensity.

If you're a fan of rucking or hiking, you also get a burst of new handy tools. You can now adjust your pack weight mid-activity, follow GORUCK workouts straight from the watch, and set targets like calories burned with weight limits of up to 100kg.

The maps on the fēnix 9 are a big leap forward, too. Garmin has crammed in 50% more RAM than the fēnix 8 and fitted a more powerful map engine, which means scrolling around the built-in routable maps is now up to 30% faster.

And with the cost of RAM driving prices upwards across the industry, like Apple, Roku, Amazon, and more, it may have been a factor in the release price.

The fēnix 9 starts at £859.99, while the fēnix 9 Pro and 8 Pro Solar start at £949.99. Comparatively, it's a small bump, with the fēnix 8 starting at £749.99 and the fēnix 8 Pro at £989. The fēnix 8 Solar does not have all the same abilities as the 8 Pro and starts at £779.99.

There's also a clever new perspective view that gives you a better sense of what's ahead by showing more detail both up close and in the distance — ideal for trail navigation. Storage has doubled too, with 64GB of memory letting you download twice as many maps as before, plus room for up to 7,000 songs.

The Pro models come with an optional built-in inReach technology for satellite and cellular connectivity, meaning you can make calls, send texts, and trigger an SOS directly from your wrist — no phone needed.

Emergency signals will go straight to the Garmin Response coordination centre, which is staffed around the clock.

New to this generation, the Garmin Locate feature lets loved ones check your position through the Garmin Messenger app via cellular connection. LiveTrack notifications now also work through the app, alerting contacts when you've started an activity so they can follow along.

Garmin's inReach connectivity isn't included with the watch price, so you'll need a separate subscription to use its satellite features.

Plans start at £7.99 a month for the Enabled tier, which includes SOS but charges for other satellite services, while Essential (£14.99) adds 50 texts and 10 photo or voice messages. Standard (£29.99) increases that to 150 texts, 25 photo or voice messages and unlimited tracking, while Premium (£49.99) offers unlimited satellite messaging, tracking and weather requests, plus 50 photo or voice messages.

All four plans include SOS, so even the cheapest option provides a way to call for emergency assistance when you're outside cellular coverage.

The company has also introduced a new feature called Garmin Epic for each of the models. It lets you bundle together workouts and adventures — whether they span a few days or several months — into a single story within the Garmin Connect app. This is similar to a post you'd find on Instagram.

You can pull in your health and performance stats from that period, add your own photos, and then share the whole thing with friends and family. It's free to use and works across all sorts of activities, from backpacking trips to cycling stage races.

All models are available now on Garmin's online site and Amazon and begin shipping on August 28.