Garmin appears to be developing a new high-end outdoor smartwatch, the Fenix 9 Pro, featuring satellite messaging, LTE support, and advanced location capabilities, signalling a significant upgrade for remote users.
Garmin appears to be preparing another high-end outdoor smartwatch with satellite connectivity, after a US telecoms filing pointed to a wrist-worn device that could be the long-expected Fenix 9 Pro. According to Frandroid, the Federal Communications Commission recently approved a Garmin product identified as A05170, and the filing describes it as a watch rather than a pocket-sized inReach communicator. That distinction matters because it suggests Garmin is extending its satellite messaging hardware into a new generation of wrist devices.
The documentation indicates a premium specification set built around LTE cellular service and NB-NTN satellite support on bands 23 and 255, alongside Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ANT+ for sports sensors and NFC for contactless payments. In practical terms, that would let users send messages in remote areas when mobile coverage drops away, which is the main appeal of Garmin’s outdoor satellite line.
Garmin has already laid the groundwork. The Fenix 8 Pro, launched in September 2025, was the company’s first watch to combine inReach satellite messaging with cellular connectivity, with pricing starting at €1,199.99. Garmin’s own coverage information says the model is designed for off-grid communication in supported regions, underlining how the company is positioning the feature for hikers, climbers and endurance athletes who spend time beyond cell towers.
The timing also fits Garmin’s usual release rhythm. Frandroid reported that the company often unveils its flagship watches in late August during the UTMB week in Chamonix, and a separate filing seen in June had already fuelled speculation about an Enduro 4 launch. Clifton Pemble, Garmin’s chief executive, recently told investors the company expects stronger second-half revenue in 2026 because of its product launch calendar, which has added weight to expectations that the Fenix 9 range could arrive before the end of the month.
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