A number of Garmin smartwatches now support fall detection all day, not just when working out

Garmin makes some of the best smartwatches—yes, Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch models are extremely popular, too, but the genre doesn't start and stop with them.

Garmin's smartwatches come in all shapes and sizes and there are different variants depending on whether you're a runner, a hiker, a gym rat or someone who wants a military-grade rugged flagship watch.

Now, the company is seeding a new software update that will enhance a number of its smartwatches.

The important stuff

High-end smartwatches have a ton of sensors, features and systems on board and some of them can be described as potentially life-saving. These wrist gadgets can monitor heart rate and rhythm, detect dangerously low or high heart rates, measure blood oxygen levels, provide emergency SOS and location sharing, alert users to irregular heart rhythms, detect crashes and… detect potentially serious falls.

You might think, "What's the big deal with falling down? You just get up and call it a day", and that's probably because you're in your prime days, full of energy and power… or you've never had to deal with serious medical situations with your loved ones.

Garmin's new update

A new report states that Garmin is seeding a smartwatch update for several of its devices like:

• Fenix 8 series
• Venu 4
• Venu X1
• Forerunner 70
• Forerunner 170

So, the popular Venu 4 device now offers fall detection support. When an unfortunate event happens, the Venu 4 will send a message with the user's live location "to selected contacts for assistance".

It's true that many Garmin watches already support the fall detection feature, but after the current update, it can be kept enabled throughout the day and not only during specific outdoor activities. This means that if you have a condition that prevents you from standing up after a fall, your watch will send a message to someone who can, in theory, come over and help you.

More features

Garmin's new update also adds hands-free voice control via the "OK Garmin" code word, allowing users to start activities, set and manage timers and even launch the assistant on their paired smartphone.

Runners using watches such as the Venu 4, Vivoactive 6, and Fenix 8 series can now access Quick Workout and the new Run Coach plans. These features provide workout recommendations based on the user's fitness level and were previously limited to the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170.

When to expect the update?

The software update is already rolling out to compatible Garmin smartwatches, although it may take several weeks to reach all users. Owners can check for the update through the Garmin Connect or Garmin Explore apps on their paired smartphone.

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