Garmin Smartwatches Gain Full WhatsApp Messaging Capability
Curated by Zain Pirani
Mar 17, 2026
Summary
Quick Take
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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