Garmin grants third-party smartwatch developers access to microphones, speakers, and cellular hardware

Garmin has rolled out its Connect IQ 9.3 update, finally giving third-party developers permission to use the microphone and built-in speaker on compatible smartwatches. The release also opens up LTE hardware access. Compatible devices span primarily high-end and newer models, including the Fenix 8 and 9 series, Fenix E, Forerunner 570 and 970, Venu 4, and Approach S72. [1][2]

Under the new system, apps can record mono or stereo audio in WAV or Ogg formats with built-in echo and noise cancellation. Garmin is still enforcing guardrails to protect privacy and system stability: third-party software can only record audio while the application remains actively open on the screen. [1]

The shift addresses long-standing complaints that Garmin overly restricts its hardware compared to ecosystems like Apple Watch and Wear OS. Opening these components paves the way for richer audio recording and playback utilities, potentially revitalizing an app catalog that critics have often viewed as sparse and unpolished. [1][2]