A recent report suggests that Garmin is developing a novel alternative to the digital crown solutions currently employed by competitors like Apple and Samsung. This new approach aims to enhance both accuracy and durability by utilizing a Hall effect sensor, complemented by a dedicated crown guard. Interestingly, this technology is reportedly not slated for an initial debut within Garmin’s high-end Fenix smartwatch series.
Maximizing Durability with Hall Effect Sensor Technology
A key focus of this new design is to maintain excellent water resistance and overall robustness. According to information obtained by Gadgets & Wearables, Garmin is actively avoiding the implementation of a traditional mechanical crown that relies on moving parts. Instead, the company is reportedly leveraging a Hall effect sensor.
This sensor would detect rotational input through magnetic movement. Theoretically, this design eliminates the need for any direct physical contact between the mechanical components and the internal electronics. This isolation should make the mechanism significantly less vulnerable to damage or degradation from water, dust, and other elements compared to standard physically moving mechanisms.
Potential Design Shift and Series Debut
At present, only conceptual images of this proposed design have been made available by Gadgets & Wearables. Therefore, readers should exercise a degree of caution and healthy skepticism when viewing these preliminary visuals. Furthermore, the adoption of this digital crown is rumored to coincide with a departure from Garmin’s well-known, conventional five-button control layout.
The conceptual image shows that the potential new design features only two control buttons positioned on the left side of the smartwatch case. The digital crown, which is protected by a prominent crown guard, is located on the opposite side. It is reasonable to assume that this digital crown would be used as an independent input method for navigating the user interface and interacting with various applications, without requiring the user to rely solely on the touchscreen.
This new digital crown is not expected to appear first on flagship models like the Fenix or Tactix series. Instead, the current expectation is that the technology will first be integrated into one of Garmin’s mid-range lines, such as the Venu or Vivoactive series. Consequently, the conceptual imagery may potentially represent a future Venu 5 or Vivoactive 7 model. An official release date for this new hardware is not yet known.
Also Read:Â Garmin Connect Rundown Leak: All the Stats in the New Annual Report
