For years, users choosing a high-end Garmin Fenix smartwatch have faced a fundamental trade-off: extended battery life via solar charging or superior visual quality via an AMOLED display. A recently published patent filing, however, suggests that this difficult choice may soon become obsolete, leading to speculation that Garmin is on the verge of integrating both sought-after technologies into a single future Fenix model.
The Current Display-Power Dilemma
The crucial limitation to date has been the display technology. Garmin has exclusively paired its solar charging capabilities with Memory-in-Pixel (MiP) displays. While highly power-efficient and always-on, MiP panels lack the vibrancy and contrast offered by modern alternatives.
This restriction means premium models like the Fenix 8 Solar and Tactix 8 Solar cannot utilize the more brilliant AMOLED screens found in the Fenix E or the standard Fenix 8 lineup. Furthermore, current flagship devices, such as the latest Pro-branded smartwatches, are limited to high-quality AMOLED or microLED displays, with no Solar Pro versions yet available. The company has thus far kept the high-end visuals and the long-endurance charging separate.
A New Patent Paves the Way for Change
The potential solution to this long-standing technological divide appears to lie in a significant re-engineering of the solar cell itself. According to a recent patent publication filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under the number US 2025/0359354 A1, Garmin has developed a novel approach.
The patent describes a semi-transparent solar cell design engineered specifically to overlay an existing screen without significantly compromising the underlying panel’s visibility or brightness. This innovation would theoretically allow the integration of power-harvesting technology with a visually demanding AMOLED display for the first time in a Garmin watch.
Future Outlook and Release Timeline
Industry observers are interpreting this patent as a strong signal that Garmin is actively developing top-tier smartwatches that combine the vividness of AMOLED with the practical benefit of solar charging. However, the path from patent to product is often long and uncertain.
Given that the USPTO only granted this specific patent on November 20, the technology is still in its early stages of intellectual property protection. Consequently, while the outlook is promising, likely, mass production and commercial availability of a Solar AMOLED Fenix model are still several years away. Experts suggest that we should not expect to see highly anticipated future products, such as a hypothetical Fenix 9 Pro with this technology, arrive before 2027.
Also Read: Garmin Fenix 8 Alert: The $250 Price Drop You Can’t Miss (Now Only $749!)
