I just woke up at 9 AM, grabbed my coffee, and did what most of us do: a quick “productivity” scroll through Reddit. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a post on r/GarminWatches that hit a little too close to home: “MIP lovers: what would you do when Garmin quits making MIP screen watches?”
As I sat there looking down at my Enduro 3, I felt a genuine sting of “tech-anxiety.” I’m in love with this watch specifically because of the MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) screen. It’s always on, it’s crystal clear under the sun, and the battery life is basically legendary. But looking at the direction Garmin is heading, the “MIP vs. AMOLED” debate isn’t just a forum topic anymore—it feels like a countdown.
I spent my morning digging through the comments and the poll results to see if I’m alone in this. Spoiler: I’m definitely not.
The Numbers: What the Community Says
The poll in the thread was pretty telling. With over 1,100 votes cast, the community is split, but there’s a clear “hardcore” base that isn’t ready to move on.
The poll gave four main options for what to do if MIP disappears:
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The largest group (around 35-40% of the active discussion) said they would simply buy used or “old stock” MIP Garmins. They’d rather use 5-year-old tech than charge a watch every few days.
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A huge chunk of people voted to change brands entirely. They mentioned moving to Coros, Suunto, or even going back to Casio.
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A smaller, more resigned group said they would eventually convert to AMOLED, but only because they feel they’ll have no choice.
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Surprisingly, many people were interested in the Instinct Crossover—that weird, beautiful middle ground with real physical hands.
What the “MIP Faithful” are Saying
The comments were where things got really interesting. One user, edgeplay6, summed up my feelings perfectly: “I’m gone then. MIP and sick battery life is the reason I went to Garmin. I won’t settle for an AMOLED with a 12-day battery life.” It’s funny—to most smartwatch users, 12 days sounds like a dream. To an Enduro user? It feels like a chore. Another user mentioned that if they have to use an AMOLED screen that “blasts” light in their face at night, they might as well just use an Apple Watch because at least the integration is better.
On the flip side, some users like 94b20gsr pointed out that they get 27 days on their Fenix 8 AMOLED and don’t miss the “dull” colors of MIP at all. But for me—and many others in the thread—it’s not about vibrancy; it’s about the watch feeling like a tool, not a phone.
Is the Enduro 4 My Last Garmin?
The general vibe of the discussion is that the Enduro and the Instinct are the last line of defense. Users are predicting that the Fenix 9 and Instinct 4 will almost certainly be AMOLED-only.
One commenter, no-im-not-him, mentioned they just bought an Enduro 3 specifically to “ensure they have a few years of Garmin MIP left.” I felt that. It’s like we’re all trying to hold onto this specific era of wearable tech before everything becomes a glowing rectangle.
My Takeaway
Don’t get me wrong—I’m a tech guy at heart. I actually love the AMOLED displays on the Fenix 8 and the Venu 4; they look incredible, and the contrast is undeniable. But when it comes down to it, I’m just a little bit more into the MIP screen. There’s something about that printed-paper look in the sun that a backlit screen just can’t replicate for me.
Scrolling through that thread made me realize that Garmin’s biggest strength—its “tool watch” identity—is exactly what the community is afraid of losing. We don’t want a tiny TV on our wrists; we want a device that survives a month without a thought.
If Garmin really does pull the plug on MIP, I might be one of those people scouring eBay for “New in Box” Enduro 3s in the year 2028. For now, I’m going to enjoy my sunlight-readable screen and forget where I put my charger—because with MIP, I won’t need it for another month anyway.
Also Read: Garmin Enduro 4: My 2026 Wishlist and Release Date Predictions
