Garmin is keeping its popular Instinct smartwatch line on the cutting edge with a rapid-fire series of software updates. Hot on the heels of last week's beta release, the company has begun rolling out beta version 12.19 to a range of Instinct models, including the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, Tactical edition, Crossover, and the standard Instinct 3.
The new firmware arrives just days after beta testers got their hands on version 12.18, signaling that Garmin's developers are actively squashing bugs and refining the user experience for these rugged outdoor watches.
A Mystery Update: What’s Actually in Beta 12.19?
If you're looking for a detailed list of new features, you might be disappointed—for now. The official change log for beta version 12.19 is notoriously vague, stating only that it brings “miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements.”
This lack of detail has left the community speculating on what exactly has been addressed. A primary concern for many users has been a faster-than-expected battery drain, an issue that first cropped up with version 12.17. This bug seemed to particularly affect those using certain third-party Connect IQ watch faces. While it's hopeful that 12.19 contains a fix, Garmin has not explicitly confirmed it.
Another potential candidate for a fix is a minor UI glitch reported by a user in the official Garmin Forum Beta Bug Reports section. The user noted that the Treadmill activity was appearing multiple times within the Running activities list. Whether this tidy-up is part of the "miscellaneous improvements" remains unconfirmed, but it's a common type of issue resolved in such incremental updates.
You can follow the official announcement and discussion from the Garmin team directly in their forum post for beta version 12.19.
Building on Recent Instinct 3 Features
While this particular update seems focused on stability, it builds upon a solid foundation of recent additions to the Instinct 3 series. One of the most significant recent introductions was support for Health Status, a powerful sleep and wellness insight that compares your recent data (like sleep, stress, and heart rate) to your personal baseline to give you a clearer picture of your overall well-being.
Furthermore, the earlier beta version 12.17 added a handy new Pulse Ox data field option for the watch face, allowing users to monitor their blood oxygen saturation levels at a glance without navigating through menus.
How to Get the Update
According to a post on the Garmin Forum, the beta software version 12.19 is being pushed to eligible users over-the-air (OTA). As with all beta programs, this is a staged rollout, so not every beta tester will receive it immediately.
For the broader public, the question remains: when will a stable, public version of the 12.xx software branch be available? There's no official word yet, but the rapid pace of these beta releases suggests Garmin is working diligently to prepare a polished update for all users of the Instinct 3 series, including the feature-packed Instinct 3 smartwatch (45mm AMOLED), which continues to be a top seller for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts alike.
As always, those participating in the beta program are encouraged to report any new bugs they encounter to help refine the software before its full public release.