 |
| Beta 16.11 is likely the first v16.xx update of many for the Venu X1. |
Hot on the heels of its recent stability-focused update, Garmin is already looking to the future for its popular Venu X1 smartwatch. The company has just released Beta 16.11 for testers, marking a significant leap from the recent Software Version 15.33 and introducing a host of anticipated new features that move beyond simple bug fixes.
From Bug Fixes to Feature Boom
The previous update, Software Version 15.33, was a maintenance release aimed at squashing pesky bugs, most notably one that could cause the device to crash during Bluetooth music playback. Beta 16.11, however, is a different beast entirely. It contains a substantial 18 changes, with over a dozen being brand-new functionalities, signaling Garmin's continued investment in enhancing the Venu X1 user experience.
A New Era of "Glances": Your Data, Front and Center
A major theme of this beta is the expansion of the device's "glance" system—those quick, scrollable widgets on the watch face. Five of the new features are dedicated glance improvements, offering users more at-a-glance control and insight than ever before.
The standout addition is arguably the new battery monitoring glance, which provides detailed insights into battery life and performance, a boon for power users. Other new glances allow you to:
- Track your favorite sports teams.
- Monitor your weight trends.
- See how daily behaviors impact specific health metrics.
For those eager to dive into the details and join the testing community, the official announcement and discussion can be found on the Garmin Beta Program Forums: Venu X1 Beta - 16.11.
Expanded Apps, Smarter Training, and Voice Alerts
Beyond glances, Beta 16.11 significantly expands the watch's native capabilities. Outdoor and fitness enthusiasts will welcome the new Fish Forecast and Tides apps, perfect for planning aquatic adventures. Training gets smarter with the addition of new training plans focused on timed, cardio, and optional strength workouts, and the ability to record multiple sports sequentially in a single activity.
Usability is also enhanced. The update introduces new voice alerts within watch settings and for use with compatible radar devices, alongside configurable audio prompts. There’s even a clever new feature that lets you trim an activity using a course's finish point if you forget to stop the timer—a small but thoughtful addition for endurance athletes.
Accessibility and Refinements
Garmin has also included the option to enable colour filters in the display settings, an important accessibility feature. Other tweaks include more detailed course information (like cut-off times), sleep insights for ideal bedtimes, and updated training guidance that considers recent diving activity.
As with any beta, Garmin notes it includes "various bug fixes and improvements," though details are unspecified. The company is likely to release several more beta iterations before the v16.xx software branch is deemed stable for all users.
The Garmin Venu X1, currently priced at $599 on Amazon, continues to evolve through these substantial software updates, adding value long after purchase.
Full Beta 16.11 Changelog:
- Adds a glance for tracking your favourite sports teams.
- Adds a glance that tracks battery life details and performance.
- Adds a glance that tracks your weight.
- Adds a glance to track how daily behaviours affect certain health metrics.
- Adds an activity to record multiple sports in a row.
- Adds colour filters to the watch settings.
- Adds insights to the sleep glance for your ideal bedtime and wake time.
- Adds more details to a course including cut-off times and aid stations.
- Adds the Fish Forecast app.
- Adds the Tides app.
- Adds training plans that focus on timed workouts, cardio workouts, and optional strength workouts.
- Adds voice alerts to the watch settings.
- Adds voice alerts when using a compatible radar device.
- Audio Prompts - 2.07
- Download a watch app that displays recent WhatsApp messages.
- If you forget to stop the timer at the end of a course, you can trim the activity using the course finish point.
- Updates your training guidance with consideration to recent dives.
- Various bug fixes and improvements.