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| Garmin’s Venu 4 (pictured) is one of three smartwatches getting a new nutrition logging feature. |
Garmin’s public beta program is churning again, delivering a first look at a significant new feature for the Venu 4, Venu X1, and vivoactive 6 smartwatches. The latest beta firmware, version 16.16, lands just over a week after the last test release and brings the hotly anticipated Garmin Connect+ nutrition logging system directly to users' wrists for the first time.
This move follows the official unveiling of the feature in early January 2026, signaling Garmin’s push to make advanced health analytics a core part of its subscription service. While beta software is always a work in progress, this update offers a tangible glimpse into how Garmin plans to evolve its ecosystem beyond fitness tracking into holistic health management.
What's New in Beta 16.16?
The headline addition is the Garmin Connect+ nutrition logging feature. This isn't just a simple calorie counter. The functionality, accessible via the Garmin Connect mobile app, allows users to:
- Scan food items using their phone’s camera for quick, barcode-style logging.
- Track detailed data including calories, macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat), and more.
- View comprehensive reports across daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual timescales.
- Receive AI-generated insights that aim to connect dietary patterns with overall health and wellness metrics tracked by their Garmin device.
“The promise is powerful: moving from simply recording what you eat to understanding how it impacts your energy levels, sleep, recovery, and workout performance,” notes a tech analyst familiar with Garmin’s roadmap. “It’s about contextualizing nutrition within your entire biometric picture.”
Important Caveats: Subscription Required & Early Bugs
There are two critical details potential users need to know. First, as a Garmin Connect+ feature, it is locked behind the company’s premium subscription tier, which costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. This continues Garmin’s strategy of reserving its most advanced analytics for paying subscribers.
Second, as with any beta, this initial release is showing some rough edges. Respected fitness tech reviewers The5krunner and DC Rainmaker have already flagged several bugs and inconsistencies in their initial tests, ranging from synchronization delays to inaccuracies in the food database. These reports are crucial for the community and Garmin’s engineers to refine the feature before a wide, stable release.
Garmin actively manages its beta feedback through dedicated community forums. You can follow the discussion and report issues directly for each device:How to Get the Beta Update
For those already enrolled in the beta program for the Garmin Venu 4, Venu X1, or vivoactive 6 (which is currently on sale for $299.99 at Amazon), downloading version 16.16 is straightforward:
- On your watch, navigate to the Main Menu.
- Go to Settings > System > Software Update.
- Select Check For Updates.
If the update is available for your device, you can proceed with the installation. Remember, beta software can be unstable, so it’s not recommended for use on your primary device if you rely on it for critical health data or event training.
Looking Ahead
Beta version 16.16 is a incremental but important step. It remains unclear when the full, stable version of the 16.xx software family—which is expected to bundle this and other new features—will be released to all users. For now, beta testers get an exclusive, hands-on preview of what could become a central pillar of Garmin’s health-tracking future.