Garmin's Beloved MiP Displays Could Be On Their Way Out, CEO Reveals

The Garmin Enduro 4 achieves unlimited battery life with an MiP display and solar cells.

The iconic memory-in-pixel screens might not survive the OLED revolution

For years, Garmin fans have sworn by the company's MiP (memory-in-pixel) displays. These transflective screens are legendary for their incredible battery life and readability in bright sunlight—qualities that have made them a staple in adventure-focused smartwatches like the Fenix series and Enduro line. But according to Garmin CEO Brad Trenkle, these beloved displays might eventually become a thing of the past.

The Battery Life Gap Is Closing

In a recent interview with TechRadar, Trenkle addressed the ongoing shift toward AMOLED displays across Garmin's product lineup. While MiP screens still hold a significant advantage in power efficiency, that gap is shrinking faster than ever.

"We do see that gap closing," Trenkle explained. "It's closed a lot, which is why you've seen battery life on our OLED products continue to increase generation over generation. But that gap has not completely converged, and I think until it does, we definitely don't think that MIP will completely go away."

The numbers tell an interesting story. The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro with its AMOLED panel delivers roughly one week of battery life with always-on display enabled. Meanwhile, the Fenix 9 Pro Solar with a MiP display can last three weeks without even using solar charging—or an impressive 34 days with solar assistance. The Enduro 4 takes things even further, achieving effectively unlimited battery life with sufficient daylight exposure.

The AMOLED Takeover Is Already Happening

Despite these advantages, Garmin has been steadily expanding AMOLED adoption across its lineup. The Venu series pioneered OLED technology for the company back in 2019, and since then, the vibrant displays have spread to the Epix, Fenix, and Forerunner families.

Perhaps most tellingly, the entire current Forerunner lineup—from the budget-friendly Forerunner 70 all the way up to the premium Forerunner 970—now offers AMOLED exclusively. There's no MiP option to be found anywhere in that range, leaving outdoor enthusiasts with fewer choices than ever before.

Why MiP Still Matters for Adventurers

For casual users who primarily run or cycle near home, OLED's superior contrast and color vibrancy make it the obvious choice. The technology has come a long way, and modern AMOLED panels offer features like always-on display without the massive battery drain that plagued early implementations.

However, for serious outdoor adventurers embarking on multi-day hikes or expeditions, MiP remains invaluable. An OLED screen has to ramp up brightness dramatically when taken outside to compensate for ambient light, consuming significant power. A MiP display, by contrast, actually becomes clearer in direct sunlight while barely using any energy at all.

The always-on display mode on OLED Garmin watches dramatically reduces battery life, making the simple act of using your watch as an actual watch surprisingly taxing when outdoors on a sunny day. This is exactly why MiP has become closely associated with solar charging models like the Fenix 9 Pro Solar and Instinct 3 Solar—devices that can achieve that coveted "unlimited" battery life claim.

Could Solar OLED Be the Answer?

The question on many Garmin fans' minds is whether solar charging could eventually come to OLED watches, potentially eliminating the last major advantage of MiP displays. Trenkle suggested this might be possible using crystalline silicon solar technology rather than the amorphous silicon used in current solar models.

"With crystalline silicon, that's not a transparent silicon material, but we do essentially make the chapter ring solar," Trenkle said. "You get the ring around the outside, but nothing overlays the active area of the display. In that case, you don't get any degradation or loss, whether it's reflectivity or image quality."

This approach—similar to what's used in the Instinct 3 Solar—could theoretically bring solar charging to OLED watches without compromising display quality. However, Trenkle stopped short of confirming any specific product plans.

What This Means for Garmin Fans

For now, MiP displays aren't going anywhere—at least not until OLED battery life fully catches up. But the writing appears to be on the wall. As Garmin continues to improve OLED efficiency and potentially explores solar charging solutions for its premium displays, the days of MiP may eventually come to an end.

If you're a die-hard MiP fan, now might be the time to appreciate your favorite devices while they last. The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro Solar and similar models remain excellent choices for those who prioritize battery life above all else. But the future, it seems, is increasingly bright—and that brightness comes from OLED.

What do you think about Garmin potentially retiring MiP displays? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: TechRadar