The Garmin Enduro 4 is no longer just a rumor. It has cleared the FCC, shown up in Garmin Connect app code, and is tracking toward a late August or September 2026 launch that fits Garmin's two-year Enduro release cycle perfectly.
If you have been waiting for Garmin's next ultra-endurance watch, the evidence is now strong enough to start planning around. Here is everything the FCC filing, the app teardown, and the release cycle tell us.
The FCC Filing: Model A05216
The most concrete evidence comes from the FCC. A new Garmin device carrying model number A05216 (FCC ID: IPH-05216) was granted certification on June 18, 2026.
The filing reveals several important details:
5GHz WiFi support. The TCB Scope lists "UNII devices," which in plain English means this watch packs 5GHz Wi-Fi. This is significant because no current Garmin watch supports 5GHz WiFi. Every Garmin watch on the market today uses 2.4GHz only. The addition of 5GHz means a new communications chip generation, which typically brings faster data transfer, better connectivity, and improved range.
A single model filing. Unlike the Fenix line, which files multiple size and variant models at once, the Enduro 4 was filed as a single model. This matches the Enduro's history. The Enduro 2 and Enduro 3 each launched as one model in one size. The Enduro 4 appears to follow the same pattern.
The wireless stack and charging architecture described in the filing are consistent with a high-end Garmin watch. The antenna design, Bluetooth, and wireless charging setup all match what you would expect from a flagship-tier device.
the5krunner, who first spotted and analyzed the filing, concluded that the Enduro 4 is the most plausible fit for A05216. The single-model filing rules out the Fenix 9 (which would file multiple sizes), and the timing aligns perfectly with the Enduro's release cadence.
The Connect App Leak
The FCC filing did not come out of nowhere. One day before the FCC grant date, on June 17, 2026, developers found references to the Enduro 4 in a Garmin Connect app version 5.26 APK teardown.
The app code contained an "Enduro_4" device string with an internal device ID of 5179. This is the software infrastructure being prepared for a real product. Garmin does not add device-specific strings to its app for placeholder devices. When a watch shows up in Connect app code and clears the FCC within 24 hours of each other, the launch is close.
The Two-Year Release Cycle
Garmin's Enduro line has followed a remarkably consistent two-year cadence:
- Enduro (original): Launched 2020
- Enduro 2: Launched August 2022
- Enduro 3: Launched August 2024
- Enduro 4: Expected August or September 2026
Two years between generations, consistently in the August window. The Enduro 4 landing in late August or September 2026 would continue the pattern exactly. Garmin tends to launch outdoor and endurance watches in the late summer and early fall, ahead of the holiday shopping season and in time for the fall ultra running calendar.
This timing also makes sense relative to the Fenix 9. The Enduro has historically launched slightly ahead of or alongside the Fenix refresh, giving Garmin two premium outdoor launches in the same quarter. The Enduro targets the pure endurance crowd (maximum battery, MIP display, solar), while the Fenix targets the broader premium market (AMOLED, full feature set).
What to Expect: MIP and Solar
The Enduro line has a clear identity that distinguishes it from the Fenix. Here is what the Enduro 4 will almost certainly deliver:
A transflective MIP display, not AMOLED. The Enduro is built for battery life above all else. MIP displays use reflected ambient light and sip almost no power, which is how the Enduro 3 achieves its extreme battery numbers. Going AMOLED would undermine the entire value proposition of the line. Expect a MIP screen that is readable in direct sunlight and invisible indoors without the backlight.
Solar charging. Every Enduro has had solar. The Enduro 3 uses Garmin's Power Sapphire solar charging layer, which trickle-charges the battery from sunlight. The Enduro 4 will certainly keep this. The question is whether Garmin improves the solar efficiency or expands the solar harvesting area.
Extreme battery life. The Enduro 3 delivers up to 320 hours of GPS battery with solar assist and up to 90 days of smartwatch mode with solar. The Enduro 4 needs to match or beat these numbers to justify its existence. With the new 5GHz WiFi chip potentially drawing more power, Garmin will need to optimize elsewhere to maintain the Enduro's battery leadership.
Lightweight construction. The Enduro line has always been lighter than the Fenix. The Enduro 3 weighs just 63g. Expect the Enduro 4 to stay in that range, using a fiber-reinforced polymer case rather than full titanium.
What the 5GHz WiFi Actually Means
The 5GHz WiFi addition is the most interesting detail in the FCC filing, and it deserves some context.
5GHz WiFi offers significantly faster data transfer than 2.4GHz. For a Garmin watch, this matters for two things: syncing music and downloading map packs. The Enduro line supports offline music and full-color mapping, and both of those involve transferring large files from your phone to the watch. Faster WiFi means less waiting.
5GHz also means a newer chipset platform. The communications chip that handles WiFi, Bluetooth, and potentially other wireless functions is being upgraded. This could bring improvements to Bluetooth stability, ANT+ performance, and overall wireless reliability. It also future-proofs the watch for features that require more bandwidth.
The trade-off is power consumption. 5GHz WiFi draws more power than 2.4GHz when active. Garmin will need to manage this carefully to protect the Enduro's battery-first identity. Expect the watch to use 5GHz only for active transfers and fall back to lower-power modes the rest of the time.
Expected Price
The Enduro 3 launched at $899. Industry analysts expect the Enduro 4 to come in at $900 to $1,000, potentially with a $50 to $100 increase driven by the global memory chip shortage and the new communications hardware.
That price keeps the Enduro positioned above the Fenix 8 AMOLED ($899) and below the Fenix 8 Solar ($999+), which makes sense given the Enduro's endurance-focused feature set.
How It Fits the 2026 Garmin Roadmap
The Enduro 4 is one of three major Garmin launches expected in the second half of 2026:
- Enduro 4: August or September. MIP, solar, extreme battery. The endurance play.
- MARQ Gen 3: Q3 2026, likely October. Luxury titanium and sapphire built on Fenix 9 technology.
- Fenix 9: Late 2026 or early 2027. The full flagship refresh with new sensors and AMOLED.
Garmin confirmed in its Q2 2026 earnings call that new outdoor watch launches are coming in the second half of the year, without naming specific models. The Enduro 4, MARQ Gen 3, and Fenix 9 are the three watches that fit that description.
The Bottom Line
The Garmin Enduro 4 is real, it has cleared the FCC, and it is coming soon. The 5GHz WiFi upgrade signals a meaningful hardware refresh, not just a minor iteration. Combined with the MIP display, solar charging, and the extreme battery life that defines the Enduro line, this is shaping up to be the endurance watch to beat in late 2026.
If you are an ultra runner, thru-hiker, or adventure athlete who needs maximum battery life and does not care about AMOLED screens or smartwatch apps, the Enduro 4 is the watch to wait for. Expect an announcement in late August or September, with availability shortly after.
The FCC filing and app leak do not lie. The Enduro 4 is weeks away, not months.