Garmin beats Apple to market with satellite-connected smartwatch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Legal and Regulatory Restrictions

  • Multiple comments note satellite comms devices are illegal or heavily restricted in India (post‑2008 Mumbai attacks) and also in some other countries (e.g., Thailand).
  • Rationale discussed: preventing uncontrolled communications for terrorism or revolution; others note similar security-driven restrictions exist worldwide.
  • More general point: once you leave common ISM bands, many countries have strict radio rules that travelers can unintentionally violate.

Satellite Network and Coverage Concerns

  • The new watch uses Skylo / geostationary satellites, not Iridium like classic inReach devices.
  • Coverage map is seen as underwhelming: good over the continental US, but many remote areas globally are uncovered.
  • Some argue this risks confusing users, since “inReach” branding now spans both global Iridium and limited-coverage Skylo.
  • Users who rely on Iridium in canyons / backcountry are skeptical a watch-sized antenna plus GEO satellites will be reliable in emergencies.

Price, Target Market, and Value

  • $1,200 (plus ~$8/month and per‑message fees) is called steep; many see it as a niche product for affluent endurance athletes and remote outdoors users.
  • Others defend the value given ruggedness, multi‑sport features, long battery life, and multi‑year use.
  • Some note cheaper Garmin models offer most fitness features without satellite.

Subscriptions, Longevity, and Reliability

  • Debate over whether subscription-based satellite hardware will be viable in 5–10 years; some fear service shutdowns, others cite long inReach support history.
  • Several prefer one‑time‑cost PLBs for pure emergency use.
  • Reports of firmware-induced battery drain and past random reboots fuel concern about Garmin QA on consumer devices.

Garmin vs Apple (and Other Brands)

  • Garmin praised for battery life, ruggedness, fitness depth, and form factor that looks more like a “normal watch.”
  • Apple Watch Ultra praised for superior software, app ecosystem, and stability; criticism that Garmin can’t match a full third‑party app platform.
  • Apple’s satellite features noted as currently fee‑free and integrated with phone number, which some see as a major advantage.
  • Others emphasize how poor cell coverage is in many US outdoor areas, making any satellite SOS highly desirable.

Offline Sync, Openness, and Data Access

  • Frustration that many wearables (including Garmin) require cloud accounts and often won’t sync watch→phone over Bluetooth without internet.
  • Some point to Gadgetbridge and select devices as partial workarounds, though often still requiring a one‑time cloud activation and Android only.
  • Garmin exposing an API (e.g., via GarminDB) is highlighted positively for data export and self-hosting.