The brand looks to be on the cusp of reviving its dedicated fitness band line
After a hiatus of more than three years, Garmin appears ready to revitalize its fitness tracker lineup, with multiple leaks pointing to an imminent early 2026 launch for the Vivosmart 6.
While Garmin has spent much of the last year focusing on high-end adventure watches like the Fenix 8 Pro and more niche wellbeing tools like the Index Sleep Monitor, evidence suggests it hasn’t abandoned the entry-level fitness band market just yet.
The most significant leak comes from a product description that briefly surfaced on Garmin’s Indonesian website, which explicitly lists the upcoming device as including integrated GPS.
A major upgrade for the form factor
If accurate, adding a standalone GPS would be a game-changing upgrade for the Vivosmart line. The current Vivosmart 5, released in 2022, relies on ‘connected GPS’, meaning users must carry their phone to track outdoor activity route and pace accurately.
Adding native GPS would allow the Vivosmart 6 to compete directly with rivals like the Fitbit Charge 6, giving users who don’t love the sports watch form factor another option to consider.
The leaked listing also mentions support for over 30 sports modes, including swimming, cycling, and wheelchair activities, so it’s shaping up to be a comprehensive multi-sport tool despite its slimmer, smaller size.
Launch timeline
Further corroboration has also appeared in the form of a regulatory filing in South Korea for a Garmin device with model number A04986, as well as a now-removed placeholder reference on Garmin’s Swedish website, shown above.
While no official release date has been confirmed, the timing of these certifications typically precedes a launch by a few weeks.
This strongly suggests that Garmin is gearing up to unveil the Vivosmart 6 in early 2026, possibly coinciding with CES in January, offering fitness band fans their first meaningful hardware upgrade in years.
