As an avid Garmin user, I’m happy to report this surprising news. Garmin and Google have teamed up a few times recently, and are back again with the announcement that you can now install Google Maps onto your certain Garmin smartwatches. Starting July 8th, the company is supporting the new companion app for “select” Forerunners, Venu, vivoactive, and fenix watches.
Garmin explains some of the thought process and actions here:
For those who prefer to walk to their destination, Google Maps provides on-the-go directions that gently vibrate their Garmin smartwatch to keep users from having to look down at their phones while crossing the street or maneuvering through a crowd. And for even greater awareness, simply tap into the app to see the next three turns.
Users can still record walks, runs or bike rides on their Garmin smartwatch while using Google Maps, allowing them to track distance, heart rate and more, while also getting notified when it’s time to make a turn along the route. Once they arrive at their destination, users can sync their activity data from Garmin Connect to other Android health and fitness apps via Health Connect, providing them with more tools and flexibility than ever before.
There’s no real details on which devices make the cut and which don’t in the models mentioned, but I was happy to be able to install on my budget Garmin Forerunner 165. This makes me feel like most recent watches from the last few years will most likely have compatibility. It’s also worth mentioning that this is just a companion app to the existing one on your smartphone. You will need to input destinations and map criteria into Google Maps for iOS or Android first, and then the Garmin Google Maps app mirrors your guided navigation on your wrist.
The Google Maps app is available now in the Connect IQ Store and is free to download.
