Garmin Keeps MIP Displays for Battery Life
Garmin's chief operating officer says battery life is the main reason MIP screens still have a place in its smartwatch lineup.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Garmin COO Brad Trenkle said battery life remains the biggest reason MIP displays keep a place in Garmin's smartwatch lineup. The company said OLED battery efficiency keeps improving, but the battery-life gap with MIP has not completely closed.
Why it matters
Battery life is a central trade-off in smartwatch design, and Garmin's position shows why some models still favor reflective displays over brighter OLED screens. The approach affects how long wearers can go between charges.
Garmin's Enduro 4 offers up to 90 days of smartwatch-mode battery life with sufficient solar charging, while the Fenix 9 Pro display reaches 3,000 nits peak brightness. Garmin has not published a comparable battery figure for an OLED model with solar charging.
The players
Brad Trenkle
Brad Trenkle is Garmin's chief operating officer, who said battery life remains the biggest reason MIP displays keep a place in the company's smartwatch lineup.
Garmin
Garmin is a US-based maker of GPS devices and smartwatches known for its long-battery-life fitness and outdoor wearables.
The details
MIP displays use ambient light to stay visible, unlike AMOLED screens that generate their own light. Garmin's solar technology collects energy through a ring surrounding the display, and the Instinct 3 lets buyers choose between an AMOLED screen and a solar-powered MIP alternative.
Timeline
Garmin recently launched the Enduro 4 with a MIP display.
The Tech Race
Garmin's continued reliance on MIP displays, such as those in its Enduro 4, reflects a deliberate choice to prioritize multi-week battery life over the brighter output of OLED screens. The company's stance places it in a different design camp from rivals that have moved their premium watches toward AMOLED panels.
For wearers who go days between charges, MIP displays can mean fewer nightly charging sessions on outdoor trips. Buyers choosing between a bright AMOLED watch and a solar-powered MIP model will weigh screen clarity against how often they must recharge.
The takeaway
Display technology is a trade-off between brightness and battery life, and the right choice depends on how and where you use your watch. Check how often you need to charge before buying a smartwatch.
Further reading
For more on how display choices shape gadget performance, see Consumer Electronics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Android Authority.
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