Messaging on a smartwatch can be finicky due to the small display, but having an app on your wrist is vital when your phone is out of reach or you need to be discrete while exercising. Now, Garmin has answered users’ request by bringing an official WhatsApp app to its smartwatches.
Garmin has officially announced the WhatsApp app for its devices. According to the company, it is the first and only third-party messaging app available on their platform. This release follows the launch of the official WhatsApp app for Apple Watch last year.
Which Garmin Watches Support WhatsApp
Users can download the WhatsApp app for free from the Garmin Connect IQ Store. It supports a selection of Garmin watch models, mostly the newer ones, including: Venu 4, Venu X1, Vivoactive 6, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 970, Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix E, Enduro 3, and D2 Air X15.
While the list is modest, it covers many of Garmin’s most popular recent models. Support for these watches likely depends on hardware capabilities. Older models often lack a touchscreen for typing and have slower processors. But it’s a disappointment that Garmin left out the Forerunner 165 despite having a touchscreen.
The app works with either an Android or an iPhone device paired to the smartwatch. However, the wearable’s Bluetooth connection to the phone must remain active at all times, as the app does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
What You Can Do with WhatsApp on Garmin
With the official WhatsApp app, users can read incoming messages and reply using the built-in keyboard. Emojis can also be inserted and sent. In addition to typing new messages, several preset quick replies are available. Users can view recent messages or browse chat history for up to the last 10 messages.
Viewing media attachments such as photos or GIFs is not supported, which is understandable given the limited screen size and hardware constraints. Voice calling through WhatsApp is not available either, but users can see incoming calls and choose to decline them.
Notably, voice-to-text dictation is absent, even though many of these watches include a microphone. This feature may be added in a future update.
While the functionality remains basic, it is genuinely practical for many users, such as when working out at the gym or on the court with their phone stowed in a bag, or while cycling on roads or trails.
Have you used your Garmin smartwatch for messaging? Do you find the addition of WhatsApp useful? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
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