Garmin has released public beta 16.04 for the Instinct 3 family and related models. The September 18, 2026 update adds Recovery Mode, improves wave detection in the Surf activity and addresses two everyday software problems.
Which watches are included?
Garmin’s announcement covers Instinct 3 AMOLED and Solar in 45mm and 50mm sizes, Instinct E in 40mm and 45mm sizes, Instinct 3 Tactical Solar and AMOLED, and Instinct Crossover AMOLED. Only devices enrolled in the public beta program receive this build.
Installation is through the watch’s System, Software Update and Check For Updates menu, with a connection to Garmin Connect Mobile required. This is not a statement that every retail watch is receiving a new stable release automatically.
Small fixes with everyday consequences
The changelog says the update fixes lag while viewing the calendar and a possible crash when starting a workout through a Connect IQ app. Those fixes matter because a training watch is often used in short interactions: checking an appointment or beginning an activity should not become an interruption.
Garmin names Recovery Mode without fully explaining its operation in the announcement. It would be premature to describe it as a new training-recovery metric or attach health claims to the name.
The beta trade-off
Garmin identifies 15.18 as the current live software in these notes. Owners who prefer stability can stay on that release while testing continues. The company also warns that rolling back resets the watch to default settings and prevents downloading the same beta again; users must wait for a newer beta.
We have not tested 16.04. The changes are Garmin’s stated fixes, and beta software can introduce issues even when it resolves older ones.
Source: Garmin, via Notebookcheck official information, checked September 19, 2026.
Featured image: Garmin, via Notebookcheck. Manufacturer artwork, not independent test imagery. Prepared with AI assistance and checked against the linked sources. No hands-on testing is claimed.