Updated

Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 14

Garmin Rolls Out Instinct 15.18 to 50% of Watches, Fixing 7 Bugs and Security Issues

Updated

Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 14

Garmin Rolls Out Instinct 15.18 to 50% of Watches, Fixing 7 Bugs and Security Issues

Q: Are you in the lucky half receiving Garmin's newest Instinct 3 update, or are you still waiting?

If you own an Instinct 3, Instinct E or Instinct Crossover AMOLED, you may already have Garmin’s new stable update, but many users are still waiting. Garmin says System Software 15.18 is rolling out in stages and has currently reached about 50% of eligible devices. That means whether you have it now largely comes down to rollout timing, not anything you did wrong. If your watch has not updated automatically, Garmin says you can try forcing a check on the device through System > Software Update > Check for Updates. Version 15.18 replaces 14.17 and moves recent beta work into the stable channel. The update brings seven fixes and improvements, including better gear suggestions for Hike activities, less lag in the glances list, and a fix for incorrect weight values while editing Strength sets. Garmin also says it resolved pace dropouts during intervals, corrected dog pointer direction in the DogTrack glance, fixed an obscured Connect IQ data field, and addressed blank watch-face data fields in some languages. General security improvements are included as well. So the short answer is: some users are in the “lucky half” already, while the rest are still waiting for Garmin to expand the rollout. If your watch is still on 14.17, manual checking is your best option for now.

Q: What crucial fixes are hidden in Garmin's new 15.18 update that finally solve those frustrating interval pace dropouts?

The key fix in Garmin’s new System Software 15.18 is a direct repair for the bug that caused pace data to drop out during interval workouts on the Instinct 3, Instinct E and Instinct Crossover AMOLED. Garmin’s official changelog explicitly says the update “fixed issue where pace could drop out during intervals.” That is the crucial change for runners who had been seeing unreliable pace readouts mid-session. The fix has now moved from Garmin’s beta track into the stable release, suggesting the company considers it tested and ready for wider use. The update also bundles several other practical fixes that were previously spread across the beta cycle. These include reduced lag in the glances list, a Strength activity correction that stopped edited set weights from showing the wrong value, a DogTrack fix so the dog pointer shows the correct direction, a repair for obscured Connect IQ data fields, and a language-related bug that could leave watch-face data fields blank. Garmin also says it added general security improvements. For users, the takeaway is simple: if interval pace dropouts have been a recurring frustration, 15.18 is the update aimed at solving that specific problem. The rollout has started for about half of eligible stable-branch devices, and anyone still waiting can try checking manually on the watch under System > Software Update.

3 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 14

System Software 15.18 has moved from beta to Garmin’s stable channel for Instinct 3, Instinct E and Instinct Crossover AMOLED watches, and has already reached about 50% of eligible devices.
Seven changes from version 14.17 drive the release, including improved gear suggestions for Hike activities and fixes for lag in the glances list, interval pace dropouts and incorrect Strength weight editing.
Garmin also patched DogTrack pointer direction, obscured Connect IQ data fields and blank watch-face data fields in some languages, alongside general security improvements.
Users who have not received the update automatically can trigger it manually through Main Menu, then System, Software Update and 'Check for Updates'.