While many of us know of Garmin as a smartwatch brand, its prowess in GPS technology, and outdoor equipment designed for varied use cases (including sports and adventure) are some of its key strengths. Even in the smartwatch segment, it’s known as a serious athlete’s wearable brand. Given that the Indian market has its own nuances and quirks, and considering that it faces competition from some big brands, we thought it’d be interesting to hear about the state of affairs directly from Garmin itself. In India, Garmin operates via AMIT Group International, which is their official distributor. We spoke with Deepak Raina, Director, AMIT GPS & Navigation LLC, to understand the trengs witness in the space, and how Garmin is addressing the Indian market.
Here are a few excerpts from the conversation.
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Q. What trends in fitness or health data have you noticed in recent years?
A. Over the last few years, fitness has evolved from simple step counting to holistic health tracking. People now want to understand their bodies, how workouts affect their routine and overall health, including training readiness, recovery, and performance. With increasing awareness about heart health, metrics like sleep quality, heart rate variability, stress tracking, and energy levels, which we call body battery levels, have become essential. In simple words, we can say that the focus has shifted from just “how much I move” to “how well I recover and perform”.
Q. How does Garmin tailor its global product portfolio for Indian users, considering
differences in fitness habits, price sensitivity, and outdoor adoption?
A. Garmin has started incorporating India’s own NavIC in its devices like Fenix 8 series, Fenix 7/pro series, Epix pro gen 2 series, Quatix 7/8, Tactix 8 solar, and Forerunner
165, 955, 970, 265, 965, etc. This shows Garmin’s long-term commitment to make products specially for the Indian market. Garmin devices have all the features required as per Indian fitness habits like Yoga, walking, running, etc. To make Garmin more affordable and accessible in a price-sensitive market like India, Garmin is offering special promotional prices on some key SKUs from time to time, which are comparatively much lower than prices offered by the brand in other key markets. Indian customers are even getting a 2-year warranty for all models launched in India after January 2024. Also, convenient payment plans like no-cost EMI to the customers are being offered.
Regarding outdoor adoption, Garmin makes durable devices for both outdoor and indoor use. It has running, walking, cycling, gym and many other activities, with both indoor and outdoor options, to help people track their health and activity, irrespective of performing indoors or outdoors.
Q. Outdoor sports are still a niche in India. Is Garmin doing something to grow hiking, trail running, cycling, and adventure navigation use cases?
A. Outdoor exploration has seen significant growth in India, especially in the post–COVID19 era. For our customers, outdoor activity involves walking, running, trail running, cycling, mountaineering, MTB riding, and hiking. Garmin offers dedicated devices for each of these activities, enabling users to capture and analyse their performance data seamlessly within the Garmin ecosystem.
Garmin continues to be the preferred choice for outdoor enthusiasts due to its superior battery life, direct satellite connectivity—even in remote, non-cellular regions—and industry-leading GPS accuracy, which is crucial for safe and efficient exploration.
India’s diverse terrain creates strong opportunities for adventure and fitness communities, both from within the country and from international travellers. Our recently launched flagship model, Fenix 8, has already become the top contributor in our premium watch category—clearly reflecting the growing demand for high-end outdoor devices in India.
In addition, Garmin is actively collaborating with adventure groups, trail organisers, and
mountainbiking communities to strengthen awareness and promote safe, reliable, and
datadriven outdoor experiences.
Our product lineup—including bestsellers like Fenix 8, Enduro 3, advanced cycling monitors,
MTB-focused devices and handheld GPS units are being showcased across various events,
workshops, and adventure races. These platforms allow users to experience firsthand the
precision, durability, and performance advantages that Garmin devices bring to real-world
outdoor activities.
Q. Do you see India becoming a meaningful market for outdoor handheld GPS and adventure watches in the future?
A. India is rapidly emerging as a high-potential market for outdoor technology. The strong response to our flagship Fenix 8—both globally and in India—reflects the rise of domestic tourism and a growing trekking and adventure culture. As more Indians take to hiking, biking, trail running, and other outdoor pursuits, the need for reliable navigation and endurance-focused tools continues to increase. While the country is still in its early stages of outdoor tech adoption, we view India as one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide, offering significant long-term growth opportunities for Garmin.
Q. With AI entering wearables, what is Garmin’s approach towards it?
A. Garmin’s philosophy has always been rooted in “data with purpose.” Our goal isn’t to add AI for the sake of it, but to integrate it in ways that genuinely enhance the user experience.
Our approach focuses on delivering predictive, science-driven insights that help users
understand when to rest, when to train, and how to optimise their overall lifestyle. The intention is not to replace intuition, but to enhance it through meaningful personalisation.
Features such as Garmin Coach support users with tailored guidance for training and recovery, while Garmin’s internally developed voice commands allow seamless device control without requiring internet connectivity-an advantage that sets us apart from the competition.
Additionally, Nutrition Tracking in the Garmin Connect Plus app offers personalised calorie and macronutrient recommendations, enabling a more holistic approach to health and wellness.
Garmin is also expanding its innovation ecosystem through collaborations with leading global brands. A key example is our partnership with Oakley Meta Glasses, which are exclusively compatible with Garmin devices. During activities, users no longer need to look at their watch screens. Garmin metrics are delivered through the built-in speakers of the Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses. This hands-free experience adds convenience, enhances real-time performance monitoring, and introduces a uniquely innovative feature within the industry.
Q. In a market dominated by Apple, Samsung, and budget wearables, who is Garmin really competing with in India?
A. Garmin stands in a category of its own. Built on a foundation of performance,
precision, and unwavering reliability, the brand has never chased short-lived trends. Instead, Garmin controls its destiny end-to-end—designing and manufacturing its devices in its own facilities. This hands-on approach ensures uncompromising hardware quality and industry-leading standards that truly set Garmin apart.
Engineered for users who demand accuracy, endurance, and rugged dependability, Garmin
products are trusted to deliver exceptional battery life and data integrity—even in the most
demanding environments. This level of reliability extends beyond fitness and adventure.
Garmin’s technology is trusted for critical applications such as patient monitoring and clinical research, with prestigious institutions worldwide—including India’s leading healthcare names like AIIMS and Apollo—relying on Garmin for research-grade insights.
While athletes and outdoor enthusiasts continue to push limits with Garmin, the brand equally serves health-conscious individuals who want professional-quality data they can rely on every day. At its core, Garmin is more than a wearable brand—it’s a holistic health and performance ecosystem that understands the body, supports personal goals, and promotes wellbeing through real-time, dependable insights.
As a true industry pioneer, Garmin has consistently introduced advanced features years before they became mainstream. Many innovations being adopted by competitors today were established by Garmin long ago—reaffirming its position not just as a market participant, but as a long-standing leader shaping the future of the category.
