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​Garmin's doing well in wearables

The company enjoys a 10 percent revenue bump, thanks to its fitness trackers.

Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Scott Stein
garmin-fenix-5-smartwatches-09.jpg

Garmin's new Fenix 5 smartwatches on show at CES 2017.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Wearables and smartwatches aren't all disappointments. While Fitbit is expected to announce a holiday sales letdown over the last quarter, rival Garmin's fourth quarter earnings financial results saw an overall 10 percent revenue increase, and the success was due to the company's fitness and outdoors products.

Garmin's outdoor, fitness, marine and aviation units, in particular, saw the greatest growth. The Switzerland-based company's auto unit has seen a decline, however. GPS-equipped smartwatches and fitness trackers have been on the rise, and competitors such as Apple, Samsung and LG have included the location-tracking feature on recent watches.

Garmin's wearables extend across fitness bands and dedicated GPS-equipped running smartwatches, and have been CNET favorites for some time. Its products also span a wider range than Fitbit's, which might be an indicator that diversified fitness products aren't a bad idea.