Garmin
Olathe, USA · Est. 1989
Founded by Gary Burrell, Min Kao
Garmin is an American-Swiss technology company founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min Kao in Olathe, Kansas, pioneer of GPS navigation devices. The company's watch division produces smartwatches including the Fenix, Forerunner, and MARQ series, widely used by athletes, pilots, and outdoor enthusiasts for their advanced navigation and health tracking.
- Founded
- 1989
- Headquarters
- Olathe, USA
- Group
- Other
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- fēnix — Garmin’s fēnix collection is its premium multisport GPS smartwatch family, spanning rugged outdoor, training, navigation, solar, and premium-material variants for athletes and adventure-oriented users. Key references: officialUrl.
- MARQ (2019) — Luxury tool watch collection from Garmin, combining premium materials like Grade-5 titanium, sapphire, ceramic, and AMOLED displays with dedicated activity-focused variants for aviation, sailing, golf, and more.
- Instinct — Rugged outdoor GPS smartwatch line built for harsh environments, with a tough, adventure-focused design and Garmin’s outdoor navigation and fitness capabilities.
- Venu (2019) — Lifestyle-oriented health and fitness smartwatch line from Garmin, centered on a refined look, AMOLED display, and everyday smart features for wellness-focused users.
Timeline
- 1989 — Gary Burrell and Min Kao co-found Garmin (from Gary + Min) in Lenexa, Kansas, initially developing GPS technology for aviation and marine use.
- 2003 — Enters the wearable fitness market with GPS-enabled running and cycling devices.
- 2016 — Launches the fēnix 5 series, establishing Garmin as the dominant player in GPS multisport watches.
- 2020 — Introduces solar-powered smartwatches with the fēnix 6X Pro Solar, extending battery life dramatically.
- 2025 — Introduced LTE and two-way satellite messaging on Fenix 8 Pro.
- 2026 — Major firmware update unified feature set across Fenix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, Forerunner 970/570, and Venu 4. Vivosmart 6 filed for regulatory approval.
Frequently Asked Questions about Garmin
- Is Garmin a watch company?
- Garmin is primarily a technology company specialising in GPS navigation, but its wearable division has become one of the largest smartwatch manufacturers in the world, particularly dominant in fitness and outdoor segments.
- What is Garmin's name origin?
- Garmin is a portmanteau of the founders' first names: Gary Burrell and Min Kao.