TL;DR
- Garmin COO Brad Trenkle says MIP displays aren’t disappearing anytime soon because they still offer advantages in battery life and outdoor visibility.
- Although Garmin’s AMOLED watches are becoming more power-efficient, they haven’t completely closed the endurance gap with MIP models.
- Garmin also sees potential for solar-powered OLED watches, although no such product has been announced.
A quiet tug-of-war is happening on Garmin wrists. On one side, AMOLED displays are winning hearts with their rich colors, crisp graphics, and gorgeous watch faces. On the other, the less glamorous memory-in-pixel (MIP) screens are still winning endurance contests, especially when the sun is blazing and the nearest charger is miles away. Garmin is increasingly embracing the former, but it isn’t ready to retire the latter.
Speaking to TechRadar, Garmin COO Brad Trenkle explained that battery life remains the biggest reason MIP displays still have a place in the company’s smartwatch lineup.
