Garmin has released a new beta software update for several of its smartwatches, introducing a nutrition logging feature tied to its paid Garmin Connect+ service, as the company continues testing its 16.xx software cycle that began in December 2025.
Beta version 16.16 is now available for the vivoactive 6, Venu 4 and Venu X1 models, arriving about 10 days after the previous test release, version 16.14. The earlier update focused on background changes, including an upgrade to Garmin Connect Mobile translations, while the latest beta delivers a more visible user-facing feature.
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The update brings Garmin Connect+ nutrition logging, which was announced earlier this month. The tool allows users to log calories and macronutrients by scanning food items in Garmin’s mobile app, view reports across multiple time frames, and receive AI-generated insights linking nutrition habits to health data. Garmin has positioned the feature as part of its broader push to expand health tracking beyond fitness metrics.
Access to the new functionality, however, is limited to subscribers of Garmin Connect+, which costs $6.99 per month. As noted in the original announcement, “as this is a Connect+ feature, it is only available for users paying for a Garmin Connect+ subscription.” Independent testers, including the5krunner and DC Rainmaker, have reported early issues with the feature during beta testing.
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Eligible users enrolled in Garmin’s beta program can install the update directly on their devices, though Garmin has not said when a stable version of the 16.xx software line will be released more broadly. The company has indicated that the final release is expected to include additional features beyond those currently available in the beta.
Source: Garmin Venu X1, Venu 4, vivoactive 6