Garmin’s long-running separation between its solar-powered smartwatches and its AMOLED-based models may shift after a new U.S. patent filing revealed work on semi-transparent solar cell technology. The document, made public by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, outlines a revised solar implementation that could allow the company to integrate photovoltaic layers without obstructing higher-brightness display panels. The publication has led industry watchers to evaluate whether Garmin is preparing to overhaul its high-end Fenix line.
The company has traditionally limited solar charging to models using Memory in Pixel screens, a category that includes earlier Fenix Solar editions and the Instinct 3 Solar. These watches offer extended battery life that varies with sunlight exposure, but the compromise has been the absence of AMOLED or microLED displays in devices that rely on solar harvesting. Garmin has segmented its portfolio accordingly, reserving AMOLED for the Fenix E and non-solar Fenix 8 variants.
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The patent, listed as US 2025/0359354 A1, details a photovoltaic structure designed to maintain visibility while sitting atop an AMOLED panel. Analysts believe this may represent the company’s attempt to eliminate the mutual exclusivity between its premium screen technology and its solar-charging systems. The filing states that the new solar layer is intended to “maintain display clarity while producing usable power,” reflecting Garmin’s stated aim to improve display visibility while keeping solar benefits.
Market observers have interpreted the filing as a possible step toward future Fenix models that combine Garmin’s strongest screen and battery technologies. However, the timing of any commercial product remains uncertain. The grant date of November 20 signals that development is still at an early stage, and the complexity of mass-producing transparent or semi-transparent solar layers suggests a multiyear process before the technology reaches consumer hardware.
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Based on current launch cycles, analysts estimate that a Fenix 9 Pro with both AMOLED and solar charging is unlikely to arrive before 2027. Garmin has not confirmed any development roadmap, leaving the industry to rely on the newly disclosed patent and speculation from wearables-focused publications.
Source: Gadgets & Wearables