Will the Garmin fēnix 8 be cheaper on Black Friday 2026?
Garmin's old flagship is now outgoing stock. We expect one of the bigger watch cuts.
HappenedBlack Friday 2025
In the US it fell a quarter on 27 November; we found no UK figure.
ForecastBlack Friday 2026
Likely a big drop
- The fēnix 9 went on sale in August 2026, so shops need to shift the 8
- Its 2025 cut came while it was still Garmin's top model
Should you wait for Black Friday?
Hold off. Outgoing flagships are what retailers discount hardest in late November. If you never use maps, the Instinct 3 is the cheaper tough watch.
The cheaper picks: what they really did
The percentages are real Black Friday 2025 cuts, as reported that week. The right column is our 2026 forecast.
Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED
Out since 2025
−20%US figureLikely a moderate drop
Built like a tank with a torch, but no maps on board.
Garmin Forerunner 965
Out since 2023
−25%US figureLikely a big drop
Maps on a lighter wrist; the 970 replaced it in 2025.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Out since 2025
−13%US figureLikely a moderate drop
Lighter, with maps, torch and ECG; Garmin's current top runner.
What this means: Each of these Garmins fell by at least an eighth last year. The 965 is the cheapest route to maps.
Questions people ask
What does the fēnix 9 change over the fēnix 8?
It is the newer generation, launched in August 2026. The fēnix 8 already has the AMOLED screen, maps, torch and dive features, so a deep cut makes it the better-value pick.
Is the fēnix 8 good for hiking?
Yes. It has full offline maps, a torch on the larger sizes and battery measured in weeks on the 51 mm model, which suits multi-day walks.
Does the fēnix 8 work with an iPhone?
Yes. It pairs with the Garmin Connect app on iPhone or Android.
How we reached this
Last year's cuts are the ones named outlets reported during Black Friday week 2025, against the regular price they quoted. The forecast is our reading of each model's age, its successors and last year's cuts. We never show prices. Where no outlet reported a cut in this country, we show the same model's cut reported in another country, marked with that country.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Tom's Guide (US): Black Friday smartwatch deals (live), Tom's Guide (US): Garmin Black Friday deals (20 Nov), Tom's Guide (US): Garmin Black Friday deals (27 Nov), Garmin newsroom: fēnix 9 and fēnix 9 Pro announced.