Garmin Fenix 8 users are reporting the Fenix 8 (which we called 'perfect') crashing during cold water plunges

Earlier this week, TechRadar published its official Garmin Fenix 8 review. We (or more accurately, I) called it “rugged, expensive perfection” and labelled it one of the best Garmin watches ever.

In that review, I also stated: “I’ve not had the opportunity to test the new Dive Mode yet, unfortunately: after this review has been published I’ll be handing the device off to a writer who’s also a recreational diver for a more thorough breakdown of that particular mode.”

Unfortunately, it’s that exact feature which is playing up for quite a few Garmin users at the moment. A reader reached out to me to inform TechRadar that posters on Garmin’s official forums, as well as several Reddit threads, are reporting some problems after submerging their Fenix 8s in cold water.

One poster writes: “My Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm consistently crashes when the water temperature drops below 8°C. This is a significant issue where I live, as the water temperature often falls below that.

“In Europe, dive instruments must be tested down to 0°C to be on the market, so I find it surprising for a watch advertised to operate in negative temperatures to have this problem. I’m wondering if this is a software safety feature that might be resolved in an update, or if I should consider sending the watch back.”

It’s worth noting that the watch doesn’t appear to be permanently broken for any user yet: all posters and commenters are reporting a temporary crash. In the Garmin Fenix 8 owner’s manual, it states the listed underwater operating temperature is from 0F to 40C (from 32F to 104°F).

TechRadar has reached out to Garmin for comment, and we’ll update this article with any new information.