Garmin may be preparing to solve one of the biggest trade-offs in modern wearables: pairing vibrant AMOLED screens with reliable solar charging. A newly published filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, US 2025/0359354 A1, outlines a semi-transparent solar cell designed to harvest energy without dimming or obscuring an AMOLED display. In simple terms, it could let light pass to the screen while still drawing power from the sun, preserving brightness, color accuracy, and overall visibility.
This approach hints at future Garmin smartwatches that no longer force a choice between eye-catching AMOLED visuals and the battery-boosting benefits of solar tech. If the concept scales, it would be especially appealing for endurance athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want long runtimes, always-on readability, and premium display quality in one high-end device.
The patent was published on November 20, signaling active development but not an immediate product launch. As with any patent, there’s no guarantee the technology will reach store shelves, and even if it does, engineering and mass production typically take time. Based on the timing and the complexity of integrating semi-transparent solar layers with AMOLED panels, the safest expectation is a multi-year runway. Don’t be surprised if a potential Fenix 9 Pro or similar flagship with this capability doesn’t arrive before 2027.
For now, the filing offers a clear look at where Garmin could be headed: advanced solar charging that works hand-in-hand with AMOLED, paving the way for longer battery life, sleeker designs, and more premium displays in the brand’s future high-end smartwatches.
