- Garmin launched its new subscription service in March
- Has proven to be extremely unpopular with users
- Interestingly, CEO Cliff Pemble says that the answer has been positive and says that the company will probably reserve some premium characteristics to advance
Garmin states that the response to its Connect+ subscription service has been positive “, but a future is also hinted in which premium characteristics are reserved behind the payment wall, in what is probably seen as another blow to loyal users.
During his recent earnings call from the first quarter of 2025, Garmin announced profits of $ 1.54 billion, 11% more year after year and a record of $ 330 million in operational revenues.
Naturally, the questions and concerns revolved around the impact of tariffs on Garmin’s business. However, the CEO Cliff Pemble also mentioned the launch of its controversial Garmin Connect+service, with some news that users of the best Garmins devices will not want to listen.
In the first questions and answers, Pemble was asked about Garmin’s decision to launch Connect+ when he did, given the company’s previous reserves about charging his clients for more functions.
“I think we have been saying for a while we are evaluating the opportunities to have a premium offer in Garmin Connect,” Pemble replied. “I think the AI developments and particularly around the IA -based ideas for our users were one of those things that we feel it was important to recognize the value of the investment that is needed to do.”
He added that “we feel that it was the right time”, and echoed previous feelings that Connect+ is not a requirement for users, and that the company has not removed any previously free characteristic of users.
A positive answer?
Pemble said that the response to Connect+ “has been positive”, despite the general protest of users about the principle of a subscription service and specific complaints about the extremely thin offer Connect+ currently offers users.
Active intelligence ideas, in particular, are unfortunately basic, and making fun of them has become a sport in the Garmin subnet.
When passing, Pemble also dropped a very quiet bomb. When pointing out the wide range of characteristics available for users, he said, “true, we will probably reserve for premium offers.” It is the clearest confirmation so far that Garmin plans to introduce future premium characteristics in his alignment to which he will only be accessible to Garmin Connect+subscribers.
The news is a double -edged sword, of course. Garmin is under fire in part because the Connect+ offer is not fantastic, so adding more functions is a key part to improve the product. However, that will mean that some features are not accessible to users who do not pay, a fact that goes to the heart of why Garmin users seem so opposite to a subscription service in principle.
The worst fears of Garmin users, which a growing subscription service will eventually see more and more hidden characteristics behind a payment wall, are being done quickly.
That is not a burden like this if it has spent a relatively small sum in a Garmin Forerunner 55, but for those who have spent the best part of $ 1,000 / £ 1,000 in a Fenix 8 with the hope of Garmin’s most premium experience, it could be a bitter pill to swallow.
You can read the transcription of the gain call or listen to a recording on YouTube. The comments of Pemble’s Connect+ can be found from 19 minutes and 40 seconds.
