Garmin
Earbuds & wearables · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
Wearables only (no earbuds). Only one Garmin appears on iFixit's smartwatch scorecard: Venu Sq Music Edition at 3/10 (battery soldered, no screws/clips so reassembly needs custom adhesive). Mixed picture across the fenix line: older models (fenix 3, 6X Sapphire) require Torx removal plus soldering/scissors to replace a glued battery, but the newer fenix 7X uses a battery connector with no soldering — a real improvement. iFixit sells Garmin batteries and hosts many community guides, but Garmin offers no official consumer parts/manuals and charges ~$121 for an out-of-warranty battery swap (vs ~$15 DIY part). No activation lock impeding hardware repair.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Earbuds & wearables category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.