GPSrChive Discussion Forum

Garmin today released the successor to the GPSMAP 6x series: the GPSMAP H1 and GPSMAP H1i Plus.

Didn't do a detailed comparison of specs yet, but obvious differences are a touch screen, larger screen (and somewhat higher resolution), more internal storage (64GB) and a different design. And also what looks like a different spine mount, but I’m not entirely sure from the product photos. With the new device having a touch screen it could also be considered a successor to the Oregon series.

The GPSMAP H1i Plus supports voice and photo messaging via inReach, like the Messenger Plus does.

Very interested to see what GNSS chipset it uses and how it performs accuracy and precision wise. Also interested to see if they made any changes to the software platform.

Anyone willing to be ̶a̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶a̶ ̶t̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ one of the first users?

GPSmap H1 is a hybrid solution in terms of operation, offering both touchscreen and button operation.

A couple of differences between the H1i Plus and H1 (besides inReach functionality): the GPSMAP H1i Plus has front and back cameras allowing you to take pictures, and share them via inReach (with an active subscription). The H1i Plus also has voice control (interesting to see how that will work).

Both H1 and H1i Plus now also have a siren, in addition to the flashlight already present on previous devices.

Would be interesting to see if the map scrolling got faster. I expect they made it faster due to the touch screen. Scrolling through gpsmnap 67 got really slugish.

It looks like Garmin may have used the design team from LEGO to help with this one. But I do like the internal memory bump and larger capacity SD card. The base unit is almost $1K here in Canada. I hope it still performs well after it's first update.

I just now ordered my H1. It will be available from 5. Sept. here in switzerland.
Will post my experiences.

Experiences? "bugs report" would be more acccurate... I'm hiking with GPSMAP67 and Fenix 7 pro. For now, smartwatch is more reliable. Not so much bugs in it's current firmware version, yeee, there are, but at least not as big as GPSMAP67's f..ng position drift!

The manual seems to indicate, that the device only supports "Courses", but not anymore traditional "Routes".

There are a lot of traditional items no longer supported. It is essentially a giant watch.

ConiKost wrote: Fri Sep 05, 2025 1:50 pm The manual seems to indicate, that the device only supports "Courses", but not anymore traditional "Routes".

"Data Management

File Types

The handheld device supports these file types:
Files from Garmin Explore.

GPX route, track, and waypoint files.

GPX geocache files (Downloading Geocaches Using a Computer, page 26).

FIT courses, activities, and locations (waypoints)."


Excerpt from the GPSmap H1 manual

Routes in gpx files will be accepted, it can be assumed that routes in gpx files will be converted to a course, and the course, like in GPSmap 67, will be able to be run on Roads and paths or without conversion.