Garmin's work on a crown feels inevitable, but it's bound to annoy its biggest fans, and there's only one way I think it could work

A Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED sitting propped up on its strap above the COROS APEX 4 (left) and Suunto Race 2 (right) at diagonal angles, placed to emphasize their rotating crowns compared to Garmin's buttons.

"Would you buy a Garmin watch with a crown?" That's the question long-time Garmin fans may have to answer soon, based on a report suggesting that "ongoing Garmin hardware work" is in progress toward a rotating crown with a magnetic sensor.

Gadgets & Wearables shared this news, explaining that the Hall effect sensor wouldn't rely on mechanical parts or a physical connection, making it easier for Garmin to preserve its watches' water resistance. For context, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic uses a Hall sensor for its rotating crown.