[stevenwoo]

You are right, but I've worn out the USB ports on multiple Garmins from using the ports to recharge and download the files. Now I just use the app and download the files later from the Garmin website, and use a magnetic charger plug also to eliminate the wear and tear on the port. I wish I could wirelessly access the files and cut out the Garmin app/download steps.

[canucker2016]

How old is your Garmin watch/device?

I'm still using a Forerunner 935 from 2017 and I haven't had any problems with charging/syncing data. I use the USB charger about once a week. Once every two weeks during winter when I don't use the GPS as much.

Only thing I have updated on the watch is the free loop, which holds the watch band after you've threaded it through the buckle. I'm gonna have to replace the watch band eventually - the plastic band is starting to crack, Canadian winters aren't gentle on these things.

Garmin support sent me replacement free loops when I called in asking how I could replace them.

[stevenwoo]

I use mine every day for recording year round barring a few breaks and need to charge every three days or so. I've had one long enough to have to change the battery because the life went down so much.

[loeg]

I've been through a lot of Garmin devices and mine always have battery degradation before the USB port is in any way non-functional. Especially with USB-C on the newest ones, that really shouldn't be happening.

[stevenwoo]

I've been using 520-530-540 on a bicycle and ride every day but only need to charge once every three days or so, but these came with microUSB ports.

[loeg]

I believe 540 is on USB-C. I have an Edge 840 (same generation as the 540).

[stevenwoo]

You are correct, the last time I had to replace my 530, the 530 was on sale due to the 540 coming out so I bought the 530 on sale and haven't thought about it since. For some reason I thought I bought a 540 after comparing the product pages for so long.

[drawkward]

Whats your magnetic charger of choice? I am tired of wearing through my charging ports.

[stevenwoo]

I gamble and buy the cheapest ones on EBay in lots of three (some have adapters included plugs for USB-C/micro USB, though it seems like as time passed by, more and more are separating the plug purchase from the cable purchase). The recently announced tariffs will put a damper to this since the last few I have bought were dropshipped from China.