The Apple Watch and its Android alternatives such as the Google Pixel Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch are great smartwatches thanks to third party app support, but if you are really into health and fitness tracking, you might have a Garmin watch strapped to your wrist instead.

Garmin’s sports modes and battery life outstrip the fitness features you’ll find on those other watches, but Garmin has been lagging behind with everyday smart features – that is until now.

Select Garmin smartwatches can now download and use a new official WhatsApp app, which Garmin says is the first and only third party messaging app available on its smartwatches.

So, if it has always annoyed you that you can’t reply directly to incoming WhatsApp messages on your Garmin, now you’ll be able to if you install the official WhatsApp app for Garmin via the Connect IQ companion app for iPhone or Android.

You’ll be able to sync up with the WhatsApp app on your phone to read, reply and react to messages, handy if you’re on the go and don’t want to get your phone out of your pocket or running vest.

You’ll be able to scroll back through the message thread to see what you may have missed, too.

The catch is it’s only available on select fēnix, Forerunner, Venu and vívoactive branded Garmin watches – you can check out the full list of compatible devices here.

Only the relatively recently released Forerunner 570 and 970 are compatible, for example, so anyone with an older model looks like they are missing out.

“Collaborating with WhatsApp underscores the strength and momentum of the Garmin Connect IQ ecosystem,” said Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing. By bringing a global messaging brand like WhatsApp to select Garmin smartwatches, we’re giving customers another meaningful way to stay connected—whether they’re training, exploring or simply on the move.”

The app will also let you view, answer or decline incoming WhatsApp calls, and all messages remain fully end-to-end encrypted.

Hopefully this is a sign Garmin wants to invest more in its app ecosystem. If it brought other wrist-based favourites such as Uber and Starbucks to its users, they might be less tempted to get an Apple Watch when their Garmin conks out.

I wouldn’t hold your breath for an AllTrails app though. Garmin will want to keep you on its own outdoor adventure platform.