Key Takeaways
1. Integrated LED Flashlight: The Tactix 8 features a built-in LED flashlight with a green light for night vision use.
2. Enhanced Navigation: Offers waypoint projection, adjustable screen brightness for night vision gear, and access to international topographic maps.
3. Diving and Travel Features: Water-resistant up to 10 ATM, suitable for diving, and includes a weather forecast feature for air travel.
4. Fitness Tracking and Ballistics: Includes a rucking mode for tracking weight and calories, and an app for calculating bullet trajectories.
5. Display and Battery Options: Available in AMOLED or MiP screens with varying battery lives; solar model lasts up to 48 days.
Just a day after the Descent G2 smartwatch was released, Garmin has introduced the Tactix 8. This new model is clearly inspired by the Fenix 8 but adds some interesting features. One notable addition is an integrated LED flashlight that emits a green light when a button is pressed, making it especially handy for people using night vision equipment.
Enhanced Visibility and Navigation
The night vision mode adjusts the screen brightness for better visibility with night vision gear. Additionally, the stealth mode turns off the GPS and all wireless features. Users can also utilize waypoint projection to set navigation points based on distance and direction from their current location. Garmin includes international topographic maps, and with the paid Garmin Outdoor Maps+ subscription, users can download more detailed maps that include satellite imagery.
Travel-Friendly Features
For users who travel by air, the Tactix 8 offers a unique weather forecast feature that gives information about wind, visibility, and air pressure. The watch is rated water-resistant up to 10 ATM and is suitable for diving down to 131 feet. Garmin provides several diving modes, including snorkeling and sport diving. Additionally, the “Kill Switch” function allows users to erase all their data instantly with just one button press.
Fitness and Ballistics Capabilities
Besides its standard workout features, the Tactix 8 adds a rucking activity mode that takes into account the weight of a backpack when estimating metrics like calories burned. There’s also an app from Applied Ballistics that enables users to calculate bullet trajectories.
Beneath these specialized features, the Tactix 8 is powered by a full Fenix 8 system, which includes an electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, SpO2 sensors, and an NFC chip for contactless payments using Garmin Pay. The smartwatch displays notifications and provides access to various apps, numerous watch faces, and data from third-party services through the Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Display Options and Battery Life
Garmin has provided the Tactix 8 with either an AMOLED or MiP screen depending on the model. The choice of display impacts not only the quality and sunlight visibility but also the battery longevity. The AMOLED model with an always-on display lasts about seven days, or 16 days without this feature. In contrast, the solar-equipped model can last up to 48 days, even with the always-on option activated. Regardless of the model, each watch comes with 32GB of internal storage, which can be used for maps or music for offline listening.
The Garmin Tactix 8 is set to launch on February 21st. The 47mm AMOLED version is priced at $1,299, while the 51mm AMOLED version will be available for $1,399. The 51mm solar model with the more efficient MiP screen is also priced at $1,399. Lastly, the Solar SB Elite variant, featuring the Applied Ballistics Elite Solver for shooting enthusiasts, will retail for $1,599. More information regarding the Tactix 8 can be found on Garmin’s official website.
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