The brand new Garmin Tactix 8 is a flagship smartwatch with many unusual features, including a bright LED flashlight with a mode for night vision devices, a battery life of up to 48 days, and an aiming aid for shooting from long distances.
Just one day after the Descent G2 diving watch launch, Garmin presents the Tactix 8, based on the Fenix 8 ( approx. $1,199 on Amazon), but adds numerous features. This starts with the integrated LED flashlight, which lights up green at the touch of a button on the Tactix 8, making it particularly useful for use with a night vision device.
Night vision mode optimizes the screen lighting for a night vision device. Stealth mode turns off the GPS module and all wireless connections. Waypoint projection can create navigation points by specifying the distance and direction relative to the current position. Garmin offers international topographic maps, and Garmin Outdoor Maps+ allows you to download advanced maps with satellite imagery via a paid subscription.
Anyone traveling by plane benefits from a unique weather forecast that provides wind and visibility conditions and air pressure data. The Tactix 8 is water resistant to up to 10 ATMs and can be used as a diving watch up to 40 meters. Garmin offers several diving modes, depending on whether you are snorkeling or sport diving. The “kill switch” deletes all user data at the touch of a button.
In addition to the usual Garmin workouts, the Tactix 8 also introduces a new rucking activity. You can enter your backpack’s weight to consider this when calculating values such as calories burned. An app from Applied Ballistics allows you to calculate a bullet’s trajectory.
Fully equipped smartwatch with ECG and Garmin Pay
Beneath all these special features lies a fully-fledged Fenix 8. It includes an electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate and SpO2 sensor, and an NFC chip for contactless payments via Garmin Pay. The watch can display incoming notifications and access third-party apps, watch faces, and data fields via the Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Depending on the model, Garmin installs an AMOLED or a MiP display with integrated solar cells. This affects not only display quality and visibility in sunlight but also battery life. The AMOLED model with an active always-on display lasts only seven days or 16 days without AOD. The solar version, however, manages 48 days even with the always-on display. The watch has 32 GB of internal memory, which can also store music.
Garmin tactix 8 release date and prices
The new Garmin Tactical watch price starts from $1,299.99 for the 47-millimeter version with an AMOLED display and a 51-millimeter AMOLED model for 1,399.99 on Amazon.com. The “Solar AB Elite” model for $1,599.99 mainly includes an advanced Applied Ballistics Elite Solver aiming aid for shooters. Delivery will start on February 25, 2025.
