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Reddit Reviews
Get the mk2i or 3i if you’re into diving. The dive computer is on par with the best tec dive computers. I’m an instructor and my mk2i is always on my wrist
For sure! I haven’t used it for diving in a year and I’ve been using it for everything else. It’s great! It has maps and other features when you’re doing other sports. It has everything all the other sport watches have… just also an amazing dive computer! If I’m doing an all day activity where I have it tracking me the battery might loose 25% a day. If I’m not doing too much it’ll last ~ two weeks
I currently use a Garmin Descent Mk2. It's basically a fenix 6 that has an integrated SCUBA computer. The sensors and software are the same as the fenix 6 series, and I get great data from my swims with this.
I have a Descent Mk2, purchased 2020. Survived a motorcycle crash (direct hit, according to the bezel scratches), extreme temperatures, ocean water, hot springs, you name it. No issues. Battery life has gone from a solid 14 days to maybe 10.
That’s where I’m at as well. I love diving with my Garmins, and I have no issues wearing it 24/7 while on a dive vacation. But it can’t even come close to the functionality of my Apple Watch for daily use, especially at work, but the Apple Watch Ultra also doesn’t come close to the functionality of the Garmin for diving or even some of the activity and monitoring functions. Plus, my original Mk2i is five years old without any issue, so the cost to have both when averaged out over years is reasonable, and not wearing my dive computer daily also cuts down on the chances of eventually damaging it.
Appreciate the side by side comparison, and I’m a little embarrassed to say that your post is the first time I realized that AOD and gestures could both be on for the AMOLED!! Just turned gestures on and I fell in love all over again! I’ve been wearing my descent mk3i since it came out ~2 years ago, upgraded from the mk2i for the amoled, touch screen, and water resistance of the buttons. Having had both, I’m definitely team amoled now. For me I find it more refined in the office and at meetings, easier to read at a glance when snowboarding/climbing/diving (mips was great diving too because it would trigger always on, but same as your pic above the always on amoled is just seductive to me). Thanks again for the gestures to!
I'm really happy with my Garmin Descent. I have the MK2i, but the MK3/3i has been out for a while. There is an S model that has a lower profile and slightly smaller face, while only giving up air integration. It's a fantastic multi-sport watch, tracking activities including running, hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, etc. Even has a jump master mode, but I haven't been skydiving in 20 years. Health stats are great and the Garmin connect app is very user-friendly.
Fenix 5x for years, and now Descent mk2i with iPhone. It’s great, but as another commenter mentioned, Garmin is not so much a smart watch, as it is an activity tracker with some smart features. I love notifications and not having to pull my phone out every time it buzzes, but if I want to do more than be notified, it’ll be on the phone, not the watch.
I have the Garmin Mk2i and it is awesome. I run, shoot, fish, snowboard, hike and swim. The Mk3 is only better. The dive computer rocks too!
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