Garmin - tactix 8 AMOLED

Didn't come from Apple, but Samsung. I started with the original Garmin Instinct, then got an Instinct 2X, then a Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire, and now I have the 51mm Tactix Amoled. These are amazing watches. None of them have ever failed me, I just sell my old ones when I upgrade. My Tactix is phenomenal. Display looks great, battery life is fantastic (even recording several workouts a week) and despite being fairly large, feels much lighter and smaller than it actually is. They have so much customization available to you. I'd say go for it. The Fenix is quite a bit cheaper than the Tactix so if you don't need dedicated features like the Killswitch, rucking activity, night vision compatibility etc, I would go for the Fenix. Granted, they do have the F8 Microled which is 2k, but I don't see a reason to buy that one for the small increase in brightness and resolution lol.

I have not had experience with cerakote on watches. Only on knives. The DLC bezel coating on the higher end Garmin watches is extremely durable as it is. I've only had small scratches appear when the watch got dragged across concrete and I think that incident would scratch cerakote too in my experience. I would say get the standard version, because paying 200 bucks for a coating kinda sucks, especially when you lose the EKG function of the watch.

Tactix 8 amoled 47mm coming from the Tactix 7 amoled but have used AWU 1/2, and coros as well.

I’ve slept with all models of Garmin watches, Instinct, instinct 2x, Tactix 8 51mm, fenix 8 pro 47mm. Never had a problem.

I’m using a awu 1 and a tactix 8 for work

You guys know you have to adjust settings right “literally” set your watch up. Don’t just sync it and expect it to get what’s advertised. Why Garmin made amoled for an outdoor adventure fitness watch beats the hell out of me that should have stuck to their forerunner line and their cheaper watches. Yes I understand amoled is a luxury but these watches aren’t smart watches. They are fitness/gps watches with “some” smart watch capabilities. Any one who got amoled why? Eats your battery like crazy. Like I said I get 34 days on a full charge and probably even more if I turned on notifications from my phone but i like the calls and texts I get because I don’t always have my phone next to me at home. Anybody wants to try this for their fenix I guarantee you will get at least a month of battery life tops. For MIP users only first of all if your eyesight is fine turn your brightness down to at least 10 percent if it’s not so good I wouldn’t go more then 30-40 percent that will increase your battery right there. Also fun fact don’t have your heart rate and pulse ox on 24/7 I don’t need a watch to tell me how I slept or what my heart rate is unless I’m hiking or working out. It doesn’t tell you anything other than heart rate so if you’re feeling weird you should just go to the doctor. Also switch your gps to statIQ don’t just set it on the highest gps setting you and the wife are walking around the block you dont need the highest setting. It will track you fine. As I said before I keep my watch on power saver mode 90% of the time it will stop your heart and pulse ox meter but when you start an activity even in power saver mode it reads your heart rate while it being off by default. Those are all the settings I can remember I have changed and I get 31 with power saver off and 34 with power saver on don’t lose more then 2-3% doing a hike or walk/run around the block no more then 2 hours. And i use stock watch faces most the time. Some 3rd party watch faces drain your battery like crazy.

Not a fenix but my tactics 8 gets 34 days on a full charge

https://preview.redd.it/qhdpnpt9ffjf1.jpeg?width=2299&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=436fd3478fc773d5e022020ce95aa98f8cba3e86 Tactix 8 is by far the best smartwatch IMO

I was so excited when I finally left Apple to Garmin for the Tactix 8 but I wasn’t happy to find a lot of the features I wanted only apply to Android phones. Being able to send a quick txt or voice response is Android only. :(

Yup! I wear the AWU3 for daily driver and Garmin Tactix 8 for all fitness/hiking/etc. Love using both to their strengths.

i own both a awu3 and a tactix 8. awu lasts me for 2 and 1/2 days, garmin around 20. sensors like HR and Pulse OX, are superior in apple, more accurate. same regarding the sleep track. garmin counts steps even if i stay on the couch and wave my hands sometimes.. notifications cand be edited and turned off. i train 5 days/ week, run 5 days/ week, shoot, swim, climb, wrestle, both handle the stress. details and metrics helps you if you are a pro athlete, and work to get better. for normal people, pulse, pulse ox, apnea, hypertension, regular stuff , are more important. what do you need for all the metrics in the world , if you still run 1 hour/ day, and the rest you are a normal person with work / job/ wife/ kids/ dog..? you need garmin if you are a pro athlete or think to become one and you will ditch every notion of smart watch/ apps, you need apple if you are a basic person , train once a day, and the rest of 22 hours you live a normal life. no , garmin is not far superior, and battery life is better because they use a 2010 processor and sensors and UI. Stop comparing LADA with Lamborgini. Yes, LADA goes further because is consumes less gas, but the experience of a Lambo, worth the stops to a gas station every time. I own both, and i still 80% of the time i tend to use the AWU. SO: Garmin if you use Android, AWU if you use IOS.

Just got rid of my Tactix 8. I compared ultra 3 to Tactix and there’s no comparison in HR accuracy. I’ve done runs with the Milanese and in my opinion the ocean band has a more secure fit for runs which can improve HR accuracy. That may be the issue.