tactix® 8 – AMOLED

I actually just snagged one. I have a Tactix 8 47mm and as much as I love it, I don’t use nearly all the features. Planning on selling it and enjoying the extra cash

I have Fenix 8 51 AMOLED, Tactix 8 47 AMOLED, Epix Pro 51 and AWU3. Honestly, you can't match Garmin for the features you cited in your use case. I wear a Garmin 24/7 minus charging time (every 2-3 weeks, lol). I DO love the AWU3 in my gym, where it connects to StarTrac treadmills, bikes, stairs, etc. and also runs Gymaholic for programming and following lifting workouts. I helped Ian with early beta testing of WorkOutDoors, and it's the go to app for AWU, but it still doesn't match Garmin for me.

To the OP's original point: u/vizzzions and u/Kitchen-ad6860 would have us believe the Garmin doesn't sample HR every second or so 24/7. But this is wrong on devices since the Fenix 5. I'll stipulate that it may be every 1-2 seconds, with that time over 1 and up to 2 seconds being the "variation" in HR sample timing. Prior to the Fenix 5 it may have been true, but that is old information. I have known this since the Fenix 6 and have commented with a link to DC Rainmaker's notes on the Fenix 5 improvements in 24x7 HR sampling from working with Garmin. DCR refers to 3600 data points per hour (one per second), and LabFront discusses the developer API, which contains 86,400 HR data points per day (one per second). Lastly, I've observed on my last 6 or 7 watches the "constant" HR sensor working and every second or two updates to HR on watch face. I don't remember that frequency on my Fenix 3 HR. This tracking is of course separate from the UI display of data point charts using "averaging" or "smoothing" every couple minutes--since there are too many data points for the watch or mobile device display. So to agree with the OP, I've agreed with Garmin's superiority in HR tracking over Apple. Apple simply doesn't sample HR often enough 24/7 to give meaningful HR, HRV, Stress, Sleep, Recovery, Strain, etc., even with the limitations we know exist for those metrics using wrist based photoplethysmography. On my Garmins once diagnosed bradycardic and enabling low HR alerts, I was getting HR alerts every 10 seconds or less, so I had to turn those off. I don't have any Garmin HR "accuracy" issues as tested against AWU and Polar H10 as to the "right" HR. My issue is with all the health metrics based on infrequent data for Apple. My use case is maybe simple, and I wear my watches correctly in generally warm weather.

My experience with Fenix 8 51 AMOLED, Tactix 8 47 AMOLED and Enduro 3 is all the same. Sitting here at 53 bpm. It changes frequently and matches my medically certified pulse oximeter with no more than a second delay. Can’t even get real time HR on the face of my AWU3 except in workout.

Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

Okay. The sampling is varied. Garmin doesn't say by how much, so how much is it? I'm not only a sample of one. I'm a sample of 3 current Garmin models and at least two at a time going back to original Fenix. These were always alongside Apple Watches since the 7. Since at least the F6 line, I see changes in HR on watch face every 1-2 seconds. And I see CONSTANT HR sensor flashing which I've extensively checked for since I have a medical reason to. So what is the variability? One time per second constantly and 4-5 times/second during activities? 3 times per second working at desk but slows to once per second if still for a minute? Down to once every 10 seconds if very still a long time during sleep? Garmin doesn't state the variability--only that it varies. I'm retired (young) and have nothing better to do. I have testing and observation that says the Elevate 5 sensor is constantly on while awake, and HR on stock watch face changes no less frequently than every 2 seconds if I give my HR a reason to change. As for workouts, I've tested against Polar H10 and I'm satisfied at the exact same results other than 1-2 second timing differences. I recently took my third Bruce Protocol treadmill cardiac stress test while hooked up to 12 lead AND wearing my AWU3 and Fenix 8. I went 13.5 minutes, which is exceptional for my age (reflecting a V02max of 48-50 at age 62). My AWU3 and F8 both showed EXACTLY the same HR as the EKG (again small timing difference) from 40bpm all the way up to 165. Technician even commented on their consistency, as I was gasping for breath at the end. Note that you have to hang on at 5 and 5.5mph at 18 and 20% incline, so no arm swings late in the test. I wear my watches correctly, above the wrist bone, using ultrafit/Amazon Abanen brand strap, with a patch shaved under the watch and a wrist sweat band between watch and elbow if sweaty activity. My upper body doesn't move much for running, and my forearm stays parallel to the ground. I can't comment on HR accuracy in extreme cold, but photoplethysmography will not be ideal here. But I can damn sure comment with sufficient testing results from both normal casual/fitness activities and all day HR tracking observation.

Nope. Took me a minute to find it. It was further back than the F6 I thought, since I was diagnosed bradycardic when I owned the F6. Here is DC Rainmaker on the F5 sensor change: "A notable change to the Fenix 5 series is the updated optical HR sensor in relation to 24×7 monitoring.  While the Fenix 3 HR had an optical sensor, and it also monitored your HR 24×7, it didn’t quite update as frequently as it could have.  Sometimes it’d be every few seconds, and yet other times it’d be hours in between updates (during workouts, it was always every second).  With the Fenix 5 however, the optical sensor has been reengineered to sample every 1-2 seconds." "That sampling is then uploaded along with your daily activity data to Garmin Connect.  While Garmin notes that some people may not see a major improvement in the visual graphs shown on GCM for your daily heart rate, I certainly have.  They noted that behind the scenes all that data is captured, but that a lesser set is shown online (logical, since you don’t really want to try and display 3,600 data points per hour, times 24 hours, on your mobile app)." "But with the new lower-power Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on." [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-fenix5-5s-review.html) And here is an explanation of the data available to a developer API as noted by LabFront: "**Connect IQ API Access:** If you export your data from the Garmin Connect platform using the developer API or utilize third-party integrations, you will see a dense, second-by-second timestamped log of your heart rate (e.g., 864,000 data points a day) rather than sparse periodic logs."

I have both, along with Tactix 8 and Enduro 3 (I bore easily and rotate frequently). I'm Garmin 24/7 with the AWU3 on second wrist with runs for music and connectivity or as primary in gym for Gymaholic and GymKit cardio equipment connection. When I use AWU only at the gym I use RunGap to get the activity over to Garmin Connect. If I could have only one? Garmin, because it's a watch. I have my phone to run apps when needed. And the newer Garmins with microphone and speaker work well enough for the rare phone call on wrist and using Siri. I can customize the many free or cheap watch faces to my content, including steps and real time HR native on the face. With a free OpenWeather API, I can get hyper accurate nearby weather right on my wrist. I get HR by the second 24/7 and very frequent HRV sampling during sleep, for better HRV derived metrics. Though I think the AWU HR sensor is excellent , in my use case all my Garmin Gen 5 HR sensor watches test identical against the Polar H10 strap just like the AWU. On the Garmins I can customize my widget "glances" on the watch and scroll down to see real time HR, stress (like when I get on the phone with an insurance company), HRV, sleep score, weather, steps, intensity minutes, and much more in good detail. I can customize my activity screens with up to 8 metrics including color charts and graphs and with multiple screens if I want. I can't open my garage door, arm the house, or unlock my Macs with the Garmins. But I don't have to load or pay for Athlytic, Bevel, WorkOutDoors (which I help Ian with in early beta testing), Autosleep before Apple came around, nor am I limited to the Apple Watch faces. I get SP02 properly on the watch. I don't need to fish around in Health and Fitness apps for my data and rely on other apps for analysis. I have an all inclusive Connect app and even a customizable web platform which makes comparisons simple. I used a free Garmin 5K coach plan successfully. If I follow the Garmin workout recommendations I can increase my V02 max. Battery life? Meh. Not a major concern either way since I don't head out for days at a time. Though I did get the Enduro 3 to check out the hype, and wow.

I went from a MIP to AMOLED Fenix 8 47mm to a Tactix 8 47mm. The screen is so much better, I won’t go back to MIP. I’m a watch guy and don’t miss MIP at all.

https://preview.redd.it/9egkqrrjnn9g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98a15de67497883362b3a82999681f5162472ce0 I purchased a Tactix 8 AMOLED let me say that the watch is so nice with the Amoled but for some reason I ended up back with my Tactix 7 pro. I prefer the old software opposed to the new one which is trying to compete with Apple Watch Ultra by adding unnecessary features. I prefer the MIP display cause you’ll find more watch faces that will look and work better with the MIP display while the AMOLED limits you. Overall I have the Tactix 8 Amoled which I’m trying to get rid of and I’m very happy to be back with my Tactix 7 pro.

I switched from AWU2 to Tactix 7 Amoled as It was on sale for 750 euros, best decision ever. Everything about the Tactix 7 Amoled is better than the AWU2. Sure, the display on the AWU2 is sharper and crispier but having a watch that I can keep on my wrist for a week or two is a game changer! To me, that’s enough of a reason to never go back to any smartwatch that doesn’t last longer than a week. Also, I like the size and bulk, it has a presence and screams quality, well, it is made of premium materials and when it was released it was more expensive than the AWU2. Then the sheer amount of watch faces and the ability to create your own, and so many other customisations and possibilities it’s just crazy. As much as I love Apple, and I’ve been living in their ecosystem for many years, the Tactix 7 Amoled completely changed my wiew on smartwatches in general. Everything about is just… better and it really puts a smile on my face every time i look at it. So yeah, I will not be going back to Apple watches anytime soon… unless they make a watch that can last as long as Garmin’s. Edit: just added a few words for clarification.