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.

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.

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

After 3 vey committed years with Garmin (Porsche edition Epix, Epix Pro, Porsche edition Epix pro, and now a Tactix 8) I decided to go back to Apple and the Hermes Ultra 3 Honestly suits my needs more, I work out three times a week but not more. And the body battery really messed with my mind so I don’t miss it at all. I miss some of the straps more than the actual watch. The ultra 3 is a much better smartwatch. You can even install third party apps which can unlock voice notes on WhatsApp on the watch itself. So far I’m happy

Oh and one more thing. The only thing I truly miss in my Garmin is the flashlight. Game changer. And now the ULTRA 3’s solution is crap compared to how Garmin pull it off

People dragging 1k+ device through stuff “it’s made for” is so damn small I think we can all agree it’s basically a toy for looks. (As someone who dragged Vivoactive 4 through all kinds of shit for 4 years and now wearing Tactix 8)

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. :(