Garmin Tactix 8 specifications and in-depth review

Garmin Tactix 8

Manufacturer: Garmin

The Garmin Tactix 8 is a robust sports watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes alike. Featuring a 1.4″ OLED display, this model combines durability with advanced fitness tracking features to meet the needs of active users.

Key features of the Garmin Tactix 8 include 84 hours of battery life with GPS on, waterproof design, and a 32GB internal storage for offline data storage. It also includes a comprehensive set of sensors like GPS, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, and more to support various sports and outdoor activities.

Pros
  • Compatible with both iOS and Android, allowing seamless integration with most smartphones.
  • Offers useful health tracking features like HRV tracking, VO2 max measurement, and resting heart rate monitoring.
  • Has built-in GPS and fast GPS lock for accurate location tracking during outdoor activities.
  • Includes a variety of activity tracking features such as swim stroke counting, sleep tracking, and step tracking.
  • Supports live tracking and provides activity reports, making it suitable for those who engage in regular fitness activities.
Cons
  • Lacks a solar power battery, which could have extended battery life during outdoor use.
  • Does not support wireless charging, requiring a traditional cable for recharging.
  • Does not have an external memory slot for additional storage of data or music.
  • Does not feature a 3.5mm audio jack, limiting headphone connectivity directly to the device.
Who is this for?

This product is ideal for fitness enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers who require a robust and versatile device for tracking a wide range of physical activities. With features like GPS, heart rate monitoring, and swim stroke counting, it excels in providing comprehensive tracking for both indoor and outdoor exercises. Additionally, the inclusion of sleep tracking, activity reports, and live tracking makes it a great option for users who want to closely monitor their overall health and progress over time.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be the best fit for users who rely heavily on wireless charging or need extended battery life during outdoor excursions, as it lacks both solar charging and wireless charging capabilities. It also does not have an external memory slot, which could be limiting for users who need additional storage for music or data. Furthermore, its lack of a 3.5mm audio jack makes it unsuitable for those who prefer to use wired headphones directly with the device.

Design:

screen size 1.4"
Display type OLED/AMOLED
water resistance Waterproof
has branded damage-resistant glass
resolution 454 x 454 px
Watch band is replaceable
has a touch screen
weight 92 g
Has sapphire glass display
thickness 14.7 mm
Always-On Display
height 51 mm
pixel density 462 ppi
Has a display
width 51 mm
width of band 26 mm
volume 38.2347 cm³

The Garmin Tactix 8 features a 1.4″ OLED display with a 454 x 454 px resolution and 462 ppi pixel density, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals. The watch is equipped with a waterproof design and has sapphire glass for added durability, though it does not include branded damage-resistant glass like Gorilla Glass. The display also supports an Always-On Display, ensuring you can view information at a glance. The watch has a replaceable band and weighs 92 g, with dimensions of 51 mm in height, 51 mm in width, and a thickness of 14.7 mm.

Sensors:

has GPS
Has a heart rate monitor
Monitors blood oxygenation levels
Has a barometer
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has a temperature sensor
Has a cadence sensor
has a gyroscope
Has a wind speed sensor
Monitors perspiration

The Garmin Tactix 8 is equipped with a wide range of sensors to enhance your fitness and outdoor activities. It includes a GPS, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter for monitoring blood oxygenation levels, and a barometer to measure atmospheric pressure. Additional sensors include an accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, and a wind speed sensor. However, it does not feature a cadence sensor or perspiration monitor.

Activity tracking:

Has a route tracker
Tracks distance
Measures pace
Has trackback mode
Tracks your sleep
Has multi-sport mode
Detects activities automatically
Tracks elevation
Tracks steps taken
Provides sleep reports
Has exercise tagging
Has a stroke counter for swimming
Tracks calorie intake
Designed for diving
Designed for golf

The Garmin Tactix 8 offers a comprehensive suite of activity tracking features to support a variety of sports and fitness routines. It includes route tracking, distance tracking, and pace measurement, along with elevation tracking and steps tracking for a complete view of your physical activity. The watch also features multi-sport mode, sleep tracking, and provides detailed sleep reports. Additional functionalities like exercise tagging, swim stroke count, and food tracking make it ideal for diverse activities, including diving and golf.

Connectivity:

Is compatible with iOS
Is compatible with Android
supports Wi-Fi
has a cellular module
supports ANT+
has NFC

The Garmin Tactix 8 ensures seamless connectivity across a range of devices. It is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones, and supports Wi-Fi for easy data transfer. Additionally, it includes ANT+ support for connecting to external sensors, as well as NFC for quick, contactless interactions. However, it does not have a cellular module.

Battery:

battery life 29 days
battery life with GPS on 84 hours
has wireless charging
Has a solar power battery
battery life in power save mode 984 hours
has a rechargeable battery
has a removable battery

The Garmin Tactix 8 offers impressive battery life with 29 days of standard use and 84 hours of continuous GPS tracking. For extended use, the watch features a rechargeable battery with a remarkable 984 hours in power save mode. However, it does not support wireless charging or a solar-powered battery, and the battery is not removable.

Features:

release date February 2025
has HRV tracking
measures VO2 max
measures resting heart rate
has fast/slow heart rate notifications
shows readiness level
Can upload maps
Has vibrating alerts
Has a stopwatch
Locates your phone
Has silent alarm
has irregular heart rate warnings
has fall detection
Has notifications
Acquires GPS faster
Has call control
Provides the sunrise/sunset time
internal storage 32GB
Can be used to answer calls
supports Galileo
Has smart alarm
Informs about the risk of thunderstorms
number of microphones 1
has voice commands
Has a built-in camera remote control function

The Garmin Tactix 8 comes with a range of features designed to enhance your fitness and daily life. It includes HRV tracking, VO2 max measurement, and resting heart rate tracking, along with fast/slow heart rate notifications. The watch also offers fall detection, vibrating alerts, and the ability to locate your phone. Additional features include internal storage of 32GB, voice commands, and support for Galileo GPS, while it does not include a smart alarm or remote camera shutter function.

App & Software:

Provides activity reports
Has inactivity alerts
Counts how many calories you've burned
Has goal setting
Has achievements
Free app
Has exercise diary
Ad-free
Has weight tracking
Tracks BMI
Tracks water intake
Has live tracking
Has coaching
Has temperature tracking
Has period notifications
Supports routes
Syncs with existing calendars
Has voice feedback
Has music playback
Displays fertile window notifications
Includes maps
Doesn’t require account
Predicts start date
Predicts ovulation
Has video tutorials
Supports widgets
Can be personalised
Has barcode scanner on app

The Garmin Tactix 8 offers comprehensive app and software support to track and enhance your fitness journey. It includes activity reports, inactivity alerts, and the ability to track calories burned and weight. The app provides features like goal setting, exercise diary, and BMI tracking, as well as live tracking and coaching. You can also enjoy workout music, voice feedback, and temperature tracking, and it supports syncing with calendars. The app is free, ad-free, and fully personalizable, though it does not have a barcode scanner.

Miscellaneous:

has a battery level indicator
Is compatible with Windows
Has auto pause
Compatible with external heart rate monitors
Available on PC
Compatible with smart scales
Is compatible with Mac OS X
has an external memory slot
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack

The Garmin Tactix 8 offers a variety of connectivity features to enhance its usability. It includes a battery level indicator, auto pause, and compatibility with external heart rate monitors. The watch is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, and smart scales, making it a versatile device for different platforms. However, it does not have an external memory slot or a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones.

Final Verdict

The product offers a well-rounded feature set that caters to fitness enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers, with standout capabilities like GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and swim stroke counting. Its extensive range of tracking features, such as sleep tracking and activity reports, makes it an excellent choice for users looking to monitor their health and performance. While it excels in many areas, the lack of wireless charging and an external memory slot may be limitations for some. Overall, this device is highly recommended for users seeking a comprehensive, reliable fitness tracker with robust tracking capabilities.

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