Garmin makes some pretty interesting, albeit expensive, smartwatches, and today, the company announced one of the more unique takes on the form factor: a "tactical" smartwatch called the tactix Delta. This is actually the fourth smartwatch in the tactix lineup, and it"s built to military standards, specifically the MIL-STD-810 rating, and it also has a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and a "diamond-like" carbon coated bezel.
What makes the Delta stand out the most, and also what makes it more worthy of the "tactical" description, is the Stealth Mode and the integrated kill switch. The former makes it so that the user"s location can"t be stored or shared, and the latter deletes all user data with a single button, which indicates that this isn"t at all a device for the average consumer. In fact, it seems to be aimed at some kind of secret agent, with Garmin"s wording referring to missions and high-altitude jumps.
There are even more features for this specific sector of the market, including a dual-position mode, which displays two sets of coordinates system on the same screen, tactical activity profiles, waypoint projection, and a Jumpmaster mode that helps the user determine a good high-altitude to point to make a jump and guides the user to the targeted landing spot after the jump. The watch already comes with topographic mapping information and features like a barometric altimeter, compass, and support for Global Navigation Satellite Systems.
Aside from these tactical features, the Garmin tactix Delta still has some niceties that anyone can appreciate. The battery can last up to 21 days in smartwatch mode in 80 days in power saving mode, it can store up to 2,000 songs locally, and support for the company"s Garmin Pay solution. The screen is also the biggest rounded display Garmin has ever used at 1.4 inches - though it"s tied with some fēnix 6 models.
It has the usual set of activity-tracking features, including respiration tracking, a heart rate sensor, an energy monitor, animated workouts, and Garmin"s PacePro feature that lets users see their target running pace, their actual pace, and the difference between the two in real-time as they run. There are also some more niche features like ski maps for over 2,000 resort around the world and over 41,000 golf courses.
The Garmin tactix Delta is available now for $899.99, and it comes in any color you want as long as it"s black.