Garmin Quatix 6
MSRP $699.99
“Garmin’s Quatix 6 is a great multi-sport watch that’s easy to watch.”
Avg
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More fitness sensors
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Battery life
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Build quality
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Music storage
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Everyday usability
Against
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Expensive
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One size only
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It doesn’t have a touch screen
Whenever a product has the words “marine” or “ship related” in the description, I turn around as quickly as possible. These words are usually reserved for overpriced, niche items that are overflowing with functionality I’ll never use. So when I heard that the Garmin Quatix 6 would be arriving on my doorstep, my first thought was “I’m not going on a boat. How should I review it?”
Fortunately, the Quatix 6 is not just a boat watch. It might be the best multisport smartwatch you can buy today.
Setup and design
Although the packaging says Quatix 6, it is essentially a variant of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro that does everything the Fenix 6 Pro does. It just has a bunch of preloaded driving features.
Starting with the basics, the Quatix 6 tracks the usual suspects: steps, calories burned, sleep, and floors climbed. It also connects to your iPhone or Android device to receive notifications. Such features are expected these days, but the Quatix 6 kicks things up a notch with GPS, heart rate monitor, barometric altimeter, compass, thermometer, accelerometer, Pulse Ox and gyroscope. What makes the Quatix 6 special isn’t that it has all those sensors, but what it does with the data.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Garmin’s new interface is certainly an improvement over previous iterations. With multiple complications on the default screen, I get all the data fields I want without the face feeling cluttered.
I usually make sacrifices when choosing “home” screens, but the Quatix 6 with its multiple face options strikes a balance between clean aesthetics and information available at a glance. Meanwhile, the widget loop displays a list instead of taking up the entire screen, allowing for faster scrolling. These small changes make for an interface that is less cumbersome.
Battery life
Another small change from previous models is the battery format, which is now displayed in days to recharge instead of percentage charge. Battery life varies drastically depending on how you use it, and Garmin gives the following quotes:
- Mode of operation of the smart watch: up to 14 days
- GPS mode: up to 36 hours
- GPS and music: Up to 10 hours
- Max battery in GPS mode: 72 hours
- GPS activity of the expedition: 28 days
- Clock mode to save battery: 48 days
This ability to adjust battery consumption is useful when exploring, whether on the water or in the wild.
Garmin Quatix has a new model with built-in solar charging. This addition takes the already impressive list of features of the Quatix to the next level, improving the battery life from 14 to 24 days. However, this new version starts at $1,149. It also comes with a titanium watch strap.
Activity monitoring
Life on the water is what Quatix 6 is all about, and for that reason it comes pre-installed with all sorts of widgets to help you go from land to shark in the blink of an eye. With everything from your chartplotters, to autopilot control, and even Garmin’s Sail Assist fully connected, the Quatix 6 is ready to tackle all your sailing needs right away.
But like I said, the Quatix 6 is much more than a water dog — it’s a multi-sport pony that will up your fitness game no matter the activity.
With the wilderness navigation capability demonstrated by the Fenix 6S Pro in our previous review, the Quatix 6 can guide you through at-home exercises including yoga, pilates, strength training and cardio, all with on-screen animations to guide you through the process. Basically, this is extremely convenient and if I were mixing different workouts, otherwise I wouldn’t bother to look up.
My only complaint is the sounds the watch makes when changing positions during yoga practice. It’s the shrill electronic beeps that aren’t welcome when I’m trying to turn on my zen.
I do most of my training indoors these days, and the Quatix 6 has dedicated tracking for indoor cycling. Most of the time I look to Zwift for my metrics, but the Quatix 6 can connect directly to my Wahoo Kickr to display power output and distance traveled without interrupting my Zwift workouts. This may seem a bit redundant, but for anyone who has gone down the rabbit hole of deciding which apps to connect to their Strava, this is a nice addition to help keep your data in one place.
If running, swimming or cycling are part of your weekly activity, the Quatix 6 will track your target pace with PacePro, provide new cycling routes with Cycle Map and track your swimming performance in the pool. And if you like golf, it comes with 41,000 golf courses pre-installed.
To be honest, there are too many features to mention here, so if you’re interested in the full list, you can check it out on the Garmin site.
Quatix 6 can combine your activities and evaluate them using its many tools. With features like a heart rate sensor, GPS and a Pulse Ox sensor — which estimates the amount of oxygen in your blood — the Quatix 6 can assess your fitness level.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
But what I liked most about the Quatix 6 was the body stress and battery characteristics. It most likely has more to do with the fact that I’m reviewing this watch during a pandemic. Still, paying more attention to my stress and energy levels was a nice change of pace.
That’s not to say the watch should have told me I was more stressed than usual, but when the Quatix 6 asked me if I wanted to do a breathing exercise because it knew I was on edge, I was happy to get the reminder. This is a small part of the overall capabilities of Quatix 6, but for this journalist struggling with deadlines in a world that works a little differently than before, it was a welcome addition.
Additional options
The rush of functionality does not stop at breathing exercises and sports. With 32GB of storage, the Quatix 6 can hold 2,000 songs, and since it’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible, you can stream from Spotify, Amazon Music and more.
Another smart feature is Garmin Pay, which lets you set up a virtual wallet for contactless payments.
Everything I’ve mentioned up to this point is, or may be, true for the same $700 Fenix 6 Pro. The only difference is that the marine features that are automatically included in the Quatix 6 should be downloaded to the Fenix 6 Pro via the Garmin Connect app.
So why buy the Quatix 6 and not the Fenix 6 Pro? It all comes down to aesthetics.
With its “Captain Blue” silicone band, brushed stainless steel frame and touches of red, the Quatix 6 gives off a far different vibe than its all-black tactical sibling. I’m normally a fan of all-black options, but the sleek look of the Quatix 6 is a wonderful change from watches I’ve owned in the past. If you want to stand out even more, the Quatix 6 comes in a titanium version for $1,000, which kicks things up a notch with a sapphire crystal lens, titanium bezel and band, and a weight reduction from 83 to 72 grams.
Our opinion
While you may not be aware of Quatix 6, you should be. It has all the same functions as the Fenix 6 Pro, with a different look that is just as stylish on a boat as it is on the trail or in the gym.
Is there a better alternative?
In the price range north of $500, you’re looking at the best smartwatches available on the market, like the Apple Watch, Suunto 9 Baro, and Polar Vantage V Titan. Much of this choice comes down to personal preference, price, and whether you want to learn how different brands work.
The main gripe with the Quatix 6 is its high price, which may put it out of the running for many people. But if you’re willing to be patient, Garmin watches go on sale quite often, more so than most other brands.
How long will it last?
Garmin watches are made to be thrown, and the Quatix 6 is no exception. If past experience is any indication, you’ll be wearing your Quatix 6 for at least three to four years, and then something shiny and new will catch your eye long before it fails or is phased out. The watch comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Should you buy it?
That. If you can afford it, it’s probably the most robust multisport smartwatch available today.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn