Best Smartwatches With MIL-STD-810 Protection

The Tactical Edition differs from the regular Garmin Instinct 2X by a slightly thicker case, which made it possible to place a dual-frequency GPS module with more accurate positioning, a track guidance function, reverse routing and other “navigation stuffing”.

The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar Tactical Edition also has several exclusive tactical features. It supports a display mode compatible with night vision devices, dual grid coordinates, ballistic trajectory and altitude release point calculation, and the ability to quickly clear the device's memory.

The smart watch has a reliable plastic case that meets the MIL-STD-810 standard. It is also not afraid of long-term immersion under water and supports the swimming mode - WR100M. There is also a full-fledged flashlight, which can be useful in the field.

The high autonomy of the model is provided not only by the Li-Ion battery, but also by the energy-efficient transflective display with a diagonal of 1.1 inches, as well as the built-in solar panel. Due to the latter, in certain scenarios (with daily exposure to the sun for at least 3 hours), the gadget can do without recharging at all. And without such energy recharge, the watch will work for about 40 days in normal mode and at least 60 hours - with constantly running navigation.

The wearable device is equipped with a compass, altimeter and barometer, there is also NFC for contactless payments and support for the ANT+ protocol, which expands compatibility with professional sports equipment. There is also a heart rate monitor on board, and it works non-stop. Users can measure saturation, stress level, and a wide range of sports indicators (including maximum oxygen consumption - VO2 max, recovery and readiness for the next workout, etc.).

Some users will not like the lack of touch controls, but when playing sports and in difficult operating conditions, it is better to rely on physical buttons. Instinct 2X Solar Tactical Edition is a universal smartwatch for different application scenarios. And by the standards of a durable and protected device, and as for Garmin, with a quite adequate price tag.

Visually, the representative of the T-Rex series of the Amazfit brand has similar features to the iconic Casio G-Shock. Not only the round dial, but also the imitation of bolts and the protruding bezel suggest analogies. By the way, the model is also at its best in terms of readiness for impacts, water and other negative influences.

The steel case has passed MIL-STD-810G testing and should withstand fairly long underwater dives (class 10 ATM, plus the ability to free dive to a depth of up to 30 meters is declared). Another feature of the watch is frost resistance, and at temperatures down to -30 °C, they not only do not turn off, but should work for up to 2 weeks.

The model is equipped with a 1.39-inch AMOLED touchscreen with good detail (454x454 pixels), a decent brightness level (up to 1000 nits) and the Always On function. In addition to touching the screen, four physical buttons on the sides of the case will allow you to interact with the device. The watch runs on the proprietary Zepp OS operating system. In addition to an intuitive interface and support for over 100 different watch faces, it allows you to install applications.

The watch has a 500 mAh battery with a magnetic charging base. The full battery capacity can last for 20 days of operation, and with active use of navigation - definitely more than a day - from 28 hours.

The model will inform about various health indicators, for which the proprietary BioTracker 3.0 sensor is responsible. It measures the pulse and blood oxygen saturation, calculates the stress level, analyzes sleep, etc. Sports enthusiasts will find over 150 fitness modes, with 33 types of activity recognized automatically by the watch.

Especially for outdoor training and hiking, there is a dual-band GPS module with precise location determination and track guidance function. In addition, other running sensors are provided - accelerometer + gyroscope, compass, altimeter with barometer. But there is no NFC and contactless payment option. If this is not a critical point, then Amazfit T-Rex Ultra is a cool, durable smartwatch and a worthy competitor to models of famous brands.

The 2024 debut from Samsung is the brand's flagship smartwatch, which is positioned as the most durable in the line. It has a titanium case, which combines benchmark reliability with low weight. The display is protected by sapphire crystal. The model is suitable for swimming, windsurfing or kayaking (water resistance up to 10 atmospheres). And the classy shock resistance is supported by compliance with the MIL-STD-810 standard.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is also the manufacturer's longest-lasting smartwatch. The 590 mAh lithium-polymer battery provides up to 100 hours of battery life in power-saving mode, and from 2.5 to 3+ days in normal mode (with and without the Always On Display function).

The wearable device can become more than just an addition to a mobile device. The watch supports e-SIM cards, plus there is a speaker and microphone for voice communication. The dual-band GPS module provides accurate navigation, and NFC allows contactless payment.

The model is equipped with Galaxy AI technology, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze the data received. This will help you progress in training, improve your sleep quality, and improve your well-being. There is also a full range of sensors, including a heart rate monitor with saturation measurement, thermometers, a compass, a barometer, etc. Additional functions include a cardiogram (ECG), fall detection, and an SOS signal (a siren with a volume of up to 86 dB).

The watch's strong points include a 1.47-inch Super AMOLED display. It has a high brightness of 3000 nits, which ensures readability of data even in the sun. At the same time, there is no need to adjust the picture manually, because there is a light sensor.

At the time of its release, the Galaxy Watch Ultra was Samsung's best smartwatch. However, demanding users may not like the obvious similarity to its main competitor, the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Even the round dial that is typical for Samsung has become almost rectangular, plus the straps are almost identical in color and texture.

In addition to a bunch of new iPhones, at the Apple Wonderlust presentation, the Cupertino company presented two updated models of smart watches, among which the most interesting is the pumped-up Watch Ultra 2 model. As before, this is the flagship smart watch from Apple with a large flat screen, a durable character and increased autonomy. According to Apple, all the advanced developments of engineers were implemented in them, and the watch itself is positioned as a stylish, reliable and useful tool for athletes, extreme sports enthusiasts, travelers and divers.

The key innovation of this generation of smart watches is the new, more powerful Apple S9 processor, which has had a positive effect on the system performance. In particular, Apple boasts that Siri now works 30% faster. Also, the Watch Ultra 2 has replaced the old auxiliary U1 chip with a more modern U2 processor, which will improve the quality of navigation and communication. With its help, the watch will be able to work more effectively with other gadgets of the company, for example, more accurately search for a lost iPhone or instantly connect to the HomePod smart speaker. The screen has also been updated: its brightness can reach 3000 nits, support for a modular dial has appeared, and the night mode can use the ambient light sensor to automatically switch the display mode. The watch is also equipped with a programmable side button and has learned to understand a new gesture - a double tap with the thumb and index finger.

Otherwise, these are the same strong, sophisticated and brutal watches with an indestructible titanium case of MIL-STD-810H class and durable sapphire glass that are not afraid of falls, strong temperature changes, dust, dirt and water. At the presentation, they made a special emphasis on the fact that the watch can be immersed to a depth of 40 meters. For sports and tracking body indicators, they have a pulse oximeter, an ECG sensor, sensors for measuring body temperature, a barometer, an altimeter, a depth gauge, etc. In addition, a pack of sensors for the Crash Detection system and a very loud built-in siren for sending a distress signal are hidden inside the watch. The declared battery life of the Watch Ultra 2 is 36 hours.

At first glance, the main change in the 8th generation of Fenix from Garmin is the debut of the AMOLED display. With it, the watch has become more juicy and bright. As in Fenix 7, you can interact with the model by touching the screen and pressing physical buttons.

The new matrix did not deprive Fenix 8 of its main advantage - autonomy. In normal scenarios, you will need to connect to a socket about once a month (every 29 days). With constantly active GPS, the watch will work for more than 3 days, which is also better than competitors from Apple or Samsung. And if you want more autonomy, then the Solar version with a solar panel will suit you: by the way, it remained faithful to the traditions of Fenix and has a transflective screen.

The watch has an updated heart rate sensor with a pulse oximeter function. It has become even more accurate and can now perform an ECG - this function is debuting at Garmin. A microphone and speaker have been added to the watch, so it is possible to receive calls from a paired smartphone, as well as give commands by voice, including in offline mode (when the mobile is not connected). There is also a depth gauge and readiness for amateur diving up to 40 meters is declared.

The traditional strengths remain unchanged: there is a functional and accurate GPS with track guidance, a full-fledged flashlight, support for ANT+ and Garmin Pay contactless payments, there is a built-in player and, probably, the most advanced sports functions on the market. In addition to collecting all the data on physical activity, the model prepares morning countdowns, offers workouts for every day, gives recommendations for recovery and much more.

The watch is made in a shockproof plastic case (according to the MIL-STD-810 standard) and is complemented by a metal bezel (there are steel and titanium variations). Excellent tightness is supported by 100 WR water resistance. And the display is protected by either Gorilla Glass or sapphire (the latter version will cost a little more).

The price tag of the model corresponds to the flagship status, which is a minus of Garmin Fenix 8. But if you want an uncompromising solution, compatible with both iPhone and Android, then the watch is definitely worth attention. And if you have a limited budget, you can take a closer look at the simplified version of Fenix E.