Garmin's new aviation smartwatch also tracks your health

The new watch can monitor your sleep habits, track your activities, advise when jet lag potential is high, and even perform a 30-second electrocardiogram to detect atrial fibrillation. The flashlight has been upgraded to include a red light option to go with the red-centric display mode, both designed to preserve night vision during flight, and battery life has been extended. The $1,399 retail price includes both a vented titanium bracelet and a black silicone band.

The watch features a prominent 51mm case and 1.4-inch AMOLED display that’s readable in sunlight and introduces a new Red Shift Mode that changes the watch interface to shades of red to help preserve night vision during night flying conditions. The built-in LED flashlight can be switched between a red light, various white light intensities, and a strobe function.

Garmin says the D2 Mach 1 Pro has up to 25 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 46 hours active flight (Fly) mode. The watch includes all the aviation preflight, in-flight, and post-flight features D2 series owners expect, including Direct-to navigation and moving map, horizontal situation indicator, and a worldwide aeronautical database. All these features can function without a phone connection.

Pilots utilizing the Garmin Pilot app can transfer flight plans and waypoints directly to the watch. Flight logging automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically logs the date, duration of flight time, and route to the user’s flyGarmin.com logbook.

Users operating an aircraft equipped with Garmin’s PlaneSync—a feature that allows pilots to remotely check the status of their aircraft, wirelessly update avionics databases, and access aircraft flight and engine data—can access the aircraft dashboard from their watch. This allows the wearer to view the status of fuel, electronics, database, and location information remotely.

Other aviation-centered features include access to weather reports like METARs, Terminal Area Forecasts, Model Output Statistics (U.S. airports only), and Nexrad (when paired with a compatible smartphone, with a data connection, and in range of Bluetooth technology); custom weather alerts; and non-weather alerts including time, distance, altitude, and a fuel timer.

The D2 Mach 1 Pro can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance, and glide time, as well as a bearing pointer to the closest airport with a list of nearby airport alternatives in the event of engine related problems.

The watch also includes a wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor that monitors blood oxygen levels and a barometric altimeter that provides altitude alerts.

The D2 Mach 1 Pro includes several built-in sports and fitness apps to track daily workouts and outdoor activities. The watch also features what Garmin calls the Body Battery, which monitors the wearer’s energy levels, stress, and sleep, and offers jet lag advisories. The ECG app that allows the wearer to capture a 30-second electrocardiogram that can detect signs of atrial fibrillation. The results are presented immediately, and can also be viewed on the Garmin Connect smartphone app.

The watch also provides entertainment options including the ability to download songs from Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music; as well as a calendar; and contactless payment capability via Garmin Pay.