Garmin Quatix 5 – A Smartwatch Designed for Open Waters

Quatix 5 is Garmin’s latest generation marine smartwatch. Based on the highly acclaimed Fenix 5, it comes with additional functions designed for sailing and water activities.

More than just a smartwatch, the Quatix 5 can stream information from compatible Garmin Marine instrumentation to save waypoints on the chart plotter or control the autopilot directly from your wrist.

You can also use it to check the data and information of your boat during navigation, and it packs numerous other functions dedicated to sailing and fitness.

Background

An upgrade from the Quatix 3 and based on Garmin’s popular Fenix 5, the Quatix 5 blends the best of both worlds.

It’s a capable marine watch ready for all challenges you might face in open waters, yet it can satisfy the landlubbers who want to use it onshore.

More than a marine or sports smartwatch, the Quatix 5 is a casual timepiece that brings all functionalities you could expect from the last generation Garmin. Smart notifications keep you connected with the world, while the easily customisable face and strap let you give it a personal touch.  

Features

The Quatix 5 boasts a seafaring nature that lets it work with compatible boat systems. Most of this smartwatch’s features revolve around the marine environment.

Expect it to sync with your Garmin’s electronic chart plotter if you happen to have one aboard your boat.

A bunch of features designed to ease navigation includes remote autopilot control, waypoint marking, and racing assistance.

At the same time, the Quatix 5 streams stats including navigation speed, wind, temperature, and depth, and it automatically tracks any pre-programmed activities, from paddleboarding to swimming.

The Quatix 5 is also a capable fishing aid. It’s equipped with GPS and other useful  tools that deliver accurate tide data and anchor calculations. It even helps you keep track of the fish you’ve caught, and it saves all stats for seven days.

Setting the mood and controlling a boat party from your wrist is also easy, as the watch pairs with Garmin’s Fusion-Link Lite app and allows you to control compatible on-board StereoActive entertainment systems.

Marine functions apart, the Quatix 5 packs all features you’d expect from a capable multi-sport smartwatch.

It comes with an integrated Bluetooth module, it has Wi-Fi connectivity capability, and a Smart Notification function that allows you to automatically view notification information on the display.

Design

Quatix 5 is a rugged smartwatch with sleek, elegant lines. A 47mm stainless steel bezel and compact buttons give it an alluring casual look.

It pairs with either silicone or stainless steel bands which are easy to change thanks to Garmin’s exclusive QuickFit strap technology. Unlike other smartwatches, the Quatix 5 doesn’t sacrifice on customisation options.

You can personalise your timepiece selecting from multiple face options; regardless of your choice, the sunlight-readable backlit colour display is easy to view even in direct sunlight.

An omnidirectional antenna and high-sensitivity GPS deliver precision tracking even in the remotest areas, either on water or on land. Impressive is also the battery, that’s guaranteed to last a fortnight in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode.

Fitness Tracking

More than a marine watch, Quatix 5 is a dependable multi-sport fitness tracker designed with athletes in mind.

It can track both outdoors and indoors activities like running, rowing, swimming, or cycling, and it’s also a great choice for tracking triathlon or recreational activities including hiking, climbing, golf, downhill skiing, and more.

Capable of monitoring your health habits, it can also keep track of steps taken and traveled distance, monitors your heart rate and counts the calories burnt throughout the day.

Main Advantages

• Compatible with Garmin sailing gear. It offers an all-round sailing experience, allowing you to control the boat from your wrist.
• The multi-sport fitness tracker can monitor athletic performance both on water and onshore.
• Sophisticated design with customisable face and band let you give the smartwatch a personal touch.
• Accurate GPS tracking, even in remote locations.
• The battery lasts for up to 2 weeks in smartphone mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode.

Main Disadvantages

• Very little internal storage space.
• It doesn’t incorporate the Garmin Pay function.

Quatix 5 Competition

	Garmin Quatix 5	Garmin Fenix 5	Samsung Galaxy Watch Silver	Suunto Ambit3 Peak
Display size	47 x 47 x 15.5 mm	47 x 47 x 15.5 mm	46 x 49 x 13 mm	50 x 50 x 15.5 mm
Display type	Sapphire crystal	Sapphire crystal	Corning Gorilla Glass DX+	Sapphire crystal
Resolution	240 x 240 pixels	240 x 240 pixels	360 x 360 pixels	128 x 128 pixels
Weight	Silicone band: 85 g Metal band: 156 g	85 g	46 g	92 g
Band material	Silicone or metal	Silicone or steel	Silicone	Silicone
Water resistance	10 ATM	10 ATM	5 ATM	10 ATM
Connectivity	Bluetooth Smart, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth Smart, ANT+, Wi-Fi	3G/LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
GPS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Boating features	Yes	No	No	No
Smart notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Heart rate monitoring	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-sport profiles	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	2 weeks	2 weeks	1 week	1 week

How We Tested

Garmin Quatix 5 is a marine smartwatch with multi-sport functionality; very similar to the Fenix 5, it appeals to sailing enthusiasts and landlubbers alike. That’s why we tested its abilities both in open waters and on land, wearing it uninterruptedly for two weeks.

The smartwatch connects easily to Garmin’s sailing gear and delivers accurate GPS tracking. The boating features complement the fitness ones, making it an all-round timepiece to wear on all occasions.

Fairly lightweight and sleek, it’s stylish and a good match for all outfits.

Summary

Garmin Quatix 5 is an excellent choice for all nautical sports. From boat racing to fishing and even swimming performance monitoring, this timepiece has it all. It’s capable and dependable, and has a wallet-friendly price.

If sailing is not exactly your passion, though, and you’re mostly considering it for its other functions, the Fenix 5 brings similar characteristics at a lower price tag.

Last Updated on December 31, 2019