A year and a half after debuting the D2 Air pilot smartwatch, Garmin has released an updated version, the D2 Air X10, with voice assistant control and phone calling from the watch. The X10 retails for $549.99.
The original D2 Air, which was priced at $499, offered pilots key features from the more expensive D2 series, including most aviation functions and the pulse oximeter, as well as a high-resolution Corning Gorilla Glass 3 touchscreen Amoled display.
Now the X10 lets pilots receive phone calls from the watch and access voice assistant features when the watch is paired with a compatible iOS or Android smartphone. This gives Apple iPhone owners a new option for a non-Apple watch with built-in aviation features and voice and phone capabilities.
Aviation features include a three-axis compass and horizontal situation indicator (HSI) and altimeter with adjustable barometer setting. The HSI is useful for navigating to an airport or waypoint, which is selectable with the direct-to function or by picking one from the database. The user can set alerts for altitude, speed, time, and distance, and there is a handy fuel timer, as well as flight tracking.
Battery life of the X10 is improved from the original D2 Air, now up to seven days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours while flying and using GPS and the pulse oximeter.