Next generation of the D2 pilot watch series

With the recent announcement of the Fenix 5 series of watches, it seems highly likely that there will be a new release of Garmin's pilot watch D2 series, based on the Fenix 5. And given that one of the biggest complaints with Garmin's D2 Bravo (the latest in the series) is the lack of a basemap it is seems a foregone conclusion that the next generation of the D2 series will be based specifically on the Fenix 5X hardware (which comes with a basemap).

Although Garmin's Portable Aviation group are not active here in the forums per se, I do know that they lurk and read the forums on a semi-regular basis. With that in mind I would like to compile a list of features that we (the collective Garmin aviation users) would like to included with the next generation of the D2 pilot watch series. I will bug my contact at Garmin once in a while to remind them of this thread and hopefully we will see some of our input converted into actual features on the new watch.

The compile this list, I need your input so please reply to this thread with your thoughts (point form or paragraph or whatever) and I will continually compile the results, similar to what I am currently doing with the D2 Bravo bug and feature request thread. For best results please include the watch you use now, whether or not you are likely to by the next D2 series, the type of flying you do and how you use the watch day-to-day.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Hello All..a noob here and may be a dumb questions, does anyone know what the numbers on the glass face of D2Bravo Titanium represent? 0-24 in clockwise order? TIA

0 daffern1 over 7 years ago

The 0-24 indices are for a separate 24 hour hand when using an analog watch face. Think Rolex GMT Master.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Hi, I realise I'm posting to an oldish thread here, i'm thinking about purchasing a D2 Bravo, for approx £500 ($690), i hadn't realised that the Charlie Model replaces the Bravo (I thought it was just a higher specked watch in the same time line). I find Garmin straps terrible, so so terrible, to buy a fenix 5 with a metal strap it costs about £750, I like the look of the Bravo but don;t need the aviation features. Do you think it's a bad buy at about £500?

thanks

Andy

0 dbrobert over 7 years ago

Hi, I realise I'm posting to an oldish thread here, i'm thinking about purchasing a D2 Bravo, for approx £500 ($690), i hadn't realised that the Charlie Model replaces the Bravo (I thought it was just a higher specked watch in the same time line). I find Garmin straps terrible, so so terrible, to buy a fenix 5 with a metal strap it costs about £750, I like the look of the Bravo but don;t need the aviation features. Do you think it's a bad buy at about £500?

I think anything more than perhaps £150 is too much. That's not to say the D2 Bravo isn't a great watch (I still have and use one for my aviation activity) but with the D2 Charlie out, the D2 Bravo is basically at end of life in terms of feature and support (it's only been updated once in the past 6 months). And even the D2 Charlie, despite using the same code base as the Fenix 5X parent, is updated less frequently. So for a non-pilot, you are better off looking at the Fenix line. If the Fenix 5 is too expensive then you should consider the Fenix 3, which is both cheaper and is still being updated since it has such a wide user base. The Fenix 3 HR has the sapphire lens that the D2 Bravo has plus a wrist HR monitor and is listed new for $749 CAD (£430). Then with the extra money you could buy a leather band. Or you could probably have the extra one I have that will fit the Fenix 3 series.

But if you do decide on the Fenix 3 HR, remember that it is not superseded by the Fenix 5 so it is unknown for how long Garmin will support the device. As an example, there have been issues since October with Huawei phones connecting to Garmin watches, which affects the Fenix 3 and Fenix 5 (and the derivatives, like the D2 Bravo/Charlie). Luckily it looks like the fix coming out soon will be backported to the Fenix 3 but it is unknown if that will also happen for the D2 Bravo.

Cheers,
Douglas

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Hi Douglas,

Thanks for the reply. i quite like the look of the Bravo and Charlie, however the charlie price is way overkill for the functions I need.

Ignoring the price issue for now, I know that the watch will probably never be sold as low as £150. i notice your bio says you have/had the D2 Bravo and have the Fenix 5, in terms of functions, do you think there is a vast difference? i would like to use it for Cycling and Running, but also I'm bearing in mind that i still have a fully working 920XT which I can use for more vigorous sporting activities.

I looked at the Fenix 3 Sapphire Titanium metal strap watch but that would cost a bit over £500 (for a reputable seller not Market Place)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Multisport-Outdoor-Navigation-Titanium/dp/B01M0GOZAH/ref=pd_sbs_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HMXF6H2GM2NC01EQ37W5

I could get a fenix 3 Leather strap for under £400 but the strap doesn;t look too great.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-010-01338-81-Fenix-Sapphire-Handheld/dp/B01B8PZ9MO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1517941069&sr=8-4&keywords=fenix+3+sapphire

Ten there is the Tactix, which can be got for about £400 but I'm not sure what the main difference is there compared to the other watches.
https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/215016-garmin-tactix-bravo-watch.html/771485/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istItemId=amlixmxmr&istBid=tziq&gclid=CjwKCAiAweXTBRAhEiwAmb3Xu_p46EjkCvAlOZUJ3GShaFIXdVysTs4RYFGtl1izEvradlsKkvIGhhoClDQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

it almost seems that maybe the three watches there are basically the same with different Firmware, do you think that's right or do you think they have some important physical differences?

i would say the strap is quite important to me in which watch I'd get.

thanks

Andy

0 dbrobert over 7 years ago

TL;DR -- I would buy the best watch that suits you in terms of look, functionality and price and then just order the accompanying leather strap, which you can buy separately -- https://buy.garmin.com/en-CA/CA/p/pn/010-12168-12

Is it the light silver ring that you like about the D2 Bravo "look"? Because other than that, the Fenix 3 and the D2 Bravo (and the Quatix 3 and the Tactix Bravo) are the exact same hardware with slightly different firmware. I actually don't like the light silver ring on the D2 Bravo as I find it really shows off the scratches in the metal. Personally, I'd prefer the darker metal on the Fenix 3/3 HR.

You can't really compare the D2 Bravo to the Fenix 5 since they are not only meant for different functions but they are different families. Comparing the Fenix 3 to the Fenix 5, I like the speediness of the Fenix 5, the improved battery life and the ability to have the second hand always on with third party, Connect IQ watch faces.

Comparing the D2 series to the Fenix series (the D2 Bravo to Fenix 3 or the D2 Charlie to Fenix 5), the D2 series is frustrating for use outside of aviation because all of the non-aviation features show up on the Fenix series way before they do on the D2 series. As an example, firmware 6.50 was a massive one for the Fenix 3, adding a bunch of new activity types (Rowing, Golf, etc) and widgets and was released in January 2016. Those features didn't show up on the D2 Bravo until 5 months later in mid-May. If you are using the D2 series watch as your main watch and you're a pilot you might be okay with that delay. But if this is your main watch for non-pilot activities like running or hiking, you may not be happy with a delay. For me, when the D2 Bravo was my only watch, I found it incredibly frustrating to see functionality added to the Fenix 3 and not the D2 BRavo.

Now, all that said, the D2 Bravo is close to end of life so it's not likely to get much more than it already has so that may be moot. However, as previously noted, issues continue to pop up for the Fenix 3 series (including the D2 Bravo) and while the Fenix 3 is still updated somewhat, it is unclear if the D2 Bravo will also receive those same updates.

Cheers,
Douglas