Why doesn't the Tactix 7 Pro Ballistic Sapphire have ECG?

Dang. That is even worse. Ok, I"m returning it and getting the cheaper model. See you guys later, and thanks for keeping me honest.  My original point still stands though, they should have been clear about what the ballistic watch could really do. 

6993949 said:

when I heard the Tactix 7 pro AMOLED was simply an upgrade to the Fenix 7 Pro AMOLED, I decided to pay the extra $600 to get it. Then I saw the ballistic version that filled another need I had, so I got that one instead. I'm disappointed because they failed to mention that the Tactix 7 Pro Amoled is an upgrade, but the ballistic is not. And frankly, how the *** would I know that? This is the first year I've owned Garmins.

I get that. It took me 3 straight months of looking at specs, forums and reviews before I could tell you the subtle differences between a Forerunner 965, Fenix 7 and an Epix 2. Even then my recommendation to most people was still to get a cheap Forerunner 245 on special.

The Tactix, Descent, D2 and Marq lines are a whole other story of bizarre complex product choices where the specs are often a mishmash of new software features paired with old hardware - especially in the case of the Marq.

Perhaps we can come together and agree that the Garmin product strategy is a confusing mess that leaves a lot of people either paralysed with choice or disappointed when they suddenly realise the model they bought doesn't have the useful feature that the model up does (anyone remember how disappointed base model Fenix 7 owners were by the lack of multi-freq GPS that the 7X and Solar models inexplicably got?)

6993949 said:

I had the Fenix 7 Pro Amoled, but when I heard the Tactix 7 pro AMOLED was simply an upgrade to the Fenix 7 Pro AMOLED

I don't know where you heard that, but it's not correct. The tactix has always been a separate model, which is independent. Technically, the fenix and tactix are very similar, but the tactix offers special military functions. Such as night vision, stealth mode and so on. So it is not an upgrade to the fenix, but a model for the military.

bluefish said:

I don't know where you heard that, but it's not correct

I mean it's technically true. Garmin will use the same mainboard and display as an existing Fenix or Epix when making the Tactix, D2, Marq etc, but add different software and put it into a different case. You're both correct in a way.

2529455 said:

I mean it's technically true. Garmin will use the same mainboard and display as an existing Fenix or Epix when making the Tactix, D2, Marq etc, but add different software and put it into a different case.

Yeah, to support this point, as far as 3rd-party Connect IQ apps go, Fenix 7X, Tactix 7, Quatix 7X and Enduro 2 are (more or less) interchangeable (*) - they're grouped under a single CIQ device definition, called fenix7x. Similarly, there's a single device definition in CIQ which covers all of epix Pro (Gen 2) 51mm, D2 Mach 1 Pro, and tactix 7 – AMOLED Edition.

(* there's some nuance here which I won't go into)

So for example, there's no way to make a CIQ app that supports Tactix 7 but not Fenix 7X (without hacking the build system).

That's not to say all models grouped together into a single "device" for the purposes of CIQ are identical (either in hardware or software), but obviously someone at Garmin decided they're close enough.

...but also that Tactix 7 Pro AMOLED is not a thing, it's a Tactix 7 AMOLED. And comes with that same AB pre-loaded but an extra $300 to unlock.