Garmin International is launching new fitness products and a hands-free navigation device at the CES in Las Vegas: the Vivoactive smartwatch, Vivofit 2, Style Collection, and the Epix. The first three models are ideal for those health buffs and fitness enthusiasts and the last one is a first-of-its-kind hands-free navigation device. As a leader in GPS technology, Garmin continues to bring in new products with great features and functionality.
The vívoactive is a new GPS smartwatch that tracks more of the users physical activities from running to cycling, swimming and golfing through the available tracking apps. The smart watch offers smart notifications of incoming text messages, emails, or calls from a compatible smartphone.
What’s good about this particular smartwatch is the hi-res sunlight readable touchscreen display. It also comes with interchangeable bands to match any outfit. Even when out of range from the smartphone, the Vivoactive can still track stats with the use of the GPS-enabled sports apps. If you want to track more health data, you can choose to pair the device with a bike speed sensor or a heart rate monitor. Available $249.99 and $299.99 (heart rate monitor bundle).
Garmin has also introduced the Connect IQ Store where you can get free widgets, face design, and more apps for customization and fitness tracking such as the Auto Lap, Auto Pause, and different vibration alerts for run and walk intervals, pace, and heart rate. There’s also the golf app that features more than 38,000 golf courses.
The Vivofit 2 is an obvious follow up to the Vivofit. This new model now features a visual move bar on the display, audible alerts, activity timer for tracking and analyzing workout. It also features a new backlight for easier viewing even in the dark. This one also comes with interchangeable design options.
The Style Collection is ideal for the more stylish and fashionable fitness buffs. It features different band options for the Vivofit 2. You can choose any band available in different colors from the Style Collection’s Signature Series line. There are various fashionable designs available for both men and women and made from premium materials like stainless steel and leather.
The Vivofit 2 will be out in white, black, pink, and navy this Q1. As for the price, the Vivofit is said to be worth $129.99 or $169.99 with the black or white heart rate monitor bundle. The accessary bands under the Style Collection series will be available in active (blue, red, green), energy (canary, pink, violet), serenity (mint,cloud, lilac), downtown (burgundy, slate, navy), and neutral (black, slate, white).
Garmin also announced the Epix, a new navi device that acts as a GPS mapping watch. It’s a first of its kind according to the company. It comes equipped with a 1.4-inch hi-res color touchscreen display, 8GB built-in memory, omni0directional EXO steel antenna, GPS, GLONASS support, and traditional compass/barometer/altimeter features. This one also worls with ANT+ sensors so you can monitor heart rate and temperature.
It’s not a smartwatch, just a mapping watch for active outdoor people. It’s simply a hands-free navigator that allows a more efficient and accurate navigation and outdoor features. It doesn’t only track health and fitness data but it also allows the user to plan future physical activities and routes. It also has access to the Connect IQ store for customization. It can last up to 24 hours in watch mode. When it UltraTac mode, its battery life is 50 hours and as long as four months in watch mode. It can also withstand being underwater up to 50 meters. This one is a great product but it’s a bit pricey at $549.99.
