Since the original Tactix dropped in 2015, Garmin has been refining its top-shelf tactical smartwatch line for military and special operations users who need something tougher than your average fitness tracker. The series has moved through iterations like the Tactix Pro, Charlie, Delta, and the Tactix 7, each time adding more ballistics tools and survival features for elite users. Now, less than a year after launching the Tactix 8 a year ago with its AMOLED upgrade and dive capability, Garmin is releasing a materials-focused variant with a hardened ceramic coating.
A Finish That Takes a Beating
Available in slate gray or olive drab, the Tactix 8 Cerakote Edition applies a ceramic-polymer composite coating that’s been a staple in firearms manufacturing since the 1980s. Originally developed by NIC Industries for aerospace and defense applications, Cerakote has become the go-to protective coating for gun slides, knife blades, and now tactical watches. The coating gets sprayed onto each 51mm case and then baked to cure, creating a protective layer that’s built for abrasion, corrosion, and chemical resistance.
It’s essentially a thin ceramic shield that develops its own character as you wear it with scratches and wear serving as a sort of patina, so to speak.
Same Platform, Tougher Shell
Under the Cerakote coating, this is still the Tactix 8 we already have. That means a 1.4-inch AMOLED display that’s a significant upgrade from the MIP screens on the Tactix 7, plus a titanium bezel, sapphire lens, and that built-in LED flashlight Garmin added with the Fenix 8 tech. Battery life hits up to 29 days in smartwatch mode, and the 40m dive rating is a bit higher than on previous models.
Likewise, all the tactical features remain intact, such as jumpmaster activities for HAHO and HALO jumps, dual-format GPS coordinates, stealth mode for going dark, and the Applied Ballistics Ultralight solver for long-range shooting calculations. The multi-band GPS with SatIQ tech handles positioning accuracy while TopoActive maps, golf course data, and ski resort information round out the navigation suite.
While the Tactix 8 Cerakote still has a lot of features, the one thing missing here is ECG functionality, even though it’s included on the standard Tactix 8.
Large and In Charge
Also, the watch is only available in its 51mm case, so no 47mm option at the moment. Luckily, despite the large size, the Cerakote coating adds durability without much weight penalty, and it fits with Garmin’s history of pushing materials innovation in this category. It’s not the most significant upgrade they’ve ever made to the Tactix line, but sometimes the best improvements are the ones that keep a proven design working harder for longer. The coating should make this watch more resistant to the kind of daily abuse you would put a tactical watch through.
Spec Sheet
Model: Tactix 8 – Cerakote Edition
Case Size: 51mm
Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED
Materials: Titanium bezel, sapphire lens, Cerakote ceramic-polymer coating
Coating Options: Slate gray or olive drab
Water Rating: 40m (dive capable with scuba/apnea support)
Battery Life: Up to 29 days (smartwatch mode)
GPS: Multi-band with SatIQ technology
Notable Features: Applied Ballistics Ultralight solver, jumpmaster activity, built-in LED flashlight, stealth mode, dual-position GPS format
Price: $1,600
Pricing & Availability
The Garmin Tactix 8 Cerakote Edition launches January 23 for $1,600 — a $200 premium over the standard 51mm AMOLED model.
Recap
Garmin Tactix 8 Cerakote Edition
Garmin’s new Tactix 8 Cerakote Edition applies a baked-on ceramic-polymer Cerakote coating to its tactical smartwatch for better durability in the field. It’s the same watch they released a year ago with AMOLED and dive capability, just with a tougher finish that’s been used on firearms for decades — available in slate gray or olive drab for $1,600.
