In 2015, Garmin introduced the D2 Bravo smartwatch to the market, replacing the D2 Pilot, launched in 2013. This model is based on the lying version of Fenix 3, while the watch stood out for its more premium materials and equipment, as well as an additional set of specialized functions, including advanced settings for the barometer / altimeter, the ability to display time zones (Zulu / UTC, HSI), display a graph weather conditions, information about the nearest airport, etc.
For me, the D2 Bravo model was primarily interesting not for its "aviation" functionality, which I used negligibly little, and even then only out of curiosity, namely whether the Fenix 3 deserves attention in 2021. Almost six years have passed since the release of this series, three generations have changed, not counting the various branches, which is an extremely long time for modern "smart watches". At the same time, it is worth paying tribute to the manufacturer, who has not yet written off this model for scrap, the last software update took place in the middle of last summer.
In the D2 Bravo series, two versions were presented - these are D2 Bravo and D2 Bravo Titanium, as well as several configuration options. The D2 Bravo Titanium version differed both in its materials and in the presence of a built-in optical heart rate monitor, and a set of functions for working with it. The basic version, which is presented in the review, also has functionality for assembling and processing heart rate data, but at the same time it is forced to access external devices using Bluetooth, or ANT +.
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The base model D2 Bravo (51 x 51 x 17.5 mm, 10 ATM) is predominantly made of fiberglass-reinforced polymer with a steel insert on the back and a fixed steel bezel on the front. The 1.2-inch color display (MIP, 218 x 218 dots) is protected by convex anti-reflective and anti-scratch glass. The watch can be fixed on the hand with a silicone strap, or a genuine leather strap, which is also provided in the kit. In addition, for an additional fee, it was possible to expand the package with a titanium bracelet.
The watch is controlled by five mechanical buttons, three on the left and two on the right. The buttons are steel and with a comfortable profile, do not cause any discomfort when bending the wrist, do not cling to clothing, and can be easily identified in poor visibility conditions.
The first button on the left activates the backlight, and also, when pressed for a long time, allows you to quickly activate a stopwatch, timer, lock the device, or completely turn off the clock. The second and third buttons allow you to scroll up and down the menu, as well as quickly display the current time on any tab. The first button on the right is an action or activation button. The second, the back button, which allows you to quickly return to the previous menu, cancel an action, or reset the recorded data.
The watch is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery (290 mAh, 3.7V, 1.08Wh), which is charged through a special adapter from any compatible USB source, including a power bank. If desired, the base battery, the same as in the Fenix 3, can be replaced; many analogs are available on the same aliexpress. The battery is glued directly to the board, so this procedure is best done in a specialized service.
The manufacturer claims the following "numbers": up to 6 weeks in regular watch mode, at least 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, without active GPS, no more than 20 hours with active GPS, and up to 50 in UltraTrac mode, which reduces the number of GPS requests and periodically turns off the sensor to save power. For even greater savings, the watch can be simply turned off; in standby mode, the battery consumption is present, but extremely low. After turning it on, no time and date setting is required, everything is synchronized automatically.
In real conditions, on a well-worn watch, with an active GPS, the battery went to zero in about 14 hours (the average air temperature is about 15C degrees). In everyday wear mode, with the GPS completely turned off, but with active tracking of daily activity, the battery lasts, approximately, for a week and a half. When activating the basic mode, without tracking daily activities, but active Bluetooth, the battery lasted for three weeks. It takes about an hour to fully charge the battery.
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As mentioned above, the D2 Bravo is based on the Fenix 3 multisport smartwatch with a full range of functions and modes, including a variety of sports profiles (free workout, running, cycling, swimming, hiking, golf), daily activity tracking (number of steps , number of steps, distance traveled, calories burned, minutes of activity, notifications of insufficient activity, goals), sleep monitoring, as well as "smart functions" (notifications, weather, search for phone / watch, Connect IQ), which are only active when you are next to your phone and installing the Garmin Connect app.
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I will not paint all the available functionality in detail, the watch is far from new, all the information you need has long been available on the network. I will briefly dwell only on those functions that were of interest to me. For me, first of all, the work of D2 Bravo as an additional navigation device, the ability to connect sensors via ANT +, monitor daily activity and sleep, as well as the ability to use Connect IQ widgets, which significantly expand the functionality of the device and facilitate the overall process of use, were important. In general, the watch coped with the set requirements with dignity, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
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Navigation is almost identical to the Foretrex 401, including the ability to create routes in Garmin BaseCamp software. The possibility of using full-fledged maps is not provided. Navigation without making a route is also very simple and accessible - D2 Bravo locate, record a fairly accurate track, including in UltraTrac mode, there is a function of movement in azimuth, the ability to quickly set points of interest, the ability to quickly create a route using points in memory , as well as the function of returning to the beginning of the track - TracBack.
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When tracking daily activity, which is tied mainly to the accelerometer sensor, the D2 Bravo model has inaccuracies typical of many such devices. For example, lifting a medium-sized box with both hands and squeezing it tightly, thereby minimizing wrist wobble, introduces gaps in step tracking. The same result will be obtained if you move around the store with the cart. Sleep monitoring requires manual activation, which is the most annoying feature until you develop a habit. Working with sensors via the ANT + protocol did not cause any problems, including pairing with a device, recording and processing data.
Is the D2 Bravo or Fenix 3 smartwatch model worthy of attention in 2021? Definitely yes. The functionality of the watch is still quite relevant today, especially when you consider the possibility of using Connect IQ widgets. Yes, there is no full navigation, the so popular NFC, solar charging and an optical pulse oximeter, but there is everything else and at a more affordable price at the moment. The only, subjectively, drawback is the limited service life of the lithium-ion battery, which may have to be replaced immediately after purchase, plus some difficulty in replacing it.
For this introductory review, the Garmin D2 Bravo Pilot series multisport watch was provided by specialist retailer Punisher, where it is currently priced at $ 208 excluding shipping. The package includes the watch itself with a silicone strap, a leather strap with a mount, a tool for changing the straps, a charging kit, as well as a detailed instruction manual.
Source: https://www.gearshout.net/obzor-mnogofunkcionalnyx-smart-chasov-garmin-d2-bravo/
Author: GearShout
