Garmin D2 Air X15 smartwatch

I jumped on the original Garmin D2 Air when it debuted in 2020 because it offered pilot-friendly METARs and TAFs, direct-to navigation, and health apps, all within easy reach on my wrist. However, poor battery life and a dim display hobbled the original version ($499) which was replaced by the D2 Air X10 in 2022 ($549.99).

Much has changed in the years since, and the latest D2 X15 version of Garmin’s aviation GPS smartwatch released late in 2025 has a lot to love.

First, let’s talk battery life. The X15 easily lasts longer than a week between charges—a significant improvement over the original D2 Air which needed a charge about every other day when used on the ground—and more often when pressed into aviation service.

The new X15 watch face boasts an eye-friendly active-matrix organic LED (AMOLED) display that comes alive with either a twist of the wrist or a finger-tap showing large numerals, easily readable METAR and TAF flight conditions, plus a handy, always-on UTC display. No more fumbling for time zone conversions or flipping through menu pages when filing Zulu time on a flight plan.

The hallmarks of AMOLED are vivid picture quality, reduced power consumption, and expansive color gamut when compared to LCD screens and the AMOLED technology is found in smartphones, laptops, and other portable devices.

Users will appreciate the brilliant display’s data points available at a glance and without draining the battery. Gone are the days of carrying a dongle on your keychain and a charger in your pocket to breathe life back into the D2 Air after even brief flights.

Speaking of flights, the D2 Air X15 has a handy 30-minute fuel tank timer that pops up to indicate tank changes. During general aviation flights with the X15 on my left wrist and the original D2 Air on my right, the X15 tracked flights more accurately than its predecessor although both are helpful when using the “Direct-To” function. If you are truly lost, these Garmins can help you find an airport. During a flight, the X15’s built in barometer monitors pressure changes but also checks GPS signals to cross-verify altitude changes and ground speed to determine if they are consistent with a takeoff. This technological improvement avoids conditions that tricked the original during commercial flights, and it also improves accuracy in other situations such as when traveling in a four-wheeled vehicle traversing mountain passes.

I track my health, and the D2 X15 provides a friendly reminder when I’m low on steps, sleep, pulse oxygen levels, and more. Each morning, I find the built-in Garmin “life coach” function’s health tips—including various “atta-boy” messages—amusing. It’s a fun way to start the day.

Something I wasn’t counting on, but came in handy, is the X15’s ability to receive or end calls on my wrist. I was slow to accept the Dick Tracy wrist phone that Apple users love, but talking to my wife, Lisa, via my Garmin watch when my hands were full of Nikon gear was a pleasant surprise.

The standard watch face is all I could ask for in a wearable smartwatch, but you can customize it to your heart’s content. Garmin Pilot app users can interface with the X15 for flight plans and other data or check aircraft status if equipped with the company’s PlaneSync datalink technology. And finally, industrious aviators can use the Garmin D2 Air X15 to check messages and emails, listen to music, track stock options, keep up with daily calendar items, and a whole lot more.

[email protected]

Price: $649.99

garmin.com