New Garmin Leak: D2 Mach 2 Aviation Watch Surfaces – A Fenix 8 Variant You Didn’t Expect
We’re all still on edge, waiting (and hoping) for the Forerunner 970 to make its official debut in the coming weeks. But Garmin had other plans for today.
A newly leaked watch has surfaced across multiple Garmin domains as of 11 May—this time, it’s an aviation-focused model: the Garmin D2 Mach 2.
While I’d previously speculated this might land in Q3 2025, it now looks likely Garmin is bringing it forward, possibly switching the usual release order that typically sees Quatix drop before D2 Mach.
What Is the D2 Mach 2? – Range and Base Technology Platform
Range: D2 Air X10 (Venu 2 Plus) > D2 Mach 2 (Fenix 8) > MARQ Aviator Gen 2 (Epix gen 2)
As far as I can tell, this is the first public listing of the D2 Mach 2, and Garmin didn’t make it easy to find, tightening the leaks in its information management sieve. I’ll let the generic, mainstream tech outlets try to find the original on Garmin’s site to copy or credit the source as this site.
The D2 Mach 2 is essentially a Fenix 8 variant for pilots, using the same chassis, core features, and AMOLED screen, but loaded with unique aviation-specific tools and compatibility with Garmin’s numerous other avionic products.
As with past models, it likely includes restricted golfing features and almost no boating functions, but may gain diving features where its predecessor lacked them.
Garmin Fenix – Major Features Strategy for Tactix, D2, MK3, Quatix, Enduro (Fenix derivative models)
It’s likely to sit above D2 Air X10 (2022) and beside the MARQ Aviator (2022), but at a slightly more attainable price. The Aviator is mainly differentiated from the range by more premium materials.
Expected D2 Mach 2 Features
Here’s a rundown of the specialist aviation features you can expect based on prior D2 models and what’s been spotted so far:
| Likely Feature | Included |
|---|---|
| Worldwide airport database | Yes |
| Altimeter with adjustable barometric setting | Yes |
| 3-axis compass with HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) | Yes |
| Zulu/UTC multi-time zone support | Yes |
| Flight plan sync from Garmin Pilot™ | Yes |
| NEXRAD weather on a moving map | Yes |
| Moving map with airports, navaids, terrain & more | Yes |
| Waypoint information page | Yes |
| Global NAVAID & intersection database | Yes |
| Connext avionics connectivity | Yes |
| In-flight Pulse Ox | Yes |
| Aviation alerts (e.g. fuel, altitude, proximity) | Yes |
| MOS & meteogram weather forecasts | Yes |
| Emergency fly activity mode | Yes |
| Density altitude calculator | Yes |
| METAR & TAF support | Yes |
Take Out
D2 Mach 2’s official announcement might not be imminent. The watch could easily be released in June or later, so although the timing might be unexpected, the model is wholly predictable.
One trend with the Fenix derivatives, like D2 Mach 2, is a creep to add the new features shared by other Fenix derivatives. The most obvious example was the dive capabilities added from Descent to the Fenix 8 itself. There are other examples. Where will this trend end? Will every Fenix derivative soon have every feature, or will subsets of the specialist feature sets instead be reserved? Will the Fenix derivatives allow previously excluded features to be added via payments in Connect+, or will MARQ come with a free-for-life Connect+ subscription?
Lots of possibilities.
As to what this means for a next-gen Fenix 8 Pro, microLED or any of those other rumours – it means nothing. Other than aviation-specific integrations, there will be nothing new to see on D2 Mach 2
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Meh. Something else to charge ££££ for and then wrap features behind a subscription. No thanks.
Garmin altimeter functions don’t work. I was at Death Valley one year, standing right next to to 0′ sea level sign, and according to my Garmin watch, I was 200+’ up.
And I am constantly perplexed by my circular paths, starting and ending at the same point usually show an increase in elevation.
if. your device has a DEM it should be good.
generally it should be good in he conditions you describe
But it’s NOT good.
Why do I gain elevation for one time to the next on a circular hike?
At Death Valley I used the opportunity to calibrate the watch…STILL off. I wouldn’t recommend a Garmin aviation-oriented watch to fly through the mountains with.
you’ve not said which watch.
def a question for garmin support
but i can try to help
if you calibrate manually to a known point at the start. if your alimeter hole is not blocked. if you have good gps
all should be good.
start and end points should have similar elevation
I have a Fenix X.
Yes, I agree, it should work in theory, but it doesn’t.
Ticks me off every time I review my hikes. How can I start higher/lower than I finish at??! At the same exact GPS point, generally on a flat parking lot.
The altimeter is barometric, air pressure changes throughout the day. Nice weather has higher air pressure and vice versa with foul weather. So if the weather changes during your hike, so will the air pressure, fooling your altimeter.
that’s why the 3D-gps is also used to periodically recalibrate and the 2d-gps to pick the value from the DEM. garmin also considers manual calibration and, indeed, has a hierarchy of altitude calibration types of which ‘manual’ is the top
Then how does a “real” altimeter work if changes in barometric pressure can affect it so much? And under the DEM system, why is altitude changing for the exact same point of GPS?
Something’s wrong…
Something migth be wrong. I’m not quite sure what you are asking
I’m just saying how it works for Garmin. Suunto do a simialr thing with fusedAlti years ago. The algorithm combines multiple ways of detemrining altitude.
As you say barometric changes over the short term accurately reflect DELTAs in altitude/elevation 9barometrs are used by watches to detect staris climbed…they are VERY accurate). But over the longer term air pressure changes certainly make them wrong.
D2 Air X10 is Venu 2 Plus, not Venu 3.
good spot, thank you.
Having been a Garmin user for over 10 years, I hope this is a game-changer, but after the enshittification of Garmin Connect, I’m considering a non-Garmin watch to replace my Epix Gen 2 later this year.