Less than a month after Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra, Garmin released the second generation of their top-of-the-line MARQ series of smartwatches.

So, what is Garmin offering with its MARQ smartwatches, and is it time for you to upgrade?

What Is Garmin MARQ?

If you haven't heard of it yet, the MARQ Smartwatch is Garmin's premium smartwatch line. According to Garmin, MARQ is a tool watch collection. It's designed for specific activities and lifestyles and is built with premium materials like titanium, sapphire, and ceramics.

These are the five variants of the second-generation Garmin MARQ watches.

Adventurer

The Garmin MARQ Adventurer is made for explorers and those who like to go off the beaten path. It features point-to-point navigation, real-time breadcrumb trail, ABC navigation, and more. More than that, it has onboard topographic maps and real-time ascent data, allowing you to always know where you are.

It also has several outdoor recreation profiles, like hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and more. This ensures that your activity is tracked accurately, whatever you choose. It also allows you to measure your performance by providing precisely-measure data through its onboard sensors.

The watch also features an expedition mode that makes it conserve battery life. By turning on this mode, the Garmin MARQ Adventurer is expected to last weeks on a single charge. Aside from turning on this mode, you can also check out the other ways to improve your smartwatch's battery life.

Athlete

If you're into marathons and other athletics, the Garmin MARQ Athlete is designed for you. It has an UltraTrac mode that lets the smartwatch last up to 48 hours on a single charge, making it perfect for those who love long-distance running.

It also includes VO2 Max and recovery time markings right on the watch face, allowing you to time your runs optimally. You can also load up a map on the watch, ensuring that you don't get lost in your runs—whether you're doing it in an unfamiliar city or you're out on the trail.

Aviator

While other Garmin MARQ Smartwatches are already capable, the Garmin MARQ Aviator expands on this by adding aviation-specific functionalities. For example, it has a worldwide airport database, allowing you to load up information on the watch as you plan your flight. It also features an altimeter with an adjustable barometer setting, which is crucial for determining your aircraft's altitude.

Furthermore, it has a three-axis compass with a horizontal situation indicator (HSI)—an essential tool for aircraft navigation. It also has an in-flight pulse oximeter, which helps the pilot be aware of his oxygen levels and avoid hypoxia before confusion sets in.

Captain

The Garmin MARQ Captain is also another highly-capable watch with specific boating capabilities. Depending on your activity, you can set different boating profiles on the watch, like boating, sailing, or fishing. With that, you can ensure that it will give you the data you need.

It's also compatible with some Garmin Marine devices, allowing you to see your boat's data in real-time and even control its autopilot right from your wrist.

Golfer

For the avid golfers out there, Garmin created the Garmin MARQ Golfer. While other MARQ smartwatches have golfing capabilities, the MARQ Golfer builds upon this by adding even more golfing-specific features.

With this smartwatch, you get handicap scoring, automatic club tracking (with an additional accessory), and even wind speed and direction. You even get a virtual caddie on your wrist with the Garmin MARQ Golfer.

Garmin MARQ Specifications

While each variant has unique features and sensors, all the Garmin MARQ models have the same base specifications. This is what's under the hood (or the crown).

Given its advanced features, plus the exclusive materials used to build it, you can expect the Gamin MARQ collection to come at a premium. The 2nd-generation Garmin MARQ series starts at $1,500 for the Athlete variant and can go up to $1,950 for the Aviator version.

However, if you're in the market for a Garmin smartwatch but don't want to shell out these eyewatering prices, you should check out our list of the best Garmin smartwatches you can get today.

The King of Luxury Smartwatches

When Garmin first launched the MARQ collection in 2019, it brought its smartwatches into the world of luxury watches. By combining the former's capabilities with the latter's build quality, Garmin allowed those with exquisite tastes to finally have the functionality of more pedestrian smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra.