For those who are passionate about scuba diving and outdoor adventure, choosing a high-performance dive computer is undoubtedly key to staying safe. Recently, the Editor had the privilege of personally testing Garmin's brand-new dive computer — the Garmin Descent X50i — in the world-renowned waters of Palau. This dive computer not only boasts advanced diving features, but also delivers outstanding performance for outdoor adventures, enabling the ultimate exploration experience. Let the Editor take you through the unboxing and show you how this device performs amid Palau's underwater ecosystem, along with a look at its standout features.
A visit to Palau is a chance to experience the raw power and beauty of nature
A Breathtaking Encounter with Palau's Underwater World
Palau's waters are crystal clear, and its vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life create an underwater landscape like no other. The depths and visibility here make it an undisputed paradise for divers. It was in these stunning waters that the Editor brought along the Garmin Descent X50i dive computer (referred to below as the X50i) for a comprehensive test.
The Editor brought the Garmin Descent X50i to Palau to take in the rich marine life
First Look at the Garmin X50i — Bottom Line Up Front
Size comparison between the X50i and Mk3i
- 3-inch square screen — squarely aimed at the needs of professional technical divers, offering a clear and intuitive display that makes reading all your dive data effortless.
- Ideal for users aged 40 and above, especially those with presbyopia — the square design and large screen offer a far more eye-friendly experience for older users.
- Sapphire glass screen — among square-design dive computers currently on the market, only the Garmin X50i offers sapphire glass; scratch-resistant and highly durable, it stays pristine whether you're diving or wearing it daily.
- Supports up to 8 T2 SubWave transmitters, and is also compatible with T1 transmitters, making it ideal for multi-cylinder diving.
- @+5 and Δ+5 advanced dive indicators — these data points help divers manage decompression and dive planning with greater precision, enhancing overall safety.
- Dynamic dive profile — an outstanding feature that graphically displays your ascent based on depth and bottom time, reminding you when to stop and when to switch gases, giving you an extra layer of safety.
The X50i is rated to 200 m, far exceeding competing products that top out at 100 m. For divers who aspire to move into technical diving, this depth rating is an essential factor for both safety and versatility.
Enhanced Visuals and Usability with a 3-Inch Screen
Underwater size comparison between the X50i and Mk3i
Thanks to the square screen's advantage, the X50i's display is larger than the Mk3i's and renders information with greater clarity. The sapphire glass screen is not only scratch- and wear-resistant, but also delivers superior display quality — the finest glass grade available among comparable products on the market today.
Touch technology also greatly improves ease of use on the surface, making every interaction smooth and effortless. Compared to similar products, the X50i features four tactile feedback buttons, allowing divers to operate the device quickly and accurately even underwater, with no risk of fumbling for the information they need in the depths. The result is a seamless, fluid user experience.
Four tactile feedback buttons offer superior controllability over competing products in the same class
The X50i also features vibration and audible alerts that trigger immediately whenever an abnormal dive condition is detected, effectively boosting dive safety. Beyond its core dive computer functions, the X50i's built-in Flash Light is equally impressive. It is brighter than the one on the Mk3i and supports both short and long flash modes. While red-light mode is not yet supported, the intensity and consistency of the white light is more than sufficient for use as a backup light source during night diving.
SubWave Sonar and Cylinder Monitoring
Both the X50i and Mk3i can pair with up to 8 T2 transmitters
The X50i is equipped with a powerful SubWave sonar system and, like the Mk3i, supports up to 8 Descent T2 transmitters for cylinder monitoring. This means that whether you are on a deep-water expedition or an extended dive, the X50i can provide real-time, accurate cylinder data, helping you manage gas consumption throughout the dive and avoid unexpected situations. According to official specifications, the pressure gauge (SPG) monitoring range for cylinders is 10 m, displaying your dive buddy's depth and horizontal distance, with two-way preset messaging available for buddies within 30 m.
The X50i also supports multi-gas diving modes, including nitrox and trimix, and allows custom configuration of GF values, PPO2, and other settings — catering to every diver who pushes the limits.
Multi-Function Integration and Navigation Support
SubWave makes it easier to manage gas sources during technical diving
Beyond diving, the X50i is also a capable outdoor sports watch. Units sold to Taiwanese consumers come pre-loaded with detailed maps of the Asian region and support basic point-to-point navigation — when you need to pinpoint your position in open waters and locate nearby islands, Garmin's map coverage becomes critically important. Users who plan to travel to Europe or North America can download the latest map updates via Garmin Express.
Thanks to its robust map resources and outstanding satellite positioning, the X50i also supports inReach integration (expected to be enabled via a future OTA update), allowing users in extreme outdoor environments to stay connected to the outside world via satellite — and even send emergency distress signals. This is an invaluable safety net for adventurers who love diving remote offshore sites or cave diving in remote mountainous terrain.
The 3-inch screen also makes it possible to browse underwater topographic charts directly on the surface, giving divers a far more intuitive understanding of the underwater environment and their planned route — a capability that appears to be unique among all dive computer products. The only caveat is that chart data currently covers only the United States and a handful of other countries, so here's hoping that nautical chart support for Taiwan becomes available in the future!
Additionally, the X50i will be able to display tidal data in the future, helping divers better plan their dive times and locations. Before using this feature, pairing via the Garmin Dive App is required to retrieve the data. This feature is expected to be unlocked through a future mobile app OTA update.
Technical Diving Exclusive: Dynamic Dive Profile and Advanced Technical Indicators
One of the X50i's standout features for technical diving is its support for a dynamic ascent profile. This function gives divers a clear, graphical view of their past, present, and future dive depth and ascent rate, making it easy to monitor depth status at any moment underwater and flagging critical gas switch points — helping to prevent decompression sickness (DCS) caused by ascending too quickly.
The @+5 and Δ+5 advanced technical diving indicators are calculated in real time by the dive computer, reflecting the increase in TTS (Time To Surface) that results from remaining at a given depth, and serving as one of the reference factors a diver can use to decide whether to continue at that depth.
- @+5: Represents "the TTS if the diver remains at the current depth for an additional 5 minutes." This metric gives divers an immediate reference point, helping them understand how staying at the current depth for a little longer affects the overall dive plan.
- Δ+5: Represents "the additional decompression time that would be incurred (compared to TTS) if the diver maintains the current depth for the next 5 minutes." This helps divers decide whether to continue at the current depth or begin ascending to avoid accumulating excessive decompression time.
- The relationship between Δ+5, @+5, and TTS: @+5 − TTS = Δ+5
Before You Buy — Important Notes
While the X50i is an exceptionally capable device, there are certain features it does not support that you should be aware of before purchasing. First, the X50i does not include a built-in heart rate monitor, which may be a minor drawback for those who like to combine diving with fitness tracking.
Second, the X50i does not support freediving mode, which will be a disappointment for users who enjoy freediving or spearfishing (though, admittedly, it's hard to imagine a freediver strapping on a dive computer this large for a breath-hold dive). The product is positioned firmly toward professional technical divers rather than freedivers.
Closing Thoughts: Only Garmin Can Out-Garmin Garmin
The large screen makes it easy to monitor all dive data at a glance
In summary, the Garmin Descent X50i is an exceptionally powerful dive computer, and for advanced divers who want to push to greater depths and need high-precision dive data with robust safety features, it is undeniably an ideal choice. Its one real drawback is its price point, which is higher than comparably positioned products — something worth considering carefully before committing to a purchase.
If you find yourself struggling to choose between models in the Garmin Descent line, the Editor offers this simple decision guide:
- Daily wear needs + multi-sport needs + tighter budget => G1
- Daily wear needs + multi-sport needs + larger budget => Mk3 (with options for case size and transmitter compatibility)
- No daily wear needs + technical diving needs => X50i
After visiting with the Garmin product management team and gaining a deeper understanding of their vision for the Garmin Descent X50i, the Editor couldn't help but ask: why develop a product for such a niche market segment, especially one with a square form factor that completely departs from the design advantages across Garmin's existing lineup (not least because a square case requires entirely new tooling)?
The Garmin Descent X50i fills a gap in the Garmin Descent lineup. We want to meet the needs of every consumer in the dive market — stay tuned for more innovative products coming to the Garmin Descent ecosystem!
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