Garmin announced the Descent X10 today, 3 November 2026. It’s a brand-new, dedicated dive computer, and it sits below the Descent X30 and X50i in Garmin’s dive line-up. Many of us who keep a boat also keep a dive bag on board, so we took a close look.
What the Garmin Descent X10 does
The X10 uses a 2.1-inch monochrome MIP display (320 x 240 pixels) with a backlight that stays on during dives. Garmin says you can read it from harsh sunlight on deck down to dim water below. You get scuba, apnea and gauge modes, and Garmin rates it for dives to 100 metres (10 ATM). Battery life runs up to 50 hours in dive mode, or up to six months in standby.
For gas, it handles air and nitrox from 21% to 40% O2, with PO2 up to 1.6. Decompression runs on Bühlmann ZHL-16c with gradient factors, and you can adjust conservatism. You also get a basic NDL planner, a safety stop timer, no-fly time and Garmin’s NDL Aware depth metrics. These show in real time how a change in depth affects your no-deco limit.
Garmin Descent X10 for boat owners and charters
Two features stand out for us. First, rental mode lets a dive school, shop or charter operator set the computer to a diver’s skill level, then reset it between users. So if you run a charter boat with guests who dive, that’s genuinely handy. Coloured bezel guards (sold separately) also make it easier to tell units apart.
Second, setup sharing syncs settings across compatible Descent computers, so you can carry the X10 as a backup to a bigger unit. Meanwhile, the Garmin Dive app logs dives, tags locations and tracks gear. Its simulator also lets you practise full dives before you get wet. However, the X10 has no built-in GPS; entry and exit locations come from your paired phone.
Garmin Descent X10 vs X30 and X50i
| Garmin spec | Descent X10 | Descent X30 | Descent X50i |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 2.1″ MIP, mono | 2.4″ LCD, colour | 3.0″ LCD, colour |
| Max depth | 100 m | 100 m | 200 m |
| Gases | Air, nitrox 21-40% | Air, nitrox, trimix | Air, nitrox, trimix, CCR |
| Built-in GPS / compass | No / No | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Air integration | Not listed | Not listed | Yes (Subwave) |
| Battery (dive) | Up to 50 h | Up to 30 h (default) | Up to 16 h (default) |
| Weight with band | 130 g | 198.2 g | 280 g |
| US price | $349.99 | $749.99 | $1,499.99 |
So the X10 gives up GPS, a compass, trimix and a colour screen. In return, it’s lighter and runs longer between charges. Also, Garmin’s spec sheet doesn’t list Subwave air integration. As a result, if you want tank pressure from a Descent T2 transceiver, look at the X50i instead.
Garmin Descent X10 price and availability
Garmin’s suggested retail price is $349.99 in the US. Garmin’s regional stores list it at £299.99 in the UK, €349.99 in Germany, France and Spain, C$489.99 in Canada and A$599 in Australia. A bundle with the Aqua bezel guard costs $369.98. The press release says “available now”; however, the US and Canadian product pages say you can order from 6 November.
Our take on the Garmin Descent X10
For a first dive computer, a spare, or a set of rental units on a charter boat, the X10 looks like a sensible, no-nonsense choice. It won’t replace a technical computer, but it doesn’t try to. Meanwhile, if you’d rather wear your dive computer as a luxury watch, Garmin’s MARQ Diver also covers diving, as we noted in our MARQ Gen 3 news.
Images: Garmin.
Sources: Garmin newsroom press release · Descent X10 product page and specs · Garmin UK product page · Garmin on YouTube: Begin Your Dive Journey with Descent X10 · Garmin Training on YouTube: Descent X10 | Essential Dive Computer · Garmin Training: Descent X10 Rental Mode
