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Garmin Reveals Next-Gen VIRB Action Cams

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Need a new action cam for all your summer sporting? Garmin has two new options that might fit the bill.

The company today introduced the VIRB X and the beefier VIRB XE, both of which are waterproof up to 50 meters and capable of shooting high-definition, wide-angle footage. The cameras boast a new, more rugged design, which allows for more mounting options and lets you shoot underwater without an external case.

Designed to shoot professional-quality HD footage at 1440p/30fps and 1080p/60fps, the XE is the pricier of the pair at $399.99, offering features like super slow-mo, image stabilization, and different zoom levels. The XE also has a Pro Mode with advanced manual camera adjustments like white balance control, sharpness control, color profile control, ISO limit, and exposure bias.

The less-expensive X, priced at $299.99, can shoot HD footage at 1080p/30fps and 720p/60fps with slow-mo and zoom options. Both will be available at some point this summer, but Garmin has not yet announced an exact release date.

The cameras also sport a variety of built-in sensors and wireless functionality options to let you capture your activities in more detail. You can, for instance, utilize internal sensors like the GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope along with compatible accessories like Garmin's heart rate monitor, Fenix sports watches, or Vector power meter to record performance data alongside your video footage. The cameras are also compatible with Bluetooth-enabled OBD tools, letting you record vehicle data like speed, RPM, and throttle position.

Now here's where it starts getting cool. Using Garmin's VIRB Mobile app or free desktop-editing software, you can quickly edit and overlay this sensor and Bluetooth data to your video footage. The app, available for smartphones and tablets, also lets you see a live stream of video, as well as control multiple cameras. There's also a new tracking feature on the app, which records the camera's last-known GPS position for easy recovery.

"VIRB X and XE represent a bold step forward in the evolution of action cameras for consumers and professionals alike," Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales, said in a statement. "We are extremely excited to bring these cameras to market, and see not only the content that users share, but also how far, how fast, and how crazy their adventures really are."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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