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Head to Head

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar vs Garmin Instinct 2X Solar

Solar charging on both and only a hair apart in rating, but the 2X Solar steps up to training-tier analytics and adds a built-in flashlight in a larger case, for $50 more.

Garmin Instinct 2 SolarGarmin

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

4.6
Garmin Instinct 2X SolarGarmin

Garmin Instinct 2X Solar

4.7
Built-in Flashlight
$399
Lower price
MSRP
$449
Bare-Bones GPS
Watch Type
Bare-Bones GPS
Just the Basics
Training Data
Solid Training Data
More data
iOS & Android
Phone
iOS & Android
4.6
Rating
4.7
Higher rated
30 hrs
GPS Battery Life
60 hrs
Longer battery
Single-Band
GPS
Dual-Band
More precise
53g
Lighter
Weight
67g
45mm
Case Size
50mm
No
Wrist Calls
No
No
Offline Maps
No
No
Offline Music
No
10 ATM
Water Resistance
10 ATM
—
Notable For
Built-in Flashlight
Best For
  • •You want a smaller case and don't need training-tier analytics
  • •$50 less is worth skipping the flashlight for
  • •You want training-tier analytics and a genuine built-in flashlight
  • •A bigger 50mm case is a fair trade for the extra features
The Full Story

Everything the standard Instinct 2 offers, plus a solar lens that can stretch smartwatch mode toward unlimited battery life in direct sun. Still button-only, still no touchscreen, still built for runners who'd rather not think about charging.

Featuring a massive 50mm case and limitless battery potential under direct sun, the Instinct 2X Solar adds dual-frequency GPS and a dedicated multi-LED flashlight. It's built specifically for trail runners and night trainers who prefer buttons and extreme durability over touchscreen displays.

*Estimated — this model's exact GPS battery life isn't published by the manufacturer. All figures are standard GPS mode, midsize case, no solar boost.

†Estimated — this model launched too recently to have an established customer rating yet.

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