Apple Watch Sport vs. Garmin Instinct

Smartwatch Comparison, Reviews and Tests

In depth comparison and review of Apple Watch Sport and Garmin Instinct. Compare sizes, functions, displays, batteries and other important specifications and features to easily choose the right smartwatch for you. Our goal is to help you uncover differences between the products and find the watch that will best fit your needs.

Smartwatch Specifications Comparison

Apple Watch Sport vs. Garmin Instinct Comparison Chart
GENERAL Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Product Type Smart watch Sport watch
Operating System WatchOS 2 -
Supported Host Device OS iOS 8.2 or later iOS, Android
Activity/Sport - Running, swimming, ski, cycling, hiking, eSport, climbing, yoga, workout, snowboarding, cardio training, rower, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, mountain biking
Wearing Style Watch style Watch style
Audio Input Microphone -
Audio Output Speaker -
Width 33.3 mm 45 mm
Height 38.6 mm 45 mm
Depth 10.5 mm 15.3 mm
Weight 25 g 53 g
Body Material Anodised aluminium Fibre-reinforced polymer
Protection Splashproof Waterproof
Clock Display Yes Yes
FEATURES Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Sensors Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyro sensor, heart rate Accelerometer, digital compass, thermometre, barometric altimeter, optical heart sensor
Tracking Data Distance, time, calories burned, activity, heart rate, steps taken Distance, time, speed, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, steps taken, floors climbed, stress level, menstrual cycle, hydration
Goal Setting - Yes
Features Call handling, hands-free, music remote handling, camera remote control, listening to music, MagSafe technology with inductive charging, Force Touch, Digital Crown, Retina Display technology, Digital Touch Music remote handling, find phone function, VIRB control, inactivity alert, Move IQ, Find my Device, Garmin Elevate, LiveTrack, TrueUp, Body Battery, Physio TrueUp
Notifications Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email, social apps
Vibrating Alert Yes Yes
Navigation (GPS) - GPS/GLONASS/Galileo receiver
Payment Technology Apple Pay -
CONNECTIVITY Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+
DISPLAY Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Type OLED - colour Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective
Resolution - 128 x 128 pixels
Dimensions (WxH) - 23 mm x 23 mm
Screen Protection Ion-X glass Chemically strengthened glass
INPUT DEVICE Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Type Touch sensitive screen (Force Touch) Touch buttons
CASE Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Case Size 38 mm -
Case Shape - Round
Bezel - Fibre-reinforced polymer
Case Back Composite back -
Case Details Silver aluminium | Rose gold aluminium | Gold aluminium | Space grey aluminium Black lava | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam | Tundra | Graphite | Flame red
Crown Type Digital -
BAND Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Band Type Sport band Strap
Band Size S/M/L -
Band Width - 22 mm
Fits Wrist with Circumference 130-200 mm 132-224 mm
Changeable Yes Yes
Clasp Type Pin-and-tuck Buckle
Band Material Fluoroelastomer Silicone
Band Colour Yellow | Apricot | Royal blue | Pink | Gold/red | Black | White | Orange | Blue | Lavender | Antique white | Green Lava black | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam
CPU Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Manufacturer Apple -
CPU Type S1 -
BATTERY Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Technology - Lithium Ion
Battery Life 18 hours 14 day(s)
Battery Life Details Talk time - up to 3 hour(s)
Audio playback - up to 6.5 hour(s)
Smartwatch mode - up to 14 days
Esports mode - up to 80 hour(s)
GPS mode - up to 16 hour(s)
UltraTrac mode - up to 40 hour(s)
Rechargeable Battery - Yes
Recharge Time 2.5 hour(s) -
MISCELLANEOUS Apple Watch Sport Garmin Instinct
Included Accessories Power adapter, magnetic charging cable Charging/data cable
Preloaded Software Mail, Stopwatch, Calendar, World clock, Messages, Remote Camera, Alarm, Phone, Photos, Maps, Stocks, Weather, Siri, Music, Timer, Passbook, Remote, Settings, Activity, Workout, Apple Pay STR3AMUP!
Compliant Standards IPX7 MIL-STD 810G
SAR Value 0.073 W/kg (head), 0.024 W/kg (limb) -
Max Depth of Water Resistance - 100 m
Max Operating Temperature 35 °C 60 °C
Min Operating Temperature 0 °C -20 °C
Warranty 1-year warranty 1-year warranty
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