Garmin Instinct 2S Solar vs. Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)

Smartwatch Comparison, Reviews and Tests

In depth comparison and review of Garmin Instinct 2S Solar and Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular). 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

Garmin Instinct 2S Solar vs. Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) Comparison Chart
GENERAL Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Product Type Sport watch Smart watch
Operating System - WatchOS 10
Supported Host Device OS iOS, Android iOS 17 or later
Activity/Sport Multisport -
Wearing Style Watch style Watch style
Audio Input - Microphone
Audio Output - Speaker
Width 40 mm -
Height 40 mm -
Depth 13.3 mm -
Weight 43 g -
Body Details - Case only: 32.1 g
Body Material Fibre-reinforced polymer 100% recycled aluminium
Protection Waterproof Water-resistant, dust-resistant, crack-resistant
Clock Display Yes Yes
FEATURES Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Sensors Accelerometer, thermometre, barometric altimeter, electromagnetic compass, optical heart sensor Digital compass, electrical heart sensor, blood oxygen sensor, optical heart sensor (3d gen), always-on altimeter, temperature sensor, high-g accelerometer, gyroscope with high dynamic range
Tracking Data Distance, time, speed, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, steps taken, floors climbed, blood oxygen saturation, stress level Distance, time, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep stages, menstrual cycle, ECG, ovulation phase, mental wellbeing
Goal Setting Yes Yes
Features Music remote handling, find phone function, VIRB control, inactivity alert, Find my Device, LiveTrack, Physio TrueUp, solar charging, weather information, dual grid coordinates format, trackback routing, Body Battery Energy Monitor, accident detection Fall detection, Emergency SOS, brightness: 2000 nits, Family Setup support, International Emergency Calling, Crash Detection, noise monitoring, Compass Waypoint, fast charge, precision finding for iPhone, elevation view
Notifications Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email, social apps, incoming calls Calendar, SMS, Email, applications, high and low heart rate, irregular rhythm, cardio fitness
Vibrating Alert Yes Yes
Feedback Type Vibration alert, visual interface Audio alert, vibration alert, visual interface
Navigation (GPS) GPS/GLONASS/Galileo receiver GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS receiver
Payment Technology Garmin Pay Apple Pay
Internet of Things (IoT) Compatible - Yes
IoT Intelligent Assistant - Siri
IoT Voice Controlled - Direct
CELLULAR Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Technology - WCDMA (UMTS)
Mobile Broadband Generation - 4G
SIM Card Type - Electronic SIM card (e-SIM)
CONNECTIVITY Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
3M UMTS Band - Band 1, Band 2, Band 5, Band 10
4G LTE Band - Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 6, Band 7, Band 8, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 66
Wireless Interface Bluetooth, ANT+ IEEE 802.11b/g/n, LTE, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth 5.3
DISPLAY Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Type Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective Retina LTPO OLED - colour
Resolution 156 x 156 pixels 352 x 430 pixels
Dimensions (WxH) 20 mm x 20 mm -
Screen Protection Power Glass Ion-X glass
Always On Display (AOD) - Yes
INPUT DEVICE Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Type Push buttons Touch sensitive screen, side button, double tap gesture
CASE Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Case Size 40 mm 41 mm
Case Shape Round Rectangular
Case Back - Sapphire crystal and ceramic back
Case Details Neo tropic Starlight aluminium | Silver aluminium | Gold stainless steel | Graphite stainless steel | Midnight aluminium | Pink aluminum | Red aluminium | Silver stainless steel
Crown Type - Digital with haptic feedback
BAND Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Band Type Band Sport band
Band Size - M/L
Band Width 20 mm -
Fits Wrist with Circumference 112-180 mm 150-200 mm
Changeable Yes Yes
Clasp Type Buckle Pin-and-tuck
Band Material Silicone Fluoroelastomer
Band Colour - Starlight | Storm blue | Clay | Midnight | Light pink | Red | Silver | Gold | Graphite | Winter blue
STORAGE Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Storage Capacity 32 MB 64 GB
CPU Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Manufacturer - Apple
CPU Type - S9 SiP
Features - W3 Apple wireless chip, second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, 4-core Neural Engine
BATTERY Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Technology Lithium Ion Lithium Ion
Battery Life - 18 hours
Battery Life Details Smartwatch mode - up to 21 days
Smartwatch mode (with solar) - up to 51 days
Battery Saver Watch Mode - up to 50 days
Max Battery GPS Mode - up to 54 hour(s)
Max Battery GPS Mode (with solar) - up to 114 hour(s)
GPS mode - up to 22 hour(s)
GPS mode (with solar) - up to 28 hour(s)
Expedition GPS Mode - up to 25 days
Expedition GPS Mode (with solar) - up to 105 days
Typical usage - up to 18 hour(s)
Low power mode - up to 36 hour(s)
Rechargeable Battery Yes Yes
Wireless Charging - Yes
MISCELLANEOUS Garmin Instinct 2S Solar Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular)
Included Accessories Charging/data cable Magnetic fast charger to USB-C cable (1 m)
Preloaded Software - GymKit
Compliant Standards - IP6X, BFR-free, PVC-free, Beryllium-free, Mercury-free, Arsenic-free
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) - 0.15 W/kg (head)
0.36 W/kg (limb)
Carbon Footprint - 0 kg carbon emissions
Max Depth of Water Resistance 100 m 50 m
Max Operating Temperature 60 °C -
Min Operating Temperature -20 °C -
Manufacturer Model Number - A2982
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