In depth comparison and review of Garmin Instinct 2S and Apple Watch Series 8 (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.
| GENERAL | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Product Type | Sport watch | Smart watch |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | - | WatchOS |
| Supported Host Device OS | iOS, Android | iOS 16 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 | 42 g | - |
| Body Details | - | Case only: 32 g |
| Body Material | Fibre-reinforced polymer | Aerospace-grade aluminium alloy |
| Protection | Waterproof | Water-resistant, dust-resistant, crack-resistant |
| Clock Display | Yes | Yes |
| FEATURES | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, thermometre, barometric altimeter, electromagnetic compass, optical heart sensor | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, electrical heart sensor, blood oxygen sensor, gyroscope, temperature sensing, optical heart sensor (3d gen), always-on altimeter |
|---|---|---|
| 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, rapid eye movement (REM) |
| Goal Setting | Yes | Yes |
| Features | Music remote handling, find phone function, VIRB control, inactivity alert, Find my Device, LiveTrack, Physio TrueUp, weather information, dual grid coordinates format, trackback routing, Body Battery Energy Monitor, accident detection | Call handling, Fall detection, Emergency SOS, Family Setup support, International Emergency Calling, Crash Detection, noise monitoring, Compass Waypoint, brightness: 1000 nits, Edge-to-edge display |
| Notifications | Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email, social apps, incoming calls | Calendar, SMS, Email, 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 | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Technology | - | WCDMA (UMTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Broadband Generation | - | 4G |
| SIM Card Type | - | Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) |
| CONNECTIVITY | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| 3M UMTS Band | - | Band 1, Band 2, Band 5, Band 8, Band 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE Band | - | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, 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, Bluetooth 5.0, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) |
| DISPLAY | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Type | Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective | Retina LTPO OLED - colour |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 156 x 156 pixels | 352 x 430 pixels |
| Dimensions (WxH) | 20.12 mm x 20.12 mm | - |
| Screen Protection | Chemically strengthened glass | Ion-X glass |
| Always On Display (AOD) | - | Yes |
| INPUT DEVICE | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Type | Push buttons | Touch sensitive screen |
|---|
| CASE | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Case Size | 40 mm | 41 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Case Shape | Round | Rectangular |
| Case Back | - | Sapphire crystal and ceramic back |
| Case Details | Deep orchid | Starlight aluminium | Red aluminium | Silver stainless steel | Gold stainless steel | Midnight aluminium | Graphite stainless steel | Silver aluminium |
| Crown Type | - | Digital with haptic feedback |
| BAND | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Band Type | Band | Sport band |
|---|---|---|
| Band Size | - | Regular |
| Band Width | 20 mm | - |
| Fits Wrist with Circumference | 112-180 mm | 130-200 mm |
| Changeable | Yes | Yes |
| Clasp Type | Buckle | Pin-and-tuck |
| Band Material | Silicone | Fluoroelastomer |
| Band Colour | - | Starlight | Red | White | Midnight | Silver | Gold | Graphite |
| STORAGE | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Storage Capacity | 32 MB | 32 GB |
|---|
| CPU | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Manufacturer | - | Apple |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Type | - | S8 SiP |
| Features | - | W3 Apple wireless chip, U1 chip |
| BATTERY | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Technology | Lithium Ion | Lithium Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | - | 18 hours |
| Battery Life Details | Smartwatch mode - up to 21 days Battery Saver Watch Mode - up to 50 days Max Battery GPS Mode - up to 54 hour(s) GPS mode - up to 22 hour(s) Expedition GPS Mode - up to 25 days |
- |
| Rechargeable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | - | Yes |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Garmin Instinct 2S | Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Charging/data cable | Magnetic fast charger to USB-C cable (1 m) |
|---|---|---|
| Preloaded Software | - | Apple Pay, GymKit |
| Compliant Standards | - | IP6X |
| SAR Value | - | 0.31 W/kg (head), 0.55 W/kg (head) |
| Max Depth of Water Resistance | 100 m | 50 m |
| Max Operating Temperature | 60 °C | - |
| Min Operating Temperature | -20 °C | - |
| Manufacturer Model Number | - | A2773 |
| Warranty | - | 1-year warranty |
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