In depth comparison and review of Garmin Instinct 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.
| GENERAL | Garmin Instinct | 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 | 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 | 45 mm | - |
| Height | 45 mm | - |
| Depth | 15.3 mm | - |
| Weight | 53 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 | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, digital compass, thermometre, barometric altimeter, 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, stress level, menstrual cycle, hydration | 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, Move IQ, Find my Device, Garmin Elevate, LiveTrack, TrueUp, Body Battery, Physio TrueUp | 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 | Calendar, SMS, Email, applications, high and low heart rate, irregular rhythm, cardio fitness |
| Vibrating Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Feedback Type | - | Audio alert, vibration alert, visual interface |
| Navigation (GPS) | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo receiver | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS receiver |
| Payment Technology | - | Apple Pay |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Compatible | - | Yes |
| IoT Intelligent Assistant | - | Siri |
| IoT Voice Controlled | - | Direct |
| CELLULAR | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Technology | - | WCDMA (UMTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Broadband Generation | - | 4G |
| SIM Card Type | - | Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) |
| CONNECTIVITY | Garmin Instinct | 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, Wi-Fi, ANT+ | IEEE 802.11b/g/n, LTE, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth 5.3 |
| DISPLAY | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Type | Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective | Retina LTPO OLED - colour |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 128 x 128 pixels | 352 x 430 pixels |
| Dimensions (WxH) | 23 mm x 23 mm | - |
| Screen Protection | Chemically strengthened glass | Ion-X glass |
| Always On Display (AOD) | - | Yes |
| INPUT DEVICE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Type | Touch buttons | Touch sensitive screen, side button, double tap gesture |
|---|
| CASE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Case Size | - | 41 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Case Shape | Round | Rectangular |
| Bezel | Fibre-reinforced polymer | - |
| Case Back | - | Sapphire crystal and ceramic back |
| Case Details | Black lava | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam | Tundra | Graphite | Flame red | 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 | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Band Type | Strap | Sport band |
|---|---|---|
| Band Size | - | M/L |
| Band Width | 22 mm | - |
| Fits Wrist with Circumference | 132-224 mm | 150-200 mm |
| Changeable | Yes | Yes |
| Clasp Type | Buckle | Pin-and-tuck |
| Band Material | Silicone | Fluoroelastomer |
| Band Colour | Lava black | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam | Starlight | Storm blue | Clay | Midnight | Light pink | Red | Silver | Gold | Graphite | Winter blue |
| STORAGE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Storage Capacity | - | 64 GB |
|---|
| CPU | Garmin Instinct | 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 | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Technology | Lithium Ion | Lithium Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 14 day(s) | 18 hours |
| Battery Life Details | 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) |
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 | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular) |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Charging/data cable | Magnetic fast charger to USB-C cable (1 m) |
|---|---|---|
| Preloaded Software | STR3AMUP! | GymKit |
| Compliant Standards | MIL-STD 810G | 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 |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty | - |
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