In depth comparison and review of Garmin Instinct and Apple Watch Ultra 2. 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 Ultra 2 |
|---|
| 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 | Multisport, custom workouts |
| Wearing Style | Watch style | Watch style |
| Audio Input | - | Three-microphone array |
| Audio Output | - | Dual speakers |
| Width | 45 mm | - |
| Height | 45 mm | - |
| Depth | 15.3 mm | - |
| Weight | 53 g | - |
| Body Details | - | Case only: 61.4 g |
| Body Material | Fibre-reinforced polymer | Aerospace-grade titanium |
| Protection | Waterproof | Water-resistant, splash-resistant, corrosion resistant, dust-resistant |
| Clock Display | Yes | Yes |
| FEATURES | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, digital compass, thermometre, barometric altimeter, optical heart sensor | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, depth gauge, electrical heart sensor, ECG sensor, blood oxygen sensor, gyroscope, water temperature sensor, 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, stress level, menstrual cycle, hydration | Distance, time, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep stages, menstrual cycle, ECG, ovulation phase, rapid eye movement (REM), depth |
| Modes | - | Night mode |
| 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 | Call handling, store & play music, Fall detection, Emergency SOS, heart rate zones, Family Setup support, International Emergency Calling, Siren (86-decibel), Crash Detection, noise monitoring, Compass Waypoint, precision finding for iPhone, brightness: 3000 nits, flashlight boost, track detection |
| Notifications | Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email, social apps | Calendar, SMS, Email, 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 Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Technology | - | WCDMA (UMTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Broadband Generation | - | 4G |
| SIM Card Type | - | Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) |
| CONNECTIVITY | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| 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 Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Type | Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective | Retina LTPO OLED - colour |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 128 x 128 pixels | 410 x 502 pixels |
| Dimensions (WxH) | 23 mm x 23 mm | - |
| Screen Protection | Chemically strengthened glass | Flat sapphire front crystal with display edge protection |
| Always On Display (AOD) | - | Yes |
| INPUT DEVICE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Type | Touch buttons | Touch sensitive screen, customisable action button, side button, double tap gesture |
|---|
| CASE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Case Size | - | 49 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Case Shape | Round | Rectangular |
| Bezel | Fibre-reinforced polymer | - |
| Case Details | Black lava | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam | Tundra | Graphite | Flame red | Titanium |
| Crown Type | - | Digital with haptic feedback |
| BAND | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Band Type | Strap | Alpine Loop |
|---|---|---|
| Band Size | - | S |
| Band Width | 22 mm | - |
| Fits Wrist with Circumference | 132-224 mm | 130-160 mm |
| Changeable | Yes | Yes |
| Clasp Type | Buckle | G-hook |
| Band Material | Silicone | Textile |
| Band Colour | Lava black | Coyote tan | Sunburst | Lakeside blue | Sea foam | Blue | Indigo | Olive | Orange/beige | Green/gray | Blue/black | Orange | White |
| STORAGE | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Storage Capacity | - | 64 GB |
|---|
| CPU | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| 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 Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Technology | Lithium Ion | Lithium Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 14 day(s) | 36 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) |
Normal use - up to 36 hour(s) Low power mode - up to 18 hour(s) Power saving mode - up to 72 hour(s) |
| Rechargeable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | - | Yes |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Garmin Instinct | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Charging/data cable | Magnetic fast charger to USB-C cable (1 m) |
|---|---|---|
| Preloaded Software | STR3AMUP! | GymKit, Oceanic+, Depth app |
| Compliant Standards | MIL-STD 810G | IP6X, BFR-free, PVC-free, Beryllium-free, Mercury-free, MIL-STD-810H, EN13319, Arsenic-free |
| Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) | - | 0.22 W/kg (head) 0.43 W/kg (limb) |
| Carbon Footprint | - | 0 kg carbon emissions |
| Max Depth of Water Resistance | 100 m | 100 m |
| Max Operating Temperature | 60 °C | 55 °C |
| Min Operating Temperature | -20 °C | -20 °C |
| Manufacturer Model Number | - | A2986 |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty | - |
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