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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerAmazfit Balance vs Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Get the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar unless you need an ultra-light smartwatch. It boasts an incredible battery life of up to 40 days, and with solar charging, it can last indefinitely with just a few hours of sun each day. In real-world use, the Amazfit Balance shines with its vibrant 1.5" AMOLED display, offering a crisp resolution of 480 x 480 pixels. But if you’re after ruggedness and utility features like a built-in LED flashlight, the Instinct 2X Solar’s 50mm design is hard to beat, especially for outdoor activities in 2026.
⚖️ Weight: 1.23 oz vs 2.36 oz💽 Storage: 2.2 GB vs 64 GB🔋 Battery: 14 days vs 40 days (unlimited with solar)
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Amazfit Balance
★4.4
(1,543)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base)
Case Material:Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell
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Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
★4.7
(2,562)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app)
Operating System:Garmin OS
Case Size:50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in)
Case Material:Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Amazfit Balance
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Amazfit Balance
1.5"
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm)
Resolution
Amazfit Balance
480 x 480 (323 ppi)
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
176 x 176 pixels
Performance1 specs
Storage
Amazfit Balance
Music storage (approx. 2.2GB available)
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage)Winner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Amazfit Balance
475 mAh; up to 14 days typical use; up to 25 days battery saver; up to 5 days AOD; up to 26 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); up to 52 hours (Power Saving GPS mode)
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Smartwatch: Up to 40 days (Unlimited w/ solar*); GPS: Up to 60 hours (145 hours w/ solar*); Multi-Band: Up to 27 hours (36 hours w/ solar*)
Design2 specs
Weight
Amazfit Balance
1.23 oz (without strap)Winner
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
67 g (2.4 oz)
Water Resistance
Amazfit Balance
5 ATM (up to 164 feet)
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
10 ATM (100 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Amazfit Balance
Zepp OS 4
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Garmin OS
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Amazfit Balance
WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.3
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Bluetooth, ANT+
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Amazfit Balance vs Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Amazfit Balance
★4.4(1,543)Amazon
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
★4.7(2,562)Amazon
| Criterion | Amazfit Balance | Garmin Instinct 2X Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.4(1,543)Amazon | ★4.7(2,562)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above | iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app) |
Operating System | Zepp OS 4 | Garmin OS |
Case Size | 46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base) | 50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in) |
Case Material | Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell | Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone |
Display Type | AMOLED (tempered glass; anti-glare bezel; anti-fingerprint coating) | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
Display Size | 1.5" | Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm) |
Resolution | 480 x 480 (323 ppi) | 176 x 176 pixels |
Always On Display | Yes (AOD mode supported) | Yes (MIP technology) |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (up to 164 feet) | 10 ATM (100 meters) |
Durability | Tempered glass with anti-glare bezel; aluminum alloy frame | MIL-STD-810 rated (thermal, shock, water); Operating temp: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) |
GPS | Circularly-polarized GPS antenna; dual-band positioning; 6 satellite positioning systems | Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
Connectivity | WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
NFC Payments | Zepp Pay (supported in select regions and banks only) | Yes (Garmin Pay) |
Sensors | BioTracker 5.0 PPG biometric sensor (8PD + 2LED); BIA bioelectric impedance sensor; 3-axis acceleration sensor; Gyroscope sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Air pressure sensor; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 Heart Rate; Pulse Ox (SpO2); Barometric Altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer |
Health Features | Readiness score; 24/7 heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring; sleep tracking (incl. breathing quality); one-tap health measurement; body composition measurement (BIA) | Sleep Score & Insights; Body Battery; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration; Pulse Ox; Health Snapshot |
Workout Modes | 156 sports modes; Zepp Coach; offline maps and navigation; training templates + interval training; supports external peripherals (HR belt, cycling power meter) | Obstacle Course Racing, HIIT, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Strength, Skiing, Golf, Indoor Climbing, Tactical (on Tactical Edition) |
Storage | Music storage (approx. 2.2GB available) | 64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage) |
Speaker Mic | Microphone: supported; speaker: supported | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) |
Calls | Yes (Bluetooth phone calls) | No (Notification alerts only; Text response/reject on Android) |
Battery | 475 mAh; up to 14 days typical use; up to 25 days battery saver; up to 5 days AOD; up to 26 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); up to 52 hours (Power Saving GPS mode) | Smartwatch: Up to 40 days (Unlimited w/ solar*); GPS: Up to 60 hours (145 hours w/ solar*); Multi-Band: Up to 27 hours (36 hours w/ solar*) |
Charging | Magnetic charging; approx. 2 hours | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-A); Solar charging |
Weight | 1.23 oz (without strap) | 67 g (2.4 oz) |
Band Sizes | 22mm width; silicone fits wrists 5.51–8.46 inches; nylon fits wrists 5.51–8.27 inches | Fits wrist sizes 145–228 mm; Standard 26 mm QuickFit compatible |
Extras | Zepp Flow AI voice assistant; Amazon Alexa integrated; offline voice assistant; mini apps ecosystem; quick reply on Android (supported apps vary) | Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red variable intensities); Solar charging overlay; Breadcrumb navigation; TracBack; Safety & Incident Detection |
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Amazfit Balance
Rating:★4.4(1,543)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base)
Case Material:Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell
Display Type:AMOLED (tempered glass; anti-glare bezel; anti-fingerprint coating)
Display Size:1.5"
Resolution:480 x 480 (323 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (AOD mode supported)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (up to 164 feet)
Durability:Tempered glass with anti-glare bezel; aluminum alloy frame
GPS:Circularly-polarized GPS antenna; dual-band positioning; 6 satellite positioning systems
Connectivity:WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.3
NFC Payments:Zepp Pay (supported in select regions and banks only)
Sensors:BioTracker 5.0 PPG biometric sensor (8PD + 2LED); BIA bioelectric impedance sensor; 3-axis acceleration sensor; Gyroscope sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Air pressure sensor; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor
Health Features:Readiness score; 24/7 heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring; sleep tracking (incl. breathing quality); one-tap health measurement; body composition measurement (BIA)
Workout Modes:156 sports modes; Zepp Coach; offline maps and navigation; training templates + interval training; supports external peripherals (HR belt, cycling power meter)
Storage:Music storage (approx. 2.2GB available)
Speaker Mic:Microphone: supported; speaker: supported
Calls:Yes (Bluetooth phone calls)
Battery:475 mAh; up to 14 days typical use; up to 25 days battery saver; up to 5 days AOD; up to 26 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); up to 52 hours (Power Saving GPS mode)
Charging:Magnetic charging; approx. 2 hours
Weight:1.23 oz (without strap)
Band Sizes:22mm width; silicone fits wrists 5.51–8.46 inches; nylon fits wrists 5.51–8.27 inches
Extras:Zepp Flow AI voice assistant; Amazon Alexa integrated; offline voice assistant; mini apps ecosystem; quick reply on Android (supported apps vary)
✓ Pros:
- • Extremely lightweight design (1.23 oz) for its 46mm size
- • Advanced wellness toolkit including Readiness score and Body Composition analysis
- • Highly accurate dual-band circularly-polarized GPS system
- • Bluetooth calling and local music storage (2.2GB) for phone-free workouts
- • Efficient battery life managing up to 2 weeks on a single charge
✗ Cons:
- • Zepp Pay ecosystem is limited compared to Apple or Google Pay
- • Significant battery impact when Always-On Display is enabled (drops to 5 days)
- • No LTE/Cellular connectivity option available
- • Limited third-party app ecosystem compared to WearOS or watchOS
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Rating:★4.7(2,562)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app)
Operating System:Garmin OS
Case Size:50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in)
Case Material:Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone
Display Type:Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Display Size:Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm)
Resolution:176 x 176 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (MIP technology)
Water Resistance:10 ATM (100 meters)
Durability:MIL-STD-810 rated (thermal, shock, water); Operating temp: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
GPS:Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Connectivity:Bluetooth, ANT+
NFC Payments:Yes (Garmin Pay)
Sensors:Garmin Elevate Gen 4 Heart Rate; Pulse Ox (SpO2); Barometric Altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer
Health Features:Sleep Score & Insights; Body Battery; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration; Pulse Ox; Health Snapshot
Workout Modes:Obstacle Course Racing, HIIT, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Strength, Skiing, Golf, Indoor Climbing, Tactical (on Tactical Edition)
Storage:64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage)
Speaker Mic:No (No built-in speaker or microphone)
Calls:No (Notification alerts only; Text response/reject on Android)
Battery:Smartwatch: Up to 40 days (Unlimited w/ solar*); GPS: Up to 60 hours (145 hours w/ solar*); Multi-Band: Up to 27 hours (36 hours w/ solar*)
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-A); Solar charging
Weight:67 g (2.4 oz)
Band Sizes:Fits wrist sizes 145–228 mm; Standard 26 mm QuickFit compatible
Extras:Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red variable intensities); Solar charging overlay; Breadcrumb navigation; TracBack; Safety & Incident Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Integrated LED flashlight is exceptionally useful for safety and utility
- • Potentially unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode (3 hours sun/day)
- • Multi-band GNSS provides superior accuracy in challenging environments
- • Extremely durable construction (MIL-STD-810) and 10 ATM rating
- • High-contrast monochrome display is perfectly legible in direct sunlight
✗ Cons:
- • Monochrome, low-resolution screen lacks the detail of AMOLED or color MIP
- • No topographic maps (breadcrumb trails only)
- • No onboard music storage (controls phone music only)
- • Large 50mm case size is bulky and may not fit smaller wrists well
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is the better buy for most people - its unlimited battery life crushes the Amazfit Balance. That said, grab the Amazfit Balance if you want a lightweight design at just 1.23 oz - it's a dream for everyday wear.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Amazfit Balance if: you want a lightweight smartwatch at 1.23 oz, prefer a vibrant AMOLED display for daily use, or need advanced wellness features like body composition analysis.
Choose the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar if: you need a rugged design with military-grade durability, want potentially unlimited battery life with solar charging, or require an integrated flashlight for outdoor adventures. (2.36 oz weight, 64 GB storage)
Conclusion
Amazfit Balance and Garmin Instinct 2X Solar are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Amazfit Balance excels if you value extremely lightweight design (1.23 oz) for its 46mm size. Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is better if you prioritize integrated led flashlight is exceptionally useful for safety and utility. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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