← Back to Smartwatches
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Apple Watch Ultra 2
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: which is the right fit? We cover performance, value, and use cases to make the call easier.
Ratings: 4.7★ vs 4.7★
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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
Check Amazon Price→
Apple Watch Ultra 2
★4.7
(1,082)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
Check Amazon Price→
Comparison: Garmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Apple Watch Ultra 2
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
★4.7(2,562)Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 2
★4.7(1,082)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Instinct 2X Solar | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(2,562)Amazon | ★4.7(1,082)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app) | iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later |
Operating System | Garmin OS | watchOS |
Case Size | 50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in) | 49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D) |
Case Material | Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone | Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish) |
Display Type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED (flat sapphire crystal display) |
Display Size | Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm) | 1185 sq mm display area |
Resolution | 176 x 176 pixels | 410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (MIP technology) | Yes |
Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters) | 100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810 rated (thermal, shock, water); Operating temp: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) | IP6X dust resistant; tested to MIL-STD 810H (altitude, high/low temp, temperature shock, immersion, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock/vibration) |
GPS | Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Precision dual-frequency GPS: L1 and L5 (GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ | LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip |
NFC Payments | Yes (Garmin Pay) | Apple Pay |
Sensors | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 Heart Rate; Pulse Ox (SpO2); Barometric Altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer | Electrical heart sensor (ECG app); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; temperature sensing; depth gauge (±1 m accuracy); water temperature sensor; compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer; high dynamic range gyroscope; ambient light sensor; blood oxygen sensor (feature availability subject to US patent rulings) |
Health Features | Sleep Score & Insights; Body Battery; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration; Pulse Ox; Health Snapshot | ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Sleep tracking with stages; Sleep apnea notifications; Vitals app; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; Noise app |
Workout Modes | Obstacle Course Racing, HIIT, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Strength, Skiing, Golf, Indoor Climbing, Tactical (on Tactical Edition) | Customizable Action Button for instant workout start; Advanced running metrics (stride length, ground contact time); Multisport; Swimming; Hiking; Diving (Oceanic+ app required for dive computer functions) |
Storage | 64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage) | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) | Dual speakers (40% louder than Series 8); Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation |
Calls | No (Notification alerts only; Text response/reject on Android) | Yes (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and iPhone tethering) |
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*) | Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode) |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-A); Solar charging | Fast charging capable (0–80% in approx. 1 hour); USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable included |
Weight | 67 g (2.4 oz) | 61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only] |
Band Sizes | Fits wrist sizes 145–228 mm; Standard 26 mm QuickFit compatible | Trail Loop (S/M, M/L); Alpine Loop (S, M, L); Ocean Band (One Size); fits 130–210mm wrists depending on selection |
Extras | Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red variable intensities); Solar charging overlay; Breadcrumb navigation; TracBack; Safety & Incident Detection | S9 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Precision Finding for iPhone 15/16 lineup; 86-decibel Siren; Night Mode (Modular Ultra face) |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | 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→
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Rating:★4.7(1,082)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED (flat sapphire crystal display)
Display Size:1185 sq mm display area
Resolution:410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319)
Durability:IP6X dust resistant; tested to MIL-STD 810H (altitude, high/low temp, temperature shock, immersion, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock/vibration)
GPS:Precision dual-frequency GPS: L1 and L5 (GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou)
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG app); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; temperature sensing; depth gauge (±1 m accuracy); water temperature sensor; compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer; high dynamic range gyroscope; ambient light sensor; blood oxygen sensor (feature availability subject to US patent rulings)
Health Features:ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Sleep tracking with stages; Sleep apnea notifications; Vitals app; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; Noise app
Workout Modes:Customizable Action Button for instant workout start; Advanced running metrics (stride length, ground contact time); Multisport; Swimming; Hiking; Diving (Oceanic+ app required for dive computer functions)
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Dual speakers (40% louder than Series 8); Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Calls:Yes (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and iPhone tethering)
Battery:Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charging capable (0–80% in approx. 1 hour); USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable included
Weight:61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only]
Band Sizes:Trail Loop (S/M, M/L); Alpine Loop (S, M, L); Ocean Band (One Size); fits 130–210mm wrists depending on selection
Extras:S9 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Precision Finding for iPhone 15/16 lineup; 86-decibel Siren; Night Mode (Modular Ultra face)
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest Apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility
- • Excellent battery life for an Apple Watch (up to 36 hours standard, 72 hours low power)
- • Rugged titanium build with sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance
- • Fast S9 SiP allows for Double Tap gesture and on-device Siri
- • Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) offers accurate tracking in dense environments
✗ Cons:
- • Large 49mm x 14.4mm casing is bulky on smaller wrists
- • Blood Oxygen feature is disabled on units sold by Apple in the US (post-Jan 2024)
- • Requires an iPhone to function; no Android compatibility
- • Expensive entry price compared to standard Series models
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
Looking at user satisfaction (Garmin Instinct 2X Solar: 4.7★ vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: 4.7★), Garmin Instinct 2X Solar pulls ahead. The gap is small—choose based on the priorities below.
Who should buy each?
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar excels at: Integrated LED flashlight is exceptionally useful for safety and utility, Potentially unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode (3 hours sun/day)
Watch for: Monochrome, low-resolution screen lacks the detail of AMOLED or color MIP
Apple Watch Ultra 2 excels at: Brightest Apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility, Excellent battery life for an Apple Watch (up to 36 hours standard, 72 hours low power)
Watch for: Large 49mm x 14.4mm casing is bulky on smaller wrists
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar excels if you value integrated led flashlight is exceptionally useful for safety and utility. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is better if you prioritize brightest apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility. 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.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.