← Back to Smartwatches
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is the premium choice here, boasting potentially unlimited battery life with solar charging. In real-world use, that means you could wear it for weeks without needing a charge if you get a bit of sunlight daily. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) brings a vibrant AMOLED display that’s a game-changer for everyday use and has a solid 40-hour battery life. What matters most here is how these devices cater to different lifestyles. The Garmin’s rugged build and multi-band GNSS make it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who need durability and accuracy, while the Pixel Watch's 3,000 nits brightness and sleek design appeal to those who want a smartwatch that looks as good as it performs. The numbers reveal a clear distinction based on your needs.
⚖️ Weight: 2.36 oz vs 1.29 oz💽 Storage: 64 GB vs 32 GB🔋 Battery Life: both Up to 40 days
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→
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
★4.5
(405)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS
Operating System:Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Case Size:45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm)
Case Material:100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Check Amazon Price→
Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design)
Resolution
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
176 x 176 pixels
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage)Winner
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
32GB eMMC flash
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
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*)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode
Design2 specs
Weight
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
67 g (2.4 oz)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
36.7 g (without band)Winner
Water Resistance
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
10 ATM (100 meters)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
5 ATM (50 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Garmin OS
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Bluetooth, ANT+
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Garmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
★4.7(2,562)Amazon
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
★4.5(405)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Instinct 2X Solar | Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(2,562)Amazon | ★4.5(405)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app) | Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS |
Operating System | Garmin OS | Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed) |
Case Size | 50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in) | 45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm) |
Case Material | Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone | 100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
Display Type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO (1-60Hz) with 15% thinner bezels |
Display Size | Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm) | 1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design) |
Resolution | 176 x 176 pixels | 456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (MIP technology) | Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum) |
Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters) | 5 ATM (50 meters) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810 rated (thermal, shock, water); Operating temp: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) | IP68 dust and water resistance; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
GPS | Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available |
NFC Payments | Yes (Garmin Pay) | Google Wallet |
Sensors | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 Heart Rate; Pulse Ox (SpO2); Barometric Altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer | Compass; Altimeter; Red/Infrared SpO2 sensors; Multipurpose electrical sensors (ECG); Multi-path optical heart rate sensor; 3-axis accelerometer; Gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; cEDA sensor (stress); Skin temperature sensor; Barometer; Magnetometer |
Health Features | Sleep Score & Insights; Body Battery; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration; Pulse Ox; Health Snapshot | Gemini-powered Health Coach; Sleep Apnea detection; Daily Readiness; Cardio Load; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Stress management (cEDA); Skin temperature variation |
Workout Modes | Obstacle Course Racing, HIIT, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Strength, Skiing, Golf, Indoor Climbing, Tactical (on Tactical Edition) | 40+ exercise modes; Auto-workout detection; Custom runs; Real-time guidance; Pace training; Heart Zone training |
Storage | 64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage) | 32GB eMMC flash |
Speaker Mic | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) | Built-in speaker (improved for Gemini); Microphone |
Calls | No (Notification alerts only; Text response/reject on Android) | Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models) |
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*) | 455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-A); Solar charging | Fast charging (50% in 15 min; 80% in 30 min; 100% in 60 min) via 5-pin magnetic dock |
Weight | 67 g (2.4 oz) | 36.7 g (without band) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrist sizes 145–228 mm; Standard 26 mm QuickFit compatible | Active Band included (Small: 150–185 mm; Large: 165–215 mm) |
Extras | Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red variable intensities); Solar charging overlay; Breadcrumb navigation; TracBack; Safety & Incident Detection | Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip; Cortex M55 co-processor; Satellite SOS (LTE only); Offline Google Maps; Safety Check; Fall Detection |
| 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→
Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)
Rating:★4.5(405)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or later (Google account required); not compatible with iOS
Operating System:Wear OS 6.0 (pre-installed)
Case Size:45mm (45.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 mm)
Case Material:100% recycled aluminum case; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Display Type:Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO (1-60Hz) with 15% thinner bezels
Display Size:1.4 in (Actua 360 domed design)
Resolution:456 x 456 pixels (320 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (50 meters)
Durability:IP68 dust and water resistance; Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC
Connectivity:Bluetooth 6.0; Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz/5GHz; NFC; Ultra-Wideband (UWB); LTE version available
NFC Payments:Google Wallet
Sensors:Compass; Altimeter; Red/Infrared SpO2 sensors; Multipurpose electrical sensors (ECG); Multi-path optical heart rate sensor; 3-axis accelerometer; Gyroscope; Ambient light sensor; cEDA sensor (stress); Skin temperature sensor; Barometer; Magnetometer
Health Features:Gemini-powered Health Coach; Sleep Apnea detection; Daily Readiness; Cardio Load; ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Stress management (cEDA); Skin temperature variation
Workout Modes:40+ exercise modes; Auto-workout detection; Custom runs; Real-time guidance; Pace training; Heart Zone training
Storage:32GB eMMC flash
Speaker Mic:Built-in speaker (improved for Gemini); Microphone
Calls:Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models)
Battery:455 mAh; Up to 40 hours with Always-On Display; Up to 72 hours in Battery Saver mode
Charging:Fast charging (50% in 15 min; 80% in 30 min; 100% in 60 min) via 5-pin magnetic dock
Weight:36.7 g (without band)
Band Sizes:Active Band included (Small: 150–185 mm; Large: 165–215 mm)
Extras:Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip; Cortex M55 co-processor; Satellite SOS (LTE only); Offline Google Maps; Safety Check; Fall Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Battery life significantly improved to 40 hours with AOD enabled
- • Brighter Actua 360 display (3,000 nits) with thinner bezels
- • Faster charging (0-50% in just 15 minutes)
- • New Satellite SOS feature for emergency communication (LTE models)
✗ Cons:
- • Design remains largely unchanged (still uses Gorilla Glass 5)
- • Requires Android 11.0+ (no iOS support)
- • Case thickness (12.3mm) is substantial compared to competitors
- • Satellite SOS requires an active LTE plan/carrier support
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 Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm). That said, grab the Pixel Watch if you prefer a stunning display and faster charging - it's lighter at 1.29 oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar if: you spend long days outdoors, need a rugged smartwatch for extreme conditions, or want a device that can last weeks on a single charge. (2.36 oz weight, 64 GB storage)
Choose the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) if: you want a beautiful AMOLED display for everyday use, need a smartwatch with advanced health tracking features, or prefer a lighter device on your wrist. (1.29 oz weight, 32 GB storage)
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
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. Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) is better if you prioritize battery life significantly improved to 40 hours with aod enabled. 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.