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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Get the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar unless you crave a vibrant display. Its unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode is a game changer—perfect for outdoor adventures. After testing both, it became clear that the Garmin excels in durability and longevity, while the Samsung offers a stunning screen for everyday use. In real-world use, the Garmin's solar charging means you could theoretically wear it for months without needing a charge, while the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's 445 mAh battery lasts about 49 hours. If you're someone who prioritizes ruggedness and outdoor functionality, the choice is simple. But if you want a smartwatch that feels premium and looks great on your wrist, Samsung's watch is hard to beat in terms of display quality and navigation features.
⚖️ Weight: 2.36 oz vs 2.24 oz🔋 Battery: Unlimited with solar vs 49 hours💾 Storage: both 64 MB
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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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Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
★4.5
(920)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set)
Operating System:Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Case Size:46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm)
Case Material:Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back)
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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
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
1.34 in (34.0 mm)
Resolution
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
176 x 176 pixels
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
64GB
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*)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC)
Design2 specs
Weight
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
67 g (2.4 oz)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
63.5 g (without strap)Winner
Water Resistance
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
10 ATM (100 meters)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Garmin OS
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
Bluetooth, ANT+
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC
+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: Garmin Instinct 2X Solar vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar
★4.7(2,562)Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
★4.5(920)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Instinct 2X Solar | Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(2,562)Amazon | ★4.5(920)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone and Android (via Garmin Connect app) | Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set) |
Operating System | Garmin OS | Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch |
Case Size | 50mm (50 x 50 x 14.5 mm / 1.97 x 1.97 x 0.57 in) | 46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm) |
Case Material | Bezel & Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Lens: Power Glass (Solar); Strap: Silicone | Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back) |
Display Type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Super AMOLED Color Always-On Display |
Display Size | Custom two-window design; 1.1" x 1.1" (27 x 27 mm) | 1.34 in (34.0 mm) |
Resolution | 176 x 176 pixels | 438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (MIP technology) | Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness) |
Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters) | 5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810 rated (thermal, shock, water); Operating temp: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) | MIL-STD-810H military standard; Stainless steel frame |
GPS | Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5); GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | Dual-band GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ | LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC |
NFC Payments | Yes (Garmin Pay) | Samsung Wallet; Google Pay |
Sensors | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 Heart Rate; Pulse Ox (SpO2); Barometric Altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart Signal + BIA); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor; 3D Hall sensor |
Health Features | Sleep Score & Insights; Body Battery; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration; Pulse Ox; Health Snapshot | Vascular Load monitoring; Antioxidant Index (AGEs); Sleep Apnea detection; ECG; Blood Pressure (market dependent); Body Composition (BIA); Cycle Tracking with skin temp |
Workout Modes | Obstacle Course Racing, HIIT, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Strength, Skiing, Golf, Indoor Climbing, Tactical (on Tactical Edition) | Advanced Running Coach; Multisport tile; Race partner; Heart Rate Zones; Auto-detection for workouts |
Storage | 64 MB (Activity data and apps only; no music/map storage) | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | No (No built-in speaker or microphone) | Speaker (supports media/calls/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*) | 445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC) |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-A); Solar charging | Fast Wireless Charging |
Weight | 67 g (2.4 oz) | 63.5 g (without strap) |
Band Sizes | Fits wrist sizes 145–228 mm; Standard 26 mm QuickFit compatible | 20mm standard (One Click system supported) |
Extras | Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red variable intensities); Solar charging overlay; Breadcrumb navigation; TracBack; Safety & Incident Detection | Physical rotating bezel; Integrated Google Gemini AI; Gesture controls (Double pinch); Customizable Quick Button |
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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
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Rating:★4.5(920)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 12.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM (Galaxy phone required for full feature set)
Operating System:Wear OS 6 (Powered by Samsung) with One UI 8 Watch
Case Size:46mm (46.4 x 46.0 x 10.6 mm)
Case Material:Stainless steel case; Sapphire Crystal glass (Front and Back)
Display Type:Super AMOLED Color Always-On Display
Display Size:1.34 in (34.0 mm)
Resolution:438 x 438 pixels (327 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness)
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (Water resistant up to 50 meters)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H military standard; Stainless steel frame
GPS:Dual-band GPS (L1+L5); GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
Connectivity:LTE (Optional); Bluetooth 5.3; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz); NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet; Google Pay
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart Signal + BIA); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor; 3D Hall sensor
Health Features:Vascular Load monitoring; Antioxidant Index (AGEs); Sleep Apnea detection; ECG; Blood Pressure (market dependent); Body Composition (BIA); Cycle Tracking with skin temp
Workout Modes:Advanced Running Coach; Multisport tile; Race partner; Heart Rate Zones; Auto-detection for workouts
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker (supports media/calls/Gemini); Microphone
Calls:Yes (via Bluetooth or standalone on LTE models)
Battery:445 mAh; Up to 49 hours (typical usage); Fast wireless charging (WPC)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging
Weight:63.5 g (without strap)
Band Sizes:20mm standard (One Click system supported)
Extras:Physical rotating bezel; Integrated Google Gemini AI; Gesture controls (Double pinch); Customizable Quick Button
✓ Pros:
- • Iconic physical rotating bezel for intuitive navigation
- • Display brightness doubled to 3,000 nits (matches Ultra model)
- • Storage capacity increased to 64GB (up from 16/32GB in previous Classics)
- • Premium stainless steel build looks more like a traditional timepiece
✗ Cons:
- • Small 1.34" screen relative to the large 46mm case size (bezel takes up space)
- • Significantly heavier (63.5g) than the aluminum standard models
- • Battery (445 mAh) is smaller than the Galaxy Watch Ultra (590 mAh)
- • Some health features (AGEs, BP) are Samsung Galaxy phone exclusive
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Which one is better?
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is the better buy for most people - its unlimited battery life crushes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's 49 hours. That said, grab the Samsung if you want a stunning display and intuitive navigation—it's a compelling choice for daily wear.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar if: you love outdoor activities, need a watch that lasts indefinitely on the go, or appreciate rugged durability. (2.36 oz weight)
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic if: you want a striking display, enjoy intuitive navigation with a rotating bezel, or need advanced health features for daily monitoring. (2.24 oz weight)
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
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. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is better if you prioritize iconic physical rotating bezel for intuitive navigation. 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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