Recently, Garmin released the newest version of its Instinct watches – the Garmin Instinct 3. Today, I want to focus in on the Garmin Instinct 2X vs 3 Solar (50mm).
The full release included an AMOLED version, a solar version, and a cheap E version. You can read an overview of them all here.
If you’re weighing your options between the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar (45mm) and the older Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, then you’ve got a tougher decision to make. There are some significant hardware differences between the two watches, and the newer one may well be worth the upgrade.
When it comes to the larger version, though, those differences are limited. Most of the upgrades that come with the Instinct 3 were already introduced on the Garmin 2X Solar.
So now that the Garmin Instinct 3 is on the market – is the 50mm solar version of the watch worth the upgrade?
Let me run down the key differences for you. But in most cases … it isn’t. If you have a 2X Solar, you should stick with it. And if you’re in the market and able to get a discounted price on the older watch, I’d go with that.
What’s the Price Difference Between the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar and the Instinct 3 50mm?
First things first. How do they compare on price?
On paper, they cost the same thing. The MSRP for each watch is $449.99, and that’s probably what you’ll pay if you buy directly from Garmin. Note that the large version of the watch retails for $50 more than the 45mm version.
However, with the release of the new watch you may be able to get a good deal on the older one. Currently, the Instinct 2X Solar is going for $40 to $50 below MSRP on Amazon. Click through to see the latest price.
As time goes on, these discounts may get a little steeper, too. Plus you might be able to find a lightly used model.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar (50mm), on the other hand, is going to cost you the full $450. You’re unlikely to find that on sale anywhere for the foreseeable future.
So there’s a minor price difference between them. Nothing big.
If the newer watch comes with significant improvements, it’s easy to justify a $50 difference. But are there significant improvements?
Hardware Differences Between the Instinct 2X and Instinct 3 Solar
In terms of hardware, there is very little difference between the two watches.
The size and screen are the same, and the watch is 0.1mm thinner. It’s slightly lighter (9 grams), due to some aluminum in the bezel. But none of that is significant.
The Instinct 3 has 128mb of memory, compared to 64mb on the Instinct 2X. Since you’re not saving music or maps on the Instinct, that doesn’t matter much.
They both use the same Elevate 4 heart rate sensor. The Instinct 3 did not get the premium, ECG-capable Elevate 5 heart rate sensor.
The Instinct 2X already had multi-band GPS – which the other versions of the Instinct 2 did not. Likewise, it had the LED flashlight. So those are two areas where the 2X and the 3 are identical.
So what’s the differentiator? Solar charging and battery life.
The core battery capacity is the same – 40 days in smartwatch mode, 60 hours in GPS, and 34 hours with multi-band GPS.
But the solar charging on the Instinct 3, like the Enduro 3, is improved. With solar charging, the Instinct 2X is rated for 145 hours with GPS only and 36 hours in multi-band. The Instinct 3 almost doubles that – 260 with GPS only and 60 hours with multi-band.
As always, take solar charging with a grain of salt. You’ll only realize the full potential if you spend a lot of time outdoors. But in this case, you won’t even need the potential, unless you spend a lot of time outdoors and engaged in an activity.
This likely appeals to a small group of runners who are doing multi-day races and treks. For the majority of runners, the battery life and solar charging on the Instinct 2X Solar is more than enough.
The other difference here is that the Instinct 3 has SatIQ technology, which helps the watch automatically switch between regular GPS and multi-band. This accounts for some of the improvement in battery life with multi-band GPS.
If that matters to you … maybe it’s worth $50. But if I were you, I’d ask myself if it really matters.
Other Minor Feature Differences
Outside those hardware differences, there’s not much to distinguish between the two watches.
The newer Instinct 3 does offer a few minor feature upgrades.
It has “advanced” sleep tracking, nap detection, and the sleep coach. If you’re using this watch primarily for general wellness, maybe that’s important to you. Personally, I did not buy my Garmin for sleep tracking – and if you’re an Instinct user, I doubt that’s the key feature you’re dying to have upgraded.
You get live event sharing and incident detection alerts, if you have your phone connected. The incident detection is a mildly useful safety feature. Note that the Instinct 2X does have livetrack – which is similar to live event sharing.
And then the Instinct 3 has the race glance. This lets you add a race to your calendar in Garmin Connect, and you’ll see a countdown, along with the weather and a personalized race time prediction, on your watch. Mildly useful. Nothing to get excited about.
Then there are a handful of minor differences with training features – improved intervals and the rest timer; load focus and load ratio; and workout benefit. These are some minor differences that you honestly probably won’t even notice. I don’t know that they offer any actionable advice.
And, well, that’s just about it.
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar vs 3 50mm: Bottom Line
At the end of the day, is the newer Instinct worth the mild surcharge?
That depends on your needs. If you really need the solar charging, then I suppose that’s a good reason to upgrade. But the Instinct 2X Solar already has good enough battery life for most situations.
The mild feature upgrades can be a nice touch, and the Instinct 3 looks a bit different. So maybe aesthetics make the difference for you.
And if $50 isn’t a big deal … you might as well splurge on the newer Instinct 3 Solar (50mm). It’s not that big of a difference. Of course, if money isn’t an option, you could also go for an Enduro 3.
But if you’re price conscious, I don’t think there’s anything new with the Instinct 3 that really justifies paying more for it – other than the fact that it’s new and shiny. And if you can find the Instinct 2X for less than $400, I’d say it’s a pretty good deal.
Which watch did you end up choosing? Leave a comment below and let me know what the deciding factor was for you.
Great comparison. I just bought an Instinct 2x solar in moss green on eBay for $236.00 to replace my original Instinct. It’s a bummer it doesn’t have SatIQ, but I doubt I’d use it anyway.
That’s a great price! The 2X Solar is a big improvement over the original Instinct. I’d say you made a good choice (and got a good deal).
The 2X is fantastic and even more so as it’s on discount. The 3 50mm solar is nice, but disappointing it doesn’t have the elevate 5 sensor. One thing the author didn’t mention is how crisp/contrasty the new MIP screen is. On the 2X it’s fine, but the 3 has much more contrast and easier to see. Very bright. Still, not enough reason for me to upgrade.