Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
Smartwatches have evolved significantly over the years, incorporating features and improvements that they once thought were impossible to fit into such a small device. Even modern smartwatches, however, leave much to be desired in terms of battery life. Sure, you can get an extra day or two of usage between charges, but that's not necessarily a significant improvement. This is precisely why the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar stands out from the competition.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar promises "never-ending battery life" for active users who spend time outside every day. This watch charges via a transparent "power-glass" that covers the screen and the panels around it. If you spend at least three hours per day in direct sunlight, this transparent "power-glass" can keep the watch charged for essentially unlimited battery life. The goal is to expose the watch to 50,000 lux of light every day so that it doesn't need to be charged.
Three hours may seem like a long time on paper, but depending on your daily activities, you probably already spend that much time outside. For regular indoor use, say, during the winter when you can't go out much or don't get enough sunlight, the watch will last about 15 days on a single charge, which is still quite commendable given the features it offers.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar lacks a touchscreen, but it more than compensates with an easy-to-use button-based interface. It has all of the smart features you'd expect from a 2022 smartwatch, such as notification pop-ups, GPS, workout tracking, heart rate tracking, and more. Running, walking, cycling, swimming, strength training, cardio, and other activities are all tracked by the Instinct 2 Solar. It also syncs with the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone to provide you with additional information.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is available in a variety of models, but the standard model with solar charging starts at $450. That puts it in the same league as some of the other smartwatches in this collection, such as the Apple Watch Series 8. But it's the solar charging that sets the Instinct 2 apart from the crowd, and it deserves a spot in the list of the best smartwatches. The Instinct 2 Solar is not for everyone, especially those who spend a lot of time inside. However, if you are an active outdoor person who spends enough time in the sun each day, you may never need to plug it in for charging. If that doesn't pique your interest, you'd be better off purchasing one of the other watches in this collection.
Pros:
- Excellent GPS tracking
- Extra long battery life
- Updated heart rate sensor
- Has Health Snapshot
- Has Garmin Pay + Garmin Connect
- Connect IQ compatible
- Packed with Garmin training features
Cons:
- Doesn't display maps well
- Limited sport types
- No on-board music
- Limited smartwatch features
Sizes: 45 mm
Casing material: Tempered Glass
Included strap material: Polyester
Battery life: 48 Hours
Operating system: Fitbit OS (works with iPhones and Android phones)
Voice assistant: Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby
Contactless payments: Yes, via Garmin Pay
Heart rate sensor: Yes
Google rating: 4.0/5.0
Price: $354
Buy now: amazon.com/dp/B09NMK4W7J
