Side by side comparison and review of Garmin Instinct Solar and Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS). Compare design, displays, functions, batteries and other key specifications and features to simplify the choice of your perfect smartwatch. Our goal is to make it easier for you to decide on the watch that will best meet your expectations by revealing the main differences between the products.
| GENERAL | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Product Type | Sport watch | Smart watch |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | - | WatchOS 10 |
| Supported Host Device OS | iOS, Android | iOS 17 or later |
| Activity/Sport | Running, swimming, ski, cycling, hiking, fishing, climbing, snowboarding, rower, kayaking, hunting, jumpmaster, stand up paddleboarding | - |
| Wearing Style | Watch style | Watch style |
| Audio Input | - | Microphone |
| Audio Output | - | Speaker |
| Width | 45 mm | - |
| Height | 45 mm | - |
| Depth | 15.3 mm | - |
| Weight | 53 g | - |
| Body Details | - | Case only: 31.9 g |
| Body Material | Fibre-reinforced polymer | 100% recycled aluminium |
| Protection | Waterproof | Water-resistant, dust-resistant, crack-resistant |
| Colours | Pipeline | Tidal blue | Cloudbreak | - |
| Clock Display | Yes | Yes |
| FEATURES | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, barometer, thermometre, altimeter, 3-axis compass, optical heart sensor | Digital compass, electrical heart sensor, blood oxygen sensor, optical heart sensor (3d gen), always-on altimeter, temperature sensor, high-g accelerometer, gyroscope with high dynamic range |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking Data | Distance, time, speed, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, steps taken, floors climbed, blood oxygen saturation, stress level | Distance, time, calories burned, activity, sleep activity, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep stages, menstrual cycle, ECG, ovulation phase, mental wellbeing |
| Modes | Stealth mode | - |
| Goal Setting | Yes | Yes |
| Features | Music remote handling, Heart Rate target zone selector, find phone function, Bluetooth Smart technology, VIRB control, inactivity alert, Move IQ, Find my Device, Garmin Elevate, TrueUp, Body Battery, solar charging, night vision compatibility, dual grid coordinates format, trackback routing | Fall detection, Emergency SOS, brightness: 2000 nits, Family Setup support, International Emergency Calling, Crash Detection, noise monitoring, Compass Waypoint, fast charge, precision finding for iPhone, elevation view |
| Notifications | Missed calls, calendar, SMS, Email, social apps | Calendar, SMS, Email, applications, high and low heart rate, irregular rhythm, cardio fitness |
| Vibrating Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Feedback Type | - | Audio alert, vibration alert, visual interface |
| Navigation (GPS) | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo receiver | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS receiver |
| Payment Technology | - | Apple Pay |
| Internet of Things (IoT) Compatible | - | Yes |
| IoT Intelligent Assistant | - | Siri |
| IoT Voice Controlled | - | Direct |
| CONNECTIVITY | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Wireless Interface | Bluetooth, ANT+ | IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth 5.3 |
|---|
| DISPLAY | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Type | Memory-in-Pixel LCD - monochrome - transflective | Retina LTPO OLED - colour |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 128 x 128 pixels | 352 x 430 pixels |
| Dimensions (WxH) | 23 mm x 23 mm | - |
| Screen Protection | Power Glass | Ion-X glass |
| Always On Display (AOD) | - | Yes |
| INPUT DEVICE | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Type | Touch buttons | Touch sensitive screen, side button, double tap gesture |
|---|
| CASE | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Case Size | - | 41 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Case Shape | Round | Rectangular |
| Case Back | - | Sapphire crystal and ceramic back |
| Case Details | Graphite | Black | Moss | Flame red | Sunburst | Lichen camo | Starlight aluminium | Red aluminium | Midnight aluminium | Pink aluminum | Silver aluminium |
| Crown Type | - | Digital with haptic feedback |
| BAND | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Band Type | Band | Sport band |
|---|---|---|
| Band Size | - | M/L |
| Band Width | 22 mm | - |
| Fits Wrist with Circumference | 132-224 mm | 150-200 mm |
| Changeable | Yes | Yes |
| Clasp Type | Buckle | Pin-and-tuck |
| Band Material | Silicone | Fluoroelastomer |
| Band Colour | Graphite | Black | Moss | Flame red | Sunburst | Lichen camo | Orchid | Graphite camo | Starlight | Red | Midnight | Light pink | Storm blue | Winter blue |
| STORAGE | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Storage Capacity | - | 64 GB |
|---|
| CPU | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Manufacturer | - | Apple |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Type | - | S9 SiP |
| Features | - | W3 Apple wireless chip, second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, 4-core Neural Engine |
| BATTERY | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Technology | Lithium Ion | Lithium Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 56 day(s) | 18 hours |
| Battery Life Details | Smartwatch mode - up to 24 days Smartwatch mode (with solar) - up to 54 days Battery Saver Watch Mode - up to 56 days Max Battery GPS Mode - up to 30 hour(s) Max Battery GPS Mode (with solar) - up to 38 hour(s) |
Typical usage - up to 18 hour(s) Low power mode - up to 36 hour(s) |
| Rechargeable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Charging | - | Yes |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Garmin Instinct Solar | Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Charging/data cable | Magnetic fast charger to USB-C cable (1 m) |
|---|---|---|
| Preloaded Software | - | GymKit |
| Compliant Standards | MIL-STD-810 | IP6X, BFR-free, PVC-free, Beryllium-free, Mercury-free, Arsenic-free |
| Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) | - | 0.12 W/kg (head) 0.29 W/kg (limb) |
| Carbon Footprint | - | 0 kg carbon emissions |
| Max Depth of Water Resistance | 100 m | 50 m |
| Manufacturer Model Number | - | A2978 |
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