Smartwatches are taking the world by storm, thanks to their technology and fashionable appearance. Today, I’ll be reviewing and unboxing the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Smartwatch.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Smartwatch Review
Smartwatches, these little devices have made a large splash in the technological world. From Apple to Samsung, Fitbit and more, there are many excellent smartwatches available. However, in my expert opinion, none of these brands can hold a candle to the premier smartwatches that Garmin produces.
While there may be a considerable number of smartwatches to try and examine, there is nothing quite like a Garmin Smartwatch. Their style and technology are unmatched, making them the superior choice for smartwatches. Today, I managed to get my hands on the latest Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Smartwatch. I am going to go over not just the physical aspects, but also focus on many of the technical aspects that set this smartwatch apart from others.
Sizes and Styles
The Garmin Instinct 2 is available in a vast selection of colors and style. For starters, you can choose between a 40mm and 45mm diameter. Some of the watches can also include a solar charging lens to further extend battery life. While these two factors may not seem like a major difference on its own, it’s important to know before talking about the different editions and colors available. Not including the standard version, there are four different editions available:
Tactical Edition: Capable of night vision goggle compatibility, stealth mode, and kill switch
Camo Edition: Watches that feature camo pattern designs
Surf Edition: Designed for use with surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing activities, as it includes access to tide data.
dēzl Edition: A great match for professional truck drivers. It has health tracking metrics, access to short-break workouts, and is designed to assist in living a healthy over-the-road lifestyle.
Everyone has a favorite color. As such, the Garmin Instinct 2 has many colors you can pick and choose from. These colors include Graphite, Electric Lime, Deep Orchid, Poppy, Mist Gray, Tidal Blue, and many more. Altogether, there are 20 different variations of the Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch.
Garmin Instinct 2 Physical Traits
I got the graphite version, as the color matches most every outfit I own. The materials used for the watch are very lightweight, making it extremely comfortable to wear. The straps are sturdy and are made to fit anyone’s wrist, regardless of size. The watch face has a nice size to it, being large enough to see everything without feeling obnoxiously large. Afterall, no one wants to wear what feels like a full-sized clock on their wrist.
However, the real star of this smartwatch is the main body. Constructed with a reinforced polymer case and featuring scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® glass, this Garmin Smartwatch is water-rated up to 100 meters, shock resistant, and thermal resistant. The glass also makes it easy to read the watch, even when out in direct sunlight. Since the most I do is go hiking and walking, it personally makes me feel like my watch is extremely durable, and borderline indestructible.
Garmin Instinct 2 Technical Aspects
Everyone in the world has a different lifestyle. That said, this smartwatch has apps and features that can be useful for anyone, anywhere. For people with active lifestyles, this watch has built-in sports apps for common activities like running, swimming, biking, and strength training. Do you have an indoor gym? It has specific apps for treadmills, ellipticals, and other electronic gym equipment. However, it even has apps for more specific activities. For example, if you’re a fan of winter, the watch has apps for classic, skate, and backcountry skiing, as well as snowboarding. Do you love water sports? Not only are there apps for pool swimming, but also open water, swim run, rowing, kayaking, and even boating. It even has dedicated apps for fishing and hunting enthusiasts. There’s so much more the watch is capable of tracking, this includes climbing, yoga, golfing, and the list goes on!
I personally work a desk job, which is why I enjoy some of the watch’s health monitoring features. These features include being able to track my heart rate, steps, sleep, Pulse Ox, VO2 Max, and respiration. Thanks to these daily health features, you can get a better grasp of your overall health and see where you can make some general life improvements.
If you travel often, you will be glad to know you can track your travels thanks to the watch’s built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. It also has three different global navigation satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. Since there is so much this smartwatch is capable of, it’s important for it to have enough power to keep up with your lifestyle. When in smartwatch mode, a full charge provides it with enough power to last up to 28 days (that’s almost 4 weeks). GPS mode requires a good deal more power, and a full charge will provide the watch with up to 30 hours of power.
Other benefit of Garmin Instinct 2
Everyone has their own style of preference, as such you can change the watch’s face to suit your own preference and style. To help streamline your everyday activities, the Garmin Instinct 2 is capable of pairing with compatible smartphones, allowing for smart notifications and Connect IQ™ compatibility. Now you won’t have to get up and grab your phone when you hear it go off; you can simply check your text message from your watch. Plus, this smartwatch is compatible with Xero®, Astro®/Alpha® and inReach® products. This further enhances the smartwatches tracking and navigation features when traversing in the wilderness.
Are There Any Cons of Garmin Instinct 2?
After using this Smartwatch for an extended period, I can safely say there are no technological disadvantages to the Garmin Instinct 2. However, if there was one aspect I had to fault, I feel that the power cord to charge the phone is rather short. If you don’t have an outlet close to your bedside like me, then you’ll most likely have to place the smartwatch somewhere else, like a dresser or desk. It might be compatible with some wireless chargers, but I have yet to try one out for myself.
In Summary
What more needs to be said about these amazing smartwatches? I love the feel and functions of the Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch. Thanks to the wide array of applications available, you can find the perfect app for any activities you plan. While it may be true that I wish the power cord was longer, this small nitpick doesn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the watch. They more than make up for it with their wide selection of styles and colors, making it easy for anyone to find a watch to match their taste. This Garmin Smartwatch was designed in such a way that anyone can find benefits in owning one.
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