Comparisons

Garmin Instinct Solar vs Garmin Vivoactive 4S

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Garmin Instinct SolarGarmin Vivoactive 4S
Title Garmin Instinct Solar, Solar-Powered Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Dark Blue (010-02293-11)Garmin Vivoactive 4S, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Sensors and More, Black + Jump+ 12,000mAh Wireless Power Bank with USB-A to USB-C Charging Cable
Model Garmin
Instinct Solar
Garmin
Vivoactive 4S

Basic Info

Suggested Price $383.88$449.98
Sale Price Check Price*Check Price*
Release Aug 2020Aug 2020

Overview

DescriptionDo what you love, longer with Instinct Solar. This rugged GPS smartwatch boasts solar charging — giving incredible battery life in smartwatch and Expedition modes while outdoors. Monitor how your body uses energy by tracking heart rate, stress, estimated sleep and Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition) — which helps give you a better understanding of your health and wellness. Get more out of the sports you love with preloaded activity profiles such as running, biking, swimming and more. Smart notifications (when paired with a compatible smartphone) at the wrist keep you connected to what matters. Multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) help you track wherever your adventures take you.
Top Features
  • Vastly extended battery life through solar charging
  • Rugged GPS watch is water-rated to 100 meters and constructed to U.S. military standard 810 for thermal, shock and water resistance
  • Built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
  • Track your activities for running, biking, swimming, strength and more
  • Help understand your health and wellness better with all-day health monitoring and Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition)
  • Monitor how your body uses energy by tracking heart rate, stress and sleep estimates with Body Battery energy monitoring
  • THIS BUNDLE CONTAINS - 1 Garmin Vivoactive 4, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors and More, Black + 1 Jump+ 12,000mAh Wireless Power Bank with USB-A to USB-C Charging Cable
  • WATCH - Keeps track of your energy levels, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition), respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart, hydration and more
  • JUMP POWERBANK - Supports Power Delivery (fast charging) for high-speed on-the-go charging, simply pair with a USB-C charging cable to unlock up to 50% power for your iPhone in under 30 minutes. Save time, do more, and be prepared for any emergency with the fastest charge ever.
  • WATCH - Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third party music provider), and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone free listening
  • JUMP POWERBANK - Charge up to 3 devices simultaneously with wireless output, 1 USB-A & 1 USB-C port. Holds enough power to recharge your iPhone 11 Pro 2.5 times.

Reviews

Walmart Rating4.6 (out of 63 reviews)
BestBuy Rating4.8 (out of 18 reviews)
Latest Reviews

Sturdy, functional, fully featured
Rating: 5
I switched from a Fenix 5 Plus... mainly for these reasons: - Solar-Charging - Underwater Heartrate - Pulse-Ox - Monochrome Display I could have upgraded to the newer fenix 6 pro solar to get most of these features above, but the Instinct Solar has, in my opinion a few advantages: - price... lets face it, technology evolves and in two years you probably want the newer model ... the fenix for that is a tad too expensive. - Monochrome Display... the thing offers a far better readability in adverse light conditions in comparison to the colour model in my opinion - larger 100% Solar panel ... You loose the VO2Max... which I truly don't understand why (garmin, if you're listening, SW-Update please - please add VO2max to the Instinct) You loose the full maps... the maps on the fenix are cool - but I don't use them that much, so this wasn't a huge deal. The menus structure and overall interface design on the Instinct is excellent... I think if you're looking for an affordable, rugged, well designed and extremely versatile sports/smart-watch and like the "G-shock" styling - the Instinct is hard to pass on.
by D-G1 on 2020-08-24T17:00:00

Great watch overall!
Rating: 5
Very happy I went with the instinct solar! Battery life is amazing. Coming from the Apple Watch I was concerned but it does all I need it to do plus I don't need to charge daily. Personally for work outs, and hiking/running the Garmin Connect app is amazing.
by Deke23 on 2020-08-10T17:00:00

Great watch!
Rating: 5
Love this watch. Only had it for a short amount of time but so far getting a really positive first impression. Very comfortable and intuitive to use. Setup was easy and it paired with my inreach mini. The connect app is fun to look at on my iPhone to review the data from each day. Looking forward to taking this watch on adventures!
by Cojacks on 2020-08-13T17:00:00

Insane battery
Rating: 5
I have tried a lot of smartwatches and was using wearOS watch to track activities for a while. I hated that the daily routine of charging the watch. Getting instinct solar was a game-changer. I charge my watch about once in two weeks with about 30 mins of GPS usage daily. I have been following Garmin Coach 10k plan which is super fun. I rarely take the watch off. It's super light so it is not annoying to sleep with. Love this watch.
by sem.udit on 2020-08-09T17:00:00

Lots of information
Rating: 5
Had it for about 2 weeks now and it makes accessing health data easy. I'm not yet saying it will replace a cycling computer, but not far off. Battery life is better than most competitors from what I can tell. The ergonomics of its buttons takes some getting used to, but that's also due to its broad capabilities.
by lesdunham on 2020-08-10T17:00:00

I Am Very Pleased with my New Instinct Solar
Rating: 5
I have had two different FitBit watches and the Galaxy Watch and the Galaxy 2 Watch. The Instinct Solar is my favorite. I like that it is easy to read in all conditions. I am particularly pleased that with the accuracy and consistency of the heartrate monitor, which is quite important to me. I also like that I can turn off the things I have no interest in using like text notifications and phone calls. I just use the watch as a watch and a fitness tracker that is it. That is all I want. The battery life is terrific. I don't know what the maximum life is, but it is way over a week. It has been over a week since I charged it last and it is reading that I have 11 days left.
by aktrout on 2020-08-09T17:00:00

Great battery life
Rating: 4
I love the watch. Had it for one week and still cannot believe the things it can do. The apps that go with it a really good as well. I would give it a 5 str rating except for the manual which does not appear to be up to date with the watch. Some things I just cannot figure out how to get them operating properly. I recommend this watch.
by Orangie on 2020-09-14T17:00:00

Mostly Perfect, Except For One Flaw
Rating: 4
I love many things about the Instinct Solar, but my 51 year old eyes HATE the small and, for me, useless round window on the face. I wish Garmin would ditch it in lieu of something more customize-able. There is simply no data field I can put in there that I can use. That said, I basically LOVE everything else about it. The battery life is awesome, and navigation is easy. It's nearly perfect, but I'm simply not going to run with readers on so that I can see the tiny data field.
by krusty505 on 2020-08-21T17:00:00

Wonder watch!
Rating: 4
I wore another watch (Timex) for many years. In the last year the need arose for a watch to also measure heart rate and steps. I looked at an Apple Watch but it is only partially waterproof, and only has a short time between battery recharging. My new Garmin Instinct Solar can hold a charge for up to 27 days. It was a no brain decision.
by Will80 on 2020-08-10T17:00:00

HR Monitor Died In Less Than A Month
Rating: 1
I've faithfully used an old school Garmin since 2011 and was excited to take my training to the next level with the ability to customize workouts, and monitor my heart rate. Worked well for about 3 weeks, and then I started noticing inconsistent readings during my past couple of runs. I was aware that wrist HRM can be accurate for an entire run, but take time to adjust during quick fluctuations of running intensity. Was just about to order a chest HRM to get that level of accuracy with my interval training when I noticed the wrist HRM just stopped working altogether. I checked the manual, double-checked my settings, recharged the watch, and even reset the system. Sorry to have to return this, but if the HRM doesn't work then defeats the main purpose of having this watch.
by Noe777 on 2020-09-13T17:00:00

No reviews yet.

All Features

ColourDark Blue
DepartmentUnisex-adult
Included ComponentsInstinct Solar; Charging/data cable; Documentation
Date First AvailableJuly 8, 2020August 4, 2020
Item model number010-02293-11
Other display featuresWirelessWireless
Batteries1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Item Weight5.6 ounces
releaseAug 2020Aug 2020
SensorsAccelerometer
Battery Strength IndicatorYes
Dust ResistantYes
Display TypeMIP LCD
Color DisplayNo
Form FactorWristwatch
Backlit DisplayYes
Metrics MeasuredAltitude changes
Music PlayerNo
Battery TypeLithium-ion
Charging Interface(s)USB
Touch ScreenNo
Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts1-year limited consumer
Maximum Wrist Size8.8 inches
Multi-Sport TrackingYes
Maximum Depth of Water Resistance330 feet
RechargeableYes
Product SetInstinct Solar
Wi-Fi CompatibilityWireless N
SeriesInstinct Solar
Minimum Wrist Size5.2 inches
Mobile NotificationsYes
Case MaterialPlastic
Bluetooth EnabledYes
Band MaterialSilicone
Global PositioningGPS
NFC TechnologyNo
Color CategoryBlue
Model Number010-02293-11
Operating System CompatibilityAndroid
Water ResistantYes
Replaceable BatteryNo
Internal CarrierNot Applicable
Product NameGarmin Instinct® Solar Rugged GPS Smartwatch 45mm Tidal Blue
Display ScreenYes
Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor1-year limited consumer
BrandGarmin
Adjustable BrightnessYes
App CompatibleYes
Product TypeSmartwatch
GPSTrue
Connectivity technologiesUSB, GPS

More Information

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