Garmin Instinct 2 review: Great sports watch

Garmin's latest Garmin Instinct 2 watch, aimed particularly at people seeking more adventure, introduces new capabilities and has a high potential for attracting new customers.

Garmin Instinct 2 devices retain the same rugged look meant to survive the outdoors, but this is a sophisticated family of gadgets at first glance. The new series is available in two sizes: a 45mm variant named the Instinct 2 and a new, smaller 40mm case called the Instinct 2S. Solar editions, as well as Specialty and Specialty Solar editions, are available in all of these sizes.

All of the variations between these editions may be found in our guide here. These watches are based on Garmin's Instinct Solar and offer considerable improvements over the current range. To begin with, they have more features than ever before.

Most importantly, for the first time, the new Instinct 2 series is compatible with the Garmin Connect IQ store. Users may use numerous crucial Garmin health and wellness functions as well as download Garmin and third-party widgets and applications.

In addition, the line provides 24-hour heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, and stress monitoring. Users will also find more training tools, greater sleep tracking, and longer battery life in some solar versions, to the point of infinite use.

The addition of a second size to the Instinct 2S series is ideal for shorter trips. The range of sizes is a significant enhancement for the product and allows it to appeal to a broader audience.

Of course, this is an adventure watch, so it's not elegant (you might want to take it off when changing clothing and pulling out a suit, for example), but it's lightweight, fits well, and is comfortable.

The screen is monochromatic and does not support touch. This, however, is not a criticism. Given the expected daily use of this gadget, a touch screen makes no sense or is not required.

Meanwhile, the Instinct 2 series' improved resolution compared to the original Instinct line may go unnoticed, but it's rather stunning. The resolution of the Instinct 2 has been raised from 126 x 126 to 176 x 176.

The resolution of the Instinct 2S is 156 x 156. The larger resolution not only gives widgets and data more breathing room but also delivers a less pixelated font, which improves readability.

If this is your first Garmin or you're used to using a touch screen, there will be a learning curve, but when you get it right, the five buttons are rather intuitive. When you're finished, new short widget views will assist you in navigating.

You can also scroll down to load more information and tools by adding Garmin or third-party widgets. Users can access and add a library of widgets and data fields (third-party or Garmin alternatives), as well as Connect IQ clock dials because Instinct 2 supports Connect IQ.

The strap, as with all Garmin devices, is really handy, with plenty of palm holes for each user. Silicone is common because it is comfy, yet there is nothing noteworthy about it.

In brief, the watch is meant to be sturdy enough that you will feel safe wearing it, but not too hefty for you. The main drawback is the poor texture of the metal detail surrounding the watch's face.

The battery life of the Instinct 2 model deserves to be emphasized even more. When you don't have to think about the power level of your wearable device during the day, it's a pretty wonderful feeling. More crucially, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is the company's first device to boast an indefinite battery life (under the right conditions).

As previously stated, the Instinct 2 series contains more training functions than ever before, including several new features that were just announced in the Fenix 7 and Epix watches.

Among them are Training Status and Training Load features, as well as Health Snapshot, Recovery Time, Daily Exercise Suggestions, VO2 Max, Body Battery, and Fitness Age.

Advanced sleep monitoring, such as sleep phase analysis and sleep evaluation, is also available with the Instinct 2 series. Furthermore, Garmin has added a slew of new sports profiles to the Instinct 2 series, including triathlon and multi-sport modes.

Users can select a triathlon sports profile for a standard triathlon. Meanwhile, the multi-sport option allows you to choose up to three sports. To change sports, unlock the game and then press the lap button.

No device is without flaws. One of the criticisms leveled against the Instinct 2 line is that Garmin Pay is only available on Solar versions. The sole software distinction between the base and solar models is substantial.

In general, investing in a product that puts you behind the curve is usually unsatisfactory. This appears to be the case here, as digital payment methods continue to gain popularity.

A lot of smartwatch capabilities on a wearable device aren't necessarily expected, but they'd be nice to see. With the addition of voice help and wrist calling support in Garmin's Venu 2 Plus, it will be fascinating to watch how Garmin handles these functions in the future.

Overall, the Garmin Instinct 2 is more than just a nice watch. Yes, it is pricey, but any watch of this caliber, especially one manufactured by a reputed manufacturer, will not be inexpensive. Garmin Fenix 6 and 7 watches are similar if you want anything similar.