Garmin Descent G1 Solar vs Descent Mk3i 43mm
Size, specs & wrist fit compared
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Which one fits you
On wrists narrower than about 48mm, the Descent Mk3i 43mm is the safer pick — it stays proportionate down to roughly 45mm, where the Descent G1 Solar starts to hang over the edge. Above 48mm both sit cleanly, and the Descent G1 Solar gives you more presence.
The Descent G1 Solar wears larger than the Descent Mk3i 43mm (45.5mm vs 43mm case), giving it more wrist presence — and needing a wider wrist to sit cleanly.
The Descent Mk3i 43mm is the slimmer of the two (14.3mm vs 15.2mm), so it slides under a cuff more easily.
On the wrist the Descent Mk3i 43mm feels lighter (49.3g vs 66g, case only).
The Descent G1 Solar is thicker than 82% of the 46mm watches we track and the Descent Mk3i 43mm than 74% of the 43mm ones — so both sit higher than their widths suggest.
The Descent G1 Solar is 2.5mm wider, 2.5mm longer, 0.9mm thicker and 16.7g heavier than the Descent Mk3i 43mm. Both are circular.
Descent™ G1 Solar
Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm
Case width
45.5mm
43mm−2.5mm
Lug-to-lug
45.5mm
43mm−2.5mm
Thickness
15.2mm
14.3mm−0.9mm
Weight
66g
49.3g−16.7g
Switch or add watches
Garmin
Descent™ G1 Solar
Garmin
Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm
Fit tool
Watch Fit Tool
For sports watches, lug-to-lug (L2L) is what matters most — it decides whether a watch overhangs your wrist. Bulky is fine; overhang is not.
Your wrist
mm
≈ 146.9mm aroundHow to Measure Your Wrist
1
Measure at the point where you wear your watch — typically just below the wrist bone.
2
Flat width — lay your arm on a table, palm facing up, and measure straight across the top of your wrist with a ruler. Bone to bone; do not follow the curve down the sides.
3
Around — wrap a tape measure snugly round the wrist. No tape? Wrap a strip of paper, mark the overlap and hold the strip against a ruler.
⚠ Important
Width ≠ circumference. They are different numbers — around 170mm is about 64mm across — so set the toggle to whichever one you actually measured before you type it in.
Garmin Descent™ G1 Solar
Case 45.5mm · Lug-to-lug 45.5mm · Thickness 15.2mm · 66g
Balanced Fit
45.5mm on a 55mm wrist
Understated Balanced Sweet Spot Bold Overhang ⚠
Across the wrist it works — 4.8mm spare each side — but a tall watch on this wrist. Fine over a sleeve, awkward under one.
On a 55mm wrist the sweet spot is 47–53mm lug to lug. This one is 45.5mm, so you could go bigger.
How to Measure
Measure where you wear it, just below the wrist bone. Either of these works — the tool converts between them.
- 1. Flat width — arm flat on a table, palm up. Measure straight across the top of the wrist, bone to bone, ignoring the curve down the sides.
- 2. Around — a tape, or a strip of paper marked and held against a ruler, snug the whole way round.
Against one you know
Leather: Attaches at the lugs, so the case back rests on your skin. Thins and softens with wear. Typical figures, not this model’s own.
Show the measurementsHide the measurements
- Across the wrist4.8mm spare each side
Comfortable, with visible skin either side.
- Off the wrist15.2mm off the skin
A tall watch on this wrist. Fine over a sleeve, awkward under one. (15.2mm case, back against the skin)
- How it seats~5.4mm under the rim
Seats well, with the case back following most of the wrist.
- Weight on the wrist66g
Substantial without being a burden — the usual weight of a steel watch on a wrist this size. (1.2g per mm of wrist)
Garmin Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm
Case 43.0mm · Lug-to-lug 43.0mm · Thickness 14.3mm · 49g
Balanced Fit
43mm on a 55mm wrist
Understated Balanced Sweet Spot Bold Overhang ⚠
Across the wrist it works — 6.0mm spare each side — but a tall watch on this wrist. Fine over a sleeve, awkward under one.
On a 55mm wrist the sweet spot is 47–53mm lug to lug. This one is 43mm, so you could go bigger.
How to Measure
Measure where you wear it, just below the wrist bone. Either of these works — the tool converts between them.
- 1. Flat width — arm flat on a table, palm up. Measure straight across the top of the wrist, bone to bone, ignoring the curve down the sides.
- 2. Around — a tape, or a strip of paper marked and held against a ruler, snug the whole way round.
Against one you know
Leather: Attaches at the lugs, so the case back rests on your skin. Thins and softens with wear. Typical figures, not this model’s own.
Show the measurementsHide the measurements
- Across the wrist6.0mm spare each side
Comfortable, with visible skin either side.
- Off the wrist14.3mm off the skin
A tall watch on this wrist. Fine over a sleeve, awkward under one. (14.3mm case, back against the skin)
- How it seats~4.4mm under the rim
Seats well, with the case back following most of the wrist.
- Weight on the wrist49g
Light enough to forget you have it on. (0.9g per mm of wrist)
2D Dimension Schematics
Every case drawn to scale on a shared centre — from above, and in profile against the wrist.
Highlight
- Garmin Descent™ G1 Solar45.5mm · 15.2mm thick
- Garmin Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm43mm · 14.3mm thick
3D preview
Descent™ G1 Solar vs Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm on a wrist
Sized to your own wrist, turned any way you like.
Shapes are built from published measurements, not manufacturer 3D models — accurate proportions, generic dial.
Battery life compared
Furthest apart in Battery Saver mode, where the G1 Solar lasts 4.0× as long as the Mk3i 43mm (48 days against 12 days).
G1 SolarMk3i 43mm
Battery Saver
48 days12 daysExpedition GPS Activity
27 days—Smartwatch
21 days +4 months10 daysExpedition GPS
—10 daysMax Battery GPS
56 hours +205 hours44 hoursDive
25 hours30 hoursGPS Only
—28 hoursGPS
26 hours +39 hours—All Satellite Systems
—20 hoursAll Satellite Systems + Multi-band
—17 hoursDive with Air Integration
—15 hoursAll Satellite Systems + Music
—6 hours
Amber figures are the solar-assisted runtime the manufacturer publishes for that mode.
Specifications
The short version
7 key specs| Spec | GarminDescent™ G1 Solar | GarminDescent™ Mk3i – 43 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 45.5mm | 43mm |
| Thickness | 15.2mm | 14.3mm |
| Weight | 66g | 49.3g |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Display type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | AMOLED |
| Battery life | Dive Mode: Up to 25 hours Smartwatch: Up to 21 days/4 months with solar * Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 48 days/Unlimited with solar* GPS: Up to 26 hours/39 hours with solar ** Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 56 hours/205 hours with solar** Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 27 days/Unlimited with solar* *Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions **Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions | Smartwatch: Up to 10 days (4 days always-on) Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 12 days GPS Only: Up to 28 hours (22 hours always-on ) All Satellite Systems: Up to 20 hours (16 hours always-on) All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 17 hours (14 hours always-on) All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 6 hours Max Battery GPS: Up to 44 hours Expedition GPS: Up to 10 days Dive Mode: Up to 30 hours Dive Mode with Air Integration: Up to 15 hours |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |
Every specification
350 specs| Spec | Garmin Descent™ G1 Solar | Garmin Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Family | Garmin | Garmin |
| General | ||
| Battery life | Dive Mode: Up to 25 hours Smartwatch: Up to 21 days/4 months with solar * Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 48 days/Unlimited with solar* GPS: Up to 26 hours/39 hours with solar ** Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 56 hours/205 hours with solar** Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 27 days/Unlimited with solar* *Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions **Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions | Smartwatch: Up to 10 days (4 days always-on) Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 12 days GPS Only: Up to 28 hours (22 hours always-on ) All Satellite Systems: Up to 20 hours (16 hours always-on) All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 17 hours (14 hours always-on) All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 6 hours Max Battery GPS: Up to 44 hours Expedition GPS: Up to 10 days Dive Mode: Up to 30 hours Dive Mode with Air Integration: Up to 15 hours |
| Display Size | custom, two-window design: 0.9” x 0.9” (23 x 23 mm) | 1.2” (30.4 mm) diameter |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium rear cover |
| Lens Material | Power Sapphire | sapphire crystal |
| Bezel Material | fiber-reinforced polymer | Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coated titanium or bronze PVD coated titanium |
| Memory/History | 32 MB | 32 GB |
| Strap material | silicone | silicone |
| Charging method | Garmin proprietary clip charger | Garmin proprietary clip charger |
| Display resolution | 176 x 176 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels |
| QuickFit® watch band compatible | yes (22 mm) | yes (20 mm) |
| Color display | — | Yes |
| Large font option | — | Yes |
| Leakproof inductive buttons | — | Yes |
| Sensors | ||
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes | Yes |
| Galileo | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Depth sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor | Yes | Yes |
| SatIQ™ Technology | — | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | — | Yes |
| Product Info | ||
| Main SKU | 010-02604-02 | 010-02753-13 |
| Product ID | 766565 | 852217 |
| Product Name | Descent™ G1 Solar | Descent™ Mk3i – 43 mm |
| Release Date | 11/15/2023 | 11/15/2023 |
| Product Variation | Black | Bronze PVD Titanium with French Gray Silicone Band |
| Clock Features | ||
| Timer | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Time/date | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm clock | Yes | Yes |
| GPS Time Sync | Yes | Yes |
| Sunrise/sunset times | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic daylight saving time | Yes | Yes |
| Diving Features | ||
| PO2 | Up to 2.0 with customizable deco PO2 setting | Up to 2.0 with customizable deco PO2 setting |
| Tides | Yes | Yes |
| Backlight | yes (configurable time and intensity; auto-on at depth) | yes (configurable time and intensity; auto-on at depth) |
| Gas mixes | Air, Nitrox and Trimix up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gasses. | Air, Nitrox and Trimix, up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gasses. |
| APNEA mode | Yes | Yes |
| Deep Stops | yes (using custom gradient factors) | yes (using custom gradient factors) |
| Gauge mode | Yes | Yes |
| No fly time | Yes | Yes |
| Safety Stop | yes (customizable off/3min/5min) | yes (customizable off/3min/5min) |
| Dive planner | yes (basic NDL + multi-gas deco planner) | yes (basic NDL + multi-gas deco planner) |
| Multi-gas mode | Yes | Yes |
| Nitrox support | Yes | Yes |
| Trimix support | Yes | Yes |
| APNEA hunt mode | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts & alarms | Audible and vibration alarms for ascent rate, PO2, CNS/OTU, NDL, deco, gas switching. Customizable (up to 40) audible and/or vibration per dive mode, based on depth or time | Audible and vibration alarms for ascent rate, PO2, CNS/OTU, NDL, deco, gas switching, tank pressure, gas consumption rate. Customizable (up to 40) audible and/or vibration per dive mode, based on depth or time |
| Single-gas mode | Yes | Yes |
| 3-axis dive compass | yes (with adjustable heading, quick change to 90R, 90L and reciprocal). Indicates degrees and direction back to set heading | yes (with adjustable heading, quick change to 90R, 90L and reciprocal). Indicates degrees and direction back to set heading |
| Auto start/end dive | Yes | Yes |
| Decompression model | Bühlmann ZHL-16c with gradient factors | Bühlmann ZHL-16c with gradient factors |
| Missed Deco Lockout | yes (can be disabled prior to dive with user acknowledgement) | yes (can be disabled prior to dive with user acknowledgement) |
| Custom end-dive timeout | yes (20s to 10 m) | yes (20s to 10 m) |
| Custom dive data screens | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable conservatism | yes (low/medium/high or custom using gradient factors) | yes (low/medium/high or custom using gradient factors) |
| Surface diver status widget | yes (surface interval, N2/HE loading, CNS, OTU and tissue compartment status) | yes (surface interval, N2/HE loading, CNS, OTU and tissue compartment status) |
| Automatic altitude adjustment | Yes | Yes |
| Residual Tissue Loading Reset | yes (on the surface with user acknowledgement) | yes (on the surface with user acknowledgement) |
| Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) | Yes | Yes |
| Dive ascent/descent rate indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Dive activity maximum operating depth | 100 meters | 200 meters |
| Sync dive log to Garmin Dive™ Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Automatically saves dive entry and exit locations | Yes | Yes |
| Pool APNEA | — | Yes |
| Air integration | — | yes (via Subwave™) |
| Gas time remaining | — | Yes |
| Subwave™ Support | — | Yes |
| Gas consumption rate | — | Yes |
| Number of transmitters supported | — | 8 |
| Boating Features | ||
| Available Boating Profiles | Boating | Boating, Sailing, Sail Racing |
| Built-in barometer and tide tables | Yes | yes (downloadable tides) |
| Anchor Alarm | — | Yes |
| Countdown timer | — | Yes |
| Tack assist mode | — | Yes |
| Autopilot Control | — | Yes |
| Boat Data Streaming | — | CIQ |
| Virtual starting line | — | Yes |
| Wearable trolling motor remote | — | Yes |
| Cycling Features | ||
| Courses | Yes | Yes |
| MTB Grit & Flow | Yes | Yes |
| Race an activity | Yes | Yes |
| Power meter compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ lights | Yes | Yes |
| FTP (Functional Threshold Power) | Yes | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | Yes | Yes |
| Bike lap and lap maximum power (with power sensor) | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ radar (rear-facing radar) | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Vector™ and Rally™ (power meters) | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories) | Yes | Yes |
| Power guide | — | Yes |
| Advanced cycling dynamics | — | Yes |
| Power curve and % FTP workouts | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia headlight camera | — | Yes |
| Cycle Map (routable cycling-specific street map) | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia Vision™ (head-mounted display) | — | Yes |
| Golfing Features | ||
| PinPointer | Yes | Yes |
| Tournament legal | Yes | Yes |
| Digital scorecard | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin AutoShot™ | Yes | Yes |
| Round timer/odometer | Yes | Yes |
| Auto CourseView updates | Yes | Yes |
| Yardage to layups/doglegs | Yes | Yes |
| Hazards and course targets | Yes | Yes |
| Pairs with Garmin Golf app | Yes | Yes |
| Green View with manual pin position | Yes | Yes |
| CT10 Automatic club tracking compatible (requires accessory) | Yes | Yes |
| Yardage to F/M/B (distance to front, middle and back of green) | Yes | Yes |
| Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit) | Yes | Yes |
| Measures shot distance (calculates exact yardage for shots from anywhere on course) | manual | automatic |
| Custom targets | — | Yes |
| Tempo Training | — | Yes |
| Virtual caddie | — | Yes |
| Full vector map | — | Yes |
| Handicap scoring | — | Yes |
| PlaysLike distance | — | Yes |
| Preloaded with 43,000 courses worldwide | — | Yes |
| Green Contours (with Garmin Golf membership) | — | Yes |
| Wind speed and direction (requires connection to Garmin Golf app) | — | Yes |
| Touch-targeting (touch target on display to see the distance to any point) | — | Yes |
| Running Features | ||
| Run workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Race predictor | Yes | Yes |
| Foot pod capable | Yes | Yes |
| Running dynamics | yes (with compatible accessory) | Yes |
| Lactate threshold | yes (with compatible accessory) | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| Trail run auto climb | Yes | Yes |
| Performance condition | Yes | Yes |
| Stride length (real time) | yes (with compatible accessory) | Yes |
| Vertical oscillation and ratio | yes (with compatible accessory) | Yes |
| Ground contact time and balance | yes (with compatible accessory) | Yes |
| GPS-based distance, time and pace | Yes | Yes |
| Cadence (provides real-time number of steps per minute) | Yes | Yes |
| Hill score | — | Yes |
| Running power | — | Yes |
| Grade-adjusted pace | — | Yes |
| Run/Walk/Stand detection | — | Yes |
| PacePro™ Pacing Strategies | — | Yes |
| Course- and weather-specific race predictor | — | Yes |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Display type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | AMOLED |
| Water rating | Dive (100 meters) | Dive (200 meters) |
| Garmin Pay™ | Yes | Yes |
| Solar Charging | Yes | — |
| Training status | Yes | yes (improved) |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | yes (spot-check, during sleep, all day) | Yes |
| Sleep score and insights | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 21 days4 months with solar | Up to 10 days (4 days always-on) |
| Touchscreen | — | Yes |
| Music storage | — | Yes |
| Multi-band GPS | — | Yes |
| Built-in mapping | — | Yes |
| Training readiness | — | Yes |
| Activity Profiles | ||
| Gym | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing |
| Swim | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| Cycling | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX |
| Wellness | Walking, Pilates, Yoga | Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking |
| Multisport | Swimming/Running | Swimming/Running, Triathlon |
| On the Water | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Sailing, Sail Racing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Snorkeling, Sailing Expedition, Whitewater |
| Racket sports | Tennis | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball |
| Snow & winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Snowshoeing | Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing |
| Indoor running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running |
| Outdoor running | Running, Trail Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Racing |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Other activity profiles | Tactical | Jumpmaster, Tactical, Inline Skating |
| In the ring | — | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Team sports | — | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
| Motor sports | — | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling |
| Swimming Features | ||
| Pool swim workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Time and distance alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Auto rest (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Drill logging (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Countdown start (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater wrist-based heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| "Repeat on" rest timer (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Basic rest timer (up from 0) (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) (pool swim only) | Yes | Yes |
| Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | Yes | Yes |
| Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate from external HRM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim) | Yes | yes (with HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim, HRM-Pro or HRM-Pro Plus) |
| Critical swim speed | — | Yes |
| Pacing alerts (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Tactical Features | ||
| XERO™ Locations | Yes | Yes |
| Dual grid coordinates | Yes | Yes |
| Kill switch | — | Yes |
| Stealth Mode | — | Yes |
| Ballistics solver | — | yes (unlock required) |
| Night vision mode | — | Yes |
| Outdoor Recreation | ||
| Tides | Yes | Yes |
| TracBack® | Yes | Yes |
| Sight 'N Go | Yes | Yes |
| Back to start | Yes | Yes |
| UltraTrac mode | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical speed | Yes | Yes |
| GPS coordinates | Yes | Yes |
| Area calculation | Yes | yes (via Connect IQ™) |
| Elevation profile | Yes | Yes |
| Projected waypoint | Yes | Yes |
| Total ascent/descent | Yes | Yes |
| Future elevation plot | Yes | Yes |
| Distance to destination | Yes | Yes |
| Expedition GPS Activity | Yes | Yes |
| Sun and moon information | Yes | Yes |
| Point-to-point navigation | Yes | Yes |
| Bread crumb trail in real time | Yes | Yes |
| Barometric trend indicator with Storm Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Up Ahead | — | Yes |
| Auto rest | — | Yes |
| Tide glance | — | Yes |
| Fish forecast | — | Yes |
| Explore Nearby | — | Yes |
| Reference point | — | Yes |
| NextFork™ navigation | — | Yes |
| Preloaded ski resort maps | — | Yes |
| ClimbPro™ Ascent Planner | — | Yes |
| Rest Timer (Ultra Run only) | — | Yes |
| Preloaded road and trail maps | — | Yes |
| Downloadable cartography support | — | Yes |
| Daily Smart Features | ||
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, ANT+® | BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®, Subwave™ |
| Find My Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find My Watch | Yes | Yes |
| VIRB® Remote | Yes | Yes |
| Weather forecasts | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Smart trainer control | Yes | Yes |
| Smartphone compatibility | iPhone®, Android™ | iPhone®, Android™ |
| Controls smartphone music | Yes | Yes |
| Pairs with Garmin Connect™ Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Battery saver (customizable low power watch) | Yes | Yes |
| Text response/reject phone call with text (Android™ only) | Yes | Yes |
| Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | — | Yes |
| Garmin Share | — | Yes |
| Morning report | — | Yes |
| Red shift mode | — | Yes |
| On-device Connect IQ™ Store | — | Yes |
| Plays and controls watch music | — | Yes |
| Find My Phone during GPS activity | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin Messenger app | — | Yes |
| Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobile | — | Yes |
| View images from notifications on watch (Android™ only) | — | Yes |
| Activity Tracking Features | ||
| TrueUp™ | Yes | Yes |
| Move IQ™ | Yes | Yes |
| Step counter | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Calories burned | Yes | Yes |
| Distance traveled | Yes | Yes |
| Intensity minutes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic rep counting | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Connect™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ app) | yes (optional Connect IQ app) |
| Move alerts (displays on device after a period of inactivity) | Yes | Yes |
| Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal) | Yes | Yes |
| Workout and Training Plans | ||
| HIIT workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Yoga workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Cardio workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Pilates workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Strength workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Cycling Coach | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Running Coach | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Running Coach Experts | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Coach - Prebuilt Cycling Plans | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Cycling (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes | — |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Running (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes | — |
| On-screen workout animations | — | Yes |
| On-screen workout muscle maps | — | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Cycling | — | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Running | — | Yes |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Sleep | Yes | yes (advanced) |
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™) |
| Breathwork | Yes | Yes |
| Fitness age | Yes | yes (in app) |
| All-day stress | Yes | Yes |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™) |
| Health snapshot | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Resting heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Abnormal heart rate alerts | yes (high and low) | yes (high and low) |
| Relaxation breathing timer | Yes | Yes |
| Body Battery™ energy monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Wrist-based heart rate (constant, every second) | Yes | Yes |
| Nap detection | — | Yes |
| Jet lag adviser | — | Yes |
| Skin temperature | — | Yes |
| Safety and Tracking Features | ||
| Assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Incident Detection during select activities | Yes | Yes |
| Live Event Sharing | — | Yes |
| Incident detection alert on phone for wearables | — | Yes |
| Kid Activity Tracking Features | ||
| Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app) | yes (optional Connect IQ Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app) |
| Training, Planning and Analysis Features | ||
| % HRR | Yes | Yes |
| % HR max | Yes | Yes |
| HR zones | Yes | Yes |
| HR alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Shortcuts | Yes | Yes |
| Manual lap | Yes | Yes |
| Auto max HR | Yes | Yes |
| Auto scroll | Yes | Yes |
| Finish time | Yes | Yes |
| HR calories | Yes | Yes |
| Voice alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Custom alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Physio TrueUp | Yes | Yes |
| Recovery time | Yes | Yes |
| Training load | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Run) | Yes | Yes |
| Course guidance | Yes | Yes |
| Training effect | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Partner | Yes | Yes |
| Race an Activity | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Interval training | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Trail Run) | Yes | Yes |
| GPS speed and distance | Yes | Yes |
| Improved recovery time | Yes | Yes |
| Configurable lap alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable data pages | Yes | Yes |
| Unified training status | Yes | Yes |
| Touch and/or button lock | Yes | Yes |
| Activity history on watch | Yes | Yes |
| Downloadable training plans | Yes | Yes |
| Training effect (anaerobic) | Yes | Yes |
| Manual multisport activities | Yes | Yes |
| Heat and altitude acclimation | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable activity profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Pause® automatic timer halt | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate (during exercise) | Yes | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| Auto Lap® interval tracking feature | Yes | Yes |
| Primary benefit (Training Effect labels) | Yes | Yes |
| Power Modes - customizable in-activity battery settings | Yes | Yes |
| HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+® to paired devices) | yes (using ANT+) | Yes |
| HRV status | — | Yes |
| Load ratio | — | Yes |
| Rest timer | — | Yes |
| Endurance score | — | Yes |
| Realtime stamina | — | Yes |
| Race glance/widget | — | Yes |
| Training load focus | — | Yes |
| Garmin Live Segments | — | Yes |
| Strava Live Segments | — | Yes |
| HRM running pace and distance | — | Yes |
| Trendline™ Popularity Routing | — | Yes |
| Round-trip course creator (running/cycling) | — | Yes |
| Improved interval (includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) | — | Yes |
| HRV stress test (measures your heart rate variability while standing still, for 3 minutes, to provide you with an estimated stress level; the scale of this is 1 to 100; low scores indicate lower stress levels) | — | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| Gaming Features | ||
| Gaming Activity | — | Yes |
| GameOn™ app compatible | — | Yes |
Wrist Fit
Garmin Descent G1 Solar
Sits best on wrists ~48–65mm wide (≈ 12.8–17.4cm circumference).
Garmin Descent Mk3i 43mm
Sits best on wrists ~45–61mm wide (≈ 12.0–16.3cm circumference).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Descent G1 Solar bigger than the Garmin Descent Mk3i 43mm?
The Garmin Descent G1 Solar is bigger — 45.5mm vs 43mm case width.
Which fits a smaller wrist better, the Garmin Descent G1 Solar or the Garmin Descent Mk3i 43mm?
The Garmin Descent G1 Solar suits wrists around 48–65mm wide, and the Garmin Descent Mk3i 43mm around 45–61mm. The one with the smaller lower bound is the safer pick for a small wrist.
Can I see the Garmin Descent G1 Solar and Garmin Descent Mk3i 43mm side by side at true scale?
Yes — the schematics and photos above show both watches at matched scale, and our fit tool overlays each on your wrist width.