Garmin Descent G1 Solar vs Instinct 3 50mm Solar
Size, specs & wrist fit compared
Which one fits you
Under 18 cm (7.1 in) round, the Instinct 3 50mm Solar's lugs overhang and the Descent G1 Solar's do not; the Descent G1 Solar fills the wrist at 17–19 cm, the Instinct 3 50mm Solar at 19–21 cm.
What else differs
- Battery: 40 days for the Instinct 3 50mm Solar against 21 days for the Descent G1 Solar in everyday use; 2.5 days for the Instinct 3 50mm Solar against 26 hours for the Descent G1 Solar with GPS on.
- Only the Descent G1 Solar has a sapphire lens.
The Instinct 3 50mm Solar is 4.5mm wider, 0.8mm thinner and 8g lighter than the Descent G1 Solar.
Descent G1 Solar
Instinct 3 50mm Solar
Case width
45.5mm
50mm+4.5mm
Thickness
15.2mm
14.4mm−0.8mm
Weight
66g
58g−8g
Descent G1 Solar or Instinct 3 50mm Solar by wrist size
| Wrist round (mm left each side) | Descent G1 Solar≈52.5mm lug to lug, est. | Instinct 3 50mm Solar≈57.5mm lug to lug, est. |
|---|---|---|
| 14 cm / 5.5 in | Overhangs (3.7mm over) | Overhangs (6.2mm over) |
| 15 cm / 5.9 in | Overhangs (2.1mm over) | Overhangs (4.6mm over) |
| 16 cm / 6.3 in | Overhangs (0.4mm over) | Overhangs (2.9mm over) |
| 17 cm / 6.7 in | Bold (1.2mm) | Overhangs (1.3mm over) |
| 18 cm / 7.1 in | Sweet spot (2.8mm) | Bold (0.3mm) |
| 19 cm / 7.5 in | Sweet spot (4.4mm) | Sweet spot (1.9mm) |
| 20 cm / 7.9 in | Balanced (6mm) | Sweet spot (3.5mm) |
Switch or add watches
Garmin
Descent G1 Solar
Garmin
Instinct 3 50mm Solar
As an Amazon Associate, WatchFitTool earns from qualifying purchases.
Battery life compared
Furthest apart in Max battery GPS mode, where the Instinct 3 50mm Solar lasts 2.7× as long as the Descent G1 Solar (6.3 days against 2.3 days).
Descent G1 SolarInstinct 3 50mm Solar
Battery saver
48 days100 daysExpedition
27 days60 daysSmartwatch
21 days +4 months40 daysMax battery GPS
56 hours +205 hours150 hoursGPS only
26 hours +39 hours60 hours +260 hoursAll systems
—40 hours +80 hoursAll systems + multi-band
—34 hours +60 hoursDive
25 hours—
Amber figures are the solar-assisted runtime the manufacturer publishes for that mode.
More comparisons
2D Dimension Schematics
- Garmin Descent G1 Solar 45.5mm × ≈52.5mm (est.) · 15.2mm thick
- Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar 50mm × ≈57.5mm (est.) · 14.4mm thick
3D preview
Descent G1 Solar vs Instinct 3 50mm Solar on a wrist
Specifications
The short version
7 key specs| Spec | GarminDescent G1 Solar | GarminInstinct 3 50mm Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 45.5mm | 50mm |
| Thickness | 15.2mm | 14.4mm |
| Weight | 66g | 58g |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Display type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
| 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 40 days/Unlimited with solar* Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 100 days/Unlimited with solar* GPS Only: Up to 60 hours/ 260 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems: Up to 40 hours/80 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: Up to 34 hours/60 hours with solar*** Max Battery GPS: Up to 150 hours/Unlimited with solar** Expedition GPS: Up to 60 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 ***Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions; assuming typical use with SatIQ technology |
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
Where the specifications differ
34 differences| Spec | Garmin Descent G1 Solar | Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar |
|---|---|---|
| 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 40 days/Unlimited with solar* Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 100 days/Unlimited with solar* GPS Only: Up to 60 hours/ 260 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems: Up to 40 hours/80 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: Up to 34 hours/60 hours with solar*** Max Battery GPS: Up to 150 hours/Unlimited with solar** Expedition GPS: Up to 60 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 ***Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions; assuming typical use with SatIQ technology |
| Display Size | custom, two-window design: 0.9” x 0.9” (23 x 23 mm) | custom, two-window design; 1.1” x 1.1” (27 x 27 mm) |
| Lens Material | Power Sapphire | Power Glass™ |
| Bezel Material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer/aluminum |
| Memory/History | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Charging method | Garmin proprietary clip charger | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| QuickFit® watch band compatible | yes (22 mm) | yes (26 mm) |
| Product Info | ||
| Main SKU | 010-02604-02 | 010-02935-00 |
| Product ID | 766565 | 1316857 |
| Product Name | Descent™ G1 Solar | Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar |
| Release Date | 11/15/2023 | 1/6/2025 |
| Product Variation | Black | Black with Charcoal Band |
| Running Features | ||
| Running dynamics | yes (with compatible accessory) | 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 (GCT balance with accessory) |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Water rating | Dive (100 meters) | 10 ATM |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | yes (spot-check, during sleep, all day) | Yes |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | Up to 21 days4 months with solar | Up to 40 daysUnlimited with solar |
| Activity Profiles | ||
| 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, Indoor Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Multisport | 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, Water Skiing, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, 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, XC Skate 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, Obstacle Racing |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding | Hiking, Rucking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Other activity profiles | Tactical | Tactical, Inline Skating |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Sleep | Yes | yes (advanced) |
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| Training, Planning and Analysis Features | ||
| Respiration rate (during exercise) | Yes | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+® to paired devices) | yes (using ANT+) | Yes |
The other 177 specifications both list are identical.
Full Garmin Descent G1 Solar specifications →Full Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar specifications →