Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition vs Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical EditionSize, Specs & Wrist Fit Compared
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Garmin
Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition (010-02805-12)
Garmin
Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition (010-02935-50)
The Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition and Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition share a near-identical 50mm case, so wrist presence comes down to thickness, lug-to-lug and weight.
On the wrist the Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition feels lighter (58g vs 67g, case only).
Specification Comparison
| Spec | GarminInstinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition | GarminInstinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 50mm | 50mm |
| Thickness | 14.7mm | 14.4mm |
| Weight | 67g | 58g |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Display | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
| Battery life | Smartwatch: 40 days; unlimited with solar* GPS: 60 hours; 145 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems: 40 hours; 65 hours with solar* All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: 27 hours; 36 hours with solar** Max Battery GPS Mode: 150 hours; unlimited with solar** Expedition GPS Activity: 60 days; unlimited with solar* Battery Saver Watch Mode: 100 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 |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | 40 daysUnlimited with solar | Up to 40 days/unlimited with solar |
| Battery saver (customizable low power watch) | Yes | Yes |
| Body Battery™ energy monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Power Modes - customizable in-activity battery settings | Yes | Yes |
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
Full Specification Comparison
257 specs| Spec | Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition | Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Family | Garmin | Garmin |
| General | ||
| Battery life | Smartwatch: 40 days; unlimited with solar* GPS: 60 hours; 145 hours with solar** All Satellite Systems: 40 hours; 65 hours with solar* All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: 27 hours; 36 hours with solar** Max Battery GPS Mode: 150 hours; unlimited with solar** Expedition GPS Activity: 60 days; unlimited with solar* Battery Saver Watch Mode: 100 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 |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Display Size | custom, two-window design; 1.1” x 1.1” (27 x 27 mm) | Custom, two-window design: 1.1” x 1.1” (27 x 27 mm) |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Lens Material | Power Glass™ | Power Glass™ |
| Bezel Material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer/aluminum |
| Memory/History | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Strap material | silicone | silicone |
| Charging method | Garmin proprietary plug charger | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| Display resolution | 176 x 176 pixels | 176 x 176 pixels |
| QuickFit® watch band compatible | yes (26 mm) | yes (26 mm) |
| Sensors | ||
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes | Yes |
| Galileo | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | 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 |
| Product Info | ||
| Main SKU | 010-02805-12 | 010-02935-50 |
| Product ID | 884414 | 1476633 |
| Product Name | Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition | Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition |
| Release Date | 4/12/2023 | 4/26/2025 |
| Product Variation | Tactical Edition, Coyote Tan | Black with Black 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 |
| Gaming Features | ||
| Gaming Activity | Yes | Yes |
| GameOn™ app compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Cycling Features | ||
| Courses | Yes | Yes |
| MTB Grit & Flow | Yes | Yes |
| Race an activity | Yes | Yes |
| Power meter compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced cycling dynamics | yes (in app) | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ lights | Yes | Yes |
| FTP (Functional Threshold Power) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| Compatible with Varia Vision™ (head-mounted display) | — | Yes |
| Golfing Features | ||
| 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 | manual |
| Running Features | ||
| Run workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Running power | 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) |
| Grade-adjusted pace | Yes | Yes |
| Trail run auto climb | Yes | Yes |
| Performance condition | Yes | Yes |
| Run/Walk/Stand detection | 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 (GCT balance with accessory) |
| GPS-based distance, time and pace | Yes | Yes |
| Cadence (provides real-time number of steps per minute) | Yes | Yes |
| PacePro™ Pacing Strategies | — | Yes |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Display type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
| Water rating | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
| Garmin Pay™ | Yes | Yes |
| LED flashlight | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-band GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Solar Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Training status | Yes | Yes |
| Training readiness | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep score and insights | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | 40 daysUnlimited with solar | Up to 40 days/unlimited with solar |
| 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, Indoor Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Multisport | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| In the ring | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Team sports | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
| Motor sports | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling |
| On the Water | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Whitewater | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Water Skiing, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Whitewater |
| Racket sports | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball |
| Snow & winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, 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, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Obstacle Racing |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Archery | Hiking, Rucking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Other activity profiles | Jumpmaster, Tactical | Jumpmaster, Tactical, Inline Skating |
| 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 |
| Tactical Features | ||
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Stealth Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Ballistics solver | yes (unlock required) | yes (unlock required) |
| Night vision mode | Yes | Yes |
| XERO™ Locations | Yes | — |
| Dual grid coordinates | Yes | Yes |
| Stage timer | — | Yes |
| Outdoor Recreation | ||
| Tides | Yes | Yes |
| TracBack® | Yes | Yes |
| Sight 'N Go | Yes | Yes |
| Tide glance | Yes | Yes |
| Back to start | Yes | Yes |
| UltraTrac mode | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical speed | Yes | Yes |
| GPS coordinates | Yes | Yes |
| Reference point | Yes | Yes |
| Area calculation | Yes | Yes |
| Elevation profile | Yes | Yes |
| Projected waypoint | Yes | Yes |
| Total ascent/descent | Yes | Yes |
| Future elevation plot | Yes | Yes |
| Wind meter compatible | 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 |
| Daily Smart Features | ||
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, ANT+® | Bluetooth®, ANT+® |
| Find My Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find My Watch | Yes | Yes |
| VIRB® Remote | Yes | Yes |
| Morning report | 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 |
| Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Text response/reject phone call with text (Android™ only) | Yes | Yes |
| Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Passcode | — | Yes |
| Garmin Share | — | Yes |
| On-device Connect IQ™ Store | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin Messenger app | — | 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 Running Coach Experts | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Coach - Prebuilt Cycling Plans | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Cycling (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Running (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes | Yes |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| Sleep | Yes | yes (advanced) |
| Hydration | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| Breathwork | Yes | Yes |
| Fitness age | yes (in app) | Yes |
| All-day stress | Yes | Yes |
| Women's health | yes (in Garmin Connect™) | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| 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 |
| Sleep coach | — | Yes |
| Nap detection | — | Yes |
| Breathing variations | — | Yes |
| Relaxation reminders | — | 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 |
| HRV status | 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 |
| HRM running pace and distance | 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 |
| Load ratio | — | Yes |
| Rest timer | — | Yes |
| Workout benefit | — | Yes |
| Race glance/widget | — | Yes |
| Training load focus | — | Yes |
| Multisport auto transition | — | Yes |
| Improved interval (includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) | — | Yes |
Wrist Fit
Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition
Sits best on wrists ~53–71mm wide (≈ 14.2–19.0cm circumference).
Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition
Sits best on wrists ~53–71mm wide (≈ 14.2–19.0cm circumference).
2D Dimension Schematics
Accurate scale drawings based on case dimensions. Drag to pan, Ctrl+scroll to zoom. Works for every watch regardless of photo availability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition bigger than the Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition?
Both have a 50mm case. Compare their thickness and lug-to-lug above to judge wrist presence.
Which fits a smaller wrist better, the Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition or the Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition?
The Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition suits wrists around 53–71mm wide, and the Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition around 53–71mm. The one with the smaller lower bound is the safer pick for a small wrist.
Can I see the Garmin Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition and Garmin Instinct 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition 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.
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