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Apex 4 (46mm) vs Instinct 3 50mm Solar

Coros Apex 4 (46mm) vs Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar

What Apex 4 (46mm) does better (6) and where Instinct 3 50mm Solar wins (6) — every spec side by side.

Coros · 2025Apex 4 (46mm)

6.0Score

6 advantages≈ $480

Garmin · 2025Instinct 3 50mm Solar

6.9Score

6 advantages≈ $400

Higher score

3.8Display4.0

8.2Battery life8.8

4.9Health tracking4.9

4.6Sports & outdoor6.2

4.7Build & durability5.5

Dimensions

Size comparison

Apex 4 (46mm)Instinct 3 50mm Solar

	Apex 4 (46mm)	Instinct 3 50mm Solar	Difference
Height	46.2 mm	50 mm	−3.8 mm
Width	46.2 mm	50 mm	−3.8 mm
Thickness	13.7 mm	14.4 mm	−0.7 mm
Weight	64 g	58 g	+6 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Apex 4 (46mm) better than Instinct 3 50mm Solar?

Storage32 GB vs 0.12 GB266.7×
Sapphire crystalYes · Instinct 3 50mm Solar: No
Pixel density200 ppi vs 113 ppi+77%
Resolution (width)260 px vs 176 px+48%
GPS battery life (dual-band)41 h vs 34 h+21%
Thickness13.7 mm vs 14.4 mm+5%

Why is Instinct 3 50mm Solar better than Apex 4 (46mm)?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)24 days vs 40 days+67%
Water resistance5 ATM vs 10 ATM2×
GPS battery life53 h vs 60 h+13%
Sport profiles36 vs 942.6×
Screen size1.3″ vs 1.56″+20%
Weight64 g vs 58 g+10%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Coros Apex 4 (46mm)≈ $4806.0	Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar≈ $4006.9
Design & durability
Case size	46 mm	50 mm
Weight	64 g	58 g
Thickness	13.7 mm	14.4 mm
Height	46.2 mm	50 mm
Width	46.2 mm	50 mm
Case material	Titanium	Aluminium
Sapphire crystal	Yes	No
Lens / cover glass	Sapphire Glass	Power Glass™
Strap material	Silicone / Nylon	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.3″	1.56″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)
Panel	3rd Generation Memory-in-Pixel touch screen	Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
AMOLED / OLED display	No	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	—
Resolution (width)	260 px	176 px
Resolution (height)	260 px	176 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	113 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	24 days	40 days
Battery saver mode	—	100 days
GPS battery life	53 h	60 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	41 h	34 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Solar charging	—	Yes
Wireless charging	—	No
Charging	—	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
ECG	Yes	—
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	Speaker to take hands-free calls or play activity alerts out-loud., Microphone to record training logs, use voice commands, and save Voice Pins, Optical Heart Rate Monitor, Barometric Altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, 3D Compass, Thermometer ), Optical Pulse Oximeter, Electrical Heart Rate Sensor for HRV and Wellness Checks	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO
Offline maps	Yes	—
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	36	94
LED flashlight	—	Yes
Connectivity
NFC payments	—	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	—
ANT+ sensors	—	Yes
Smart features
Calls from the wrist	Yes	—
Speaker	Yes	—
Microphone	Yes	—
Music on the watch	Yes	—
Storage	32 GB	0.12 GB
Third-party apps	—	Yes
Platform
Operating system	—	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	—	iOS, Android