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Forerunner 255 vs Instinct 2 Solar

Garmin Forerunner 255 vs Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

What Forerunner 255 does better (7) and where Instinct 2 Solar wins (2) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2022Forerunner 255

4.2Score

7 advantages≈ $350

Garmin · 2022Instinct 2 Solar

5.4Score

2 advantages≈ $400

Higher score

3.5Display2.6

4.8Battery life7.4

4.9Health tracking4.9

5.0Sports & outdoor4.2

2.7Build & durability5.6

Dimensions

Size comparison

Forerunner 255Instinct 2 Solar

	Forerunner 255	Instinct 2 Solar	Difference
Height	45.6 mm	45 mm	+0.6 mm
Width	45.6 mm	45 mm	+0.6 mm
Thickness	12.9 mm	14.5 mm	−1.6 mm
Weight	49 g	53 g	−4 g

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

Why is Forerunner 255 better than Instinct 2 Solar?

Storage4 GB vs 0.03 GB133.3×
Weight49 g vs 53 g+8%
Screen size1.3″ vs 1.27″+2%
Resolution (width)260 px vs 176 px+48%
Pixel density200 ppi vs 139 ppi+44%
Sport profiles58 vs 50+16%
Thickness12.9 mm vs 14.5 mm+12%

Why is Instinct 2 Solar better than Forerunner 255?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)14 days vs 28 days2×
Water resistance5 ATM vs 10 ATM2×

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Forerunner 255≈ $3504.2	Garmin Instinct 2 Solar≈ $4005.4
Design & durability
Case size	46 mm	45 mm
Weight	49 g	53 g
Thickness	12.9 mm	14.5 mm
Height	45.6 mm	45 mm
Width	45.6 mm	45 mm
Case material	Plastic / polymer	Plastic / polymer
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3	Power Glass™
Strap material	silicone	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.3″	1.27″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)
Panel	Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel
AMOLED / OLED display	No	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Resolution (width)	260 px	176 px
Resolution (height)	260 px	176 px
Pixel density	200 ppi	139 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	14 days	28 days
Battery saver mode	—	65 days
GPS battery life	30 h	30 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	16 h	—
Battery type	Lithium ion	Lithium ion
Solar charging	—	Yes
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	—
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GLONASS, GALILEO
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	58	50
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Storage	4 GB	0.03 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android