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Instinct 3 50mm Solar vs Vertical 2

Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar vs Suunto Vertical 2

What Instinct 3 50mm Solar does better (3) and where Vertical 2 wins (8) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2025Instinct 3 50mm Solar

6.9Score

3 advantages≈ $400

Suunto · 2025Vertical 2

9.3Score

8 advantages≈ $640

Higher score

4.0Display6.3

8.8Battery life8.5

4.9Health tracking4.9

6.2Sports & outdoor6.4

5.5Build & durability7.8

Dimensions

Size comparison

Instinct 3 50mm SolarVertical 2

	Instinct 3 50mm Solar	Vertical 2	Difference
Height	50 mm	49 mm	+1 mm
Width	50 mm	49 mm	+1 mm
Thickness	14.4 mm	13.6 mm	+0.8 mm
Weight	58 g	87 g	−29 g

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

Why is Instinct 3 50mm Solar better than Vertical 2?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)40 days vs 20 days2×
Weight58 g vs 87 g+50%
Screen size1.56″ vs 1.5″+4%

Why is Vertical 2 better than Instinct 3 50mm Solar?

AMOLED / OLED displayNo · Instinct 3 50mm Solar: Yes
GPS battery life60 h vs 75 h+25%
Resolution (width)176 px vs 466 px2.6×
Pixel density113 ppi vs 311 ppi2.8×
Storage0.12 GB vs 32 GB266.7×
Sapphire crystalNo · Instinct 3 50mm Solar: Yes
GPS battery life (dual-band)34 h vs 65 h+91%
Thickness14.4 mm vs 13.6 mm+6%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar≈ $4006.9	Suunto Vertical 2≈ $6409.3
Design & durability
Case size	50 mm	49 mm
Weight	58 g	87 g
Thickness	14.4 mm	13.6 mm
Height	50 mm	49 mm
Width	50 mm	49 mm
Case material	Aluminium	Stainless steel
Sapphire crystal	No	Yes
Lens / cover glass	Power Glass™	Saphirglas Saphirglas
Strap material	silicone	Silikon
Water resistance	10 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	10 ATM	100 m / 10 bar / 10 ATM
Colours	—	Black
Display
Screen size	1.56″	1.5″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	AMOLED
Panel	Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	No	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	—	Yes
Resolution (width)	176 px	466 px
Resolution (height)	176 px	466 px
Pixel density	113 ppi	311 ppi
LTPO display	—	Yes
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	40 days	20 days
Battery saver mode	100 days	—
GPS battery life	60 h	75 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	34 h	65 h
Battery capacity	—	620 mAh
Battery type	Lithium ion	Li-Ion
Solar charging	Yes	—
Wireless charging	No	—
Charging	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, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer	heart rate, SpO2, barometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	—	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	94	95
Dive mode	—	Yes
LED flashlight	Yes	—
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	—
Smart features
Storage	0.12 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	—
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Suunto OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android