144 facts in comparison
Garmin Instinct Solar vs Suunto 9
Garmin Instinct Solar
Suunto 9
Why is Garmin Instinct Solar better than Suunto 9?
- Monitors blood oxygenation levels?
- 10 days longer battery life?
24 daysvs14 days - Has branded damage-resistant glass?
- 5 hours longer battery life - GPS?
30 hoursvs25 hours - Has a barometer?
- Has a temperature sensor?
- Supports ANT+?
- Has irregular heart rate warnings?
Why is Suunto 9 better than Garmin Instinct Solar?
- Can upload maps?
- Has a touch screen?
- 5.86x higher resolution?
300 x 320 pxvs128 x 128 px - 1.56x bigger screen size?
1.4"vs0.9" - Has sapphire glass display?
- Has HRV tracking?
- Measures VO2 max?
- Shows readiness level?
Price comparison
Garmin Instinct Solar
Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in ...Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Graphite
User reviews
Overall rating
Features
Value for money
8.5/10
2 votes
8.5/10
4 votes
Display quality
7.0/10
2 votes
9.5/10
4 votes
Heart rate monitoring
6.5/10
2 votes
8.0/10
4 votes
GPS accuracy
8.5/10
2 votes
10.0/10
4 votes
App
10.0/10
2 votes
9.3/10
4 votes
Design
The device is dustproof and water-resistant. Water-resistant devices can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, but not being submerged into water.
Resistance to sweat makes it ideal for use while doing sports.
Damage-resistant glass (such as Corning Gorilla Glass or Asahi Dragontrail Glass) is thin, lightweight, and can withstand high levels of force.
The ATM rating indicates how much water pressure a device can withstand. 3 ATM is one of the lowest ratings and means that the device can only withstand splashes of water, whereas 20 ATM is one of the highest ratings and means that the device can be used for snorkeling and water sports.
The size of the screen (measured diagonally).
Resolution is an essential indicator of a screen's image quality, representing the maximum amount of pixels that can be shown on the screen. The resolution is given as a compound value, comprised of horizontal and vertical pixels.
The type of technology used in the display.
The watch band is removable and can be replaced by any standard watch band of the correct size, allowing you to customise it to your liking.
You can operate the device easily, by pressing the screen with your fingers.
Sensors
GPS enables global positioning, useful in map, geo-tagging or navigation apps.
A heart rate monitor can help show your fitness levels, enabling you to calculate a suitable intensity of exercise.
Your blood oxygen level is a measurement how much oxygen is reaching your muscles. It is important because low levels mean that you will become easily fatigued during exercise. The more exercise you do, the better your blood oxygen levels will become.
This measures barometric air pressure. It can predict weather changes, for example a sudden drop in air pressure could mean a storm is coming. When calibrated correctly it can be used to determine altitude, which helps GPS devices to lock on quicker and with greater accuracy.
An accelerometer is a sensor used to measure the linear acceleration of a device. A common application is detecting when a device changes between vertical and horizontal positions.
A compass is useful for gaming, maps, and navigation software.
With a temperature sensor you can monitor changes in temperature to measure your exertion levels and avoid hyperthermia.
A cadence sensor measures the number of pedal revolutions per minute when you are cycling. It enables you to monitor how fast you are pedaling.
A gyroscope is a sensor that tracks the orientation of a device, more specifically by measuring the angular rotational velocity. Initially, they were built using a spinning rotor to detect changes in orientation, like twisting or rotation.
Activity tracking
With a route tracker you can add your route onto a map. It is helpful if you plan to do the same route again, or want to share it with your community.
It tracks how far you travel.
Measuring pace shows how much time it takes to travel one kilometer or one mile. For example, in running, a 4 minute kilometer would be a very good pace.
This feature enables you to track your route and reverse it in order to guide you back to where you began your journey.
It can track your sleep, such as how long you sleep for and the quality.
A multi-sport mode allows you to easily switch between tracking different sports such as running, cycling, and swimming. This feature is ideal for those who need to change quickly between various activities (e.g., triathletes).
The device automatically detects when you start an activity such as jogging, saving you from entering it manually at a later time.
It can detect changes in elevation, such as when you are climbing stairs.
It tracks how many steps you take throughout the day, allowing you to see how active you have been.
Connectivity
It is compatible with a range of iOS devices such as iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch.
It is compatible with a range of Android devices such as smartphones and tablets.
The device can connect to Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
Devices that use cellular technology can connect to mobile networks. Cellular networks have much wider signal coverage than Wi-Fi.
ANT+ is a wireless protocol similar to Bluetooth Smart, and is very power efficient. It is mainly used for fitness monitoring devices such as heart rate monitors and cadence sensors to connect to other devices (e.g., sports watches, smartphones, and cycling computers).
Wi-Fi version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Garmin Instinct Solar)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Suunto 9)
The Wi-Fi versions supported by the device.
NFC (near-field communication) allows a device to perform simple wireless transactions, such as mobile payments. Note: this feature may not be available in all markets.
Battery
battery power
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Garmin Instinct Solar)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Suunto 9)
Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.
With a longer battery life, you don’t have to worry about charging the device as often.
There is less chance that you will run out of battery during an adventure.
battery life in training mode
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Garmin Instinct Solar)
168 hours
With a long battery life, you can train for several hours a week and only have to recharge the device every few weeks.
charge time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Garmin Instinct Solar)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Suunto 9)
The time it takes to fully charge the battery.
It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.
A solar battery takes its energy from light, and stores it in a self-recharging battery which never needs to be changed.
In power save mode you can still check what time it is and other basic functions. A long battery life is good if you wear the device day to day.
The battery can be recharged and used over again.
Features
Heart rate variability (HRV) tracking measures fluctuations in the time between heart beats. These fluctuations can be an indication of health conditions (such as heart conditions or mental health issues). Note: This feature may not be available in all markets.
VO2 max capacity is a measurement of the amount of oxygen your body can use during physical exercise. A high VO2 max capacity indicates good fitness levels.
This measurement is your heart rate per minute when you're at rest, such as when you're relaxed, sitting, or lying down. For adults, this is typically between 60–100.
It can notify you when your resting heart rate is above or below the normal range.
This is based on various information, such as your previous workout, sleep quality, and stress levels. Taking everything into account, it will give you an idea of whether your body is ready for another workout or if you should focus on recovery.
You can upload different maps to your device. It is handy for people who like to explore new places.
Vibrating alerts have a variety of uses, such as interval training.
With a stopwatch you can time yourself.
The device has a feature that allows you to find your smartphone if you have misplaced it.
App & Software
Your activity data is analysed to give you reports, available to view through the app or website. This allows you to see how active you have been and to help you make improvements.
The device detects when you have been idle for too long, and alerts you to encourage you to stay active.
This is useful if you are on a strict training diet or if you are trying to lose weight. It can also help to boost your motivation.
Allows you to set your own goals, such as reaching 15,000 steps in a single day.
You are awarded achievements for reaching goals, helping to encourage you and keep you motivated.
You can download the app for free, from platforms such as Google Play or the App Store.
It has an exercise diary, allowing you to easily keep track of your previous workouts.
Adverts can be distracting and obtrusive. Apps and blogs without ads are more aesthetically pleasing, nicer to use, and make the content stand out.
You can input your weight data, making it easier to track changes.
Miscellaneous
An indicator shows you when the device has low battery.
It can determine when you have stopped working out and pause your current workout tracking until you start moving again.
It is compatible with PCs and laptops running the Windows operating system.
The device can connect at a greater distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) is a wireless standard released in 2009. It has faster transfer rates and improved security compared to its predecessors – a, b, and g.
It supports third-party heart rate monitors to incorporate your pulse data.
These services are ideal if you want to use the app while sat down at your computer, as well as on-the-go.
It is compatible with smart scales such as the Fitbit Aria and Withings range. These scales transmit information such as weight and BMI to connected services over Wi-Fi.
802.11ac wireless works on the 5GHz frequency range. It offers higher transfer rates, improved reliability, and improved power consumption. It provides advantages for gaming and HD video streaming.
Price comparison
Garmin Instinct Solar
Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in ...Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Graphite
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Comments
Yoyo
2 years ago
10 / 10
Like: battery, GPS, navigation Unliked: plastic
Yoyo
2 years ago
10 / 10
Pros
Cons
Jorge
2 years ago
9 / 10
Great watch
Jorge
2 years ago
9 / 10
Very complete set of sensors and a great app and web. Resistant to use and abuse. Only feature missed may be multi-sport support.
Pros
Cons