In other words, it’s Garmin’s top optical sensor – and in general for 24×7 usage especially it’s quite good.

Garmin Instinct 2S Solar review | Cyclist

When I first tested a solar-powered Garmin several years ago, the solar function extended the battery life by a few days.

less than when Mat tested it last year), and it offers plenty of sport-specific features – Touchless Transition is particularly useful for triathletes – but the Instinct 2 will cover you for a lot more day-to-day wellbeing monitoring as well as other activities. On the upside, the socket is the same across loads of Garmin watches, so third-party suppliers have stepped in with cables that don't cost silly money. This watch doesn't just look rugged, it's waterproof-rated to 100 metres, as well as being thermally and shock resistant – it's designed to cover your adventure needs. So, even with this smaller size, don't expect it to be the most comfortable sleeping companion, but considering all that the watch can give you during the day it's quite a good balance. On the Connect app, as well as providing you with information on the amount of time you spent in each phase, Garmin also says 'fair', 'good' and 'excellent', so you can quickly understand how you're doing, and depicts where you sit on an 'optimal range'.

Instinct 2/2S/Solar In-Depth Review | DC Rainmaker Garmin Instinct 2/2S/Solar In-Depth Review | DC Rainmaker

But that 'S' doesn't stand for solar, that's actually to indicate that this one has the smaller case size. It’s a great option for many women and young adults, or anyone who’s not into a beefy display on their wrist.For example, if you tend to take fewer steps on a Thursday, the app will nudge you to get outside and take a stroll before the day is out. There’s a lot to love about the new Instinct 2 Series, but much of what the watch appears to do best is what it’s always done: It’s a low-maintenance, feature-rich, durable smartwatch for anyone who spends lots of time outside.