My instinct 2x had about the same battery life. I was heavy on the activities though. And the flashlight too. I was losing about 5% a day with no sun. Then I'd get a +2% in sun a day. The instinct 2x has great battery life.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for chiming in, Jay. I do wonder if a software update might fix the lag issues. I took it cycling today and it did great next to the COROS Apex 2 Pro and I tried to wear the Apple Watch 6 around my ankle - epic fail.

@ufcpa1

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatchesWhat is the lag you’re referencing? Curious because I now have the Instinct 2x after wearing a Fenix 7 for a few weeks. Compared to the Fenix 7, the 2x has a significant delay after finishing a recorded activity, while the 2x saves the activity. An hour long activity with HR data takes around 12-15 seconds to save. I’m assuming that this cheaper watch logically has a slower processor, but wonder if anyone has other thoughts on the topic. Thanks.

@jamiebg3952

10 ай бұрын

@@ufcpa1 all the crunching is done on the watch i.e. training benefit etc - so yes if the processor / memory isn't as good as Epix/Fenix then yes I would expect it to take longer.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

I'll do some side-by-side navigation to showcase the lag. Alas, today is my Day 21 wearing the Garmin Instinct 2X solar wearable and the lag doesn't really bother me that much for I've used the Google Pixel smartwatch and it was horrible ;)

@ufcpa1

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches Thanks. My question above was in part that I wasn't sure which "lag issue" you referenced near the top of the string. I wasn't sure if it was the lag which I experience when saving an activity, or something else.

Just an FYI - the minimum brightness may be 5%, but you *can* shut off the backlight completely. If you long press the menu button and scroll down to system settings, there is a backlight settings menu where you can pick when, how often, and how bright the backlight is activated for both during an activity and general use. The options for key presses and gestures should be off, on, or after sunset. Choosing off will prevent the backlight from turning on at all for either a key press or turning your wrist toward your face to see the time entirely, while after sunset will only turn on the backlight if its after dark. The on setting will turn the backlight on for either a key press or gesture any time of the day (which is the setting I suspect you have enabled). For example, my 2X's backlight settings are set to off (so the backlight doesn't turn on at all, not even on at 5% brightness) for both button presses and gestures during the day regardless of whether I am recording an activity or just using it as a smartwatch. After sunset, the backlight will turn on if I press a button or by gesture if I turn my wrist toward my face.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, I'll give that a try and see how it effects the battery life. I made to day 50 by only using solar power :)

This is the exact review and experiment I was looking for! Thank you!!!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! And thank you for clicking on by...

You can turn the backlight off in the settings for the buttons. I used to have an original Garmin Instinct. Planning on getting this one in about a month or so. Can't wait! Great review by the way!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip and you are correct! I have the backlight turned off during the day for my Instinct 2X Solar and the battery lasts for weeks and weeks...

@emdblyou

2 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches No problem! Yes the battery is insane on these watches. I just got mine today! Can't wait to use it. :)

Thanks for your informative review. I love your way of presenting - very natural, relaxing but nevertheless interesting!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

8 ай бұрын

Wow, thank you and glad you enjoyed my honest, pithy thoughts about gadgets 🤓

You can change the battery saver mode to leave the heart rate monitor on. Also, in the settings you can turn off the back light and/or limit when it turns on

@TheManWithTwoWatches

9 ай бұрын

Yes, you can customize and make your own Battery Mode. I don't think turning off the heart-rate monitor would save that much battery life. I'll have to try that now, great, more work for me ;) Just kidding, and it is a great idea. Yes, in the setting I turned down the screen brighting to 5% and it hardly uses any battery life. If you can average a good two hours of nice sunlight daily. And by that I mean around 200 Lux (200k) of solar charing about every other day you should see the battery life change from 40 days, 100 days, and then infinity days. I am still doing the testing on the infinity battery life requirements and a video will be coming out later in September.

I’ve been wearing my Apple Watch 8 on my ankle also and my Garmin on my wrist. Then at night I take off my ankle and put it on my other wrist for sleep tracking. I keep a sport band in my pocket so if I go run or walk I take it off my ankle and put it on the other wrist so the heart rate data is accurate. I can decide now on the Instinct 2x or Fenix 7 pro. $450 difference in price and really the Instinct has the same features but isn’t as attractive as the Fenix 7 pro.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

I would go for the one that fits your budget and when you need a dressier watch to wear with a suit... You can buy a Casio with the money you saved by not purchasing the Fēnix. How do you keep your Apple Watch 8 around your ankle?

I'm Not allowed mine till my 50th birthday in October

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Well, I imagine the Garmin Instinct 3 should be even more impressive 🤞

@Tmacademia

10 ай бұрын

You must be married like me 😂

@wrightstuf73sw

10 ай бұрын

@@Tmacademia 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I'm not married, my house mate went halves and said I couldn't have it till then... 2 months and counting

@Tmacademia

10 ай бұрын

@@wrightstuf73sw that would be tough to share a watch with someone. Just test driving before buying your own?

@wrightstuf73sw

10 ай бұрын

@@Tmacademia no sharing its my 50th present

Amazing watch, have this one. may I ask what table are you using for the notes?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching my video. That tablet was my reMarkable 2 e-ink writing, writing, and expert paper-link gadget... And here is my reMarkable playlist: kzread.info/head/PL14X2qklpxc-wZkGvlHDIri-CCen6NOHu

Why switching everything off ? This ruins the usage off the great 2X

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

It is a way to save battery 🔋 life. I know several people that have used similar steps.

@djzrobzombie2813

6 ай бұрын

​@@TheManWithTwoWatcheswell than you can just use a normal watch😂😂😂

Thanks for a good detailed video.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

7 ай бұрын

You are... most welcome!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

7 ай бұрын

And yes, more detailed videos about wearables coming soon...

I've been using the whippings sleep mat for quite a while. It's kind of amazing

@TheManWithTwoWatches

8 ай бұрын

Yeah... about that product called, Withings Sleep Mat. I think it is just okay. I worry about the safety aspect over time.

I was on vacation the other day and I was at 34 days battery at 1pm and by 2pm (with no changes or GPS actively on) my watched dropped to 22days...has anyone else had this? I have recharged my watch since and I am waiting to see if it does it again.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment, Chance, nope, I have not seen any sudden battery drops of 12 or even 10 days within an hour. GPS usage only drops around 1 to 3% after a solid hour activity. The only thing I could see cutting the battery life that quickly would be enabling the SP02 tracking from manual to the "All Day" setting. And yes, please let us know if it happens again.

I’ve got the instinct 2 solar and I definitely feel mine definitely doesn’t take in the solar power as good as this

@TheManWithTwoWatches

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment, Irishman. Interesting to hear that the Instinct 2X solar charges more quickly than the Instinct 2... Darn! Now, I will need to purchase the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar to further my Solar Charging Tests ;)

@athletejmv

4 ай бұрын

Similar features, but newer GPS hardware in the 2x as well as a larger battery and 50% increase in solar harvesting... the panel on the 2x takes in about 2 times more light for charging and doesn't use much if any more power per given moment with similar settings than the 2 solar.

Like always great review, I’m thinking of buying the instinct 2x solar tactical or forerunner 955 solar. Are you still using the instinct 2x?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

Yes, I and just published a video about the Instinct 2X Solar on my other channel: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dniHq5VqfNO4ibQ.htmlsi=Qpc1DSF8ZRyzenBU

Not a huge fan of the flaming red color, but the solar charging and battery life are very cool 😎

@TheManWithTwoWatches

9 ай бұрын

It is a lovely flaming red colour. I wore it again yesterday just for fun :)

@TheManWithTwoWatches

9 ай бұрын

Yes, there is an orange colour. I will call it "Flaming Bloody Orange" or just "Blood Orange" in future videos. Especially, in direct sunlight the colour is definitely not just a flame red. Though, flames are often orange, red, blue, white, and...

@ProjectSerpo90

7 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches me too, but then again red is my color so this is right up my alley. However i just ordered mine today and had to go with the Whitestone color, love the black/white combo and figured it will be easier to match with the clothes i wear. Cant wait to get it tomorrow, ive heard a lot of good things.

Great review! What's the watch in your right wrist in the video please?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Let me check

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

It is the same watch that is my right wrist at this very moment... the COROS Apex 2 Pro (green) 😁

@mungo75

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches Ah great, thank you!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

You are... MOST welcome!

hi,tell me something,my gshock which is solar when left in dark room or up side down senses the 0 light and turns the screen off to save energy does the garmin do something like that?? Are you happy with the color of the watch?i really like red and people say get black,whats your experience. Thanks

@TheManWithTwoWatches

8 ай бұрын

I have not tried the face-down battery saver on this particular Instinct 2X Solar. Yes, I am happy with the flame red colour - it looks great on my wrist, outdoors, while running, during a hike, and it is comfortable to wear. The battery life is... weeks if not infinity with about 90 minutes of sunlight per day.

Very good video, for your experience, may we have an update for chip GPS, the other Fenix have a preset that setup the reciever in automatic , from normal to multy gnss in case of worst condition. This also save the battery !

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Are you asking me to compare the GPS settings between the Fēnix 7 series and the Index 2 series?

@robydek5747

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches no , i hope they upgrade the firmware of the chip gps for the option of automatic select gps modality

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Yeah, that would be a nice feature.

I love my instinct 2x, thinking of upgrading to fenix 7x or 7 pro. Thoughts? Worth it?. Also concerned with bezel scrating on the fenix

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

Nope, not worth the extra $$$ money to upgrade

Looks like it's impossible to run out of juice as long as you're alive

@TheManWithTwoWatches

Ай бұрын

As long as you don't use more than one hour of GPS daily, avoid using the SP02 all-day measurement, and average around 90 to 120 minutes of direct sunlight on the watch-face, yep, eternal battery life via sunlight...

Why did I just find out you had another channel? I've watched your other channel for a bit now but just today discovered this one.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for finding my alter-ego, "The Man with Two Watches." I started this channel as an experiment. I wanted to publish things more "off-the cuff" and needed more freedom to dive in just about watches and rings. I am pretty certain the channel will remain on the following topics: 1. smart watches 2. smart rings 3. smart fitness tracker (bands) 4. TBD 5. TBA Who knows what A.I. will bring... And thank you for clicking on by @GottaGeek

@TheManWithTwoWatches

8 ай бұрын

I just subscribed to your channel. You now have 272 followers. To grow your channel further, if you want here are my tips: 1. post honest content 2. keep a journal of your ideas and when you have time, create a video with a basic outline 3. look into the lens and talk to your audience 4. post at least once per month and if possible, the same day & time. Humans enjoy consistency. 5. log in every two days and respond to comments 6. create one video for Social Media and the next two for you😁 7. ask your friends & family to join your videos. Watching one person is entertaining, but two or three people truly make a more interesting story.

@GottaGeek

8 ай бұрын

@TheManWithTwoWatches Thank you very much! I will definitely try your tips & I appreciate it wholeheartedly. 🙏

Bought the watch in Mid-November, so the watch isn't getting a lot of sun as it's covered by a coat sleeve when outdoors. I can tell already that it won't have indefinite battery life as some have Suggested. I'm coming from a Casio Mudmaster GWG-1000 series, which actually does have apparently indefinite life - it's been on my my wrist 24/7/365 for about 8 years now. But it doest have heart-rate, GPS, step count, or all the other health related features. So... trade-offs.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for comment, Mike, and I've had the Casio Mudmaster in my car too many times. I wanted to give the GBD-H2000 a go, but it was not different enough from the H1000 from 2021. I am looking forward to what the G-Shock MOVE teams brings us in 2024. As for the infinity battery life for the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, yeah, you need a good 90 minutes to two hours daily if you're wearing the watch all day, using SP02, tracking sleep, enjoy seeing 50 to 111 notifications on the your watch, and you'll need to keep the backlight strength down to 15 to 5%. It is doable, but yeah, trade-offs indeed...

Thanks man

@TheManWithTwoWatches

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

Hello, how long vibration the watch by an incoming call? 2 times or more? Mfg from austria

@TheManWithTwoWatches

3 ай бұрын

It buzzes several times when a phone arrived on your connect iPhone or Android. And the Instinct gives you the option to answer or decline the phone call.

Just a quick note about backlight setting : on my 955 the lesser is 10%, I wish it was 5% too 😓

@TheManWithTwoWatches

13 күн бұрын

Yeah, the 5% dim setting is great for nighttime and a huge battery saver. I want Garmin to push such settings out to all of their watches.

Does it have a GPS maps like the ballistics?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

There are no monochrome maps with this model of the Instinct 2X solar, sorry... As for the ballistics, yeah, you'll need to pay a good $1,200.00 for a wearable timepiece with that functionality. And honestly, if you want true ballistics, yes, use an app on your smartphone. The tiny screen on a Garmin watch is not that User Friendly.

@BrianHallmond

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches oh true, thanks! Im also wanting to cut back on my phone. Use a phone with no or less social media functionality. I've been looking for an e-ink phone with google play (so I can keep my text history and whatsapp) but yeah. So thought watch maps would be useful from time to time.

Do you think this is the best watch? I would love one with all these features. I have a bug out bag. So ideally I would like one that would last a lifetime.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

I would go with either a Garmin Fēnix 7X sapphire solar, the newly release Fēnix 7 Pro solar, or the Garmin Enduro 2 solar. Yes, this Instinct 2X solar chargers faster and has awesome battery life. Alas, the Fenix & Enduro models have a higher build quality. If you wait a few months they will go on sale :)

@BrianHallmond

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches Thanks so much for getting back to me! some Garmin watches are on sale in Australia at the moment, but not the latest ones it seems.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Bummer, I lost access to endless discount codes for 20% off Garmin. If I happen to reconnect with a friend that uses United Health Care here in the U.S.A. and connects to Rally Health, yes, I'll post another code A.S.A.P.

@billscully2521

6 ай бұрын

Great review. I have the instinct 2x, love it. Was looking at fenix 7x or 7 pro. Thoughts on upgrading, I am also concerned with bezel scratching

@davidzimmerly7354

6 ай бұрын

For a bug out bag I'd get a gwm5610u and get it up to high that's the best bugout bag watch

Hi! What's the width of your hand? I love the look of this but I'm not sure is my hand is big enough for this watch.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

The width of my hand... let me find a rule, BRB!

Enjoying your videos, very interesting and methodical.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much and a new one just went live about 88 seconds ago...

@jamesmcintyre4287

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches great, will watch after my morning run. I bought a Suunto Vertical Solar the other day loving it!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

@@jamesmcintyre4287 Oh... a SUUNTO, eh? How is the navigation on that model and is Suunto tracking naps yet?

@jamesmcintyre4287

10 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches navigation is improved greatly but it’s still just topographical maps, not tracking naps. But I really like the watch it looks super nice and I’ve done 2 runs with it so far and very accurate on the map when following a route. I also got the Solar version so I get a little more battery life but the battery life is one of the best I think anyway. Do you have any in-depth reviews on the rings you wear? You’ve got me interested in them!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Yes, I am wearing four smart-rings this month - UGH! 1. Ultrahuman Ring Air (version 1.0) 2. ŌURA Ring 2.0 (nearly two years wearing the same model, battery life is down to 4 to 5 days, and it goes on my left ring finger as a smart wedding ring) 3. ŌURA Ring 3.0 (silver, size 13, nearly 19 months, primary on my right thumb) 4. ŌURA Ring 3.0 (stealth, size 12, right middle finger, and it has been on my digits for over 1.3 years) I purchased all three ŌURA Rings with my old cash. The folks over at Ultrahuman liked my YT Channels and Facebook content and sent a the Ultrahuman Ring Air with a lovely discount. No money was exchanged, and yeah, it is a pretty cool ring with a nice app. They are a new company still finding their way in the vast Smart-Jewelry Realm, but owners of ŌURA Ring in Finland need to take notice A.S.A.P. I am working on a two-weeks later video about the Ultrahuman Ring Air now and plan to finish it tomorrow morning. Thank you for clicking on by...

Which is more accurate for heart rate instinct 2x or apex 2 pro ??

@TheManWithTwoWatches

9 ай бұрын

They were single digits from one another. I would need another three months of wearing both watches all day and night. One on the left and the other on the right to properly collect enough data. Alas, after just four weeks, yes, within a few digits. COROS give a weekend warrior everything the need and more. Garmin gives a weekend warrior the essentials and a bag of chips, side of fries, a shake, and a slice of pie with ice cream. With the recent changes by COROS with maps, sapphire screen, yeah, I would go for the Apex 2 Pro.

Can you test the instinct solar 1st one like this It'll be interesting to see if that one can last the same or does the bigger solar panel make the difference

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

Yes, and I already did the testing. 1. The Instinct Solar 2X had a larger battery, newer technology, a more accurate sensor, and the UI (user interface) is slightly faster. 2. The Solar panels differences from the Inatinct 1.0 compared to the Instinct 2X are minimal. It more about what Garmin changes in-between the 888 new lines of code 🤓

@Faeint

6 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches So it should be lasting just as long and you should be able to use it indefinitely in smart watch mode as long as it gets enough sunlight?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

I've spent the last 57 days keeping detailed journal of my watch usage and... As for the infinity battery life for the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, yeah, you need a good 90 minutes to two hours daily if you're wearing the watch all day, using SP02, tracking sleep, enjoy seeing 50 to 111 notifications on the your watch, and you'll need to keep the backlight strength down to 15 to 5%. It is doable, but yeah, sacrifices for unlimited battery life. All that being said, I have not charged my Instinct 2X since September 2023 and and November is nearly to its end. I think if Garmin could increase the solar panels by 20% for the Instinct 3X Solar for 2024; oh yeah, the sun-bathing time could be decreased down to 45 to 70 minutes daily and some GPS workouts could be used as well ~ according to my research ;) When Spring arrives in 2024, yes, I'll resume my research. With the colder weather my solar charging efficacy keep staying around 70 to 90% and rarely reaches 100%.

@Faeint

6 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches I see thanks for the detailed testing so do you think it's worth upgrading to 2x or stick with the instinct solar

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

If you're Instinct Solar is still keeping a charge, yeah, wait a few more months and Garmin may release an Instinct 3X ;) Happy Thanksgiving!

Maybe it's my watch but the compass is terrible. Not nearly as reliable as a Casio. Which is disappointing because I use a compass a lot at work

@TheManWithTwoWatches

3 ай бұрын

Interesting perspective. Honestly, I don't use the compass that much at all - only when I make a video.

whats that electric notebok youre using

@TheManWithTwoWatches

7 ай бұрын

It is the reMarkable 2 electronic ink tablet. I have been using it daily for nearly three years now

@TheManWithTwoWatches

7 ай бұрын

Here's a playlist I created and most of the videos were posted on my other channel: reMarkable playlist: kzread.info/head/PL14X2qklpxc-wZkGvlHDIri-CCen6NOHu

@Xhalonick

7 ай бұрын

@@TheManWithTwoWatches wow, talk about information I wasn't expecting!!! Thank you

@TheManWithTwoWatches

7 ай бұрын

You are... MOST welcome. The reMarkable tablet has been one of my favorite gadgets over the past three years. I hope there is a color version coming out this fall. Alas, that is what my hope, and prediction, was last fall in 2022. Personally, I would wait until 11/27/2023 before ordering the reMarkable 2.

remarkable!!!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Thank you and click on by again soon for another video...

Eternity? Don't worry, it will only take about two years before it starts shutting down randomly for no reason like its predecessor!

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

I have the Garmin Instinct 1.0 and it has not had the problem of randomly shutting down. Sorry to read about your watch woes. Did you contact Garmin Support and they were unable to assist?

@vijonbe

6 ай бұрын

Garmin support told me to buy a new one..🤷🏻‍♂️

@TheManWithTwoWatches

6 ай бұрын

That was a LAME reply from support. Garmin should have offered you a 75% off code to upgrade or something. I feel bad that you had a horrible experience. What watch sits on your wrist these days, eh?

@vijonbe

6 ай бұрын

I am really disappointed, I have a solar tactical, they offered me a 40% discount but on a base model, when I explained I need the tactical version for work they sent me a 10% off offer, it's cheaper on amazon🤷🏻‍♂️ Gone back to my old but reliable analog automatic

@TheManWithTwoWatches

5 ай бұрын

Yeah, that is a huge bummer. I guess 10% is better than nothing. I hope your Tactix Solar lasts for years and has no serious issues. And... Happy Holidays 🎁 🎄 ☃️

Weeeee

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Glad you had fun watching the video.

Please be careful exposing your skin to direct sunlight that long.

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

Yep, I wear sleeves, a big hat, and sun screen 🤠

@TheManWithTwoWatches

2 ай бұрын

The majority of my long-term outdoor solar charging tests are done sans human body. I simply place the wearable in direct sunlight at 4,500 ft. altitude, here in Utah, and leave it for hours with water/ice to keep it cool...

Hardly a smart watch, wish I'd never bought it

@HeDoesNotRow

10 ай бұрын

Garmin has always been fitness oriented, you must have done a lot of research if you expected a smartwatch first device lmao

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

Well, a Garmin is not for ever person. And yeah, the Instinct series of timepieces can be unique. Was the Instinct 2X watch the first Garmin you have worn?

@TheManWithTwoWatches

10 ай бұрын

@@HeDoesNotRow Yes, Garmin is more of a smartWATCH regarding fitness. Whereas an Apple Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Watch are both SMARTwatches, they allow humans to talk into the watch, they pair very nicely with the appropriate smartphone, and keep you tethered all day long.

@xmateinc

8 ай бұрын

I got this watch for longer outdoor adventure, I have the AWU for a smart watch. No garmin makes a great smart watch. Even the 1,200 dollar ones. But for mapping and battery life for outdoor adventure, their the best.