Garmin is an eminent producer of prolific GPS receivers, avionics, and wearable technology. Furthermore, the brand offers multipurpose smartwatches at reasonable prices. Garmin has a flagship series of smartwatches, namely Fenix, which are slightly expensive. However, you can look for other Garmin alternatives at lower prices than the flagship series. Moreover, Garmin earlier this year released two new smart wearables, namely Garmin Fenix 7 and Garmin Instinct 2. One of them is a new edition from their flagship series, and the other is from their regular smartwatch. Consumers and gadget lovers always look for new things to get their hands on. Therefore, if you're looking for a new sports watch, then the new Garmin releases are worth considering. Furthermore, to help you choose better, we have compared certain aspects of both smartwatches. However, the most obvious difference is the price – the Fenix 7 is significantly more expensive than the Instinct 2. But let's walk through both and decide which one is the right watch for you. 

Garmin Fenix 7 Vs. Garmin Instinct 2 – Range Difference

The inventory of Garmin has products for every sort of customer. Therefore, both watches are available in various models and styles catering to your preferences. The Fenix 7 comes in three sizes: small, standard and large. Furthermore, the standard version has a slew of enhanced versions like Fenix Solar and Fenix Sapphire Solar. These solar Fenix models have a solar-enhanced lens that charges the watch through sunlight. Moreover, they come with several different bezels and watch strap designs. On the other hand, Garmin Instinct has 2 size options: small and standard. Also, Instinct 2 has different models, namely Instinct Surf, Instinct Tactical, Instinct Camo, and Instinct Dezl. In addition, these models have dedicated specifications for people with specific interests.         

Fenix 7 Vs. Instinct 2 – Price

As mentioned earlier, there is a significant price gap between the Fenix 7 and the Instinct 2. Furthermore, the below-listed prices of Garmin Fenix 7 and Garmin Instinct 2 will help you with your selection. However, the prices vary in all different models; for example, the standard Fenix 7 costs $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049. Moreover, the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is priced at $999.99 / £859.99 / AU$1,499. In comparison, the Garmin Instinct 2 starts at $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549. Henceforth, you can witness the price difference between the two. But the price tag doesn't do justice to what the smart offers.

Garmin Fenix 7 Vs. Garmin Instinct 2 – Display

The display is a notable aspect of any smartwatch because no one likes bland accessories. Where Fenix 7 series offers 64 colors to select from, the Instinct series only have black and white options. Furthermore, the display resolution of the Fenix 7 (240x240px) series is higher than the Instinct 2 units (176x176px). Therefore, the color choices work as an advantage in the Fenix 7 series. Thus, you can use this color memory feature to track all your activities individually. In addition, Fenix 7 has an AMOLED display, while Instinct 2 doesn't. On top of that, Fenix 7 series have touch functionality, and Instinct 2 units are only operational by buttons. However, you can disable the touch in specific profiles like sport, physical activity, sleep, etc.

Fenix 7 Vs. Instinct 2 – Design

The Fenix 7 and Instinct 2 both have memory-in-pixel displays, which aren't as bright as OLED. As mentioned above, however, the Fenix 7 has a color touchscreen display that can assist you in tracking your progress. Furthermore, Fenix 7 has the standard stainless steel or titanium bezel. The titanium bezel is available in Raw Titanium, Mineral Blue, or Carbon Gray colors. In addition, you get a variety of strap options, such as different colored silicone straps and leather or metal versions. Therefore, you can customize the look of your watch as per your liking.      Moving to Instinct 2, it has a monochrome screen with a small cutout that can display the content you want. Thus you can track your daily essentials like calories, steps count, water intake, and sleep. According to Garmin, the Instinct 2 received several updates over its predecessor and is suitable for adventurous individuals. Furthermore, it's the debut of the Instinct series in the size category. And the Instinct 2 is available in two sizes, with improved and longer battery life than the previous model. 

Garmin Fenix 7 Vs. Garmin Instinct 2 – Battery Life

Performance is always an attribute of Garmin smartwatches, whether Fenix or Instinct; all Garmin watches have excellent battery life. However, the Garmin Fenix 7 has the advantage – especially if you choose one of the solar models. In fact, Garmin claims that if you expose your watch to enough sunlight, you could get a full charge that can go up to 42 days. The Garmin Instinct 2 can only go up to 14 days on a single charge. However, these durations are solely based on using the watch simply and not in extreme sports mode. Also, if you're not out in the sun all day, you can expect a battery life that lasts weeks rather than hours or days. However, the simultaneous use of GPS, music playback and SpO2 tracking can instantly affect the battery life. Furthermore, the variety of sports modes at the same time can drain the battery significantly. However, the battery will never be a problem in Garmin watches with solar lenses and solar cells.

Fenix 7 Vs. Instinct 2 – Features

In our detailed review of Garmin Fenix 7, we discovered a lot about its features. Furthermore, all the features of Fenix 7 meet the standard of a smartwatch plus fitness gear. However, let's look at the features of both of them to make the selection decision wiser:

1. Both Fenix 7 and Instinct 2 have GPS, but only Fenix 7 can upload or show maps.
2. A heart rate monitor, which only Garmin Instinct supports and not Fenix 7.
3. Both of them have vibration alerts; however, only Instinct 2 can locate your device. 

A barometer is a device that measures the air pressure in your surroundings. It can detect the forthcoming weather; if the air pressure drops, it shows that a storm is coming. Both Fenix 7 and Instinct 2 have a barometer. Also, if you pair it with GPS, it can give readings a lot quicker and more efficiently. Apart from that, both smart wearables have a compass for better navigation. However, both watches will show app, text, and call notifications on your wrist. Furthermore, both allow you to reject calls with a text message if you have an Android phone and will enable you to control music playback on your phone. Regarding the productivity analysis, both Garmin Fenix 7 and Garmin Instinct 2 can provide reports of your daily routine. Thus, it analyzes the distance you walked and the time it took you to complete a kilometer and tracks different modes. Furthermore, only Instinct 2 can provide your sleeping analysis and track multi-sport modes, allowing you to switch between different modes instantly. However, the Fenix 7 has onboard music storage and Garmin Pay for making contactless purchases.