Update: Check out our Garmin Instinct Solar full review to find out what Garmin's latest device is like to live with.
Garmin has gone big on solar power, launching brand new Instinct, Fenix and Tactix Delta Solar editions.
Adding to the Garmin Fenix 6X Solar and Quatix 6X Solar (announced just a couple of weeks ago), Garmin is now adding sunshine power to the standard Fenix 6, Tactix Delta and, most interestingly, Instinct range.
The headlines will be about "unlimited" battery life in power saving modes, but this is a big update to the Instinct range particularly.
Read on for a complete run down of the new Garmin solar line-up.
Garmin Instinct Solar
We’ll start with the Garmin Instinct Solar outdoors watch as it’s the update that excites us the most. If you're a lover of multi-day hikes then this will be of serious interest.
Firstly, there are three versions of the Instinct Solar, bringing brand new features to the range. And starting at , it's the lowest cost solar edition in the Garmin range.
The standard Garmin Instinct Solar will last 24 days in smartwatch mode indoors and in excess of 50 days with a big dose of daily exposure to sunlight.
You can also use power saving modes for "unlimited" battery life. This means you'll just get the basic watch face, so long as you get sufficient sunlight through the day.
The Garmin Instinct Solar now gets a pulse oximeter so you can measure blood oxygen – and using the Acclimation Widget, it matches that data against elevation so you can check your levels as you climb.
And there are two new versions of Garmin Instinct Solar with added features and 100m of water resistance.
The Garmin Instinct Solar Surf Edition has tide times and a surf tracking mode, and the new Instinct Tactical version hooks up to night vision goggles for use by military types and soldiers of fortune.
Garmin Fenix 6 Solar
The Fenix range already had a solar version on the super charged 6X – but now this has trickled down to the standard Fenix 6 and 6S devices, making the advantages of solar power more affordable.
The 6S Solar now boasts 10.5 days of battery life when exposed to the sun, up from nine days on the standard version.
And the Fenix 6 Solar gets 16 days of battery life with a good dose on sunlight, compared to 14 days.
And what’s more, these two versions get new sport profiles, adding surfing, mountain biking and indoor climbing to the mix.
Finally, the company has launched a solar version of its Tactix Delta – made to MIL-STD-810 standard of toughness. It uses solar power to up battery life to 24 days (up from 21 days).
How we test
James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.