Garmin Instinct 2X – Available for pre-order in USA/Canada on Amazon
Several flavours of Garmin’s humungous, new Instinct 2X are listed for pre-order on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
Links to: Amazon in North America only
These are the versions available
- Instinct 2X Solar with Colour Options: Whitestone, Flame Red, Graphite and Moss – $449
- Instinct 2X Tactical Solar with Colour Options: Black & Coyote Tan – $499
What’s New
Other listings, including these from Garmin.com suggest the following differences between the 2X and older Instinct 2 models.
- 50mm diameter case but the same 14.5mm depth, compared to the 45mm model
- 1.1″ x 1.1″ display compared to 0.9″. Or 27mm compared to 23mm.
- Now 67g was 52g
- GPS recording time is now 60 hours up from 30 hours.
- Expedition mode has also doubled the recording time to 60 days (unlimited with solar)
- Battery Saver Watch Mode: 100 days; (unlimited with solar)
- Onboard memory is doubled to 64Mb
- Multifrequency Positioning (GNSS, no SatIQ) is added as is a gyroscope (for improved incident detection)
- Gets a flashlight with flash option
- Morning Report is added along with Training Readiness
- Grade Adjusted Pace data field is added
- Advanced Cycling Dynamics are added (may have been there already)
Thoughts
It’s bigger, with a bigger physical battery and a more efficient top-end GNSS chip. The resulting battery lives are incredible as is the tantalising prospect of unlimited battery life if there’s enough sunshine for the solar models.
For most people looking at Instinct, then 2X is the one to go for.
More: Garmin Instinct Series – all models, prices and 13-year history
Last Updated on 29 May 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
- Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
Instinct 2X tactical coyote tan on my wrist in the last 24h
Light and not too big to wear
In March I had for few weeks both Instinct 2 tactical and crossover, but I had send back both:
Instinct 2 tactical was was too thick for its diameter while I didn’t like the crossover for the handes latency for each screen change.
I am satisfied with this last one. Just the watch faces are less customizable than the Instinct 2 (for example is not yet possible to show a second time zone) but for the rest I like it more.
Now I need some week for full appreciate it.
thank you for the feedback !!