Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Which rugged outdoor watch is right for you?

While the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is clearly an Apple Watch Ultra alternative, no user bedded into either iPhone or Android is choosing between the two, simply because they're not platform agnostic.

However, the Garmin Instinct 3, the latest and greatest outdoor adventure watch from Garmin, is platform agnostic and works just as well on iPhone as it does on Android. As such, there's a new serious alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the Garmin Instinct 3.

As such, those looking for a new rugged wearable for the great outdoors might well find themselves choosing between the two. So what are the main differences and similarities? Here's everything you need to know about the Garmin Instinct 3 and how it stacks up to the best Apple Watch on the market.

I've had the Apple Watch Ultra 2 since it was released, and have been hands-on with the Instinct 3 since launch, so this comparison draws on both technical specs and personal experience.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price and availability

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was unveiled in 2023, and a new titanium black model was added to the lineup in 2024. The Garmin Instinct 3 was unveiled in January 2025 as the successor to the popular Garmin Instinct 2. As such, both are available right now to buy.

When it comes to Apple Watch Ultra 2, there's the caveat of the looming Apple Watch Ultra 3, expected in September 2025. The new model is expected to feature high blood pressure detection, but no new design.

Starting with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 because the pricing is much more straightforward, there's one size and one model that costs $799 / £799 / AU$1,399. That gets you the 49mm case with GPS + Cellular functionality. There are no other sizes or configurations, and only two colors.

The Instinct 3 offers a much broader array of models. It's available in three sizes: 40mm, 45mm, and 50mm. The 40mm version is a cheaper Instinct E that features only the essential features, lacking solar charging capabilities, the AMOLED screen option, and the LED torch. It costs $299 / £259 / AU$549 and isn't really a serious rival to the Ultra 2, so we won't discuss it here.

The 45mm AMOLED display version is $449 / £389 / AU$829, while the larger 50mm AMOLED is $499/£429/AU$929.

Both the 45mm and the 50mm models are available as a Solar option, replete with the 'unlimited' battery life this promises. These models, with their monochrome displays, are $399 / £349 / AU$729 and $449 / $389 / AU$829 respectively.

As you can see, even the most expensive Instinct 3 is still significantly cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with the added bonus of a few different sizes and battery options thrown in.

If you're on a budget, Garmin is the way to go, but you'll get more for your money from Apple if you're looking for a more rounded smartwatch experience.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specs

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design, size, and weight

While both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Instinct 3 are rugged smartwatches for the great outdoors, they differ drastically in their design.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts Apple's now-classic squircle design, a durable titanium shell, and a fairly slim profile. It measures 49mm in height by 44mm in width and is 14.4mm thick. The more compact and weightier package weighs in at around 61.5 grams.

The Instinct 3's 45mm version is closer in size to the Ultra 2, measuring 45 x 45 x 14.9mm. That reflects the Instinct 3's more traditional round design. It's significantly lighter at 52g, owing in part to its significantly less premium materials. The bezel is made from a combo of fiber-reinforced polymer and aluminum, with the case polymer throughout. The feel and finish of the Instinct 3 are considerably cheaper to the touch as a result. It feels very plasticky in contrast to the premium brushed titanium of Apple's offering.

The raised bezel and exposed screws of the Instinct 3 makes it feel a lot more rudimentary compared to the Ultra 2, as does the fairly flimsy strap.

The larger 50mm version (pictured) is decidedly bigger than the Ultra 2. Even still, it feels less comically large than the Samsung Galaxy Ultra, measuring 50 x 50 x 14.mm and weighing 58g, still less than the smaller Ultra 2.

Conversely, the Instinct 3's less premium design lends itself far more readily to the great outdoors. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 feels premium and expensive, which sometimes makes me hesitant to take it anywhere extreme, even though the watch can reportedly handle it. The Instinct 3 feels like it was born to be weathered and tested, and I can't really imagine conditions or terrain in which it wouldn't excel.

I much prefer the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as an all-around smartwatch, but the Instinct 3 clearly takes it when it comes to the great outdoors.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Colors and finishes

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes in two premium titanium finishes, natural and black. Depending on your choice of size and features, the Instinct 3 is available in a wide range of more vibrant colors. There are neutral options like black, but there's also the exciting Neotropic flavor (pictured) as well as the Twilight gray. Generally, the Instinct offers a wider range of colors including a few more enticing color options.

As mentioned, the polymer finish of the Instinct contrasts greatly with the Ultra 2's titanium and its glass back, so in terms of premium feel it's a much nicer experience. But the Instinct 3 is undeniably more fun and unserious, and a little more eye-catching as a result.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Display

Display might be the single biggest differentiating factor between the Garmin Instinct 3 and Ultra 2.

The Garmin is a lot cheaper and, as such, comes with a 1.2-inch/1.3-inch display. The AMOLED display does offer always-on functionality, limiting the battery life to 7 days. However, this screen is noticeably less detailed and bright compared to the Ultra 2. Even though the Apple Watch Series 10 offers more vibrant OLED tech with better viewing angles, the Ultra 2 is unparalleled in the smartwatch industry as the most detailed and best-looking display. It's a really noticeable and very clear gulf, so the Apple Watch wins hands down.

Crucially, the Garmin also isn't a touch screen. You control the watch through with five buttons that let you scroll and navigate menus. It works and lends itself more to outdoor use, but it's certainly more rudimentary than the all-singing, all-dancing touchscreen experience of watchOS 11 on the Ultra 2.

Display tech is a big divider between the two, and there are significant trade-offs each way. The Garmin is cheaper, lighter, and significantly better when it comes to battery life. However, the lack of touch screen is a pretty big miss. The more expensive Apple Watch is heavier and has far less battery life, but the screen is a delight to look at and use.

The Garmin Instinct 3 range has a secret weapon, its Solar option. We'll get to battery life, but there is a monochrome option that ditches color in exchange for potentially limitless use.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Chip and performance

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features Apple's S9 chip. Garmin hasn't released the details of its Instinct 3 chip, so we can't say what's inside, but we can at least comment on day-to-day use and feel.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is extremely snappy to use, all of its animations run smoothly, and there is no noticeable lag.

Having used the Instinct 3 for a few days, the out-of-the-box performance reflects its cheaper price point and focus as a rugged watch with extensive battery life. While there's plenty of processing power to handle Garmin's myriad health-tracking features, using the watch can be frustrating. Animations are sluggish and using the menus and settings feels more like using Microsoft PowerPoint than a smartwatch.

The trade-off is the aforementioned battery life and cheap price, and the Garmin really feels like a smartwatch designed to be left alone on your wrist, rather than one that gets a lot of use. If you're out on the trails or mountain biking, you aren't going to notice any sluggish animations, but users more accustomed to everyday smartwatches might be surprised by its lack of zip.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Health and fitness

While both the Garmin and the Ultra 2 are packed with health and fitness features, the Garmin takes it with its wealth of health data and tracking.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features the usual slew of features: ECG, Cycle tracking, Heart Rate, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, Medications app, Mindfulness app, Noise app, Sleep tracking, and sleep apnea notifications. There's also the Vitals app that can detect changes in your well-being caused by poor sleep, alcohol consumption, or even illness. There's a wealth of workout tracking with calorie estimates, GPS, timers, intervals, zones, and heart rate data too, with support for cardio, strength, and HIIT workouts as well as popular sports, yoga, and more.

Garmin's Instinct 3 has an absolute myriad of workout profiles. There are the usuals like strength, cardio, stair-stepping, running, and more. There's a multisport triathlon profile, equestrian disciplines, cycling galore, motorsports, racket sports, and even snowshoeing. If it's a discipline worth pursuing, you'll find it on the Garmin Instinct 3.

The Garmin also features regular metrics like calories, floors climbed, and distance, but it also features TrueUp to synchronize data across multiple devices and Move IQ automatic workout detection.

Extra features include on-screen workout animations, automatic rep counting, downloadable training plans, and a wealth of recovery data including Garmin's Body Battery energy monitor. If you want a watch that can track nearly any type of sport or exercise and provide the most information while doing it, the Instinct 3 is the clear winner.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Water resistance

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is water-rated for up to 100m of submersion under ISO standard 22810:2010. It can be used for recreational scuba diving up to 40m as well as high-speed water sports. There's also the option of the Ocean Band for those who want the watch primarily for water sports.

The Instinct 3 is rated 10 ATM, which again means it's good for 100 meters of submersion. It also features activity profiles for swimming and a range of watersports including water skiing and tubing. However, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 works as a fully-functioning dive computer with the Oceanic+ app, which the Instinct 3 can't compete with.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Connectivity

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a broad range of connectivity including Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, and Bluetooth 5.3. It also features Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip which supports precision finding, a handy tool you can use to locate your missing iPhone.

GPS is powered by L1+L5 Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou), so there's plenty going on here.

The Instinct 3 offers Bluetooth and ANT+, but you won't find any cellular service here. As such, the Garmin can be used for calls and texts but only when connected to a phone, even when you're using the Garmin-to-Garmin Messenger app, which can be used via satellite on certain devices. Conversely, the Apple Watch Ultra can make calls, send texts, and even stream music and podcasts without an iPhone present, as long as you've got a data plan.

The Instinct 3 also features multi-band GPS with Garmin's trademark SatIQ technology, which can switch between GPS tech based on where you are.

Both feature a compass for navigation, too, but again there are overall tradeoffs. The Ultra 2's cellular tech is a big advantage, but again comes at the cost of the extra outlay and shorter battery life. Meanwhile the Garmin is more limited in terms of communication and daily smartwatch use, but probably more formidable out in the wilderness thanks to solid GPS and great battery life.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Battery life and charging

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers up to 72 hours of battery life in low power mode or 36 hours of normal usage, the company doesn't provide specific figures for GPS use.

Battery life on the Garmin Instinct 3 is rated for up to 18 days for the 45mm (7 days always-on), or 24 days for the 50mm (9 days always-on). Battery-saver mode will get you up to 30 days, while GPS-only is rated for up to 40 hours. In similar use modes the Ultra 2 and Instinct 3 offer similar performance, but the Instinct 3 really takes this one with offerings of 20 days or more.

Bear in mind, though, that these significant battery life gains come at the cost of a lot of basic smartwatch functionality such as a touch screen.

The true battery life king is the Solar version of the Instinct 3, which can offer potentially unlimited battery life in the right conditions, at the cost of using a monochrome display.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Software

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 runs watchOS 11, while the Garmin Instinct 3 runs GarminOS. Apple is unlikely to be unseated as the king of software experience and performance any time soon, and that gulf shows again when using the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The animations and interface of watchOS 11 vastly overshadow Garmin.

Garmin's Connect app is comprehensive but lacks some basic functionality including watch face customization, which requires a separate app to download. GarminOS isn't going to win any awards any time soon, but it does the job and fits the bill for the type of watch the Instinct 3 is.

Again, you won't notice clunky animations or watch face customization climbing Mount Everest, but the Apple Watch is a decidedly more clinical experience in everyday use.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Safety features

As watches you'd likely wear in some pretty extreme environments, both the Ultra 2 and Instinct 3 boast some good safety features. Garmin has incident detection during some activities and on your phone for wearables. Garmin Assistance (if you have your phone) can trigger an emergency alert from your device, sending your name and location to your emergency contacts. The location is determined using LiveTrack and creates a real-time feed of your location during an activity.

Apple Watch doesn't have quite as comprehensive a location feature, but makes up for it in other ways. Emergency SOS can be used to call emergency services quickly if you're in trouble, with international emergency calling available even if you don't have your iPhone.

The Ultra 2 also offers Crash Detection and Fall Detection, two features you won't find on the Garmin, as well as noise monitoring.

Each device has a party piece: the Ultra 2 features an 86db siren for attracting attention, while the Instinct 3 has a torch, with four white brightness levels and a red light. Useful for attracting attention in the gloom, while the red light is great for staying safe on the roads at night.

Garmin Instinct 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2: Apps

The Apple Watch's app ecosystem is formidable, with thousands of third-party apps available, both as watch-dedicated software and companion apps to popular iPhone apps.

Garmin's app ecosystem is much more limited, and the lack of a touch screen on the Instinct 3 means that a lot of apps aren't available. For example, Spotify is the most popular Garmin app with more than 10 million downloads, but you can't download Spotify on the Instinct 3.

So the Instinct 3 offers a more limited experience of Garmin's already fairly limited app offering. Without a touch screen, prospective customers of the Instinct probably know what they're getting into anyway, but the App Store experience is definitely an advantage of the Ultra 2.

Verdict: Maybe not so similar after all?

On paper, the Garmin Instinct 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 appear quite similar. Both are rugged, outdoor smartwatches with hefty designs. Underneath, however, they're actually quite different. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a more premium and rounded experience, replete with a touch screen, vibrant app ecosystem, and comprehensive connectivity for calls, texts, and more.

By contrast, the Garmin Instinct 3 definitely looks and feels less premium, but exudes rugged durability and a much more serious approach to outdoor adventure. The battery life is frankly astonishing and the myriad health and fitness tracking features will leave Apple Watch Ultra 2 users green with envy.

In truth, I think they're made for quite different audiences. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the pick if you want the most durable version of a premium smartwatch experience. The Instinct 3 on the other hand is for those who want the most rugged and durable smartwatch period. That durability and battery life come at the cost of some pretty mainstream smartphone features, but for the most dedicated explorers, it's the only choice.