“Unlocking Solar Power: Is the Price Tag on Garmin Watches Justified?”

Are you considering acquiring a Garmin watch with solar capabilities? Curious if the feature justifies the additional cost? The answer varies from person to person and hinges on several factors.

Garmin Solar – what does it mean?
Which Garmin watches incorporate solar technology?
What are the optimal conditions for solar charging?
What is the additional battery life you can realistically expect?
How does the price differ?
Additional considerations
The conclusion: is Garmin solar truly valuable?

Garmin Solar – what does it mean?

Certain Garmin watches are outfitted with solar technology. They feature what is termed Power Glass, which acts as a solar charging lens situated atop the watch face.

This system consists of two layers. One is a slim rim that encompasses the inner edge of the display, clearly perceivable by the user. The other layer is a thin transparent film positioned below the glass yet above the display.

As you might have surmised, solar technology converts sunlight into energy, contributing to extended battery longevity. The intention is to prolong the period between charges.

Garmin initially debuted the technology in 2019 with the Fenix 6x Pro model. The inaugural devices with this capability provided a slight enhancement in battery life. Consequently, many deemed it a novelty rather than a genuinely beneficial feature, especially for power-hungry models like the Fenix watch.

Nevertheless, the surface area and efficiency of the solar panels improved with the launch of Fenix 7 models, making it a more valuable addition. Furthermore, the power usage of these watches was reduced, thereby lessening their energy consumption.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

It’s important to note that solar charging is not designed to replace primary charging methods for these watches. It exists to extend their operational time slightly. The aim is to afford you more time to train and engage in your interests without excessive concern over battery life.

Watches with solar capabilities depict the solar intensity over several hours via a line graph on select watch faces. There’s also a Solar Intensity widget that gradually fills up based on sunlight exposure. Ultimately, this information can also be viewed in Garmin Connect, representing the sunlight received, or lux conditions.

Which Garmin watches incorporate solar technology?

Since the introduction of the original Fenix 6 series, numerous Garmin devices have featured solar technology. The Enduro and Instinct series followed the Fenix, with the latest addition being the Forerunner 955.

Focusing solely on the most current lineup, the following watch lines offer solar variants:

• Fenix
• Forerunner
• Instinct
• Edge
• tactix
• quatix
• Enduro
• Descent

As displayed, there is a broad selection available.

What are the optimal conditions for solar charging?

The pertinent inquiry concerns the extent of additional battery life gained from solar charging. This response is not straightforward and will depend on various factors.

Garmin promotes the battery life of these watches under ideal conditions, which necessitate the watch to receive roughly 50,000 lux or more for no less than 3 hours daily. This scenario occurs only when the watch on your wrist is fully exposed to direct sunlight, ensuring a solar intensity of 100%.

Achieving these ideal conditions, however, relies on several factors:

• The lens must face directly toward the sun.
• No type of screen protector should be in use, as that diminishes solar intensity.
• No part of the watch lens should be obstructed by clothing or sleeves.
• Sun position, including time of day and season, plays a significant role.
• Weather conditions such as clouds, rain, and other phenomena that might block sunlight should also be taken into account.
• Exceeding the temperature limits for solar charging (ranging from 0 to 60°C) impacts performance.

Additional matters to consider:

• Charging via solar can take place while the watch is powered off. In fact, this method proves more effective and can yield improved charging from equivalent solar intensity.
• The further you are from the equator, the more seasonal changes will affect charging.
• Utilizing artificial light sources, like fluorescent lights, is possible; however, it will not be nearly as effective as direct sun exposure.

So, how much extra battery life can you actually achieve?

Ideally, you should have perused the section on optimal conditions. What follows is an outline of the extra battery life you can anticipate, assuming usage in 50,000 lux conditions for a minimum of 3 hours daily.

We’ll illustrate with a few devices as examples.

As illustrated in the table above, the variation is more substantial for some watches compared to others. Specifically, under certain circumstances, you can keep devices like the Instinct 2 operating indefinitely! For other scenarios, you might be observing an additional 20% or so.

One aspect to keep in mind is that solar charging is particularly slow. Significantly slower than connecting your watch to a power outlet. Moreover, achieving optimal lux conditions might not be feasible on specific days.

Consider my situation. I am based in London. Although I might manage to capture 3 hours of sunlight on select summer days, throughout most of the remaining year, the solar functionality would be entirely ineffective for me.

Spending 10 hours daily in an office? In that case, a solar Garmin likely isn’t sensible.

However, if you plan to trek the Appalachian trail? Then every ounce is crucial. Solar could enhance your safety during extended outdoor excursions or even endurance competitions.

How about the price variation?

A significant factor influencing your choice is the price discrepancy. It goes without saying that solar watches tend to be pricier. If they weren’t, we would likely all opt for them. But what is the typical price difference?

Let’s examine a few examples.

Essentially, anticipate a difference of approximately $100 in the retail price, depending on the model. Therefore, you should assess the cost-to-benefit ratio relevant to your particular situation.

If you possess disposable income, then go for it. Why not?

If you prefer to save because the feature is unimportant to you, then conserve your funds. Remember – you could always acquire an affordable portable USB charger, which could replenish your device much more quickly – several times over! Or simply carry a battery pack.

Another consideration

There is one more factor that might impact some folks. Solar introduces a distinctly visible ring around the watch face. Some individuals may not mind, while others could find it bothersome. Furthermore, the display itself may not be as vividly clear as the non-solar alternative – due to the additional layer – so you might notice a slight difference there.

Here is a comparison illustrating the solar and non-solar version of the Forerunner 955. As observed, there is an orange ring around the edges of the Forerunner 955 solar.

The conclusion: is Garmin solar worth it?