Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

This Garmin smartwatch tops up its battery with solar, and it’s $170 off

The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar on a person's wrist.
Garmin

There’s a lot to be said about having a smartwatch these days, especially if you’re the type of person who wants a device to help keep track of their fitness activities, such as running, steps taken, or even heart rate. Luckily, Garmin watches do just that, being as much, if not more of, a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, and are perfect if you need something to keep up with a fitness lifestyle. In fact, you can grab a mid-range Garmin Instinct Solar right now for just $230 from Kohl’s instead of the usual $400, which is quite a substantial discount on a pretty excellent watch.

Why you should buy the Garmin Instinct Solar

The Garmin Instinct Solar is essentially the same watch as the regular Garmin Instinct, except that the front screen has a small solar panel that lets you charge the watch while using it in daylight. That added charging can make quite a difference, as when you use it in GPS mode, it extends the battery life up to nearly 30 hours, and in smartwatch mode, you could potentially go weeks or months without recharging. Of course, that is assuming it’s getting the most efficient sunlight, so there will be a bit of variation depending on where you use it, but the numbers are still impressive either way.

As for the watch features, you get the full suite of sensors, including heart rate and Pulse Ox, the latter of which is very important if you’re a runner or workout regularly and can get a good sense of where you are physically with Garmin’s Body Battery score. You’ll also be happy to know that it’s a pretty rugged watch, plus it’s rated down to 100 meters underwater, so it will easily keep up with you if you go camping or adventuring out into the wild. As for keeping track of where you are, the Instinct Solar has a 3-axis compass, a barometric altimeter, and access to all three major satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.

Trending Deals:

Given all the specs, the Instinct Solar is a very well-rounded watch made for those who need something for an active lifestyle, and the deal from Kohl’s that brings it down to $230 makes it a complete steal at the price. Even so, if you’re looking for something that’s closer to a smartwatch, you may want to consider these smartwatch deals instead.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Albert Bassili
Deals Writer
Albert’s been a tech and gaming writer for almost a decade now, writing across websites such as GameGavel, How-To-Geek, and…
You won’t find this Galaxy S24 Ultra deal on Samsung’s website
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra using the Circle to Search feature.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a tempting smartphone with some unique new features, but it's also Samsung's most expensive non-foldable phone. That's probably why you're on the hunt for deals. Samsung's site has a lot of great deals for pre-ordering the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but we're here to give you an exclusive discount that you can't find on Samsung's site. By clicking the button below, you'll get $50 in Samsung credit when you buy the Ultra. You can still take advantage of the other discounts on Samsung's site, like $750 trade-in, $100 more Samsung credit, and a 15% student discount. This deal is only available for a couple more days, as preorders end on January 30.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a pretty special upgrade for Android lovers and is sure to top our look at the best phones shortly. Now sporting a titanium frame, it feels far classier than previous Samsung Galaxy phones. Its 6.8-inch AMOLED screen is more than just larger with its Quad HD+ resolution teamed up with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensuring it looks great at all times. 2,600 nits peak brightness outdoors means it’s easy to use in bright sunlight too.

Read more
Don’t miss this hidden Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-order deal
The Samsung Galaxy S24 laying on a shelf with its screen turned on.

Time is running out to pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S24. If you're interested in the Galaxy S24 or S24 Plus but don't want to pay the full price, here are some great ways to save a few bucks. When you buy from Samsung's site, you can take advantage of deals like $550 trade-in for the S24 or $650 trade-in for the S24 Plus. There's also $25 in free Samsung credit for the S24 and $75 for the S24 Plus. There are also student discounts and free storage upgrades. All you have to do is pre-order before January 30. Plus, if you pre-order from the link below you can can get an additional $50 Samsung credit for free.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy S24
We’re expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy S24 take over from the S23 as the best Android phone for those looking for something a little smaller. It’s had a small increase in size meaning it now has a 6.2-inch screen but that’s all good. Said screen now has 2,600 nits of peak brightness along with variable 120Hz refresh rates that scale all the way down to 1Hz instead of 48Hz as before. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Pus now has a 6.7-inch screen with the same brightness and refresh rate but a Quad HD+ panel compared to the S24’s full HD+ resolution.

Read more
Don’t miss these killer Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deals
The multitasking screen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

If you've decided the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the right model for your S24 upgrade, there are some fantastic deals to help save you money. Shop quickly, because preorders end on January 30. We've pulled the best deals on unlocked phones, and well as some deals from carriers that require you to upgrade your plan or add a new line. Check out our exhaustive list below before you rush into your new Galaxy S24 Plus purchase.
The best unlocked Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deal
The Samsung Galaxy 24 Plus is a pretty special phone with its 6.7-inch screen offering 2,600 nits of peak brightness, variable 120Hz refresh rates, and a quad HD+ panel. Great camera lenses and smart AI features, it’s a great all-rounder that’s likely to make it one of the best phones around. Samsung is the best place to buy from with the retailer offering up to $650 enhanced trade-in along with a free storage upgrade to 512GB and $75 Samsung credit too. Students gain 7.5% discount as well. Order through our link and you’ll also gain an extra $50 Samsung credit which is pretty irresistible.

The best Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deals at T-Mobile
If you want to buy one of the best Android phones locked to T-Mobile, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is great value. You can enjoy up to $1,000 trade-in credit via 24 monthly bill credits depending on the age of the phone you’re trading in. That requires you to sign up to a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan, with up to $500 off when you trade in towards a ONE, Magenta, or Go5G plan.

Read more