Coros - Apex 2 Pro vs Garmin - Instinct 3 Tactical

These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (57.2 vs 56.8). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.

Pick the Apex 2 Pro if you care most about gps mode and multi-band gps. The biggest gaps in its favor are gps mode, multi-band gps.

Pick the Instinct 3 Tactical if you care most about solar charging. Its strongest claims are solar charging.

Both ship with comparable smartwatch mode, ecg, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.