Garmin eTrex Series Comparison
Written by GPS Central
Friday, July 23, 2021 — 0 Comments
Friday, July 23, 2021 — 0 Comments

Compare devices in the popular Garmin eTrex series. The Garmin eTrex is a small handheld GPS unit that is flexible and a great choice if space is tight.
Product | eTrex SE![]() |
eTrex Solar![]() |
eTrex Touch![]() |
eTrex 22x![]() |
eTrex 32x![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unit dimensions | 2.4″ x 4.0″ x 1.3″ (6.1 x 10.0 x 3.3 cm) |
2.5” x 4.1”x 1.2” (6.4 cm x 10.5 cm x 3.1 cm) |
2.6" x 4.15" x 0.97" (66 mm x 105.4 mm x 24.6 mm) |
2.1″ x 4.0″ x 1.3″ (5.4 x 10.3 x 3.3 cm) |
2.1″ x 4.0″ x 1.3″ (5.4 x 10.3 x 3.3 cm) |
Display size | 1.3″ x 1.7″ (3.3 cm x 4.4 cm); 2.16″ diag (5.5 cm) |
1.3″ x 1.7″ (3.3 cm x 4.4 cm); 2.16″ diag (5.5 cm) |
1.53" x 2.55" (3.88 cm x 6.48 cm); 3" diag (7.62 cm) |
1.4″ x 1.7″ (3.6 x 4.3 cm); 2.2″ diag (5.6 cm) |
1.4″ x 1.7″ (3.6 x 4.3 cm); 2.2″ diag (5.6 cm) |
Display resolution | 240 x 320 pixels | 240 x 320 pixels | 240 x 400 pixels | 240 x 320 pixels | 160 x 240 pixels |
Display type | transflective, monochrome | transflective, monochrome | 3" transflective Color TFT | transflective, 65-K color TFT | 2.6″ 65K color TFT, touchscreen |
Lens Material | chemically strengthened glass | chemically strengthened glass | chemically strengthened glass | acrylic | acrylic |
Weight w/batteries | 5.5 oz (156.5 g) | 5.0 oz (141 g) | 5.3 oz (150 g) | 5 oz (141.7 g) | 5.6 oz (159 g) |
Battery | 2 AA (not included) | rechargeable, internal lithium-ion | rechargeable, internal lithium-ion | 2 AA (not included) | 2 AA (not included) |
Battery life | 168 hours in standard mode; 1,800 hours in expedition mode | GPS only tracking: up to 200 hours GNSS and Multi Band Tracking: up to 100 hours Expedition mode: up to 1,800 hours Unlimited when used in 75,000 Lux conditions |
All Satellite Systems + Multi band: Up to 130 hours* *Assuming typical use with SatIQ technology |
25 hours | 25 hours |
Solar Charging | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Water rating | IPX7 | IPX7 | IP67 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
Built-in memory | 28 MB | 28 MB | 32 GB (user space varies based on included mapping) | 8GB | 8GB |
High-sensitivity receiver | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Interface | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | mini USB | mini USB |
Sensors | |||||
GPS/GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, IRNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, IRNSS | GPS/GLONASS | GPS/GLONASS |
Barometric altimeter | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Compass | ✅ (tilt-compensated 3-axis) | ✅ (tilt-compensated 3-axis) | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (tilt-compensated 3-axis) |
GPS compass (while moving) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Multi-band frequency support | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Connections Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth® | Bluetooth® | Wi-Fi®, BLE, ANT® | ❌ | ANT+ |
Maps & Memory | |||||
Basemap | cities only | cities only | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Preloaded maps | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (TopoActive; routable) | ✅ (TopoActive; routable) | ✅ (TopoActive; routable) |
Ability to add maps | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic routing (turn by turn routing on roads) for outdoor activities | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Map segments | ❌ | ❌ | 15,000 | 3000 | 3000 |
Satellite Imagery | ❌ | ❌ | ✅(via Outdoor Maps+ subscription) | ❌ | ❌ |
Includes detailed hydrographic features (coastlines, lake/river shorelines, wetlands and perennial and seasonal streams) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Includes searchable points of interests (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts and picnic sites) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Displays national, state and local parks, forests, and wilderness areas | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
External memory storage (Accepts data cards) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | microSD | microSD |
Waypoints | 1000 | 1000 | ✅ | 2000 | 2000 |
Courses | 50 | 50 | unlimited | ❌ | ❌ |
Tracks | ✅ | ✅ | N/A | 10,000 points, 200 saved tracks | 10,000 points, 200 saved tracks |
Activities | 200 | 200 | unlimited | ❌ | ❌ |
Activity profiles | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
GPX imports | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Navigation Routes | ✅ | ✅ | N/A | 200 | 200 |
Outdoor Recreation | |||||
Point-to-point navigation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
TracBack® | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Area calculations | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Fish forecast | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Sun and moon information | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Geocaching friendly | ✅ (Geocache Live) | ✅ (Geocache Live) | ✅ (Geocache Live) | ✅ (paperless) | ✅ (paperless) |
Custom maps compatible | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (500 custom map tiles) | ✅ (100 custom map tiles) | ✅ (100 custom map tiles) |
Picture viewer | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Garmin Explore app compatible | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Garmin Explore website compatible | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Daily Smart Features | |||||
Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Smart notifications | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Weather forecasts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Weather | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
VIRB® Remote | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Pairs with Garmin Connect™ Mobile | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Garmin Share | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Passcode | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Next Word, Auto Complete, Auto Correct | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (Auto Correct, Next Word, Auto Complete) | ❌ | ❌ |
Safety, Tracking and Tactical Features | |||||
Livetrack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Compatible with AB Quantam - Garmin | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Ballistics solver | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (unlock required) | ❌ | ❌ |
Dual grid coordinates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Night vision mode | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
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