What you might want to know
- Garmin has launched the Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct 3 AMOLED, each in 45mm and 50mm case sizes.
- The Instinct 3 Solar is much more long-lived than its predecessor however retains its monochrome, low-resolution show.
- The Instinct 3 AMOLED is dearer and shorter-lived with no photo voltaic recharge, however can show rather more data.
- New options embody a built-in flashlight, multi-band Location Services, sleep teaching, and enhanced security options.
After months of leaks, the Garmin Instinct 3 has made its anticipated arrival at CES 2025. It ships in 45mm and 50mm instances, every measurement obtainable in each AMOLED and MIP Solar with a built-in flashlight.
The collection’ trademark epic battery life returns, however solely the Solar model has “limitless” every day battery life (with a number of hours of daylight per day), as much as 260 Location Services hours, or as much as 60 multi-band Location Services hours.
Even with out the photo voltaic enhance, the Instinct 3 Solar beats the Instinct 3 AMOLED for every day battery (40 vs. 24 days), Location Services (60 vs. 40 hours), and multi-band Location Services (34 vs. 30 hours). But this Solar model has the identical 176 x 176 decision and notorious two-windowed, monochrome MIP because the Instinct 2 — although the show is barely bigger at 1.1 inches.
That’s why many will leap to the AMOLED model for a 1.2-inch (390 x 390) or 1.3-inch (416 x 416) show, accepting the battery trade-off. Otherwise, you will want to change to the 90-day Garmin Enduro 3 for a full-resolution MIP show, and that prices $400 extra.
Whether you select the MIP or AMOLED show, Garmin gave all Instinct 3 fashions a built-in LED flashlight taken from the Instinct 2X Solar. So you can illuminate your path (on the important price of battery life).
Other collection similarities persist, resembling 10ATM water resistance, MIL-STD-810 thermal and shock resistance, coaching readiness, every day recommended exercises, and post-workout restoration time information. But the Instinct 3 seems to be barely higher as a result of Garmin blended some aluminum into the polymer bezel for a bit facelift.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar prices $399 (45mm) or $449 (50mm), whereas the Instinct 3 AMOLED prices $449 (45mm) or $499 (50mm); these costs usually match what the final era price prior to cost drops. All variations have a Black case with Black or Charcoal bands, however Garmin is promoting “Limited Edition” variations of the AMOLED in Neo Tropic inexperienced or the Solar in Twilight blue that will promote out shortly.
Beyond the Instinct 3, Garmin has introduced a number of different merchandise at CES 2025, together with a brand new HRM 200 and a Zumo R1 Motorcycle Radar. Plus, it received a “2025 CES Best of Innovation” award for the InAttain Messenger Plus, which it introduced final 12 months.
Every key Garmin Instinct 3 improve
If you are contemplating a swap from the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar to the Instinct 3, you will discover a respectable choice of new software program options. You’ll get superior sleep teaching with nap detection, plus rest reminders and meditation steering. You add a gyroscope for extra correct wrist monitoring, plus (with AMOLED) on-screen exercise animations and muscle maps.
For runners, you will see new widgets for coaching load focus, load ratio, and upcoming races, in addition to multisport auto transition, grade-adjusted tempo, and wrist-based operating dynamics. And you will get extra correct location monitoring, because of multi-band Location Services and the dynamic SatIQ software for swapping to raised accuracy when wanted.
Plus, you will get dozens of latest sports activities modes: Jump Rope, Indoor Walking, Virtual Running, Obstacle Racing, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery, BMX, Boating, Water Skiing, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Whitewater, Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball, XC Skate Skiing, Ice Skating, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Jumpmaster, and Inline Skating.
As for different adjustments, the Instinct 3 provides an on-device Connect IQ retailer, Garmin Messenger app compatibility, Stocks and Tides views, stay occasion sharing, incident detection experiences, and superior biking dynamics.
In phrases of battery life, the Garmin Instinct 3 45mm matches the Instinct 2 Solar 45mm with a 28-day baseline and “limitless” with photo voltaic, however its photo voltaic panel is considerably extra environment friendly, with 130 Location Services hours in comparison with the Instinct 2 Solar’s 48 hours. If you select the Instinct 3 Solar 50mm, you will get 40 days and 260 Location Services hours, with the identical 1.1-inch show and solely 6g further weight.
When the Instinct 3 first leaked in November, I predicted the AMOLED transition, however I additionally made different requests: abandoning the two-windowed design, including music storage, switching to the Elevate v5 for ECGs and pores and skin temp readings, and eventually bringing again LTE help. Unfortunately, none of these requests got here true.
My first impression is that this Instinct 3 replace will make AMOLED customers glad, however could really feel a bit protected for followers of MIP shows who’d hoped to see a full-res, colourful show together with lengthy battery life. Yes, the Instinct 3 Solar lasts for much longer, however I’m certain many customers would’ve liked a visible center floor that gave them colourful watch faces and photo voltaic charging.
Still, I like Garmin’s twin MIP/AMOLED strategy with new fashions just like the Instinct 3 and Fenix 8. It lets customers determine whether or not they need to prioritize indoor or out of doors visibility or further battery life over informal visible upgrades.
Long-lived and rugged
The Garmin Instinct 3 is the model’s newest smartwatch to transition to AMOLED, however MIP followers can stick to a lower-res choice for “limitless” battery life. The Instinct 3 is as rugged and distinct as ever, however considerably lighter than it seems to be because of its polymer supplies. It has all of the coaching insights and sports activities modes that any outdoorsy sorts may ever need.
