Garmin Instinct 3 Review - The Ultimate Outdoor Smartwatch for Fitness and Adventure

Bandletic’s Verdict

The Garmin Instinct 3, as one of the top 10 best Garmin Watch 2025, is a rugged smartwatch designed for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, combining long battery life, accurate GPS tracking, a wide range of training and recovery tools, and 100-meter water resistance, making it an ideal choice for outdoor athletes. While maintaining the classic design of the series, the Instinct 3 introduces an AMOLED screen option and offers a solar-powered version, further enhancing practicality.

Equipped with an integrated LED flashlight and advanced health monitoring features, it excels in both outdoor environments and everyday use. However, it still lacks music storage and offline map functionality, and its smart features are somewhat limited. Nonetheless, it remains an excellent value option in its class.

Pros:

• New 50mm size option, more suitable for outdoor adventures
• Super long battery life, with the solar version providing nearly infinite battery life in sunny conditions
• AMOLED screen improves outdoor visibility
• Accurate GPS and altitude tracking, supporting multiple satellite systems
• Rich sports and health features, including sleep analysis and training recovery suggestions
• 100-meter water resistance, suitable for swimming and water activities
• Built-in LED flashlight, enhancing nighttime usability

Cons:

• No 40mm option, less suitable for users with smaller wrists
• No offline map support, limiting deep outdoor exploration experiences
• No music storage, cannot play music directly
• Limited smart features, relatively basic compared to other high-end smartwatches

Overall, the Garmin Instinct 3 stands out as an excellent exploration smartwatch with a rugged design, impressive battery life, and comprehensive outdoor features. If you’re a fan of Garmin watches, the Instinct 3 is definitely a worthwhile choice.

The Overview of Garmin Instinct 3

The Garmin Instinct 3 release date is in January 2025, designed for users passionate about outdoor activities and extreme sports. The highlight of the Instinct 3 Garmin is the introduction of the AMOLED display, offering a clearer and more detailed visual experience. The solar version enhances battery life, with the AMOLED version offering up to 24 days of battery life on a single charge, and the solar version providing nearly infinite battery life in ideal conditions. The series comes in 45mm and 50mm sizes and a variety of stylish color options. Additionally, the Instinct E offers a 40mm version for smaller-sized users, starting at $299.

This watch not only boasts powerful sports monitoring functions but also includes multi-frequency, multi-satellite positioning, SatIQ technology, track-back navigation, and incident detection features, ensuring the safety of outdoor adventurers. Upgraded charging efficiency, convenient smart notifications, offline payment functionality, and the built-in LED flashlight make the Instinct 3 a fashionable and functional outdoor sports tool.

Garmin Instinct 3 Review - Specifications Compared

Garmin Instinct 3 Review - Design

The Garmin Instinct 3 series consists of three models: Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, Garmin Instinct 3 solar, and Instinct E. Continuing the rugged and durable design of the series, the fiber-reinforced polymer case ensures excellent durability, while the AMOLED and MIP Solar versions feature an aluminum inner bezel to enhance impact resistance. Built to MIL-STD 810 military standards and offering 100-meter water resistance, the Instinct 3 is designed to withstand extreme outdoor conditions.

Available in 45mm and 50mm sizes, the series offers a range of color options, including Night Black, Graphite Gray, Rainforest Green, and Dusk Blue Orange, catering to various style preferences. The Solar version features a monochrome MIP display, while the AMOLED version delivers a more vibrant visual experience. Additionally, the built-in LED flashlight supports multiple brightness levels and a red light mode, improving safety for nighttime adventures or emergencies.

Design-wise, the Instinct 3 retains the signature rugged aesthetics of the Instinct series, featuring exposed screws on the four corners for an adventurous, outdoor-ready look. The classic Garmin 5-button layout is maintained, and the metal accent ring not only adds to the visual appeal but also strengthens the watch body. The 45mm version comes with a 22mm band, while the 50mm version uses a 26mm band, ensuring compatibility with other Garmin models like the Fenix 8 series.

For those seeking high-quality Garmin Watch bands, Bandletic offers premium options, including Garmin Instinct Watch bands, Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm Watch bands, and Garmin Instinct 3 Amoled 50mm Watch bands. Available materials include nylon, NRB silicone, and high-quality silicone, providing the perfect fit for various activities and styles.

Garmin Instinct 3 Review - Hardware

Upgraded GPS Positioning Functionality

The Instinct 3 upgrades from the single-frequency positioning of the Instinct 2 to multi-frequency, multi-satellite positioning, adding SatIQ automatic satellite selection technology. Multi-frequency, multi-satellite positioning is well-known, and Garmin’s mainstream watches all support it. Previously tested on the Fenix 8 and Enduro 3, it provides fast positioning and accurate tracks, receiving positive feedback.

SatIQ is Garmin’s intelligent satellite management system, which calls up the most accurate multi-frequency positioning under complex road conditions and automatically switches to single-frequency positioning in open areas. This ensures both accuracy and maximum battery life, designed for outdoor adventurers, initially featured on the Enduro series.

LED Flashlight Function

The Garmin Instinct 3 comes equipped with a powerful LED flashlight, perfect for various outdoor environments. It features four white light brightness levels and one red light setting to meet different lighting needs. These brightness levels are similar to the flashlight on the Garmin Fenix 8, providing highly practical lighting options.

Additionally, the Instinct 3 Garmin supports long flash, short flash, and SOS signaling modes, which can be used in emergencies as distress signals. The red light source provides soft nighttime illumination to avoid disturbing the surroundings. Users can quickly activate or deactivate the flashlight by double-tapping the Light button on the upper left.

This feature not only provides ample lighting support for outdoor hiking and camping but also enhances safety during urban nighttime running, especially when the watch flashes in sync with the runner’s movements, increasing visibility. This innovation stands out in the sports watch industry and is practical for various situations, from outdoor exploration to nighttime bathroom trips.

Fourth-Generation Optical Heart Rate Sensor Performance

The Garmin Instinct 3 continues to use the fourth-generation optical heart rate sensor. Although it doesn’t feature the latest fifth-generation sensor, its accuracy remains impressive. Comparing it with the Forerunner 965, the heart rate data consistency was excellent, with no obvious deviations.

The sensor also performs well in comfort and durability, with its raised curved design reducing pressure during wear, maintaining comfort even during long periods. Its durability ensures that the heart rate sensor is effectively protected and is less likely to be damaged during falls. Although it lacks the ECG module of the fifth-generation sensor, it still delivers stable and accurate heart rate data in daily use.

Upgraded Reflective Screen

The Instinct 3 Garmin features an upgraded AMOLED screen, which remains clear and readable even under direct sunlight. While the brightness is not as high as that of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it shows a significant improvement compared to the previous reflective screens. The contrast of the AMOLED screen has increased by 300%, maintaining clarity from various angles.

When using a black background, the display almost matches the AMOLED screen, offering a more refined visual experience compared to the previous Instinct 2. Therefore, even though I chose the solar version for its focus on ultra-long battery life and rugged appearance, I foresee the AMOLED version selling better.

Improved Solar Charging Efficiency

The Instinct 3 uses a new generation of solar charging with a larger charging area and higher efficiency. Compared to the Instinct 2, the Instinct 3’s new solar charging technology has extended the battery life in GPS mode by more than five times.

A small detail to note: Garmin previously used a copper-colored solar charging area, which was later upgraded on the Fenix 8. The Instinct 3 now uses the same model, with a solar charging module closer to black. When paired with a black screen background, this creates a stronger sense of unity.

Garmin Instinct 3 Review - Software

Over 100 Sports Modes + Track Navigation

The Garmin Instinct 3 supports more than 100 sports modes, including running, hiking, cycling, golf, skiing, and more, catering to a wide range of outdoor and indoor sports needs. It comes with an altimeter, barometer, and a three-axis electronic compass, providing accurate navigation and trackback functions. Users can plan and import routes via Garmin Connect or third-party applications. While it lacks map functionality, the Instinct 3 still ensures outdoor activity safety with route navigation and trackback features.

Additionally, there are differences between the solar version and the AMOLED version. The solar version does not support fitness animation guidance, while the AMOLED version does. Although the AMOLED version can add maps through unofficial means, it may experience lag, so use with caution. Overall, the Instinct 3 is an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts with its rich sports modes and powerful navigation capabilities.

Advanced Training Plans and Recovery Recommendations

Garmin Instinct 3 provides comprehensive training support, including downloadable training plans and personalized recovery recommendations. It monitors training load, assesses training readiness, and evaluates body recovery and stress levels through heart rate variability (HRV) status.

Moreover, the Instinct 3 offers interval training and strength training modes to help users effectively improve speed, endurance, and strength. With Garmin's full sports training system, users can customize personal improvement plans based on adaptive functions and preset plans. By monitoring VO2 max, intensity activity time, and rest time, the watch provides users with scientific training advice to prevent overtraining or injury. Garmin’s training system and algorithms offer strong support, which is a key competitive advantage.

Comprehensive Health Monitoring and Women’s Health Tracking

Garmin Instinct 3 offers comprehensive health monitoring functions, including heart rate, sleep, pulse oximeter, HRV, body battery, and more key metrics for all-day health management. Female users can track their menstrual cycles and pregnancy status, receiving related exercise and nutrition recommendations. In the morning, users receive customized health reports covering the previous night’s sleep, the day’s schedule, and HRV status.

Additionally, the watch supports breath training, stress tracking, and advanced sleep monitoring, helping users maintain physical and mental health. It also offers a body age estimation feature, records various sports modes (such as running, cycling, swimming, etc.), and provides detailed data analysis for users to fully understand their health status.

Smart Notifications and Payment Functions

Garmin Instinct 3 provides timely smart notifications, including email, text, and other message alerts, and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The watch is equipped with NFC functionality, supporting public transportation cards and Garmin Pay offline payments. However, the solar version only supports NFC public transport cards and lacks WeChat and Alipay payment functions (AMOLED version supports these). The absence of a microphone and speaker means users cannot directly reply to messages or answer calls.

Furthermore, the Instinct 3 has limited storage space (128MB for the Solar version) and does not support offline music or map features. Despite this, the Instinct 3 enhances social interaction and data sharing through Garmin Connect and Garmin Messenger apps, making daily life more convenient.

Not Suitable for: If you prioritize offline maps, music storage, or mainly work out indoors, the Garmin Instinct 3 may not fully meet your needs.

Summary: Despite lacking some advanced features, the Instinct 3 remains a leader in outdoor adventure watches. If you need a durable, long-lasting, and powerful GPS smartwatch, the Instinct 3 is undoubtedly an excellent choice.