Garmin Instinct 3 First AMOLED Rugged Watch with 24-Day Battery

 The Garmin Instinct series has enjoyed enormous popularity since its launch over 6 years ago. The rugged-looking watches have always aimed to deliver some of the longest battery life in the wearable-GPS world, while still maintaining much of the Garmin outdoor features and functionality.

 The company has largely balanced on that fence by using monochrome MIP-based displays and components that barely sip power, even adding in solar power for a bit more juice. The pricing of these models has always been affordable, and usually undercut their competitors (the Instinct 2 is currently selling for ~$200USD).

But the Instinct 3, and Garmin’s competitors, are turning parts of the Instinct story on its head. Garmin has split the lineup, to now offer both a stunning AMOLED version, as well as the traditional MIP-based SOLAR display with certain modes enabling unlimited GPS battery life.

 The pricing reaches $499 for the AMOLED edition, despite lacking offline mapping or Garmin’s more recent optical heart rate sensors. Meanwhile, big tech, and newfound competitors AmazFit are now offering full-color mapping watches from the $200’s. It’s a tricky time to be an Instinct 3.

Fitness features: downloadable training plans over 30 activity profiles to record different sports and workouts wrist-based heart rate monitor and Pulse Ox sensor VO2 max and Pulse Ox estimation recovery advisor race predictor swimming stroke recognition, lap counter, open-water distance running dynamics measurements step counter with auto goal setter and move notifications.

This section will focus on basic usage of the Garmin Instinct 3 series, including bits like 24×7 activity tracking, smartwatch features, and overall usability. Whereas in later sections in the review I’ll get into sports, workout modes, including navigation and a Solar-specific section. Otherwise, unless noted, everything in this section applies to both models.

Of course, right out of the gate, there are two different screens AMOLED & MIP (all SOLAR editions are MIP). In short, AMOLED is colorful and brilliant, whereas MIP is monochrome. Of course, the MIP-based devices have longer battery life, due to less power being required. Still, both watches get exceptionally long battery life, as I’ll dive into later in this review. You can see the two side-by-side throughout this review, with the AMOLED always on the left.

There are both built-in widgets for common things like steps, sleep, training load, etc… As well as also Connect IQ widgets, apps that can cover a wide range of 3rd party apps, including even offline mapping with Komoot. There’s plenty of practical widgets, like ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass), or one of my favorites with tide information for any number of saved locations, as well as moon phases, etc…

 

Garmin Instinct 3 Specs

·         Two sizes — 45mm and 50mm

·         Relatively lightweight for a rugged watch

·         100m water resistance rating

·         Has a torch

·         Five button navigation

·         Has dual-band GPS

·         Has barometric altimeter and magnetic compass

·         Does NOT support Maps

·         Up to 18 days (45mm)  24 days (50mm) in gesture mode

·         Up to 7 days (45mm) 9 days (50mm) with Always On screen

·         Uses Garmin proprietary charger

·         Elevate Gen 4 sensor

·         Base model costs $450 (for OLED)

 

The Instinct 3 is a multitasking beast, with preloaded activity profiles that cater to everything from hiking and biking to climbing and pickleball. Yes, pickleball. It’s clear Garmin wants this watch to be your one-stop fitness tracker, no matter your sport of choice.

What makes it even more impressive is the health and wellness suite baked in. With 24 days of battery life on AMOLED models, you can track your sleep, stress, and energy levels without worrying about charging every night.

The solar models take things up a notch, offering an endless power reserve in smartwatch mode if you can catch enough rays. Essentially, you’re getting data around the clock without the hassle of frequent recharges.

Here are some metrics you get on the Instinct 3, but don't get on the cheaper Forerunner 165 model:

Training Readiness: A metric designed to tell you how ready you are to take on a training session in that moment of that day. This is not a long-term metric, but rather one focusing on your current training readiness.

Training Status: This looks at a combination of factors to analyze how you train. The idea is to give you a better overview of what areas you might be skipping in your training (you might only train at low intensities, for example). This is what would sometimes give you the meme-famous "Unproductive" training status.

Training Load Focus: This divides your training efforts into three categories: Anaerobic, High Aerobic, and Low Aerobic. The idea is that you need to include different types of training to get faster, so if you only run at a slow pace, you will see a shortage in the Anaerobic category.

Training Load Ratio: Compares your last week of training against your 28-day average to tell you how you are trending in this past week.

Acute Load: Last seven days of training load, accounting for the fact that a training session from seven days ago would have far smaller impact than a training session you did today.