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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is disposable successful 2 sizes and 4 colour variations for $399 (45mm) and $499 (50mm).
- The unlimited artillery life, superb integrated flashlight, rugged build, and close tracking marque this a cleanable ticker for adventurists.
- Unfortunately, the show is inactive monochrome, mapping remains limited, and the ticker tin beryllium chunky for immoderate people.
The Garmin Instinct bid has ever been focused connected the outdoor adventurer who needs a rugged ticker that performs nary substance what is thrown astatine it. I bought the Instinct 2X Solar a mates of years ago, and it is inactive my archetypal prime erstwhile it comes to alert sportfishing and camping due to the fact that I ne'er person to interest astir the artillery life, and the ticker provides the essentials.
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Garmin released the Instinct 3 series a fewer months agone and, for the archetypal time, provides customers with the enactment for a memory-in-pixel (MIP) show oregon a vibrant AMOLED display. Given that agelong artillery life, advertised arsenic unlimited with capable star charging, is simply a staple of the Instinct brand, I requested to reappraisal the MIP show exemplary and cheque retired the improvements implicit the Instinct 2X Solar.
I recognize the entreaty of AMOLED displays, but I'm not convinced that Garmin should person added 1 to the Instinct lineup. I would similar to person seen lone a star exemplary that bumped up the MIP show from monochrome to color, arsenic we spot connected the unthinkable Enduro 3. Garmin has proven that it tin inactive supply unthinkable artillery beingness with a colour MIP display, and that is the upgrade I wanted to see.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar (left) and Instinct 2X Solar (right).
Monochrome MIP displays person been utilized successful Instinct models for years, and I don't caput it successful the Instinct 2X, but aft investigating the Instinct 3 Solar for a fewer weeks, I deliberation I'm done with a monochrome show from Garmin. Garmin present provides truthful galore absorbing wellness and wellness metrics that adjacent subtle colors beryllium utile for speedy glances and knowing of those metrics.
Moving distant from the show discussion, we spot that Garmin has improved the Instinct 3 Solar successful respective ways erstwhile compared to the Instinct 2X Solar.
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Solar charging powerfulness has been importantly improved, up to 5 times that provided by the past model. The opposition has been improved and is intelligibly noticeable erstwhile some watches are placed side-by-side. New colour options are available, and improvements successful bundle features person been added.
These bundle improvements see grooming load, slumber coach, nap detection, Garmin Messenger, and multi-sport car transition.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar has demonstrated close determination tracking, coagulated bosom complaint tracking accuracy, and flawless, reliable show with everything I threw astatine it. That LED flashlight remains a staple I usage regular and is 1 crushed you volition ever find a Garmin ticker connected 1 of my wrists. I tried the larger 50mm exemplary with that chill Twilight and Solstice orangish band, and it fits maine perfectly. I particularly emotion the value and look connected my wrist.
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The ticker has rugged elements with raised polymer framework pieces astir the bezel protecting the scratch-resistant display, a splash of colour connected the aluminum bezel ring, and fiber-reinforced lawsuit material. It is rated for 10 ATM h2o resistance, truthful you tin deterioration it anyplace without worry. I besides bask utilizing that tiny show successful the precocious right, particularly for marking erstwhile I onshore food successful the rivers.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is a bully enactment for those looking for 1 of the longest-lasting GPS sports watches for nether $500. It's clip to determination connected from monochrome MIP displays, and I would emotion to spot the Instinct 4 offered with a colour MIP exemplary and the AMOLED 1 truthful you could take colour and past marque a artillery beingness determination similar we bash present with flagship Fenix 8 series.
ZDNET's buying advice
Garmin's Instinct lineup remains 1 focused connected those who privation a rugged, chunky ticker that tin instrumentality a beating and support connected going. The Instinct 3 Solar offers highly agelong artillery beingness and immoderate compelling colour and size options, but Garmin should see retiring the monochrome show technology. The Instinct 3 Solar offers overmuch of what the Fenix 8 offers, with nary enactment for offline music, speaker/mic functionality, and the older procreation optical bosom complaint sensor.
This nonfiction was primitively published connected February 25, 2025, and was updated connected April 28, 2025.
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