Garmin - Instinct 3 AMOLED

The Garmin Instinct 3 falls closest to your budget and requirements, while maintaining a rugged look ([link to watch on Garmin website](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397/). I’ll let others chime in on the Tactix and Enduro - might as well consider the Fenix with a flexible budget.

I would go for either the Instinct 3 or Vivoactive 6. Both new watches are great, no issues. Vivoactive 6 is just in your budget range but isn't very 'rugged', which is the perfect desciption of the instinct 3 (which is a bit more pricey). You can go for the black and white screen of the Instinct E ($299), but the tech is a bit more dated, and if you are coming from an apple watch, im guessing you like the bright screens. Another option is the Epix 2 (refurbished) from amazon for $349 (what I would go for). This is their top of the line watch from a few years ago, but still very advanced with most of the new features. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397/pn/010-02936-00/](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397/pn/010-02936-00/) [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1555457/](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1555457/) [https://a.co/d/fs1SPqL](https://a.co/d/fs1SPqL)

Instinct 3 amo Getting 10 days with always on display, always connected to phone for weather.

I have the instinct 3 AMOLED and it’s been awesome. I received it on August 14th, starting wearing it the 15th and have yet to charge it since. Battery still shows 6 days left which is incredible

No I do the wrist gesture and have it on low light, which is plenty for me and still able to see just fine outside

Whilst I can’t comment on the differences between the watches you’ve mentioned, I think you’d be mad for NOT going back to Garmin. I went from AW to Instinct AMOLED and would never go back to Apple.

I was in the same boat last month; I stretched a little bit and bought the Instinct 3 AMOLED. I'm happy with the purchase. What you will miss is the mobile app UI/UX, as well as the watch's. If your main goal is battery, notifications and health, then go for it.

If your sensor should struggle because of the tattoos you can use white epoxy stickers. Before I discovered that I wore my Suunto, Garmin instinct 2, Epix Gen 2 the other way around. But after my both very dark sleeves were finished 6 months ago the heart rate sensor didn't work. Now for the first time in years I wear the new instinct 3 amoled the 'right way', even works with the old Gen 4 sensor. :)

Are you tired of the old-school MIP (memory-in-pixel) watch faces from a decade ago? Do you want your daydreams transformed from monochrome into AMOLED color, eh...? Yes, I have had these same thoughts, which is why I purchased a Garmin EPIX 2.0 nearly two years ago. It was one my favorite timepieces since my first Apple Watch. Nevertheless, I sold it and purchased the Enduro 3 and then they announced the Instinct 3, dang it, far too many temptations online, right? Day Four with the Instinct 3 and... the watch is down to 28% battery life with 2 days left. Wed. 01/22, unboxed around 17:00, AOD enabled, SP02 at night enabled, raise to wake was enabled by default. Left wrist all day with the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar on my right wrist. Thur. 01/23, wore it all day & night Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Fri. 01/24, wore it all night & day Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Sat. 01/25, I woke up with it on my right wrist. The time is now 08:53, 28% battery, and 2 days left even with my one-hour of GPS workouts, what? Why can't Apple or Samsung build watches with battery life like the Garmins? Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Yes, the battery life is great, yes, the screen is bright. And sure, it feels more like a Casio G-Shock with a gorgeous screen or a little sister watch from the Garmin EPIX line. It is comfortable to wear all day and night. The buttons are easy to press and make less clicking noise than the Instinct 2X Solar I purchased over 18 months ago. Yet, what is new and why should you upgrade if you're like me an already have a Garmin Instinct 2X to 2X solar? Reasons to upgrade to the Garmin Instinct 3 1. AMOLED screen with AOD (always-on display) that lasts for six to 10 days 2. it tracks naps now and has the nap timer just like the EPIX 2, Fenix 8, or Enduro 3 3. Body Battery factors - wow, and about time. After a workout, nap, or even low stress, yes, on the watch or in the app, there is a breakdown of your activities with positive or negative details and your body battery is affected. I am unsure at this point if Garmin will release these features to the Instinct 2X models. 4. Louder speaker 5. Faster navigation 6. Faster solar charging...? To be announced 7. Instinct 3 is faster at saving workouts 8. Night Shift - oh yeah, the entire watch interface changes to red, green, or orange. It's such a fun feature to have on a $400.00 watch! 9. The buttons are softer to press and make less noise. 10. Steps on the data screen during workouts 11. Torchlight has a better menu for changing the light from red to white on the Instinct 3, about time, and thank you Garmin! Oh yeah, 11 new features if you buy another MIP Instinct 3 or slightly less if you purchase the AMOLED version like I did from Garmin.com. There are new color options, yet that is standard for Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Amazfit, COROS, Fitbit, Suunto, Polar, and most watch companies. They attempt to entice us every year to upgrade, upgrade, and upgrade. Okay, the Instinct 2X will be two years old soon and yet I don't think there is a need to upgrade. If you're still rocking the first edition of Garmin Instinct Solar, yes, your four-year timepiece needs an update. You'll notice many changes from four years ago, that much I already know. Thank you for reading and for clicking on by... More about this Garmin Instinct 3 (AMOLED) soon. Sincerely, Pietro & Gadgets Anonymous **Update, Sunday, 01/26/2025, 22:50** Yes, I made it to Day Five, my Instinct 3 battery life is at 11% with a 2-day estimate. A pretty radical accomplishment of battery life since those initial days of any new watch are the hardest. In fact, it blows my mind that it made it this far out of the box without a charge and even upgraded the first day. Now, I did have to disable AOD earlier today and the battery life went from 22 hours back up to 2 days. **Monday, 01/27/2025, 07:00** Just to prove a point, yes, I still have yet to plug in this Caribbean-colored Instinct 3 and did a bizarre test last night with my Garmin versus Garmin research. A. Garmin Instinct 3, right forearm, above the flaming red wearable B. Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, right wrist as directed by the manual I slept this way to see how the sleep data reacted. https://preview.redd.it/2rgr8ygm06fe1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d8f40294dabead7fc73c82087d33773014b90f7 on https://preview.redd.it/lfe9kygm06fe1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2301f2a3c6d02e7c6d7cd6819afc7af3f852e3f https://preview.redd.it/f1d6g0wp06fe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e6dbb1e7658ab05ec15b1277c11643a499ef20a https://preview.redd.it/rxbbgzvp06fe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84efab89a09127927da79ecec27895542fa939e9 https://preview.redd.it/ynktv2x67hfe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90df4c9586f905e92f6c4f5e66c40636cf05322b

Thank you, Retro-Ghost-Dad, and I should have brought that up in this article. It is a great feature of the Instinct series. That lovely lip on the bezel around the screen does help protect the screen. The Apple Watches, Google Pixel Watches, Samsung Galaxy Watch7, yes, they all made the same mistake of exposing their screens. I like the Instinct 3 AMOLED slightly more than the Instinct 3 Solar. The screen text is easier for my eyes to read for some reason. Outdoors, yes, the MIP screen is lovely and easier to read in sunlight than when I'm indoors. That being said, yes, I am indoors more often than outside due to life and my career in Quality Assurance. Thanks for the reply and I'll mention the nice feature of a recessed screen in my next review. Here's a photo I snapped of the Instinct 3 Solar earlier this week showcasing your favorite feature: https://preview.redd.it/s2qbede4ajge1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4374d3cc42db9f24e6cb34adac6e8719e3b88d0c

Yes, that is a fantastic choice! I just woke up with both the Instinct 3 45mm AMOLED on my right wrist and the 50mm Instinct 3 Solar on my left wrist. All in all, yes, I like the AMOLED better than the MIP monochrome screen. The Instinct 3 AMOLED has certain features that the solar MIP does not: 1. color 2. easier to read in low light and the text on the screen has a more crisp view 3. steps on the data screens for workouts. I checked yesterday after upgrading the Instinct 3 Solar to software version 6.28 and the steps is not even an option to add to any workouts at this time. 4. Body Battery Factors, yes, both watches collect them and keep track, but only the Instinct 3 AMOLED displays them on the watch. If you want to see how much your workout affects your Body Battery statistics, you'll need to grab your smartphone or log onto a browser. 5. since Garmin has yet to figure out how to implement the Night Shift colors onto their MIP screen watches, yeah, it is a huge bummer. 6. the octagon screen dimensions of the Instinct 3 Solar screen bothers me more than they should 7. the static submarine window on the Instinct 3 Solar, yeah, that also can be annoying at times. I like how it floats and is not always there on the Instinct 3 AMOLED. Thanks for reading my article and commenting. I hope you enjoy your new Garmin smartwatch.

I had a galaxy watch 4 for awhile (I use it because I am an android user) but I got a Venu 2 had it for about 2 years and the battery life was insane and since then I switched to a instinct 3 amoled, and the battery life is even better, I charge maybe every 2 weeks or more. I dont do crazy runs but want to soon. Rn it just tracks walks i do every day

I would definitely go solar too, I much prefer MIP displays, they're insanely visible in direct sunlight, and I don't like having to rotate my wrist to turn the screen on and with the always on display on the battery life is horrible compared to any other instinct. My instinct 1st gen easily gets 2 weeks after years or usage and with a fresh battery the 3 AMOLED will mabey last a week

Second the instinct vote! I have the instinct 3 AMOLEd and it’s a great way to enter the Garmin ecosphere. Higher price point than some of their other watches, but not anywhere close to the Fenix price point. Battery life, even when surfing every day for 2-3hrs a day is around 8 days, 16-18 days if I’m only using the watch as a watch. I’m charging once every 10-14 days atm, depending on activity levels. I wear it constantly and I surf, gym, hike and motocross etc with it. It tracks the lot. Pair it with a decent HRM and you can overlook the older internal HRM on the watch itself.

Even though I've got an Enduro 3 I really enjoy, I got a bit stupid last night and ordered a 45mm AMOLED Instinct 3. I'm a big fan of the Instinct series and, as much as I love my MIP displays, I'm not averse to a nice AMOLED display. I have to say that one of my FAVORITE features that I feel nobody talks about for the Instinct series is how darned recessed the screen is. Sure it isn't sapphire but you'd have to get PRETTY unlucky for anything to accidentally scratch the display on the 2X. The 3 seems similarly protected. When I first started getting into the wacky world of wearables I'll never forget I was trying out a Kospet Rock. Supposedly the thing was a real tank. Nearly indestructible. And then one day I brushed against a wall or doorway, and boom. Deep scratch on the screen. I've been sensitive to non-recessed screens ever since. One of my issues with the Enduro 3. There's a millimeter or two of a lip, but not much. Looking forward to getting a modern, AMOLED Instinct.

You know, it's funny but this sort of echoes my experience, too. My Enduro 3, no matter what I do, sort of maxes out at 3 weeks battery life. My Instinct 3 AMOLED, despite my not having it too long, is on track for darn near that with the AOD turned off. I am on the beta firmware on the Enduro 3 so maybe that plays a part, as well, but even when I wasn't I don't recall it being any better on battery life. All anecdotal, but by your saying that the official predictions for MIP being off but the official predictions for AMOLED being spot-on, I really feel that. Donning my tin-foil hat here, but I wonder if maybe that's intentional to help ease consumers into a post-MIP world.

You should buy watch with gyroscope sensor . For example fr165 doesn't have it. Fr265(5 atm) or instinct 3 amoled (10atm) do have gyroscope.

If i remember correctly swim 2 was very similar watch to fr245? (gen 3 sensor, outdated in 2025) instinct 3 amoled doesn't have touch and music but have flashlight and stronger built quality. i3 solar have small memory. fr265 have lover atm rating (if you go regularly to swimming poll there is good chance to cloge barometar hole after a year of swimming) and don't have flashligh. As usual with garmin: pick you poision. Both watches have 5 buttons, and swim drill log mode, that's good. Both watches have gen 4 sensor that is ok for average hr, but pretty slow to adapt to intervals. Gen 5 sensor is little better. In newer watch models i think there is swim coach but didn't track that part. 50mm i3 is probably to bulky for swim, but 45 i3 or 46/42 fr 265 should be ok size.

Instinct 3 amoled has a nice coloured screen. I charge mine on a full charge, 18 days charge after about an hour and half charge time. Madness! Love it

There are 10 watch faces; i show nine in the image below. You're right though; I remember only one or two were in the list of ones you could immediately choose from out of the box. You could add the rest easily enough on the watch. I forget exactly how. A couple of other niche things are worth pointing out. Firstly, the AMOLED has more memory. Presumably that means music support will be added (there probably isn't enough space for all of garmin's maps). Secondly, it is possible to add connected-map via the dwmap (and other) ciq apps - you must have your phone with you and linked to the cloud. I cover it in my review of Instinct 3 AMOLED here (https://the5krunner.com/2025/02/11/garmin-instinct-3-review-amoled-solar-e-compared/) if anyone wants to read more. https://preview.redd.it/ljccz10fjzie1.png?width=892&format=png&auto=webp&s=f82e26be1d54e2794eaeca643a6d05333de88da7 ,

What Garmin claims and real world texts are not the same. Real world texts are showing the 3 to have worse battery than the 2x

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/instinct-3/404601/instinct-2-45mm-solar-vs-instinct-3-45mm-battery-life It is not the only place that has done tests, and found it worse or just the same. The YouTube "reviewers" only state the Garmin spec and don't actually test it. Probably because they want to keep getting watches to review. Perhaps it has been fixed with firmware, but I find it interesting that you can't find anyone showing how much it has improved the battery life. If it really was that much more people would be talking about how it is improved. That has not happened.

My almost 10 year old Forerunner 735XT lasts longer than that, even if I keep it on during showers and record my commute to work and back every day. Newer, more powerful Garmin watches, like the Enduro 3 or Instinct 3, are even more impressive.

I looked into this myself the last few weeks. Samsung galaxy eatch(ultra) is allright but not as good as Garmin. At least that's what revieuws of the watches told me. Samsung is more good in the smart part. Not necessary the fitness/sport industry. I've chosen the Garmin instinct 3. Not only for fitness purposes but also for hiking.

The fenix can do everything you’ve listed and of course more. Mid-range alternatives like instinct would cover everything as well except for the diving part. If you have the budget go for the Fenix. I settled for Instinct 3 myself because of budget. It’s not my first smartwatch but it’s my first Garmin and it’s the best I’ve ever had especially for fitness/outdoor. Yes, it has the fishing app 😀 I would say Garmin is a great choice for a first smartwatch for active people like yourself. However, if budget would have allowed (ie If I didn’t mind a divorce) I would have gone for the Fenix 8.

A few weeks ago I mentioned I’d be racing an olympic distance triathlon with a stack of wearables strapped to me. Well, I did it, and here are the (raw) results. **TL;DR:** Raced a tri with WHOOP, Polar360, Helio strap, Garmin Instinct 3, and Oura Ring 4. Polar was the most reliable, WHOOP decent but spiky in swim, Helio finicky about placement, Garmin surprisingly messy, Oura useless for sport. For anyone not familiar, Olympic distance triathlon is: 1. 1.5km swim 2. 40km bike 3. 10km run On the right arm I had the (from top) **WHOOP MG, Polar360, and Helio strap** stacked up. On the left, the **Garmin Instinct 3** and **Oura Ring 4**. I looked ridiculous (but not more than everyday since I wear them all constantly), but I was curious to see how they’d compare across swim, bike, and run in real race conditions. [Hybrid athlete xD](https://preview.redd.it/9cm22jzi1rmf1.jpg?width=2784&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1612dd2a8e3c8635dce07ca55eebcdae111b9dc5) Here’s how it went: * **Swim:** I got both legs cramped at 1km mark. Thoughts of DNF were running through my head, but I really wanted to see the comparison (:P), so I prevailed and swam the last 500m with my arms only, dragging my uselessly cramped legs behind me. * WHOOP thought I was hitting 200 bpm most of the time (I wasn’t). * Polar, Helio, Garmin seem all decent, in similar range, although knowing my HR from many other swims, I'd say that Polar was the most accurate. * Oura basically zoned out for the full race. * **Bike:** When I finally got my legs moving again, the bike leg went smoothly. Hit a steady 34km/h avg pace. I could've pushed more, as my HR was between 150-160, but I was afraid of losing my legs again. * Helio struggled at first, underreporting HR badly (I noticed on my bike computer that it was connected to), until I moved it higher up my arm mid-ride. After that it snapped back in line. * Polar and WHOOP held strong. * Garmin was all over the place with noisy spikes. . * **Run:** This was actually the easiest leg for all wearables, and myself. By the end of the run the different devices were surprisingly aligned, except Oura that was again useless. https://preview.redd.it/ksy9407u2rmf1.png?width=1041&format=png&auto=webp&s=1166550aacc3f9fa1a3ef6103ac11df633f907f9 https://preview.redd.it/fb61lg483rmf1.png?width=1054&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5c716a5d4c68f3b38dffa08797792eac9cd2045 Overall impressions: * **Polar360** was the most reliable of the bunch. I was definitely not expecting that! * **WHOOP** is decent but not flawless, especially in water. It had the best arm placement of all the wearables, so there should be no excuses (I know some people will find many). * **Amazfit Helio** started with a disadvantage of being the lowest on the wrist, when moved up, was decent. In my opinion better than WHOOP, worse than Polar360. * **Garmin Instinct 3** really surprised me with how messy the HR data was. I am very negatively surprised with these results.  * **Oura Ring 4** confirmed what most of us already know: great for sleep and recovery, not for sport. My current band rating: 1. Polar360 2. Helio strap 3. WHOOP 4. Garmin 5. Oura Why did I do this? Mostly curiosity — and partly because I’m working on a side project (reThrive) where we’re digging into how different devices capture performance and recovery. I figured some of you here would appreciate raw, messy comparisons like this too. Next on my list is to look at how each of these devices calculates **recovery scores** over the last month and see if they align at all. If you’re interested, I’ll share those results too. I will also be racing a half-marathon later this month, also wearing them all. And will post the update here as well.

an entire month battery life.. without solar. The screen has more contrast than the fenix 7 pro. Has all the features on connect that you would on the fenix. The only "bad" thing about it is it uses elevate 4 instead of the 5. I'd trade for a instinct 3 if I didnt already have the fenix. I hike a lot as well and tracking with the fenix doesnt last as long as the instinct.

Instinct 2 or 3 is really durable if you are fine with it not having a touchscreen

I’ve tried both and have to say that the Instinct 3 is probably the better deal for most people. It was heavily criticized after release, but among the more recent models, it offers excellent value for money. The advantages of the Forerunner 570 compared to the Instinct 3 are music storage, the newer heart rate sensor (with skin temperature tracking but no ECG), the brighter display, and the ability to take calls or use voice commands. On the other hand, the Instinct 3 is more rugged, has a built-in flashlight, and even in the smaller AMOLED version, offers significantly better battery life. Most people don’t make calls with their watch, the older heart rate sensor has never caused me any issues, and the Instinct 3’s display is bright enough. That leaves music storage and skin temperature tracking. The latter isn’t very well integrated and can’t even be viewed on the watch itself. The lack of music storage is definitely a drawback, but if you can live with that, the Instinct 3 offers almost the same functionality, has a more exciting look, the incredibly useful flashlight, and insane battery life.

It’s got everything I wish the Instinct3 had. So I got one too a few months ago. Love it.

Go look for a used Instinct 3, they have about 18d of battery, provide good map support and tracking. If used heavily youll get around 10days of battery. https://preview.redd.it/x7p9usmsqrlf1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=3b5f05bb3c79b1d640bc50fcd76dd1a60e4854f1 Here's a preview of after hike mapping. Fenix have a really nice map aswell but they are way out of your budget.

maybe instinct series 2 or 3... with solar option if hiking multi days... lighter options like 45mm i2 solar for HR (lighter watches tend to give more precise HR results overall, especially recommended ones like i2)... good luck

I had the 265, but because of my work, I switch to the Instinct 3. As far as I can tell, both watches offer all the same metrics. I love the fact that I don't have to baby the watch at all, and the flashlight is a big plus.

I know it has the running coach, but I'm not sure about the strength coach. (I can check if you need me to) I only use it for running, and it's been great.

https://preview.redd.it/cz6dvr2ivpjf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3bee44cea3de87c7c6e6965a61eccbe1800a510a Shout out to Instinct 3 - 71% battery with 30 days to go.

Garmin's comparison tool is pretty good. Off the cuff, if you don't care about maps and don't have a power meter for your bike, the Instinct 3 doesn't give up much to the fancier models. The Forerunner 970 and Fenix 8 are going to have the most sports features if you're ready to go full send on price. (I'm not.)

Oh! Yeah, I'd be pretty confident in how well any of them with onboard GPS track. Including the Instinct line.

The forerunner's will be fine. It comes down to preference, do you want LED or MIP screen? Do you need maps? Something like the 165 or the 255/265 will be more than fine. 955 if you want maps. 965 if you want maps+LED screen. Instinct 2 and 3 will work too, its just more rugged basically. All of them are solid, road and trail runner friendly.

Forerunners are great even if you don't run. None of the watches are great for the gym btw. For hiking you basically want an altimeter (which all new watches have) and maybe maps (which only the most premium watches do). I think the main advantage the Instinct has over the Forerunner is that it comes with Garmin Explore integration (for offline realtime mapping with the companion app on the phone). Only the Forerunner 9xx series support this. I think an Instinct 2 or 3 will be a great choice for your use

I wear my instinct 3 while bouldering. Never had an issue. I like recording my session and using the timer for rests in between try’s.

I am not surprised by these results at all. Garmin has been failing at HR data for a while now, you need a chest stra for activities to get good data. Garmin is falling behind and relying on their reputation, their direction has changed in the last couple of years. Whoop no surprise there, well known to have janky heart rate data.

For running, the **Forerunners** win because they’re lighter, have better training tools (readiness, load, recovery, VO₂, etc.), and give you more run-specific metrics. The **Instinct/Fenix** are better for hiking/backpacking since they’re tougher, with longer battery and more rugged features. Animated workouts are more of a nice to have, useful if you like guided bodyweight or gym sessions, but most people don’t rely on them. Daily suggested workouts are hit or miss: they’re good for structure but not something to blindly follow. Maps are genuinely handy if you do trails or long hikes; on runs they’re mostly good for keeping you on a planned route. The 970 only records ECG if you start it manually, it doesn’t passively check like an Apple Watch. Smart features: you’ll see texts and calls, but RCS isn’t supported (just standard SMS/notifications). The mic/speaker are fine for quick replies or answering a call in a pinch, but not something you’d want to use all the time. Why Garmin? Mostly the depth of training metrics, reliability, and ecosystem, Coros and Suunto are good but Garmin still has the most polished data!!

I’d go **Forerunner 265** unless you expect to abuse your watch heavily (workshop, construction, etc.). It tracks gym, jogging, swimming, sleep, and stress beautifully and it looks sleek. The **Instinct 3** is built tough (rugged, reliable), but you’ll sacrifice some of the nicer interface and comfort of the 265. If your environment’s mostly benign (gym + pool + light outdoor), the 265 gives you more daily joy. If you’ll drop it, bang it, leave it in harsh places, the Instinct’s durability becomes appealing

The problem is the Rangeman is basically inferior in every way compared the Instinct 3. Don’t get me wrong I love a Rangeman but it’s time Casio upped their game.

Garmin Instinct 2 or 3. There is a regular and solar version. Incredible battery life.

That is with full GPS use over 30-48 hours. I am sure the watch can be switched to battery saver mode when sleeping or not actively using the GPS so it can stretch out a few more days.

I've been a Garmin user for years. Tried an Apple Watch 10 when I picked up a cheap iPhone to play with. The watch lasted a little over 1 day. I just couldn't get into a good routine trying to charge it at some point every day. A top-up during a shower just wasn't enough over the course of a week. My Garmin Instinct 3, for comparison, last 39 DAYS between charges. Now, whilst that seems like a no-brainer, a lot of it comes down to use case. I wear a smart watch to gather my health stats; steps, floors, calories, heart rate etc, and also to get a good measure of my sleep. The Garmin excels at all of that and the Garmin app is great for insights into what is going on. However, if you are going to use the watch to perform some functions to save getting your phone out and use some of the apps, the Apple Watch is beyond comparison. There are so many things you can do from the watch easily that Garmin struggles with and there are more apps available for the Apple Watch compared to just about any other watch out there. If that's the kinda thing you want a smart watch for, then it's Apple Watch all the way and you just have to figure out a good routine for power management that works for you.

Realy? You compare a Ultra with your Instict 3 ? Wow …

I am an archetypal long-term Apple ecosystem devotee. I am sharing this to help anyone else who may be locked into the Apple ecosystem, but is considering a switch to Garmin. I have a MacBook, iPad, AirPods, AppleTV and until recently an Apple Watch. I have had different Apple Watches since they launched, the Series 1, 3 and lastly an 8. I didn't really ever consider switching until my Apple Watch battery started giving me battery warnings at about 7pm (from starting the day on full charge at 6:30am). I would use it all day for health tracking, notifications and workouts, but not for sleep tracking as I had to charge it overnight. I recently upgraded to the Garmin Instinct 3, which is about $850 in Australia. This is in comparison to the $1,200 I was going to spend to upgrade to the titanium Apple Watch 10 instead. I was super on the fence about switching. I was mostly worried about poor integration with the Apple ecosystem. After having the Instinct for about 6 weeks, here are my reflections. # Good bits: * **Battery life is amazing** \- even with AOD I get about 6 days on full charge. Charge time is also amazing - it seems to take no time to take it off whilst I am at my computer and charge it 100% for another 6 days * **The sleep score and body battery is a game changer** \- It is insane how much this has helped me with better habits in just 6-weeks. I can see the difference in my sleep and body battery even if I have two alcoholic drinks at an event or with dinner, or if I have too much caffeine too late in the day. It is helping me understand the effects of these actions on other parts of my life more explicitly. * **Workout tracking** \- workout tracking is epic. I would like maps on the Instinct 3 so hopefully that comes out in a future firmware release. * **Form factor** \- The Instinct 3 form factor (combined with a better strap than the default) is a lot more interesting and versatile than the Apple Watch slab of glass on your wrist. The flashlight is a nice and useful inclusion too. # The okay bits: * **Integration is mostly fine** \- for my use case, getting notifications from iPhone and integrating with HealthKit seems to do 90% of the job. I don't miss the touch screen of the Apple Watch as much as I thought I would, and I didn't even really use Siri or respond to messages via my watch so I don't miss those features. # Bad bits: * **The UI is so bad** \- I can't believe a massive company such as Garmin has mid-2010's UI on both the watch and Garmin app. The graphs, data presentation and navigation is about 1000 points lower than Apple Health. It is so unappealing it looks like it was created by an accountant. * **The watch faces are very limited** \- the stock watch faces on the Instinct 3 are pretty garish and need customization to look okay on your wrist. The level of customization they have could also be improved. Even the watch faces to purchase on Garmin Connect are mostly unappealing. * **Missing exercise rings** \- I do miss my Apple Health Rings. I think it is a novel way of ensuring you have a balanced day of activity. I think Garmin needs to introduce something similar, which complements the idea of the body battery in a helpful, easy and visual way. * **The physical size of Garmin watches** \- I liked the idea of getting a Fenix due to the upgraded sensor and added other features, however I am a relatively small guy and it looked absolutely ridiculous on my wrist. Like a go-go-gadget watch. The 45mm Instinct 3 is perfect, but I feel like Garmin needs to offer better size alternatives for other models. Overall I am super happy with the switch and expect unless Apple Watch brings out something remarkably different than the current line-up I will stay with the Garmin Instinct line for a while. If you are tossing up on switching from Apple Watch I would highly recommend it!

Sooo I'll start in general... Garmin is a great option for you except for weight training if you use your watch for more than just basic hr recording during an activity. I use Hevy (paid subscription) while I workout but start a strength training activity on my Garmin to get hr data. Depending on your budget and the Instinct 3 is a good option, however not having maps will not be great for hikes. If you are looking to do hikes i suggest the Fenix 7 or Epix gen 2 ( there are pro versions of those watches which include newer hr sensors and an ecg sensor) Getting certified refurbished items from eBay is a great option.

Love this breakdown; this is the kind of real-world testing we all want but rarely get. Polar sneaking in as the most reliable is wild, especially since most people default to Garmin for sports. Also confirms what a lot of us suspect: WHOOP is solid but still has blind spots (especially in water), Oura is basically just a sleep tracker, and Garmin isn’t as bulletproof as its reputation. Huge respect for strapping five devices on during a tri — that’s some true hybrid-athlete-meets-mad-scientist energy. Please keep posting updates, especially the recovery score comparison. This is gold.

Go for it. It's my very usecase. Calisthenics, walking and running. I have had it on for 25d and it's still got 6% battery. That's what I'd call a watch!

It’s not wild at all, Polar HR straps are solid from experience. Even the optical ones such as the Verity Sense. And in this case, the Garmin Instinct 3 is using an older generation heart rate sensor.

Garmin Instinct 3 is good. Basic display with no touchscreen, which I find much easier to view and control when kiting. Also gets much better battery life than my Fenix did. One of those situations where less is more

From my quick 5 second search, tattoos will be a problem for all optical HR sensors so a Garmin watch will be just as problematic as an Apple watch if worn on a tattooed area. So a chest strap + bike computer would probably be a better idea. For me personally when I'm not tattooed yet, my Instinct 3 works perfectly for cycling.

Have you considered the 265s? I also have fairly tiny wrists and the 265 looked the same. The 42mm case of the 265s is perfect for me as I like to record my sleep metrics. If you are interested in ruggedness, maybe have a look at the Instinct 3. But those are a fair bit bulkier.

I got the new Instinct 3. It’s freaking incredible. I love it so much more than my Fenix 7 Pro Solar.

I’m a big fan of the AMOLED. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to see the screen as well in bright sunlight, but it turns out that’s not a problem at all. I get the same battery life as before (about 18 days), because I was never outside long enough to get any benefit from the solar functionality. The UI is pretty much the same, but prettier. I think the flashlight is better, and for me, it looks better on my wrist at 45mm vs the Fenix’s 47mm (I have small wrists). I would equate this as a sturdier version of the Epix 2.

Hey man, would recommend on of the 255 or 265 series for a good value/price. If u are more of a rougher person I would pick the instinct 3.

Yep, had a FR 255 and moved to the I3, great sports watch with almost 1 month of battery life

TBH - not shocked about the Garmin. I have found with them the wearables are nothing more than a data collector for GPS & other monitors (HR strap, cadence, speed etc) - that they excel in. In my experience the heart rate monitor on the device itself is average at best. Fantastic break down post BTW!

For mine, Whoop is best for overall metrics - strain/recovery/sleep - as well as application interface. Great for day to day and normal training. Garmin is best at actual training/event data for say a run/ride/tri etc when paired with a HR strap (cadence, speed and power sensors too). But then you don't get the most out of it until you export the data to Strava or similar as the Garmin app is not great.

If Enduro 2-3 is out of the price limit of yours, give a try for Garmin Instinct series. The Instinct 3 series just got relased, so the 2 and 2X Solar series should become cheaper just now.

You should check out the newly released Instinct 3 series too. I think they have more mapping features maybe? Not sure. But maybe you NEED to spend more, so go for the Enduro. I don't have experience with that. I have an Instinct 2X Tactical.

The Instinct 3 is perfect for you if you don’t need maps on the watch. It can load a breadcrumb trail but doesn’t have topo maps overlays. Otherwise look for the previous generation of the Fenix’s, ie. Pro or non- Pro 7’s or Epix. The other option is to check out one of the Forerunner series that has maps. Again previous versions are cheaper than the latest. The features gap between current versions of Garmins and previous versions aren’t that great in its core functionality.

The instinct 3 fitness aspect is going to be just as good. It’s a fitness tracker first.

It’s the best bang for your buck in my opinion. I can’t speak on the tactix cause I’ve never had one. I’m sure it’s just as amazing as everyone else is saying.

The instinct series might interest you as well, as they are more rugged with very long lasting battery. I have owned one in the past, then jumped to Forerunner 955 for the maps, then to Epix - for the flashlight and AMOLED screen, and now to Fenix 8 for the voice commands, taking phone calls from the watch. The new instinct 3 series have the flashlight too, and the 2X might have it as well (don't quote me on that) Best of luck, they're all great watches!

The instinct series might interest you as well, as they are more rugged with very long lasting battery. I have owned one in the past, then jumped to Forerunner 955 for the maps, then to Epix - for the flashlight and AMOLED screen, and now to Fenix 8 for the voice commands, taking phone calls from the watch. The new instinct 3 series have the flashlight too, and the 2X might have it as well (don't quote me on that) Best of luck, they're all great watches!

I use it mostly for sports tracking, specifically indoor swimming. \- It's accurate when we talk about tracking lengths, if you're swimming "stable". Then it's counts lengths without mistakes. \- If you suddenly have to switch the style, e.g. you swim freestyle, but then you have to slow down, change to breaststroke etc, your watch will go crazy and there will be some hallucinations on the report for example extremely fast lap time gets registered... But it requires some strange situation to happen (like someone appearing on your lane, but having way slower tempo than you). Unfortunately I haven't found a way to fix this, even manually in the mobile/web app. \- HR sensor is well... unreliable? I don't know, I never compared it with some serious device like Polar HR strap. But today I was swimming 2000m with moderate pace, tempo was mostly very stable. And look what has been registered: [https://imgur.com/a/IpPNEfl](https://imgur.com/a/IpPNEfl) The only explanation for this, is that I didn't put the watch tight enough, and after some time of swimming it repositioned itself and started monitoring HR more correctly than for the first 15 mins. In general I still like it. I like the oldschool, high contrast display, it's not flashy, distracting AMOLED. Battery life is very good. It's quite comfortable because it's rather still a lightweight watch (I have 45mm version).

If you want max battery life and don’t care about smartwatch features other than fitness tracking get the instinct series. There’s several options based off of your preferred display and it gets up to 28 days of battery with notifications turned off

You can’t go wrong with a Garmin. The Instinct series is very rugged and reasonably priced. The fenix series is also super rugged but is at a premium cost

If you don't want to charge your watch everyday, check out the Garmin Instinct series. Amazing battery life, even with activity tracking. It'll track your laps, distance, drill logging, the works.

Not sure how long are your runs and hikes. If you are going for long hikes, can consider the Instinct series. Can take hard knocks like G-Shock and still function. The basic models with monochrome screen suffice for your needs and the battery is way more than enough.

The instinct series is, in my opinion, by far the best. I believe this mainly due to the screen, which is not the awful LCD/LED stuff that most watches have. It's clear in all conditions, and extremely durable. I think the UI is also quite well done. Any of the instincts will fit the bill, but probably instinct 2 is the best balance of features.

Check out instinct series if you concerned with durability

The I3 circle has lots of quality and software issues. The square does not…..I have both, I know…. But hey, great battery life on the Instinct series.

those missing stuffs are available for the Instinct series. Altho gotta compromise with the black and white MIP display which is not everyone's favorite food.

I try to give you few options , -swim 2 : have everything for swimming but is really focus only on swimming, heart rate is really good , but if you want to do others sports than is lacking a lot. Have drills mode and don’t miss a lap normally. -Suunto run/run s , if you change the strap get an amazing hr underwater (outside of water is way worse ) 🤷🏻‍♂️, is perfect on lap counting , have integrations with Suunto aqua headphone who give you some extra metrics on head rotations ( is still a new come , so something isn’t perfect yet) , can use for any other sports , but doesn’t have any drills mode -instinct series , actually similar to swim 2 but less accurate on hr reading and sometimes miss laps , can do so many things outside water , huge battery , but as a swimmer I felt not worth for only swimming so I send it back - forerunner series , it come in 2 versions , the small 200 series (the last one is called 500) , and the 900 series , go for the smallest , is lighter have everything you need and more stuff you won’t ever use , for the fact is smaller it is more comfy to use in water and hr just little bit more accurate , never miss a lap , and got all function of swim 2 for swimming plus tons of functions for many sports - in conclusion I use many times the Suunto but because is missing the drills mode I go back to forerunner when I need it , than I still using swim 2 bought so many years ago , I use for css , but honestly just because I feel nostalgic on it , after swim with him for many years

I only wear my Garmin Instinct when actually out for a run, or working out. If I wanted something to track my stats throughout the day, I would look into a Whoop. They don't have a traditional display, so it probably wouldn't feel as much like you're wearing two watches.

I'm a big fan of the Garmin Instinct watches, but I do like and use more of the smart features like notifications and whatnot. Features I love: * completely and utterly water proof (almost everyone I know using an apple watch has killed at least one in the water) * The rubber band is different material from the fitbits, I find it a lot more comfortable and doesn't smell when I wear it while sweating a lot like some other watches I have * 30 day battery life, and they have a solar option I'd like to upgrade to which will net essentially unlimited battery life if you're outside or in bright light often enough * Music controls! I haven't used a fitbit in years now but I always missed that back then. * Timers and alarms, I find myself being a lot more organized with my timers when they're on my wrist and visible at all times * Actually good step tracking * Sleep tracking * Heart rate monitoring and resting heart rate * Exercise tracking and actually decent approx calorie burn estimates (I did the math with my CI and weight loss and found it lined up within a pretty good margin) * I use the compass a surprising amount * GPS tracking for hikes including good ascent tracking * Buttons instead of touch so it can be used while sweating buckets * A battery saving mode that boosts the already great battery life into the stratosphere * Automatic data import into the LoseIt app, which I use for calorie tracking Most of these are specifically things that I like a lot better than similar products I've used like fitbits and the google pixel watch lineup. I've never used an apple watch myself but my sister and previous partners have used them and I really don't jive with the interface, although they have all said the idea of having a streak of "closing their rings" sufficiently gamified the process such that they actually did more exercise.

Hi guys. What fitness trackers/wearables do you guys use when daily wearing your Omega’s? I’m quite big into the gym and tracking my health, fitness and lifestyle and for this I currently use a Garmin Instinct smart watch. I only really use it for HR, steps and sleep tracking. It does also tell me about my recovery and training readiness which I quite like. But, in December I treated myself to a SMP300 in Seaweed Green to celebrate a really great year I’d had in 2024…Married, had my first child and landed my dream job. So to me it was worth celebrating by purchasing my first luxury watch. My issue is that I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I’ve worn it. I didn’t buy it to collect dust in a box and be an expensive ornament, I bought it to wear! So with that, I’m wanting to ditch the Garmin and daily my SMP but still be able to track my fitness and lifestyle. So what wearables are you guys using or what do you recommend? So far I can only really find Whoop that ticks the boxes for me, the biggest thing is it being screenless. I don’t want to be that guy who wears 2 watches 😅. Any recommendations and personal experience are great appreciated! Cheers guys.

My garmin instinct does a good job. Garmin also makes chest straps that sync with your phone just like their watches do