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)

venu 4 is most complete watch from named choice, and have flashlight. Need screen protector. and bezel is possible to scratch. don't buy venu 3 it's pretty big downgrade compared to v4. fr165 is perfectly fine starting watch for garmin. missing music, audio prompts and advance metrics like training status and training rediness compared to fr265s, but you need to wear watch 24/7 for this metrics to work correctly, and if you don't want to do it, fr165 is perfectly fine as workout watch. fr165 have 20mm strap, fr265s have 18mm strap that I don't like. Not sure how would you track kayakin, probably as cardio. Fr165 do have altmeter/barometar and track stairs but i think you can't directly access live data in widget, and on fr265s/i3 you can access widget directly. Probably because of software limitation. Another option in simular price/feature range as fr265s is instinct 3 amoled 45mm (if you can find it on discount) . More robust watch 10atm, flashlight, but doesn't have touch screen! and doesn't have music and audio prompts.

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 (gen 3 sensor, outdated in 2025) instinct 3 amoled doesn't have touch and music but have flashlight and stronger built quality.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 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

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. :)

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.