Garmin

Fenix 3 Series

Garmin

fēnix 3 HR

Garmin

fenix 3 Sapphire

Overall

#55 in

Fitness Trackers

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score61% positive
40
16
10

Top Pros

Top Cons

Last updated: Jul 12, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit Icon0x427269616E00
11 months ago

Yeah, I did that every day of the PCT with my Fenix 3HR in 2017. Watches have come a long way.

Reddit Iconaewynn0915
2 months ago

I've had a Fenix 3 sapphire since 2016 and it's still just as good as the day I bought it (used). Best $300 ever

Reddit IconBeneficial_Ostrich14
6 months ago

Im you a few weeks in, and have been a fenix user since the fenix 3 came out. But the apple universe is so practical, so i went the Awu3 way now. After a few weeks of owning this watch, i find there is pros and cons. Pros: the apple universe.. Cons: almost every free insights you get from Garmin is a paid app on Awu. I use Runna for running, i find it to be the best for running and kind of like the Garmin running plans. Im trying to figure out the WorkOutdoors app, but im not that big a fan yet.. As i live in norway and hiking and skiing is big, i found that just using the strava app works way easier (for now) if you use strava too.. As for body battery, bevel or Athlytic is ok.. AWU is not so good on sleep tracking, so i would rather just listen to my body and use the BB as an indicator. My honest opinion a few weeks in. The AWU is a really good day to day watch with workout tracking built in, but the Garmin watches are really good sport watches. Im giving this watch a year, and if i still like and get used to it, ill probably keep it. If not im going back 😊

6 months ago

I don’t understand how. It seems like it tracks sleep in intervals, and if i dont sleep at that given interval i get a bad sleepscore.. or if im just laying down, it thinks i had a good nights sleep even though i just slept 3 hours that night.. garmin is not good, but it felt overall better.. but it could be that im adjusting to the new watch

Reddit Iconbenjaminbjacobsen
6 months ago

I went fenix 3 -> AWU -> fenix 6 -> fenix 6 & AWU2. Garmin is the better watch. Better for recording outdoor stuff. Battery is once or twice a month with running every day. It’s great. You never sweat it. But half the days it won’t connect to my iPhone. I miss calls and can’t reply to texts. Syncing to my phone is also a hassle (have to turn the watch on and off half the time). AW is an extension of my phone and a distraction. But I can reply to texts without my phone. It helps reduce screen time because I can leave my phone across the room. It has better complications for the most part and the ultra at least matches my fenix. I had to add apps to get heart rate and steps on my main screen but they update and work. The dive app is cool (visiting my parents in the keys and snorkeling). I ski a lot and the ability to unlock my phone with goggles and a mask on is huge. Also Apple Pay. Picking one? Hard choice. But I bought my fenix 6 used for $300 a few years ago and added the AWU2 refurbished from Apple (so 100% battery). I’m keeping both.

Reddit Iconblitzkneisser
11 months ago

I had my Fenix 3 HR for almost 10 years before switching to the F8 Solar. It was still working, not a single scratch on the sapphire glass (used it for rock climbing and in harsh environments). Only replaced it as the battery runtime started to decrease (had to charge at least once a week in the end) and mainly because I wanted the bee features 😁

Reddit Iconcrzyhorse
10 months ago

Is the Instinct a touch screen? I had a Fenixn3 HR which I used for about 5 years. Upgraded to a Tactix 7 and was disappointed with how much dimmer it was than the 3. I figured it must be the touch screen functionality which I don't even use.

10 months ago

Hmm Fenix 3 HR had sapphire crystal but no touch screen or solar charging. I thought the solar was just the ring. Who knows....Fenix 3 HR was noticeably brighter. Anyway I want MIPs so 8 pro definitely won't do anything for me. Instinct 3 looks nice but I have Tactix 7 now so I'll stick with that.

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