Garmin is well known for an incredibly diverse array of machine — many of which make up thebest fitness trackersandbest smartwatches — and the fellowship has just added to its card with the fresh Instinct 3 series . The Instinct batting order has always been known for first-class barrage fire lifetime , and the new Garmin Instinct 3 continues that but also offer an upgraded display for the first clip .
Three years after the Instinct 2 was first launched , the Instinct 3 brings a few newfangled feature , but the headline feature is an raise AMOLED showing . Like the Garmin Instinct 2 , there is also still an option for a lower - resolution solar role model equipped with a black and white MIP display .
I spend a few proceedings with the Instinct 3 series at Garmin ’s media preview in Las Vegas atCES 2025 , and here ’s everything you need to sleep with .
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
What’s new with the Garmin Instinct 3?
The Garmin Instinct 3 take a few iconic Garmin have to the furrowed Incite lineup . Like theGarmin Fenix 8 , there ’s a built - in torch ( for the first time on an Instinct watch ) , which is brighter than ever and approachable via a double press of a button . It derive with variable vividness and also sport a stroboscope mode , which is ideal when you ask a agile burst of lighter , whether in a deep cave or just rummaging through a bag .
The Instinct 3 is designed to be your furrowed smartwatch companion , but Garmin recognise that some people do n’t just want a black and white smartwatch ; they want a full - color exhibit . This is where the new AMOLED selection come in , and like the rest of the Incite lineup , it promises long bombardment life , with Garmin enounce it should last 24 days on a single charge .
The solar variation , meanwhile , is designed to never need a kick , with Garmin saying it has an unlimited battery lifespan . In reality , however , this is if you drop your meter alfresco and live in a post with good sunlight , but even if you are constantly indoors , the scummy - ray black and white display means it should last around 50 days on a single charge . The upgrade solar potentiality mean the Instinct 3 beat up to five times the battery life of the Instinct 2 when tracking an outside running with GPS .
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
More than just a new display
Like the rest of Garmin ’s batting order , the Instinct 3 can display presentment from your phone and tag your workouts / runs with integrated sensing element , including an accelerometer and multi - band GPS .
The Instinct 3 series also comes with a metallic element - reenforce bezel that promises in force lastingness , and it ’s protected against thermal and stupor resistance to the MIL - STD-810 touchstone . There ’s also water resistivity up to 100 meters , although there ’s no specific rating for aqualung and deep sea diving event .
If you ’ve used a Garmin product before , you ’ll be used to the suite of wellness feature on the Instinct 3 , which includes tracking steps , continuous core rate monitoring , and sophisticated sleep monitoring . Each morning , you ’ll also get a report on the previous day , let in your activity and sleep HRV ( fondness rate unevenness ) , as well as a look ahead to your calendar that day .
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
Garmin Instinct 3 price and availability
Both models of the Instinct 3 hail in two sizes — 45 mm and 50 mm — as well as a host of colorways . If you want something that does n’t stand out and blends into your casual life , there are the black and black / fusain models , but my favorites are the other two colors .
Part of the limited - version Tropical assembling , the blue and abstemious gullible colorways are alone and different . In special , the latter has a gorgeous bronze metallic element frame underneath that is striking and different . Garmin said it plan to betray these straps separately as well , although there ’s a limited amount of each colorway being made available .
The Instinct 3 commence at $ 400 for the 45 mm solar model , with the gravid size costing $ 50 more . The AMOLED adaptation start out at $ 450 , with the same insurance premium for the larger size . Both model will be available to order from January 10 , but Garmin has n’t revealed exactly when they ’ll ship to client .
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
