Garmin Instinct 3 review: A fun, tough Fenix alternative with a twist

The Instinct is back! Well, it never went away, but just like the flagship Garmin Fenix 8, it underwent some profound changes (e.g. adding an AMOLED screen, built-in flashlight, etc.), which makes it feel like a significant milestone for the franchise.

The Instinct series has always been a sandbox for Garmin. It’s more affordable and, let’s say, youthful than the Fenix. The brand can get away with more experimentation and make the watch look quirky without sacrificing popularity. If anything, people love the Instinct for its uniqueness.

I’ve been drifting away from the Instinct series in recent years. I started finding them too expensive and a bit dated; versions like the Garmin Instinct Crossover hybrid didn’t help reacquaint me with the watch, either. It felt like the franchise lost its way a little.

After weeks of testing, the Instinct 3 managed to rekindle some of the fire I felt for the series. It’s rugged, sexy, and highly functional while being much more affordable than, admittedly, the best outdoor watch, the Fenix. This is precisely where the Instinct series should live! It’s still quite spendy compared to up-and-coming rivals – worth the money? Let’s find out!

Garmin Instinct 3 review

Price and availability

The Instinct 3 was announced in January 2025 and is available to buy now at Garmin US, Garmin UK and Garmin AU, with prices from $300/ £260/ AU$549. This is for the 40mm Instinct E (Essential) model, similar to the Garmin Fenix E (base model).

Solar models start from $400/ £350/ AU$729 (45mm model). As expected, the AMOLED version is the more expensive, with prices starting from $450/ £390/ AU$829. There are 12 different models listed on the Garmin website currently, with some colourways being exclusive to Garmin.com.

Specifications

The Instinct 3 may not come in quite as many different varieties as the Fenix, but the specs vary quite a bit between different models. For a full comparison, head over to Garmin’s comparison page. Below, I’ll use the specifications of the model I used for the review (45mm AMOLED).

• Bezel: Fibre-reinforced polymer/aluminium
• Display: 30 mm (1.2″) diameter AMOLED, 390 x 390 pixels
• Lens: Chemically strengthened glass
• Weight: 53g/ 1.86oz
• Water resistance: 10 ATM
• Battery life: Up to 18 days (7 days always-on), up to 32 hours in GPS-only mode
• Solar charging: yes (on MIP models)

Design and build quality

The third iteration retains the look and feel of the Instinct series. It has a rugged, ‘bolted’ design and a metal-reinforced bezel. The case is reinforced polymer built to MIL-STD 810 for thermal and shock resistance and is water-rated to 100 meters. The bezel is the same fibre-reinforced polymer combined with some aluminium accents.

The strap is still fixed like it used to be, giving the Instinct 3 a G-Shock-esque feel. The benefit of a non-hinged strap is that it’s less likely to break; moving parts are always the weakest point of any watch. The buckle and the fastening loops on the band are hard-wearing rubber.

The Garmin Instinct 3 has the classic five physical button layout: three on the left and two on the right. The buttons have a good pressing sensation, making it clear when interacting with them, which is always a bonus. One of my pet hates is when it is impossible to tell when you pressed the button because there is no solid end point.

In terms of display options, you can choose between the now-traditional MIP + Power Glass or AMOLED versions. Both come in two sizes: 45 and 50 mm. Only the Instinct E comes in the smallest, 40mm size. The tested 45mm AMOLED model has a 33 mm (1.3″) diameter display with a 416 x 416-pixel resolution. It’s worth noting that it isn’t a touchscreen - you operate the watch with the push buttons.

Garmin doesn’t disclose how bright its AMOLEDs are, but I found the Instinct 3 easy to read in broad daylight. I loved that the layout mimics the screen-in-screen approach that older Instincts use; it’s a fun throwback that honours the quirkiness of the series while also moving the franchise into the latest era of wearables with its modern display technology.

As for the MIP + Solar version, Garmin says the 50mm Instinct 3 Solar gets more than five times the battery life in GPS mode when solar charging compared to Instinct 2 Solar, thanks to the updated Power Glass, which can harvest the sun’s energy more efficiently.

The Instinct 3 is equipped with the latest Elevate Gen 5 sensing platform, the same powering the Fenix 8. The Instinct E may use the older Elevate Gen 4, just like the Fenix E - TBC. Although there is virtually nothing wrong with the fourth-gen Elevate, the newer Gen 5 does an even better job at providing comprehensive data such as heart rate variability, stress levels, and oxygen saturation (SpO2).

A big update over the predecessor is the physical flashlight. Inherited from the Fenix, the little lighting unit is housed under the top rim of the Instinct 3. It has both white and red light functions, with the former having three intensity levels. I love that it says ‘TORCH’ on the strap, which is kind of only visible when you activate it. Nice touch!

Features and accuracy

The Garmin Instinct 3 combines the best of the brand’s fitness and outdoor features. Like other top smartwatches from the brand, it can track heart rate, sleep blood oxygen, heart rate variability as well as menstrual cycle and pregnancy, to name a few.

It can also provide the Morning Report, a fun little summary of the day before with a snippet of what’s coming that day (e.g. weather, calendar appointments, etc.). The watch lets you receive emails, texts, and alerts and pay for things via Garmin Pay (i.e. contactless payments).

More performance-oriented features include the Garmin Messenger app, allowing two-way text messaging from the watch. To clarify, you need to be in an area with mobile phone coverage or have one of the inReach devices to use satellite communication channels for messaging. This is the same with any other Garmin Messenger-compatible watches.

The Instinct 3 supports Garmin Share to share saved locations, courses and workouts with other nearby, compatible Garmin smartwatches and Edge cycling computers. Emphasis on the word nearby – Garmin Share can’t be used for emergencies. It’s better suited for group rides and runs.

As for GNSS performance, the Instinct 3 has multi-band GPS and is SatIQ-enabled, just like the Instinct 2X Solar. This means more accurate location tracking without sacrificing battery life, as SatIQ can automatically switch between different GNSS modes based on satellite data availability.

The Instinct 2 also has TracBack functionality, allowing you to retrace your steps, so to speak, when you’re out and about. There are two modes: TrackBack, which leads you back to the starting point the same way you came and Straight Line, which, obviously, points you in the most direct line. In both instances, the watch will show you a little rudimentary map.

Speaking of maps, the watch doesn’t have this functionality apart from the basic map mentioned above. You can save courses and let the Garmin Instinct 3 follow you, but you won’t be able to browse the map the same way you can on the Garmin Enduro 3, for example.

Performance

At this point, it’s quite hard to say anything about Garmin watches' GPS and heart rate accuracy without repeating myself. As mentioned above, the Instinct 3 uses the same heart rate sensor as the top-tier Fenix and has multi-band GPS functionality. Both are pretty much on point, and work with high precision for the sort of workouts people use Garmins (e.g. running, cycling, hiking, etc.).

In my experience, the watch latched onto the GPS signal quickly, even in Normal mode. I live in an area with no tall trees or other objects that would obscure the signal, but I also tried the watch in more urban areas, and it performed well even during slow-paced activities like walking.

The Garmin Instinct 3 is lighter than the Fenix and Enduro series, but I still find it quite bulky to wear to bed. A shame, as that means I miss out on a bunch of features like sleep tracking and Bory Battery. I’m sure some hardcore people wear Instincts 24/7 - kudos to you, people! Rest assured that it can track your vitals all day long without an issue.

Daytime heart rate tracking looks spot on, that I know. As a keen Garmin user, I appreciate all the training advice the Instinct provides, such as training status and readiness, and the Instinct 3 provides all of these. And because it’s outdoorsy, the watch can also tell you tide times as well as info on the weather and moon phases.

Battery life and charging

How much battery life you get out of your Garmin Instinct 3 depends on which variety you choose. Understandably, the MIP + Solar models have the longest battery life: the largest 50mm version can last for up to 40 days in smartwatch mode or go on forever if you spend at least three hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions.

The smaller 45mm MIP + Solar watch also has unlimited battery life under the same conditions but has a shorter 28-day battery life when using battery power only. The larger AMOLED model can run up to 24 days (9 days always-on), while the smaller 45mm model can run up to 18 days (7 days always-on) in smartwatch mode.

GPS battery life is even more diverse, and I won’t list them all because no one needs to read them here (you can always head over to Garmin and check the stats). In short, it’s decent: my 45mm AMOLED can, on paper, has up to 32 hours of GPS-only battery life. Unless you live in a densely populated urban area or out in the forest, this mode will be more than sufficient enough.

Funnily enough, All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band mode isn’t too far behind either: you get 23 hours of battery life in this mode. If you do moderate amounts of outdoor exercise a few times a week, I’d say it’s unlikely you’ll have to charge the watch more than once every other week. If you happen to spend a lot of time outdoors and have one of the solar models, you’ll have to charge the Instinct 3 much less frequently.

As with all the other Garmin watches equipped with Power Glass technology, sun exposure won’t charge the watch - it merely prolongs battery life. It can prolong it forever, though! Just don’t expect to leave the watch in the window in the morning and for it to be fully charged by the evening.

Verdict

The Garmin Instinct 3 is a superb outdoor watch that fulfils its purpose as a fun and affordable Fenix alternative. This iteration helps the series return to its originals and provides an excellent smartwatch experience.

I like the AMOLED screen, but if you prefer MIP and longer battery life, you can have that, too, which is nice. Some might find the button-only (i.e., no touchscreen) operation a bit more cumbersome, but I don't mind that since the watch has no actual map functionality. You’ll have to use the buttons during workouts, anyway.

I was wrecking my mind about the score and settled on four stars after a long internal debate. The reason why the Instinct 3 doesn’t get the full five-star treatment is competition. There are many affordable outdoor watches, most notably the Amazfit T-Rex 3, which offers more bang for your buck than the Garmin.

Of course, none of them has the swagger of the Instinct, further emphasised by the whacky colourways. If you like the G-Shock life but want a watch that’s actually smart, the Garmin Instinct 3 is your best bet. And it‘s not that expensive, especially if you opt for one of the smaller models.