
Instinct 3 is the rugged 45 mm GPS smartwatch with a 0.9” display, built-in flashlight and unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging (assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions). With bolted construction, a metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant lens, it can take on your toughest adventures. It’s engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance and is also 10 ATM water-rated. To keep you on track, the Instinct 3 smartwatch includes a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. Plus, multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life. Its 24/7 health and wellness features keep you connected to your body with heart rate tracking, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries). Instinct 3 also includes Garmin Pay contactless payments (with a supported bank).
Q: Is this watch water resistant?
A: Yes, this watch is water resistant.
Q: Can I receive mobile notifications on this watch?
A: Yes, you can receive mobile notifications on this watch.
Q: Does this watch have a built-in flashlight?
A: Yes, this watch has a built-in flashlight with variable intensities and a red light.
Q: What material is the case made of for this watch?
A: The case material is fiber-reinforced polymer.
Q: Does this watch have a display screen?
A: Yes, this watch has a display screen.
Q: Does this GPS smartwatch support mobile payments?
A: Yes, this GPS smartwatch supports Garmin Pay for mobile payments.
Q: Is the brightness adjustable on this watch?
A: Yes, the brightness is adjustable on this watch.

Instinct 3 is the rugged 45 mm GPS smartwatch with a 0.9” display, built-in flashlight and unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging (assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions). With bolted construction, a metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant lens, it can take on your toughest adventures. It’s engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance and is also 10 ATM water-rated. To keep you on track, the Instinct 3 smartwatch includes a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. Plus, multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life. Its 24/7 health and wellness features keep you connected to your body with heart rate tracking, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries). Instinct 3 also includes Garmin Pay contactless payments (with a supported bank).

Instinct 3 is the rugged 45 mm GPS smartwatch with a 1.2” AMOLED display, a built-in flashlight and up to 18 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. With bolted construction, a metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant lens, it can take on your toughest adventures. It’s engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance and is also 10 ATM water-rated. To keep you on track, the Instinct 3 smartwatch includes a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. Plus, multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life. Its 24/7 health and wellness features keep you connected to your body with heart rate tracking, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries). Instinct 3 also includes Garmin Pay contactless payments (with a supported bank).

Whatever you do, own it with Instinct 2 Solar. This rugged GPS smartwatch is tough enough to keep up with you and unique enough to fit your style. Plus, solar charging gives you unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode (assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions) so you can take on life’s unlimited possibilities. Do more of what you love with preloaded activity profiles for running, biking, swimming, strength training and more. When paired with a compatible smartphone, you even can stay connected to what matters to you with smart notifications, Garmin Pay and Connect IQ compatibility. Understand your body better with all-day health monitoring for energy levels, stress, sleep, Pulse Ox and much more (Pulse Ox not available in all countries. This device is intended to give an estimation of your activity and metrics; it is not a medical device).

Dare for more with Instinct 3 – Tactical Edition, the rugged GPS smartwatch with solar charging for unlimited battery life (assumes all-day wear in smartwatch mode with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions) and a built-in flashlight. With a bolted construction, metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant lens, it can take on the toughest missions. It’s engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance and is also 10 ATM water-rated. Purpose-built tactical features include a rucking activity, stealth mode, kill switch and preloaded Applied Ballistics solver (requires one-time purchase via the AB Quantum mobile app). Stay on track with a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter as well as multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, which delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life. Its 24/7 health and wellness features keep you connected to your body with heart rate tracking, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries).
| Pros for Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Black Band - (2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life, Overall Performance, Features, Solar Charging, Flashlight | There were no pros for this product— | There were no pros for this product— | Functionality |
Customers are positive about the Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch, frequently praising its exceptional battery life and the surprisingly useful built-in flashlight. Many appreciate the overall performance and the added convenience of solar charging, while the GPS functionality also receives positive feedback. There were no negative customer comments reported.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Great improvement from Apple Watch!!! I appreciate the ruggedness and durability as well as the battery life. The solar feature keeps my battery charged for two weeks. It is very easy to use for fitness tracking and gives much more in-depth and accurate information then Apple Watch and just using the Health app
This review is from Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 50 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Charcoal Band - (2025)
MarrissaH Posted
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar — Better Than I Ever Expected I honestly didn’t expect these watches to be this good — but Garmin Instinct 3 Solar completely blew my expectations away. This watch is not about fancy animations or useless smart features. It’s about reliability, endurance, and truth. The battery life is insane — with solar charging, I almost forget what a charger even is. I wear it every day, outdoors, indoors, workouts, sleep — and it just keeps going. The build quality is rock solid. It feels like a real tool, not a toy. Scratches, cold, heat, sweat — it doesn’t care. This is a watch you trust, not one you babysit. Health and activity tracking is spot on: heart rate, stress, sleep, Body Battery — everything feels honest and consistent. No fake numbers, no drama. Just clean, reliable data that actually helps you understand your body. The screen is perfectly readable in sunlight, the buttons work flawlessly (even with gloves or wet hands), and the simplicity of the interface is a huge plus. No distractions. No nonsense. This watch feels like it was made for people who value freedom, durability, and independence. After using it, I can confidently say: Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is better than all my expectations — and easily one of the best watches I’ve ever owned. Highly recommended. No regrets. Zero.
This review is from Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 50 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Charcoal Band - (2025)
ValkoV Posted
This was a gift for my boyfriend. He absolutely loves it! He appreciates the very long battery life, the charging capabilities through the solar cell, the flash light and the physical buttons on the bessel. Absolutely recommend for someone who hates charging a watch regularly but still want all the fancy smart watch features.
DestineeM Posted