
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).
A: Yes it is. Especially paired with the Garmin App. It gives great details about waves ridden, length and time of wave and speed.
Q: Can I replace the watch strap?
A: Yes you can.
Q: Does it give you avg. heart rate for the activity?
A: Yes. It gives you avg Hr and max hr for each activity.
Q: What makes this better than the Instinct 2 solar? What improvements have been made?
A: Basically Light
Q: Does the watch sync up with android and Samsung phones? Does it sync up with various Google apps?
A: Yes - but limited. Bluetooth connected with my Samsung. Notifications are synced. Limited interaction with those notifications, depending on the app it's from.
A: The Instinct 3 Solar is available in Black, Green/Grey, Grey/Orange or Orange/Grey. Thank you for choosing Garmin. For further assistance please contact us at [email protected] or visit our Support Center, https://support.garmin.com/en-US/. Garmin

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).

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).

fēnix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar is the ultimate multisport GPS smartwatch with a large 1.4” display, designed to perform all day, every day. Get weeks of battery life with the scratch-resistant Power Sapphire solar charging lens. Meet any challenge with advanced training features such as hill score, which measures your climbing performance over time, and real-time stamina updates to gauge your stamina potential. For a more complete picture of your health, training and recovery, tap in to 24/7 health and wellness monitoring with advanced sleep tracking, HRV status, 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). When the sun sets, use the LED flashlight to stay visible or find your way. Take an ECG from your wrist when you want (not available in all regions; must be 22 years or older). Navigate with preloaded TopoActive maps and ski resort maps; download even more regions for global adventures. Adventure far off the grid with up to 37 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging in 3 hours of direct sunlight (50,000 lux) per day. Gain superior positioning accuracy while optimizing battery life, thanks to multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology.
| 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 | Battery Life, Durability, Screen Quality, Sleep Tracking, Customization | Functionality | There were no pros for this product— |
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.
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
This is my first smartwatch; having to charge a watch seemed very inconvenient, so I have stuck to traditional watches. I wanted to keep track of my fitness goals, so a smartwatch was a good option compared to carrying my phone everywhere. When looking for watches, long battery life and a screen that wasn’t so bright and colorful (like a phone screen) were my top priorities. I decided on the instinct 3 solar because of the long battery life, what the watch was able to track, and having access to Garmin’s GPS function for running. The watch fits and feels like any other watch; the screen isn’t distracting; it tracks everything I’m looking for in regards to health and fitness. The light on the watch was a nice feature, but not necessarily a selling point.
This review is from Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Black Band - (2025)
DonS Posted
The improved contast is worth it personally. There is almost no difference between the elevate 4 and 5 sensor on my wrist so I do not care its the “old sensor”. All of these instinct watches, and quite frankly all fitness/sports/smartwatches have their issues, quirks and glitches. This one requires proper updating through Garmin Express to get the battery life to display properly. The orange accents do not bother me like I thought they might. They are subtle and gives it some character. I can not use silicone or rubber watch straps. The Ultrafit nylon straps are incredibly comfortable and create a better fit and adjustment. I typically disable all features except for HR and full charge gets 31 days with one or two activites tracked. Solar charging is incredible compared to prior gen.
USMC1108A Posted