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.
A: Yes, this watch has GPS.

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).

Go ahead — sign up for that race, and train brilliantly with the easy-to-use Forerunner 165 GPS running smartwatch. With pace, distance and heart rate, you’ll see your progress shine on the watch’s AMOLED touchscreen display while Garmin Coach and race adaptive training plans help you chase your goals. Wake up to your morning report to see health insights alongside an overview of sleep, recovery and training outlook (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked). Use training effect and training effect labels to see how your workouts impact your fitness and to understand the primary benefit achieved from your workout. Then, check recovery time to know how long to take it easy between runs. Pair your watch to your smartphone, and your notifications will show up right on your wrist. Get a more complete picture of your health, not just a glimpse, from your Forerunner 165 smartwatch, with up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.

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).
| Pros for Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Black Band - (2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | There were no pros for this product— | There were no pros for this product— | Battery Life, Overall Performance, Solar Charging, GPS, Ease of use |
| Cons for Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Black Band - (2025) | |||
| There were no cons for this product— | There were no cons for this product— | There were no cons for this product— | Screen Quality, Size |
Customers often highlight the amazing battery life and overall good performance of the Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch. Several users find the various features, including the flashlight, very useful, and appreciate the bonus of solar charging. Some customers also appreciate the comfort, sleep tracking, stylish design, and lightweight feel of the watch.
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
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
I have had this watch for a little over a month now and absolutely love it. I don’t miss having an Apple Watch at all. It’s rugged, extremely durable, has lots of cool and unique features. Many of which I haven’t even played with or checked out. I love that it is completely waterproof, I also have not had to charge it. As long as your in the sun some of it has sun hitting it, it charges. Great watch, will stay with this line for sure, great for law enforcement and other first responders.
This review is from Garmin - Instinct 3 Solar GPS Smartwatch 50 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Charcoal Band - (2025)
Nash Posted