Garmin Instinct 3 Review – Summary & our takeouts from @dcrainmaker’s review
The Garmin Instinct 3 continues its predecessors’ rugged, adventure-focused design while introducing notable upgrades in display options, battery life, and GPS performance. As detailed in @dcrainmaker’s YouTube review, Garmin now offers a Solar Edition with a traditional monochrome MIP display and an AMOLED Edition with a high-contrast colour screen. This move caters to two different user preferences—those prioritising extreme battery longevity and those seeking improved screen clarity while maintaining the signature durability of the Instinct lineup.
Display and Battery Performance
A key takeaway from @dcrainmaker’s testing is the balance between display quality and battery efficiency. The Solar Edition benefits from an upgraded solar panel, removing the reddish tint seen in previous models and significantly improving power absorption. His tests demonstrated substantial gains in battery life, particularly in GPS-only mode, where the watch can last for hundreds of hours under optimal sunlight conditions. In contrast, the AMOLED Edition sacrifices some of this endurance for a more vibrant screen but still performs well compared to other smartwatches in its class.
Navigation and Outdoor Features
Despite its strong positioning as an outdoor watch, the Instinct 3 lacks full onboard maps, a significant omission at its price point. @dcrainmaker points out that while breadcrumb navigation is available, Garmin’s decision to exclude full mapping is surprising, given that lower-priced competitors and other Garmin models now offer this feature. The inclusion of city point markers provides some additional location context. Still, their usefulness is limited, as only significant cities appear rather than smaller, potentially more relevant locations for navigation in remote areas.
Sports Tracking and Smart Features
The Instinct 3 supports over 100 sports modes, including structured workouts and Garmin’s daily suggested training plans. @dcrainmaker’s review confirms that GPS accuracy is strong across different conditions, from trail running near cliffs to road cycling, with the watch consistently outperforming previous Instinct models. The addition of SatIQ technology, which automatically adjusts GPS settings for optimal power efficiency, enhances usability for long-distance activities. Garmin Pay is now standard across all models, offering contactless payment functionality, provided the user’s bank is supported.
Bugs and Firmware Stability
Early firmware issues, particularly on the Solar Edition, resulted in frequent crashes and data loss, as @dcrainmaker experienced during his testing. However, he notes that a beta firmware update significantly improved stability, resolving most of these issues. While the latest version appears more reliable, the initial release highlights concerns about Garmin’s quality control before launch.
Garminology’s Takeout on this Garmin Instinct 3 Review
The Garmin Instinct 3 successfully refines the series with improved battery performance, greater display flexibility, and good GPS accuracy. However, the absence of complete mapping remains a notable drawback for those who rely on in-device navigation. As @dcrainmaker’s review illustrates, the choice between Garmin Instinct 3’s Solar and AMOLED versions ultimately comes down to individual priorities—battery endurance versus display quality. While some early software instability was present, the watch now appears stable, making it a strong contender for those seeking a durable, feature-rich multi-sport watch with long-lasting battery life.