May 1, 2025 • 17 mins
A detailed, 15-minute friendly discussion about the Garmin Instinct 3. Answering that age-old question, "Why hasn't it got maps!!!! and what can I do about it?" All the details, pros, cons and a full evaluation
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Source Written Article by the5krunner: “https://the5krunner.com/2025/02/11/garmin-instinct-3-review-amoled-solar-e-compared/”
Main Channel: https://the5krunner.com
My other channels: https://linktr.ee/the5krunner
—Credits:Content in this episode was generated using AI tools (NotebookLM) based on original content from @the5krunner, and other sources as cited.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the deep Dive. This is where we take sources
you send us and well, really diginto them.
Today we're looking at the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED
smartwatch. We've got a review from the 5K
runner, plus some official Garmin info and a bit on what
makes a good review generally. That's right.
We had a listener asking about this specific watch, the
Instinct 3 AMOLED, wanting to know if it's, you know, the real
(00:21):
deal for outdoorsy stuff. Yeah, so we're going to unpack
this review and give you the keystuff.
Think of it as your Quick guide to what matters with this watch.
Exactly. And this is for you, our
listener, the learner who wants that solid understanding fast,
those aha moments without getting totally buried in specs.
So the Instinct 3 AIM LED, it's billed as this rugged GPS
(00:44):
smartwatch. The 5K runner took it out,
tested it. Our mission?
Pull out the essentials so you can figure out if it's the right
fit for your adventures or even just daily life.
Focus is definitely on the AMOLED version based on this
review. OK, so the review kicks off with
a pretty vivid story, doesn't it?
It really does. Yeah.
It sets up this scenario in the Lake District comparing the
(01:05):
Instinct 3 solar model, which isrelated to an Apple Watch Ultra.
The battery life comparison. Classic Garmin territory,
totally. The story goes the friends Apple
Watch conked out after just two days, but the Instinct 3 solar
kept trucking, apparently thanksto the sun.
The message is pretty clear Garmin's pushing reliability and
(01:27):
long battery life for the outdoors.
That's like their big selling point against some others.
It's a strong hook, and it's good the reviewer adds that
disclaimer, you know that it's illustrative, not like a
documented scientific test, definitely.
But yeah, it Tees up the whole battery conversation, which is
massive for anyone looking at this kind of watch.
Absolutely critical. OK, so anecdote aside, let's
talk actual navigation. How does this thing help you
(01:49):
find your way? Because the review, well, it
raises some concerns here. Specifically the lack of on
device maps. The reviewer called it somewhat
worrisome for a modern outdoor GPS watch.
And that's a fairpoint, isn't it?
I mean, we might have managed without maps on watches years
ago, but now it's almost expected in this category.
(02:10):
Yeah, it feels like table stakesfor many.
And the Instinct 3 Amy LED, despite being, you know, a
dedicated outdoor watch, doesn'thave them, not built in on the
wrist. OK, so no maps for you
listening. Wondering well how do I navigate
them? What features does it actually
have? The review mentions things like
breadcrumb routes. Right, so it shows you a line
(02:33):
where you've been or a pre loaded route as just a line of
dots. We'll wait to point navigation.
Head towards the saved coordinate.
Basic back back which guys you back the way you came.
It's a safety net really. If you wander off your path
slightly it helps you get back onto that recorded line.
Good for not getting totally lost.
And a compass. Yeah, digital compass.
Yeah, your basic direction finding.
(02:53):
So the reviewer took these features and really tested them
out in different places and thisis where the limitations kind of
show up. First a hike on the South Downs
way. Pretty well marked trail and
here the watch was OK, mostly just like in the GPS track,
distance, elevation. Yeah, on a clear path with signs
everywhere, you don't need a mapquite as much.
(03:14):
The breadcrumb can sort of keep you honest.
But then a bike ride. London's Capital Ring urban
route also marked, but they still got lost multiple times.
Apparently even with turn alertson, the breadcrumb trail just
wasn't clear enough. When paths split and cycling is
faster, right? Easy to miss a turn.
That really highlights the weakness, doesn't it?
(03:36):
When things get a bit complex oryou're moving fast, just a line
of dots, it doesn't give you that instant, oh, that's that
path feeling. You lack situational awareness.
And the real test? Deliberately trying to navigate
unfamiliar woods, Devil's Punch Bowl try to shortcut ran into a
barbed wire fence and the reviewer basically said they
didn't feel confident they couldreliably get back to their
(03:56):
planned route using just the watch.
And that's the scenario, right? When you have to adapt, go off
plan, maybe find an alternative without a map showing the
terrain, the other paths, it's much harder.
You lose that bigger picture. They even compared it directly
with a Garmin Forerunner 965, which has maps on the North
Downs Way. The side by side.
(04:16):
And they KET wishing they had the map visuals, the terrain
detail that the instinct 3 amoledge just couldn't show O
they even referred the map on anale watch using a thirdarty a.
That tells you a lot. It's just a fundamentally
different, often more intuitive experience navigating with a map
right there, especially when things get tricky.
OK, but Garmin does have the explorer app.
(04:37):
How does that fit in? Does it fix the map problem?
Well, yes and no. The Explorer app on your phone
lets you plan routes, view detailed maps offline, sync
waypoints to the watch. It's useful for planning, but,
and it's this big, but those detailed maps stay on your phone
screen. The watch itself still just
shows the breadcrumb line for navigation.
Got you. So for you listening, don't I
think the app magically puts maps on the Instinct 3 AMOLED
(05:01):
display for navigation. It's more of a companion tool.
Precisely. It helps beforehand or if you
pull out your phone. Not real time map navigation on
the wrist itself. The review also mentions third
party apps like Comoot or DWMP from Garmin's Connect IQ store.
Can they add? Maps they can, yeah.
Some apps managed to overlay mapdata.
(05:23):
OK, sounds promising. But there's often a catch.
Using these third party map appsusually means you have to run
their activity mode, not Garmin's built in one.
So you might lose out on Garmin's own metrics like
training load recovery stuff. Exactly.
You trade Garmin's deeper ecosystem integration for that
third party map display. It's a compromise.
Right, OK, let's pivot slightly based on the review, what are
(05:45):
the absolute key decision factors?
If you're considering this watch#1 seems pretty obvious by now.
Maps, or the lack thereof. It's fundamental.
If you need or just really want maps on your wrist for
navigating outdoors, the Instinct 3 AMOLED probably isn't
your watch. And the reviewer suggested
alternatives. Yeah, things like Garmin's own
Phoenix series, the Suntu race S, maybe even the Amazefit T Rex
(06:08):
3, which surprisingly does have maps, often for less money.
Interesting. OK, factor #2 the balance
between battery, screen and budget.
It's not just one Instinct 3, isit?
No, Garmin's clever here. They've got options within the
Instinct 3 family, there's the Instinct 3 Solar.
One from the anecdote. Right, that aims for potentially
(06:29):
forever battery, but you know, relies heavily on lots of
sunshine. Then the AMOLED, our main focus
today. Which gives you that really nice
bright colourful screen. Looks great, but uses more
battery than the others. And there's an E model.
Yeah, the Instinct E more basic essential features hits a lower
price point. So it's like expedition
batteries, solar, pretty screen AMOLED or budget basics in.
(06:50):
Different sizes too, right? 40 millimetre, 45 millimetre, 50
millimetre cases. Yep, various sizes, though not
every model comes in every size.The AMOLED for instance is 45
millimetres, 50 millimetres. The E is 40 millimetres or 45
millimetre. You need to check the specific
combo you want is actually available.
Good tip. Let's talk about that screen
difference more AMOLED versus MIP.
(07:11):
That's the tech in the solar andE models.
Correct, MIP is memory and pixel.
The big difference you'd notice.AMOLED is higher resolution,
much brighter, more vivid colours, makes watch faces,
charts, everything looks sharper, more modern.
But uses more power. Definitely.
MIP screens aren't as flashy, lower resolution, but they sip
battery power and are super readable in direct sunlight,
(07:33):
often without needing a backlight.
The reviewer liked the AMOLED screen.
Though yeah, they found a big visual upgrade for the instinct
line. Makes the whole interface just
look nicer. But it's ironic, isn't it?
You get this beautiful high res Anna LED screen, but the one
thing that could really benefit from high resolution detailed
maps isn't actually there for navigation.
Exactly. The review of points that out
(07:55):
explicitly. You get a screen capable of
showing great maps, but the watch itself lacks the mapping
software and data. So the AMOLED benefit is more
for, well, everything else. The watch faces, the data
screens, widgets. Right.
OK, so even without maps, what navigation features do you get
across all Instinct 3 models? For you listening, what's the
baseline? All right, baseline features
(08:16):
include multi GNSS support, GPS,Glonas, Galileo for better
positioning. You get track back point to
point. You can mark and save waypoints,
record your tracks. There's weather info, a
barometric altimeter for elevation, and a compass.
Also saw things like future elevation profiles, distance to
destination. Yep, turn by turn alerts if
you've loaded a course beforehand.
(08:37):
Course, importing site and go let's you point at something
distant and navigate towards it.Storm Alerts.
Storm alerts based on pressure changes.
Yeah, plus elevation metrics, area calculations, sun moon
times, tide info. It's a decent list of non map
based tools. So quite a lot still, but how
does that stack up against, say,of Phoenix?
What's missing besides the actual Mac display?
(08:59):
Well, most of the missing stuff relies on having maps.
So no built in topo maps or ski maps like on Phoenix.
No ability to create a route right there on the watch.
No climb Pro which analyses upcoming climbs on a loaded
route. No round trip routing
suggestions. No features like next fork or up
ahead that use map data to tell you what's coming on the trail.
(09:21):
It's all the map intelligence features that are absent.
Got it. Let's talk battery life again,
specifically for the Instinct 3 AMOLED.
What did the review say about its performance?
It mentioned the different modes, smartwatch mode which is
your everyday use. With the always on display.
Yeah, likely factoring that in then GPS only mode for tracking
(09:42):
activities and expedition mode which sips power by sampling GPS
less often for really long trips.
And the performance? Interestingly, the reviewer
found that at least when the watch was new, the actual
battery life they got often beatGarmin's official specs.
Oh, that's always nice to hear. Definitely better than the other
way around. Now, you mentioned the solar
model earlier and its unlimited battery potential.
(10:03):
The review touched on the caveats there.
It did. While focusing on the AMOLED, it
acknowledged the solar's claim but stressed the strings
attached. That unlimited really depends on
ideal solar conditions, Consistent strong sunlight.
So not guaranteed, especially ifyou live somewhere less sunny.
Exactly. Or in winter solar extends the
(10:24):
battery, sometimes significantly, but unlimited is
optimistic for most real world year round use it.
Supplements doesn't totally replace charging for most
people. OK usability.
How does the Instinct 3 amylid actually feel to use day-to-day?
What did the reviewer think? Positives were it's lightweight
(10:44):
but feels tough. Durable.
Screen readability was good. Downsides.
The main niggles seem to be the buttons.
Apparently they can be a bit fiddly to press accurately when
you're wearing gloves. That could be annoying in the
cold. Could be also the software
interface. Garmin's menus and settings,
while powerful, can apparently feel a bit dense or complex.
If you're totally new to Garmin watches, there's a learning
(11:05):
curve. What about the built in
flashlight? That's new for the instinct
three line, right? Yeah, all models have it,
including the MLED. It's an LED light.
Multiple brightness levels for white light plus a red light
mode. Useful.
Surprisingly so, according to the review.
Good for finding stuff in a darktent, rooting around in a bag,
even basic navigation on a trailat night.
In a pinch. A genuinely handy addition and
(11:27):
that. AMOLED screen.
We know it doesn't show maps, but how else does it impact the
experience? Watch faces?
Widgets. It makes them look much better,
obviously. More detail, more colour data.
Displays like heart rate charts during a run look richer.
But yeah, the reviewer keeps circling back.
It's a great screen without the killer app of onboard mapping.
This isn't the first instinct, of course.
(11:49):
Can you give us the quick history?
Where does the Instinct 3 AMOLEDfit in the evolution for you?
Listening if you're new to the series.
Sure. So the original instinct
launched back in 2018. It was meant to be this tougher,
more affordable Phoenix alternative.
Then came variations, tactical camo, even an E sports version,
surf editions. Instinct 2 brought improvements.
(12:11):
Solar options became more prominent with the 2X solar.
There was the crossover, a hybrid analogue digital thing.
And now instinct 3. What are the big leaves from
instinct 2 to 3? Key upgrades are obviously the
MLAD screen option. We're discussing new muscle maps
and animations. If you do strengths training,
they actually removed that little secondary circular
display that older instincts had, at least on the AMOLED.
(12:34):
Better solar efficiency on the solar models.
Sad EQ tech for smarter battery saving satellite selection.
The flashlight we mentioned Garmin pay.
Garmin pay is now included. Yep, contactless payments, share
and messenger features for watchto watch communication, a large
font mode option, sleep coach features, better training load
insights. It's a decent step up in
features across the board. Any hints about the Future Music
(12:57):
Instinct 4? The review speculated a bit.
Maybe a software update could bring music storage or playback
to the Instinct 3 AMOLED down the line.
Pure guesswork. Though an instinct 4.
Looking further out, based on Garmin's usual cycles, the
reviewer thought maybe 2027 for an Instinct 4 and The Big Hope
that it finally gets maps. Maybe better speaker damaged
(13:18):
too. 5G seemed unlikely though. OK, competition.
The review was pretty blunt saying the Instinct 3 AMOLED is
not the best value for money. Who else should people be
looking at? Yeah, it faces heat from all
sides. You've got the traditional
rivals like Suntu, their race S or Vertical have maps, Polar's
Manage M3. Other garments.
Definitely you might find an older Phoenix 7 or an EPIX Gen 2
(13:42):
or a 4 runner 955 are on the same price now and those do have
maps and often more features. Even older Instinct 2 models
might be good value if you don'tneed the latest stuff.
In the newer brands. Challenger brands like Amazefit,
their T Rex 3 was mentioned as having maps for potentially less
money. Koros has strong outdoor watches
too, like the Pace Pro or their Vertex line.
Even smartwatches. Yeah, the review mentioned an
(14:04):
Apple Watch SE paired with a specific app like Work Outdoors
could offer some basic mapping, though maybe not the same
ruggedness or battery life. So lots of options depending on
your priorities. Accuracy is key for these
watches. How did the Instinct 3 Amy LED
perform in the 5K runners tests?Heart rate.
Heart rate was rated sufficiently accurate for lower
(14:25):
intensity stuff like hiking, butcould struggle a bit in the cold
or during really hard efforts. They even saw some missed
readings on a short, intense run.
So for serious athletes? The usual advice applies.
Pair it with a chest strap or maybe an optical armband for the
best accuracy during tough workouts.
Okay, what about elevation? Elevation accuracy was generally
(14:47):
good. Uses the barometric altimeter.
In GPS, that's crucial. GPS was actually a strong point.
Very good accuracy ranked among the top performers in their
testing pool. That's good news.
Sleep tracking. Decent for the basics, total
sleep time, that kind of thing. But less precise apparently when
it came to breaking down the different sleep stages like rim
deep sleep. Common issue with wrist based
(15:08):
tracking. And battery life.
We touched on it, but just to confirm the finding.
Often better than the official specs, especially when the watch
is brand new. Any red flags, bugs,
manufacturing issues mentioned? The review suggested checking
Garmin's own forums for any launch bugs.
Always sensible with new tech, and they did specifically call
out a manufacturing defect seen on some units of the solar model
(15:29):
where a small secondary display wasn't aligned properly.
Worth keeping an eye out for user reports.
All right, wrapping up, the review had an FAQ section and a
final take out. What are the absolute must Nos
for our listeners from that? Well, the FAQ hammered home the
core points like again, no full onboard maps.
Simple as that. And the reviewers?
(15:49):
Final verdict. They appreciated the design, the
rugged feel, the improvements like the screen and sensor
accuracy, but the price, combined with that lack of maps,
was seen as a major sticking point for a watch aimed at
navigation. So it was good for them.
Probably best suited for the more casual outdoor user.
Someone who likes the look, wants the durability and fitness
tracking, but primarily uses their phone for serious
(16:12):
navigation or sticks to well marked trails.
And less suitable for. Less ideal for the serious
hiker, Mountaineer or trail runner who relies heavily on
their watch for standalone navigation in complex terrain.
For them, the map limitation is hard to overlook, especially
given the competition. The reviewer also mentioned
Garmin's ecosystem. Yeah, suggesting that brand
(16:33):
loyalty and users already invested in Garmin Connect
probably help sales. Even with the limitations, user
inertia is powerful. OK, so let's distil this deep
dive for you, the learner listening in.
What's the bottom line on the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED based
on this review? Bottom line, it's a tough, good
looking watch. The AMOLED screen is vibrant,
(16:54):
battery life is solid for an AMOLED watch, GPS accuracy is
great, fitness tracking is comprehensive.
But. But the huge caveat, especially
for its price and outdoor positioning, is the absence of
onboard maps. Many competitors offer them,
even some older garments do. So it feels like it's
potentially great for someone who wants a rugged fitness watch
with basic navigation aids, and maybe uses their phone with the
(17:16):
Explorer app for anything more complex.
That sums it up pretty well I think.
If you need stand alone on wristmapping for serious exploring,
this probably isn't the one. Which leaves us with a final
thought for you to chew on, right?
Considering how smartwatches areevolving and how vital
navigation is for outdoor pursuits, is Garmin's choice to
leave maps off a mid to high tier watch like the Instinct 3
(17:38):
AMOLED? Is that a deliberate move to
segment their market rotect the Fenix line maybe?
Or is it just a missed opportunity, a gap that leaves
the door wide open for competitors who are putting maps
on similarly priced rugged watches?
Something to think about based on your own adventures and what
you need from a device on your wrist.
Welcome to the deep Dive. This is where we take sources
you send us and well, really diginto them.
Today we're looking at the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED
smartwatch. We've got a review from the 5K
runner, plus some official Garmin info and a bit on what
makes a good review generally. That's right.
We had a listener asking about this specific watch, the
Instinct 3 AMOLED, wanting to know if it's, you know, the real
(00:21):
deal for outdoorsy stuff. Yeah, so we're going to unpack
this review and give you the keystuff.
Think of it as your Quick guide to what matters with this watch.
Exactly. And this is for you, our
listener, the learner who wants that solid understanding fast,
those aha moments without getting totally buried in specs.
So the Instinct 3 AIM LED, it's billed as this rugged GPS
(00:44):
smartwatch. The 5K runner took it out,
tested it. Our mission?
Pull out the essentials so you can figure out if it's the right
fit for your adventures or even just daily life.
Focus is definitely on the AMOLED version based on this
review. OK, so the review kicks off with
a pretty vivid story, doesn't it?
It really does. Yeah.
It sets up this scenario in the Lake District comparing the
(01:05):
Instinct 3 solar model, which isrelated to an Apple Watch Ultra.
The battery life comparison. Classic Garmin territory,
totally. The story goes the friends Apple
Watch conked out after just two days, but the Instinct 3 solar
kept trucking, apparently thanksto the sun.
The message is pretty clear Garmin's pushing reliability and
(01:27):
long battery life for the outdoors.
That's like their big selling point against some others.
It's a strong hook, and it's good the reviewer adds that
disclaimer, you know that it's illustrative, not like a
documented scientific test, definitely.
But yeah, it Tees up the whole battery conversation, which is
massive for anyone looking at this kind of watch.
Absolutely critical. OK, so anecdote aside, let's
talk actual navigation. How does this thing help you
(01:49):
find your way? Because the review, well, it
raises some concerns here. Specifically the lack of on
device maps. The reviewer called it somewhat
worrisome for a modern outdoor GPS watch.
And that's a fairpoint, isn't it?
I mean, we might have managed without maps on watches years
ago, but now it's almost expected in this category.
(02:10):
Yeah, it feels like table stakesfor many.
And the Instinct 3 Amy LED, despite being, you know, a
dedicated outdoor watch, doesn'thave them, not built in on the
wrist. OK, so no maps for you
listening. Wondering well how do I navigate
them? What features does it actually
have? The review mentions things like
breadcrumb routes. Right, so it shows you a line
(02:33):
where you've been or a pre loaded route as just a line of
dots. We'll wait to point navigation.
Head towards the saved coordinate.
Basic back back which guys you back the way you came.
It's a safety net really. If you wander off your path
slightly it helps you get back onto that recorded line.
Good for not getting totally lost.
And a compass. Yeah, digital compass.
Yeah, your basic direction finding.
(02:53):
So the reviewer took these features and really tested them
out in different places and thisis where the limitations kind of
show up. First a hike on the South Downs
way. Pretty well marked trail and
here the watch was OK, mostly just like in the GPS track,
distance, elevation. Yeah, on a clear path with signs
everywhere, you don't need a mapquite as much.
(03:14):
The breadcrumb can sort of keep you honest.
But then a bike ride. London's Capital Ring urban
route also marked, but they still got lost multiple times.
Apparently even with turn alertson, the breadcrumb trail just
wasn't clear enough. When paths split and cycling is
faster, right? Easy to miss a turn.
That really highlights the weakness, doesn't it?
(03:36):
When things get a bit complex oryou're moving fast, just a line
of dots, it doesn't give you that instant, oh, that's that
path feeling. You lack situational awareness.
And the real test? Deliberately trying to navigate
unfamiliar woods, Devil's Punch Bowl try to shortcut ran into a
barbed wire fence and the reviewer basically said they
didn't feel confident they couldreliably get back to their
(03:56):
planned route using just the watch.
And that's the scenario, right? When you have to adapt, go off
plan, maybe find an alternative without a map showing the
terrain, the other paths, it's much harder.
You lose that bigger picture. They even compared it directly
with a Garmin Forerunner 965, which has maps on the North
Downs Way. The side by side.
(04:16):
And they KET wishing they had the map visuals, the terrain
detail that the instinct 3 amoledge just couldn't show O
they even referred the map on anale watch using a thirdarty a.
That tells you a lot. It's just a fundamentally
different, often more intuitive experience navigating with a map
right there, especially when things get tricky.
OK, but Garmin does have the explorer app.
(04:37):
How does that fit in? Does it fix the map problem?
Well, yes and no. The Explorer app on your phone
lets you plan routes, view detailed maps offline, sync
waypoints to the watch. It's useful for planning, but,
and it's this big, but those detailed maps stay on your phone
screen. The watch itself still just
shows the breadcrumb line for navigation.
Got you. So for you listening, don't I
think the app magically puts maps on the Instinct 3 AMOLED
(05:01):
display for navigation. It's more of a companion tool.
Precisely. It helps beforehand or if you
pull out your phone. Not real time map navigation on
the wrist itself. The review also mentions third
party apps like Comoot or DWMP from Garmin's Connect IQ store.
Can they add? Maps they can, yeah.
Some apps managed to overlay mapdata.
(05:23):
OK, sounds promising. But there's often a catch.
Using these third party map appsusually means you have to run
their activity mode, not Garmin's built in one.
So you might lose out on Garmin's own metrics like
training load recovery stuff. Exactly.
You trade Garmin's deeper ecosystem integration for that
third party map display. It's a compromise.
Right, OK, let's pivot slightly based on the review, what are
(05:45):
the absolute key decision factors?
If you're considering this watch#1 seems pretty obvious by now.
Maps, or the lack thereof. It's fundamental.
If you need or just really want maps on your wrist for
navigating outdoors, the Instinct 3 AMOLED probably isn't
your watch. And the reviewer suggested
alternatives. Yeah, things like Garmin's own
Phoenix series, the Suntu race S, maybe even the Amazefit T Rex
(06:08):
3, which surprisingly does have maps, often for less money.
Interesting. OK, factor #2 the balance
between battery, screen and budget.
It's not just one Instinct 3, isit?
No, Garmin's clever here. They've got options within the
Instinct 3 family, there's the Instinct 3 Solar.
One from the anecdote. Right, that aims for potentially
(06:29):
forever battery, but you know, relies heavily on lots of
sunshine. Then the AMOLED, our main focus
today. Which gives you that really nice
bright colourful screen. Looks great, but uses more
battery than the others. And there's an E model.
Yeah, the Instinct E more basic essential features hits a lower
price point. So it's like expedition
batteries, solar, pretty screen AMOLED or budget basics in.
(06:50):
Different sizes too, right? 40 millimetre, 45 millimetre, 50
millimetre cases. Yep, various sizes, though not
every model comes in every size.The AMOLED for instance is 45
millimetres, 50 millimetres. The E is 40 millimetres or 45
millimetre. You need to check the specific
combo you want is actually available.
Good tip. Let's talk about that screen
difference more AMOLED versus MIP.
(07:11):
That's the tech in the solar andE models.
Correct, MIP is memory and pixel.
The big difference you'd notice.AMOLED is higher resolution,
much brighter, more vivid colours, makes watch faces,
charts, everything looks sharper, more modern.
But uses more power. Definitely.
MIP screens aren't as flashy, lower resolution, but they sip
battery power and are super readable in direct sunlight,
(07:33):
often without needing a backlight.
The reviewer liked the AMOLED screen.
Though yeah, they found a big visual upgrade for the instinct
line. Makes the whole interface just
look nicer. But it's ironic, isn't it?
You get this beautiful high res Anna LED screen, but the one
thing that could really benefit from high resolution detailed
maps isn't actually there for navigation.
Exactly. The review of points that out
(07:55):
explicitly. You get a screen capable of
showing great maps, but the watch itself lacks the mapping
software and data. So the AMOLED benefit is more
for, well, everything else. The watch faces, the data
screens, widgets. Right.
OK, so even without maps, what navigation features do you get
across all Instinct 3 models? For you listening, what's the
baseline? All right, baseline features
(08:16):
include multi GNSS support, GPS,Glonas, Galileo for better
positioning. You get track back point to
point. You can mark and save waypoints,
record your tracks. There's weather info, a
barometric altimeter for elevation, and a compass.
Also saw things like future elevation profiles, distance to
destination. Yep, turn by turn alerts if
you've loaded a course beforehand.
(08:37):
Course, importing site and go let's you point at something
distant and navigate towards it.Storm Alerts.
Storm alerts based on pressure changes.
Yeah, plus elevation metrics, area calculations, sun moon
times, tide info. It's a decent list of non map
based tools. So quite a lot still, but how
does that stack up against, say,of Phoenix?
What's missing besides the actual Mac display?
(08:59):
Well, most of the missing stuff relies on having maps.
So no built in topo maps or ski maps like on Phoenix.
No ability to create a route right there on the watch.
No climb Pro which analyses upcoming climbs on a loaded
route. No round trip routing
suggestions. No features like next fork or up
ahead that use map data to tell you what's coming on the trail.
(09:21):
It's all the map intelligence features that are absent.
Got it. Let's talk battery life again,
specifically for the Instinct 3 AMOLED.
What did the review say about its performance?
It mentioned the different modes, smartwatch mode which is
your everyday use. With the always on display.
Yeah, likely factoring that in then GPS only mode for tracking
(09:42):
activities and expedition mode which sips power by sampling GPS
less often for really long trips.
And the performance? Interestingly, the reviewer
found that at least when the watch was new, the actual
battery life they got often beatGarmin's official specs.
Oh, that's always nice to hear. Definitely better than the other
way around. Now, you mentioned the solar
model earlier and its unlimited battery potential.
(10:03):
The review touched on the caveats there.
It did. While focusing on the AMOLED, it
acknowledged the solar's claim but stressed the strings
attached. That unlimited really depends on
ideal solar conditions, Consistent strong sunlight.
So not guaranteed, especially ifyou live somewhere less sunny.
Exactly. Or in winter solar extends the
(10:24):
battery, sometimes significantly, but unlimited is
optimistic for most real world year round use it.
Supplements doesn't totally replace charging for most
people. OK usability.
How does the Instinct 3 amylid actually feel to use day-to-day?
What did the reviewer think? Positives were it's lightweight
(10:44):
but feels tough. Durable.
Screen readability was good. Downsides.
The main niggles seem to be the buttons.
Apparently they can be a bit fiddly to press accurately when
you're wearing gloves. That could be annoying in the
cold. Could be also the software
interface. Garmin's menus and settings,
while powerful, can apparently feel a bit dense or complex.
If you're totally new to Garmin watches, there's a learning
(11:05):
curve. What about the built in
flashlight? That's new for the instinct
three line, right? Yeah, all models have it,
including the MLED. It's an LED light.
Multiple brightness levels for white light plus a red light
mode. Useful.
Surprisingly so, according to the review.
Good for finding stuff in a darktent, rooting around in a bag,
even basic navigation on a trailat night.
In a pinch. A genuinely handy addition and
(11:27):
that. AMOLED screen.
We know it doesn't show maps, but how else does it impact the
experience? Watch faces?
Widgets. It makes them look much better,
obviously. More detail, more colour data.
Displays like heart rate charts during a run look richer.
But yeah, the reviewer keeps circling back.
It's a great screen without the killer app of onboard mapping.
This isn't the first instinct, of course.
(11:49):
Can you give us the quick history?
Where does the Instinct 3 AMOLEDfit in the evolution for you?
Listening if you're new to the series.
Sure. So the original instinct
launched back in 2018. It was meant to be this tougher,
more affordable Phoenix alternative.
Then came variations, tactical camo, even an E sports version,
surf editions. Instinct 2 brought improvements.
(12:11):
Solar options became more prominent with the 2X solar.
There was the crossover, a hybrid analogue digital thing.
And now instinct 3. What are the big leaves from
instinct 2 to 3? Key upgrades are obviously the
MLAD screen option. We're discussing new muscle maps
and animations. If you do strengths training,
they actually removed that little secondary circular
display that older instincts had, at least on the AMOLED.
(12:34):
Better solar efficiency on the solar models.
Sad EQ tech for smarter battery saving satellite selection.
The flashlight we mentioned Garmin pay.
Garmin pay is now included. Yep, contactless payments, share
and messenger features for watchto watch communication, a large
font mode option, sleep coach features, better training load
insights. It's a decent step up in
features across the board. Any hints about the Future Music
(12:57):
Instinct 4? The review speculated a bit.
Maybe a software update could bring music storage or playback
to the Instinct 3 AMOLED down the line.
Pure guesswork. Though an instinct 4.
Looking further out, based on Garmin's usual cycles, the
reviewer thought maybe 2027 for an Instinct 4 and The Big Hope
that it finally gets maps. Maybe better speaker damaged
(13:18):
too. 5G seemed unlikely though. OK, competition.
The review was pretty blunt saying the Instinct 3 AMOLED is
not the best value for money. Who else should people be
looking at? Yeah, it faces heat from all
sides. You've got the traditional
rivals like Suntu, their race S or Vertical have maps, Polar's
Manage M3. Other garments.
Definitely you might find an older Phoenix 7 or an EPIX Gen 2
(13:42):
or a 4 runner 955 are on the same price now and those do have
maps and often more features. Even older Instinct 2 models
might be good value if you don'tneed the latest stuff.
In the newer brands. Challenger brands like Amazefit,
their T Rex 3 was mentioned as having maps for potentially less
money. Koros has strong outdoor watches
too, like the Pace Pro or their Vertex line.
Even smartwatches. Yeah, the review mentioned an
(14:04):
Apple Watch SE paired with a specific app like Work Outdoors
could offer some basic mapping, though maybe not the same
ruggedness or battery life. So lots of options depending on
your priorities. Accuracy is key for these
watches. How did the Instinct 3 Amy LED
perform in the 5K runners tests?Heart rate.
Heart rate was rated sufficiently accurate for lower
(14:25):
intensity stuff like hiking, butcould struggle a bit in the cold
or during really hard efforts. They even saw some missed
readings on a short, intense run.
So for serious athletes? The usual advice applies.
Pair it with a chest strap or maybe an optical armband for the
best accuracy during tough workouts.
Okay, what about elevation? Elevation accuracy was generally
(14:47):
good. Uses the barometric altimeter.
In GPS, that's crucial. GPS was actually a strong point.
Very good accuracy ranked among the top performers in their
testing pool. That's good news.
Sleep tracking. Decent for the basics, total
sleep time, that kind of thing. But less precise apparently when
it came to breaking down the different sleep stages like rim
deep sleep. Common issue with wrist based
(15:08):
tracking. And battery life.
We touched on it, but just to confirm the finding.
Often better than the official specs, especially when the watch
is brand new. Any red flags, bugs,
manufacturing issues mentioned? The review suggested checking
Garmin's own forums for any launch bugs.
Always sensible with new tech, and they did specifically call
out a manufacturing defect seen on some units of the solar model
(15:29):
where a small secondary display wasn't aligned properly.
Worth keeping an eye out for user reports.
All right, wrapping up, the review had an FAQ section and a
final take out. What are the absolute must Nos
for our listeners from that? Well, the FAQ hammered home the
core points like again, no full onboard maps.
Simple as that. And the reviewers?
(15:49):
Final verdict. They appreciated the design, the
rugged feel, the improvements like the screen and sensor
accuracy, but the price, combined with that lack of maps,
was seen as a major sticking point for a watch aimed at
navigation. So it was good for them.
Probably best suited for the more casual outdoor user.
Someone who likes the look, wants the durability and fitness
tracking, but primarily uses their phone for serious
(16:12):
navigation or sticks to well marked trails.
And less suitable for. Less ideal for the serious
hiker, Mountaineer or trail runner who relies heavily on
their watch for standalone navigation in complex terrain.
For them, the map limitation is hard to overlook, especially
given the competition. The reviewer also mentioned
Garmin's ecosystem. Yeah, suggesting that brand
(16:33):
loyalty and users already invested in Garmin Connect
probably help sales. Even with the limitations, user
inertia is powerful. OK, so let's distil this deep
dive for you, the learner listening in.
What's the bottom line on the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED based
on this review? Bottom line, it's a tough, good
looking watch. The AMOLED screen is vibrant,
(16:54):
battery life is solid for an AMOLED watch, GPS accuracy is
great, fitness tracking is comprehensive.
But. But the huge caveat, especially
for its price and outdoor positioning, is the absence of
onboard maps. Many competitors offer them,
even some older garments do. So it feels like it's
potentially great for someone who wants a rugged fitness watch
with basic navigation aids, and maybe uses their phone with the
(17:16):
Explorer app for anything more complex.
That sums it up pretty well I think.
If you need stand alone on wristmapping for serious exploring,
this probably isn't the one. Which leaves us with a final
thought for you to chew on, right?
Considering how smartwatches areevolving and how vital
navigation is for outdoor pursuits, is Garmin's choice to
leave maps off a mid to high tier watch like the Instinct 3
(17:38):
AMOLED? Is that a deliberate move to
segment their market rotect the Fenix line maybe?
Or is it just a missed opportunity, a gap that leaves
the door wide open for competitors who are putting maps
on similarly priced rugged watches?
Something to think about based on your own adventures and what
you need from a device on your wrist.
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