One of the most underrated Garmin watches I’ve tested is almost too good for the price

ZDNET’s key takeaways

The Garmin Instinct series has always been focused on the outdoor adventurer who needs a rugged watch that performs no matter what is thrown at it. I bought the Instinct 2X Solar a couple of years ago, and it is still my first choice when it comes to fly fishing and camping because I never have to worry about the battery life, and the watch provides the essentials.

Also: I finally found a smartwatch that captures the analog aesthetic, and it’s feature-rich

Garmin released the Instinct 3 series and, for the first time, provides customers with the option for a memory-in-pixel (MIP) display or a vibrant AMOLED display. Given that long battery life, advertised as unlimited with adequate solar charging, is a staple of the Instinct brand, I requested to review the MIP display model and check out the improvements over the Instinct 2X Solar.

I understand the appeal of AMOLED displays, but I’m not convinced that Garmin should have added one to the Instinct lineup. I would prefer to have seen only a solar model that bumped up the MIP display from monochrome to color, as we see on the incredible Enduro 3. Garmin has proven that it can still provide incredible battery life with a color MIP display, and that is the upgrade I wanted to see. 

Monochrome MIP displays have been used in Instinct models for years, and I don’t mind it in the Instinct 2X, but after testing the Instinct 3 Solar for a few weeks, I think I’m done with a monochrome display from Garmin. Garmin now provides so many interesting health and wellness metrics that even subtle colors prove useful for quick glances and understanding of those metrics.

Moving away from the display discussion, we see that Garmin has improved the Instinct 3 Solar in several ways when compared to the Instinct 2X Solar. 

Also: The best Garmin watches of 2025

Solar charging power has been significantly improved, up to five times that provided by the last model. The contrast has been improved and is clearly noticeable when both watches are placed side-by-side. New color options are available, and improvements in software features have been added. 

These software improvements include training load, sleep coach, nap detection, Garmin Messenger, and multi-sport auto transition.

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar has demonstrated very accurate location tracking, solid heart rate tracking accuracy, and flawless, reliable performance with everything I threw at it. That LED flashlight remains a staple I use daily and is one reason you will always find a Garmin watch on one of my wrists. I tried the larger 50mm model with that cool Twilight and Solstice orange band, and it fits me perfectly. I especially love the weight and look on my wrist.

Also: My new favorite Android smartwatch outperforms Google and Samsung in a crucial way

The watch has rugged elements with raised polymer frame pieces around the bezel protecting the scratch-resistant display, a splash of color on the aluminum bezel ring, and fiber-reinforced case material. It is rated for 10 ATM water resistance, so you can wear it just about anywhere without worry. I also enjoy using that small display in the upper right, especially for marking when I land fish in the rivers.

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is a good option for those looking for one of the longest-lasting GPS sports watches for under $500. It’s time to move on from monochrome MIP displays, and I would love to see the Instinct 4 offered with a color MIP model and the AMOLED one so you could choose color and then make a battery life decision like we do now with flagship Fenix 8 series.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Garmin’s Instinct lineup remains one focused on those who want a rugged, chunky watch that can take a beating and keep on going. The Instinct 3 Solar offers extremely long battery life and some compelling color and size options, but Garmin should consider retiring the monochrome display technology. The Instinct 3 Solar offers much of what the Fenix 8 offers, with no support for offline music, speaker/mic functionality, and the older generation optical heart rate sensor.