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Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical vs Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

GarminInstinct 3 AMOLED TacticalGarminInstinct 3 Solar Tactical
Overview
ReleasedApril 2025April 2025
Display
Case sizes50 mm45 mm or 50 mm
PanelOLEDMemory-in-pixel
Always-on displayYesYes
Display detailFull-colour 33 mm (1.3 inch) diameter AMOLED, 416 x 416 pixels. Optional always-on display; five-button controls, no touchscreen. Red Shift display mode can use red, green or orange shades.Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel display with a separate circular window; always visible, five-button controls, no touchscreen. 45 mm: 23 x 23 mm (0.9 inch); 50 mm: 27 x 27 mm (1.1 inch); both 176 x 176 pixels.
Screen protectionChemically strengthened glass; no solar chargingPower Glass solar-charging lens
Health and fitness
ECGNoNo
Blood oxygenYesYes
Skin temperatureNoNo
Sleep apnoea alertsNoNo
High blood pressure alertsNoNo
Body compositionNoNo
Fall detectionNoNo
Crash detectionNoNo
GPSDual-band (L1 and L5)Dual-band (L1 and L5)
Water resistance100 m100 m
SensorsGarmin Elevate wrist heart rate; Pulse Ox; barometric altimeter; compass; gyroscope; accelerometer; thermometer; ambient light sensorGarmin Elevate wrist heart rate; Pulse Ox; barometric altimeter; compass; gyroscope; accelerometer; thermometer
Health featuresHRV status; Body Battery; sleep score, sleep coach and naps; breathing variations; stress and respiration tracking; continuous heart rate and abnormal heart-rate alerts; Health Snapshot; menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking through Garmin Connect; Pulse Ox availability varies by country; no ECG appHRV status; Body Battery; sleep score, sleep coach and naps; breathing variations; stress and respiration tracking; continuous heart rate and abnormal heart-rate alerts; Health Snapshot; menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking through Garmin Connect; Pulse Ox availability varies by country; no ECG app
Fitness featuresTraining readiness and status, load focus and load ratio; Garmin Coach and daily suggested running/cycling workouts; wrist running dynamics and power; PacePro; multisport and triathlon; strength training, hiking, cycling and pool/open-water swimming. Breadcrumb courses, TracBack, reference points, waypoints and off-course alerts; full maps in paired Garmin Explore app, not built into the watch. Tactical features include stealth mode, night-vision compatibility, dual-format coordinates, projected waypoints, Jumpmaster, Tactical activity and a stage timer. Rucking records pack weight. The preloaded Applied Ballistics solver requires a one-time paid unlock and works with the Applied Ballistics Quantum app.Training readiness and status, load focus and load ratio; Garmin Coach and daily suggested running/cycling workouts; wrist running dynamics and power; PacePro; multisport and triathlon; strength training, hiking, cycling and pool/open-water swimming. Breadcrumb courses, TracBack, reference points, waypoints and off-course alerts; full maps in paired Garmin Explore app, not built into the watch. Tactical features include stealth mode, night-vision compatibility, dual-format coordinates, projected waypoints, Jumpmaster, Tactical activity and a stage timer. Rucking records pack weight. The preloaded Applied Ballistics solver requires a one-time paid unlock and works with the Applied Ballistics Quantum app.
Safety featuresBuilt-in white/green LED flashlight with strobe; incident detection during selected activities, assistance and LiveTrack require a paired compatible phoneBuilt-in white/green LED flashlight with strobe; incident detection during selected activities, assistance and LiveTrack require a paired compatible phone
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 24 daysUp to 40 days
In low-power modeUp to 30 daysUp to 100 days
Mobile data optionNoNo
Works withiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android
Storage4 GB–
Battery life detailSmartwatch: up to 24 days with wrist gesture, 9 days with always-on display; battery saver watch mode: 30 days; GPS only: 40 hours; all satellite systems: 32 hours; all systems plus multi-band: 30 hours, assuming typical SatIQ use; max-battery GPS: 86 hours; expedition GPS: 20 days. Actual endurance depends on display, activities, sensors, notifications and settings.Headline claims use the 50 mm size without solar. 45 mm: smartwatch 28 days; battery saver 65 days; GPS only 40 hours, 130 with solar; all systems 28 hours, 50 with solar; all systems plus multi-band 24 hours, 40 with solar; max-battery GPS 100 hours; expedition GPS 36 days. 50 mm: smartwatch 40 days; battery saver 100 days; GPS only 60 hours, 260 with solar; all systems 40 hours, 80 with solar; all systems plus multi-band 34 hours, 60 with solar; max-battery GPS 150 hours; expedition GPS 60 days. Garmin claims unlimited smartwatch, battery-saver, max-battery GPS and expedition use with sufficient solar: everyday modes assume all-day wear and three hours outside daily at 50,000 lux; GPS modes assume use in 50,000 lux. Multi-band figures assume typical SatIQ use. Actual endurance varies with settings, activities and sunlight.
ChargingBuilt-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery; proprietary Garmin charging/data cable, USB-C at the power-source end. Owner guide specifies at least 5 W from a computer or compatible AC adaptor.Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery; proprietary Garmin charging/data cable, USB-C at the power-source end. Owner guide specifies at least 5 W from a computer or compatible AC adaptor. Solar charging is limited when the battery is full, externally powered or outside its charging temperature range.
ConnectivityBluetooth and ANT+; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; multi-band GNSS with SatIQ; Garmin Pay and Garmin Share. Controls paired-phone music rather than storing offline audio; smart notifications and Garmin Messenger require a paired compatible phone. Stealth mode disables wireless communications and prevents GPS position storage/sharing; the kill switch erases user data. Night-vision mode adjusts the display and disables wrist heart rate.Bluetooth and ANT+; GPS, GLONASS and Galileo; multi-band GNSS with SatIQ; Garmin Pay and Garmin Share. Controls paired-phone music rather than storing offline audio; smart notifications and Garmin Messenger require a paired compatible phone. Stealth mode disables wireless communications and prevents GPS position storage/sharing; the kill switch erases user data. Night-vision mode adjusts the display and disables wrist heart rate.
Storage4 GB; controls paired-phone music rather than storing offline audio128 MB; no offline music storage
Design
Weight (lightest version)59 g52 g
SoftwareGarminGarmin
Case materialsFibre-reinforced polymer case; polymer/aluminium bezel; silicone band; maker states MIL-STD-810 thermal and shock testingFibre-reinforced polymer case; polymer/aluminium bezel; silicone band; maker states MIL-STD-810 thermal and shock testing
Size50 x 50 x 14.4 mm; 59 g. Maker does not identify this as a case-only weight.45 mm: 45 x 45 x 14.9 mm, 52 g. 50 mm: 50 x 50 x 14.4 mm, 58 g. Maker does not identify these as case-only weights.
Bands26 mm silicone band, compatible with QuickFit 26; fits 141–213 mm wrists.45 mm: 22 mm band, compatible with QuickFit 22, fits 137–204 mm wrists. 50 mm: 26 mm band, compatible with QuickFit 26, fits 141–213 mm wrists.
ColoursCurrent UK listing: Black with Black Band, exact part 010-03020-50. Only the 50 mm AMOLED Tactical is offered; the 45/50 mm Solar Tactical models have different display and battery hardware.Both current UK sizes are Black with Black Band. Exact UK parts: 45 mm 010-02934-50; 50 mm 010-02935-50. The separately sold 50 mm AMOLED Tactical has different display hardware and battery claims.
In the boxInstinct 3 AMOLED Tactical watch with silicone band; charging/data cable; documentationInstinct 3 Solar watch with silicone band; charging/data cable; documentation

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