Photo 1 of 75
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar · Photo source
Garmin · Instinct
Instinct 3 Solar
Instinct 3 Solar is a button-operated outdoor GPS watch with solar charging, a monochrome display and an LED flashlight, offered in 45 mm and 50 mm sizes.
- Type
- Smart and sports
- Sizes
- 45, 50 mm
- Movement
- –
- Power reserve
- –
- Display
- Memory-in-pixel
- Battery
- 40 days
- Water
- 100 m
- GPS
- Dual-band
- Weight
- 52 g
What reviewers say
Reviewers praise solar charging, battery endurance and outdoor controls, but miss onboard maps. HikingGuy liked trail navigation and the flashlight. DC Rainmaker found GPS tracking strong and the monochrome screen clearer than earlier Instinct models, while reporting storage-related crashes on launch firmware. HikingGuy’s August 2026 update also notes firmware reliability concerns.
From dcrainmaker.com and hikingguy.com
Product links
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Case sizes
- 45 mm or 50 mm
- Panel
- Memory-in-pixel
- Always-on display
- Yes
- Display detail
- 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 protection
- Power Glass solar-charging lens
Health and fitness
- ECG
- No
- Blood oxygen
- Yes
- Skin temperature
- No
- Sleep apnoea alerts
- No
- High blood pressure alerts
- No
- Body composition
- No
- Fall detection
- No
- Crash detection
- No
- GPS
- Dual-band (L1 and L5)
- Water resistance
- 100 m
- Sensors
- Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate; Pulse Ox; barometric altimeter; compass; gyroscope; accelerometer; thermometer
- Health features
- HRV 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 features
- 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.
- Safety features
- Built-in white/red 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 40 days
- In low-power mode
- Up to 100 days
- Mobile data option
- No
- Works with
- iPhone and Android
- Battery life detail
- 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.
- Charging
- 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.
- Connectivity
- 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.
- Storage
- 128 MB; no offline music storage
Design
- Weight (lightest version)
- 52 g
- Software
- Garmin
- Case materials
- Fibre-reinforced polymer case; polymer/aluminium bezel; silicone band; maker states MIL-STD-810 thermal and shock testing
- Size
- 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.
- Bands
- 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.
- Colours
- Current UK listings: 45 mm Black with black band; 50 mm Black with Charcoal, Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey, and Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue bands. Launch press photography also shows the 45 mm Twilight/Neotropic finish; its current UK sale status is not established.
- In the box
- Instinct 3 Solar watch with silicone band; charging/data cable; documentation
Pros and cons
Pros
- Multi-band GPS with SatIQ and breadcrumb navigation
- Built-in white/red LED flashlight and 10 ATM water rating
- Up to 28 days in smartwatch mode for 45 mm and 40 days for 50 mm, before solar gains
Cons
- No touchscreen or built-in topographic maps
- No offline music storage or speaker and microphone
- 128 MB storage
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sizes | Movement | Power reserve | Display | Battery | Water | GPS | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart and sports | 45, 50 mm | – | – | Memory-in-pixel | 40 days | 100 m | Dual-band | 52 g | Apr 2025 | |
| Smart and sports | 45, 50 mm | – | – | OLED | 24 days | 100 m | Dual-band | 53 g | Jan 2025 | |
| Smart and sports | 50 mm | – | – | OLED | 24 days | 100 m | Dual-band | 59 g | Apr 2025 |
Sources
- garmin.com/en-GB/p/1315317
- garmin.com/en-GB/p/1316857
- garmin.com/en-US/p/1316397
- garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/outdoor/introducing-the-instinct-3-seri…
- www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-2C274FD2-F0C3-445C-B0AC-700FECCE12E9/EN-US…
- garmin-deutschland-gmbh.mynewsdesk.com/pressreleases/jetzt-mit-amoled-display-d…
- garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-kit
- static.garmincdn.com/contentful/directory/PRESS-KIT-2026/2-SMARTWATCHES.zip
Photo: res.garmin.com
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front solar-intensity display: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/rf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, opposite three-quarter activity menu: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/lf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front phone message: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/pd-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/pd-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front Body Battery display: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/pd-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front Pulse Ox display: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front compass display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front breadcrumb navigation: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front sleep summary: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front morning report: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front Garmin Pay: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front training readiness: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-07-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front VO2 max: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-08-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, front suggested workout: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-09-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, rear optical sensor and charging connector: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-10-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Whitestone with Black/Bolt Blue Band, opposite side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en/products/010-02935-03/v/sc-11-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front solar-intensity display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/rf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, opposite three-quarter activity menu: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/lf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front phone message: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front Body Battery display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front Pulse Ox display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front compass display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-07-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front breadcrumb navigation: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-08-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front sleep summary: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-09-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front morning report: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/pd-10-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front Garmin Pay: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front training readiness: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front VO2 max: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, front suggested workout: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, rear optical sensor and charging connector: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Sunburst with Sunburst/Grey Band, opposite side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-02/v/sc-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, three-quarter clock face: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/cf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, opposite three-quarter activity menu: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/lf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front phone message: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, white LED flashlight: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, red LED flashlight: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front Body Battery display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front Pulse Ox display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front compass display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-07-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front breadcrumb navigation: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-08-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front sleep summary: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-09-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front morning report: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/pd-10-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front Garmin Pay: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front training readiness: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front VO2 max: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, front suggested workout: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, rear optical sensor and charging connector: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 45 mm, Solar Black with black band, opposite side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02934-00/v/sc-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, three-quarter clock face: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/cf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front solar-intensity display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/rf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, opposite three-quarter activity menu: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/lf-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front phone message: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, white LED flashlight: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, red LED flashlight: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front Body Battery display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front Pulse Ox display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front compass display: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-07-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front breadcrumb navigation: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-08-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front sleep summary: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-09-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front morning report: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/pd-10-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front Garmin Pay: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-01-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front training readiness: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-02-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front VO2 max: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-03-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, front suggested workout: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-04-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, rear optical sensor and charging connector: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-05-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar Black with Charcoal Band, opposite side profile and band loop: res.garmin.com/en_GB/products/010-02935-00/v/sc-06-xl.jpg
- Instinct 3 Solar, 45 mm Twilight/Neotropic launch finish, front phone message: mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/fl_attachment/j7tj7mys94ljqp6aii8ar4
- Instinct 3 Solar, 45 mm Black, opposite three-quarter activity menu from launch press kit: mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/fl_attachment/62ln7qr928pfsukgq1ydaz
- Instinct 3 Solar, 45 mm Black, three-quarter sleep summary from launch press kit: mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/fl_attachment/4o653munn5dd6arsfptx0m
- Instinct 3 Solar, 45 mm Twilight/Neotropic launch finish, front solar-intensity display: mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/fl_attachment/rhk63shzzqpp01kplrl296
- Instinct 3 Solar, 45 mm Twilight/Neotropic launch finish, front time display: mnd-assets.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/fl_attachment/evfd52f74l3l709wizphmu
