BUILT FOR THE MISSION
Instinct 3 – Tactical Edition is the rugged GPS smartwatch that’s built for the toughest missions, with solar charging, a metal-reinforced bezel and dedicated tactical features.
- Unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging
- Detailed health and wellness features
- Smart notifications
- Built-in flashlight
- Durable design
- GPS technology with multi-band frequencies and SatIQ™ technology
FEATURES THAT WILL IMPRESS YOU
SOLAR CHARGING
Achieve unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode using solar charging1.
DURABLE DESIGN
Explore confidently with a rugged design featuring a 1.1-inch display, 50 mm metal-reinforced bezel, and scratch-resistant screen.
BUILT-IN FLASHLIGHT
See and be seen with the built-in flashlight offering multiple brightness levels and red light.
CONTINUOUS HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRACKING
Move boldly with health tracking features including heart rate, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox3, and more.
SMART NOTIFICATIONS
Receive emails, messages, and alerts on your watch when paired with a compatible Apple® or Android™ smartphone.
MULTI-BAND GPS WITH SATIQ TECHNOLOGY
Navigate confidently with multi-band GPS that includes SatIQ technology for superior positioning and optimized battery life.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
DAILY ACTIVITY
Track daily steps, calories burned, floors climbed, and more right from your wrist4.
HEART RATE VARIABILITY STATUS
Gain deeper insights into your overall health by measuring heart rate variability during sleep.
WRIST-BASED HEART RATE
Instinct 3 monitors your heart rate so you can keep track of it throughout the day and night4.
STRESS TRACKING
Discover whether your day is calm, balanced, or stressful.
MORNING REPORT
Receive an overview of your sleep, recovery, daily calendar, heart rate variability status, and more as soon as you wake up. Customize the report to show exactly what matters to you.
HEALTH SNAPSHOT
Record a two-minute session to capture key health stats, then generate a report to share with your doctor.
PULSE OX SENSOR
Track your blood oxygen saturation while awake or sleeping.
MINDFUL BREATHING
Start a breathing activity and monitor stress levels and breathing.
RESPIRATION
See how you’re breathing throughout the day and night.
HYDRATION
Log your daily fluid intake as a reminder to stay hydrated.
FITNESS AGE
Estimate your fitness level compared to your actual age.
NAP DETECTION
Automatically track or log naps and see how they affect your body and what the ideal time and duration are.
MENSTRUAL TRACKING
Track your menstrual cycle or pregnancy to get exercise and nutrition tips.
BREATHING VARIATIONS
The breathing variation feature uses Pulse Ox2 to better understand changes in your breathing patterns during sleep.
ACTIVITY TRACKING
BUILT-IN SPORTS APPS
Track activities like cycling, open-water swimming, strength training, and more.
GARMIN COACH
Train for an event, achieve a goal, or improve fitness with Garmin Coach training plans for runners and cyclists.
CREATE WORKOUTS
Create step-by-step workout instructions for more than 1,600 exercises in the Garmin Connect™ app and send them directly to your watch.
INTENSITY MINUTES
Track minutes of moderate and vigorous intensity activity.
VO2 MAX
Measure your current fitness level and track changes over time to set goals and assess progress.
HEAT AND ALTITUDE ACCLIMATION
See how your body is adapting to current elevation or heat based on health metrics.
HIIT WORKOUTS
Track HIIT workouts including AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata, or custom sessions.
DAILY SUGGESTED WORKOUTS
View recommended daily workouts for the entire week that adapt after each run or ride.
RECOVERY TIME
Find out how long you should rest before your next intense workout based on your last activity.
RUCKING
A dedicated activity profile for weighted walking allows you to enter the pack weight.
STAY CONNECTED
GARMIN CONNECT
View health and fitness information, connect with friends, and more in our free app with no subscription.
GARMIN MESSENGER™ APP
Communicate with two-way text messaging5 directly from your wrist.
SMART NOTIFICATIONS
Receive emails, messages, and alerts on your watch when paired with a compatible Apple or Android smartphone.
CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS WITH GARMIN PAY™
Skip lines at stores or selected public transport systems with participating providers.
SAFETY AND TRACKING FEATURES
If you feel unsafe or your watch detects an incident, it will automatically send a message with your current location6.
CONNECT IQ™ STORE
Add watch faces, data fields, and apps to your paired watch.
LIVETRACK FEATURE
Friends and family can follow your real-time6 location and view planned routes.
ABC SENSORS
Navigate with an altimeter, barometer, and 3-axis electronic compass.
GARMIN SHARE
Easily share saved locations, routes, and workouts with compatible Garmin devices of your friends.
1With all-day wear and 3 hours per day outdoors in 50,000 lux conditions.
2When the watch is paired with a compatible smartphone.
3This device is not a medical device and is not intended for use in diagnosing or monitoring any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse oximeter not available in all countries.
4Activity tracking accuracy..
5Sender and recipient must have the Garmin Messenger app installed on paired smartphones.
6When the watch is paired with a compatible smartphone.. For more details about safety and tracking features requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety.
Apple® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. SPOTIFY and the Spotify logo are among the registered trademarks of Spotify AB.
Software updates are ongoing and may not be reflected in images, videos, or specifications.
Specifications:
General |
| Strap material | silicone |
| Lens Material | Power Glass™ |
| Bezel Material | fiber-reinforced polymer/aluminum |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| QuickFit® watch band compatible | yes (26 mm) |
| Physical size | 50 x 50 x 14.4 mm
Fits wrists with a circumference of 141-213 mm |
| Weight | 58 g |
| Display Size | Custom, two-window design: 1.1” x 1.1” (27 x 27 mm) |
| Display resolution | 176 x 176 pixels |
| Battery type | Lithium ion |
| Battery life | Smartwatch: Up to 40 days/Unlimited with solar*
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 100 days/Unlimited with solar*
GPS Only: Up to 60 hours/260 hours with solar**
All Satellite Systems: Up to 40 hours/80 hours with solar**
All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band: Up to 34 hours/60 hours with solar***
Max Battery GPS: Up to 150 hours/Unlimited with solar**
Expedition GPS: Up to 60 days/Unlimited with solar* *Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions
**Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions
***Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions; assuming typical use with SatIQ technology |
| Charging method | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| Memory/History | 128 MB |
Clock Features |
| Time/date | Yes |
| GPS Time Sync | Yes |
| Automatic daylight saving time | Yes |
| Alarm clock | Yes |
| Timer | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes |
| Sunrise/sunset times | Yes |
Sensors |
| GPS | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes |
| Galileo | Yes |
| SatIQ™ Technology | Yes |
| Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor | Yes |
| Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor | Yes |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes |
| Compass | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Thermometer | Yes |
Daily Smart Features |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, ANT+® |
| Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps) | Yes |
| On-device Connect IQ™ Store | Yes |
| Smart Notifications | Yes |
| Text response/reject phone call with text (Android™ only) | Yes |
| Morning report | Yes |
| Calendar | Yes |
| Weather forecasts | Yes |
| Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobile | Yes |
| Battery saver (customizable low power watch) | Yes |
| Controls smartphone music | Yes |
| Find My Phone | Yes |
| Find My Watch | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin Messenger app | Yes |
| VIRB® Remote | Yes |
| Smart trainer control | Yes |
| Pairs with Garmin Connect™ Mobile | Yes |
| Smartphone compatibility | iPhone®, Android™ |
| Garmin Share | Yes |
| Passcode | Yes |
Workout and Training Plans |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Running (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Cycling (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | Yes |
| Garmin Running Coach Experts | Yes |
| Garmin Coach - Prebuilt Cycling Plans | Yes |
| Cardio workouts | Yes |
| Strength workouts | Yes |
| HIIT workouts | Yes |
| Yoga workouts | Yes |
| Pilates workouts | Yes |
Activity Profiles |
| Gym | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing |
| Multisport | Triathlon |
| Wellness | Walking, Indoor Walking, Pilates, Yoga |
| Indoor running | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running |
| Outdoor running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Obstacle Racing |
| Outdoor recreation | Hiking, Rucking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Cycling | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX |
| Swim | Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming |
| On the Water | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Water Skiing, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Whitewater |
| Motor sports | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling |
| Racket sports | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball |
| Snow & winter | Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing |
| Team sports | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
| In the ring | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Other activity profiles | Jumpmaster, Tactical, Inline Skating |
Safety and Tracking Features |
| Incident Detection during select activities | Yes |
| Incident detection alert on phone for wearables | Yes |
| Assistance | Yes |
| Live Event Sharing | Yes |
Tactical Features |
| Ballistics solver | yes (unlock required) |
| Dual grid coordinates | Yes |
| Kill switch | Yes |
| Night vision mode | Yes |
| Stage timer | Yes |
| Stealth Mode | Yes |
Activity Tracking Features |
| Step counter | Yes |
| Move alerts (displays on device after a period of inactivity) | Yes |
| Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal) | Yes |
| Calories burned | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes |
| Distance traveled | Yes |
| Intensity minutes | Yes |
| TrueUp™ | Yes |
| Move IQ™ | Yes |
| Garmin Connect™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ app) |
| Automatic rep counting | Yes |
Training, Planning and Analysis Features |
| Customizable data pages | Yes |
| Downloadable training plans | Yes |
| Course guidance | Yes |
| HR zones | Yes |
| HR alerts | Yes |
| HR calories | Yes |
| % HR max | Yes |
| % HRR | Yes |
| Recovery time | Yes |
| Auto max HR | Yes |
| Race glance/widget | Yes |
| HRV status | Yes |
| HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+® to paired devices) | Yes |
| Respiration rate (during exercise) | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| GPS speed and distance | Yes |
| Customizable activity profiles | Yes |
| Auto Pause® automatic timer halt | Yes |
| Interval training | Yes |
| Improved interval (includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) | Yes |
| Advanced workouts | Yes |
| Power Modes - customizable in-activity battery settings | Yes |
| HRM running pace and distance | Yes |
| Auto Lap® interval tracking feature | Yes |
| Manual lap | Yes |
| Rest timer | Yes |
| Configurable lap alerts | Yes |
| Heat and altitude acclimation | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Run) | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Trail Run) | Yes |
| Load ratio | Yes |
| Training load | Yes |
| Training load focus | Yes |
| Training effect | Yes |
| Training effect (anaerobic) | Yes |
| Primary benefit (Training Effect labels) | Yes |
| Workout benefit | Yes |
| Improved recovery time | Yes |
| Custom alerts | Yes |
| Voice alerts | Yes |
| Multisport auto transition | Yes |
| Finish time | Yes |
| Virtual Partner | Yes |
| Race an Activity | Yes |
| Manual multisport activities | Yes |
| Touch and/or button lock | Yes |
| Shortcuts | Yes |
| Auto scroll | Yes |
| Activity history on watch | Yes |
| Physio TrueUp | Yes |
| Unified training status | Yes |
Golfing Features |
| Yardage to F/M/B (distance to front, middle and back of green) | Yes |
| Yardage to layups/doglegs | Yes |
| Measures shot distance (calculates exact yardage for shots from anywhere on course) | manual |
| Digital scorecard | Yes |
| Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit) | Yes |
| Garmin AutoShot™ | Yes |
| Auto CourseView updates | Yes |
| Green View with manual pin position | Yes |
| Hazards and course targets | Yes |
| Round timer/odometer | Yes |
| CT10 Automatic club tracking compatible (requires accessory) | Yes |
| Pairs with Garmin Golf app | Yes |
| Tournament legal | Yes |
Outdoor Recreation |
| Point-to-point navigation | Yes |
| Bread crumb trail in real time | Yes |
| Back to start | Yes |
| TracBack® | Yes |
| UltraTrac mode | Yes |
| Reference point | Yes |
| Elevation profile | Yes |
| Distance to destination | Yes |
| Barometric trend indicator with Storm Alert | Yes |
| Vertical speed | Yes |
| Total ascent/descent | Yes |
| Future elevation plot | Yes |
| GPS coordinates | Yes |
| Sight 'N Go | Yes |
| Area calculation | Yes |
| Projected waypoint | Yes |
| Sun and moon information | Yes |
| Wind meter compatible | Yes |
| Expedition GPS Activity | Yes |
| Tides | Yes |
| Tide glance | Yes |
Cycling Features |
| Courses | Yes |
| Bike lap and lap maximum power (with power sensor) | Yes |
| Race an activity | Yes |
| Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories) | Yes |
| FTP (Functional Threshold Power) | Yes |
| MTB Grit & Flow | Yes |
| Advanced cycling dynamics | Yes |
| Compatible with Vector™ and Rally™ (power meters) | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia Vision™ (head-mounted display) | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ radar (rear-facing radar) | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ lights | Yes |
| Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | Yes |
| Power meter compatible | Yes |
Swimming Features |
| Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | Yes |
| Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | Yes |
| Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) (pool swim only) | Yes |
| Drill logging (pool swim only) | Yes |
| Basic rest timer (up from 0) (pool swim only) | Yes |
| "Repeat on" rest timer (pool swim only) | Yes |
| Auto rest (pool swim only) | Yes |
| Time and distance alerts | Yes |
| Countdown start (pool swim only) | Yes |
| Pool swim workouts | Yes |
| Underwater wrist-based heart rate | Yes |
| Heart rate from external HRM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim) | Yes |
Kid Activity Tracking Features |
| Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app | yes (optional Connect IQ Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app) |
In the box:
- Instinct® 3 – 50 mm, Solar, Tactical Edition smartwatch
- Charging/data cable
- Documentation
EN
HR
18 years of experience
Review
(1)
Review (1)