Garmin has officially announced its rugged Instinct 3 series and an affordable Instinct E smartwatch at the ongoing CES 2025. The rugged smartwatch lineup boasts AMOLED displays, the first-ever from the brand. Garmin is also taking its Instinct 3 series up a notch with a solar-powered model as well.
Garmin’s rugged AMOLED Instinct 3 series & affordable Instinct E showcased at CES 2025
The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED smartwatch is available in two sizes. The 50mm model is the top-end variant featuring a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with 416 x 416 pixels resolution. Meanwhile, the 45mm is a trimmed-down variant with a relatively smaller 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, with a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels.
The Garmin Instinct 3 50mm can last up to 24 days, while the 45mm should give you a battery life of up to 18 days on a single charge. That said, you must give up on battery life if you choose to keep the always-on mode enabled. It significantly drops the battery life to 9 days and 7 days on the 50mm and 45mm variants, respectively. As one would expect, these rugged wrist-worn wearables also boast top-notch durability.
For starters, the rugged Instinct 3 series from Garmin flaunts a new metal-reinforced bezel blended with aluminum and fiber-reinforced polymer material to withstand drops and knocks. Garmin notes that these smartwatches are also MIL-STD 810 certified. Simply put, the Instinct 3 series should withstand extreme temperatures, shock, and water exposure. It also comes with a 10ATM rating, meaning it can survive at a depth of up to 100 meters underwater.
Talking of health and fitness, the Instinct 3 series comes with heart rate monitoring and Pulse Ox. It also offers Heart Rate Variability (HRV) status and advanced sleep-tracking features. If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you can track your runs, cycling, and more. Not to mention, these rugged smartwatches also support Garmin Pay. As far as pricing is concerned, the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED 50mm and 45mm cost $499 and $449, respectively.
The Instinct E is just as good as the AMOLEDs but costs much less
If you don’t fancy AMOLEDs, Garmin has the affordable Instinct E and Instinct 3 Solar models. The Instinct E comes in a smaller 40mm and 45mm size and is priced at $299. It’s worth noting that you’ll miss the metal bezel and flashlight available on the rugged AMOLED versions. But, most of the fitness and tracking features remain the same.
Speaking of Instinct 3 Solar, it is available in 45mm and 50mm sizes and costs $349 and $449, respectively. The company is going all out with the Instinct 3 Solar model, offering a massive battery life of up to 40 days. Of course, you can use it indefinitely with the help of sunlight. Moreover, you’ll be able to order all Instinct series smartwatches starting January 10, 2025.
