Instinct 3 Solar

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Manufacturer	Garmin
Type	Rugged GPS smartwatch with solar charging
Series	Instinct 3
Released	January 10, 2025 (announced January 6, 2025)
Price at launch	$399.99 USD / £349.99 GBP (45 mm); $449.99 USD / £379.99 GBP (50 mm)
Predecessor	Instinct 2 Solar / Instinct 2X Solar
Successor	—
Sizes	45 mm (medium), 50 mm (large)
Colours	45 mm: Black, Neotropic (Tropical Pulse Collection), Solstice · 50 mm: Black/Charcoal, Neotropic/Twilight (Tropical Pulse Collection), Twilight with Solstice Band

Specifications and features as at launch.

Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Comparisons | Software updates | Quick answers | Further reading

Expert opinion

The Instinct 3 Solar corrects the low-contrast display that limited the previous generation and pairs it with unlimited solar battery life, multi-band GPS and a standard flashlight across both sizes. The 176 × 176 MIP resolution and absence of onboard maps are difficult to justify at a price that approaches some mapping-capable alternatives.

Under optimal solar conditions (50,000 lux, three hours per day) both sizes reach unlimited smartwatch battery life; without solar, the 45 mm runs to 28 days and the 50 mm to 40 days. Both carry multi-band GNSS with SatIQ, Training Load Focus, Training Readiness and Garmin Pay as standard. The dual-window MIP layout is retained from the Instinct 2 line with a 2× improvement in display contrast, but the resolution remains 176 × 176 pixels and the display is monochrome throughout.

What’s new versus the Instinct 2 Solar

Hardware

• Metal-reinforced bezel: aluminium reinforcement added to the fibre-reinforced polymer bezel
• Built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities, red light and strobe mode: standard on both sizes; previously exclusive to the Instinct 2X Solar
• Multi-band dual-frequency GNSS with SatIQ: standard on both sizes; previously exclusive to the Instinct 2X Solar
• Improved solar efficiency: the 50 mm Solar achieves more than five times the GPS mode battery of the Instinct 2 Solar under solar charging
• Display contrast improved by 2× over the Instinct 2 MIP panels
• Gyroscope added

Software

• Training Load Focus and Training Load Ratio
• Training Readiness
• Multisport auto-transition (Triathlon)
• Sleep Coach and Nap Detection
• Breathing Variations
• Morning Report and Lifestyle Logging
• Grade-adjusted pace, Running Power (accessory required) and PacePro pacing strategies
• Improved interval training: open repeats, intervals data page and auto detection
• Obstacle Racing, Motor sports, Backcountry Skiing and Backcountry Snowboarding profiles added
• Garmin Pay now standard (previously Solar-only on the Instinct 2 – now included by default)
• Rucking activity, Trucking features, Golf with full yardage and scoring
• Garmin Messenger and Garmin Share

Specifications

Figures below are for the 45 mm (medium). The 50 mm (large) differs as follows: case 50 × 50 × 14.4 mm (thinner than the 45 mm at 14.9 mm), weight 58 g, display 1.1-inch (27 × 27 mm), QuickFit band 26 mm. Battery figures for the 50 mm are given in the battery table below.

Display
Watch type	Monochrome transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP), sunlight visible; custom two-window design
Display size	0.9-inch (23 × 23 mm)
Resolution	176 × 176 px
Lens	Power Glass (solar-charging lens)
Solar charging	Yes
Physical
Case size	45 × 45 × 14.9 mm
Weight	52 g
Case material	Fibre-reinforced polymer
Bezel material	Fibre-reinforced polymer with aluminium reinforcement
Strap material	Silicone
QuickFit band width	22 mm
Water rating	10 ATM (100 m)
Military standard	MIL-STD-810 (thermal and shock resistance)
Sensors and positioning
Heart rate	Garmin Elevate (wrist-based, continuous)
GNSS	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo with multi-band dual-frequency and SatIQ
Barometric altimeter	Yes
Compass	3-axis electronic
Gyroscope	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes
Thermometer	Yes
Pulse Ox	Yes
© the5krunner. Link required.
Connectivity and storage
Connectivity	Bluetooth, ANT+
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug; solar via Power Glass lens
Memory	128 MB
Wi-Fi	No
Garmin Pay	Yes
Music storage	No

Battery life

Figures for both sizes. Solar figures assume all-day wear with three hours per day in 50,000 lux conditions for smartwatch, battery saver and expedition modes; 50,000 lux throughout for GPS modes. The All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band solar figure additionally assumes typical use with SatIQ technology.

Mode	45 mm (medium)	50 mm (large)
Smartwatch	28 days / unlimited with solar	40 days / unlimited with solar
Battery saver watch	65 days / unlimited with solar	100 days / unlimited with solar
GPS	40 hours / 130 hours with solar	60 hours / 260 hours with solar
All satellite systems	28 hours / 50 hours with solar	40 hours / 80 hours with solar
All satellite systems + multi-band	24 hours / 40 hours with solar	34 hours / 60 hours with solar
Max battery GPS	100 hours / unlimited with solar	150 hours / unlimited with solar
Expedition GPS	36 days / unlimited with solar	60 days / unlimited with solar
© the5krunner. Link required.

Features

For a full reference to Garmin software capabilities across the watch range see the Garmin features guide.

Plan

• Garmin Coach training plans for running and cycling
• Daily Suggested Workouts for running and cycling, adapting after each completed activity
• Workout creation from 1,600+ exercises in Garmin Connect, synced to the watch
• PacePro pacing strategies for races and time targets
• Downloadable training plans and customisable data screens
• Trucking features: driver workouts, break planning, truck plaza loyalty programs and dēzl OTR navigator compatibility

Prepare

• VO2 Max estimation for running and trail running
• Training Load, Training Load Focus and Training Load Ratio
• Training Readiness and Unified Training Status
• Training Effect (aerobic and anaerobic) and Recovery Time
• Heat and Altitude Acclimation
• HRV Status: daily heart rate variability metric with trend tracking
• Body Battery energy monitor and all-day stress tracking
• Sleep Coach, advanced sleep monitoring with Sleep Score, Breathing Variations and Nap Detection
• Wrist-based heart rate (continuous) and Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation
• Health Snapshot: 2-minute session recording key health stats
• Morning Report: sleep, HRV and calendar overview on waking
• Lifestyle Logging: caffeine and alcohol intake, with reporting in Garmin Connect
• Women’s health tracking (menstrual cycle and pregnancy)
• Fitness Age, Hydration logging, Breathwork activity
• Nutrition tracking with a Garmin Connect+ subscription

Perform

• Multi-band dual-frequency GNSS with SatIQ: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
• ABC sensors: barometric altimeter, barometer with storm alert, 3-axis electronic compass
• Running dynamics: cadence, vertical oscillation and ratio, stride length, ground contact time and balance (accessory required for balance)
• Running Power (accessory required) and grade-adjusted pace
• Course guidance, breadcrumb trail, TracBack, Back to Start, point-to-point navigation
• Projected waypoints, Sight ’N Go, elevation profile, future elevation plot, area calculation
• Expedition GPS Activity, UltraTrac mode
• Pool and open-water swim metrics: SWOLF, stroke type detection, drill logging, distance, pace
• Multisport and Triathlon with automatic transitions
• HIIT workouts (AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata and custom) and improved interval training
• Golf: yardage to front/middle/back, AutoShot distance measurement, digital scorecard, Green View, stat tracking, pairs with Garmin Golf app
• MTB Grit and Flow, advanced cycling dynamics, power meter compatible
• Incident Detection (during select activities), LiveTrack and Assistance with live location

Connect

• Smart Notifications: emails, texts and alerts via paired iPhone or Android
• Garmin Connect app (core features free, no subscription required)
• Garmin Pay contactless payments
• Garmin Messenger: two-way text messaging from the watch
• Garmin Share: save and share locations, courses and workouts with compatible Garmin devices
• Connect IQ: downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps
• Smart trainer control
• Gaming activity (GameOn app compatible)
• Controls smartphone music playback
• Find My Phone and Find My Garmin

Activity profiles

Running	Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Obstacle Racing, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual running
Cycling	Biking, Road biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel biking, Bike commuting, Bike touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX
Swimming	Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming
Multisport	Triathlon
Gym and fitness	Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor rowing, Indoor Climbing, Indoor Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Boxing, Mixed martial arts
Outdoor	Walking, Hiking, Bouldering, Climbing, Hunting, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery
Other	Winter sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, Backcountry Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing · Water sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Water Skiing, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Whitewater · Team sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball · Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball · Motorsports: Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling · Other: Tactical, Inline Skating

Comparisons and upgrade guides

• Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar vs Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, AMOLED with solar against a solar-first watch

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar software updates

The current Garmin Instinct 3 Solar software is version 15.19. Garmin is still updating the Instinct 3 Solar, with 4 software releases since May 2026. This section is updated when Garmin releases a new version.

Current version	15.19, released 23 September 2026.
Last update	15.19 on 23 September 2026.

Features added since May 2026

• 15.18, August 2026. Better gear suggestions for hikes, with fixes for lag in the glances list, pace dropping out during intervals and the DogTrack pointer direction.

Full version history, 4 releases including betas and fixes

Version	Type	Date	What changed
15.19	Stable	23 September 2026	Garmin lists one change, a fix for tones not being silenced in Stealth Mode, and says it applies to the Tactical.
15.18	Stable	August 2026	Better gear suggestions for hikes, with fixes for lag in the glances list, pace dropping out during intervals and the DogTrack pointer direction.
14.17	Stable	July 2026	Fixes treadmill calibration so treadmill distance can be corrected.
14.15	Stable	June 2026	Fixes garbled characters on the heart rate broadcast screen.

Version history is recorded from May 2026. See also known problems and fixes and Garmin’s release notes for the current version.

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Quick answers

When was the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar released?
Garmin announced the Instinct 3 Solar on 6 January 2025, and it was released on 10 January 2025. The launch price was GBP 349.99 or USD 399.99 for the 45mm, and GBP 379.99 or USD 449.99 for the 50mm.

Is the Instinct 3 Solar waterproof?
Instinct 3 Solar has a water rating of 10 ATM (100m). It includes Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming and Triathlon profiles.

Does the Instinct 3 Solar have maps?
No, Instinct 3 Solar has no onboard maps. It offers course guidance, breadcrumb trail, TracBack, Back to Start and point-to-point navigation.

Does the Instinct 3 Solar have a flashlight?
Yes, both sizes of Instinct 3 Solar have a built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities, red light and strobe mode.

What size and weight is the Instinct 3 Solar?
Instinct 3 Solar comes in 45mm and 50mm sizes. The 45mm is 14.9mm thick, weighs 52g and takes a 22mm band, and the 50mm is 14.4mm thick, weighs 58g and takes a 26mm band.

How long does the Instinct 3 Solar battery last?
Garmin rates the 45mm Instinct 3 Solar for 28 days in smartwatch mode and the 50mm for 40 days, and both are unlimited with solar. In GPS mode the 45mm lasts 40 hours, or 130 hours with solar.

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Further reading

• Garmin Instinct: current range guide and model comparison
• Garmin watch specifications database
• Release Radar: Garmin rumours, leaks and confirmed launches

Related watches

The closest predecessor is the Instinct 2X Solar (50 mm) and Instinct 2 Solar (45 mm). The COROS Nomad is the closest cross-brand alternative.

Buy the Garmin Instinct 2