Instinct 3 / Instinct E

Instinct 3 / Instinct E launched 6 Jan 2025 at $299+. CES: AMOLED and Solar branches; E is the budget entry

Instinct 3 / Instinct E

Color

Black with Black Band

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The take

The Instinct finally got screens worthy of the housing — AMOLED or solar MIP, your pick — with the fenix training stack underneath. Buttons only, ugly on purpose, effectively indestructible. The E is the budget branch; the AMOLED is the one people actually buy.

The basics

Brand
Garmin
Line
Outdoor
Released
2025-01-06
Launch price
$299+
Previous family release
Instinct 2 / 2S
Family
Instinct
Official site
garmin.com ↗

CES: AMOLED and Solar branches; E is the budget entry

Instinct 4: rumors & release windowSearch mentions

Release history

  1. 2025-01-06Instinct 3 / Instinct E
  2. 2022-02-09Instinct 2 / 2S
  3. 2018-10-11Instinct

Video coverage

Garmin Instinct 3 Hands-On: Everything New Explained!DC Rainmaker · Fri, 26 Sep 2025Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED vs Solar In-Depth Comparison // Major Differences! (Choose Wisely)DesFit · Fri, 26 Sep 2025Garmin Instinct 3 Review - AMOLED or Solar? (Don’t make a mistake!)Chase the Summit · Sun, 05 Oct 2025Garmin Instinct 3 - What I've Learned After 1 YearAlex Vassios · Wed, 29 Apr 2026

All 107 videos

Podcast coverage

Instinct generation comparison

Full compare page

Launch prices are historical. Price links may earn us a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Instinct 32025-01Instinct 22022-02Instinct2018-02
Launch price$399$349$299
Weight (with band)AMOLED: 53 / 59 g; Solar: 52 / 58 g (45 / 50 mm)43 / 53 g (2S / 2)52 g
DisplayAMOLED or Solar MIP2-window mono MIP2-window mono MIP
Sizes45 / 50 mm40 / 45 mm45 mm
Thickness14.4 / 14.9 mm13.3 / 14.5 mm15.3 mm
Lens / casePolymer; Power Glass on SolarPolymer; Power Glass on SolarChemically strengthened glass; polymer
Battery (smartwatch)20–60+ days; Solar unlimited*2S Solar: unlimited*~14 days
SolarSolar modelsSolar models—
Multi-band GPSAMOLED models——
LED flashlightYes——
Garmin Pay / musicPay onlyPay only—

Battery figures are launch-day claims.

In the news

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