Coros Nomad
Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition

Coros Nomad Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition

Common Features

  • Both products are waterproof.
  • Both products have a replaceable watch band.
  • Both products have an always-on display.
  • Both products have a display.
  • Both products have GPS.
  • Both products have a heart rate monitor.
  • Both products monitor blood oxygenation levels.
  • Both products have a barometer.
  • Both products have an accelerometer.
  • Both products have a compass.
  • Both products have a temperature sensor.
  • Both products have a gyroscope.
  • Both products can track distance.
  • Both products measure pace.
  • Both products have trackback mode.
  • Both products track elevation.
  • Both products are compatible with iOS.
  • Both products are compatible with Android.
  • Both products have a rechargeable battery.
  • Both products have wireless charging capabilities.

Main Differences

  • The screen size is 1.4″ on Coros Nomad and 1.3″ on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The display type is LCD on Coros Nomad and OLED/AMOLED on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The ATM rating is 5 ATM on Coros Nomad and 10 ATM on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The resolution is 260 x 260 px on Coros Nomad and 416 x 416 px on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • Coros Nomad has a touch screen, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does not.
  • Coros Nomad weighs 61 g, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition weighs 59 g.
  • The thickness is 16.4 mm on Coros Nomad and 14.4 mm on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The height is 47.8 mm on Coros Nomad and 50 mm on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The pixel density is 282 ppi on Coros Nomad and 452 ppi on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The width is 47.8 mm on Coros Nomad and 50 mm on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The width of the band is 24 mm on Coros Nomad and 26 mm on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • Coros Nomad has no cadence sensor, whereas Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition has one.
  • Coros Nomad is not designed for golf, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition is.
  • Coros Nomad does not support ANT+, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does.
  • Coros Nomad does not have NFC, whereas Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does.
  • The battery life is 22 days on Coros Nomad and 9 days on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • The battery life with GPS on is 34 hours on Coros Nomad and 40 hours on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.
  • Coros Nomad can upload maps, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition cannot.
  • Coros Nomad has irregular heart rate warnings, whereas Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does not.
  • Coros Nomad does not have fall detection, but Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does.
  • Coros Nomad has call control, while Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition does not.
Specs Comparison
Coros Nomad

Coros Nomad

Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition

Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition

Design:
screen size 1.4" 1.3"
Display type LCD OLED/AMOLED
water resistance Waterproof Waterproof
has branded damage-resistant glass
ATM rating 5 ATM 10 ATM
resolution 260 x 260 px 416 x 416 px
Watch band is replaceable
has a touch screen
weight 61 g 59 g
Has sapphire glass display
thickness 16.4 mm 14.4 mm
Always-On Display
height 47.8 mm 50 mm
pixel density 282 ppi 452 ppi
Has a display
width 47.8 mm 50 mm
width of band 24 mm 26 mm
volume 37.471376 cm³ 36 cm³

The Coros Nomad features a 1.4″ LCD display with a resolution of 260 x 260 px and a pixel density of 282 ppi. In comparison, the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition has a slightly smaller 1.3″ OLED/AMOLED screen, but offers a higher resolution of 416 x 416 px and a much sharper pixel density of 452 ppi.

Both watches are waterproof with Coros Nomad rated at 5 ATM and Garmin Instinct 3 at 10 ATM, indicating that the Garmin offers a higher level of water resistance. While neither watch has branded damage-resistant glass or sapphire glass, both models feature an Always-On Display. The Coros Nomad is thicker at 16.4 mm, compared to the Garmin's 14.4 mm. The Nomad also has a width and height of 47.8 mm, while the Garmin Instinct 3 is slightly larger at 50 mm in height and width of 50 mm.

When it comes to weight, the Coros Nomad weighs 61 g, slightly heavier than the Garmin Instinct 3, which is 59 g. The band width on the Coros Nomad is 24 mm, compared to the Garmin’s 26 mm. Both watches have replaceable bands, but the Coros Nomad offers a slightly larger overall volume at 37.47 cm³, while the Garmin Instinct 3 has a volume of 36 cm³.

Sensors:
has GPS
Has a heart rate monitor
Monitors blood oxygenation levels
Has a barometer
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has a temperature sensor
Has a cadence sensor
has a gyroscope
Has a wind speed sensor
Monitors perspiration

Both the Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition are equipped with similar sensors, including GPS, heart rate monitor, blood oxygenation monitoring, barometer, accelerometer, compass, and temperature sensor. These sensors are standard on both devices and should provide comparable performance in tracking outdoor activities.

The main difference between the two models lies in the cadence sensor: the Coros Nomad lacks this sensor, while the Garmin Instinct 3 includes one. Both watches also have a gyroscope for motion detection, but neither has a wind speed sensor or perspiration monitoring capabilities.

In summary, the key distinction in sensors is the presence of the cadence sensor on the Garmin Instinct 3, which the Coros Nomad does not offer. All other sensors, such as GPS, heart rate monitor, and accelerometer, are shared between both products.

Activity tracking:
Has a route tracker
Tracks distance
Measures pace
Has trackback mode
Tracks your sleep
Has multi-sport mode
Detects activities automatically
Tracks elevation
Tracks steps taken
Provides sleep reports
Has exercise tagging
Has a stroke counter for swimming
Tracks calorie intake
Designed for diving
Designed for golf

The Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition share a comprehensive range of activity tracking features. Both devices offer a route tracker, distance tracking, pace measurement, trackback mode, multi-sport mode, automatic activity detection, sleep tracking, elevation tracking, step tracking, sleep reports, exercise tagging, and a stroke counter for swimming. Additionally, both watches track calorie intake.

The key difference between the two products is that the Garmin Instinct 3 is designed for golf, which the Coros Nomad does not support. However, neither watch is designed specifically for diving.

Overall, the two models provide nearly identical activity tracking features, with the only distinction being the Garmin's golf-specific functionality.

Connectivity:
Is compatible with iOS
Is compatible with Android
supports Wi-Fi
has a cellular module
supports ANT+
has NFC

Both the Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition are compatible with iOS and Android devices. However, their connectivity options differ in some areas. Neither watch supports Wi-Fi, has a cellular module, or features NFC.

The primary difference between the two is that the Garmin Instinct 3 supports ANT+, while the Coros Nomad does not. ANT+ support allows the Garmin to connect with a wider range of external sensors and devices, which may be beneficial for specific sports or activities.

In summary, both devices offer basic connectivity for mobile syncing, but the Garmin Instinct 3 stands out with its ANT+ and NFC capabilities, features absent on the Coros Nomad.

Battery:
battery life 22 days 9 days
battery life with GPS on 34 hours 40 hours
has wireless charging
Has a solar power battery
has a rechargeable battery
has a removable battery

The Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition differ in battery life. The Coros Nomad offers a longer overall battery life of 22 days, compared to the Garmin's 9 days. However, when using GPS, the Garmin Instinct 3 has a slightly longer battery life of 40 hours, while the Coros Nomad lasts 34 hours with GPS on.

Both watches have a rechargeable battery and lack wireless charging or solar power capabilities. Neither model has a removable battery, ensuring that users must rely on charging the devices as needed.

In summary, the Coros Nomad excels in longer general battery life, while the Garmin Instinct 3 provides slightly more extended GPS usage time.

Features:
release date August 2025 April 2025
has HRV tracking
measures VO2 max
measures resting heart rate
has fast/slow heart rate notifications
shows readiness level
Can upload maps
Has a stopwatch
Locates your phone
Has silent alarm
has irregular heart rate warnings
has fall detection
Has notifications
Acquires GPS faster
Has call control
Provides the sunrise/sunset time
internal storage 32GB 4GB
Can be used to answer calls
supports Galileo
Has smart alarm
Informs about the risk of thunderstorms
has voice commands
Has a built-in camera remote control function

Both the Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition offer a range of advanced features, with some notable differences. Both watches track HRV, VO2 max, and resting heart rate, and provide fast/slow heart rate notifications, readiness levels, and the ability to upload maps. However, the Coros Nomad supports map uploads, while the Garmin Instinct 3 does not. The Garmin also has the added benefit of fall detection, a feature not present in the Coros Nomad.

In terms of storage, the Coros Nomad has 32GB of internal storage, significantly more than the Garmin Instinct 3, which only offers 4GB. The Garmin, on the other hand, provides additional features like sunrise/sunset time, risk of thunderstorms, and irregular heart rate warnings, which the Coros Nomad lacks.

Both watches support Galileo for satellite navigation and offer a stopwatch, phone locator, silent alarm, and notifications. They also both acquire GPS quickly and provide call control, though neither can be used to answer calls. Overall, the Coros Nomad offers more storage and map upload capabilities, while the Garmin adds fall detection and some weather-related features.

App & Software:
Provides activity reports
Has inactivity alerts
Counts how many calories you've burned
Has goal setting
Has achievements
Free app
Has exercise diary
Ad-free
Has weight tracking
Tracks water intake
Has coaching
Has temperature tracking
Supports routes
Syncs with existing calendars
Has music playback
Doesn’t require account
Predicts start date
Supports widgets
Can be personalised
Has barcode scanner on app

Both the Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition offer a wide range of app and software features, including activity reports, inactivity alerts, calorie counting, goal setting, achievements, and free apps. They also both have exercise diaries, weight tracking, water intake tracking, coaching, temperature tracking, route support, calendar syncing, music playback, and widget support. Additionally, neither requires an account for use.

The primary difference between the two is that the Garmin Instinct 3 allows for personalization, while the Coros Nomad does not. Both devices also lack a barcode scanner on the app.

Overall, both watches provide similar core features, but the Garmin offers more flexibility with personalization, a feature the Coros Nomad does not support.

Miscellaneous:
has a battery level indicator
Has auto pause
Compatible with external heart rate monitors
Available on PC
has an external memory slot
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack

The Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition are very similar in terms of miscellaneous features. Both watches include a battery level indicator, auto pause functionality, compatibility with external heart rate monitors, and are available on PC. Additionally, neither watch has an external memory slot or a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Overall, the two devices match on all key features in this group, with no significant differences between them.

Comparison Summary

This is a specification comparison between Coros Nomad and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition. Both watches are waterproof, have a replaceable band, and feature an always-on display. The screen size is 1.4″ on Coros Nomad and 1.3″ on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition. The display type differs with Coros Nomad having an LCD screen and Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition using OLED/AMOLED. The resolution is higher on the Garmin model with 416 x 416 px compared to 260 x 260 px on the Coros watch. Additionally, the Coros Nomad offers a touch screen, while the Garmin model does not. Battery life is longer on Coros Nomad, lasting 22 days versus 9 days on Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Tactical Edition.