Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED 45mm

The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED 45mm features a 1.2″ OLED/AMOLED display with a resolution of 390 x 390 px and a pixel density of 459 ppi, and it supports an always-on display mode for continuous readability. The square case measures 45 mm in both height and width, sits 14.9 mm thick, and weighs 53 g, with a total volume of 30.1725 cm³. It carries a 10 ATM water resistance rating, and the 22 mm watch band is replaceable. The display does not use sapphire or branded damage-resistant glass, and the watch does not feature a touchscreen.

The watch includes a broad sensor suite covering the core needs of fitness and outdoor use: GPS, a heart rate monitor, and a pulse oximeter handle location and biometric tracking, while a barometer, compass, and body temperature sensor add environmental and navigation awareness. An accelerometer, gyroscope, and cadence sensor further support motion and activity data collection. Wind speed monitoring and perspiration tracking are not included.

Activity tracking on this watch covers a wide range of metrics, including distance, pace, steps, elevation, and route tracking, with automatic activity detection removing the need to start sessions manually. A trackback mode helps with navigation on outdoor routes, while multi-sport mode allows switching between different disciplines in a single session. Swimming is supported through a stroke counter, and golf is also a designated activity, though diving is not. On the wellness side, the watch tracks sleep with full reports, monitors calorie intake, and supports exercise tagging for organizing workout history.

The watch is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and supports NFC and ANT+ for contactless functionality and connection to external fitness accessories. Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity are not included, so the watch relies on a paired smartphone for data syncing and notifications.

The watch runs on a built-in rechargeable battery that is not removable and does not support wireless or solar charging, so recharging requires a wired connection. Battery life reaches up to 18 days in standard use, while GPS-active sessions are rated at 32 hours and training mode extends to 23 hours before a charge is needed.

Health monitoring features include HRV tracking, VO2 max measurement, resting heart rate tracking, and a readiness/recovery indicator, along with fast and slow heart rate notifications; irregular heart rate warnings, however, are not available. The watch supports wrist notifications, a silent alarm, a stopwatch, fall detection, a phone finder, and displays sunrise/sunset times as well as thunderstorm risk alerts. GPS acquisition is fast and Galileo satellite support is included, though map uploads are not possible. It offers 4 GB of internal storage and carries a 1-year warranty. Call control, the ability to answer calls via headset, voice commands, a smart alarm, vibrating alerts, and a camera remote shutter are not part of the feature set.

The companion app is free and ad-free, though an account is required to use it. It covers a broad range of tracking and wellness tools, including activity reports, calorie burn, weight, BMI, water intake, and temperature tracking, alongside an exercise diary, goal setting, inactivity alerts, and an achievements system. Live tracking, coaching, voice feedback, music playback, and route and map support are all included, and the app syncs with existing calendars and supports widgets as well as personalisation. On the reproductive health side, it provides period notifications, fertile window notifications, start date prediction, and ovulation prediction. Video tutorials are available, but a barcode scanner is not part of the app's feature set.

The watch includes a battery level indicator and an auto-pause function for workouts, and it is compatible with external heart rate monitors and smart scales for expanded tracking. The companion software is available on PC and supports both Windows and Mac OS X. There is no external memory slot and no 3.5 mm audio jack.