Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm specifications and in-depth review

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm

Manufacturer: Garmin

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm is a rugged sports watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts. It features a 0.9″ LCD display and offers a solar-powered battery for extended use without frequent charging.

This watch is equipped with a range of sensors including GPS, heart rate monitor, and barometer, as well as tracking features like distance tracking and sleep reports. It has a 10 ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for various sports and outdoor activities.

Pros
  • Compatible with both iOS and Android, providing broad device compatibility.
  • Supports a variety of fitness and health tracking features, including heart rate variability, VO2 max, and sleep tracking.
  • Includes useful notifications such as irregular heart rate warnings, fall detection, and vibrating alerts.
  • Has solar-powered battery, extending battery life for outdoor activities.
  • Supports syncing with existing calendars and has live tracking for real-time activity monitoring.
Cons
  • Does not support Wi-Fi, limiting wireless connectivity options.
  • Lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, preventing the use of wired headphones.
  • Does not have an external memory slot for additional storage.
  • Does not offer an account-free experience, requiring an account for full functionality.
Who is this for?

This product is ideal for users looking for a versatile, all-around fitness tracking experience. It excels for those who need comprehensive health monitoring, including heart rate variability, VO2 max, and sleep tracking, along with real-time notifications such as fall detection and irregular heart rate warnings. It's perfect for fitness enthusiasts and athletes who require long battery life, enhanced by a solar-powered battery, and the ability to sync with mobile devices and calendars for streamlined activity tracking.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be suitable for users who require extensive connectivity options, as it lacks Wi-Fi support and a 3.5mm audio jack, limiting its ability to wirelessly stream or connect to wired audio devices. It also doesn't support external memory storage, which may be restrictive for those wanting to store larger amounts of data. Additionally, users who prefer not to create an account may find the required account setup inconvenient.

Design:

screen size 0.9"
Display type LCD
water resistance Waterproof
has branded damage-resistant glass
ATM rating 10 ATM
resolution 176 x 176 px
Watch band is replaceable
has a touch screen
weight 52 g
Has sapphire glass display
thickness 14.9 mm
Always-On Display
height 45 mm
pixel density 276 ppi
Has a display
width 45 mm
width of band 22 mm
volume 30.1725 cm³

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm features a compact 0.9″ LCD display with a resolution of 176 x 176 px and a pixel density of 276 ppi. It is designed with a 10 ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for water-related activities. The watch has a replaceable band, weighs just 52g, and measures 45mm in height and width, with a thickness of 14.9mm. Its screen is always-on but does not include a touch screen or branded damage-resistant glass like Gorilla Glass or sapphire glass.

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

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm is equipped with a comprehensive set of sensors, including a GPS, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter for blood oxygenation, and a barometer for altitude tracking. It also features an accelerometer, compass, body temperature sensor, cadence sensor, and gyroscope, providing a versatile range of tracking capabilities. However, it does not include a wind speed sensor or perspiration monitor.

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 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm offers extensive activity tracking features, including a route tracker, distance tracking, and pace measurement. It also supports multi-sport mode, tracks elevation, steps, and sleep, while providing sleep reports. Additionally, it includes exercise tagging, a swim stroke counter, food tracking, and automatic activity detection, but it is not designed for diving. The watch also supports golf-specific tracking.

Connectivity:

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

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm offers broad compatibility, supporting both iOS and Android devices. It also features ANT+ support for wireless connectivity and includes NFC for easy pairing. However, it does not support Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity.

Battery:

battery life Infinity days
battery life with GPS on 130 hours
battery life in training mode 40 hours
has wireless charging
Has a solar power battery
has a rechargeable battery
has a removable battery

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm features a solar-powered battery that provides virtually unlimited battery life in typical use. With GPS activated, the battery lasts up to 130 hours, and it offers 40 hours of battery life in training mode. This watch also includes a rechargeable battery, though it does not support wireless charging or removable batteries.

Features:

release date January 2025
has HRV tracking
measures VO2 max
measures resting heart rate
has fast/slow heart rate notifications
shows readiness level
Can upload maps
Has vibrating alerts
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 0.128GB
Can be used to answer calls
supports Galileo
Has smart alarm
Informs about the risk of thunderstorms
warranty period 1 years
has voice commands
Has a built-in camera remote control function

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm includes several advanced features such as HRV tracking, VO2 max measurement, and resting heart rate monitoring. It also offers useful tools like vibrating alerts, a stopwatch, and the ability to locate your phone. Additional features include fast GPS lock, fall detection, and the ability to inform you about thunderstorms, though it lacks capabilities like smart alarm, call control, and voice commands.

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 BMI
Tracks water intake
Has live tracking
Has coaching
Has temperature tracking
Has period notifications
Supports routes
Syncs with existing calendars
Has voice feedback
Has music playback
Displays fertile window notifications
Includes maps
Doesn’t require account
Predicts start date
Predicts ovulation
Has video tutorials
Supports widgets
Can be personalised
Has barcode scanner on app

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm provides a comprehensive suite of app and software features, including activity reports, goal setting, and the ability to track calories burned, weight, BMI, and water intake. It also supports live tracking, coaching, and offers features like period notifications, music playback, and synchronization with calendars. The app is free, ad-free, and offers personalization options, though it does not support a barcode scanner.

Miscellaneous:

has a battery level indicator
Is compatible with Windows
Has auto pause
Compatible with external heart rate monitors
Available on PC
Compatible with smart scales
Is compatible with Mac OS X
has an external memory slot
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack

The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm offers several convenient features for enhanced usability, including battery level indication, auto pause, and compatibility with both Windows and Mac OS X. It also supports external heart rate monitors, smart scales, and can be used on PC. However, it lacks an external memory slot and a 3.5mm audio jack for wired headphones.

Final Verdict

The product offers a well-rounded fitness and health tracking experience, featuring advanced monitoring tools such as heart rate variability and VO2 max, along with an impressively long battery life supported by a solar-powered battery. It is ideal for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who require detailed tracking and the convenience of sync capabilities with mobile devices. However, its lack of Wi-Fi support and limited connectivity options may restrict certain use cases. Overall, this product is highly recommended for users focused on health monitoring and fitness tracking with solid, reliable performance.

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