Instinct 3 Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatch (various)

FreedomDeals

Nov 14, 2025 8:07 AM

360 Comments

Joined Aug 2017

FreedomDealsNov 14, 2025 8:07 AM

360 Comments

What's the real world battery life on these watches? Is it like laptops where it's really 1/3 of what is stated or what has been everyone's experience

Thinking the 50mm instinct 3 solar unlimited battery life would be pretty amazing

Dedvw

Nov 14, 2025 12:13 PM

261 Comments

Joined Jun 2012

DedvwNov 14, 2025 12:13 PM

261 Comments

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Quote from FreedomDeals

:

What's the real world battery life on these watches? Is it like phones where it's really 1/3 of what is stated or what has been everyone's experience

Thinking the 50mm instinct 3 solar unlimited battery life would be pretty amazing

I have the Instinct 1. The watch is about a year and a half old and I get over three weeks in between charges. I have constant heart rate monitoring on and use the night light every night. I don't use gps or have any phone notifications on. If I turned the heart rate off, I would get another week out of it.

1

3

1

Plectonema

Nov 14, 2025 12:32 PM

285 Comments

Joined Jan 2018

PlectonemaNov 14, 2025 12:32 PM

285 Comments

Quote from Dedvw

:

I have the Instinct 1. The watch is about a year and a half old and I get over three weeks in between charges. I have constant heart rate monitoring on and use the night light every night. I don't use gps or have any phone notifications on. If I turned the heart rate off, I would get another week out of it.

Instinct 1 does not have night light. Yours must be instinct 2x

3

Dedvw

Nov 14, 2025 6:05 PM

261 Comments

Joined Jun 2012

DedvwNov 14, 2025 6:05 PM

261 Comments

Quote from Plectonema

:

Instinct 1 does not have night light. Yours must be instinct 2x

Oh, yes, you are correct, I have the Instinct two. My battery life remains the same.

1

silentguilt

Nov 15, 2025 12:31 AM

324 Comments

Joined Nov 2010

silentguiltNov 15, 2025 12:31 AM

324 Comments

Thanks for the post. I picked one up to replace my aging Apple Watch. Looking forward to a more "watch" watch with longer battery life. Not sure how low this will go on BlackFriday, but I doubt much lower.

FairPolice796

Nov 15, 2025 10:44 PM

40 Comments

Joined Jan 2024

FairPolice796Nov 15, 2025 10:44 PM

40 Comments

Quote from FreedomDeals

:

What's the real world battery life on these watches? Is it like laptops where it's really 1/3 of what is stated or what has been everyone's experience

Thinking the 50mm instinct 3 solar unlimited battery life would be pretty amazing

Got this a few months back (Instinct 3 50mm). The battery life is around 17 to 20 days for me with minimal usage at 5% backlight (super bright display even at 5%), HR always on, Pulse OX during sleep only, and Bluetooth connection to always on. I also use a watch face that constantly updates steps, calories burned, heart rate and a graph of my heart rate. If I was to turn off auto connect to phone, it gives my watch an extra 2 to 3 days of battery life and I am sure if I change the watch face, I would even get more days of battery life. It really depends on how you configure your watch, but if you keep everything stock and turn off all the HR monitor and pulse Ox, you will likely get close to 40 days. I haven't used it often for activities as I just use it to check my steps, calories, heart rate, and sleep, but I would assume that for every 1 hour you use the watch for a workout, it takes off a day of battery life. My watch when fully charge with all the settings I have set above says I have ~34 days that it can go without a charge, but it actually drops like 1.5 days per day. ~30 minute commute with my arm by the window allows it to get around 10k to 15k LUX solar charging and that's with a plastic film screen protector on it. I believe hitting 50k LUX in 1 day will allow it to not drain the battery at all for that day. Also the light is actually useful and bright. I was smoking ribs 3 AM in the morning outside and the light was bright enough to see what I needed to do. It came in clutch as I didn't have enough hands to hold a tongue, tray, and phone as a flash light. I also shower with this watch in hot temps and it seems to hold up fine. Even if you have to charge the watch every 2 weeks, it only takes ~2 to 3 hours to charge from 0 to 100. Its not that bad compared to other watches.

2

diggie

Nov 16, 2025 4:55 AM

553 Comments

Joined Nov 2015

diggieNov 16, 2025 4:55 AM

553 Comments

Quote from FreedomDeals

:

What's the real world battery life on these watches? Is it like laptops where it's really 1/3 of what is stated or what has been everyone's experience

Thinking the 50mm instinct 3 solar unlimited battery life would be pretty amazing

The battery life is correct as long as you don't run the pulse oximeter constantly. If you access it from the menu it will do an instant read for you when you need it and this way will give you the full 40 days battery life.

I have Pulse Ox off and GPS set to standard on my 2X.

Garmin, if you're reading, I would update to the Instinct 3 50mm Solar if only it was in charcoal without the stupid red ring.

Flowerz

Nov 17, 2025 3:12 AM

766 Comments

Joined Mar 2008

FlowerzNov 17, 2025 3:12 AM

766 Comments

Which Garmin would you guys recommend for someone who doesn't run but walks, takes Cycle, yoga, and weight class at the gym? Kind of overwhelming looking at options. Not really looking to spend more than $200

BillyMumphry

Nov 17, 2025 9:26 PM

321 Comments

Joined Dec 2007

BillyMumphryNov 17, 2025 9:26 PM

321 Comments

Quote from Flowerz

:

Which Garmin would you guys recommend for someone who doesn't run but walks, takes Cycle, yoga, and weight class at the gym? Kind of overwhelming looking at options. Not really looking to spend more than $200

For just general fitness activities, rather than hardcore running or triathlon stuff, I'd probably recommend Garmins Vivoactive line.

Jperiod

Nov 17, 2025 10:31 PM

211 Comments

Joined Jan 2009

JperiodNov 17, 2025 10:31 PM

211 Comments

Kohl's has several of these for the same price but you also earn kohl's cash. Think I'll get the 45 mm instinct 3 solar tactical edition for 399 plus $80 KC and another 7.5% rewards with their card.

2

DealStrategist

Pro

Nov 19, 2025 4:31 AM

855 Comments

Joined Nov 2018

DealStrategist

Pro

Nov 19, 2025 4:31 AM

855 Comments

Amazon has Garmin Instinct® 3 45mm, Solar Charged Display, Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatch, Metal-Reinforced Bezel, Built-in Flashlight, Black for $299.99

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Ins...r=8-1&th=1

schlack

Nov 21, 2025 7:26 PM

3K Comments

Joined Jun 2014

schlackNov 21, 2025 7:26 PM

3K Comments

Quote from DealStrategist

:

Amazon has Garmin Instinct® 3 45mm, Solar Charged Display, Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatch, Metal-Reinforced Bezel, Built-in Flashlight, Black for $299.99https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Ins...r=8-1&th=1

Also the 50mm for $350

parks.wr

Nov 26, 2025 9:22 PM

34 Comments

Joined Jul 2017

parks.wrNov 26, 2025 9:22 PM

34 Comments

Quote from FreedomDeals

:

What's the real world battery life on these watches? Is it like laptops where it's really 1/3 of what is stated or what has been everyone's experience

Thinking the 50mm instinct 3 solar unlimited battery life would be pretty amazing

I have 45mm solar. I'm outside a lot as a farmer. I'm general use as a watch, phone notifications, with no exercise activities tracking heart rate constantly, 28-30 days between charging.

Using it for a hike or exercise only decreases it by 20% or so. 50mm would be better, but even with larger arms I found 50mm comically large looking

1

OliveField5440

Nov 26, 2025 9:23 PM

40 Comments

Joined Aug 2023

OliveField5440Nov 26, 2025 9:23 PM

40 Comments

Quote from Dedvw

:

I have the Instinct 1. The watch is about a year and a half old and I get over three weeks in between charges. I have constant heart rate monitoring on and use the night light every night. I don't use gps or have any phone notifications on. If I turned the heart rate off, I would get another week out of it.

I have instinct one solar with most features like pulse and oxygen measurements disabled and i dont connect it to my phone and i get around 45 days on 1 charge without any solar charging

d.murat26

Nov 27, 2025 1:02 AM

12 Comments

Joined Mar 2018

d.murat26Nov 27, 2025 1:02 AM

12 Comments

Garmin makes some of the best smart watches and they all have amazing battery life. I've bought several other models from Garmin and they all have had amazing battery life

Instinct 3 Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatch (various)

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$450

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