I honestly think Garmin is REALLY stretching out that Gen 4 elevate HR sensor to get rid of their stock or just another money grab. They have unnecessarily made a Fenix e which is the SAME thing as the 2+ year old Epix 2! You can buy a brand new Epix 2 for $399 and Garmin sells the Fenix E for $799!! That is INSANE. Also, correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Amoled cheaper to make than MIP??
I was thinking that they may be trying to clear out stock of Gen 4, but even then it's quite the move to put it on a newly launched model. The E models ... I just don't get AT ALL. I can't understand who they are for or in what scenario anyone would buy one instead of an older model.
I think the lack of touch screen isn't a big deal, but the lack of maps on the amoled seems a huge miss. The elevate 4 sensor is OK, and that doesn't hurt my feelings as much, although it would be nice to have. I would get the Epix gen 2 before this one now unless I absolutely needed the extra battery and ruggedness.
Yeah it's funny I made a very early video on this channel titled something like "Is the Epix Gen 2 still worth it in 2023?" And maybe I should make an update to that video because it seems to be the go to choice for so many right now!
@DaveDoesFitness I think it is still the best thing Garmin has going. The Fenix 8 is cool, but I don't need a dive computer or need to do phone calls on my wrist. That last one is cool but not worth the 1k price tag.
Big Miss!! AMOLED without touchscreen, only Gen 4 sensor, and no maps. All these misses for $400-$500 doesn't make it a good buy. I'll stick with my 2X for a little longer and then look at comparable mid-range watches.
So many other options at half that price point, OR, you just keep the 2X for another year or two. They're really forcing you into the Fenix or Bust model. At this rate, I hope Coros passes them.
Yes, I saw some people comparing it to a forerunner 265 in a rugged body, but without music storage. That on its own isn't horrible... But as a new model offering years after the 265 came out? 😬
@@DaveDoesFitness Exactly. I think this is just baiting people into another high model they'll release later like you said. FOMO is what they want. Why this was even a release when the 2X and smaller model are cheaper and better than their new stuff is beyond me...I guess I really need to consider Coros/Amazfit
I really dont understand this "The new model sucks, I will stick with previous". What do you expect? Rocket scince? General rule in tech world is that certain generation lives for 4 years. So, unless you are spoiled rich teenager there is absolutly no reason to change smartphone or smartwatch every 1 or 2 years. The target is a gadget to last 4 years minimum and then swap. I have Fenix 5x bought in 2017. Now I will be more than happy to invest in Instinct 3 as it will be a huge jump for me.
@@user1914 Why are you assuming some aren't holding out like you did? Or perhaps they want a specific model with the most updated hardware they produce? I've been on a 255 for years, waiting for the new Instinct and it turns out I can just get the old one (2X) for near half the cost. The tech they're asking for came out years ago. Not having maps on a hiking watch is inexcusable. You can even upgrade to the lesser Fenix 7 for cheaper than the Instinct. If you don't, you're fairly uneducated on their products.
The gen 5 sensor (with ECG capability) requires a metal bezel to work so it would be overkill for this model watch. Not sure if the underlying metal support ring of the Instinct 3 would provide enough contact for the ECG to work. Reminder to folks, check your healthcare benefits, many offer a discount for fitness related gear and gym memberships. I got 20% off my Enduro 3 at Thanksgiving even though Garmin was (and still is) charging full price. Thanks Dave for the great content! Cheers!
When I saw a metal reinforced bezel (and before seeing Elevate V4) I immediately thought of ECG, it was even mentioned as part of the new design back in the Summer in the first video I made on the production leak. Also great call about the 20% discount. It used to sometimes work on new watches, but Garmin cracked down on that. Within a month or two of launch a model will typically become eligible for the healthcare discount. Thanks for watching and supporting John! 💪🏃
This is the first time we get an Instinct with a flashlight in the smaller sizes, whereas before the only option was the 2X which for some is too large. So, if a smaller Instinct with flashlight is what you're after the Instinct 3 is actually cheaper.
Do they even talk to their customer base? I got the Fenix 8 AMOLED for the purpose of a really pretty watch that I don’t mind charging twice a week. But guess what! The Instinct Series is meant for MIP and for months of battery life.
That black amoled 45mm does look pretty good. No touch screen is a bummer, and I think most people don't use maps as much as we think on their watch. And adding the flashlight to me is a bigger deal. I can't let go of my epix pro for that exact reason.
The MIP would be my go-to for an Instinct. Otherwise what's the point? Are people really breaking their Fenixes or Forerujners dropping them on the floor or banging them on rocks or similar? Mayme Garmin purposedly debuffed the idea a of a 3 in order to make the 2x owners not get mad and wait to do the jump on the hypothetical 3x or 4.
Yes it definitely seems like one generation to the next there is little to no incentive to upgrade. Given that some of Garmin's generations are 3 years apart you wouldn't think that's the case, but I think the segment is maturing enough and Garmin also knows how to drip feed features to keep a steady production going
I was hoping for a tactical solar 50mm instinct 3 with better mapping... I like the look of the amoled, but they havent got solar... Pffft! Looks like a miss for me. Maybe a Suunto Vertical is more appealing with the lovely industrial design and also with the better looking maps than garmin.
I'd bet a tactical version is coming down the road. Garmin is always good for 86 different Instinct versions and the Tactical version is one of the meaningful ones
No touch screen. No maps. NO MAPS! I was prepared to be so pissed at myself for being impulsive and buying the T Rex 3 a month ago, but here we are. Could not be happier with my choice now. Long time Instinct solar user, so I'm just disappointed for Garmin. Thanks so much for the review, and keep up the good work.
Coming from a guy that’s big on Automatics, I purchased an Apple Watch 7 to track my workouts, but recently started wearing it to work. I do construction and with a cheap face cover on Amazon it’s actually pretty rugged. I also discovered if you set it on Low Power mode the battery will last about two days. Charging it in the truck once a day keeps it going.
Well I’m. Not the target audience. I’m still enjoying enduro 2 & soon Fenix 8 solar 51mm 😎🙌 I do think some what garmin did good both option amoled and mip. Yes no maps & gen 5 sensor no touch screen yes a lot of things the consumer wants. But you still got forerunner 965 & epix 2 🤷♂️take your pick Nice video Dave 😄🙌
Standing by waiting for the Tactix to drop before upgrading. I’m a fan of both those watches but disappointed with the no tactical Instinct 3. The dream is to get a new Tactix with the Fenix 8 MIP screen and a coyote tan Instinct 3. 😅
I really don't care much for AMOLED. It seems to be a huge miss. A forerunner 955 would be a very good alternative for the price, and it has maps + music + touch screen. That watch is a little bit old now. The whole point of the instinct series was that it could be abused, and you really didn't have to worry that much about battery in the summertime. In my opinion it is the instinct 3 solar that is the only model that lives up to its original intend.
Yes, AMOLED Instinct 3 was not on my bingo card 😂 Good callout on the 955, that's a great value for what it offers! Thanks for watching and supporting 💪🏃
😂 i have an instinct 1 tactical non solar and this is not the upgrade i was waiting for by skiping the 2x tactical. Garmin has turned sad. This was a huge let down i hope they get hacked again but instead of it being for ransom i hope its for actual upgrades instead of them pushing out this half-ahhsed excuse for a release. They must have hired someone new and then continued to drop the ball at every echelon.
Yeah it seems like they are drip feeding features for incremental improvements and more continuous releases, but ... They aren't Apple. They sell a product with a high premium and no trade-in program that people typically keep for 3-5 years. If you have the original Instinct and all these years later the 3 doesn't appeal... I think they missed the mark 😬
I just subscribed, let's get enough subscribers to make you big enough, so that they might consider sending you the new models for review . On topic: I have the instinct 2 solar and see no reason to upgrade to the i3 solar. I was hoping for maps, then I might have ...
Thanks so much Stefan 🙏 It's honestly a lot of work to do reviews when it's not your fulltime job and also putting up your own money for review units and buying them at launch makes the whole process that much harder. Garmin is a tough nut to crack though. Maybe I'll get a full res infographic one of these days 😂
I honestly think Garmin is REALLY stretching out that Gen 4 elevate HR sensor to get rid of their stock or just another money grab. They have unnecessarily made a Fenix e which is the SAME thing as the 2+ year old Epix 2! You can buy a brand new Epix 2 for $399 and Garmin sells the Fenix E for $799!! That is INSANE. Also, correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Amoled cheaper to make than MIP??
I was thinking that they may be trying to clear out stock of Gen 4, but even then it's quite the move to put it on a newly launched model. The E models ... I just don't get AT ALL. I can't understand who they are for or in what scenario anyone would buy one instead of an older model.
I think the lack of touch screen isn't a big deal, but the lack of maps on the amoled seems a huge miss. The elevate 4 sensor is OK, and that doesn't hurt my feelings as much, although it would be nice to have. I would get the Epix gen 2 before this one now unless I absolutely needed the extra battery and ruggedness.
Yeah it's funny I made a very early video on this channel titled something like "Is the Epix Gen 2 still worth it in 2023?" And maybe I should make an update to that video because it seems to be the go to choice for so many right now!
@DaveDoesFitness I think it is still the best thing Garmin has going. The Fenix 8 is cool, but I don't need a dive computer or need to do phone calls on my wrist. That last one is cool but not worth the 1k price tag.
Big Miss!! AMOLED without touchscreen, only Gen 4 sensor, and no maps. All these misses for $400-$500 doesn't make it a good buy. I'll stick with my 2X for a little longer and then look at comparable mid-range watches.
So many other options at half that price point, OR, you just keep the 2X for another year or two. They're really forcing you into the Fenix or Bust model. At this rate, I hope Coros passes them.
Yes, I saw some people comparing it to a forerunner 265 in a rugged body, but without music storage. That on its own isn't horrible... But as a new model offering years after the 265 came out? 😬
@@DaveDoesFitness Exactly. I think this is just baiting people into another high model they'll release later like you said. FOMO is what they want. Why this was even a release when the 2X and smaller model are cheaper and better than their new stuff is beyond me...I guess I really need to consider Coros/Amazfit
I really dont understand this "The new model sucks, I will stick with previous". What do you expect? Rocket scince? General rule in tech world is that certain generation lives for 4 years. So, unless you are spoiled rich teenager there is absolutly no reason to change smartphone or smartwatch every 1 or 2 years. The target is a gadget to last 4 years minimum and then swap. I have Fenix 5x bought in 2017. Now I will be more than happy to invest in Instinct 3 as it will be a huge jump for me.
@@user1914 Why are you assuming some aren't holding out like you did? Or perhaps they want a specific model with the most updated hardware they produce? I've been on a 255 for years, waiting for the new Instinct and it turns out I can just get the old one (2X) for near half the cost. The tech they're asking for came out years ago. Not having maps on a hiking watch is inexcusable. You can even upgrade to the lesser Fenix 7 for cheaper than the Instinct. If you don't, you're fairly uneducated on their products.
I'm sticking with my instinct 2 tactical. I like these but not worth the upgrade in my opinion
Instinct 2 Tactical is a solid watch. Maybe down the road the 3 will have some impressive variants as well. Thanks for watching! 💪🏃
@DaveDoesFitness for sure but also patiently waiting for the tactix 8, hopefully in the 47mm MIP.
The gen 5 sensor (with ECG capability) requires a metal bezel to work so it would be overkill for this model watch. Not sure if the underlying metal support ring of the Instinct 3 would provide enough contact for the ECG to work. Reminder to folks, check your healthcare benefits, many offer a discount for fitness related gear and gym memberships. I got 20% off my Enduro 3 at Thanksgiving even though Garmin was (and still is) charging full price. Thanks Dave for the great content! Cheers!
When I saw a metal reinforced bezel (and before seeing Elevate V4) I immediately thought of ECG, it was even mentioned as part of the new design back in the Summer in the first video I made on the production leak.
Also great call about the 20% discount. It used to sometimes work on new watches, but Garmin cracked down on that. Within a month or two of launch a model will typically become eligible for the healthcare discount.
Thanks for watching and supporting John! 💪🏃
This is the first time we get an Instinct with a flashlight in the smaller sizes, whereas before the only option was the 2X which for some is too large. So, if a smaller Instinct with flashlight is what you're after the Instinct 3 is actually cheaper.
Flashlight is definitely a great feature 🔦
Do they even talk to their customer base? I got the Fenix 8 AMOLED for the purpose of a really pretty watch that I don’t mind charging twice a week. But guess what! The Instinct Series is meant for MIP and for months of battery life.
That black amoled 45mm does look pretty good. No touch screen is a bummer, and I think most people don't use maps as much as we think on their watch. And adding the flashlight to me is a bigger deal. I can't let go of my epix pro for that exact reason.
Save your money mate , excellent review
Thanks for the support and taking the time to give some feedback Craig! Appreciate you 💪🏃
It's time for Garmin to provide maybe a simplified maps system at this price?
No review needed on this one IMO
Thanks for the feedback Jason! Appreciate you 💪🏃
The MIP would be my go-to for an Instinct. Otherwise what's the point? Are people really breaking their Fenixes or Forerujners dropping them on the floor or banging them on rocks or similar? Mayme Garmin purposedly debuffed the idea a of a 3 in order to make the 2x owners not get mad and wait to do the jump on the hypothetical 3x or 4.
Yes it definitely seems like one generation to the next there is little to no incentive to upgrade. Given that some of Garmin's generations are 3 years apart you wouldn't think that's the case, but I think the segment is maturing enough and Garmin also knows how to drip feed features to keep a steady production going
I was hoping for a tactical solar 50mm instinct 3 with better mapping... I like the look of the amoled, but they havent got solar... Pffft! Looks like a miss for me. Maybe a Suunto Vertical is more appealing with the lovely industrial design and also with the better looking maps than garmin.
I'd bet a tactical version is coming down the road. Garmin is always good for 86 different Instinct versions and the Tactical version is one of the meaningful ones
No touch screen. No maps. NO MAPS! I was prepared to be so pissed at myself for being impulsive and buying the T Rex 3 a month ago, but here we are. Could not be happier with my choice now. Long time Instinct solar user, so I'm just disappointed for Garmin. Thanks so much for the review, and keep up the good work.
Thanks for the support Craig! Hope that T-Rex 3 is delivering for you 💪🏃
Has better battary life then any pro or ultra watch 😊
Coming from a guy that’s big on Automatics, I purchased an Apple Watch 7 to track my workouts, but recently started wearing it to work. I do construction and with a cheap face cover on Amazon it’s actually pretty rugged. I also discovered if you set it on Low Power mode the battery will last about two days. Charging it in the truck once a day keeps it going.
Yeah, tough to beat a solar edition that very literally doesn't need charging if you're outside frequently!
Video starts at 1.40. You could just edit out all the beginning, it would be better.
Had to say hi to the haters 😂 You're probably right though. Thanks for watching!
Well I’m. Not the target audience. I’m still enjoying enduro 2 & soon Fenix 8 solar 51mm 😎🙌
I do think some what garmin did good both option amoled and mip. Yes no maps & gen 5 sensor no touch screen yes a lot of things the consumer wants. But you still got forerunner 965 & epix 2 🤷♂️take your pick
Nice video Dave 😄🙌
Thanks Max! Yes it seems like more and more people are just falling back to the 965 and Epix Gen 2. Such great offerings with very little compromise
Standing by waiting for the Tactix to drop before upgrading. I’m a fan of both those watches but disappointed with the no tactical Instinct 3.
The dream is to get a new Tactix with the Fenix 8 MIP screen and a coyote tan Instinct 3. 😅
I really don't care much for AMOLED. It seems to be a huge miss. A forerunner 955 would be a very good alternative for the price, and it has maps + music + touch screen. That watch is a little bit old now.
The whole point of the instinct series was that it could be abused, and you really didn't have to worry that much about battery in the summertime.
In my opinion it is the instinct 3 solar that is the only model that lives up to its original intend.
Yes, AMOLED Instinct 3 was not on my bingo card 😂
Good callout on the 955, that's a great value for what it offers!
Thanks for watching and supporting 💪🏃
And Thanks for repackaging a 4 year old sensor for us and selling it for a whopping premium.
WTH???
What is the point of AMOLED in this device??
Well, you see ... 🤷
No need for a separate review; it’s not worth our time. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to provide some feedback 🙏
@@DaveDoesFitness Sorry, I’m just very disappointed with this update.
I was waiting on the Instinct 3 to get a flashlight on the midsize version. But now I’m just gonna get a 2X even though I don’t like the size.
You'll definitely save some $$ doing it that way!
😂 i have an instinct 1 tactical non solar and this is not the upgrade i was waiting for by skiping the 2x tactical. Garmin has turned sad. This was a huge let down i hope they get hacked again but instead of it being for ransom i hope its for actual upgrades instead of them pushing out this half-ahhsed excuse for a release. They must have hired someone new and then continued to drop the ball at every echelon.
Yeah it seems like they are drip feeding features for incremental improvements and more continuous releases, but ... They aren't Apple. They sell a product with a high premium and no trade-in program that people typically keep for 3-5 years.
If you have the original Instinct and all these years later the 3 doesn't appeal... I think they missed the mark 😬
You say you didn't see this coming, but then refer to 2 videos where you apparently did see it coming. I'm confused.
I just subscribed, let's get enough subscribers to make you big enough, so that they might consider sending you the new models for review . On topic: I have the instinct 2 solar and see no reason to upgrade to the i3 solar. I was hoping for maps, then I might have ...
Thanks so much Stefan 🙏 It's honestly a lot of work to do reviews when it's not your fulltime job and also putting up your own money for review units and buying them at launch makes the whole process that much harder. Garmin is a tough nut to crack though. Maybe I'll get a full res infographic one of these days 😂
Such a BIG disappointment !!!!
Amoled but no touch, no maps either.
2y old sensors
And waaay to expensive for what you get.
Venu 2 came out in April of 2021. That sensor is 3.75 years old ... not 2 years old 😬
@@DaveDoesFitness damn that's salt to the wound