Garmin Instinct 3

Love G-Shock vibes but need smart features? This is the adventure watch for you

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The Instinct is back! Well, it never went away, but just like the flagship Garmin Fenix 8, it’s undergone some profound changes (like adding an AMOLED screen and a built-in flashlight), which makes it feel like a significant milestone.

The third iteration retains the look and feel of the Instinct series. It has a rugged, 'bolted' design and a metal-reinforced bezel. The case is reinforced polymer built to MIL-STD 810 for thermal and shock resistance and is water-rated to 100 metres. The bezel is the same fibre-reinforced polymer combined with some aluminium accents.

The strap is still fixed like it used to be, giving the Instinct 3 a G-Shock-esque feel. The benefit of a non-hinged strap is that it’s less likely to break; moving parts are always the weakest point of any watch. The buckle and the fastening loops on the band are hard-wearing rubber.