Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - Instinct 3 GPS Smartwatch 45 mm AMOLED Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Citrine with Citrine Band - (2026)
Average customer rating
4.4
(130 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 130 reviews
5 Stars
99
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
3
1 Star
9
Customer Reviews for Garmin - Instinct 3 GPS Smartwatch 45 mm AMOLED Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Citrine with Citrine Band - (2026)
Customer Rating
5
Great Watch! Rugged yet Refined.
on August 17, 2026
Posted by: locust13
I got this for my birthday this summer and was very surprised at how much I liked it. The look of the watch is not quite as nice as my last one (Legacy Series), but the functionality and battery life more than make up for it. I opted for the Amoled as I wanted the nicer screen, and to (hopefully) only have to charge once a week or longer vs daily with my last watch. This met my needs perfectly, and I was truly impressed at how sharp the screen is, even showing me images that come through via messaging (I was not expecting that level of quality).
All in all, it seems rugged yet sharp, and I am very happy.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Love it!
on August 15, 2026
Posted by: TyrinNeal
I have had my new Instinct 3 for a few weeks now and love it! Easy to use and looks great.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great Watch
on August 13, 2026
Posted by: Trek26
I have had it few weeks and have only put it on the charger once. Great battery. I have alarms to wake me up during the week that I never have to reset. GPS matches my bike computer. Has a great flashlight when I need it. Good buy.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Pleased so far
on August 13, 2026
Posted by: Bmoss
5 stars so far. I’m very pleased with this watch after owning for a month. I have used most of the features to include running, hiking, walking, pickle ball, compass, and phone-connected functions such as quick view of text messages and call ID of incoming calls. The real barometer and magnetic compass are nice features and appear to be mostly accurate.
I’m also pleased with the battery life. It does show to have an 18-day charge when fully charged, but recording activities that require the GPS, compass and other sensors does accelerate battery drain. Oh yeah, the flashlight has already came in handy a few times. My previous Garmin, a Vivo, has lasted over 14 years! I hope to get as much out of this one.
I’m also pleased with the battery life. It does show to have an 18-day charge when fully charged, but recording activities that require the GPS, compass and other sensors does accelerate battery drain. Oh yeah, the flashlight has already came in handy a few times. My previous Garmin, a Vivo, has lasted over 14 years! I hope to get as much out of this one.
Not taking a star for this, but a wireless charging option would make this almost the perfect option for me.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Love it!
on August 11, 2026
Posted by: Shazam
I love it! I’ve worn a Garmin instinct 2S for the past four years and my eyes have gotten a little worse over this time and it was becoming hard to read. I picked up the instinct 3 AMOLED and I couldn’t be happier. I was worried about going from a 45 mm to a 50 mm because I have tiny wrists, but I love it and no more straining to read it.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great watch and value
on July 26, 2026
Posted by: Mountainmom
I loved my instinct 2 but wanted a brighter, larger screen so I updated to the instinct 3. This watch does everything! It has a bright, readable display, and even more functions than my previous Garmin. I didn’t think I needed the flashlight because I can always use my phone but I have used it almost nightly for one reason or another, like waking up for an early morning run while my husband is still sleeping. Overall, a great watch at a great price!
The one drawback is the length of the wristband. It’s too long and they don’t make a shorter one for this watch. I’ve considered cutting off several inches but don’t want to void any warranty. It would be nice if they offered different lengths or scoring marks to help the consumer cut it.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Good all around
on July 21, 2026
Posted by: Salmon18
Bought around a month ago, and since then I’ve hiked with it, floated 50 miles of the Missouri River, and it’s been with me on multiple jobs sites. It has been awesome in all regards. It has a comfortable fit, and looks good. Only downside is no maps on the watch itself.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Very Pleased
on July 19, 2026
Posted by: Papacito62!
Pleasantly surprised after wearing a Instinct v1 for seven years. The OLED Screen makes for an extraordinary experience using the watch, not to mention the overall performance improvements. The sensors seem much more accurate and responsive. Notifications are easy to read and the GPS functionality is much faster. Overall I am very pleased with the upgrade.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin