Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - Instinct E GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Charcoal Band - (2025)
Average customer rating
4.2
(65 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 65 reviews
5 Stars
43
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Star
7
Customer Reviews for Garmin - Instinct E GPS Smartwatch 45 mm Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Black with Charcoal Band - (2025)
Customer Rating
4
Way better than Fitbit.
on June 24, 2025
Posted by: GarminFan
I originally had a Fitbit but they got rid of the web based dashboard feature (I prefer using a laptop PC style) which was a real bummer for me so i tried Garmin and like the whole experience much better. Thanks Garmin.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Great Features, Not Intuitive
on June 17, 2025
Posted by: Hellfire
Instinct E offers great features and fits comfortably on the wrist, making it a solid choice for everyday wear. It provides access to a wide selection of watch faces through Connect IQ, but adjusting the watch face and reorganizing quick view items isn’t as intuitive as expected. While customization options are plentiful, navigating them requires some patience. Despite that, the watch’s overall functionality remains impressive. The ability to switch between a 12-hour and 24-hour clock is surely available—I just haven’t discovered the setting yet!
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Durable alternative to the Apple Watch
on June 14, 2025
Posted by: JBC531
My wife gave me this watch as a retirement gift. I had wanted a smartwatch but didn't feel a high priced Apple watch was durable enough for my lifestyle. This watch is rugged and can handle the abuse I give it. I build guitars as a hobby and constantly bang a watch against tools and flood it with sawdust. I think this watch can handle it!
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Amazing GPS running tracker
on June 12, 2025
Posted by: Charito23
My wife gave it to me as a gift for my fitness journey and so far I’m beyond happy with it’s capabilities
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Really cool GPS watch
on April 11, 2025
Posted by: BrianM
Trading up to Garmin from Apple for the back-trac feature mostly, but man does this thing have battery life. My other watch dies in 1-2 days, but this thing will go for a month or more on a single charge, and I can charge it from my cell phone. Really impressed.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
3
Hard to use.
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: JLBC
While it has great features many are difficult to access. It is complicated to use some features.The watch is overly complicated.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Instinct E
on March 6, 2025
Posted by: B. Allen
I bought this watch having come from the original Instinct that I’ve had since 2018. It’s been a great watch. I like that it has the connect IQ to change watches faces. It is also a sharper display. The E has all the features I need. Most of the general population that buys these are not doing extreme hiking or marathons and therefore the E has enough for the gen pop. What I think they dropped the ball on is still having a two week battery. It’s the same battery life as my original instinct. They cheaped out on that. It’s should be at least a month battery. The only other “like” I would want is to have the torch (flash light) on this one. Outside of that. I really like the watch.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
A Great Start!
on February 22, 2025
Posted by: essveetee
I've been using my Instinct E for about a month and so far, so good! Its predecessor, a Forerunner 45, served me well for about five years, but it was getting difficult to charge (I think it was the contact points, but not really sure).
I like the new features of the Instinct-E; each watch proves to have its own personality and virtues. Anyway, it's a good one!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, March 5, 2025
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin