Garmin Instinct 3 rumors heat up following retail website listing
The Garmin Instinct 3 seems to be on the horizon, with its listing on Jura Watches’ UK website confirming the new lineup. Although the full details remain under wraps, the release of this series could be Garmin’s key highlight in early 2025. As originally unveiled on Reddit, four models are mentioned, including Instinct 3, 3S 3 Solar and 3S Solar.
Notably absent from the lineup is a larger 3X model. However, this aligns with Garmin’s approach during the Gen 2 launch, where the larger version came out a year after the initial release. While the listing provides some feature details, all the specific design changes and hardware upgrades remain unclear. But it seems the company is sticking to software rather than many hardware upgrades this time around.
What’s new?
One of the updates is the inclusion of Garmin Pay in the non-solar models. This feature makes it easier for users to make contactless payments directly from their watch, a practical addition for everyday use. Another update is the Connected Leaderboard, which adds group activity tracking, encouraging friendly competition and collaboration.
Regardless, treat this listing as more of a confirmation the watch is on its way. The full specs and upgrades are not clear at this stage.
The Garmin Instinct 3 continues its second-generation evolution, offering a wide range of outdoor GPS smartwatches designed for those seeking a smaller case size, solar-powered options, and enhanced battery life. Building on the features that made the original Garmin Instinct a standout, the Garmin Instinct 3 and Instinct 3S models introduce new VO2 max training status, suggested workouts, Fitness Age 2.0, Smart Trainer support, Connected Leaderboard, Respiration Tracking, Sleep Widget, Connect IQ, and Garmin Pay. Additionally, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar boasts infinite battery life, perfect for extended outdoor adventures.
The flashlight, which has become a popular feature in other Garmin lines, remains uncertain for the Instinct 3 series. There is no mention of it on the retailer website. The flashlight is a handy tool that could make a lot of sense for a rugged, outdoor-focused watch. Likewise, topographic maps—something many have wished for in the Instinct line—are still not confirmed. Whether these will make it into the final release is unknown, but they would certainly be welcome additions.
Potential launch date
CES 2025 is opening up its doors for another year and Garmin will be there. So there is a chance they may announce the Instinct 3 lineup at the Las Vegas gathering. Another option may be later in January as Garmin likes to hold its own launch events for bigger releases.
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Worth noting is that this is not the first leak. A mention of the watch has been spotted several times already in the past few months on various regional Garmin websites. One of these mentions a January launch. Don’t be surprised if more retailer leaks filter through in the coming days.
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