What it’s good to know
- Garmin has launched the Intuition 3 Photo voltaic and Intuition 3 AMOLED, each in 45mm and 50mm case sizes.
- The Intuition 3 Photo voltaic is much more long-lived than its predecessor however retains its monochrome, low-resolution show.
- The Intuition 3 AMOLED is costlier and shorter-lived with no photo voltaic recharge, however can show rather more data.
- New options embody a built-in flashlight, multi-band GPS, sleep teaching, and enhanced security options.
After months of leaks, the Garmin Intuition 3 has made its anticipated arrival at CES 2025. It ships in 45mm and 50mm circumstances, every dimension accessible in each AMOLED and MIP Photo voltaic with a built-in flashlight.
The collection’ trademark epic battery life returns, however solely the Photo voltaic model has “limitless” each day battery life (with a number of hours of daylight per day), as much as 260 GPS hours, or as much as 60 multi-band GPS hours.
Even with out the photo voltaic enhance, the Intuition 3 Photo voltaic beats the Intuition 3 AMOLED for each day battery (40 vs. 24 days), GPS (60 vs. 40 hours), and multi-band GPS (34 vs. 30 hours). However this Photo voltaic model has the identical 176 x 176 decision and notorious two-windowed, monochrome MIP because the Intuition 2 — although the show is barely bigger at 1.1 inches.
That is why many will bounce to the AMOLED model for a 1.2-inch (390 x 390) or 1.3-inch (416 x 416) show, accepting the battery trade-off. In any other case, you will want to change to the 90-day Garmin Enduro 3 for a full-resolution MIP show, and that prices $400 extra.
Whether or not you select the MIP or AMOLED show, Garmin gave all Intuition 3 fashions a built-in LED flashlight taken from the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic. So you’ll illuminate your path (on the important value of battery life).
Different collection similarities persist, corresponding to 10ATM water resistance, MIL-STD-810 thermal and shock resistance, coaching readiness, each day instructed exercises, and post-workout restoration time knowledge. However the Intuition 3 appears to be like barely higher as a result of Garmin blended some aluminum into the polymer bezel for just a little facelift.
The Garmin Intuition 3 Photo voltaic prices $399 (45mm) or $449 (50mm), whereas the Intuition 3 AMOLED prices $449 (45mm) or $499 (50mm); these costs typically match what the final era value prior to cost drops. All variations have a Black case with Black or Charcoal bands, however Garmin is promoting “Restricted Version” variations of the AMOLED in Neo Tropic inexperienced or the Photo voltaic in Twilight blue which will promote out shortly.
Past the Intuition 3, Garmin has introduced a number of different merchandise at CES 2025, together with a brand new HRM 200 and a Zumo R1 Bike Radar. Plus, it received a “2025 CES Better of Innovation” award for the InReach Messenger Plus, which it introduced final 12 months.
Each key Garmin Intuition 3 improve
In case you’re contemplating a swap from the Garmin Intuition 2 Photo voltaic to the Intuition 3, you will discover a first rate number of new software program options. You will get superior sleep teaching with nap detection, plus rest reminders and meditation steering. You add a gyroscope for extra correct wrist monitoring, plus (with AMOLED) on-screen exercise animations and muscle maps.
For runners, you will see new widgets for coaching load focus, load ratio, and upcoming races, in addition to multisport auto transition, grade-adjusted tempo, and wrist-based operating dynamics. And you will get extra correct location monitoring, because of multi-band GPS and the dynamic SatIQ device for swapping to raised accuracy when wanted.
Plus, you will get dozens of recent sports activities modes: Bounce Rope, Indoor Strolling, Digital Working, Impediment Racing, {Golfing}, Disc Golf, Archery, BMX, Boating, Water Snowboarding, Snorkeling, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Whitewater, Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Desk Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball, XC Skate Snowboarding, Ice Skating, Basketball, Volleyball, Discipline Hockey, Ice Hockey, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Lacrosse, Rugby, Final Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball, Boxing, Blended Martial Arts, Jumpmaster, and Inline Skating.
As for different modifications, the Intuition 3 provides an on-device Join IQ retailer, Garmin Messenger app compatibility, Shares and Tides views, dwell occasion sharing, incident detection studies, and superior biking dynamics.
By way of battery life, the Garmin Intuition 3 45mm matches the Intuition 2 Photo voltaic 45mm with a 28-day baseline and “limitless” with photo voltaic, however its photo voltaic panel is considerably extra environment friendly, with 130 GPS hours in comparison with the Intuition 2 Photo voltaic’s 48 hours. In case you select the Intuition 3 Photo voltaic 50mm, you will get 40 days and 260 GPS hours, with the identical 1.1-inch show and solely 6g further weight.
When the Intuition 3 first leaked in November, I predicted the AMOLED transition, however I additionally made different requests: abandoning the two-windowed design, including music storage, switching to the Elevate v5 for ECGs and pores and skin temp readings, and eventually bringing again LTE assist. Sadly, none of these requests got here true.
My first impression is that this Intuition 3 replace will make AMOLED customers completely happy, however could really feel a bit secure for followers of MIP shows who’d hoped to see a full-res, colourful show together with lengthy battery life. Sure, the Intuition 3 Photo voltaic lasts for much longer, however I am positive many customers would’ve cherished a visible center floor that gave them colourful watch faces and photo voltaic charging.
Nonetheless, I like Garmin’s twin MIP/AMOLED strategy with new fashions just like the Intuition 3 and Fenix 8. It lets shoppers resolve whether or not they wish to prioritize indoor or out of doors visibility or further battery life over informal visible upgrades.
Lengthy-lived and rugged
The Garmin Intuition 3 is the model’s newest smartwatch to transition to AMOLED, however MIP followers can follow a lower-res choice for “limitless” battery life. The Intuition 3 is as rugged and distinct as ever, however considerably lighter than it appears to be like because of its polymer supplies. It has all of the coaching insights and sports activities modes that any outdoorsy varieties might ever need.
