If you’re looking for a Garmin watch at a great price, the recent drops of the Forerunner 570 and 970 is excellent news—not because you should pick up those models (they’re fine, I guess) but because the older generations of Forerunner, which remain excellent watches, are now going for ludicrously low prices.

The previous models, the 265 and 965, are great, but you can go back one more generation to the 255 and 955—released in 2022—and save hundreds of dollars without sacrificing any major functionality. I truly can’t think of any fitness watch that is a better deal right now, given the prices we’re seeing on these two: currently $247 for the Forerunner 255, and $373 for the Forerunner 955, which is the upgraded version with maps and a few extra training features.

Why am I recommending three-year-old watches? I’ll get into the specs below, but the important context here is that Garmin’s Forerunners have serious longevity. Running app Strava releases year-end trend reports that consistently show older Forerunners among the nation’s and the world’s most popular running watches. The most recent report, for example, had the Garmin Forerunner 245 in third place, after the Apple Watch and Apple Watch SE. That’s a five-year-old watch. Not long ago, the Forerunner 235, then an eight-year-old watch, was the most popular worldwide. These things last!

What the 255 and 955 are missing compared to newer models (not much)

Left: 265S (the smaller, newer model). Right: 255 (the larger one with the MIP screen that’s currently on sale).
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

The numbered models can get confusing, but I promise you’ll be able to follow along. All the watches that start with a 9 are the top-of-the-line Forerunners (the 955 was replaced by the 965 and most recently the 970) and most of those came with a little sibling that starts with a 2 (respectively: the 255, 265, and in a break from tradition, 570).

The 9xx series have onboard maps that let you see exactly where you are and where you’re going. The 2xx watches have breadcrumb navigation that shows you the general shape of the route you’ve already taken. If you need a map on your wrist, you probably want to go for a 9xx.

I wrote about the newest models here, so you can see what the 970 has over the 965 (and what the 570 has over the 265). The big feature is that the 570 and 970 support voice calling and voice texts, and the 970 has a built-in LED flashlight. If those features aren’t must-haves for you, take a look at the next generation back.

The 265 and 965 are excellent watches with important functionality, like dual-band GPS. you can read my review of the 265 here:, and note that the 265 is my own personal running watch, the one that I bought with my own money because I love it. The 265 has a ton of great features for runners. Some are concrete and functional: physical buttons, lots of options for data screens, and a dual-band GPS for extra location accuracy. Others are more software-y but still arguably useful: training status, daily suggested workouts. The battery also lasts between one and two weeks, depending on how many workouts you do. 

The 965 has all that, plus onboard maps, so you can see where you are relative to roads, bodies of water, and so on. It’s also got a few extra training statistics, like an endurance score and a heat acclimation score.

The 255 and 955 have all of these same features. The only features that are meaningfully different between the x55 and x65 series are:

• The 255/955 have the older, always-on MIP screen, while the 265 has a smartphone-style AMOLED screen. I have more here on the difference between those screen types.

• The 255/955 don’t have touchscreens. You’ll use the UP and DOWN buttons on the left side to scroll through options. 

• The 255 can’t store music, unless you buy the 255 Music version. The 955 has music storage built in, just like the 265 and 965 do.

• The 255 doesn’t have Training Readiness, but it does have Training Status. (Personally, I never use Training Readiness, so this isn’t much of a loss. You can always look at your HRV trend, which the watch also reports, if you want a sense of how recovered you are each morning.) The 955, 265, and 965 all have Training Readiness.

For the detailed list of every minor feature that’s different between the two, you can check out this comparison page on Garmin’s site. 

Which Forerunner 255 version you should get

There is only one Forerunner 955, but there are four versions of the 255, and two versions of the 265.

• The regular Forerunner 255 is the larger size (45.6 mm) and does not have music storage. 

• The Forerunner 255S is the smaller size (41 mm) and also does not have music storage.

• The Forerunner 255 Music is the larger size (45.6 mm) and does have music storage, so you can play tunes from the watch while leaving your phone at home.

• The Forerunner 255S Music is the smaller size (41 mm) with music storage.  

Personally, I always have my phone with me when I run, so I’ve never found the standalone music feature very helpful. If you think you might use it, though, it’s normally a $50 upgrade, but currently only a $20 upgrade on the larger size of the watch.

To help you decide, the photo above shows the difference in screens between the AMOLED 265S (left) and MIP 255 (right). It also shows the size difference between the smaller and larger models; the 265S on the left is 41.7 mm, very close to the 255S at 41 mm.

How old is the 255, anyway? 

The 255 is only one year older than the 265. They were released in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Before that, Forerunner releases tended to be three to four years apart. The quick turnaround between the 255 and 265 makes sense when you realize they’re basically the same watch with a different display.

So I wouldn’t expect a 255 to feel outdated anytime soon. The main question you need to ask yourself is: How do I feel about a MIP screen? I’ve written more about the difference between MIP and AMOLED here. MIP screens don’t light up, although they have a backlight that can come on automatically when you raise your wrist. At rest, they are “always on,” in the sense that they’re always displaying something, so you’ll never look down at a blank screen. They’re also brightly reflective in sunlight. 

AMOLED screens are more like a smartphone screen, with glowing pixels, and watches typically turn off the display when you’re not using it to save energy. (You can enable an always-on setting, but it eats battery.) That said, the overall battery life on both watches is similar on default settings—14 days not counting activities for the 255, and 13 days for the 265. 

Some people prefer the MIP screens, and if that includes you, this is a no-brainer: snag the 255 or 955. You can even get a refurbished version for $179.99, which makes this one of the cheapest Garmin watches in any line. 

The bottom line (check prices)

Prices on Forerunners have been fluctuating lately, so I’m hesitant to give any dollar-for-dollar comparisons, but here’s what I’m seeing at the moment I write this. Officially, Garmin is selling the 255 and 265 for the same price, $349.99. The 955 and 965 are going for the same price, $499.99. At those prices, you might as well get the -65 version of whichever watch you prefer.

But over on Amazon, I’m seeing prices as low as $247 for the 255 and $373 for the 955. That means a 255 is the same price as the anemic Forerunner 165 (it’s OK as a budget watch, but it’s missing a lot of features that the 255/265 have) and the 955 is the same price as a 265! Check prices to see if these deals are still live by the time you read this, and ultimately decide based on features.

The collaboration is part of the EWC’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with China’s thriving esports and tech sectors, integrating innovation from one of the most dynamic gaming markets into its global ecosystem.

“The Esports World Cup is built on innovation, and technology plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable moments for players, Clubs, and fans,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, senior sales director at the Esports World Cup Foundation.

“Our partnership with Obsbot is at the heart of this vision. Its cutting-edge camera technology demonstrates the power of AI in esports today, capturing the intensity and emotion that defines competition at this level and bringing fans into the moment.

“We are thrilled to have Obsbot as our official camera and webcam partner as we continue raising the bar for esports experiences worldwide.”

At the core of Obsbot’s offering are two standout devices, the Tail 2 smart-tracking camera and the Tiny 2 webcam.

The Tail 2 is a 4K PTZR live production camera powered by AI Tracking 2.0, designed to deliver smooth, cinematic shots with minimal manual input. It integrates easily into professional broadcasting environments via NDI and other pro-grade outputs.

The Tiny 2, Obsbot’s flagship webcam, brings the same tracking intelligence to the desktop, offering exceptional image quality and responsiveness tailored for streamers and creators.

Both cameras will be used across player areas, streaming stations, and fan-facing activations at the Esports World Cup, helping document gameplay, reactions and behind-the-scenes moments with heightened realism and clarity.

“We believe that everyone’s story deserves to be seen and shared, and the Esports World Cup provides the perfect platform for us to showcase our vision,” said Liu Bo, CEO & founder of Obsbot.

“Through our partnership with the Esports World Cup, we are bringing our cutting-edge AI-powered camera technology to millions of gamers and content creators, celebrating the excitement, drama, and triumphs of elite competition on the world’s biggest stage.

“This collaboration is about more than just capturing moments; it’s about empowering a new generation of storytellers to create, share, and inspire with professional-grade tools that are as dynamic as the esports community itself.”

With over 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, 200 Clubs, and a record-breaking $70 million (around £53 million / AU$109 million) prize pool, the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh is poised to be the largest celebration of esports ever staged.

Fans attending in person or tuning in online can expect a rich visual experience that reflects not only the scale of the competition but the sophistication of the technology powering it.

Obsbot’s AI camera technology will play a vital role in elevating that broadcast experience, keeping up with the pace of play, tracking the intensity of the moment, and helping ensure the world sees every angle of this global esports spectacle.

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Check out our guides to the best 4K webcams and the best PTZ cameras.

By Jeran Wittenstein and Carmen Reinicke, Bloomberg

For most of the past decade, a handful of high-flying technology companies have pushed the US stock market to record highs and become cornerstones of investment portfolios. But that’s collapsed this year.

Despite the S&P 500 Index clawing back into the green for 2025 after being whipsawed by President Donald Trump’s vacillating trade policies, tech giants like Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Tesla Inc. are still down. The Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Index — which includes those companies as well as Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. — is underperforming the S&P 500, and if that holds through Dec. 31, it would make this just the second year in the last 10 where that’s happened.

MotoGP is high-speed, high-tech motorcycle racing. The fastest riders in the world compete on specialized, purpose-built motorcycles from companies like Ducati, Honda, Yamaha on the world stage in this series, which is considered the most prestigious in the game. Riders reach incredible speeds on their machines up to 220 miles per hour, and races can go 350 turns with gravity-defying leaning that scrapes elbows and knees. This Grand Prix is for the toughest of the tough on the moto circuit.

Behind the riders and the machinery is a boatload of data and technology; we’re talking massive amounts of data in numbers that make your head spin. As tech company Lenovo puts it, when it comes to MotoGP–a sport in which every millisecond counts–data can mean the difference between a first and last place finish.

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Lenovo and Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati work hand in hand to create a champion racing team with information gathered by 50-plus sensors that track tire rotation, speed, grip, acceleration, and more. Motorcycle racing, at the highest echelon, has evolved way beyond just the machinery or even the skill of the rider. Without the technology, any team would be left in the dust.

The data journey

In the past, the only way to evaluate the outer limits of what a motorbike could endure was to disassemble a crashed bike. Today, a multi-pronged approach to data collection takes that process up several notches. Every time a bike enters the pit garage, an in-person team and a crew from the Ducati Lenovo Remote Garage at Ducati’s headquarters in Bologna, Italy analyzes performance.

No matter where the team is racing, data streams in from the motorbike sensors. Off-site engineers analyze information from the track, making tiny tweaks to the bike and its operation. That way, every qualifying lap may be reviewed and fine tuned for the best competitive outcomes.

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“We debrief after each session, aligning with the rider on the sections and corners in which we think that he can improve his performance,” says David Attisano, the data and performance analysis manager for Ducati Racing. “We review with the rider his maneuvers and what we can expect to improve and how. For example, if the data shows that the rider can brake two meters later than he is, that’s a huge distance in this race.”

For the MotoGP series, Ducati has three different teams with a total of six riders. Each Ducati rider receives the data not just about his own ride but for all the other riders, so they can track what the other five are doing. That’s a giant amount of data.

“We can push each other to the limit because we can see what the other riders are doing and comparing, then we can highlight and suggest some changes in their riding style,” Attisano explains.

Data leads to improvements for road bikes, too

Per official MotoGP rules, the sensors can’t transmit the data while the bikes are in motion. As soon as the bike gets to the garage, the engineers download the data. From this point, the data analysis process begins. At this point, the partnership is especially critical as the servers are developed by Lenovo specifically for Ducati. On top of that, there are data signals created with a custom algorithm and simulating based on engineering knowledge about the bikes. The team can even create a detailed “digital twin” of the course that maps each twist and turn, using 200GB of data per circuit.

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“If the rider tells us that the traction control is not working properly, our electronics engineers can adjust the ECU,” says Attisano. “In our competition, the human factor is very important. We rely on the data and the humans do the last mile to gain the result and to achieve victory.”

Sure, data clearly plays a big part, but human interpretation is still a critical aspect to translate the results. Even those who know nothing of motorcycles can create algorithms or artificial intelligence to offer some hints or tips, but without input from the team, the data has no context. The technology, Attisano emphasizes, is intended to augment the capabilities of human beings, not to replace them.

“The behavior of the bike is very complicated–it’s very difficult to understand if you have not studied it at university,” he says. “In our experience, the exchange of knowledge between engineers and data scientists is very important.”

Ducati’s data collection on the competitive side feeds into the safety and reliability for all riders, including those who like to take their motorbike for a spin on any given Sunday; not just competitive situations. Every time the bike emerges from the pit at a MotoGP race, the engineers strive to be sure it’s in good form and safe for the rider. Every improvement via the data collected from 50 tiny sensors on each factory-made racing bike leads to a better ride for casual street riders, too.

New York (CNN) — In recent years, people ranging from Taylor Swift and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to high school girls around the country have been victims of non-consensual, explicit deepfakes — images where a person’s face is superimposed on a nude body using artificial intelligence.

Now, after months of outcry, a federal law criminalizing the sharing of those images is finally coming.

President Donald Trump is set to sign the Take It Down Act in a ceremony at the White House on Monday. In addition to making it to illegal to share online nonconsensual, explicit images — real or computer-generated — the law will also require tech platforms to remove such images within 48 hours of being notified about them.

The law will boost protections for victims of revenge porn and nonconsensual, AI-generated sexual images, increase accountability for the tech platforms where the content is shared and provide law enforcement with clarity about how to prosecute such activity. Previously, federal law prohibited creating or sharing realistic, AI-generated explicit images of children. But laws protecting adult victims varied by state and didn’t exist nationwide.

The Take It Down Act also represents one of the first new US federal laws aimed at addressing the potential harms from AI-generated content as the technology rapidly advances.

“AI is new to a lot of us and so I think we’re still figuring out what is helpful to society, what is harmful to society, but (non-consensual) intimate deepfakes are such a clear harm with no benefit,” said Ilana Beller, organizing manager at progressive advocacy group Public Citizen, which endorsed the legislation.

The law passed both chambers of Congress nearly unanimously, with only two House representatives dissenting, in a rare moment of bipartisan consensus. More than 100 organizations, including non-profits and big tech companies such as Meta, TikTok and Google, also supported the legislation.

Firstlady Melania Trump threw her support behind the effort, too, lobbying House lawmakers in April to pass the legislation. And the president referenced the bill during his address to a joint session of Congress in March, during which the first lady hosted teenage victim Elliston Berry as one of her guests.

TexasSen. Ted Cruz and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar first introduced the legislation last summer.

Months earlier, a classmate of Texas high schooler Berry shared on Snapchat an image of her that he’d taken from her Instagram and altered using AI to make it look like she was nude. Berry wasn’t alone — teen girls in New Jersey, California and elsewhere have also been subject to this form of harassment.

“Everyday I’ve had to live with the fear of these photos getting brought up or resurfacing,” Berry told CNN last year, in an interview about her support for the Take It Down Act. “By this bill getting passed, I will no longer have to live in fear, knowing that whoever does bring these images up will be punished.”

Facing increased pressure over the issue, some major tech platforms had taken steps to make it easier for victims to have nonconsensual sexual images removed from their sites.

Some big tech platforms, including Google, Meta and Snapchat, already have forms where users can request the removal of explicit images. And others have partnered with non-profit organizations StopNCII.org and Take It Down that facilitate the removal of such images across multiple platforms at once, although not all sites cooperate with the groups.

Apple and Google have also made efforts to remove AI services that convert clothed images into manipulated nude ones from their app stores and search results.

Still, bad actors will often seek out platforms that aren’t taking action to prevent harmful uses of their technology, underscoring the need for the kind of legal accountability that the Take It Down Act will provide.

“This legislation finally compels social media bros to do their jobs and protect women from highly intimate and invasive breaches of their rights,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate, said in a statement to CNN. “While no legislation is a silver bullet, the status quo—where young women face horrific harms online—is unacceptable.”

Public Citizen’s Beller added that it’s also “important to signal as a society that this is unacceptable.”

“If our federal law is passing a law that says, this is unacceptable and here are the consequences, that sends a clear signal,” she said.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

Let me tell you now, before the nitty-gritty, there are many who assume the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED is something it is not. It is not just a cheaper version of Garmin’s Fenix smartwatch — that watch is designed for your Indiana Jones heading on expeditions. The Instinct line is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking and backpacking on established trails and camping in lean-tos or state-maintained campsites. 

Deep sigh.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I am stoked to share with you what the last 6x weeks of my life have been like with the new Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED. When people say, “It’s the little things in life,” they may very well be referring to what this smartwatch has to offer. And, in this case, the things it does not.

I am your average outdoor enthusiast and have found the Instinct 3 to be well-balanced, well-built, and visually impressive. I also cannot say enough about how much of a lifesaver the built-in LED flashlight has been while the state of Connecticut has been covered in ice. Now, after 2 months with this watch, this is my take on this updated classic.

In short: With the release of the Instinct 3, Garmin has given its most practical watch line the AMOLED treatment. While it still doesn’t have a touchscreen or turn-by-turn maps, it doesn’t need them. If you’re looking for a rugged smartwatch with exceptional battery life for your active life in the great outdoors, the Instinct 3 AMOLED is the answer.

Looking for a new fitness watch? Check out how the Instinct 3 AMOLED compares to the rest of the market in GearJunkie’s Best Fitness Watches and Best GPS Watches Buyer’s Guides.

Review: Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED Watch

Design & Features

The Instinct 3 AMOLED is part of Garmin’s Instinct line, which has three distinct models, each with submodels and color configurations. It is a full-featured GPS smartwatch that visually errs toward the Timex Ironman more than it does an Apple Watch.

This rugged aesthetic appeals to the outdoor crowd. Its long battery life and wide array of functions keep us tethered to modern society while supporting our day-to-day lives, be it indoors or outdoors.

The Instinct 3 AMOLED is lightweight and has a fiber-reinforced polymer body, aluminum bezel, and chemically reinforced glass. However, this loftiness does not impact the ruggedness of the watch. You can expect it to take on scrapes, bangs, and bumps with little to no signs of wear. Additionally, its silicone band is comfortable to wear in all conditions, year-round. 

This version of the Instinct is also significant because of its use of an AMOLED display. AMOLED is rich in color, vibrant, and crisp to the point where even a direct hit from the sun won’t impact its visibility. The Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct E still use an MIP LED display. Also, like previous models, all models of the Instinct 3 use five buttons to operate it. There is no touchscreen here, and that’s all right by me!

Smart Features

This is a multiband GPS watch. It uses SatIQ technology to help choose which satellite band will offer the best performance based on your location. It also has an altimeter, compass, and thermometer to keep you plugged in and informed. The watch also has an expanded series of activity trackers and health and wellness monitoring features. 

The Instinct 3 AMOLED uses the latest Bluetooth technology to pair with your smartphone and other smart devices. This allows you to receive phone notifications (Android and Apple) like texts, phone calls, and calendar alerts. Additionally, you can accept or reject phone calls with the watch and provide canned text responses.

Four features that have stood out to me in my day-to-day life have been the Morning Report, which gives you a summary of how you slept, weather forecasts, and Find My Phone, which I use nearly every day. It also has a Find My Watch feature that allows your phone to ping the watch. As I have worn the watch consistently, aside from the 3 hours the one time I had to recharge it, I’ve never used that feature.

The fourth feature, which gets its own segment below, is the built-in LED flashlight. This is a bit of fried gold that Garmin has pioneered on modern smartwatches, and I am blown away.

Beyond all of this, the Garmin Connect IQ store allows you to expand the possibilities of the Instinct 3 AMOLED. I’ll get into that more when I cover hiking and navigating with the watch.

Health & Wellness Monitoring

I blame my competitive nature for my adoption of things like knowing how many steps I’ve taken and what my heart rate is. However, I’ve never been one to monitor my sleep patterns. Well, that’s all changed now. During setup, I was asked if I wanted to enable the Morning Report (Sleep Tracking) feature. This puts the Instinct 3 AMOLED into a soft sleep mode (you still get smartphone notifications), and when you wake up, it gives you a report of how you slept.

If I wasn’t testing this watch, I might not have opted into this. But I am glad I did as I am more conscious of when I go to bed every night, which I now try to do at the same time every night — 43 is a great age to start being responsible about stuff like this.

Regarding the heart monitor, I’ve read some complaints about it not being the latest and greatest that Garmin has to offer, and I did my due diligence and compared my heart rate during activities and while at rest. The numbers matched up with my Apple Watch Ultra. And, not for nothing, Apple Watches are the industry standard right now. That said, I couldn’t find any issues worth reporting.

One feature that I can’t use but that I think is wicked cool — especially with a preteen daughter — is the Women’s Health feature. This allows the user to track both menstrual cycles and pregnancy. As a dad, I can keep up with my daughter without prying into her life. For women, this is a wonderful benefit that keeps you from having to hunt down the right apps for your phone. 

LED Flashlight

If I could write solely on the LED flashlight, I would. It has come in handy for everything from navigating trails to my icy driveway at night. It also saved the day when I had to head into the basement to figure out why my solar battery backup didn’t kick in when the power went out during a storm a few weeks ago. Two clicks of the top left button allowed me to navigate through spiderwebs and snake skins.

Additionally, the Instinct 3 AMOLED has a Red Shift mode where you can turn the display to red to save your eyes and be a little less noticeable at night. Pairing this with the red light setting on the flashlight is an excellent experience. I’ve long used the red light setting on my headlamps when hiking at night. This is a nice feature to have when I don’t have a headlight or I need to read a map. 

Maps (Deal With It!)

In the last decade, aside from testing watches, I’ve never been concerned about detailed maps, turn-by-turn directions, or anything like that. Even when I owned a Fenix 7, I never used the watch as my GPS, and that was a major feature. That’s what my phone is for. That’s what your phone is for as well.

However, I do understand where people are coming from in wanting the convenience of using one device to track their activities and help them navigate. If you want that, you can buy a Fenix.

However, I guarantee that at some point, a majority of people who go that route will end up using All-Trails, Gaia GPS, or even Garmin Explore on their phones. It’s much easier to refer to a 5-inch-plus phone screen than a 1- to 1½-inch watch face. #facts.

The caveat to that is those folks running ultra-marathons and people going on trailblazing expeditions. You all are an inspirational yet different breed of human being. You keep doing what you do.

That all said, you can download maps to the Instinct 3 AMOLED from your smartphone. This is common with quite a few Garmin products. It requires you to think about where you’re going ahead of time, take a few minutes to find your trail, and download it to the watch.

Garmin recommends Wikiloc, and I have been using it since I started testing the watch. It’s a simple map app that shows you that you’re heading in the right direction on your path. $20 a year gives you access to a massive database of trails that you can use and even add to. You can also follow the trail markers on the trail, you silly gooses!

Battery Life Goes a Long Way

Coming from an Apple Watch Ultra, the battery life on the Instinct 3 is a real treat. At the time of writing, I have only charged it once, 22 days after I first put it on. Garmin claims that I could get 24 days out of a single charge, but you won’t catch me complaining.

For the first week, I was constantly fiddling with settings to get everything just right for my needs. I figured that alone would have drained a couple of days’ worth of juice, but it barely moved the needle.

When you consider the half dozen hikes I logged, the constant heart rate monitoring, and even the sleep tracking and phone notifications, that’s a lot going on. Even with Garmin’s 24-day claim, I wasn’t expecting to get 2 weeks out of it. So, color me surprised.

Charging

When it comes to charging the Instinct 3, Garmin doesn’t stray from its proprietary charging path. The brand has long used a specific four-pin cable for its watches. That hasn’t changed for the Instinct 3, and I have a love/hate relationship with it. It’s just another cable I need to keep tabs on; however, the upgrade to USB-C on the power source end is a bonus. 

Considering the watch’s overall height, I am not sure Garmin could switch to a standard USB-C cable. The plug is too tall, so it would still need to provide a specific cable. I only need to deal with it every few weeks, so it’s not a deal-breaker for me.

In Conclusion: Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED

When it comes to watches, I go from being a casual user to being addicted to what it can do for me, like the moon phases. I found the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED to be easy to jump into. The buttons are clearly labeled, and after a few days, you understand what menus you can access through each button as well as what holding the buttons can do.

There’s no touchscreen here, nor does there need to be. The only reason I would want a touchscreen on this phone is to wake it up, as sometimes raising the watch to view it doesn’t work (usually when lying down). But after wearing an Apple Watch Ultra for 2 years and switching over to the Instinct 3, there was little to no adjustment for me.

I would also like to add that a majority of what I have written in this review pertains to the 45mm version of the Instinct 3 AMOLED. I am a bigger guy, and I like big watches, but you might prefer a smaller version.

Overall, I am pleased with the watch. Considering how much smartwatches are going for these days, $500 is right in the middle. For what you’re getting out of it, I believe the price of the Instinct 3 AMOLED is justified.

If you’re looking for a rugged GPS-enabled smartwatch, I think you’ll enjoy what the Instinct 3 AMOLED has to offer. It’s easy to use, it looks fantastic, and that LED flashlight is going to spoil you rotten.