Garmin Intuition 3 Intro
In case you are in search of a rugged, sturdy watch with a basic look, however all the trendy smarts on your sports activities and out of doors adventures, the brand new Garmin Intuition 3 would possibly simply be the best choice round.
The most well-liked various, the Apple Watch Extremely, is far more costly, however extra importantly, the Apple Watch solely has a two-day battery life, whereas you will get greater than per week on the Garmin Intuition 3 (and it comes with the identical good OLED show).
The Garmin Intuition sequence dates again to 2018, however it’s this newest Intuition 3 that brings the most important improve within the type of a contemporary OLED display screen.
The Intuition 3 is available in two sizes, it options 5 bodily buttons and it even has a torch gentle inbuilt, which is a surprisingly helpful addition. I’ve spent greater than per week working, swimming, biking, power coaching and simply carrying the watch, learn on for the total evaluate.
Garmin Intuition 3 Specs
- Two sizes — 45mm and 50mm
- Comparatively light-weight for a rugged watch
- 100m water resistance score
- Has a torch
- 5 button navigation
- Has dual-band GPS
- Has barometric altimeter and magnetic compass
- Does NOT help Maps
- As much as 18 days (45mm) / 24 days (50mm) in gesture mode
- As much as 7 days (45mm) / 9 days (50mm) with At all times On display screen
- Makes use of Garmin proprietary charger
- Elevate Gen 4 sensor
- Base mannequin prices $450 (for OLED)
Desk of Contents:
Garmin Intuition 3 Unboxing
Garmin can positively do a greater job with the unboxing expertise for its watches. The packaging is sort of primary and all you get within the field is the watch itself, a charging cable (Garmin proprietary connector on one finish, USB-C on the opposite finish) and the person handbook inside.
Garmin Intuition 3 Design, Dimension and Bands
Light-weight and comfy
The Intuition 3 is available in two sizes: 45mm and 50mm.
I’ve a small wrist with a circumference of round 170mm, so I picked the 45mm model. I used to be afraid it might look too large on a smaller wrist, however because the watch may be very gentle and there aren’t any sharp corners, I discover it not solely seems good, but in addition feels very snug to put on.
The 45mm Intuition 3 makes use of a 22mm silicone band with a plastic buckle, which additionally feels fairly snug and has loads of adjustment. The 50mm model is paired with a wider, 26mm band. There isn’t any QuickFit system on these bands, so swapping a band is a little more of a problem. I at all times go for nylon bands for the watches I take advantage of and regardless that I discover the supplied silicone band to be fairly snug, it is not as straightforward to regulate as a nylon band and I plan on switching to a nylon one for future use.
Here’s a fast overview of the bodily dimension of the Garmin Intuition 3.
Garmin watches dimension and weight comparability:
| Garmin Intuition 3 |
Garmin Forerunner 265 |
Garmin Forerunner 965 |
Garmin Fenix 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes: 45 mm — 45 x 45 x 14.9 mm 50 mm — 50 x 50 x 14.4 mm |
Sizes: 42 mm — 41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9 mm 46 mm — 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9 mm |
Sizes: 47 mm — 47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm |
Sizes: 43 mm — 43 x 43 x 13.8 mm 47 mm — 47 x 47 x 13.8 mm 51 mm — 51 x 51 x 14.7 mm |
| Weight: 45 mm — 53 g 50 mm — 59 g |
Weight: 42 mm — 39 g 46 mm — 47 g |
Weight: 47 mm — 53 g |
Weight: 43 mm — 66 g metal, 60g titanium 47 mm — 80 g metal, 73 g titanium 51 mm — 102 g metal, 92 g titanium |
| Show: 45 mm — 1.2 inch, 390 px 50 mm — 1.3 inch, 416 px |
Show: 42 mm — 1.1 inch, 360 px 46 mm — 1.3 inch, 416 px |
Show: 47 mm — 1.4 inch, 454 px |
Show: 43 mm — 1.3 inch, 416 px 47 mm — 1.4 inch, 454 px 51 mm — 1.4 inch, 454 px |
As you’ll be able to see, regardless of trying a lot bulkier than the Garmin Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 965, the Intuition 3 weighs the same quantity and it’s a lot lighter than the Fenix 8, which I contemplate to be an essential benefit of the Intuition.
The display screen dimension will not be fairly as large as what you get on the Forerunner 965 or the equally sized Fenix 8 fashions, and there’s one other essential distinction — the Intuition 3 does NOT have a contact display screen!
That’s the first OLED watch we see with no contact display screen performance, so that you mainly function it solely utilizing the buttons. Some individuals might dislike it, however the one place this actually issues in my expertise is in mapping, and the Intuition 3 doesn’t have a map performance like you’ve got on the Fenix, so I do not contemplate this an enormous miss. Your mileage might range, although.
This being a rugged watch has the most important benefit of the rugged physique higher defending the display screen from scratches than the Forerunner sequence.
Garmin Intuition 3 Software program & Options
Appropriate for triathlon athletes
As all different Garmin watches, the Intuition 3 runs on the proprietary Garmin OS.
It’s technically not a smartwatch, since you can’t set up actual apps on this OS, however you do have many choices you’ll be able to tweak round and a superb quantity of third-party watch faces to choose from.
In comparison with conventional smartwatches, that is nonetheless clunkier to make use of. Altering a watch face takes a couple of lengthy clicks and there’s no voice assistant to assist out.
One benefit of the Intuition 3 is that it helps customized sizzling keys (cheaper Garmin watches don’t). This implies you can set numerous screenshots to particular person keys or mixture of keys. For instance, you’ll be able to set the Intuition 3 to open the Climate app if you press the GPS and ABC buttons on the similar time (or you’ll be able to set a timer, or do one thing else).
Exercises
An enormous checklist of exercises, however Intuition 3 is, unusually, powered by the older Elevate Gen4 HR sensor
Each Garmin sports activities watch helps a barely totally different set of exercises, so let’s simply check out the total checklist of supported Intuition 3 exercises:
Intuition 3 Supported Exercise Sorts:
Multisport, Stroll, Golf, Climb, Bouldering, Fish, Hunt, Disc Golf, Horseback, Archery, Inline Skating, Stroll, Run, Treadmill, Path Run, Hike, Digital Run, Monitor Run, Indoor Monitor, Impediment Racing, Triathlon, Swimrun, Bike, Bike Indoor, MTB, eBike, eMTB, CycloCross, Gravel Bike, Bike Commute, Bike Tour, Highway Bike, BMX, Pool Swim, Openwater Swim, Swimrun, Power, Cardio, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Elliptical, Stair Stepper, Stroll Indoor, Row Indoor, Climb Indoor, Ground Climb, Boxing, Blended Marital Arts, Ski, Snowboard, Backcountry Ski, Backcountry Snowboard, XC Traditional Ski, XC Skate Ski, Snowshoe, Ice Skating, Kayak, Row, SUP, Surf, Kiteboarding, Windsurf, Whitewater, Boat, Wakeboard, Wakesurf, Water Ski, Tube, Snorkel, Soccer/Soccer, American Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Cricket, Lacrosse, Rugby, Area Hockey, Ice Hockey, Final Disc, Gaming, Tennis, Pickleball, Padel, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton, Desk Tennis, Platform Tennis, ATV, Snowmobile, Overland, Motocross, Bike, Horseback, Breathwork, Tactical, Gaming, Expedition, Different
It is a related checklist to what you get with the Forerunner 965 and only a bit shorter than what you’ve got on a Fenix 8. My guess is that 99% of individuals will discover the exercises they want within the above checklist. I often go Ice Skating and I used to be pleasantly shocked to see an ice skating exercise sort on the Intuition 3.
Coronary heart-rate Sensor and GPS
The Intuition 3 makes use of the Elevate Gen 4 sensor, not the newer Gen 5 model, which is shocking (Picture by PhoneArena)
Garmin’s most shocking choice within the Intuition 3 is to make use of the older Elevate Gen 4 heart-rate sensor fairly than the newer Gen 5 sensor that you’ve got on watches just like the Venu 3 and Fenix 8.
The Elevate Gen 4 does a superbly nice job with correct coronary heart price measurements and the features in accuracy with the brand new Gen 5 sensor are tiny, however… why not use the newer sensor? This older one additionally does NOT help an ECG studying.
The Intuition 3 additionally helps dual-band GPS, in case you want that.
Garmin is wise about its GPS utilization, so for instance when working, the watch will acquired to the default “Auto Choose” GPS mode possibility, which is ready to decide whether or not that you must use the dual-band GPS operate or change to single-band for effectivity. A lot of the instances, that is the best choice. You may, nevertheless, choose the “GPS Solely” monitoring possibility, which can end in much more battery financial savings. Then, you even have the “All Techniques” mode for elevated accuracy and at last the “All + Multi-Band” possibility for the perfect accuracy, however highest energy drain.
You even have the choice to show off GPS monitoring altogether, however this naturally doesn’t make sense for exercises like working or biking.
Within the above working session, GPS accuracy was spot on and the heart-rate measurements had been additionally fairly correct. We do not do detailed comparisons in opposition to a chest strap for these opinions, however judging from my earlier expertise, the accuracy was respectable sufficient.
No sports activities watch is sort of good on this regard, so severe runners who want good accuracy want to stay with a chest strap anyway.
Coaching Metrics
Most Garmin watches as of late have the Physique Battery operate, Restoration Hours and Sleep Monitoring, however some extra superior metrics are reserved for higher-end fashions just like the Intuition 3.
Listed below are some metrics you get on the Intuition 3, however do not get on the cheaper Forerunner 165 mannequin:
- Coaching Readiness — A metric designed to inform you how prepared you’re to tackle a coaching session in that second of that day. This isn’t a long-term metric, however fairly one focusing in your present coaching readiness.
- Coaching Standing — This seems at a mix of things to research the way you prepare. The thought is to offer you a greater overview of what areas you is likely to be skipping in your coaching (you would possibly solely prepare at low intensities, for instance). That is what would typically provide the meme-famous “Unproductive” coaching standing.
- Coaching Load Focus — This divides your coaching efforts into three classes: Anaerobic, Excessive Cardio, and Low Cardio. The thought is that that you must embody several types of coaching to get quicker, so for those who solely run at a sluggish tempo, you will notice a scarcity within the Anaerobic class.
- Coaching Load Ratio — Compares your final week of coaching in opposition to your 28-day common to inform you how you’re trending on this previous week.
- Acute Load — Final seven days of coaching load, accounting for the truth that a coaching session from seven days in the past would have far smaller affect than a coaching session you probably did at present.
Garmin Intuition 3 Battery and Charging
4 days battery life for those who use the At all times-on function
Say goodbye to battery nervousness (Picture by PhoneArena)
Battery life on the Intuition 3 is actually nice.
Beneath, you will see that how the Intuition 3 compares to different Garmin watches.
Garmin Watches Battery Life Comparability:
| Garmin Intuition 3 |
Garmin Forerunner 265 |
Garmin Forerunner 965 |
Garmin Fenix 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| At all times On: 45 mm — as much as 7 days 50 mm — 9 days |
At all times On: 42 mm — 5 days 46 mm — 5 days |
At all times On: 47 mm — 7 days |
At all times On: 43 mm — 4 days 47 mm — 7 days 51 mm — 13 days |
| Gesture Mode: 45 mm — 18 days 50 mm — 24 days |
Gesture Mode: 42 mm — 15 days 46 mm — 13 days |
Gesture Mode: 47 mm — 23 days |
Gesture Mode: 43 mm — 10 days 47 mm — 16 days 51 mm — 29 days |
With the always-on display screen enabled, you’ll common round seven days of use, on par with the 47 mm Fenix 8 and the Forerunner 965.
With gesture mode, you get greater than two weeks of battery life on the smaller mannequin and almost three weeks on the older mannequin.
Remember that the torch is a giant energy drain, so for those who use it typically, your battery life will drop a lot quicker.
Charging is identical as on different Garmin watches, with their proprietary plug connector. The cable within the field comes with USB-C on the opposite finish, which is sweet to see as most trendy chargers have a USB-C plug.
Garmin Intuition 3 alternate options
There are none actually!
If you would like the rugged seems and performance, the Intuition 3 is your solely recreation on the town. The $450 worth can also be nowhere close to as excessive as what you’ll pay for those who get a smartwatch.
If you happen to do need a true smartwatch, although (one with apps, a voice assistant and all the opposite little extras), these are the rugged choices you need to have a look at:
- Apple Watch Extremely 2 — $800, two-day battery life. This watch has turn out to be so standard, however I favor the basic seems of the Intuition and there’s no comparability on the subject of battery life.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely — $650, two-day battery life. The Galaxy Watch Extremely is a beefy boy, however it weighs considerably greater than the Intuition and due to its sq. form, I discover it much less snug to put on. It runs on Google’s Put on OS.
Garmin Intuition 3 Abstract and Last Verdict
I completely love the Garmin Intuition 3.
The OLED display screen is a giant improve for many who need stunning colours on a rugged sports activities watch, and Garmin has managed to ship this whereas holding the distinctive battery life.
It acquired little particulars just like the torch proper (it’s far more helpful than you would possibly suspect at first!).
Essentially the most controversial choice right here is the shortage of contact display screen, so the whole lot needs to be operated by way of the bodily buttons. I didn’t thoughts this, and if I needed to choose only one between bodily buttons or contact navigation, there is no such thing as a query I’d go together with the bodily buttons. Your mileage might range, after all.
With correct GPS sign, good coronary heart price accuracy and loads of supported exercises, the Intuition 3 is a stable improve and will get our large thumbs up.