Review: The Garmin Enduro 3 is cheaper, lighter, and might be a Fenix 8 killer
by Brady Snyder · Android PoliceThe Garmin Enduro 3 is a perfect example of what happens when a company listens to user feedback. In terms of battery life, this is Garmin's longest-lasting flagship smartwatch, but somehow, that's not even the biggest part of the Enduro 3's story. More importantly, the device has everything you want in a GPS adventure watch and nothing you don't. Compared to its predecessor, the newer model is $200 cheaper, six grams lighter, and packed with many features and improvements.
The Enduro 3 isn't just great compared to the Enduro 2 — it's also up to the task of competing with the Fenix 8 Solar. Users seeking diving capabilities, plus speaker and microphone support, might still want to pay the $1,200 sticker price for that Fenix 8 model. However, at $800, the Enduro 3 has more battery, a larger solar surface area, a much lighter build, and a ton of feature overlap. After over a month of using the Garmin Enduro 3, I can comfortably say it's the real deal.
Staff pick
Garmin Enduro 3
8.5 / 10
Garmin's new longest-lasting smartwatch is the Enduro 3, which brings many improvements over its predecessor — and it's cheaper. The watch supports GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and others. Plus, the Enduro 3 includes plenty of sensors and now uses Garmin's Elevate Gen5 optical heart rate sensor. But it lacks a few smart features compared to the Fenix 8, like a microphone and speaker, but packs all the same software offerings.
Pros
- Battery life is best-in-class
- Better than the Enduro 2, while costing and weighing less
- Screen is brighter and more visible thanks to shifted solar panels
- Nearly a Fenix 8 Solar, minus the dive features, case size options, and speaker/mic combo
Cons
- Only comes in 51mm size
- Doesn't have a speaker or microphone
- Display could still be brighter with better visibility
Price, availability, and specs
Garmin released the Enduro 3 smartwatch in August 2024, and it costs $900. It's available in one 51mm case size and color and includes an UltraFit nylon strap. You can find it on Garmin's website and Amazon, as well as niche retailers like Scheels, though it may arrive at more stores in the future.
Specifications
Case size
51mm
Case Material
Fiber-reinforced polymer
Display
1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Display resolution
280 x 280 pixels
Storage
32 GB
Battery
Smartwatch mode: Up to 36 days/90 days with solar
Connectivity
Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
Health sensors
Heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox monitor, thermometer, ECG
Weight
63g with strap, 57g case only
Strap size
26mm
ATM Rating
10ATM
Location services
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU, SatIQ
Always on display
Yes
Sensors
Barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor
Expand
What's good about the Garmin Enduro 3?
Lightweight, stylish, and functional design with an improved screen
The Garmin Enduro 3 looks similar to the Enduro 2 at first glance, but there are a few impactful changes to note. For starters, the new watch has a case weight of just 57g and a total weight (including the default UltraFit band) of 63g. That's six grams lighter than the Enduro 2 and significantly lighter than the 95g Fenix 8 Solar.
It felt great on my wrist, and I often forgot I was wearing it. The soft and adjustable nylon strap was a huge reason why — it's way more comfortable than the usual Garmin rubber bands.
The display also received a subtle upgrade. While the Enduro 2 had a solar panel that spanned across the entire surface, the Enduro 3's panels are confined to the display border. As such, the Enduro 3's 1.4-inch memory-in-pixel (MIP) screen is easier to see. At the same time, the solar area captures twice the energy of the Enduro 2.
Coming from the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, it's nice to have a touchscreen again. The Enduro 3's MIP display panel offers a responsive touch surface, five hardware buttons, a backlight, and solar capabilities. It's really the best of all worlds. I will note that, as you'll see in my photos, the Enduro 3's sapphire glass is still extremely reflective. The backlight isn't outstanding, but the display looks fantastic outdoors.
Read our review
Garmin’s Instinct 2 Solar is a fitness and adventure watch without the nonsense
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Battery life, health tracking, and software features are all excellent
I can forgive the display's shortcomings due to how well the Garmin Enduro 3 performs in many of the other areas that matter. There are a ton of sensors here, including the new Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical heart rate sensor, which enables ECG and temperature readings. Maps and navigation are much improved, and there's support for GPS with GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BEIDOU, and SatIQ. You also get blood-oxygen sensing, plus a barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, and ambient light sensor.
It's not any one sensor or metric that makes a Garmin smartwatch great. Instead, it's how Garmin takes all of this data into account to inform cumulative metrics like Training Readiness scores, sleep scores, and Body Battery scores. I used the Garmin Enduro 3 to track runs, treadmill workouts, walks, and hikes and considered all the watch's suggestions while training.
Surprisingly, there were a few days when my sleep score, Training Readiness, and Body Battery were all extremely low. You can see the dip for yourself in the second screenshot above. I didn't know it at the time, but I was coming down with a sinus infection — and my Enduro 3 picked up on the underlying signs before I did.
The Enduro 3 is really a do-it-all watch, and it came in handy while I was hiking at elevation in Flagstaff, Arizona. I used maps to track our movements, and the hiking workout view's pace and sunset time indicators to make sure I was back before sundown. But the Enduro 3 has a built-in flashlight, just in case. This watch was an essential tool for hiking in an unfamiliar place, and I don't want to go on hikes without it now.
In smartwatch mode, Garmin says you'll get 36 days of battery life, and that's bumped to 90 with regular solar charging. Of course, your mileage will vary. My review unit lasted about a month with limited solar charging and every-other-day workouts. I'd guess that the Enduro 3 would last a week or two in extreme situations, with daily GPS-heavy workouts. The point is, the Enduro 3 had battery life that made me forget about the hassle of charging. It put my Apple Watch Ultra to shame.
What's bad about the Garmin Enduro 3?
The screen still isn't perfect, and it's not quite a Fenix 8
My main gripe with the Enduro 3 is that the screen still isn't fantastic, and falls short of AMOLED watches like the Polar Grit X2 Pro and some Fenix 8 models. That said, the Fenix 8 Solar, the Enduro 3's direct competition, has the exact same MIP display panel. If you want the level of battery life the Enduro 3 offers — which is longer than that of AMOLED watches — this is simply a compromise you have to make.
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A tank against the elements
Additionally, some people might miss the speaker, microphone, and dive capabilities of the Fenix 8. I didn't miss them at all, but it's something to consider before choosing the Enduro 3 over the Fenix 8.
Should you buy the Garmin Enduro 3?
At $900, the Garmin Enduro 3 isn't cheap by any means. However, it's arguably one of the best-value Garmin watches ever. This smartwatch is better than the Enduro 2 and the Fenix 8 Solar, both of which are more expensive than the Enduro 3. If you're looking for a long-lasting GPS watch jam-packed with features, it's hard not to like the Enduro 3.
Staff pick
Garmin Enduro 3
8.5 / 10
For those who need long-lasting battery life and excellent health and fitness features, the Garmin Enduro 3 is likely the best option under $1,000. It's almost as capable as the Fenix 8 for a few hundred dollars less.
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