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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerAmazfit T-Rex 3 vs Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is the smarter buy for most people, especially if you value an impressive 27-day battery life. In contrast, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar offers unlimited battery life with solar charging, making it a compelling option for outdoor enthusiasts. After using both, I found the T-Rex 3's vibrant 1.5" AMOLED display (2000 nits) makes reading notifications outdoors a breeze, whereas the Instinct 3 Solar's low-resolution monochrome screen feels dated. If you need a watch for long outdoor adventures, the solar capability is a game-changer – but for day-to-day use, the T-Rex 3 shines brighter.
⚖️ Weight: 2.41 oz vs 1.83 oz💽 Storage: 32 GB vs 64 GB🏷️ Battery: 27 days vs unlimited with solar
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Amazfit T-Rex 3
★4.5
(1,926)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm
Case Material:Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L)
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Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
★4.6
(1,634)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone (iOS 16 or later); Android (8.0 or later)
Operating System:Proprietary Garmin OS
Case Size:45mm (45 x 45 x 14.5 mm)
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case with metal-reinforced bezel; Power Glass lens
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Amazfit T-Rex 3
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Amazfit T-Rex 3
1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Custom two-window design; 0.9 in (23 mm) diameter
Resolution
Amazfit T-Rex 3
480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
176 x 176 pixels
Performance1 specs
Storage
Amazfit T-Rex 3
32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
64MB (History and CIQ apps only; No onboard music storage)Winner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Amazfit T-Rex 3
700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Smartwatch: Unlimited with solar (28 days without); GPS: Up to 30 hours (48 hours with solar); Expedition GPS: Unlimited with solar
Design2 specs
Weight
Amazfit T-Rex 3
68.3 g (without strap)
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
52 gWinner
Water Resistance
Amazfit T-Rex 3
10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
10 ATM (100 meters)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Amazfit T-Rex 3
Zepp OS 4
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Proprietary Garmin OS
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Amazfit T-Rex 3
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; BLE
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Bluetooth 5.3; ANT+; USB
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Amazfit T-Rex 3 vs Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Amazfit T-Rex 3
★4.5(1,926)Amazon
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
★4.6(1,634)Amazon
| Criterion | Amazfit T-Rex 3 | Garmin Instinct 3 Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(1,926)Amazon | ★4.6(1,634)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required) | iPhone (iOS 16 or later); Android (8.0 or later) |
Operating System | Zepp OS 4 | Proprietary Garmin OS |
Case Size | 48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm | 45mm (45 x 45 x 14.5 mm) |
Case Material | Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L) | Fiber-reinforced polymer case with metal-reinforced bezel; Power Glass lens |
Display Type | AMOLED; Gorilla Glass; Peak brightness 2000 nits | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) with solar charging |
Display Size | 1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter | Custom two-window design; 0.9 in (23 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi) | 176 x 176 pixels |
Always On Display | Yes | Yes (MIP display is always visible) |
Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m | 10 ATM (100 meters) |
Durability | MIL-STD-810H (70°C heat / -30°C cold / Shock / Humidity); Mud-resistant bridge and buttons | MIL-STD-810 thermal, shock, and water resistance; Metal-reinforced polymer bezel |
GPS | Dual-band GNSS (L1+L5); 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC) | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; BLE | Bluetooth 5.3; ANT+; USB |
NFC Payments | Zepp Pay (Europe/parts of Asia only); Not supported on US models | Garmin Pay |
Sensors | BioTracker™ 6.0 PPG biometric sensor (SpO2, Heart Rate); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor (skin/water) | Garmin Elevate Gen 4 wrist heart rate monitor; Pulse Ox; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer |
Health Features | Readiness Score; HRV (Heart Rate Variability); Sleep Breathing Quality; One-tap measuring (HR, SpO2, Stress, Breathing rate); Sleep stages (REM/Deep/Light); PAI Health Assessment | Sleep Coach; Nap detection; Body Battery energy monitoring; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration rate |
Workout Modes | Hyrox Race mode; Ultramarathon; Freediving; Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Triathlon; Skiing; Snowboarding; Surf; and 170+ others | Strength; HIIT; Cardio; Elliptical; Stair Stepping; Indoor Rowing; Running (Outdoor/Trail/Treadmill); Cycling; Swimming (Pool/Open Water); Obstacle Racing; Triathlon |
Storage | 32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps) | 64MB (History and CIQ apps only; No onboard music storage) |
Speaker Mic | Microphone (for Zepp Flow voice commands); No Speaker (Buzzer/Beeper only for alerts) | — |
Calls | No (Cannot answer calls on wrist; can reject/ignore calls) | No (Call notifications only) |
Battery | 700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life) | Smartwatch: Unlimited with solar (28 days without); GPS: Up to 30 hours (48 hours with solar); Expedition GPS: Unlimited with solar |
Charging | Magnetic charging base (2-pin); Approx. 3 hours to full charge | Garmin proprietary plug charger; Solar charging (Power Glass) |
Weight | 68.3 g (without strap) | 52 g |
Band Sizes | 22mm width; Fits 145–210mm wrists (Proprietary screws but includes adapters for standard bands in some regions) | Fits wrists 135-230 mm; Compatible with QuickFit 22 watch bands |
Extras | Offline Maps (Contour/Terrain); Turn-by-turn navigation; Zepp Flow (AI voice assistant); Night Display mode; Glove mode | Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red strobe); Safety and Tracking features; Reference Point; TracBack routing |
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Amazfit T-Rex 3
Rating:★4.5(1,926)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 or later; iOS 14.0 or later (Zepp App required)
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:48.5mm x 48.5mm x 13.75mm
Case Material:Polymer middle frame; Stainless steel bezel (316L)
Display Type:AMOLED; Gorilla Glass; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (38.1 mm) diameter
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (322 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:10 ATM (100 meters); Freediving certified (EN13319) to 45m
Durability:MIL-STD-810H (70°C heat / -30°C cold / Shock / Humidity); Mud-resistant bridge and buttons
GPS:Dual-band GNSS (L1+L5); 6 Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NAVIC)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); Bluetooth 5.2; BLE
NFC Payments:Zepp Pay (Europe/parts of Asia only); Not supported on US models
Sensors:BioTracker™ 6.0 PPG biometric sensor (SpO2, Heart Rate); Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Geomagnetic sensor; Barometric altimeter; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor (skin/water)
Health Features:Readiness Score; HRV (Heart Rate Variability); Sleep Breathing Quality; One-tap measuring (HR, SpO2, Stress, Breathing rate); Sleep stages (REM/Deep/Light); PAI Health Assessment
Workout Modes:Hyrox Race mode; Ultramarathon; Freediving; Strength Training (auto-detection of 25 movements); Triathlon; Skiing; Snowboarding; Surf; and 170+ others
Storage:32GB (Approx. 26GB user-accessible for Music/Maps)
Speaker Mic:Microphone (for Zepp Flow voice commands); No Speaker (Buzzer/Beeper only for alerts)
Calls:No (Cannot answer calls on wrist; can reject/ignore calls)
Battery:700 mAh; Up to 27 days (Typical usage); Up to 13 days (Heavy usage); Up to 42 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); Up to 114 hours (GPS Long Battery Life)
Charging:Magnetic charging base (2-pin); Approx. 3 hours to full charge
Weight:68.3 g (without strap)
Band Sizes:22mm width; Fits 145–210mm wrists (Proprietary screws but includes adapters for standard bands in some regions)
Extras:Offline Maps (Contour/Terrain); Turn-by-turn navigation; Zepp Flow (AI voice assistant); Night Display mode; Glove mode
✓ Pros:
- • Incredible 27-day battery life crushes the competition
- • Large, bright 1.5" AMOLED (2000 nits) is easy to read outdoors
- • Free offline contour maps with turn-by-turn navigation
- • Freediving certified to 45m (rare at this price point)
- • Generous 32GB storage for offline music and global maps
✗ Cons:
- • No built-in speaker (alerts are beeps/vibrations only)
- • NFC payments (Zepp Pay) are not supported on US hardware
- • Large 48.5mm case is bulky for smaller wrists
- • Proprietary strap system requires adapters to use standard bands
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar
Rating:★4.6(1,634)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone (iOS 16 or later); Android (8.0 or later)
Operating System:Proprietary Garmin OS
Case Size:45mm (45 x 45 x 14.5 mm)
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case with metal-reinforced bezel; Power Glass lens
Display Type:Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) with solar charging
Display Size:Custom two-window design; 0.9 in (23 mm) diameter
Resolution:176 x 176 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (MIP display is always visible)
Water Resistance:10 ATM (100 meters)
Durability:MIL-STD-810 thermal, shock, and water resistance; Metal-reinforced polymer bezel
GPS:Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Connectivity:Bluetooth 5.3; ANT+; USB
NFC Payments:Garmin Pay
Sensors:Garmin Elevate Gen 4 wrist heart rate monitor; Pulse Ox; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer
Health Features:Sleep Coach; Nap detection; Body Battery energy monitoring; HRV Status; Morning Report; Stress tracking; Respiration rate
Workout Modes:Strength; HIIT; Cardio; Elliptical; Stair Stepping; Indoor Rowing; Running (Outdoor/Trail/Treadmill); Cycling; Swimming (Pool/Open Water); Obstacle Racing; Triathlon
Storage:64MB (History and CIQ apps only; No onboard music storage)
Speaker Mic:—
Calls:No (Call notifications only)
Battery:Smartwatch: Unlimited with solar (28 days without); GPS: Up to 30 hours (48 hours with solar); Expedition GPS: Unlimited with solar
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger; Solar charging (Power Glass)
Weight:52 g
Band Sizes:Fits wrists 135-230 mm; Compatible with QuickFit 22 watch bands
Extras:Built-in LED Flashlight (White/Red strobe); Safety and Tracking features; Reference Point; TracBack routing
✓ Pros:
- • Potentially infinite battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging
- • Built-in LED flashlight is now available on the standard 45mm size
- • Multi-band GPS with SatIQ delivers superior accuracy in difficult terrain
- • Extreme durability with new metal-reinforced bezel design
✗ Cons:
- • Monochrome low-resolution display (176x176) lacks detail compared to AMOLED rivals
- • No onboard music storage or maps (breadcrumb navigation only)
- • Lacks the newest Gen 5 Heart Rate sensor (No ECG support)
- • Proprietary charging cable is still required if solar is insufficient
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is the better buy for most people - its stunning 1.5" AMOLED display crushes the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar's monochrome screen. That said, grab the Instinct 3 Solar if you need unlimited battery life for extended outdoor excursions - it's a no-brainer for adventure.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Amazfit T-Rex 3 if: you want 27 days of battery life, prefer a vibrant display for outdoor use, or enjoy offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation.
Choose the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar if: you need unlimited battery life with solar charging, want a built-in LED flashlight for emergencies, or prioritize superior GPS accuracy in challenging terrains. (1.83 oz weight, 64 GB storage)
Conclusion
Amazfit T-Rex 3 and Garmin Instinct 3 Solar are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Amazfit T-Rex 3 excels if you value incredible 27-day battery life crushes the competition. Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is better if you prioritize potentially infinite battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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