GarminEnduro™ 3 – 51 mm, Solar, Sapphire, Ultraperformance GPS Smartwatch, Extreme Battery Life, Detailed Mapping, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Black UltraFit Nylon Strap

If you're sitting on the fence regarding which Garmin to get, it's this one. I'm a distance runner; marathons, ultras, if it involves staying on my feet I'm there (except Leadville, nuts to that alt).Garmin did this weird thing which I wish cell phone manufacturers would do: listened to the consumers regarding what they want in a watch. As a result they took out some of the bloat from the Fenix 8 (diving features/depth, microphone, speaker) while increasing battery life and called it the Enduro 3. Check out Garmin's website regarding their battery longevity claims, but so far my day to day tells me they're not wrong. Garmin also drastically increased the solar capability in terms of how much the watch can harness and how efficiently it is stored. So you're left with a watch which takes forever to die, and according to Garmin in certain circumstances (with enough sunlight each day and some features turned off) it will never die. Bold claim.Came to the Enduro 3 from my pilot watch, D2 Charlie. It's not fair to compare watches seven years separated but that's the only reference I have (well admittedly still have my Fenix 3 HR too) but here it goes: The Enduro has the 51mm watch face. It's definitely wider than the 47mm face of the D2 but not by much. What really shocked me is that the Enduro 3 is noticeably lighter. Very noticeably. In terms of connectivity it's still very easy to pair with your phone via Bluetooth and to add a WiFi network, although I wish there was a way to keep WiFi connected more frequently (let's say the watch connects to WiFi once an hour to grab weather or such) but I know this can be solved through software if Garmin decided to do so. GPS accuracy, way way better than my D2. I'm sure the larger face helps besides the hardware they have inside it. Functionality: first time having a touch screen on a watch and honestly I like it. I also like how it can be disable it if desired. Don't want to touch the face on accident while racing. I also appreciate how Garmin does continue to improve their MIPs screen despite releasing their AMOLED watch - but this ties right back into the battery life. Heartrate is much more accurate, comparable to my Polar armband. Again Garmin did their homework on how to improve this. Finally I love the flashlight, such a brilliant idea. I already use it occasionally as it's extremely convenient in a dark basement or searching for something dropped.One of the most important aspects: value! The Enduro 3 is significantly less expensive compared to any of the Fenix 8 watches. I purchased mine on Amazon as it was the cheapest here compared to anywhere else online (by nearly $100). Sure you will not have variety in terms of size, color, etc. like you will with the Fenix 8 line, but if need a watch with the maximum battery life and can handle the 51mm size this watch will keep up with you no matter the distance.

I love watches. My favorite watches are utilitarian models like Seiko 5s, Citizen Eco-Drives, etc because of their longevity and less waste approach.My qualm with “smart” watches has always been the battery life, especially when considering the Apple Watch. Once I learned about Garmin solar watches, my interest was immediately piqued.I finally but the bullet after my Skagen Jorn Hybrid watch’s crystal became fogged. I did like that watch with its simple e-ink display, but there were additional features I wanted from a smartwatch, like the option for GPS navigation while hiking. Enter the Enduro 3!I am absolutely in love with this watch. It has more than I could ever ask for in a smartwatch, aside from possibly the capability of solar maintaining the battery exclusively. That aside, I can go two weeks or more between charges. Oh, the flashlight? The feature I once scoffed at has become one of my most used.My ONLY real complaint is the sensor array design on the back of the watch. Other companies use a domed glass face and minimize any lips jutting out. Garmin still seems to be using their sensor array from generations ago, or at least the glass. It is flat, has a lip, and sweat/grime will build up easily and create an uncomfortable wear. The only fix is to wear the watch loosely, clean it more often than you typically would clean a watch, and only tighten it down when working out.Other than that, it’s amazing and I couldn’t be happier.

Extremely happy with my Enduro 3 and have zero regrets coming from a January 2022 Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar. I had some reservations switching from Fenix to Enduro but was mostly focused on battery life, solar, and cost. Could not justify the price increase for a speaker and microphone I would never use. Read through this entire review as this is based on real world everyday experience. This includes two new features not highlighted in any professional review so far.Favorite new feature of Enduro 3: Charging speed and this is something no professional review has covered so far. The reason why I was so interested in longer battery life is because my Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar took very long to charge from 20% or so to 100%. That was regardless of a 5-watt or 20-watt charger with USB-A to USB-C adapter. After wearing it for a few, charged the Enduro 3 from 74% to 100% in approximately 20 minutes using the native USB-C cable with a 20-watt charger. If you are on the fence between Enduro 3 and Fenix 8 Solar just for battery life, charging speed negates that. It does not appear solely based on the cable but the actual subsystem similar to how some EVs can charge at 150kW and others at 250kW.Second favorite new feature not professionally covered: Buddy charging! With the switch to USB-C, I can now charge my Enduro 3 using my iPhone 15 Pro on iOS 18. Charging this way is very fast taking it from 51 to 53% in less than three minutes.Pros:Screen: With the change of the solar mechanism, the MIP is extremely clear. I never realized how unclear the Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar was until the Enduro 3.Solar: It is much more sensitive than the Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar and actually works. Left it out in the sun for a total of 151k lux and it went from 50 to 51% over three hours but showing the same 12 days. It never overheated even though the casing became warm to the touch. It actually faintly charges indoors and even during dinner at a restaurant under overhead heating elements.Shortcomings: Would not consider these cons. Just areas of improvement or clarification.Battery: Believe it or not, the Enduro 3 does disappoint with battery. What is not published is if pulse ox is turned on to continuous, the battery is reduced to 25 days. This is not a deal breaker for me but was hoping for more. The Enduro 3 is more efficient and has a larger battery so the 27% increase aka 6 day added from the Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar is still an improvement.Band: Not a fan of the mesh band and swapped it to my Garmin silicon band. It weighs more but I prefer consistency to the point of using the same strap hole with five holes showing.Watch faces: This is an area of improvement for the latest generation Enduro 3 and Fenix 8. All I wanted is an exact copy of my old stripped-down watch face. The closest I have gotten is what is pictured with the Enduro 3 on the right and the Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar on the left. What is currently configured is doable but would prefer to get rid of the lines. Not sure why there is a green accent color on the outside either and would have preferred a complete black case to wear with suits.New interface: It took me longer to get setup to the way I had my prior Fenix. Especially turning off all the nagging smartwatch alerts. The new interface is ok but not sure what was wrong with the old one.Observations: Garmin must have read my Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar review because the Enduro 3 buttons are very crisp.Asks of Garmin: It would be great if there was something similar to iOS that shows what is consuming the most battery of the watch including during activities. Charge history with charging time and solar energy recapture. Battery health would also be a welcome addition. Could even imagine Garmin doing a Garmin Badge with points for capturing x amount of solar in a month during activities.