Suunto Vertical
Score: 86/100
Garmin Instinct 3
Score: 91/100Rankings
The Garmin Instinct 3 50 mm Solar is a rugged outdoor smartwatch delivering unlimited solar-augmented battery life and advanced multi-band GPS accuracy. Its monochrome display and bulkier form factor may deter those preferring a sleek, colorful watch. It excels for extreme-adventure athletes needing durability and extensive fitness data.
The Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar is a premium adventure watch with dual-band GNSS, solar-extended battery life and a rugged titanium case. It lacks music playback and has region-restricted ECG. Suited for serious backcountry athletes who need precise navigation and long endurance.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
1,440 hoursbest | 960 hours | |
| ↓ lower better | 74 g | 58 gbest |
1.4 inchesbest | 1.1 inches | |
— | 176 pixelsbest | |
— | 1 yearsbest | |
95 modesbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 1440 hours | 960 hours |
Display(2) | ||
Display Size (inches) | 1.4 inches | 1.1 inches |
Display Resolution (pixels) | 280x280 pixels | 176 pixels |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 74 g | 58 g |
Case Material | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar a benchmark in adventure watch design, applauding its perfect 49 mm size, premium titanium build, sapphire touchscreen and industry-leading battery life, while noting the lack of music storage, early firmware sluggishness and limited ECG availability.
Everyday users consistently praise the watch for its precise navigation, long-lasting battery and wealth of offline maps, while criticizing missing music playback and occasional app limits.
Professional reviewers commend the Instinct 3 Solar for its class-leading battery endurance, rugged metal-reinforced construction, and highly accurate multi-band GPS. They also appreciate the improved solar panel efficiency and robust health-tracking suite, while noting the trade-off of a monochrome display and a bulkier form factor that may not suit users seeking a bright, sleek screen.
Everyday users love the watch's durability and the ability to go weeks without charging thanks to solar power. The reliable GPS and handy flashlight receive frequent praise, but many complain about the dim monochrome screen in shade, the watch's heft on smaller wrists, and occasional GPS or heart-rate hiccups in challenging environments.
“physical design... one of the best we've seen”
“superbly thought-through and constructed... with outstanding battery life”
“power-packed with clean 1.4-inch sapphire touchscreen, free offline maps/heatmaps, and titanium lightness (74 g)”
