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Approach S50 vs Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED

Garmin Approach S50 vs Garmin Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED

What Approach S50 does better (2) and where Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED wins (6) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2025Approach S50

4.4Score

2 advantages≈ $400

Garmin · 2025Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED

7.5Score

6 advantages≈ $400

Higher score

5.4Display5.6

2.7Battery life7.2

4.9Health tracking4.9

3.2Sports & outdoor6.7

4.0Build & durability5.4

Dimensions

Size comparison

Approach S50Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED

	Approach S50	Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED	Difference
Height	43 mm	50 mm	−7 mm
Width	43 mm	50 mm	−7 mm
Thickness	11.4 mm	14.4 mm	−3 mm
Weight	29 g	59 g	−30 g

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Approach S50 better than Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED?

Weight29 g vs 59 g2×
Thickness11.4 mm vs 14.4 mm+26%

Why is Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED better than Approach S50?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)10 days vs 24 days2.4×
GPS battery life15 h vs 40 h2.7×
Water resistance5 ATM vs 10 ATM2×
Sport profiles46 vs 962.1×
Screen size1.2″ vs 1.3″+8%
Resolution (width)390 px vs 416 px+7%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Approach S50≈ $4004.4	Garmin Instinct 3 50mm AMOLED≈ $4007.5
Design & durability
Case size	43 mm	50 mm
Weight	29 g	59 g
Thickness	11.4 mm	14.4 mm
Height	43 mm	50 mm
Width	43 mm	50 mm
Case material	Aluminium	Aluminium
Sapphire crystal	No	No
Lens / cover glass	Corning ® Gorilla ® Glass 3	Chemically Strengthened Glass
Strap material	ComfortFit nylon band	silicone
Water resistance	5 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	5 ATM	10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.2″	1.3″
Display technology	AMOLED	AMOLED
Panel	AMOLED	AMOLED
AMOLED / OLED display	Yes	Yes
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	—
Resolution (width)	390 px	416 px
Resolution (height)	390 px	416 px
Pixel density	325 ppi	320 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	10 days	24 days
Battery life with always-on display	—	9 days
Battery saver mode	—	30 days
GPS battery life	15 h	40 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	—	30 h
Battery type	—	Lithium ion
Wireless charging	No	No
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	Garmin proprietary plug charger
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	—	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	—	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Barometric altimeter	—	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	—	Yes
Sport profiles	46	96
LED flashlight	—	Yes
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	Yes
Smart features
Music on the watch	Yes	—
Storage	4 GB	4 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	Yes
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Garmin OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android