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Instinct 3 50mm Solar vs Race S

Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar vs Suunto Race S

What Instinct 3 50mm Solar does better (4) and where Race S wins (6) — every spec side by side.

Garmin · 2025Instinct 3 50mm Solar

6.9Score

4 advantages≈ $400

Higher score

Suunto · 2024Race S

6.1Score

6 advantages≈ $300

3.9Display4.8

8.8Battery life4.6

4.9Health tracking4.9

6.2Sports & outdoor6.5

5.5Build & durability9.5

Dimensions

Size comparison

Instinct 3 50mm SolarRace S

	Instinct 3 50mm Solar	Race S	Difference
Height	50 mm	45 mm	+5 mm
Width	50 mm	45 mm	+5 mm
Thickness	14.4 mm	11.4 mm	+3 mm
Weight	58 g	53 g	+5 g

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

Why is Instinct 3 50mm Solar better than Race S?

Battery life (smartwatch mode)40 days vs 9 days4.4×
GPS battery life60 h vs 40 h+50%
Screen size1.56″ vs 1.32″+18%
GPS battery life (dual-band)34 h vs 30 h+13%

Why is Race S better than Instinct 3 50mm Solar?

Resolution (width)176 px vs 466 px2.6×
Pixel density113 ppi vs 353 ppi3.1×
Storage0.12 GB vs 32 GB266.7×
Sapphire crystalNo · Instinct 3 50mm Solar: Yes
Weight58 g vs 53 g+9%
Thickness14.4 mm vs 11.4 mm+26%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	Garmin Instinct 3 50mm Solar≈ $4006.9	Suunto Race S≈ $3006.1
Design & durability
Case size	50 mm	45 mm
Weight	58 g	53 g
Thickness	14.4 mm	11.4 mm
Height	50 mm	45 mm
Width	50 mm	45 mm
Case material	Aluminium	Titanium
Sapphire crystal	No	Yes
Lens / cover glass	Power Glass™	Saphirglas Saphirglas
Strap material	silicone	Silicone
Water resistance	10 ATM	10 ATM
Water rating (maker)	10 ATM	100 m / 10 bar / 10 ATM
Display
Screen size	1.56″	1.32″
Display technology	Memory-in-pixel (transflective)	AMOLED
Panel	Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel	Farbdisplay
AMOLED / OLED display	No	No
Always-on display	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	—	Yes
Resolution (width)	176 px	466 px
Resolution (height)	176 px	466 px
Pixel density	113 ppi	353 ppi
Battery
Battery life (smartwatch mode)	40 days	9 days
Battery saver mode	100 days	—
GPS battery life	60 h	40 h
GPS battery life (dual-band)	34 h	30 h
Battery type	Lithium ion	Li-Ion
Solar charging	Yes	—
Wireless charging	No	—
Charging	Garmin proprietary plug charger	—
Health sensors
Optical heart rate	Yes	Yes
Blood oxygen (SpO2)	Yes	Yes
Temperature sensor	Yes	Yes
HRV tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	Yes	Yes
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, SatIQ technology, Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, Barometric altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Thermometer	heart rate, barometer
Sports & navigation
Built-in GPS	Yes	Yes
Dual-band GPS	Yes	Yes
Satellite systems	GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Offline maps	—	Yes
Barometric altimeter	Yes	Yes
Compass	Yes	Yes
Multisport / triathlon mode	Yes	Yes
Sport profiles	94	95
Dive mode	—	Yes
LED flashlight	Yes	—
Connectivity
NFC payments	Yes	—
ANT+ sensors	Yes	—
Smart features
Storage	0.12 GB	32 GB
Third-party apps	Yes	—
Platform
Operating system	Garmin OS	Suunto OS
Platform	Proprietary	Proprietary
Works with	iOS, Android	iOS, Android