Garmin has launched Instinct, a new outdoor watch with GPS, Glonass and Galileo satellite support, a built-in three-axis compass, a barometric altimeter and the company’s Elevate wrist-based heart rate sensor, plus built-in sports apps and smart connectivity.
The watch is constructed to military standards (MIL-STD-810G) for thermal, shock and water resistance (up to 100 metres) with a fibre-reinforced polymer case. It also features a chemically-strengthened and scratch-resistant monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel display with a resolution of 128 × 128, as well as 16GB internal storage.
Users can monitor daily activity, stress, sleep and other wellness data, tracking heart rate, steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned and more. Through heart rate variability, the device can also track stress levels, allowing the user to be more aware of when physical or emotional sources may cause stress levels to rise, the company said.
When paired with a compatible iOS or Android smartphone, the watch can receive notifications for texts, emails and other alerts. It’s also compatible with Garmin Connect, an online fitness community where users can track workouts, sleep patterns such as how much time spent in light, deep and REM cycles, and compete in virtual fitness challenges.
Instinct is also compatible with other Garmin devices including the inReach Mini satellite communication system and VIRB action cameras, allowing users to send and receive satellite messages, send out an SOS and control VIRB cameras’ start and stop function.
Instinct features a battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, and up to 40 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode, Garmin said. It is available now in three colours (Graphite, Tundra or Flame Red), priced at $300.
Analyst Comment
The memory in pixel transflective display has very low power consumption, so compelling for this kind of application. (BR)
