Garmin releases new Instinct Crossover smartwatch with multi-band GPS and new AMOLED display
Garmin has been selling the Instinct 3 for a few months now (curr. $449 on Amazon). While the smartwatch debuted alongside the Instinct E in January, Garmin then went on to release the Instinct 3 Tactical Edition in April. For some reason, the company has returned to the Instinct Crossover, almost three years after the smartwatch's initial launch.
Effectively a member of the Instinct 2 series, the Instinct Crossover has been available with Memory in Pixel (MiP) displays since its launch. Although MiP displays provide excellent sunlight visibility and power efficiency, they lack the contrast, vibrancy or pixel density of AMOLED or IPS alternatives. Given that most modern smartwatches rely on AMOLED displays,
Now, it has refreshed the regular Instinct Crossover with an AMOLED display option, which the company advertises on the following basis:
From a day on the hiking trail to a night on the town, Instinct Crossover AMOLED offers the best of both worlds. With traditional analog hands highlighted on an even brighter display, adventurers can achieve a sophisticated look without sacrificing the durability they need when pursuing their passions.
Unfortunately, the switch from MiP to AMOLED cuts official battery life estimates in half from 28 days to 14 days or just 5 days with always-on display functionality enabled. Moreover, the Instinct Crossover AMOLED adds multi-band GPS support while retaining the regular Instinct Crossover's features. Built-in storage jumps from 64 MB to 4 GB too, with Garmin Share, Garmin Passcode and Red Shift Mode added for good measure as well.
The Instinct Crossover AMOLED is available in Bronze/Sunburst and Charcoal colour options for $649.99. For reference, this represents a $250 increase over the standard Instinct Crossover. Incidentally, Garmin has updated the Instinct Crossover Tactical Edition too, full details of which we have covered separately.
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