The latest addition to Garmin’s Instinct series is a nostalgia-infused sport wearable with a tough Casio G-Shock style design. It’s similar to previous iterations of the Garmin Instinct, with analogue and multisport capabilities. The hybrid version is priced at Rs 61,990. Garmin has an established market, but it will be interesting to see if the new Instinct Crossover Solar can compete with watches from Apple and Samsung.
(For insights on emerging themes at the intersection of technology, business, and policy, subscribe to our technology newsletter, Today’s Cache.)
design
The first thing that catches your eye when you take the watch out of the box is its robust design and analog hands that don’t get in the way when you’re reading messages or choosing a workout mode.
The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar has stainless steel accents built into the polymer fiber bezel for a more premium look than the Instinct. It has a premium look and is available in graphite color variations to match almost any outfit you wear.
A heart rate sensor and a common Garmin charging connector are located on the back of the side. The available bands are very soft and flexible and comfortable to wear without straining your wrist.There are 5 buttons you can use to navigate the watch. Three on the left side of the dial and two on the right side.
With a high level of resilience according to US MIL-STD 810 standards, heat and shock resistance, water resistance up to 100 meters, and power glass to protect your device from scratches, the watch’s rugged appearance is more than just No show off.
The first thing that catches your eye is the watch’s sturdy design and unobtrusive analog hands.Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
screen
The new Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar comes with a 1.28-inch full-dial display and bright luminescent analog hands for easy reading. The company has integrated Revodrive technology into the Instinct Crossover to provide accurate analog timekeeping even under the harshest conditions. It has the ability to stabilize the hands and automatically adjust to ensure accuracy, even if the watch is accidentally struck hard and misaligned. The screen resolution of the display is 176×176 pixels.
From the point of view of market competition, the visibility of the screen will be dull without the analog hands. It has a small screen space and lacks touchscreen capabilities. This makes navigation difficult for first-time users. The analog hands are an obstacle as they partially obscure the view of the notification.
Features
The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar has many features that make it one of the best outdoor watches out there. Features include Advanced Sleep Monitoring, Body Battery, VO2 Max Estimate, Pulse Ox, Fitness Age Calculator, Training Status/Load/Effect, Heart Rate Variability Status, Recovery Time and more.
Other features include ABC sensors, TracBack routing (allowing users to follow the same path back to their starting point), and multi-GNSS support to help users track known locations relative to their current location. It is included.
The Instinct Crossover Solar has only 64 MB of internal storage. This is bare bones and doesn’t leave room for storing maps, music, etc.
You can also check the moon phases and sunrise/sunset times on your wrist. Data recorded by the watch can be viewed and analyzed in detail via the IQ app.
connectivity
To pair your new Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar, you will need to download the Connect IQ Store app. This allows you to check the recorded data and watch status on your phone. Once paired, you can receive emails, texts and alerts right on your watch. Unlike a digital watch, you can’t use the watch to reply to texts or talk.
The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar has a lot to offer and is one of the best outdoor watches out there.Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
sport function
The Instinct Crossover Solar’s clock hands don’t interfere with the sports features that make up the bulk of the Instinct Series 2’s capabilities. Everything remains the same: identical sport modes, in-depth sports analytics training tools, third-party sensors, apps and external connectivity via data fields. Bike Indoor, Run, Bike, Treadmill, Navigate, Expedition, Track Me, Project Waypoints, Reference Points, Area Calculator, Brick, Swim Run, Trail Run, Virtual Run, Track Run, Indoor Track, Walk and many more Sports features are available. hiking, climbing, etc.
solar charge/battery
When it comes to battery durability, no other company offers features that make smartwatches last as long as Garmin, and the latest Instinct Crossover Solar is no exception.
Equipped with a solar charging facility, the watch runs solely on solar energy and can be used for months in outdoor conditions in analog mode. The company says the battery will last 70 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode. The company uses solar charging facilities around the edge of the display.
There is also a charging pin on the back of the dial to power the watch. When I received the watch it had 22 days of power. Even after 14 days of use, the battery bar suggested his 14 days of backup.
verdict
Arguably the latest Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar can be considered the best hybrid smartwatch available and is built to last in all conditions.
It provides the feeling of both analog and digital clocks. Still, the small screen and need for more storage, as well as the lack of features like calling capabilities, put it in a questionable position given the competition.