Garmin already sells hybrid smartwatches like VivomovHowever, it is not really intended for hiking and other outdoor expeditions. The company is addressing this gap today with Just launched Cross instinct. You’ll get the familiar mix of analog hands with smartwatch features like activity tracking and notifications (on a screen that’s really useful and rare for hybrids), but in a rugged design that can handle nature. Said to meet US military standards for dust, shock, temperature, and water resistance, the 10ATM rating allows it to survive to depths of 328 feet. There’s even a tactical version that supports dual-coordinate GPS, night vision compatibility, and a key fob.
Battery life is also solid compared to other powerful smartwatches, and even some hybrid watches. Garmin claims the standard Instinct Crossover lasts about a month on charge with full smartwatch features and 110 hours with GPS tracking. You can easily use this on a weekend camping trip. Not surprisingly, the solar version lasts longer. It can run for up to 70 days in smartwatch mode when there’s enough light, and it has an effectively “infinite” long life if you’re willing to use a battery-saving mode that limits you to basics like time and a stopwatch.
You can still expect the usual mix of health and fitness features, like a pulse oximeter, VO2 Max (maximum oxygen use), training tools and hiking milestones. And yes, Garmin Pay is available if you need to buy an energy drink after your adventures.
The Instinct Crossover is now available for $500 in its base version, $550 for the sunny model and $600 for the tactical wristband. This is on par with Withings Scan Watch HorizonBut they are two completely different devices. ScanWatch is aimed at casual users who want a watch that looks reasonably stylish and has some smartwatch features. Garmin’s hardware trades in favor of utility in extreme conditions. To some extent, it is metallic paper for Apple Watch Ultra – You won’t get the Ultra full color screen or the massive set of functions, but you will get many external features, longer battery life and lower price.
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