Garmin Instinct 3 Beats Apple, Samsung in 5-Mile Cascade Hike Test
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Aug 5
Garmin Instinct 3 Beats Apple, Samsung in 5-Mile Cascade Hike Test
3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Aug 5
Summary
A 3-hour, 5-mile Blue Lake hike in North Cascades left the Garmin Instinct 3 as the clear winner over the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
Garmin logged 1,050 feet of elevation gain—matching the Washington Trail Association estimate—while Apple showed 1,169 feet and Samsung overshot at 1,700 feet; Strava recorded 878 feet and AllTrails lists about 920 feet.
Battery use widened the gap: Apple and Samsung each burned 18% over the trek, versus just 6% for Garmin, implying a much stronger edge for longer GPS-heavy outings.
Comfort also favored Garmin, with the 45mm Instinct 3 weighing 53.5 grams against 95.4 grams for Apple and 85.8 grams for Samsung, plus a smaller, rounder case better suited to all-day wear.