MIP Solar Descent MK3i

I had the mk2i for a couple of years, the viewing angle was excellent, you're right about low light visibility but that's what a back light is for.  If you're in the water all the time amoled may be better but for me the diving is less frequent than other activities and in even in a modestly bright day visibility is amazing on mip.  I have venu 2 now and in sunlight there's no comparison in visibility even on maximum brightness and i hate the wrist flick so am always pushing button to see time anyway.  I agree that resolution is much better on amoled but I'm not sure what difference that makes in practice on a 1.4inch screen, I have an old garmin lcd auto gps before amoled was a thing and resolution is poor but it makes no difference in utility at that size imo and its a bigger screen, its an instrument not a tv. 

Microled would be interesting but is at least 1y away on fenix, longer probably on descent.  Personally fenix 8 dive features satisfy all my needs but why put a mic and speaker instead of ai, i would have got that instead.  While I always dive with an spg so it's not essential, given outlay it's poor form it's kept exclusively for descent line given how expensive it is for the transmitter.  

I think they should have allowed the option at least for those that want it, solar is useful not just in extended battery life which is considerable now but in charging watch from dead if out of way and no battery etc.  As for thickness, I couldn't agree more and squaring the 51mm screen to do so is the way to go imo.  I dont know why they keep a form factor that is a byproduct of mechanical circular gears in a digital device.  Pointlessly limiting for navigation and diving data specifically.

Not disputing amoled is clearer and has richer detail which you'd expect given difference in resolution.  Does it make any difference in practice?  I don't think so.

In the UK solar doesn't add much but in summer it works, and abroad where i do my diving, its impressive, esp diving, keeping gps on, using music etc, it adds longevity, in an emergency situation it could give you enough power for a fix, I think inreach mini 3 when it comes out, should have it for same reason, new etrix solar does.  Squarer profile would increase surface area making it more effective.

Same here. I do not buy the Mk3i because the AMOLED display (and I do not buy the F8 Solar because only 40m dive rating, no dive audible alarms). Hope Garmin realises that there is a request for an Mk3i MIP Solar version.

I always wanted an Mk series since the first one was released but could never afford one.

Also because I saw them as essentially the current Fenix at the time which I already had but with diving functions.

I was using an Oceanic Atom 2 with AI since 2008, so just kept using that.

Eventually I sold the ATOM and bought a Descent G1 Solar on sale, pretty happy with it but I miss the AI part.

I also have a Forerunner 965 so I can appreciate the AMOLED screen.

However, I still like the MIPS being always on, on the G1.

I also recently learned that AMOLED is organic and degrades over time.

So if I was to spend the extra $ on a Mk series I would want to use it for at least 5 years, without fear of the AMOLED fading or burn in.

Hence would also prefer an Mk with a MIPS screen.

Having said all that jumbo, maybe they are keeping the MIPS for the next G series, most likely G2. If it includes AI and possibly "maps", OHR v5 as well, that would be a good choice.

Or possibly an Mk3i Pro with MicroLED, that would be even better, I'd shell out the $$ for that one.

Mips on g2 is possible but unlikely given unique screen that sets instinct series apart, I think every dive watch should have ai given its extra i just fail to understand why youd scrimp on that, overly expensive as it is, no chance maps that's a separator, like music

Lets see if a new Descent is announced at DEMA 2024 Nov 19

Not what I was expecting ...

www.garmin.com/.../985238