Instinct Solar issues

After approximately three years of use, I started having problems with the Instinct® Solar. The device is charging and discharging faster than normal. If it is not fully charged, it shuts itself off when the alarm is activated. It also turns itself off whenever a pulse oximeter measurement is taken. The solar charging has stopped working (or is not registering on the solar charging screen). The watch bears no signs of physical damage. I have tried factory reset, and turning off the vibration as well. From what I have read here on the forum this is a fairly widespread problem. Service for the Czech Republic offered me only a replacement for Instinct 2X Solar with an additional charge of approximately 280€. Any idea before I switch to another watch brand? Garmin-Chris

Thank you.

0 9763249 4 months ago

The watch shutting down when starting the activity is usually an indicator for a faulty battery.

Whenever you start an activity and the GPS antenna kicks in, it pulls a LOT of power, which, a faulty battery can't handle and shuts down.

There can be other issues as well, maybe a software bug but I saw this as a cause multiple times.

0 2869070 4 months ago

Its terrible, this is my third Garmin Instinct Solar presenting this fault. Garmin has replaced the device two times already. Terrible record

I was considering buying a Fenix but forget it. One buys Garmin because of the GPS capacities and now cannot use the GPS at all.