u/Complete_Sell_2319

Shot on iPhone 17 pro max

That’s why I so like it and use Instinct 3 only while vacationing in Greece 🇬🇷

Charged for 100% on June, 27 - one week passed and still 88% with 37d estimated with daily gps activities! Solar works pretty well!

No worry about getting scratches, no worry about swimming in the sea, no worry about anything with this beast! Absolutely amazing watch!

It definitely should be on the box instead of the Garmin stock face 😜 Way more presentable imo.

Looks so cool and like a lot native way to customize data directly on the watch.

As the experiment moved to I3 Solar 50mm for the summer vacation. Interesting thing to try. I’ve never used the Instinct series before 😉 Visibility is perfect vs F8 MIP, battery is something unbelievable - 56% and 23 days 🤯 I’ll try to use it for a month instead of the F8.

Any questions are welcome!

** Update **

Few things (minor) I miss on I3:

• health status (not critical for me but anyway)
• mixed sessions in sport activities (on F8 i can start Mixed session and then Treadmill, Strength, Cardio for ex.) On I3 I need to start each activities separately.

Just to compare both great watches - Fenix 8 Pro 47mm and Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar 51mm. Almost the same price so I guess it might be useful to compare sizes and overall look and feel.

I was surprised with the Fenix 8 SS 51mm because I had previously seen the Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm and the bezel was huge there. On the Solar Sapphire version, the bezel is way thinner and the overall watch looks not so bigger than the Fenix 8 Pro in a 47mm size. SS is also thinner and it can be felt.

I like both but my choice is the Fenix 8 Pro. I asked to help with buying the SS so I have a chance to compare it on the weekend.

Recently I bought Flipsuite case for my S25 Ultra and I really like rear side as well as animated wallpapers that enabled only when this case suited. But I don't like it bulk frame...

So.. Do it for fun! :-) I just take rear side, few pieces of double-sided tape and voila! DIY case is ready) Looks pretty good because now cameras almost with same level as body and it useful when it just lies on the table.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a story that some of you might relate to. It’s about tech, life turns, and why the S25 Ultra holds a very special place in my heart, even in 2026.

My journey with the Samsung ecosystem goes way back—I’ve owned almost every Note (Note 2, 3, 4, 5, Note 8, 9, 10, 20U) and the subsequent Ultras. For me, these devices were always deeply connected to my best life memories: road trips, family vacations, and capturing moments with loved ones.

Almost exactly a year ago, I bought the S25 Ultra. It was a huge emotional milestone for me—the first flagship I bought completely out of pocket, no credits, no leasing. I was in absolute awe of the device and planned to keep it for years. But life happened. Due to sudden financial difficulties, I had to sell it just a month later. It felt like a massive step backward, and for the past year, I survived only on my work-issued phones (including an iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is a great tool, but has absolutely no soul for me).

Fast forward to this week. I am finally back on my feet, and the consumer itch hit hard. I had the budget, and I was genuinely considering the new S26U. I even found a good deal for a 1-month-old S26U. But when I held it, something felt off. In their pursuit of ergonomics, Samsung made the S26U too light, too rounded—to me, it lost that iconic, heavy, monolith brick feeling that defined the Ultra DNA. It felt almost generic.

So, I made a conscious, calculated choice. I hunted down a pristine, basically brand-new S25 Ultra (only 16 battery cycles!) on the local market for an absolute steal (around €680).

When I finally held this Titanium beast in my hands again, it felt like coming home. It’s not just about the hardware or the screen.

For me, this phone is a physical symbol of overcoming tough times. It holds my history—memories of my late wife, trips to Prague, and old walks with my Samoyed dog who passed away.

It’s a piece of happiness that I can finally hold again, completely on my own terms.

As you can see in the photo, I’ve fully embraced the setup: my S25 Ultra, my Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (better for sport activities and i use it for many years), and, of course, my lovely Galaxy Buds3 Pro. Perfect setup for my upcoming vacation in Greece.

To anyone hesitating between generations: the S25 Ultra remains, in my opinion, the most balanced, industrial, and truly "poised" Ultra Samsung has ever made. The design peak.

Glad to be back in the club! 👊

Found this band on local marketplace, even don’t know it name but looks so good!

PS: Fenix 8 Pro 47mm and Modello GMT watch face are my daily drivers.

PPS: More view angles as requested: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WDBZmRLFkgJfEHAi8

Looks pretty well! AOD enabled and this watch face amazing in AOD.

Great job by developer! Fully customized in Garmin native way and battery friendly.

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/be859a36-4aaf-43c2-9412-710a420ee798

Link to Connect IQ (it paid but have the trial version).

Very good example of how watch face should work - native way to customize data, accent color etc. I like the way how seconds displays as well as white background mode and night mode with black background.

PS: On photo - Fenix 8 Sapphire Solar 47mm

Does anyone actually use FR970 for swimming? I’m considering using it for pool swimming, but I’m a bit concerned about its waterproofing, even though it’s rated for 5 atm. I’d really appreciate your experience with it.

Looks amazing with black Fenix 8!
That’s original Garmin Chestnut leather case.

PS: Used for a bit but for me it even better for leather!

Looks good. In case someone want to buy it. Really fresh color comparing with black or gray.

So, 4 months passed from a serious leg injury and surgery. 2 months with very limited mobility and 2 months with active rehabilitation. That time was enough to think about my ideal sport watches (I was owned an Enduro 3 but started to think about something smaller but not older in terms of technologies and features). 

I bought and tried (1-2 weeks per each watch to understand what they can do) major brands: Suunto Run and Race 2, Coros APEX 4 (46mm), Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro (48mm), Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, Forerunner 970, and finally! Fenix 8 AMOLED 47mm (Stainless).

I tried to keep only one (I know, I lost some money on buy/sell deals) to gift myself for my birthday in April, 29 🎉 And finally, I found it :-) I also bought a few different straps with different colors for any mood, and it is so nice! Full set! 

I'm ready to go. Ready to race on my own legs. My way to triathlon and (who knows!) Ironman was started these days with my brand-new Fenix 8!

PS: I'm 49 and everything just started!

Recently, I bought the Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED but in the stainless steel / PowerGlass version. I like the non-sapphire version because of reflections - sapphire is too reflective in the sun. 

But on the other hand, PowerGlass can be scratched (especially in GYM), so I started to think about protecting it with a screen protector. I found a few ones, but I don't like +0.2-0.3mm under the screen.

Then I found my old Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra screen protector (original Samsung) with an Anti-Reflective cover. Why not? 🙃

So I just cut a circle with a diameter the same as the Fenix 8 screen, applied it to the watch, and... it looks awesome! Thin (<0.1mm), great oleophobic cover, and AR cover. Applied very well and easily!

Highly recommend!