I ran my second-ever marathon this past weekend. And even though I didn’t PR, I had a fun experience, as it was a well-run race with perfect fall weather. During it, I was wearing Garmin’s new Instinct Crossover AMOLED watch. It’s the brand’s latest hybrid smartwatch, which looks sleek and delivers top-quality stats. So if you’re shopping for a new activity-tracking watch, this is something you may want to consider. It gives you a next-level statistics from your workout—and it looks good while doing so.
The Instinct Crossover AMOLED first debuted in September 2025. Boasting a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED display, it features both watch hands and a digital display. On the face alone, you can see your daily step count, the date, the time of sunrise and sunset and stamina. It can run for up to 14 days on smartwatch mode or up to 18 in battery saver mode. With a dimmable LED flashlight and scratch-proof exterior, it’s fantastic for hiking and trail running.
It can track all kinds of workouts far beyond distance running. You can receive specialized stats for golfing, kickboxing, swimming (yes, it’s waterproof) and more. And stats extend far beyond calorie burn and heart rate. After my race, I could see my grade-adjusted pace, stride length, aerobic and anaerobic load… the list goes on. This definitely added to my post-race excitement because I was able to see truly everything my body just accomplished. To view your efforts, simply connect to the app on your phone via Bluetooth.
As someone who was previously using an Apple Watch, I was impressed by the detailed workout statistics. I also love that I can track my sleep (it gives me a daily report every morning). And its battery life is amazing—it lasted the entire ~4-hour race, whereas my Apple Watch died in the middle of my last marathon.
The only downsides has been the user-friendliness and map calibration. Even my 70-something year-old parents can use an Apple Watch with ease. However, the Garmin is a bit more technical, and therefore, a little more challenging to figure out. Even my fiancé, who uses the Garmin Forerunner 945, found this one to be a little challenging to set up.
As for map configuration, I’ve had some trouble getting accurate GPS tracking. My watch said I ran about two more miles than I actually did in my marathon. It may take a little more time to reconfigure than I previously thought. However, I’ve been using it for about two weeks straight, so by now, it should be set. But since I’ve heard Garmin maps are superior, I’m excited for it to properly adjust.
To really track your progress and see what your body can do (in style!) I strongly suggest the Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED Watch, whether you’re running, hiking or simply gauging your daily efforts. While it’s more expensive than other models, you’re paying for an in-depth reading on your workout, as well as the aesthetic. And looking good while you’re working out is priceless!
