Garmin Instinct Crossover Review: Ultimate companion for adventure seekers

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Smartwatches have now become a staple in most of our lives, combining the functionality of a smartphone with a health and fitness tracker, all on your wrist. Though the first smartwatch, the Seiko Ruputer, was released as far back as 1988, it wasn't until Samsung's Galaxy Gear in 2013 and the Apple Watch in 2015 that they became widely popular. However, for some individuals (such as myself), the most fascinating smartwatch to come out was in 1984 when Casio introduced its CA50. This watch had a built-in calculator, making it a game-changer for those who frequently use one. It became so popular that even Marty McFly was spotted sporting one in the iconic movie Back to the Future, and the increasing demand has seen Casio re-release them as part of its Vintage Series.

However, smartwatches have lost some of their appeal nowadays despite being able to perform almost all the functions of a smartphone. To freshen up the smartwatch industry, a new type of watch has emerged - the hybrid smartwatch. It combines the elegance of an analog watch with the technological capabilities of a smartwatch. The Garmin Instinct Crossover is one such entry in this segment which offers a comprehensive range of features, especially for fitness enthusiasts.

But with a hefty starting price tag of Rs. 55900, how does it fare against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra? I spent a few weeks with it on my wrist and here's how the Garmin Instinct Crossover fared.

The Garmin Instinct Crossover is a rugged smartwatch by all means and has a fiber-reinforced polymer case with stainless steel accents and chemically strengthened glass on top. Moreover, the build is US MIL-STD 810 standard and offers thermal and shock resistance