Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition Review

Garmin has entered their technology, which utilizes its users with advanced health information and GPS capabilities, into the world of gaming with their Esports Edition watch. As we got a review unit from Garmin, let’s dive into our impressions of the very capable piece of technology for our Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition review.

Garmin

Garmin is a brand behind a very large array of technological products, mostly known for GPS devices for directions, but using the same GPS software, the company has created an even more precise array of watch products for all sorts of needs. From sports such as golfing to aviation and outdoor activities, fitness, and even gaming.

Outside of just gaming, from our Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition review, we also learned that the smartwatch can be used for tasks such as running and utilizes the same technology used for gaming, which made the device an immediate well-rounded piece of tech gear.

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So it’s just a watch?

It’s definitely a watch but it’s also so much more than that. As stated earlier, Garmin utilized GPS technology in their products, turning watches and other devices into personalized equipment for whatever activities it is you regularly engage in. In this particular situation, the Garmin Instinct Esports Edition does incredible things for the average gamer, aside from telling time of course.

Customization plays a big part

Aside from the more major features that we’ll go into detail below, almost everything you do with the Esports Edition watch is a customized experience.

With just the home watch face, the screen displayed most on your watch, from changing the font to the arrangement of other accessible resources on the screen to the order in which you scroll through certain menus and screens, just about everything can be customized.

Upon set up of the Garmin Instinct Esports Edition and using it for at least one gaming session, or workout, the watch collects data into a single application you can download on your phone from Garmin called “Garmin Connect”. Once the watch has been used for a gaming session, it will start to build an esports profile per session, that can be viewed in great detail.

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“Garmin Connect” allows you not only to see your stats but compare them with your other sessions but perhaps change the way you do things or your pre or while-gaming regiment.

“Garmin Connect” could be most compared to the simple features found in other smartwatches that record heart rate and similar statistics.

Upon reviewing the Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition watch and accompanying software, it’s quite clear how different each brand’s smartwatch can be, as well as how far the slightest difference can go, or set a product back.

Above average features for the average gamer

As an Apple Watch user, there was a lot for me to compare right off the bat when using the Garmin Instinct Esports Edition, and not only was it a huge difference right away, but it helped give me a better understanding of what I was doing within the watch.

Unfortunately, as a previous Apple Watch user, I also have a Macbook so I wasn’t able to take full advantage of the programs and features that Garmin intelligently placed in their tech such as my most anticipated feature of the Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition for our review, “STR3AMUP!”.

“STR3AMUP!” is Garmin’s PC streaming tool that showed users various gaming-related biometric data that can be displayed on the user’s stream, should they have a compatible computer, for their audience, and themselves, or witness.

Streams that may display such data show unique stats to their viewers such as heart rate while in a tight situation or other stats related to how your body, and heart, react to your gameplay.

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Garmin: Esports approved

Overall, Garmin and its incredible game-changing GPS technologies have been applied to various different forms of equipment for tasks such as fishing, hiking, gaming, or so many other options but it appeared that no matter what the recreation, Garmin knows exactly what they’re doing with GPS technology, even for gamers.

Ultimately, I feel like no matter what I have left out a key, or worthwhile feature that deserved to be highlighted during our Garmin Instinct: Esports Edition review of the smartwatch but it’s worth noting that overall I found the entire device to be a refreshing, clean take on gamer health and general health awareness via technology.