The 5 finest Garmin watches for 2025

Few manufacturers are as synonymous with outside sports activities as Garmin. You’ll discover these health trackers and smartwatches on dozens of wrists at any 5K, marathon, or Ironman. You’ll additionally discover Garmin devotees amongst divers, thru-hikers, golfers, kiteboarders — you title it. However these gadgets aren’t simply for athletes. The corporate’s made important strides in its life-style choices, so no matter your health degree, there’s a Garmin for everybody.

If you happen to’re coming from a extra conventional smartwatch, Garmin’s core strengths lie in health, GPS, adventuring, and sturdiness. These are hardy gadgets that should stand up to the weather and final weeks on a single cost. A number of fashions include offline maps, superior navigational options, and extra coaching metrics than some other platform. Garmin gadgets are typically on the pricier aspect, nevertheless, and the company recently announced it might start placing its latest options behind a paywall. That’s a bummer given Garmin spent years publicly stating it had no intention of charging its customers additional.

Garmins aren’t too shabby on smarts, both. Whereas extra fitness-focused than something from Apple, Google, or Samsung, there’s sufficient to get you the fundamentals like notifications after which some. For instance, most Garmins have fall detection and security options, and several of the latest Garmins not too long ago acquired an FDA-cleared EKG feature. (You’ll want a cellphone readily available, nevertheless, as just one Garmin mannequin has mobile connectivity.) Many Garmin gadgets additionally help offline music playback and include a small third-party app ecosystem.

There are a lot of Garmin watches to select from. No, critically, there are six main lineups, and every has a mess of fashions. However no worries — I take a look at a number of Garmins yearly and may help level you in the fitting path.

The most effective Garmin for runners

Sizes: 42mm w/ 18mm straps; 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 39g (42mm); 47g (46mm) / Battery life: As much as 15 days (42mm); 13 days (46mm) in smartwatch mode / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

Garmin has many operating watches, and quite a lot of them are nice. However the Forerunner 265 or 265S (in case you have petite wrists) strikes a superb steadiness between value, function set, battery life, and a vibrant OLED show.

That mentioned, the Forerunner 265 / 265S is a little bit of an odd duck. It comes a mere 9 months after its predecessor, the Forerunner 255, and is, in some ways, just about the identical watch. The primary distinction is the 265 has an OLED show in comparison with the 255’s memory-in-pixel display. Often, meaning worse battery life, however on this case, we acquired a couple of week on a single cost with the always-on show enabled. With out it, you possibly can stand up to fifteen days. Provided that OLED is less complicated to learn and simply, properly, appears nicer, that provides the 265 lineup an edge over the 255.

The 265 additionally has dual-frequency GPS (often known as multi-band). The gist is you get far more correct maps in difficult environments like cities and dense forests as a result of you possibly can entry each the L1 and L5 satellite tv for pc frequencies. And even with dual-frequency GPS enabled, you continue to don’t lose an entire lot of battery life. I wore it throughout a half marathon with that and the AOD enabled, and I nonetheless had over 80 p.c battery by the point I acquired house. That is additionally a superb value, as nearly all of multi-band GPS watches value properly over $600.

My most important grievance is that $450, whereas not unhealthy for Garmin, remains to be rather a lot when you think about that’s the identical value as smarter smartwatches with nice operating options. Some runners received’t care. However in the event you’re on a finances — otherwise you’re new to operating and really feel iffy about spending that a lot — then think about the Forerunner 165 collection. It begins at $250 (add one other $50 for onboard music) and does virtually all the things the 265 collection does. The primary belongings you’re lacking are dual-frequency GPS and some extra area of interest sport profiles. However in the event you’re principally sticking to operating, fitness center tools, biking, swimming, and climbing, you’re lined.

Neither has all of Garmin’s coaching options, but it surely’s acquired what you’ll must run something from a 5K to a full marathon. That features a Race Predictor, which supplies you an estimate of what your finest time can be based mostly in your precise coaching. You may as well use PacePro to determine your pacing technique for a race. You additionally get Garmin’s Coaching Readiness function to assist gauge load and restoration, Garmin Coach plans, and a bunch of operating kind metrics. It additionally helps offline music and security options like fall detection. The one factor they lack is superior mapping. (They nonetheless have trackback, point-to-point navigation, and real-time breadcrumb path help, nevertheless.)

The most effective Garmin for endurance sports activities

Sizes: 42mm w/ 20mm straps; 47mm w/ 22mm straps; 51mm w/ 26mm straps / Weight: 42mm: 63g stainless-steel, 58g titanium; 47mm: 78g stainless-steel, 70g titanium; 51mm: 98g stainless-steel, 88g titanium / Battery life: 42mm: as much as 10 days (4 with AOD); 47mm: as much as 16 days (6 with AOD); 51mm: as much as 31 days (11 with AOD) / Show kind: OLED / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM / Music storage: As much as 32GB

The Epix Pro will get you each health function that Garmin has to supply. And I imply all the things. It will frankly be simpler to inform you what the Epix Professional doesn’t have: issues which might be restricted to LTE smartwatches and among the new good options on the Fenix 8, like an on-board voice assistant. In any other case, you’ve acquired topographical maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and extra coaching metrics than even a seasoned triathlete would know what to do with.

The Professional is extra size-inclusive than the standard second-gen Epix, which solely is available in 47mm. You may get the Professional in that measurement, too, but it surely additionally is available in 42mm and 51mm. This was a serious grievance I had with the second-gen Epix, and also you like to see firms truly take this type of factor critically. The most effective half is the Professional fashions begin on the identical value because the common Epix did. You’ll must pay $100 additional for supplies like titanium and sapphire crystal, however that’s additionally true of the usual Epix.

That mentioned, it muddies the waters in the event you’re attempting to select between the Epix Professional, Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro, and now, the Fenix 8. The primary distinction is the Epix watches all have OLED shows. One cause I choose OLED is that they’re a lot simpler to learn indoors — the place most of us spend nearly all of our time. The Fenix 7 collection’ memory-in-pixel shows (plus photo voltaic charging in the event you go for it) enable for weeks and weeks of cost, however the smallest Epix Professional can get round 10 days with regular utilization. The 47mm and 51mm Professional fashions can go longer between fees on account of larger batteries, however I felt that the 42mm has sufficient juice to fulfill most use circumstances. Garmin additionally has so many battery-saving modes and choices that I extremely doubt it will ever be a difficulty.

Not serving to issues is the truth that the Fenix 8 allows you to select between an OLED or a MIP show. You additionally get good options like an onboard voice assistant, the flexibility to take calls from the wrist, and the Garmin Messenger app. The primary downside is the beginning value is now $350 greater than the usual Fenix 7 and proper about on par with the Epix Professional. My private feeling is the Fenix 8’s good options are simply okay and that you just’re actually not lacking a lot by not having them. We additionally usually see reductions on older fashions, so I might placed on my bargain-hunting hat for a reduced Epix Professional or Fenix 7 Professional whereas stock remains to be obtainable.

However actually, the successful function of the Epix Professional is the hands-free flashlight. It’s so helpful in my day-to-day life, and all it’s a must to do is double-press a button. It’s as vibrant as your smartphone, comes with a purple mild choice in order for you one thing simpler on the eyes, and might act as a strobe in an emergency state of affairs. The Fenix 7 Professional and eight watches even have a flashlight, so quite a lot of that is going to return down to private desire for the show, value, and whether or not you care about good options.

If you happen to’re set on probably the most battery life doable, I like to recommend the Fenix 7 Professional over the usual 7 for a couple of causes. Its MIP show is barely brighter, all sizes have the flashlight, and, just like the Epix Professional, it has an up to date sensor array. I additionally suggest it over the MIP variations of the Fenix 8 as a result of it is available in extra sizes, and prices round $300 much less. Particularly because the Fenix 8’s good options are a bit half-baked.

The most effective Garmin on a finances

Sizes: 40mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 19g / Battery life: As much as 5 days / Show kind: “Hidden” OLED touchscreen / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

What I really like most concerning the Vivomove Sport is that it doesn’t seem like what most individuals count on from a Garmin. It’s a hybrid smartwatch, which suggests it appears like an everyday watch however can monitor health and ship notifications. Garmin’s hybrids are additionally distinctive in that all of them use an OLED show that stays hidden till you want it.

That is finest suited to a casually energetic one who desires model and worth in a light-weight package deal. Assume wellness, extra so than health. It will get you steady coronary heart price monitoring and blood oxygen degree monitoring, and might even present irregular coronary heart price alerts. You additionally get entry to extra in-depth metrics like respiration price, health age, stress, and Physique Battery, which is Garmin’s instrument for visualizing how well-rested you’re. For good options, you get all of the fundamentals, like notifications, alarms, and timers.

The Sport isn’t fairly as full-featured as another Garmin watches you’ll discover on this record. As an example, you’re giving up built-in GPS in favor of tethered GPS via your cellphone. There aren’t any contactless funds, neither is there a microphone or speaker for taking calls on the wrist. However this is a finances choose, and also you get rather a lot, contemplating that is an entry-level gadget that would go for a Swatch at a look.

I don’t love that the battery life is brief for a hybrid, at round three to 4 days. Even so, that’s nonetheless a lot better than what you’ll get on an Apple Watch or Put on OS 4 watch. If you happen to’re prepared to spend about $100 extra, the $269.99 Vivomove Trend has extra stylish supplies, will get you extra display actual property, and wi-fi Qi charging. In any other case, it is a nice life-style wearable that may function a classier various to your typical health band.

If you happen to choose one thing newer to the Sport that’s additionally trendy, the Garmin Lily 2 is one other good choice, particularly in the event you’ve acquired significantly small wrists or choose one thing extraordinarily light-weight. The swipe and faucet gestures are nonetheless slightly fiddly to make use of — which was additionally the case with the first-gen mannequin — however the contemporary design is a fun way to lightly monitor your fitness with out bogging your self down with notifications. Garmin additionally presents the Lily 2 Active, which provides a bodily button, GPS, and help for extra sports activities monitoring for a starting price of $299.99.

The most effective Garmin to exchange a Fitbit

Sizes: 40mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: As much as 11 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 4GB (for Music Version)

If you happen to have been dissatisfied by the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, the Venu Sq 2 is the following neatest thing (and, in some methods, higher).

At a look, the Venu Sq 2 might simply be mistaken for an Apple Watch. On the wrist, you’ll discover it’s product of plastic, but it surely nonetheless appears fairly stylish and very light-weight. The display is vibrant, simple to learn, and appears higher than any Versa or Sense ever did.

The function set can also be nice for the value, with built-in GPS, a ton of watch faces, emergency security options, and contactless funds. If you happen to pay $50 extra for the Music Version, you’ll additionally get about 500 songs value of storage, however we wouldn’t suggest it. This doesn’t have mobile connectivity and, subsequently, isn’t really standalone. You’ll most probably be carrying your cellphone with you anyway.

As for well being options, the Venu Sq 2 principally has all the things you’d get on a Versa or Sense smartwatch however with Garmin’s treasure trove of metrics as properly. That features coronary heart price monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, depth minutes (how a lot reasonable train you get in every week), stress monitoring, hydration monitoring, respiratory price, interval monitoring, and Garmin’s restoration function, Physique Battery. So far as health goes, you additionally get entry to Garmin Coach, which supplies free 5K, 10K, and half marathon coaching plans. You like to see it.

One other large leg-up Garmin has over Fitbit? None of those options or metrics are locked behind a paywall, even when Garmin’s AI-powered insights and some different expanded options will solely be obtainable as a part of Garmin Join Plus ($6.99 a month / $69.99 yearly).

The most effective Garmin smartwatch

Sizes: 41mm w/ 18mm straps; 45mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 40g for the 3S; 47g for the three / Battery life: As much as 10 days for 3S; 14 days for 3 / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB

Garmin has shored up the smarts in its watches over the previous a number of years, and the Venu 3 collection is the neatest (and most inexpensive) of the bunch.

The Venu 3 collection is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. Just like the Venu 2 Plus, it has a microphone and speaker. You may take calls instantly from the wrist and difficulty instructions to your cellphone’s digital assistant by way of Bluetooth. It’s not the identical as having Siri, Bixby, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant constructed instantly into the watch, but it surely’s a intelligent workaround that works properly for hands-free management. It additionally helps security options like fall detection and dwell monitoring, in addition to contactless funds.

Like different OLED Garmins, the show is each vibrant and straightforward to learn. As for well being and health, you get a pleasant mixture of fundamental and extra superior options and metrics. It has Garmin’s newest coronary heart price sensor, which allows FDA-cleared EKG and AFib detection options. Total, it leans a bit extra on the wellness and well being aspect of issues, with depth minutes, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep monitoring, interval monitoring, irregular coronary heart price alerts, and stress monitoring. As for coaching, you continue to get built-in GPS, VO2 Max, coronary heart price zones, respiration price, and downloadable coaching plans by way of Garmin Coach.

New to the three and 3S is a sleep coach that elements in metrics like coronary heart price variability and up to date exercise to find out your sleep wants. It additionally lastly provides nap detection, a function that’s been lengthy overdue for the Garmin platform. The Venu 3 collection additionally provides audio-guided meditation classes, and you’ll view how these classes instantly affect your metrics. From an accessibility standpoint, this additionally provides a brand new wheelchair mode.

Technically, the brand new Fenix 8 is barely smarter in that it provides an on-board voice assistant. Nonetheless, it is usually greater than double the value and never what I’d think about an excellent worth for the common athlete. It’s extra for individuals who spend hours upon hours coaching each week.

That is the Garmin for you in order for you the platform’s in-depth coaching with out sacrificing the productiveness of a smartwatch. The primary issues it’s missing are mobile choices and a sturdy third-party app ecosystem. That mentioned, it’s acquired Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer for offline listening. It’s additionally an excellent choice in the event you’re fed up with MIP shows and desire a smarter Garmin somewhat than a full-on smartwatch.

Replace, April twelfth: Adjusted pricing / availability and up to date copy to mirror the introduction of Garmin Join Plus.