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Garmin's website currently shows that the company makes 27 different watches. That's a lot. And on the surface, they're all pretty similar. They come in multiple sizes and color variations, but working out which is the best Garmin watch is a slog.
That's why I've narrowed your choice down to just five options. I've been testing Garmin watches for years, including during training for, and running, marathons, so I know what separates a good one (strong battery life, accurate tracking) from the rest.
The best Garmin watches you can buy right now
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Best Garmin watch overall
The Garmin name is pretty much synonymous with running, which is why the Garmin Forerunner 570 is the best Garmin watch we've tested and the best Garmin watch for runners.
I should qualify what I mean by best here: this is the best watch that I think you should buy right now, but in technical terms, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is the best. Though, it's also double the price and has so many features you probably won't use that the 570 is a better value option for most people.
It has a dazzling AMOLED display and comes in a wider range of colors than we usually see from Garmin, including watches with eye-catching yellow and pink bezels. It comes in two sizes — 42mm and 47mm — and offers runners everything they need to track and analyze their training.
While you miss out on some features available on pricier Garmin watches like the Forerunner 970, like maps and running economy measurements, the Forerunner 570 has everything you need to run marathons and beyond, all in an attractive and lightweight package.
The watch has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, which is as large a screen as you’ll find on any Garmin sports watch aside from the Venu X1, and it’s bright enough to be clear in all conditions even on the lowest brightness setting. This bright display does have a downside; it reduces the battery life of the watch.
But at 10 days, it's still a far sight better than even the best Apple Watches, which generally can only make it a single day between charges. Plus, the GPS is reliably accurate, and the Elevate V5 heart rate sensor is impressively precise.
You also get detailed training insights including VO2 max estimates, race time predictions, training load analysis and advice on how well acclimated to heat and altitude you are. The Forerunner 570 also has Garmin’s Training Readiness feature, which rates how ready to train you are each day.
- Read our full Garmin Forerunner 570 review
Best budget Garmin watch
If you're looking to keep the cost down (Garmin watches can get expensive!), the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the ideal balance between cost and features. It might not have the extensive sports modes of other models, but it really excels at the essentials.
For runners, PacePro can assist you in maintaining an ideal cadence. Body Battery is another useful tool that can help inform daily workout plans. Speaking of which, the Forerunner 165 provides workout suggestions, along with recommendations for post-workout recovery times, insights into sleep quality, stress and overall well-being.
The watch is water resistant to 50m, which means that it'll survive even the sweatiest sessions or wettest runs. We found it comfortable to wear over long periods too, which isn't always a given on smartwatches.
Plus, the 165 keeps tabs on sleep, recovery, menstrual health and stress. It can also automatically alert emergency personnel if you fall while out on the trail. Despite all it packs in, the Forerunner 165 can last up to 11 days between charges, or 19 hours while using the GPS to track an outdoor activity.
Though it technically falls into the smartwatch category, it is noticeably light on traditional smart features. But again, it ticks all the essentials like contactless payments, smartphone notifications and installable apps.
All of this combined makes the Garmin Forerunner 165 the best budget Garmin watch, and at this price, a really compelling alternative to the best fitness trackers if you want something Garmin-powered to track your daily activity.
- Read our full Garmin Forerunner 165 review
Best Garmin watch for women
While anyone can wear any smartwatch, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is designed with women in mind, and not just the more svelte design, as it also comes with more comprehensive menstrual and pregnancy tracking.
The Garmin Lily 2 Active doesn't offer nearly as many trackable sports profiles as most of the other devices in our guide nor do you get Garmin's higher-end training tools, like Garmin Coach. But, it's perfectly suitable for keeping tabs on popular exercises like runs, walks, gym workouts, yoga, pilates and, of course, pickleball.
The specs say you should get nine days from the battery, or nine hours with GPS tracking on, which we found to be right on the money. And the display is the biggest battery drain: at max brightness, we lost 30% in one day, but slowed the drain by switching to the auto-brightness setting.
Additionally, the Lily 2 Active offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking and Garmin’s Body Battery feature to help you gauge your energy levels throughout the day. It additionally keeps tabs on stress, sleep quality and menstrual cycles.
Like all tech companies, Garmin loves a confusing model name. There's the Lily 2 Active that we've included here, the Lily 2 Classic (without side buttons, HRV sensors, GPS and only a five-day battery life) and the Lily 2 (same as the Classic, but without Garmin Pay).
Aside from all the extra features and improved battery life, the reason we recommend the Lily 2 Active is that it's only $50 more than the standard model, but offers so much for that extra cost that it makes the Lily 2 and Lily 2 Classic seem a bit pointless.
- Read our full Garmin Lily 2 Active review
The best Garmin watch for battery life
Charging devices is a chore, and also impractical if you're on the go or out on the trail. So if extending your Garmin watch's battery life is the most important factor you, the Garmin Instinct 3 is the best model to go for.
The base model lasts up to 18 days between charges, and can reach 32 hours in GPS-only mode. But the most interesting version of the watch is the Solar edition, which integrates a solar charging panel to extend the battery further.
Assuming you have enough light to charge it, the watch can keep itself topped up without a dedicated charger and reach up to 260 hours in GPS-only mode on the larger 50mm model (compared to the 45mm's 130 hours).
To make all this work, there are some compromises (other than the fairly large design). There's no touchscreen, so you only interact with the watch using the five physical buttons. This sounds fine, but there is a learning curve.
The buttons have different functions depending on how long you press them, which we found wasn't super intuitive, but you do get used to it after a while. It doesn't have the latest heart rate sensor (the Elevate V5, as in the Fenix 8), but uses the V4, found in the older Fenix 7 and Instinct 2.
Still, Instinct 3 offers many of Garmin's best training tools, including Body Battery, Training Readiness Score, in-depth sleep quality analysis, workout recovery time suggestions and blood oxygen saturation monitoring. However, there are no ECG readings.
- Read our full Garmin Instinct 3 review
The best Garmin smartwatch
It's best to address this right away: the design of the Venu X1 is definitely eye-catching. Instead of a circular watch face, it's like a Garmin edition of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, with a rectangular face that looks like it's attached to a smaller watch's strap.
But there's a method to this unusual design. The vast two-inch AMOLED display is great for viewing maps and using the golf sports mode on the watch. Plus, it's pretty thin — at 7.9mm thick it’s much slimmer than watches like the Forerunner 970 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
I love the design of the Venu X1 because of how light and comfortable it is on the wrist, and the fact it’s so thin means that the big screen doesn’t feel too much. It only has two buttons though, which means you rely on the touchscreen more than with other Garmins, which can be tricky when you have sweaty fingers during workouts.
The Venu X1 has all of Garmin’s smart features, which include NFC payments, music storage and access to the limited range of apps in the ConnectIQ store. It doesn’t have cellular connectivity or as many smart features as devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 though, and is more of a smart sports watch than a true smartwatch.
What makes the Venu X1 such a compelling option is that its smartwatch-style looks are backed up by Garmin’s top sports features, including the latest ones introduced on the Forerunner 970 like running economy.
The Venu X1 also offers very accurate heart rate monitoring, but it does lack multi-band GPS, which can reduce its accuracy when running in tricky GPS areas like city centers in my experience. Aside from that, you get everything you get on the Forerunner 970, an array of sports features no true smartwatch can match.
- Read our full Garmin Venu X1 review
Also tested
We test a lot of smartwatches and many of Garmin's ever-expanding range. While most are very good, not every watch can be the best, so these are the Garmins that didn't quite make the cut but as still worth a look if you need more options.
How we test Garmin watches
We test the best Garmin watch models by strapping them to our wrists and wearing them during the day and overnight for several weeks. During this time, we're assessing every aspect of the device, including design and comfort, battery life claims, tracking accuracy and any new features or training tools.
When it comes to comfort, some watches are pretty bulky, which means they may fit awkwardly on smaller wrists or prove burdensome for all-day wear. Design-wise, we're also paying attention to how the watch holds up to the daily bumps and bruises of daily life, including encounters with water.
For athletes, a bright and easy-to-read screen is a must for checking stats while on the go, something we take into great account. Ease of use additionally gets consideration; are there physical buttons, a touchscreen, or a combo of both? We prefer the latter.
When it comes to assessing fitness tracking features, we're all about putting the best Garmin watch models to the test against other proven devices. Sometimes that involves walking thousands of steps with a popular tracker on either wrist.
During these head-to-head showdowns, we're not only comparing fitness stats from each watch but GPS tracking accuracy and battery efficiency as well. Post-workout, we dive into Garmin's training and recovery tools. Are the insights useful and actionable, or are they just stating the obvious?
The same approach is taken when assessing sleep-tracking data. Do the results correlate with our perceived sleep quality? Finally, we try out any of the device's extra features, like mobile payments, onboard music storage, downloadable maps, and voice support.
Once testing wraps up, all of this information, which includes a mix of qualitative impressions and quantitative comparisons gets condensed down into our review, at which point, the device is considered for inclusion in this buying guide.
How to choose the best Garmin watch for you
One of the most crucial aspects of choosing a Garmin watch is thinking about what you'll use it for. If you run long marathons, battery life will be key. The same applies if you do outdoor adventures where you need GPS navigation, as that's a power-hungry feature.
Once you've focused in on what you plan to do with your Garmin watch, it'll make it easier to choose between models. If you need specific running plans or metrics, narrow in on a model that can do that; often something from the Forerunner range.
On the other hand, if you want to up your golf game, pick a watch from the Approach models. And if you need something that'll suit your training and everyday life, be on the lookout for which smartwatch features are supported.
And it's important to note that not every watch in Garmin's range has a touchscreen or a bright display to rival the best smartwatches. Though there are several models that do allow you to download music to watch so you can connect your Bluetooth headphones and listen while you train, even if you don't have your phone.
FAQs
What is Garmin Connect+?
Garmin Connect+ is a subscription service that cost $70 annually, and gives you access to a performance dashboard and live activities for strength workouts. The main reason the company seems to have launched the service (other than recurring revenue) is to add 'AI-backed' insights, which currently have little utility. I tried Garmin Connect+ for a month, and despite loving Garmin watches, can't really say it's worth the money.
Do all Garmin watches have GPS?
No, not all Garmin Watch models have onboard GPS, but most do. All of the models in our buying guide boast GPS, which means that you won't need to carry a paired phone with you for location-tracking data.
Garmin models that don't have GPS include the standard Lily 2 and the Vivosmart 5, which is more of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch.
Which Garmin watch models have maps?
Only Garmin's higher-end watch models offer the ability to download and manage maps to your device for offline use. These include the Garmin Forerunner 965 (and 955), Enduro 3 (and Enduro 2), Fenix 8 (and Fenix 7) and the Garmin Epix series.
Which Garmin watch models can answer a phone call or text?
A small selection of Garmin watches have built-in microphones and speakers, allowing you to take calls from the wrist via a Bluetooth-paired smartphone or dictate a message. These include the Garmin Venu 2 and 3, as well as the Garmin Fenix 8.
Some Garmin models offer the ability to send a quick reply from the wrist by selecting from a list of pre-written messages. However, this feature only works with Android devices.
Which Garmin watch is best for navigation?
There are two types of navigation available in Garmin's range. Top-end models like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 965 have offline maps and can create routes for you on the fly, or reroute you if you go off course.
Cheaper models like the Forerunner 165 and Garmin Instinct 3 offer breadcrumb navigation, with turn-by-turn instructions and a line and pointer to keep you on track, but no actual maps.
Garmin's maps are the best navigation tool available on any sports watch and it's worth investing in a watch with them if that's a priority for you. If you're on a budget, then older watches with maps like the Garmin Epix 2 and Garmin Forerunner 955 are often in sales.
If possible, we recommend getting an AMOLED Garmin if you're going to use the maps a lot, as they are clearer on the AMOLED display, though this does reduce battery life compared to an MIP Garmin.
Is Garmin better than Apple?
Garmin and Apple watches have a lot of similar features, but excel in different areas. Garmin watches are better for battery life, sports tracking, training analysis and navigation, while Apple watches excel on design, fitness tracking and smart features in particular. Both are great options for sports tracking, but which is better will depend on your priorities. And, of course, the Apple Watch only works with iPhones, while you can use a Garmin on Android or iPhone.
How do I download Garmin Connect?
You'll need to download the Garmin Connect App to sync your watch to your phone. It's available on both Android and iOS. Once you've downloaded the app and signed up, you can begin the pairing process.
The Garmin Connect app lets you see all your data at a glance in an easy-to-read format. Depending on your tracker, it'll give you deeper insights, such as your body battery (based on your sleep data) and your fitness age. There are also challenges and in-depth sleep reports for you to keep an eye on.
Additionally, depending on your Garmin model, you'll be able to use the Garmin Connect app to use Garmin Coach to download running and cycling training plans and upload them directly to your watch. Garmin Coach lives under the 'training' tab in the app and features loads of options to suit all abilities and goals.
Check out our guide on how to use Garmin Connect here, as well as our guide to how to use the Body Battery feature on your Garmin watch.
