Best Garmin Smartwatch 2023: Top Full Review

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a great Garmin smartwatch. We’ve rounded up the best Garmin smartwatch you can buy so that you can find the perfect one for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a fitness tracker, a smartwatch, or a GPS watch, we’ve got you covered.

Top Rated 16 Best Garmin Smartwatches

1. Garmin Forerunner 245

Pros

• Display that is simple to read
• There are numerous training metrics.
• Music storage onboard

Cons

• It can be challenging to navigate.

Garmin’s best all-around watch is the Forerunner 245. The watch has the same fitness metrics as Garmin’s latest higher-end GPS watches, including Training Status to track progress, Training Load to see workouts over seven days, and Training Effect to measure anaerobic and aerobic fitness.

Sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation, and menstrual cycle tracking are also supported. The Forerunner 245, like many other Garmin watches, can send (and also cancel) emergency notifications when connected to your phone.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 is compact and light, so it won’t suffocate your wrist during workouts or cause discomfort while you’re wearing it every day or sleeping. It comes in various colors and has interchangeable accessory bands to help you match your particular style.

The watch lacks smartwatch functionality, as it does not support mobile payments or allow you to respond to notifications, but it is a top-of-the-line health and fitness tracker.

Garmin now provides a Forerunner 245 Music edition, which includes 500 tracks of onboard storage and syncs with Spotify and Deezer accounts. The buttons on your watch or the controls on your headset can be used to change tracks.

The watch maintains a stable connection to headphones during a workout, which is essential for a music-focused watch. With music playing, the battery will last six hours in GPS mode.

2. Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Pros

• Stunning AMOLED display
• Garmin Coach and reliable fitness tracking
• The call quality is far better than anticipated.
• Exceptional battery life

Cons

• Better recovery counsel might be given.
• There aren’t enough third-party apps available.

Garmin wristwatches aren’t exclusively for athletes. The Venu 2 Plus is a fashionable wristwatch that rivals the Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa 3 — and it’s tough enough for bike rides, strength exercises, and family fun. With an AMOLED display and a stainless steel bezel, it’s a step up over the Garmin vivoactive 4.

The Garmin Venu Plus 2 combines Garmin’s fitness and health-tracking functions with smartwatch features, including mobile payments, notifications, a touchscreen, and storage for up to 650 songs. Even with its AMOLED display, the watch has a substantially longer battery life than typical smartwatches.

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus voice assistant functions are a significant upgrade. The $449 Garmin Venu 2 Plus adds on-wrist calls and voice assistants to better compete with its big-name competition.

The Venu 2 Plus is now a better sell for people who want their smartwatch to work as an extension of their smartphone while maintaining Garmin’s reputation for complete fitness tracking and reliable GPS.

3. Garmin Forerunner 55

Pros

• Workouts suggested by PacePro.
• The screen is bright.
• Stats that are simple to understand
• Life of the battery

Cons

• There is no music storage onboard.

If you’re just getting started with running, you’ll probably want something a step up from a basic fitness tracker that doesn’t have too many features. The Forerunner 55 is a clear winner among Garmin watches.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an entry-level fitness watch released earlier this year to replace the popular Forerunner 45. While it has a similar appearance to its predecessor, Garmin has made several significant upgrades, including the addition of some of the more advanced training functions usually reserved for their more expensive watches.

Garmin’s new PacePro technology is included in the Forerunner 55, which provides gentle speed and cadence cues while running. Your training history, fitness levels, and recovery are also advised recovery times and sessions.

This sets it apart from similar-priced wearables like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active and the Fitbit Charge 5, which track exercises but don’t offer personalized coaching.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 does not support music storage, mobile payments, or third-party apps, so keep that in mind. It also has a small display, measuring just over 1 inch. If these are essential functions for your Garmin watch, you should upgrade to a higher-end model.

If you’re searching for a more affordable watch, the Forerunner 45 is frequently on sale following the debut of the Forerunner 55, so now is an excellent time to buy.

4. Garmin Lily

Pros

• Fashionable design
• App for keeping track of your pregnancy while you’re on the road
• The display is excellent.

Cons

• There is no GPS built-in.
• Garmin Connect IQ app store is not compatible.

The Garmin Lily is for you if you want an activity tracker that doesn’t appear like an activity tracker. It’s perhaps Garmin’s most fashionable smartwatch. It has several essential features for female customers, such as menstrual or pregnancy monitoring, which helps expectant mothers better understand their daily health.

The Garmin Lily is available in two models: Classic and Sport. It is designed to look like real jewelry. The Classic has a dual-tone leather strap, while the Sport version costs $199.99 and includes a soft silicone band that’s simpler to clean after a workout. However, if you’re a dedicated runner or biker, the lack of GPS on the watch may be a deal-breaker.

The Garmin Lily’s display and responsive, monochromatic touchscreen, which is easy to use even in direct sunlight, are its highlights. This would make an excellent first smartwatch for fashion-conscious buyers, particularly those with smaller wrists. It’s also one of the most affordable smartwatches available.

5. Garmin Approach S62

Pros

• Precise distances
• Analysis of a virtual caddy
• Life of the battery

Cons

• This is not a game for novices.

The Garmin Approach S62 is the watch for you if golf is your game. It’s tough enough for a round of 18 while looking elegant enough for the 19th hole in the clubhouse, thanks to a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and silicone straps.

The Garmin Approach S62 has crucial golf features like access to data on 41,000 courses worldwide, GPS distance and hole hazards readings, and a shot-tracking function. A virtual caddie can also make club recommendations based on the distance to the pin. It may be a lot (if that’s you, check out our Garmin S20 review), but veteran players will appreciate the information and may even leave the rangefinder at home.

The watch also tracks a variety of other indoor and outdoor activities, such as swimming, heart rate, sleep, and Garmin’s “Body Battery” energy meter.

Garmin Pay and configurable smartphone alerts can also be used as a smartwatch.

6. Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE

Pros

• Exceptional security features
• Life of the battery
• Tracking of temperature and altitude
• Wearable daily

Cons

• Expensive

The Garmin Forerunner 945, on the other hand, is geared for triathletes, trail runners, and other endurance sports enthusiasts. The Forerunner 945 includes the same training and recovery measures as the Forerunner 245 and 745 and metrics for measuring heat and altitude, which are crucial in calculating the difficulty of an effective workout. It also has a battery that should last long enough to keep ultra-marathoners going on race day.

Thanks to Garmin’s LTE service, the Forerunner 945 is the ultimate personal safety gadget. Even if your phone is missing, this smartwatch can broadcast your location to your chosen contacts and notify them in the event of an emergency.

If you’re someone who goes out on their own, the 945 can provide you (and those who care about you) with some piece of mind.

7. Garmin Forerunner 745

Pros

• It’s simple to set up and utilize.
• Data about activity and training that is reliable
• Smartwatch features are limited.

Cons

• The battery life might be improved.

For athletes who desire more capability than the Forerunner 45 but don’t require all of the bells and whistles of the Forerunner 945, the Garmin Forerunner 745 is the perfect watch. While it isn’t as feature-rich as the Garmin Venu, it does enable mobile payments and music storage, which are both important aspects for anyone who exercises regularly and some third-party apps.

Step and sleep tracking of this smartwatch is also included; however, neither are prominently displayed on the watch way they are on lower-end fitness trackers.

The Garmin Forerunner 745 supports more than a dozen indoor and outdoor exercises, delivers training feedback (including recommended workouts and recuperation times), and quickly picks up a GPS signal. However, the battery life isn’t as long as the Forerunner 945’s, 16 hours in GPS mode should be plenty to get most athletes through many workouts between charges.

8. Garmin Fenix 7 series

Pros

• The battery can endure for several weeks.
• Features aplenty
• 64MB of memory

Cons

• Extremely huge

The Garmin Fenix 7 is a tough watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts. The device is intended for anyone who gets an adrenaline rush from scuba diving, backcountry skiing, or a multi-day hike deep in the wilderness. It supports everyday fitness activities like running and swimming.

It comes with Garmin’s typical health-tracking features. Still, it’s designed for anyone who gets an adrenaline rush from scuba diving, backcountry skiing, or a multi-day hike deep in the wilderness.

Make no mistake about it: this watch is a beast, weighing in at 2 ounces for the regular Fenix 7S and 3.1 ounces for the 51mm Fenix 7X Saphire Solar addition. However, there is a price to pay for storage, battery life, and water resistance up to 100 meters (330 feet). It’s also simple to change bands, which is essential when you’ve spent days in the woods without a shower.

The Fenix 7 sports a touch screen, a significant upgrade over the Fenix 6. Even when used in the rain, the screen is susceptible, making it easier to move around and customize the watch. There’s also a new Stamina statistic, and the watches have more maps and sports tracking modes than before.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a fitness tracker with longer battery life than this one. Check out our comparison between the Garmin Fenix 6 and the Garmin Fenix 7.

9. Garmin vivoactive 4

Pros

• Two-button navigation in the east
• Built-in exercises

Cons

• There is no OLED display.

The Garmin vivoactive 4 straddles the line between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch, albeit it’s mostly a fitness tracker, as you’d expect from a Garmin device.

The Garmin vivoactive 4 has a touchscreen, unlike the Forerunner and Fenix watches. It’s also available in two different sizes: 40mm and 45mm. However, the watch employs the LCD typical of Garmin watches to conserve battery life.

(The Garmin Venu has an OLED display.) You can download various third-party apps from the Garmin Connect IQ store, though the selection isn’t as extensive as the Apple Watch store.

The fitness-tracking functions of the Garmin vivoactive 4 set it apart from other smartwatches on the market. The vivoactive 4 comes with preset activities like yoga and Pilates that play as guided animations straight on the watch and Garmin’s industry-leading features for tracking training and recovery.

10. Garmin Vivomove Sport

Pros

• Design that is both stylish and lightweight
• Tracking the health of women
• It can be worn as a watch without the need for a phone.

Cons

• There is no GPS.
• It can be challenging to use.

The top Garmin watches are elegant, but the Vivomove series is the most stylish. There’s no sub-dial to clog up the watch face with activity or notification information. This information is accessed by swiping on the OLED touchscreen, and despite the small display size, the analog watch face is always visible.

The Vivomove sport is the most recent addition to the Vivomove family. With a 40mm bezel and a weight of 33.8g, it’s smaller and lighter than the Vivomove HR Sport edition. Cocoa (brown), ivory (white), black, and cool mint are the four hues available for the watch.

The watch comes with a silicone band that matches the face, but it’s also compatible with Garmin’s 20mm fast release bands to swap it out for a leather or suede band.

However, there is a price to pay for the look: Garmin’s Vivomove watches lack a GPS sensor. You must sync the watch with a smartphone to track workouts, manage music, and check your workout data using the Garmin Connect app.

The Garmin Vivomove, on the other hand, can track ten distinct activity categories and includes Garmin’s health-monitoring sensors like heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep.

The Vivomove Sport is a beautiful health tracker for someone just getting started with fitness or who wants to improve their general health in 2023.

11. Garmin Enduro

Pros

• Exceptional battery life
• For its size, it is pretty comfortable.
• It’s not as big as the Fenix 6 Pro.

Cons

• There isn’t any music storage.
• Altimeter that isn’t accurate

The Garmin Enduro will keep up with your ultramarathon running adventures. It’s a niche market, but if you’re searching for a watch to keep up with your ultramarathon running adventures, the Garmin Enduro will do precisely that. Because it’s smaller, more comfortable, and less expensive, it’s almost an update or enhancement on the Fenix 6 Pro Solar.

Otherwise, it has the same features as the higher-end Garmin watches, including a battery life that will last months (should you need it) and most of the capabilities you’d expect from a Garmin watch.

Don’t get me wrong: this isn’t a watch for everyone. While it’s still comfortable, it’s a little thick on the wrist and looks like a “sports watch” when you’re not working out.

Also, unless you plan on spending hours outside, the Solar charging function is an unnecessary expense if you don’t need it; however, if you do, prepare to unplug that charger and run, bike, or even ski to your heart’s content.

Suppose you’re not intending on participating in the Western States 100 anytime soon. In that case, there are likely to be plenty of other Garmin watches with similar capabilities available for hundreds of dollars less.

If awesome adventures are your thing, though, this is an incredible piece of gear, so much so that we rated it the best smartwatch for the outdoors overall in our 2021 Health and Fitness Awards.

12. Garmin Instinct 2

Pros

• A new smaller size option has been added.
• Exceptional battery life
• Has a snapshot of your health
• Garmin Pay and Garmin Connect are both available.

Cons

• Types of sports are limited.

The Garmin Instinct 2 has an everlasting battery life – yup, it can charge itself in the sun and live forever. There are a few caveats, ranging from whether features work on solar power to which variants of the Garmin Instinct 2 include one to how many hours per day the watch must be exposed to sunshine. However, the Instinct 2 outperforms the original Garmin Instinct in almost every regard.

It preserves its robust appearance while including features from Garmin’s higher-end watches. The 2S, which is meant for smaller wrists, is now available in a smaller 40mm size.

It’s tough on the wrist (with a Military Standard 810 grade for harsh situations and temperatures), waterproof up to 100 meters, and has a bright, easy-to-read display, even in direct sunshine. Unlike the new Garmin Fenix 7 range, there is no touchscreen, but the five-button functionality is simple to figure out and use on the go.

Overall, this is a fantastic adventure watch, ideal for those looking for the Fenix 7’s battery life without the price tag.

13. Garmin Epix (Gen 2)

Pros

• Stunning AMOLED display
• Tools for advanced fitness tracking
• Excellent navigation and GPS.

Cons

• There is no microphone available.
• Battery life is shorter than the Fenix 7.

The Garmin Epix (Gen 2) essentially takes the Fenix 7’s best features and adds a beautiful color AMOLED display. The result is a high-end sports watch with graphics, maps, and charts that are easily accessible at a glance, allowing you to take your training to the next level. However, this display consumes significantly more power than the MiP display on the Fenix 7, reducing battery life.

It’s still a respectable performance for an AMOLED wristwatch, especially with its many capabilities for everyday usage and fitness monitoring. Garmin describes this watch as being designed for athletes who wish to combine indoor and outdoor training, and its wide choice of exercise patterns fits the description admirably.

The Epix (Gen 2) creates a GPS lock faster than any other watch we’ve tried, monitors your runs and rides with outstanding precision, and helps you find your way with incredibly accurate vivid maps when training outside.

It’s worth looking through the entire Garmin lineup before making a decision (you might be shocked by how much a mid-range Instinct watch has to offer), but the Epix (Gen 2) is the watch for you if you want the most advanced watch on the market and your budget can handle it.

14. Garmin Vivoactive 4S

Pros

• GPS-enabled exercise tracking
• Streaming music while you watch

Cons

• There is no monitoring of the training load.
• The Spotify integration needs improvement.

Even while a Garmin Instinct Solar (below) isn’t any more significant than a regular smartwatch, its whole appearance can be intimidating on a slimmer wrist.

The Garmin Vivoactive 4S can help with that. It’s a scaled-down version of the clever and adaptable Vivoactive 4, measuring just 40 x 40 x 12.7mm.

The Vivoactive 4S, like its larger sibling, has superb fitness tracking with onboard GPS that locks on in seconds and records your runs and rides accurately, rather than smoothing out the path as some trackers do.

It’s smart enough to wear all day, and with sleep monitoring and an SPO2 sensor to monitor blood oxygen levels, it’ll keep you up at night.

15. Garmin Venu Sq

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to wear
• Feature-packed
• External sensors are supported.

Cons

• The altimeter is missing.
• The user interface for the watch is a little dated.

The Garmin Venu Sq is one of Garmin’s most cheap watches in a long time, but it doesn’t appear, with an appealing design and vibrant color screen that defy its low price.

It has all essential sensors, including a built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor, and a pulse oximeter. There are dedicated settings for running, cycling, and swimming, making it a good sports tracking companion, albeit picking up a GPS signal took a little longer than we’d like in our tests.

There are two versions available: one without a built-in music player and one with one. You’ll get contactless payments and access to the Garmin Connect IQ store’s apps with whichever option you choose.

The original Venu will serve you better if you’re looking for an entry-level watch for sports tracking, but the Venu Sq comes highly recommended if the value is your top priority.

16. Garmin Vivomove Sport Hybrid Smartwatch

Pros

• Priced reasonably
• Water resistance of 5 ATM
• Battery life is adequate.
• Stunning and fashionable design
• Tracking activity, stress, sleep, and heart rate

Cons

• It doesn’t have a built-in GPS.
• Navigation on a touchscreen might be challenging.
• The visibility of sunlight is poor.

A hybrid model might be a better option if you’re not quite ready for a full-fledged smartwatch. Garmin’s hybrid portfolio is impressive, including the new Vivomove Sport. This appealing wearable sports a concealed OLED panel on the bottom section of the screen that mimics a regular analog watch.

Hybrid smartwatches are designed for those who wish to be fashionable while yet getting some added benefits. Most importantly, in comparison to other smartwatches, they’re reasonably priced.

The watch is housed in a 40mm polymer casing. Ivory, Cool Mint, Cocoa, and black are the color possibilities. Garmin Vivomove Sport 20mm silicone bands are included with these models. Your heart rate, stress levels, and sleep patterns can all be tracked with your hybrid smartwatch.

Garmin’s Body Battery feature will also keep track of your energy levels throughout the day. Exercise enthusiasts have various built-in sports apps, including cycling, treadmill running, yoga, strength, Pilates, cardio, and more.

If you don’t require a high-end smartwatch with many bells and whistles, the Garmin Vivomove Sport’s primary yet effective activity monitoring will suit you perfectly. Because it lacks a built-in GPS, you’ll have to link it to your phone to track your workout route.

The battery will last up to five days in smartwatch mode, with an extra day in conventional watch mode. Because the touchscreen is only on the bottom half of the screen, navigating through the menus can be challenging.

See this guide to choose the suitable smartwatch for your child: Best Kids Smart Watch 2023

How Do You Pick The Garmin Watch For you?

Because Garmin watches come in various costs and features, it’s crucial to figure out which ones are most important to you while staying within your budget.

Life of the Batteries

The battery life on most Garmin watches is outstanding, but some are better than others. The Forerunner 945, for example, can survive 14 days in smartwatch mode and 36 hours in GPS mode, while the Fenix 6 can last up to 20 days in adventure GPS mode. Choose your watch carefully if you intend to spend a lot of time outside.

Features of the training

The majority of Garmin watches also have excellent training features, but pay attention to the metrics that are important to you. Some models, such as the Garmin Forerunner 945, track heat and altitude in addition to standard metrics, which is essential for planning the impact of outdoor workouts. Others, such as the Garmin Approach S62, provide comprehensive golf training.

GPS

Garmin’s GPS technology is well-known, so it’s no surprise that nearly all of its watches offer outstanding GPS capabilities. The vivomove watches are the only Garmin watches that don’t have a GPS sensor.

Features of a smartwatch

Some Garmin smartwatch models have more functions than others. For example, the Venu boasts a touchscreen and an AMOLED display, which are uncommon in Garmin products, compatibility for mobile payments, onboard music, and a stainless steel bezel.

Music for the plane

Not all Garmin watches include built-in storage for onboard music. A tracker that allows you to leave your phone behind is ideal for athletes who want to listen to music while working out. Some Garmin series, such as the Forerunner 245 Music, even include a dedicated music option.

Price

Garmin watches are available in various pricing ranges to suit any budget. The Forerunner 45 is a good deal for around $150, considering it includes Garmin Coach and all of Garmin’s additional training capabilities. The Fenix 6X Pro Solar Edition Titanium, on the other hand, costs up to $1,149. On the other hand, the majority of models cost between $200 and $500.

How We Test Garmin Watches

Of course, by donning them! When a new Garmin watch is released, we fully charge it before strapping it to our wrist for a week to test all of its features.

To begin with, how does it feel? Some watches are quite large, so they won’t fit comfortably on smaller wrists or be appropriate for all-day use. We’ll look at fitness features, including a heart rate monitor, GPS, and custom workout tracking. How accurate are the sensors on the Garmin watch, and how well does it track your exercise and overall health?

We also look at Garmin’s other features, such as sleep tracking, female health-tracking, mobile payments, and smartphone notifications.

In addition, we examine Garmin’s battery life claims and compare them to our actual usage. Some sensors consume more battery than others, so if you keep the screen on all the time or use the heart rate monitor or Pulse Ox sensor, your mileage may vary. We’ll also evaluate if the battery-saving mode can still keep up with your workout-tracking needs.

How Do I Get Garmin Connect?

To connect your watch to your phone, you’ll need to download the Garmin Connect App. It’s available for Android and iOS, and after you’ve signed up and downloaded the app, you’ll be able to connect your Garmin to your phone.

The Garmin Connect app displays all of your data in an easy-to-read format at a glance. Deeper insights, such as your body battery (based on your sleep data) and fitness age, will vary depending on your tracker. You’ll also get challenges and detailed sleep reports to watch.

In addition, depending on your watch model, you’ll utilize the Garmin Connect app to download and upload running and cycling training plans directly to your watch using Garmin Coach. To do so, open the Garmin Connect app and go to more, then training. You’ll then be able to choose from a variety of training regimens and download the one that best suits your abilities and objectives.

Maybe you need: How To Change Garmin Watch Background?

FAQs

Is the Garmin smartwatch worth it?

Pros: excellent OLED touchscreen and buttons, at least 2.5 days of battery life, reliable GPS, reasonable heart rate, rich sports stats as well as thorough health tracking, offline Spotify, Android, iPhone, and PC support, basic smartwatch capabilities, Garmin Pay, wifi

What Garmin watch size should I get?

The 42mm models are suitable for wrists measuring between 4.25 and 7.16 inches in circumference. Wrists measuring 4.96 to 8.18 inches will benefit from the 47mm versions. Finally, the large 51mm models may fit wrists ranging from 5 to 8.26 inches.

Apple Watch versus Garmin Vivoactive: which is better?

The screen on the Apple Watch SE, on the other hand, is somewhat more prominent and, more importantly, has a substantially greater resolution than the screen on the Garmin Vivoactive 4. As a result, reading messages, viewing apps, and enjoying customizable faces will be more enjoyable.

Conclusion

If you want to make sure that you’re buying the great Garmin smartwatch with excellent quality, consider this list. We’ve covered the best Garmin smartwatches available today, and you can choose any of them for your needs.

Keep in mind that not all of them are created equal, and some of them may not work for your budget. HereOfamily suggests that you first check the technical specifications of the smartwatch you want to buy and compare them against your requirements. This will help you get the best value for your money.

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API