The 5 finest Garmin watches for 2025

Few manufacturers are as synonymous with out of doors 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 identify it. However these gadgets aren’t simply for athletes. The corporate’s made important strides in its way of life choices, so no matter your health stage, there’s a Garmin for everybody.

When you’re coming from a extra conventional smartwatch, Garmin’s core strengths lie in health, GPS, adventuring, and sturdiness. These are hardy gadgets that are supposed to 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 another platform. Garmin gadgets are typically on the pricier aspect, nevertheless, and the corporate lately introduced it will 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 further.

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 a number of other of the most recent Garmins lately acquired an FDA-cleared EKG function. (You’ll want a cellphone readily available, nevertheless, as just one Garmin mannequin has mobile connectivity.) Many Garmin gadgets additionally assist 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 will help level you in the fitting course.

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 working watches, and plenty of them are nice. However the Forerunner 265 or 265S (you probably have petite wrists) strikes a superb stability between value, function set, battery life, and a vibrant OLED show.

That stated, 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 principle distinction is the 265 has an OLED show in comparison with the 255’s memory-in-pixel display. Normally, 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 rise up to fifteen days. Provided that OLED is less complicated to learn and simply, nicely, seems nicer, that offers 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 a complete lot of battery life. I wore it throughout a half marathon with that and the AOD enabled, and I nonetheless had over 80 % battery by the point I acquired dwelling. That is additionally a superb value, as the vast majority of multi-band GPS watches value nicely over $600.

My predominant grievance is that $450 (exterior of a deal, a minimum of), whereas not dangerous for Garmin, continues to be quite a bit when you think about that’s the identical value as smarter smartwatches with nice working options. Some runners gained’t care. However in case you’re on a funds — otherwise you’re new to working and really feel iffy about spending that a lot — then think about the Forerunner 165 sequence. It begins at $250 (add one other $50 for onboard music) and does virtually every little thing the 265 sequence does. The principle stuff you’re lacking are dual-frequency GPS and some extra area of interest sport profiles. However in case you’re largely sticking to working, 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 have to run something from a 5K to a full marathon. That features a Race Predictor, which provides you an estimate of what your finest time could be based mostly in your precise coaching. You can too 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 working type 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 assist, 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 chrome steel, 58g titanium; 47mm: 78g chrome steel, 70g titanium; 51mm: 98g chrome 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 Professional will get you each health function that Garmin has to supply. And I imply every little thing. It could frankly be simpler to let you know what the Epix Professional doesn’t have: issues which might be restricted to LTE smartwatches and a few of the new sensible 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 usual second-gen Epix, which solely is available in 47mm. You will 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 form of factor critically. The most effective half is the Professional fashions begin on the similar value because the common Epix did. You’ll should pay $100 further for supplies like titanium and sapphire crystal, however that’s additionally true of the usual Epix.

That stated, it muddies the waters in case you’re attempting to choose between the Epix Professional, Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Professional, and now, the Fenix 8. The principle distinction is the Epix watches all have OLED shows. One cause I desire OLED is that they’re a lot simpler to learn indoors — the place most of us spend the vast majority of our time. The Fenix 7 sequence’ memory-in-pixel shows (plus photo voltaic charging in case 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 expenses 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 this may ever be a difficulty.

Not serving to issues is the truth that the Fenix 8 permits you to select between an OLED or a MIP show. You additionally get sensible options like an onboard voice assistant, the flexibility to take calls from the wrist, and the Garmin Messenger app. The principle 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 sensible options are simply okay and that you simply’re actually not lacking a lot by not having them. We additionally typically see reductions on older fashions, so I’d placed on my bargain-hunting hat for a reduced Epix Professional or Fenix 7 Professional whereas stock continues to be accessible.

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 you must do is double-press a button. It’s as vivid as your smartphone, comes with a pink gentle possibility if you’d like one thing simpler on the eyes, and may act as a strobe in an emergency state of affairs. The Fenix 7 Professional and eight watches even have a flashlight, so plenty of that is going to return down to private desire for the show, value, and whether or not you care about sensible options.

When you’re set on essentially the most battery life doable, I like to recommend the Fenix 7 Professional over the usual 7 for just a few 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 sensible options are a bit half-baked.

The most effective Garmin on a funds

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 in regards to the Vivomove Sport is that it doesn’t appear like what most individuals count on from a Garmin. It’s a hybrid smartwatch, which suggests it seems like an everyday watch however can observe 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 fitted to a casually lively one that desires type and worth in a light-weight package deal. Suppose wellness, extra so than health. It will get you steady coronary heart charge monitoring and blood oxygen stage monitoring, and may even present irregular coronary heart charge alerts. You additionally get entry to extra in-depth metrics like respiration charge, health age, stress, and Physique Battery, which is Garmin’s device for visualizing how well-rested you’re. For sensible 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 checklist. As an example, you’re giving up built-in GPS in favor of tethered GPS via your cellphone. There are not any contactless funds, neither is there a microphone or speaker for taking calls on the wrist. However this is a funds choose, and also you get quite a bit, contemplating that is an entry-level gadget that might 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 significantly better than what you’ll get on an Apple Watch or Put on OS 4 watch. When you’re keen to spend about $100 extra, the $269.99 Vivomove Development has extra stylish supplies, will get you extra display actual property, and wi-fi Qi charging. In any other case, this can be a nice way of life wearable that may function a classier various to your typical health band.

When you desire one thing newer to the Sport that’s additionally trendy, the Garmin Lily 2 is one other good possibility, particularly in case you’ve acquired significantly small wrists or desire one thing extraordinarily light-weight. The swipe and faucet gestures are nonetheless somewhat fiddly to make use of — which was additionally the case with the first-gen mannequin — however the recent design is a enjoyable technique to frivolously monitor your health with out bogging your self down with notifications. Garmin additionally presents the Lily 2 Lively, which provides a bodily button, GPS, and assist for extra sports activities monitoring for a beginning value of $299.99.

The most effective Garmin to interchange 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)

When you had been disenchanted by the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, the Venu Sq 2 is the following smartest 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 seems fairly stylish and very light-weight. The display is vivid, 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. When you 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, due to this fact, isn’t really standalone. You’ll most certainly be carrying your cellphone with you anyway.

As for well being options, the Venu Sq 2 mainly has every little thing you’d get on a Versa or Sense smartwatch however with Garmin’s treasure trove of metrics as nicely. That features coronary heart charge monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, depth minutes (how a lot reasonable train you get in every week), stress monitoring, hydration monitoring, respiratory charge, 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 massive 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 accessible 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 sequence is the neatest (and most reasonably priced) of the bunch.

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

Like different OLED Garmins, the show is each vibrant and simple 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 charge sensor, which permits 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 charge alerts, and stress monitoring. As for coaching, you continue to get built-in GPS, VO2 Max, coronary heart charge zones, respiration charge, and downloadable coaching plans through Garmin Coach.

New to the three and 3S is a sleep coach that components in metrics like coronary heart charge 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 sequence additionally provides audio-guided meditation classes, and you may view how these classes immediately impression 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. Nevertheless, it’s also greater than double the value and never what I’d think about worth for the common athlete. It’s extra for individuals who spend hours upon hours coaching each week.

That is the Garmin for you if you’d like the platform’s in-depth coaching with out sacrificing the productiveness of a smartwatch. The principle issues it’s missing are mobile choices and a sturdy third-party app ecosystem. That stated, it’s acquired Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer for offline listening. It’s additionally possibility in case you’re fed up with MIP shows and desire a smarter Garmin fairly than a full-on smartwatch.

Replace, June twelfth: Adjusted pricing / availability and added a point out of each the Garmin Forerunner 970 and the Forerunner 570, which at the moment are accessible.