Garmin is very popular with those who enjoy outdoor activities and the new Forerunner 970 is a perfect option for runners. Garmin appeals to multi-sport athletes, outdoor adventurers, and weekend warriors, so you can hike with a Garmin Instinct 3 or golf with the Approach S70. Garmin offers a sports watch for everyone with a price range from $200 to $1,600.
Garmin's smartwatches stand out with precise location accuracy. Its watches provide health and fitness tracker data for all smartphone owners, with a new Connect Plus subscription option for more insights and guidance on your health and fitness data. The new Garmin Venu X1 is unique with the largest display on a Garmin watch and competes directly with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
What is the best Garmin watch right now?
I've tested nearly every popular Garmin watch on the market, evaluating their features, durability, battery life, price, and more, to help you determine which model is best for your fitness, wellness, and other tracking needs. I typically run, row, ride, hike, walk, sleep, compete, and live with the watches for weeks at a time before providing my final evaluation of the watch.
My current pick for the best Garmin watch overall is the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED thanks to its long battery life, AMOLED display, support for all Garmin activities, three size options, and LED flashlight. Garmin unveiled this watch last summer, and I published my review in November. I purchased a Garmin Enduro 3 due to the extended battery life, subtle always-on MIP display, and price, but keep going back to the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED due to the availability of a slighter smaller watch, lovely AMOLED display, ability to record voice notes on the run, and ability to answer calls from my wrist. The new Garmin Forerunner 970 brings a LED flashlight to the Forerunner series for the first time and offers other advanced features and functions that may soon see it beat out the Fenix 8 as the best overall Garmin watch. Read on for the rest of my tested picks for the best Garmin watches you can buy right now.
Also: Best budget smartwatch of 2025
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The best Garmin watches of 2025
Show less View now at Garmin View now at Amazon View now at Crutchfield For a couple of years, Garmin carried the Epix line with an AMOLED display that stood apart from the Fenix series. In Aug. 2024, that changed with the Fenix 8 now appearing with both AMOLED and solar MIP display options, and the Epix branding retired. Given that the Enduro 3 offers a solar MIP display, has longer battery life, and is less expensive, the AMOLED Fenix 8 models are a top choice for mapping and communications. Why we like it: The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED connects seamlessly to Android and iOS smartphones, in addition to golf club sensors, bike sensors, and more. Just about every sport is covered, including pickleball, with an updated smartphone experience so you can customize the watch settings on your phone and sync them over to the watch. One feature I use daily that ensures a Garmin will always be found on one wrist is the LED flashlight. I cannot express how useful this functionality is, which makes the Fenix 8 an essential tool in my collection. Also: This Garmin beat my Apple Watch Ultra in almost every way (and it's just as rugged) Who it's for: New communications features for the Fenix series include an integrated speaker and microphone that supports phone calls from the wrist, access to your connected phone's assistant, onboard voice commands, and voice recordings so if you are looking for a capable watch to serve as your sports watch and your primary smartwatch then the Fenix 8 AMOLED fits that bill. You can also buy the watch in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes with a variety of watch case and band color options too so there is a model for every wrist size and personality. Who should look elsewhere: The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED is an expensive smartwatch and if you are not planning to run a full marathon, train for an ultramarathon, or focus on just a few sports then there may be better options for you. The Forerunner 970 and Venu X1 pack in most of the functionality found in the Fenix 8 AMOLED at a lower price and designed with more affordable hardware elements. Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (47mm) tech specs: Display: 1.4-inch 454x454 pixels | Battery Life (GPS tracking mode): 47 hours | Dimensions: 47x47x13.8 mm | Weight: 73 grams (titanium case with band) | Water/Dust Resistance: 10 ATM | Band Size: 22mm Health & wellness 10 Build quality/durability 10 Advanced features 10 Applications 8 Core functionality 9 Pros Gorgeous, brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display
Extensive size and feature options
Solid battery life
Vast performance metrics
Three available sizes
Mic and speaker Cons Expensive
Always on display mode significantly reduces battery life Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Best Garmin watch overall 4.7 / 5 Score For a couple of years, Garmin carried the Epix line with an AMOLED display that stood apart from the Fenix series. In Aug. 2024, that changed with the Fenix 8 now appearing with both AMOLED and solar MIP display options, and the Epix branding retired. Given that the Enduro 3 offers a solar MIP display, has longer battery life, and is less expensive, the AMOLED Fenix 8 models are a top choice for mapping and communications. Why we like it: The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED connects seamlessly to Android and iOS smartphones, in addition to golf club sensors, bike sensors, and more. Just about every sport is covered, including pickleball, with an updated smartphone experience so you can customize the watch settings on your phone and sync them over to the watch. One feature I use daily that ensures a Garmin will always be found on one wrist is the LED flashlight. I cannot express how useful this functionality is, which makes the Fenix 8 an essential tool in my collection. Also: This Garmin beat my Apple Watch Ultra in almost every way (and it's just as rugged) Who it's for: New communications features for the Fenix series include an integrated speaker and microphone that supports phone calls from the wrist, access to your connected phone's assistant, onboard voice commands, and voice recordings so if you are looking for a capable watch to serve as your sports watch and your primary smartwatch then the Fenix 8 AMOLED fits that bill. You can also buy the watch in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes with a variety of watch case and band color options too so there is a model for every wrist size and personality. Who should look elsewhere: The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED is an expensive smartwatch and if you are not planning to run a full marathon, train for an ultramarathon, or focus on just a few sports then there may be better options for you. The Forerunner 970 and Venu X1 pack in most of the functionality found in the Fenix 8 AMOLED at a lower price and designed with more affordable hardware elements. Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (47mm) tech specs: Display: 1.4-inch 454x454 pixels | Battery Life (GPS tracking mode): 47 hours | Dimensions: 47x47x13.8 mm | Weight: 73 grams (titanium case with band) | Water/Dust Resistance: 10 ATM | Band Size: 22mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Garmin View now at Amazon View now at Crutchfield Why we like it: The Instinct 3 Solar is a GPS Garmin watch with features tailored to outdoor pursuits where you never want to worry about the tool mounted on your wrist. Multi-band and multi-frequency support is provided for proven, precise positioning accuracy. It is built to withstand the elements, and its rugged design isn't just for looks. The updated large solar panel means that the watch is capable of unlimited battery life with adequate solar charging. Even without solar charging, the watch lasts for 40 days in smartwatch mode or up to 60 hours in GPS mode. Who it's for: The Instinct 3 feature set is similar to the Fenix 8 that is priced more than twice the cost of the Instinct 3. It has less premium materials and does not support offline music playback, but if you want a powerful GPS sports watch that can take a beating and keep on performing, then the Instinct 3 may be for you. Review: Garmin Instinct 3 Solar If you spend time outdoors in the spring and summer months, whether it is for hiking, running, fishing, swimming, or enjoying the water and outdoors in other forms, then the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar may be the watch for you. It even supports the ability to track your dog if you are out bird hunting with your favorite companion. Who should look elsewhere: I like the rugged Instinct 3 Solar for fishing, but it's not a watch I wear daily because of the monochrome display, bulky size that makes it tough to sleep with, and limited golf support. The Garmin Enduro 3 offers a similar level of functionality with very long battery life and a color display. Garmin Instinct 3 Solar features: Battery life (GPS): 60 hours | Display technology: MIP | Unique feature: LED flashlight, 2nd small window | Size: 50 mm (also available in 45mm) Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 10 Advanced features 9 Applications 4 Core functionality 7 Pros Rugged design and cool color options
Unlimited battery life
Two size options
100-meter water resistance
LED flashlight Cons No offline music or maps
No touchscreen display Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Best Garmin watch for rugged outdoor adventures 3.7 / 5 Score Why we like it: The Instinct 3 Solar is a GPS Garmin watch with features tailored to outdoor pursuits where you never want to worry about the tool mounted on your wrist. Multi-band and multi-frequency support is provided for proven, precise positioning accuracy. It is built to withstand the elements, and its rugged design isn't just for looks. The updated large solar panel means that the watch is capable of unlimited battery life with adequate solar charging. Even without solar charging, the watch lasts for 40 days in smartwatch mode or up to 60 hours in GPS mode. Who it's for: The Instinct 3 feature set is similar to the Fenix 8 that is priced more than twice the cost of the Instinct 3. It has less premium materials and does not support offline music playback, but if you want a powerful GPS sports watch that can take a beating and keep on performing, then the Instinct 3 may be for you. Review: Garmin Instinct 3 Solar If you spend time outdoors in the spring and summer months, whether it is for hiking, running, fishing, swimming, or enjoying the water and outdoors in other forms, then the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar may be the watch for you. It even supports the ability to track your dog if you are out bird hunting with your favorite companion. Who should look elsewhere: I like the rugged Instinct 3 Solar for fishing, but it's not a watch I wear daily because of the monochrome display, bulky size that makes it tough to sleep with, and limited golf support. The Garmin Enduro 3 offers a similar level of functionality with very long battery life and a color display. Garmin Instinct 3 Solar features: Battery life (GPS): 60 hours | Display technology: MIP | Unique feature: LED flashlight, 2nd small window | Size: 50 mm (also available in 45mm) Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Garmin View now at Amazon View now at Crutchfield Why we like it: I enjoy using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as a smartwatch thanks to its ability to serve as a phone replacement and serve up nearly every application I want on my wrist. One feature that I keep asking for is a LED flashlight so when I saw Garmin recently launch the unique Venu X1 with a powerful LED flashlight then I knew I had to test it out. The Venu X1 is the first Venu series watch to feature a LED flashlight, but more than that it has a massive 2-inch AMOLED square display in a sleek 7.9 mm thick body. It offers much of what we see in the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, but for those of us who are not professional athletes and are looking for a Garmin-branded watch that looks a bit like an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Review: Garmin Venu X1 Who it's for: The integrated speaker and microphone also supports calls from the wrist, voice commands, and access to voice assistants via a connected smartphone. In addition to its smartwatch functions, the Venu X1 supports all of the amazing Garmin functions and vast ecosystem. This includes subscription music support, Garmin Pay, Connect IQ app support, and the superb Garmin Connect smartphone application. Who should look elsewhere: There is no support for multi-band GPS and ECG measurements, but positioning with multiple satellite systems has still proven to be very accurate. If you want the most accurate positioning then you should consider a Forerunner or Fenix model. I've taken ECG measurements for testing on various watches, but my results are always normal so it has no actual utility for me so the lack of ECG is not important to me. However, millions can benefit from early detection so if you need the ECG capability then look to another Garmin model capable of this feature. Garmin Venu X1 features: Battery life (GPS): 16 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Biggest Garmin display, square form factor, new ComfortFit band | Size: 41 mm x 46 mm Health & wellness 8 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 6 Applications 6 Core functionality 8 Pros Vibrant, large, square AMOLED display
Ultra slim profile and extremely comfortable strap
LED flashlight, speaker, and microphone
More than week-long battery Cons Expensive
Dual-band GPS is not supported Garmin Venu X1 Best Garmin smartwatch to compete with Apple and Samsung 3.6 / 5 Score Why we like it: I enjoy using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 as a smartwatch thanks to its ability to serve as a phone replacement and serve up nearly every application I want on my wrist. One feature that I keep asking for is a LED flashlight so when I saw Garmin recently launch the unique Venu X1 with a powerful LED flashlight then I knew I had to test it out. The Venu X1 is the first Venu series watch to feature a LED flashlight, but more than that it has a massive 2-inch AMOLED square display in a sleek 7.9 mm thick body. It offers much of what we see in the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, but for those of us who are not professional athletes and are looking for a Garmin-branded watch that looks a bit like an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Review: Garmin Venu X1 Who it's for: The integrated speaker and microphone also supports calls from the wrist, voice commands, and access to voice assistants via a connected smartphone. In addition to its smartwatch functions, the Venu X1 supports all of the amazing Garmin functions and vast ecosystem. This includes subscription music support, Garmin Pay, Connect IQ app support, and the superb Garmin Connect smartphone application. Who should look elsewhere: There is no support for multi-band GPS and ECG measurements, but positioning with multiple satellite systems has still proven to be very accurate. If you want the most accurate positioning then you should consider a Forerunner or Fenix model. I've taken ECG measurements for testing on various watches, but my results are always normal so it has no actual utility for me so the lack of ECG is not important to me. However, millions can benefit from early detection so if you need the ECG capability then look to another Garmin model capable of this feature. Garmin Venu X1 features: Battery life (GPS): 16 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Biggest Garmin display, square form factor, new ComfortFit band | Size: 41 mm x 46 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Garmin View now at Amazon View now at Best Buy Garmin's Vívomove line is known for blending the natural mechanics of a traditional analog watch with its latest digital features. This makes models like the Vívomove Trend ideal for users who prefer a subtle and timeless smartwatch design. Why we like it: ZDNET's reviews editor, June Wan, tested the latest Vívomove Trend and found it to strike a good balance of in-app health and fitness features, battery life, and charging tech. Speaking of which, the Trend is the first Garmin watch to support wireless charging in general. That means you can plop the wearable on any Qi-enabled charging pad and it'll power up nicely. (There's also a wired option included in the box if that's more your cup of tea.) Also: Garmin's Vívomove Trend fixes my biggest issue with its smartwatches With a hybrid design, the Vívomove Trend's motorized hands will adaptively rotate around the watch face as you interact with it, from swiping through fitness metrics to changing sound and vibration settings to starting a workout. Auto workout detection is still a thing, as is Garmin Pay and the slew of data the companion app provides for any other model, so you won't miss out on every Garmin feature by going with more style here. Who it's for: The Vivomove Trend looks like a typical analog watch and not one that is packed full of advanced sensors and technology so if you are looking for an unobtrusive sports watch, then the Trend is a good model to consider. "In ways, I appreciated the focus on digital well-being here, with the lack of bright, distracting, and colorful screen animations, alongside my daily health metrics," Wan wrote about the watch. Who should look elsewhere: If you want to see all of your health and fitness data right on the display and in full color, then consider a Forerunner, Venu, or Fenix. The Vivomove Trend is first primarily a good-looking watch, but not primarily a feature-packed sports watch. Garmin Vivomove Trend features: Battery life (Smartwatch): Five days | Display technology: OLED | Unique feature: Minute hands and wireless charging | Size: 40 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 7 Advanced features 3 Applications 3 Core functionality 8 Pros Excellent battery life thanks to the hybrid design
Motorized hands that adapt to what's on-screen
Supports wireless charging Cons Not as rugged and durable as sportier watches
Only comes in a 40mm watch size Garmin Vívomove Trend Best budget Garmin watch 2.8 / 5 Score Garmin's Vívomove line is known for blending the natural mechanics of a traditional analog watch with its latest digital features. This makes models like the Vívomove Trend ideal for users who prefer a subtle and timeless smartwatch design. Why we like it: ZDNET's reviews editor, June Wan, tested the latest Vívomove Trend and found it to strike a good balance of in-app health and fitness features, battery life, and charging tech. Speaking of which, the Trend is the first Garmin watch to support wireless charging in general. That means you can plop the wearable on any Qi-enabled charging pad and it'll power up nicely. (There's also a wired option included in the box if that's more your cup of tea.) Also: Garmin's Vívomove Trend fixes my biggest issue with its smartwatches With a hybrid design, the Vívomove Trend's motorized hands will adaptively rotate around the watch face as you interact with it, from swiping through fitness metrics to changing sound and vibration settings to starting a workout. Auto workout detection is still a thing, as is Garmin Pay and the slew of data the companion app provides for any other model, so you won't miss out on every Garmin feature by going with more style here. Who it's for: The Vivomove Trend looks like a typical analog watch and not one that is packed full of advanced sensors and technology so if you are looking for an unobtrusive sports watch, then the Trend is a good model to consider. "In ways, I appreciated the focus on digital well-being here, with the lack of bright, distracting, and colorful screen animations, alongside my daily health metrics," Wan wrote about the watch. Who should look elsewhere: If you want to see all of your health and fitness data right on the display and in full color, then consider a Forerunner, Venu, or Fenix. The Vivomove Trend is first primarily a good-looking watch, but not primarily a feature-packed sports watch. Garmin Vivomove Trend features: Battery life (Smartwatch): Five days | Display technology: OLED | Unique feature: Minute hands and wireless charging | Size: 40 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Amazon View now at Crutchfield Why we like it: Garmin's Vivoactive 6 matches other modern smartwatches with a brilliant high-resolution AMOLED display, replacing the memory-in-pixel displays of all past Vivoactive models. It's comparable in design to the Venu 3 series with the Venu focused on challenging smartphones with phone call and voice assistant support. The Vivoactive 6 is much more affordable than the Venu 3/3S with its focus on casual athletes. Who it's for: The Vivoactive 6 is a sleek watch available now for $300 in four color options and one 42mm size option for all users. Garmin also introduced its first smart alarm feature with the Vivoactive 6 that wakes you at your lightest point of sleep within 30 minutes of your desired wake time. Also: I tested Garmin's latest smartwatch, and it has the right balance of style and features More than 80 sports modes, support for wheelchair activities, nap tracking, and more make the Vivoactive 6 a fantastic GPS sports watch option for the masses. Given the affordable price, it may be the perfect first choice for people looking to try out the Garmin ecosystem. Who should look elsewhere: The Vivoactive 6 comes in one size, so those of us with larger wrists are likely not going to be happy with the 42mm size. The watch also has no mapping or turn-by-turn directions, so it is not built for someone looking to explore the wilderness. Garmin Vivoactive 6 features: Battery life (GPS): 21 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Smart alarm | Size: 42 mm Health & wellness 8 Build quality/durability 7 Advanced features 6 Applications 5 Core functionality 8 Pros Budget-friendly
Brilliant AMOLED display
Responsive touchscreen display
Week to 10-day battery life
Smart alarm feature Cons No larger size
No altimeter for elevation measurements Garmin Vívoactive 6 Best Garmin watch for casual athletes 3.4 / 5 Score Why we like it: Garmin's Vivoactive 6 matches other modern smartwatches with a brilliant high-resolution AMOLED display, replacing the memory-in-pixel displays of all past Vivoactive models. It's comparable in design to the Venu 3 series with the Venu focused on challenging smartphones with phone call and voice assistant support. The Vivoactive 6 is much more affordable than the Venu 3/3S with its focus on casual athletes. Who it's for: The Vivoactive 6 is a sleek watch available now for $300 in four color options and one 42mm size option for all users. Garmin also introduced its first smart alarm feature with the Vivoactive 6 that wakes you at your lightest point of sleep within 30 minutes of your desired wake time. Also: I tested Garmin's latest smartwatch, and it has the right balance of style and features More than 80 sports modes, support for wheelchair activities, nap tracking, and more make the Vivoactive 6 a fantastic GPS sports watch option for the masses. Given the affordable price, it may be the perfect first choice for people looking to try out the Garmin ecosystem. Who should look elsewhere: The Vivoactive 6 comes in one size, so those of us with larger wrists are likely not going to be happy with the 42mm size. The watch also has no mapping or turn-by-turn directions, so it is not built for someone looking to explore the wilderness. Garmin Vivoactive 6 features: Battery life (GPS): 21 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Smart alarm | Size: 42 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Amazon Why we like it: The Instinct Crossover provides long battery life and rugged features with a classy, iconic design. If you like wearing a watch primarily to always provide you with glanceable time and want a watch that tracks all of your health and activity data, then the Instinct Crossover may be just what you are looking for. It also helps that Garmin incorporated a new GPS chipset with much more accurate performance than the Instinct 2 series. Who it's for: The nice thing about a watch like the Garmin Instinct Crossover is that it functions primarily as a watch and then captures your health and activity data passively as you work out and live. Open up the Garmin Connect smartphone application and then you will find all of your data in full color with extensive capability to create reports and analyze your data. This includes blood pressure data from the new . Review: The Garmin Instinct Crossover grew on me. I just wish it had this one killer feature It takes a few days to fully appreciate the Garmin Instinct Crossover and for me it took viewing the watch in low light conditions where the hands and hour marks were always crystal clear, watching the hands dynamically switch whenever the content needed to be viewed, and the complete lack of thought about battery life. I continue to fall back on watches that last for weeks and will never fully embrace a watch that only lasts for one to three days again. Who should look elsewhere: If you don't like viewing analog hands on your watch and want brilliant color with a touchscreen interface then look elsewhere. The Instinct Crossover is a unique watch that will only appeal to a small community of watch wearers. Garmin Instinct Crossover features: Battery life (GPS): 25 hours | Display technology: Memory-in-pixel monochrome | Unique feature: Minute hands and center display | Size: 45 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 4 Applications 3 Core functionality 8 Pros Long battery life
Always present luminescent hands
Innovative hand/display synchronization Cons Expensive Garmin Instinct Crossover Best hybrid Garmin watch 3 / 5 Score Why we like it: The Instinct Crossover provides long battery life and rugged features with a classy, iconic design. If you like wearing a watch primarily to always provide you with glanceable time and want a watch that tracks all of your health and activity data, then the Instinct Crossover may be just what you are looking for. It also helps that Garmin incorporated a new GPS chipset with much more accurate performance than the Instinct 2 series. Who it's for: The nice thing about a watch like the Garmin Instinct Crossover is that it functions primarily as a watch and then captures your health and activity data passively as you work out and live. Open up the Garmin Connect smartphone application and then you will find all of your data in full color with extensive capability to create reports and analyze your data. This includes blood pressure data from the new . Review: The Garmin Instinct Crossover grew on me. I just wish it had this one killer feature It takes a few days to fully appreciate the Garmin Instinct Crossover and for me it took viewing the watch in low light conditions where the hands and hour marks were always crystal clear, watching the hands dynamically switch whenever the content needed to be viewed, and the complete lack of thought about battery life. I continue to fall back on watches that last for weeks and will never fully embrace a watch that only lasts for one to three days again. Who should look elsewhere: If you don't like viewing analog hands on your watch and want brilliant color with a touchscreen interface then look elsewhere. The Instinct Crossover is a unique watch that will only appeal to a small community of watch wearers. Garmin Instinct Crossover features: Battery life (GPS): 25 hours | Display technology: Memory-in-pixel monochrome | Unique feature: Minute hands and center display | Size: 45 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Garmin View now at Amazon View now at Crutchfield Why we like it: The Garmin Approach S70 improves on the previous S62 with an AMOLED display, 42 and 47mm size options (people with smaller wrists can now enjoy this complete golf experience), improved PlaysLike features (temperature and barometric pressure accounted for), green contours with Garmin Golf subscription, and improvements in other health and fitness aspects of the Garmin ecosystem outside of golf. Some of the golf features found on the Approach S70 that are not available on other Garmin watches include custom targets, PinPointer, PlaysLike distance, Swing Tempo, green contours, and shot dispersion. Shot dispersion may be one of my favorite new features as it displays a box on the watch to show where your selected club shot may end up, based on your golfing history. Review: This Garmin golf watch has one key feature that makes it indispensable for my game Who it's for: I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course with the Garmin Approach S70 and have yet to find another golf watch that offers as much as it does. If you're passionate about golf, and you want a watch that can help you with other fitness activities just as much, then this is the watch to consider. Who should look elsewhere: If you never golf, then you should not buy the Approach S70. It has hardware features around the bezel specifically for golf so if you never golf that is a wasted feature. The watch is powerful for golf, but compromises in various ways when it comes to the rest of the Garmin ecosystem. At 47mm, the Approach S70 may also be too large for some golfers, but there are other Approach options available from Garmin so consider the Approach S44 or Approach S50. Garmin Approach S70 features: Battery life (GPS): 20 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: 18-hole status indicator | Size: 47 mm Health & wellness 6 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 7 Applications 7 Core functionality 9 Pros Complete golf experience
Brilliant AMOLED display
Support for extensive number of activities Cons Pricey
Limited battery life Garmin Approach S70 Best Garmin watch for golf 3.7 / 5 Score Why we like it: The Garmin Approach S70 improves on the previous S62 with an AMOLED display, 42 and 47mm size options (people with smaller wrists can now enjoy this complete golf experience), improved PlaysLike features (temperature and barometric pressure accounted for), green contours with Garmin Golf subscription, and improvements in other health and fitness aspects of the Garmin ecosystem outside of golf. Some of the golf features found on the Approach S70 that are not available on other Garmin watches include custom targets, PinPointer, PlaysLike distance, Swing Tempo, green contours, and shot dispersion. Shot dispersion may be one of my favorite new features as it displays a box on the watch to show where your selected club shot may end up, based on your golfing history. Review: This Garmin golf watch has one key feature that makes it indispensable for my game Who it's for: I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course with the Garmin Approach S70 and have yet to find another golf watch that offers as much as it does. If you're passionate about golf, and you want a watch that can help you with other fitness activities just as much, then this is the watch to consider. Who should look elsewhere: If you never golf, then you should not buy the Approach S70. It has hardware features around the bezel specifically for golf so if you never golf that is a wasted feature. The watch is powerful for golf, but compromises in various ways when it comes to the rest of the Garmin ecosystem. At 47mm, the Approach S70 may also be too large for some golfers, but there are other Approach options available from Garmin so consider the Approach S44 or Approach S50. Garmin Approach S70 features: Battery life (GPS): 20 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: 18-hole status indicator | Size: 47 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Show less View now at Garmin Why we like it: The latest in its triathlete-tailored Forerunner series, the Garmin Forerunner 970 builds on the extensive training features from its predecessor and enhances the hardware with an LED flashlight so you can run safely in the dark. Other hardware features from the Fenix 8 are present on the Forerunner 970, including a microphone and speaker for calls from your watch, access to your phone's voice assistant, and the ability to record voice notes while you run. Aside from the impressive performance metrics like outlining your running routes, showing training effects, and measuring VO2 Max, the 970 adds running economy and running tolerance when paired with a Garmin HRM 600 heart rate monitor. Garmin also launched its new Evening Report features on the 970 so you can prepare for the next day as you begin your sleep. Also: My favorite Garmin safety feature is coming to Forerunner models - and I can't recommend it enough Who it's for: Improved GNSS tracking with multi-band and multi-frequency support, managed via SatIQ, ensures your exact location is always accurately tracked. Bold color mapping is available for turn-by-turn navigation, trail running, and more. While the Forerunner 970 is focused on the runner and triathlete, there is also full support for more than 30 activities with the ability to customize the data screens and run reports on all of your sports. Who should look elsewhere: If you are a runner, but do not need all of the advanced metrics found in the Forerunner 970 then the premium price point may not be worth it for your needs. There are other affordable Forerunner models that may meet your needs and you could also save by purchasing the previous generation, the Forerunner 965. Garmin Forerunner 970 features: Battery life (GPS): 26 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Advanced training metrics and Evening Report | Size: 47 mm Health & wellness 9 Build quality/durability 9 Advanced features 7 Applications 9 Core functionality 10 Pros Triathlon-geared features
Vivid AMOLED display
LED flashlight
Multiple GPS protocols, including onboard mapping
Recovery time meter Cons Battery life less than the 965
Some advanced metrics require an expensive heart rate monitor Garmin Forerunner 970 Best Garmin watch for triathletes 4.4 / 5 Score Why we like it: The latest in its triathlete-tailored Forerunner series, the Garmin Forerunner 970 builds on the extensive training features from its predecessor and enhances the hardware with an LED flashlight so you can run safely in the dark. Other hardware features from the Fenix 8 are present on the Forerunner 970, including a microphone and speaker for calls from your watch, access to your phone's voice assistant, and the ability to record voice notes while you run. Aside from the impressive performance metrics like outlining your running routes, showing training effects, and measuring VO2 Max, the 970 adds running economy and running tolerance when paired with a Garmin HRM 600 heart rate monitor. Garmin also launched its new Evening Report features on the 970 so you can prepare for the next day as you begin your sleep. Also: My favorite Garmin safety feature is coming to Forerunner models - and I can't recommend it enough Who it's for: Improved GNSS tracking with multi-band and multi-frequency support, managed via SatIQ, ensures your exact location is always accurately tracked. Bold color mapping is available for turn-by-turn navigation, trail running, and more. While the Forerunner 970 is focused on the runner and triathlete, there is also full support for more than 30 activities with the ability to customize the data screens and run reports on all of your sports. Who should look elsewhere: If you are a runner, but do not need all of the advanced metrics found in the Forerunner 970 then the premium price point may not be worth it for your needs. There are other affordable Forerunner models that may meet your needs and you could also save by purchasing the previous generation, the Forerunner 965. Garmin Forerunner 970 features: Battery life (GPS): 26 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Advanced training metrics and Evening Report | Size: 47 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less
Apple Watch vs Garmin: Why choose Garmin? The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall, and Apple continues to challenge Garmin's fitness expertise with the inclusion of training load. However, the Watch Ultra 2 still has limited battery life, so if you want a watch that lasts for days or weeks rather than hours, then Garmin watch models may be a better fit for your lifestyle. Garmin has an extensive native fitness and training ecosystem, while Apple relies on third-party developers to provide these advanced training solutions. Garmin watches also work flawlessly with the Apple iPhone, so both are great solutions for iPhone users. I personally wear a Garmin on one wrist and an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the other. Show more
What is the best Garmin watch? Based on my hands-on testing, I chose the Fenix 8 AMOLED as the best Garmin watch overall because it includes nearly every feature from Garmin, and supports tracking of all activities in the Garmin ecosystem. Few, if any, other Garmin watches are designed to handle as many sports, circumstances, and environments as this one. While its steep price may be a deterrent, this watch delivers more in function than most Garmin alternatives. The new Forerunner 970 offers many of the same advanced elements as the Fenix 8 AMOLED with a lower price and slightly less robust hardware. The new Venu X1 also supports much of what is found in the Fenix 8 in a thin form with the largest display on a Garmin smartwatch. To compare all of our top choices to see what best fits your budget and battery life needs, here is a chart for a quick comparison. Garmin Watch model Price Solar charging Battery life (GPS) Fenix 8 AMOLED $900 No 47 hours Forerunner 165 $250 No 19 hours Instinct 3 Solar $450 Yes 60 hours Venu X1 $800 No 16 hours Vivoactive 6 $300 No 21 hours Vivomove Trend $270 No Five days (smartwatch mode) Instinct Crossover $340 Yes 25 hours Approach S70 $650 No 20 hours Forerunner 970 $750 No 26 hours *Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts. Show more
Which is the right Garmin watch model for you? Choose this Garmin watch model… If you want... Fenix 8 AMOLED ZDNET's choice for best Garmin watch overall. It has the most features and functions, and a brilliant AMOLED display and a built-in LED flashlight. Forerunner 165 There are not many options available for those with smaller wrists who want a lightweight watch, but Garmin hit it out of the park with this Forerunner 165 that provides the full package in a small form factor. The lovely AMOLED display, colorful watch body and band options, metrics focused on casual runners, and a $250 price make this an easy one to recommend. Instinct 3 Solar The Instinct 3 Solar is built for the outdoor adventurer who puts their watch to the test with inclement weather, rough conditions, and yet wants a watch that lasts forever. The integrated LED flashlight makes it the watch for campers, hunters, hikers, and more. Venu X1 If you want a smartwatch with a big vivid display, but are not interested in an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra then the Venu X1 is the one for you. It is one of the slimmest watches available and you can make and receive calls, use your voice assistant, have 3rd party apps, and more. Vívoactive 6 A fully functional GPS smartwatch with an emphasis on exercise and health features. It's also one of the most affordable Garmin watches available yet still has that lovely AMOLED display. Vívomove Trend A hybrid smartwatch with the flexibility of wireless charging. The Trend nicely blends both digital and analog features, making it a great option to wear from work to workout. Instinct Crossover This hybrid watch is perfect for those who like to see physical analog hands on a watch yet still be able to enjoy the vast Garmin ecosystem for health and wellness. The battery lasts a long time and the Instinct Crossover is a great watch for G-Shock lovers. Approach S70 If your preferred activity is golf, then no other Garmin watch beats the experience provided by the Approach S70. If you use the watch as designed, you don't have many excuses left to not improve your game. Vast amounts of data is collected by the watch, especially when connected to the CT10 club sensors. Forerunner 965 A triathlon-geared smartwatch. The Forerunner 965 is packed with extensive fitness tracking for running, biking, swimming, and more. It also now sports a modern AMOLED display and despite having other Garmin watches on hand the Forerunner 965 keeps finding its way back on my wrist. Show more
Factors to consider when choosing a Garmin watch Before you choose a Garmin watch, you should consider the following: Primary activity: As you start your search for a Garmin watch, it is important to start with identifying the main activities that you want to track with your watch. Garmin watch series are primarily organized by the type of your intended activity with watch designs optimized for those activities.] Size: Do you want a large watch or a small watch? Garmin offers several different varieties, ranging from slim and sleek to larger and more utilitarian. LED flashlight : Garmin continues to roll out the LED flashlight across its watch lineup and this valuable capability is now available on Fenix, Enduro, and Instinct watches, along with the Garmin Forerunner 970 and Venu X1.
: Garmin continues to roll out the LED flashlight across its watch lineup and this valuable capability is now available on Fenix, Enduro, and Instinct watches, along with the Garmin Forerunner 970 and Venu X1. Screen type : Do you want a brilliant AMOLED display that rivals a smartwatch or would you like longer battery life with a memory-in-pixel always-on display that looks great in direct sun?
Price: One fantastic aspect about Garmin's lineup of watches is that they vary in price in $50 increments from about $150 all of the way up and over $1,000. Buyers can also save money by picking up models from previous years, and with Garmin providing improved software support for these models, you should consider saving some money for functional older watches. Show more
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How we test Garmin watches These Garmin watches were tested and evaluated by display functions, interface, long battery life, durability, supported activities, and price. Not all attributes were given equal weight, however. Supported activities, functions, and battery life were given more priority than interface, display, and price. High durability in design was a common theme throughout the considered Garmin watches and did not always vary significantly between many of the products. When we test Garmin watches, we consider the following: Display functions and interface: Each Garmin interface on this list has slight variations. Depending on whether you're using the watch to train for a triathlon or run outdoors, you may want different functions, such as trail trackback capability.
Each Garmin interface on this list has slight variations. Depending on whether you're using the watch to train for a triathlon or run outdoors, you may want different functions, such as trail trackback capability. Long battery life: Your watch is only as powerful as it's alive and working. We considered solar and wireless charging options that provide ultimate battery life as you train and track, along with other options with a battery life that is well over 20 hours on a single charge.
Your watch is only as powerful as it's alive and working. We considered solar and wireless charging options that provide ultimate battery life as you train and track, along with other options with a battery life that is well over 20 hours on a single charge. Durability: You'll need a watch that withstands your environment, especially if you're training outdoors and in the water.
You'll need a watch that withstands your environment, especially if you're training outdoors and in the water. Supported activities: We considered the array of activities -- outdoor and indoor -- you'll be wanting to track with your Garmin.
We considered the array of activities -- outdoor and indoor -- you'll be wanting to track with your Garmin. Price: Smartwatches can cost a pretty penny -- especially quality models -- so we were sure to include mid-range models as well as the units with a more luxury price tag.
Once our top pick from each series was determined, they were then compared to each other and reviewed within this guide using the same criteria as above. Each of the five was selected as superlative in some role or for some audiences. For instance, the Fenix 8 AMOLED is the "best overall," and the Forerunner 970 is the "best for triathletes." These rankings are the opinion of the reviewer in the context of the review, based upon the above-stated criteria. For more details on our testing process, check out our full smartwatch testing methodology. Show more
Latest news on Garmin watches
The last Garmin watch to have LTE service for safety purposes was the Forerunner 945 LTE. Rumors are swirling that Garmin may release a Fenix 8 model with LTE connectivity. The Fenix 8 was released in Aug. 2024, and a lack of cellular connectivity is one of the gaps between Garmin watches and those from Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Garmin Watch FAQs Which Garmin watch is most accurate? Typically, the newest models are the most accurate when it comes to body measurements because heart rate sensor technology improves with time, and Garmin integrates its latest sensors in new models. GPS has now reached near perfection with multi-band and multi-frequency receivers in the watches, so positioning accuracy is about as good as it will ever get. Accuracy is also dependent on the fit of the watch on your wrist. For my larger wrists, the Garmin Fenix 8 51mm and Instinct 3 Solar 50mm are perfect and provide the best accuracy. For those with smaller wrists, the Forerunner 165, Venu 3S, or Vivoactive 6 are likely the best watches for heart rate accuracy. Show more Are all Garmin watches waterproof? Yes. Most Garmin GPS watches are water resistant from up to 50 or 100 meters. Less expensive and older models tend to be water-resistant up to 50 meters, although this can vary by model and series. The more expensive and newer models like the Fenix 8 are water-resistant to 100 meters. All of them can be used in the rain, while sweating as you work out, and even while swimming. Also: Best waterproof smartwatch 2025 Show more How do I take care of my new smartwatch? The following tips can help you properly care for your new Garmin watch: Reset: If your watch fails to function properly, sometimes a simple reset is all that is needed to get things back up and running again. Go to System > Reset on your watch to view the available options. These include reset default settings, delete all activities, reset totals, and delete data and reset settings. The last option is useful if you are selling your watch or want to start over from scratch.
If your watch fails to function properly, sometimes a simple reset is all that is needed to get things back up and running again. Go to System > Reset on your watch to view the available options. These include reset default settings, delete all activities, reset totals, and delete data and reset settings. The last option is useful if you are selling your watch or want to start over from scratch. Sync: Garmin smartwatches connect to your smartphone via the Garmin Connect app. The Garmin Connect IQ app is also used to sync apps and data fields that you select to completely customize and optimize your watch. Bluetooth can be finicky at times, so you may need to turn Bluetooth off and then on again on your smartphone if a sync issue pops up.
Garmin smartwatches connect to your smartphone via the Garmin Connect app. The Garmin Connect IQ app is also used to sync apps and data fields that you select to completely customize and optimize your watch. Bluetooth can be finicky at times, so you may need to turn Bluetooth off and then on again on your smartphone if a sync issue pops up. Updates: Garmin has done a fantastic job the past couple of years with regular quarterly updates for its watches, so it's a good idea to check for updates through the Garmin Connect app on your phone, the Garmin desktop utility, or on the watch itself. Updates usually add new features and improve in other areas that may have bugs. You can even sign up for the public beta to test the latest and greatest features on your Garmin watch. Show more What happens if my Garmin watch breaks? If the watch breaks within the first year and your limited consumer warranty covers it, then you may be able to have Garmin fix it for free or for a small fee. However, if it breaks outside of that warranty, you'll likely need to have it repaired. You can request a repair through the Garmin website and mail the company your GPS watch for repair. There are also third-party repair businesses that may work on Garmin GPS watches. Show more Does my Garmin watch have a warranty? Through most mainstream distributors, Garmin watches will include a limited warranty. However, this is a blanket warranty for Garmin watches, and specific models can have different warranties. The base warranty is a one-year manufacturer's warranty, and Garmin does not offer extended warranties in most situations. Show more What is the Garmin Connect app? The Garmin Connect app is your digital hub for compiling all your fitness stats in one place. After downloading it on your phone, you can use a compatible device (like a Garmin sports watch) to see daily step totals, max heart rate during workouts, and much more. Further, the "Last 7 Days" gives you a weekly average of your physical activities, sleep, and average heart rate. If you want a larger view of your data with access to many reports, you can also log in to the Garmin Connect website and take a deep dive into all of the data captured by your Garmin watch. Show more Is Garmin Connect Plus worth the subscription price? Garmin joined the subscription model with the option to subscribe to the Garmin Connect Plus service for $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually. There's a free 30-day trial to test the service, which includes new tools like Active Intelligence, powered by AI, designed to give you insights personalized to your daily health and activity data collected by various Garmin devices. The more you use it, the more it will be tailored to you and your goals. Garmin Connect Plus also includes a new performance dashboard with customizable graphs and charts, live activity functionality where you can view indoor activity data from your watch streamed to your smartphone, additional coaching guidance when following a Garmin Run or Cycling Coach program, and enhanced social features that include exclusive Connect Plus badge challenges. The service offering has garnered quite a bit of controversy given that most Garmin watches are more expensive than competitors' watches. A longer free trial or more substantial features may help alleviate some of the angst, but I recommend at least giving the trial a go before making your decision on whether or not to subscribe. Show more Are Garmin watches the best for marathon and triathlon training? Thanks to Garmin watches' extensive tracking features and athlete-oriented metrics, Garmin watches are a highly popular choice among marathon runners and triathletes, especially its Forerunner series. "I really like the data the Garmin connect provides from all my past activities, I can see the progress I've made over time and look back to previous training schedules, similar runs, Routes, etc," says two-time Iron Man competitor and avid marathon runner, Jeramie Pinter. Pinter, who completes one to two marathons a year, has been using his Garmin to train since 2011. He specifically utilizes Garmin's training mode for certain workouts like track and tempo runs, measuring his pace zones for the given workout. Show more
Latest updates
In our latest June update, we added the new Venu X1 to the list, replacing Venu 3S. We also added information on Garmin news in 2025, and added additional details to each top product.
Other Garmin watches we've tested
While we tried to include a wide array of Garmin watches in our review, there are many more to consider than what we can represent here. Consider one of these three alternatives for those who didn't find the Garmin watch they want above.