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10 Best Garmin Smart Watches 2025 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Garmin Venu® 4, 45mm, Advanced Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch, Bright and Colorful Display, Built-in Flashlight, 12 Days of Battery Life, Slate with Black Silicone Band

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,279
Battery Life
Heart Rate Monitoring
Durability

Most important from
376 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life impressively lasts five to six days with continuous tracking, notifications, and GPS use, reducing the need for frequent charging.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Health and performance metrics, including heart rate and recovery insights, are reliable and integrate seamlessly with fitness and nutrition apps.
Durability
The stainless steel case gives the watch a stylish, durable, and comfortable design that feels more like a traditional watch than a sporty fitness tracker.
Display Quality
The bright, crisp 1.4-inch display is easy to read and enhances the overall premium feel of the watch.

The Garmin Venu 4 is a strong choice for anyone looking for a versatile fitness and health-focused smartwatch. Its bright and colorful 1.4-inch round display is easy to read and stylish, making it enjoyable to wear throughout the day. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 12 days on a single charge, which is convenient if you don’t want to charge your watch frequently. The built-in GPS is accurate enough for tracking outdoor activities like running, cycling, and walking, which is great for fitness enthusiasts.

Heart rate monitoring and other health features, such as sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and pulse oxygen measurement, offer a comprehensive look at your well-being, although some metrics are estimates rather than exact medical readings. The inclusion of a built-in flashlight adds a practical touch for night-time activities. Smart features are well-rounded, allowing you to make calls, send texts using voice commands, and use your smartphone’s voice assistant, which adds useful convenience. The watch supports a wide range of sports and workouts, plus personalized training plans, making it suitable for varied fitness levels.

In terms of durability, the stainless steel design and water resistance mean it can handle everyday wear and exercise, including swimming. Some advanced features like the ECG app aren’t available everywhere, and the device requires pairing with a compatible smartphone to unlock its full smart capabilities. While the watch provides many health insights, it’s important to remember that these are approximations and not medical diagnoses. For users looking for a reliable, stylish, and health-focused smartwatch with solid battery life and good GPS tracking, the Garmin Venu 4 presents a well-rounded option.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,279
Battery Life
Heart Rate Monitoring
Durability

Most important from
376 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life impressively lasts five to six days with continuous tracking, notifications, and GPS use, reducing the need for frequent charging.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Health and performance metrics, including heart rate and recovery insights, are reliable and integrate seamlessly with fitness and nutrition apps.
Durability
The stainless steel case gives the watch a stylish, durable, and comfortable design that feels more like a traditional watch than a sporty fitness tracker.
Display Quality
The bright, crisp 1.4-inch display is easy to read and enhances the overall premium feel of the watch.
#2

Garmin fēnix® 8 – 51 mm, AMOLED, Sapphire, Premium Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Dive-Rated, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Pebble Gray Band

Rating
9.4
Battery Life
GPS Accuracy
Heart Rate Monitoring

Most important from
1804 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life is outstanding, lasting over a week on a single charge, which transforms the user experience compared to daily charging smartwatches.
GPS Accuracy
GPS accuracy is reliable and connects almost instantly, making it seamless for tracking diverse workouts like running, cycling, and strength training.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Comprehensive health monitoring includes precise heart rate, sleep, HRV, Pulse Ox, and ECG features, surpassing many competitors in health metrics depth.
Smart Features
Smart features include the ability to take calls from the wrist and interact with voice assistants, adding convenience on the go.
Durability
The sapphire face offers exceptional scratch resistance, providing peace of mind for everyday wear.
Display Quality
The AMOLED display is bright and crisp, easily readable even in bright sunlight and a significant upgrade over previous models.

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a robust multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable performance and durability. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED display offers bright, sharp visuals protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, making it easy to read in various lighting conditions. The titanium bezel and pebble gray band add to its premium and rugged feel.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 29 days in smartwatch mode and 84 hours with continuous GPS use, so it easily supports long adventures without frequent charging. GPS accuracy is enhanced by multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology and built-in sensors, ensuring precise location tracking and turn-by-turn navigation for varied workouts or outdoor exploration. The watch provides comprehensive health monitoring, including wrist-based heart rate tracking, advanced sleep analysis, respiration tracking, and Pulse Ox measurements. It also offers an ECG app to check heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation.

With a 40-meter dive rating and leakproof metal buttons, it supports scuba and apnea diving, reinforcing its water resistance and durability. Smart features include making and taking calls directly from the wrist, voice assistant integration, and offline voice commands, adding convenience for daily use. This smartwatch is well suited for active users who want a high-end, durable device with excellent battery life, reliable GPS, and extensive fitness tracking capabilities.

Rating
9.4
Battery Life
GPS Accuracy
Heart Rate Monitoring

Most important from
1804 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life is outstanding, lasting over a week on a single charge, which transforms the user experience compared to daily charging smartwatches.
GPS Accuracy
GPS accuracy is reliable and connects almost instantly, making it seamless for tracking diverse workouts like running, cycling, and strength training.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Comprehensive health monitoring includes precise heart rate, sleep, HRV, Pulse Ox, and ECG features, surpassing many competitors in health metrics depth.
Smart Features
Smart features include the ability to take calls from the wrist and interact with voice assistants, adding convenience on the go.
Durability
The sapphire face offers exceptional scratch resistance, providing peace of mind for everyday wear.
Display Quality
The AMOLED display is bright and crisp, easily readable even in bright sunlight and a significant upgrade over previous models.
#3

Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black and Powder Gray

Rating
9.1
Battery Life
GPS Accuracy
Display Quality

Most important from
2187 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life is impressive, lasting up to several days on a single charge, even with regular use of GPS and other features.
GPS Accuracy
The GPS accuracy is outstanding, providing precise tracking for outdoor activities.
Display Quality
The AMOLED display is exceptional, offering vibrant colors and sharp clarity that's easy to read even under bright sunlight.

The Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch is an impressive device for fitness enthusiasts, especially runners. The colorful 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen display is bright and easy to read, and the smartwatch offers both touchscreen and traditional button controls for convenience. It boasts a lightweight design, making it comfortable to wear during long workouts or daily activities. With up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode, it excels in terms of battery performance, ensuring you can track your activities without frequent charging. The multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology enhances GPS accuracy, even in challenging environments, which is crucial for precise tracking of your runs and workouts. Additionally, it is water-resistant, making it suitable for activities like swimming and running in the rain.

This smartwatch offers advanced training metrics and recovery insights, including heart rate variability (HRV) status and training readiness score, providing valuable information for optimizing your workouts and recovery. The 30+ built-in activity profiles cater to various activities like triathlons, cycling, and open-water swimming, making it versatile for different sports. Smart features such as smart notifications for calls and texts, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and music storage add to its practicality.

However, it does have a few drawbacks. The 8 GB storage might be limiting for users who want to store a large amount of music or data. Additionally, while the smartwatch is packed with features, the accuracy of some health metrics like sleep and recovery might not be perfect, though they provide close estimations. In summary, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is a robust, feature-rich smartwatch ideal for fitness enthusiasts who seek detailed tracking and smart functionalities, despite minor limitations in storage and metric accuracy.

Rating
9.1
Battery Life
GPS Accuracy
Display Quality

Most important from
2187 reviews

Battery Life
Battery life is impressive, lasting up to several days on a single charge, even with regular use of GPS and other features.
GPS Accuracy
The GPS accuracy is outstanding, providing precise tracking for outdoor activities.
Display Quality
The AMOLED display is exceptional, offering vibrant colors and sharp clarity that's easy to read even under bright sunlight.

Buying Guide for the Best Garmin Smart Watches

When choosing a Garmin smart watch, it's important to consider your specific needs and lifestyle. Garmin offers a wide range of smart watches with various features tailored for different activities such as running, swimming, hiking, and everyday use. Understanding the key specifications will help you make an informed decision and select the best model for you.
Battery LifeBattery life refers to how long the watch can operate on a single charge. This is important because it determines how often you'll need to recharge your watch. Battery life can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on the model and usage. If you are an athlete or someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, you might prefer a watch with longer battery life. For everyday use, a shorter battery life might be acceptable if you don't mind frequent charging.
GPS AccuracyGPS accuracy measures how precisely the watch can track your location. This is crucial for activities like running, cycling, and hiking where accurate distance and pace measurements are important. Garmin watches are known for their reliable GPS, but some models offer higher accuracy than others. If you need precise tracking for your workouts or adventures, look for a model with advanced GPS features. For casual use, standard GPS accuracy should suffice.
Heart Rate MonitoringHeart rate monitoring tracks your heart rate in real-time, providing valuable data for fitness and health tracking. This feature is important for those who want to monitor their cardiovascular health, optimize their workouts, or track their stress levels. Garmin watches offer different levels of heart rate monitoring accuracy. If you are serious about fitness or have specific health goals, choose a model with advanced heart rate monitoring. For general health tracking, a basic heart rate monitor will do.
Water ResistanceWater resistance indicates how well the watch can withstand exposure to water. This is important if you plan to use the watch while swimming, showering, or in rainy conditions. Garmin watches come with varying degrees of water resistance, typically measured in meters. If you are a swimmer or engage in water sports, look for a watch with higher water resistance (e.g., 50 meters or more). For everyday use, a lower water resistance rating may be sufficient.
Smart FeaturesSmart features include functionalities like notifications, music control, contactless payments, and apps. These features enhance the convenience and usability of the watch in daily life. If you want a watch that can serve as an extension of your smartphone, look for models with a wide range of smart features. If you prefer a simpler device focused on fitness tracking, you might opt for a model with fewer smart features.
DurabilityDurability refers to the watch's ability to withstand wear and tear, including impacts, scratches, and extreme conditions. This is important for those who engage in rugged outdoor activities or have an active lifestyle. Garmin watches are generally built to be durable, but some models are designed to be more robust than others. If you need a watch that can handle tough environments, choose a model with enhanced durability features. For everyday use, standard durability should be adequate.
Display QualityDisplay quality includes factors like screen resolution, brightness, and readability in different lighting conditions. This is important for ensuring that you can easily read the watch's display, whether you're indoors or outdoors. Garmin watches offer various display types and qualities. If you need a watch with a clear and bright display for outdoor activities, look for models with high-resolution and sunlight-readable screens. For general use, a standard display should be sufficient.

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