10 Best Garmin Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin fēnix 8 Pro is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch designed for serious athletes and outdoor adventurers. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen offers bright, clear visuals protected by a durable sapphire lens and a strong titanium bezel, making it resistant to scratches and tough conditions. The watch supports built-in GPS with preloaded topographic maps, golf courses, and ski resorts, helping you navigate easily. Its inReach satellite technology enables two-way messaging, voice calls, and SOS emergency signals directly from the watch, which is a major advantage for off-grid exploration.

Battery life is solid for a smartwatch with an AMOLED display, though heavy use of satellite and LTE functions may reduce it faster. Health tracking is comprehensive, including heart rate, sleep, stress, and oxygen saturation monitoring, though these metrics are approximate and not medical-grade. The watch is also water-resistant to 40 meters and supports scuba diving, making it suitable for various water activities. Smart features like music storage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the ability to leave your phone behind add to its convenience.

Weighing 90 grams with a large 51mm case, the watch offers interchangeable silicone bands for comfort and style. It is especially fitting for users who need rugged durability, advanced GPS navigation, and satellite communication in one device, while casual users might find it more than they require and could be impacted by the subscription cost for inReach features.

The Garmin tactix® 8 smartwatch is designed for those who need a rugged, feature-rich device with advanced tactical capabilities. Its 1.4-inch solar-charged display ensures long battery life, making it suitable for extended outdoor activities. The titanium bezel and sapphire lens enhance durability, and the built-in LED flashlight is useful for low-light conditions. GPS accuracy is impressive with multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology, making navigation reliable.

The watch includes dedicated tactical features like jumpmaster activity, dual-position GPS format, and compatibility with night vision goggles, catering to military and tactical users. Additionally, it offers a 40-meter dive rating for underwater activities, and comprehensive health monitoring with heart rate, sleep, and respiration tracking, although it is not a medical device.

Smart features like Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone notifications, and the ability to download the AB Quantum mobile app for target management add to its versatility. The display quality is robust and clear, suitable for various lighting conditions. The smartwatch might be overwhelming for general users due to its advanced features and higher price point, making it more suited for professionals in demanding environments or avid outdoor adventurers.

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a high-end multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want robust performance and durability. Its 1.4-inch AMOLED screen is bright and clear, protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, making it easy to read even in bright conditions. The titanium bezel adds to its sturdy build, enhancing durability for tough environments.

GPS accuracy is excellent, supported by multi-band SatIQ technology and sensors like a compass and barometric altimeter, which makes navigation reliable during outdoor activities. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 29 days in smartwatch mode and around 84 hours with continuous GPS use, suitable for long adventures or training sessions without frequent charging. Water resistance is strong, with a 40-meter dive rating and leakproof buttons, allowing use in swimming and diving scenarios.

It offers comprehensive health and activity tracking, including wrist-based heart rate monitoring, advanced sleep analysis, respiration tracking, and Pulse Ox, though these are approximations and not medical-grade. The watch also features smart capabilities such as calls and voice assistant support through a built-in speaker and mic, plus off-grid voice commands that work without a smartphone. The battery capacity is relatively small in milliamps, so longevity depends heavily on efficient software, and some advanced health features like ECG and Pulse Ox aren’t available everywhere due to regional restrictions. Weighing over 100 grams, the watch may feel bulky for some users. This Garmin watch suits those needing a durable, feature-packed multisport GPS watch with long battery life and strong outdoor navigation, but might be more than necessary for casual fitness users or those who prefer lighter wearables.