10 Best Garmin Smartwatches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Venu 3S is a stylish and functional smartwatch that suits fitness enthusiasts and those looking to monitor their health closely. The standout feature is its 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, which is bright and colorful, making it easy to read in various lighting conditions. Another major advantage is the impressive battery life of up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, meaning less frequent charging is needed, which is convenient for busy users.

The watch includes comprehensive health monitoring features such as Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep score, and personalized sleep coaching, making it a great companion for understanding and improving your well-being. Additionally, it offers over 30 built-in sports apps, catering to various physical activities from running to swimming, which is excellent for those who enjoy diverse workouts. The GPS accuracy is reliable, ensuring that your outdoor activities are tracked correctly.

This smartwatch also allows you to make and take phone calls from your wrist and interact with your smartphone’s voice assistant, adding to its smart feature set. However, there are a few downsides. The 41mm case size might be slightly large for those with smaller wrists, potentially affecting comfort. Moreover, while the display is high-quality, the watch shape being oval might not appeal to everyone. The Venu 3S is also relatively lightweight at 1.4 ounces, which is a plus for comfort during long wear. Durability is ensured with its stainless steel bezel and silicone band, and it is water-resistant, making it suitable for swimming and everyday wear. This smartwatch combines fitness tracking capabilities with smart features efficiently, making it ideal for users looking to enhance their health and stay connected on the go.

The Garmin fēnix 7S Pro Sapphire Solar is a versatile multisport GPS smartwatch designed for people who want a reliable companion for outdoor activities and fitness tracking. Its 1.2-inch round display is bright and clear, housed in a tough 42mm case made from fiber-reinforced polymer with a steel or titanium bezel, making it very durable and resistant to scratches, thanks to the Power Sapphire solar lens. This solar feature extends the battery life significantly by charging with sunlight, allowing the watch to last for weeks in smartwatch mode, which is great for long adventures without frequent charging. The built-in LED flashlight is a handy addition for nighttime training or low-light situations, adding practical value beyond typical smartwatches.

In terms of health and fitness, the watch offers extensive tracking, including heart rate variability, Pulse Ox for oxygen saturation, advanced sleep monitoring, and new metrics like hill score and endurance score to help runners and athletes better understand performance and recovery. It’s well-suited for multisport athletes, with wrist-based running power and strength training features, plus advanced pacing options. GPS navigation is very accurate thanks to multi-band technology and SatIQ, and preloaded TopoActive maps, golf courses, and ski resorts provide useful routes and real-time navigation prompts.

Smart features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and compatibility with Android and iOS ensure easy syncing and notifications. The interface combines touchscreen and button controls, which can be convenient in various conditions. Although the watch is packed with advanced features, it remains fairly lightweight at 65 grams and offers 32GB of storage for maps and apps. One challenge could be the complexity of all the data for users new to fitness tracking, but Garmin’s morning report and training readiness tools help simplify this. The price tends to be on the higher side, reflecting its premium build and capabilities. This watch is an excellent choice for active individuals who value durable gear with long battery life, accurate GPS, and detailed health insights, especially those involved in multiple sports or outdoor activities.

The Garmin Instinct 3 45mm is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need a tough, reliable smartwatch. Its standout feature is the solar-charged display, which can keep the battery running almost indefinitely if you spend a few hours outside daily, making it excellent for extended adventures without worrying about charging. The watch has a strong build, with a fiber-reinforced polymer case and metal bezel, plus it meets military standards for shock and thermal resistance and is water-rated to 10 ATM, so it can handle rough conditions and swimming.

Navigation is a strong point here, thanks to built-in GPS combined with a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and multi-band GPS technology, allowing accurate location tracking and efficient battery use. The included LED flashlight is a handy bonus for nighttime use, adding practical value for outdoor activities. Health and fitness tracking cover basics like heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, and Pulse Ox, giving a well-rounded view of your wellness without being medical-grade. Smart features include notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and safety tools like incident detection and emergency assistance, which require a paired smartphone.

The display is relatively small at 0.9 inches and round in shape, which might feel limited for some users used to larger screens. Customization options are available through the Connect IQ Store, allowing you to add apps and watch faces. This watch is ideal for those who prioritize durability, long battery life, and reliable outdoor navigation instead of flashy displays or extensive smartwatch features. It may not suit users wanting a larger screen or a full set of advanced smart capabilities but excels as a rugged companion for outdoor and fitness activities.