The best Garmin watches of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
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Garmin is very popular with those who enjoy outdoor activities, appealing to multi-sport athletes, outdoor adventurers, and weekend warriors. While some of us enjoy exploring all year long, most people prefer to run, hike, swim, golf, and enjoy the sunny summer and fall weather. You can run with a Forerunner 970 , hike with a Garmin Instinct 3 , or golf with the Approach S70 . Garmin offers a sports watch for everyone, with prices ranging from $200 to $2,000.
Garmin's smartwatches stand out with precise location accuracy, an established ecosystem, and long battery life. Its watches provide health and fitness tracker data for all smartphone owners, with a Connect Plus subscription option for more insights and guidance on your health and fitness data.
Also: The best smartwatches of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
I've tested nearly every popular Garmin watch on the market, and my current pick for the best Garmin watch overall is the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro . This flagship Garmin watch has all of the superpowers of the Fenix 8 and adds in LTE and inReach satellite connectivity, making this a watch I cannot leave home without. While out camping and trail running outside of cellular coverage areas, this is the watch you need to stay in touch with family and friends, as well as have on you if disaster strikes and you need to use the SOS feature.
If I want a slimmer profile watch and am planning to stay local with my activities, then I secure the Venu X1 to my wrist. That large, flat display with the LED flashlight is just about perfect for me and is great for outdoor activities like swimming, mountain biking, and running. Read on for the rest of my tested picks for the best Garmin watches you can buy right now.
Why we like it: The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro connects seamlessly to Android and iOS smartphones , in addition to golf club sensors, bike sensors, and more. Just about every sport is covered 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 Pro an essential tool in my collection.
Also: This flagship Garmin watch has satellite superpowers that make it irreplaceable for me
Who it's for : For a few years, I carried a Garmin inReach device along with me when I went trail running, hiking, and fly fishing outside the range of cellular connectivity. In addition, I had a phone or watch to function with the inReach device for advanced communications. The new Fenix 8 Pro brings LTE and satellite connectivity options to the wrist, and it's great to have everything packed into one device that has solid battery life too. If you enjoy outdoor adventures and want a watch that helps you stay connected off the grid, then this is the watch for you.
Other 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.
The large AMOLED display is also excellent for navigation and mapping while on your adventure with support for ski maps, golf courses, and more.
Who should look elsewhere : Unlike Apple and Google, you need to have an inReach subscription to access the satellite emergency response functions on the watch. You can purchase a monthly subscription for as low as $7.99 and even that low price includes unlimited LTE support. However, if you are not interested in a subscription plan, then consider the standard Fenix 8 AMOLED or another Garmin watch.
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (51mm) tech specs: Display: 1.4-inch 454x454 pixels | Battery Life (GPS tracking mode): 78 hours | Dimensions: 51x51x16.5 mm | Weight: 90 grams (with band) | Water/Dust Resistance: 10 ATM | Band Size: 26mm
Why we like it: I enjoy using the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as a smartwatch thanks to its ability to act as a phone replacement and serve up nearly every application I want on my wrist. One feature that I keep asking for is a flashlight, so when I saw Garmin recently launch the unique Venu X1 with a powerful LED flashlight, I knew I had to test it out.
The Venu X1 is the first Venu series watch to feature an 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 3 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, then this is the one.
Who it's for: The integrated speaker and microphone support 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 excellent 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 : The Venu X1 doesn't have 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, you should consider a Forerunner or Fenix model. It does not include ECG capabilities, either.
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
Why we like it: In the early days, Garmin watches were popular primarily with runners. Today, there are dozens of Garmin watches to choose from, many priced at $400 or more. But the new Garmin Forerunner 170 gets back to the basics with an affordable, $300 watch focused on providing what most recreational runners need to track their performance.
Even at this affordable price, Garmin's Forerunner 170 includes a brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display for that elegant Android smartwatch visual experience found in Samsung and Apple smartwatches . For $50 more, you can add offline music support, but many recreational runners carry their phone, so you can save some money unless you want the additional color options with the Forerunner 170 Music.
Who it's for : While the Garmin Forerunner 170 can be used for a wide variety of sports and activities, it is primarily focused on supporting runners, with features like adaptive training plans, wrist-based running power and dynamics tracking, training effect, course support, and more. You'll also find 25 profiles for activities like swimming, pickleball, yoga, and pilates. It's also a perfect watch for those with smaller wrists, especially in a market full of big, bulky watches.
A feature I particularly enjoyed using was "Morning report," which summarizes my previous day and evening's tracking, along with the training plan for the day. Sleep monitoring with sleep scores and nap detection were also welcome features.
Who should look elsewhere : If you are looking for a big, rugged watch capable of tracking an extensive number of activities, including golf, then you should consider a larger Forerunner, Fenix, or Venu watch. The Forerunner is also heavily focused on basic smartwatch functions and running so if you want to replace your Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch then there are other watches that fill these roles.
Garmin Forerunner 170 features: Battery life (GPS): 20 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Affordable with advanced running metrics | Size: 43 mm
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.
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)
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 f eatures: Battery life (Smartwatch): Five days | Display technology: OLED | Unique feature: Minute hands and wireless charging | Size: 40 mm
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 4 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 4 with its focus on casual athletes.
Who it's for: The Vivoactive 6 is a sleek watch available now for $300 in seven 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.
Why we like it: Garmin updated its hybrid rugged watch with a couple of new features that make it compelling, primarily the AMOLED display and iconic LED flashlight. The AMOLED display is used with the classic analog watch hands to provide a dynamic experience where the complications move automatically out of the way of the watch hands. It's a sleek experience that provides you with a modern look and also a classic look when the display is off and the analog hands show you the time.
Who it's for: The nice thing about a watch like the Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED is that it functions primarily as a watch and then captures your health and activity data passively as you work out and live. If you are a fan of Casio G-Shock watches or want a rugged watch that provides a clear view of the time without requiring a wrist flip or always-on battery killing mode, then this may be the one for you.
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 AMOLED 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 using the LED flashlight every single day.
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 watch is also a bit pricey and other Garmin models offer more for the same price, or less, and don't have the analog hands.
Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED features: Battery life (GPS): 29 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Minute hands and center display | Size: 46 mm
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
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 f eatures: Battery life (GPS): 26 hours | Display technology: AMOLED | Unique feature: Advanced training metrics and Evening Report | Size: 47 mm
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 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 3 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 3 on the other.
Before you choose a Garmin watch, you should consider the following:
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.
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:
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 Pro 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 .
It's been a couple of years since the battery king, the Garmin Enduro 3 , was released, and rumors indicate a successor may be released before the end of 2026. It is possible we may also see a Fenix 9 along with the high-end luxury Marq Gen 3 and water-focused Quatix 8 Pro. Garmin just announced its Cirqa band, and while it does not have a display, it is clearly attracting attention to the Garmin ecosystem.
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 170, Venu X1, or Vivoactive 6 are likely the best watches for heart rate accuracy.
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.
The following tips can help you properly care for your new Garmin watch:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A runner-up to the Fenix 8 and more affordable, the Enduro 3 is the one you want for ultimate battery life as long as you don't need the brilliance of an AMOLED display.
The Garmin Vívofit 4 is a fitness tracker versus a fitness watch, but it's still reliable for keeping track of time and your workout statistics. It only costs $80.
Like the Vívomove Trend, the Garmin Lily 2 has a more stylish look and feel than your typical Garmin watch.
