Comparison: Which Garmin Smartwatch is the Best for Me?

The best Garmin smartwatches compared

 
Editor’s pick
Great value
 
 
 
 
 
 

Product

Picture

Good

Huge accessory ecosystem
Great tracking features
Great running analysis functions
Robust workmanship with optional sapphire crystal

Extensive tracking capability
Huge accessory ecosystem
Solid build quality

Unbeatable sports functions
Extremely accurate tracking & GPS
Extensive accessories portfolio
Robust and practical design
Very nice AMOLED display

Super smart flashlight function
A huge number of tracking options
Massive accessory ecosystem
Three different sizes are available
Precise GNSS & fantastic outdoor features
Very long battery life

All-around successful fitness smartwatch concept
Very good battery life of up to 14 days
Music feature convinces in practice
Diverse analysis data in the Garmin app
Compatibility with several sensors and Garmin accessories

New AMOLED display works great in everyday use …
… and still enables long runtimes
Great presentation of fitness data
Music feature is now a standard

Many precise sensors included
Calculates many useful metrics
Chic and practical design
Successful operating concept including the touchscreen

Infinite battery life a possibility
High-end tracking features
Great outdoor sports features
Different sizes available
Huge accessory ecosystem

Bad

Missing smartwatch features
Only one size available

No LTE version available
More a sports watch than a smartwatch
No ECG

Smartwatch weaknesses
Still no 4G/LTE
Juicy OLED surcharge

No 4G/LTE model
Poor smartwatch features

Operating concept over heads awkward
Neither ECG nor blood pressure measurement is possible
Few smart functions
No wireless charging, proprietary charging cable

$50 more expensive compared to its predecessor
No new fitness features
Few smart functions
No wireless charging

Rather poor smartwatch features
Mobile payment options are limited

Black and white display sans touchscreen
Weak smartwatch features7
No integrated memory

Rating

Read the Epix 2 review

Read the Venu 2 Plus review

Read the Forerunner 965 review

Read the Fenix 7 Pro review

Read the Forerunner 255 Music review

Read the Forerunner 265 review

Read the Forerunner 955 review

Read the Instinct 2 review

Offers*

In the table above you’ll find our personal highlights from Garmin’s multiple smartwatch series. In the course of this article, we will show you all the models from the various series once again in detail, including their detailed technical specifications.

Table of contents:

Buying advice: Which Garmin smartwatch is the best for me?

Sports & fitness features on Garmin watches
Smartwatch features on Garmin smartwatches
Garmin smartwatches for women and men

The best Garmin smartwatches by series

For demanding users: Fenix, Epix, Tactix & others
All-rounders from the Vivoactive and Venu series
Garmin’s running watches: Meet the Forerunner
The robust models of the Instinct series
More Garmin wearables

1. Buying guide: What to expect from Garmin’s watches?

Garmin introduced its first sports watch with integrated GPS in 2003. Back then, the iPhone was still a distant idea in Steve Jobs’ head, and smart features in watches were dreams of the future. In 2023, we’re making phone calls and chatting on our wrists, but we’re also using our smartwatches to check our vitals and measure our fitness levels. After all, no other gadget is worn so close to the body during the day.

In the following paragraphs, we will therefore take a look at which sports and fitness features Garmin smartwatches offer on the one hand–and which smartwatch features you can expect on the other.

1.1 Sports & fitness features on Garmin watches

The most important thing about Garmin’s watches is their sports and health features. All sports watches from Garmin–here in points 2.1 to 2.4–offer a heart rate sensor including measurement of resting heart rate and heart rate variability. The body battery function, i.e. your daily shape, is also available on all models, as are sleep and stress tracking. All Garmin sports watches also determine your cardio fitness in the form of the VO2Max value.

The snapshot of your health data called “Health Snap Shot” is supported by all Garmin smartwatches listed here, except the Forerunner models. The Forerunner 55 also lacks measurement for floors climbed and SpO2 values, and the Forerunner 245 does not record your respiration rate. All other models include these features.

Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi are on board with all Garmin sports watches except the Forerunner 55. This means that the smartwatches not only connect to your Wi-Fi at home and your smartphone but also to various accessories from Garmin, including cadence sensors for cycling or various chest straps. However, the running efficiency values that the more advanced Garmin chest straps measure are not supported by the Venu and Vivoactive series.

GPS sensors are also present everywhere. Some new models also support multi-band GPS, although we could not notice any difference to the already excellent GPS accuracy of the Garmin smartwatches in the practical review of the Epix 2, for example. By the way, all Garmin smartwatches lack an ECG measurement. If this feature is important to you, I recommend taking a look at our best smartwatch list.

1.2 Smartwatch functions in Garmin’s smartwatches

The Garmin models are not only excellent sports watches but also smartwatches with various smart features. Notifications from smartphones are available on all models described here, as well as basic calendar functions and weather forecasts. Garmin Pay is also included in all of the watches described here (except the Forerunner 55), and Garmin’s payment service supports many banks in the USA. A current list can be found here on the Garmin website.

Except for the Instinct, the Forerunner 55, and the non-music models of the Forerunner 245 and 255, all Garmin smartwatches offer internal storage for music–but controlling music stored on the smartphone is possible on all watches. Only the Venu 2 Plus currently offers support for voice assistants, and an LTE option was only available with the Forerunner 945 from 2019, but not with the successor 955.

All Garmin smartwatches in this comparison also have the proprietary Connect IQ Store in common. Here you can find watch faces and data fields for workouts as well as numerous apps like Spotify, Komoot, Amazon Music, or Accuweather. You can also take a look at the selection in the browser via this link.

The bottom line is that the Garmin watches offer several smartwatch features. However, you should not expect such a seamless integration with your smartphone for example with the Galaxy smartwatches or the Apple Watch.

1.3 Garmin smartwatches for women and men

Garmin’s smartwatches are mostly unisex, but the manufacturer does offer models specifically for women. These models, like the Garmin Lily Sport, have a rounder, more chic design that is reminiscent of jewelry, in addition to offering features such as menstrual cycle tracking.

Fortunately, most models also come in a variety of sizes. Since women tend to have slimmer wrists, the S models should often be interesting here, for example, the Garmin Fenix 7S Pro or the Instinct 2S.

On the other hand, some models also have an X variant, for example, the Garmin Fenix 7X. The 7X is particularly huge, and should also turn out too big on many men’s wrists with its ridiculously massive 51-millimeter case.

2. The best Garmin smartwatches by series

Garmin’s smartwatches can be divided very roughly into four major different series:

For demanding users and pro athletes: Fenix, Epix, Tactix & more
Chic all-rounders from the Vivoactive and Venu series
Garmin’s running watches: Meet the Forerunner series
The robust models of the Instinct-2 series

2.1 For demanding users: Fenix, Epix, Tactix, and more

Garmin builds the top models around the Fenix series–here, however, you have to reckon with a rather massive design and upscale prices. The Fenix 7 starts at around $600, while the Tactix 7 Pro Solar Ballistic has an MSRP of 1600 dollars.

For that amount of money, Garmin has squeezed just about everything that is currently possible in terms of sensors in its high-end watches–the models from the Fenix, Epix, Tactix, D2 & Co. series have all that in common. However, there are special models for different target groups that are, for example, suitable for being read with night-vision equipment or offer special safety features.

The following table shows the most important models from Garmin’s Fenix 7 series in comparison with the Epix 2, Tactix 7, Quatix 7, D2 Mach 1, and the newly released Pro models.

Affiliate offer

2.2 All-rounders from the Vivoactive and Venu series

In Garmin’s Venu and Vivoactive series, you’ll find the all-rounders. These smartwatches tend to be a bit more elegantly designed than the Forerunner models, for example–and of course much more discreet than the rather bulky models from the Fenix series. While the Forerunner models are aimed more towards runners, the Venu and Vivoactive watches are rather targeted towards all-around athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Unlike the Forerunner models, the various Venu and Vivoactive models offer the Health Snapshot. Here, the watch analyzes your overall health based on the pulse, heart rate variability, SpO2 value, respiratory rate, and stress and gives you a summary. On the other hand, the Venu and Vivoactive models don’t have advanced running metrics. Even with a compatible chest strap, you, unfortunately, won’t have access to the ground contact time, vertical movement, and the like while running.

Another unique feature in Garmin’s lineup can be found in the Venu 2 Plus: The smartwatch is compatible with Siri, Bixby, and Google Assistant. Thanks to the integrated microphone and speaker, you can also use the watch as a speakerphone and leave your smartphone in your pocket.

The table below shows the Garmin Venu 3, Venu 3S, Venu 2 Plus, and Garmin Venu 2 in comparison with the Vivoactive 4S and Vivoactive 4.

Affiliate offer

2.3 Garmin’s running watches: The Forerunner models

As the name suggests, Garmin’s Forerunner series is aimed at runners. Accordingly, the second smallest models, the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 255, are already equipped with the running metrics, so that you can get a detailed evaluation of your running efficiency values ​​with the right chest strap.

On the other hand, you also have to do without the comfort features in the Forerunner models. For example, only the top model Forerunner 955 has a touchscreen—and the health snapshot feature is also missing on all Forerunner watches below the 955. Garmin differentiates between endurance athletes and all-around athletes in its two mid-range series. If you want the best of both worlds, you’ll have to reach for the Fenix models.

In its two mid-range series, Garmin made a clear distinction between endurance athletes and all-around athletes, although the boundaries have become increasingly blurred, especially with the most expensive Forerunner models. The Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 965 have practically arrived at the level of the Fenix ​​series in terms of features.

There are also a few features you’ll have to do without on the smaller or older Forerunner models. The Forerunner 55, for example, cannot track blood oxygen saturation and does not support running efficiency analysis. The Forerunner 245, on the other hand, lacks respiration rate measurement.

In the following table, you can see the most important technical data of the Garmin Forerunner 55, Forerunner 245, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 745, Forerunner 955, and Forerunner 965 in comparison.

Affiliate offer

2.4 The rugged models of the Instinct 2 series

Each series below Garmin’s Fenix lineup embodies a subaspect of the flagship models. Garmin’s Venu and Vivoactive models are all-rounders with broad fitness features and touchscreens, while the Forerunner models are aimed at endurance athletes. Finally, the Instinct 2 series represents the outdoor capabilities and resilience of the Fenix lineup.

For example, the Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S offer excellent battery runtimes–and in the solar-powered variants, they can even be operated permanently without recharging. That’s right: The Instinct 2 Solar offers virtually infinite battery life, as long as you get to see the sun regularly. In addition, the Instinct watches are extremely robust and water-resistant up to 10 ATMs.

On the other hand, you have to do without a touchscreen and instead get two nested monochrome displays with comparatively low resolution. You also have to cut back on the integrated memory. Instead, there are multiple special variants of the Instinct 2 each with their features, for example, especially for surfers, hunters, or truckers.

The following table shows the technical specifications of the Garmin Instinct 2S and Garmin Instinct 2 in comparison:

Affiliate offer

More wearables from Garmin

At this point, we have focused on the four major smartwatch series from Garmin. Apart from these models, however, the manufacturer also offers several other wearables that we would like to mention at least once here:

Garmin’s Vivomove series: hybrid smartwatches with an analog watch face and display.
Garmin’s Vivosmart series: fitness trackers in the classic wristband form factor (Garmin Vivosmart 5—read review)
Garmin’s Vivofit series: simple fitness trackers with extremely long battery life
Garmin’s Vivofit Jr models: activity trackers for kids in a robust design
Garmin Lily: compact, fashionable smartwatch with simple fitness features

Shortly, you’ll also find more detailed information as well as reviews, how-tos, and more on the above models on nextpit. Also, of course, I recommend you to check out our big smartwatch guide:

Did we forget anything, like a specific model or piece of information you’d find helpful? And which Garmin smartwatches are your favorites? We look forward to your feedback!

Note: This article was updated in September 2023 with the launch of the Venu 3 line. Existing comments were left as they were.