10 Best Garmin Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a solid choice for runners and multisport athletes looking for a feature-packed smartwatch. Its bright 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen combined with traditional buttons offers a clear and responsive display that works well in various lighting conditions. The watch stands out with its multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology, providing very accurate location tracking even in challenging environments like dense urban areas or forests, which is great if you rely heavily on precise GPS for your workouts.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 13 days in regular smartwatch mode and about 20 hours when using GPS continuously; this means you can track long runs or races without worrying about recharging frequently. The watch also offers advanced training metrics and recovery insights, including personalized daily workouts and readiness scores based on your sleep, heart rate variability, and training load—helpful for planning your exercise intensity smartly. Heart rate monitoring and activity profiles cover a wide range of sports, including running, cycling, and open-water swimming, making it versatile for different types of training. It’s also water resistant, suitable for swimming and exposure to rain.

On the smart features side, it supports notifications from your phone, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and incident detection for safety, though some features require your phone nearby. One potential drawback is that the advanced training data can be a bit complex if you’re new to fitness tracking, and the watch’s 46 mm size might feel bulky for those with smaller wrists. The Forerunner 265 balances durability, detailed fitness tracking, and smart convenience, making it a great companion for serious runners who want in-depth insights alongside everyday smartwatch functions.

The Garmin fēnix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar is a robust multisport GPS smartwatch designed for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Its standout feature is the solar charging lens, which significantly extends battery life, allowing use for weeks in smartwatch mode without frequent charging. The 1.3-inch round display is clear and durable, protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and housed in a strong fiber-reinforced polymer case with a titanium bezel, making it highly durable for tough conditions. GPS accuracy is enhanced by multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, which also helps optimize battery life. This watch is water-resistant, making it safe for swimming or rainy conditions.

Heart rate monitoring and advanced health tracking, including Pulse Ox and sleep analysis, provide detailed insights into fitness and recovery, though the data should be viewed as close estimates rather than medical-grade. The built-in flashlight is a practical addition for nighttime activities. For activity tracking, it supports multiple sports and offers new features like hill and endurance scores to help monitor training progress effectively. Smart features include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for syncing data and notifications, plus preloaded maps for golf and skiing, adding to its versatility.

The watch’s 32 MB memory and 30 mAh battery capacity are modest, which may limit storage and some usage times in extreme conditions despite solar charging. Additionally, the relatively high price point and complexity might exceed the needs of casual users. This makes the fēnix 7 Pro a powerful, feature-rich watch ideal for dedicated athletes and outdoor adventurers seeking reliable GPS, long battery life, and comprehensive health tracking.

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.