10 Best Swim Watches 2025 in the United States

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm) is a versatile smartwatch that offers a lot for fitness enthusiasts, including those interested in swimming. It has good water resistance suitable for swimming, making it best for casual swimmers rather than professional divers. The watch includes advanced heart rate monitoring that filters out movement noise, giving more accurate readings during active workouts, which is helpful in the pool. While swim-specific tracking features are not extensively detailed, its fitness tracking and wellness suggestions can still support swim training routines.

Battery life is decent with a 300mAh lithium-ion cell, powering the watch through typical daily use, including GPS tracking for runs or bike rides. However, heavy use of GPS and health sensors may require more frequent charging. The 40mm round touchscreen is lightweight and comfortable to wear, suitable for all-day use, including swimming sessions. The display is easy to read, which is important when on the move or in the water.

Connectivity via Bluetooth links well with smartphones for analyzing sleep, heart health, energy levels, and fitness progress, though it lacks dedicated swim stroke detection or lap counting features. Swimmers seeking highly detailed swim metrics might find it limited compared to specialized swim watches. The built-in AI features help track overall fitness and provide wellness tips, motivating and guiding users beyond just swimming. The Galaxy Watch 7 is a smart, comfortable option for casual swimmers who want a well-rounded health and fitness tracker, but those needing in-depth swim-specific data or longer battery life for extended swim sessions may want to consider dedicated swim watches.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is primarily designed as a running smartwatch but includes features that can appeal to swimmers who want a reliable, everyday fitness watch. It has built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitoring, which help track your pace, distance, and heart rate during workouts, including swimming sessions. The 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen offers a bright and colorful display that's easy to read both indoors and outdoors. Comfort is good thanks to its lightweight design and manageable 43 mm size, making it suitable for extended wear in the pool or throughout the day.

Battery life is solid, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and about 19 hours with GPS active, so you won’t need frequent charging. While it can handle casual swimming and track heart rate underwater, it might lack some swim-specific data that serious swimmers look for, as detailed swim tracking features such as stroke counting, swim metrics, or advanced water resistance ratings are not explicitly provided. Its water resistance is implied but not clearly specified, making it best for those who swim regularly but do not require extensive swim analytics.

The watch also provides valuable training insights, recovery advice, and safety features like incident detection, which add to its usefulness across many sports. The Forerunner 165 suits swimmers who want a versatile fitness watch that handles swimming comfortably while offering broader workout tracking and smart features, although it may not fully replace dedicated swim watches for detailed swim performance monitoring.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a robust option for those seeking a swim-watch with advanced features. Its 50m water resistance makes it suitable for swimming and other water activities, while the depth and water temperature sensors add valuable data for serious swimmers. The built-in GPS allows you to track your swim routes accurately, which is a plus for outdoor swimming enthusiasts.

Additionally, the heart rate monitoring is comprehensive, featuring high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm alerts, and even ECG capabilities for more in-depth health insights. The comfortable and lightweight design, along with a variety of customizable bands, ensures a good fit for different wrist sizes and styles. The always-on Retina display is a standout feature, offering a bright and clear screen that remains readable even in direct sunlight, which is great for outdoor use.

However, the battery life may be a concern for some users, as it lasts up to 18 hours under normal use but can be extended to 36 hours in low power mode. This requires frequent charging, which might be inconvenient for long-term use without access to a charger. The device is primarily compatible with iPhones, which may limit its appeal to non-iPhone users. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Apple Watch Series 10 offers a well-rounded package for swim enthusiasts and those looking for a comprehensive fitness tracker.