Top 5 Best Garmin Watches of 2024

We’ve been testing the best Garmin watch models for more than ten years, seeing them progress from simple step and distance trackers to sophisticated training, recovery, and wellness monitoring devices. Garmin has been in the smartwatch game longer than most people—the Apple Watch was just a glimmer in Steve Jobs’ mind when the first Forerunner watch was created.

After hundreds of miles and thousands of hours of testing, we are here to help you navigate Garmin’s admittedly confusing smartwatch selection. The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best option for runners because it comes in a sleek and comfortable package with a brilliant screen, a good selection of training options, and a long battery life.

Garmin manufactures more than just running gear though. The Enduro 3 is the best Garmin watch for hikers thanks to a super-rugged and waterproof design, solar charging and a nifty built-in flashlight. But, these aren’t your only options. We’ve also got picks for the budget-conscious, newbie runners, marathoners, triathletes and even golfers.

1.Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED

You can now get a Garmin Fenix with an AMOLED screen for the first time thanks to the Garmin Fenix 8, which unifies the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and Garmin Epix Pro under one roof. With solar charging to extend battery life, the Garmin Fenix 8 solar still offers the choice of a conventional memory-in-pixel display.

The Fenix 8 also has a redesigned speaker and microphone, as well as a more waterproof design that allows diving down to 40 meters. Additionally, Garmin has extended the battery life and improved the watches’ navigation and user interface.

After a few weeks of testing, I can say that the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm watch is the best smartwatch for athletes according to the latest upgrades. The majority of the capabilities of the Fenix 8 are still available on older Garmin models, such as the Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro, which may also be more affordable. As an alternative that was more reasonably priced, the new Garmin Fenix E was released concurrently with the Fenix 8.

Even with the titanium variant, the Fenix 8 AMOLED 51mm watch I’ve been testing is very big and heavy, but you do grow used to it despite my tiny wrists. The larger model provides amazing battery life for an AMOLED watch, but it’s worth noting the smaller, lighter 47mm watch has the same size screen as the 51mm. The watch comes with a silicone band, which I personally would swap out for a lighter Garmin UltraFit nylon band.

The bright AMOLED display is the same as on the Epix Pro watch and I do find it a big upgrade on the classic memory-in-pixel Garmin screens, especially when indoors or under cloud or tree cover outdoors. In bright sunlight the AMOLED screen is still clearly visible, and if you use the raise-to-wake feature to increase battery life the display turns on rapidly when you turn your wrist.

With the Fenix 8, you can choose from a variety of new watch faces and have extensive control over the colors and data displayed. Garmin has included additional color options with the new watch. Additionally, you may use the Connect IQ app store to add other watch faces.

The Fenix 8’s new leakproof buttons feel a little different than those of previous versions, but they still click consistently and gratifyingly, and a tiny haptic buzz lets you know you’ve pressed the button. Although I haven’t used the diving sports modes, I appreciate the increased water resistance.

You can use the watch’s menus to activate the new microphone or configure it as a shortcut so that it begins to record when you hold a button. You can then use commands like set a timer and the Fenix 8 will process them. This takes a little longer than with smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but it’s a useful update.

The new speaker means you can take calls on the watch and it will also give voice updates during activities, such as your lap stats during a run — rest assured you can turn this off if you’d rather not have your watch talking to you during group activities.

2.Garmin Forerunner 165

The Garmin Forerunner 165 closes a gap in its lineup of top running timepieces. The following generation, the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965 watches, are significantly more costly than the extremely low-cost Garmin Forerunner 45 and 55 watches, which are becoming somewhat outdated. Therefore, it’s good to have a choice between those two: the Forerunner 165 is a high-quality entry-level watch, but it’s a bit expensive to be considered a “cheap” running watch.

Additionally, the Garmin Connect app allows you to create courses and sync them straight to your watch. Additionally, it provides race-adaptive training plans that recommend sessions based on past exercise and recovery data. H owever, the design is strikingly similar to the Forerunner 265 in every way, including the profile and the redesigned ‘run’ button. The whole thing is very appealing, especially at a reduced price point, offering genuine value in terms of features.

Garmin has made a few minor compromises to do this, such as switching to plastic for the case from the heavier, harder polymers used in Garmin’s more expensive models and chemically toughened glass for the screen instead of the 265’s stronger Gorilla Glass. The watch contains 4GB of storage rather than the 265’s 8GB, and the battery lasts shorter.

As previously said, the Garmin Forerunner 165 and the other Forerunners in the lineup have a lot of DNA in common. The three buttons on the right side of the watch are used to traverse up and down or to wake the screen when the motion detector is not in use. This is the traditional Garmin five-button layout.

Two additional buttons are located on the left: a start/stop button (labeled ‘run’ on the Forerunner series) and a back button for canceling options or manually marking laps during a workout. It’s a tried and tested formula at this point, and Garmin isn’t reinventing the wheel here.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED screen is as bright and colorful as the expensive Epix Pro, which costs over three times as much. The 165 lacks the seamless refresh rate that one might anticipate from, say, the top Apple Watches because Garmins are still training devices first and smartwatches second. However, it is significantly better than the outdated memory-in-pixel display seen in the Forerunner 45; it is bright during night runs and is completely useable. I’m happy to see that AMOLED is still the norm for the Forerunner line after the 265 and 965 were introduced last year.

Like other inexpensive running watches, it is made entirely of “fiber-reinforced polymer” with some silicone and plastic, and it lacks the more upscale-feeling metal backing.It makes the watch feel overly light and plasticky rather than that weightier, stronger metallic feel from premium options, but doesn’t impact performance. In fact, being lighter actually makes it more comfortable to wear, especially overnight. The screen is chemically-strengthened glass, so there’s no durable but pricey Gorilla Glass here, which is one of the sacrifices made to keep the Forerunner 165 at a cheaper price point. Still, it’s light and comfortable on my wrist, and it looks and feels good.

3.Garmin Instinct 2X Solar

The Instinct 2X Solar, the newest watch from Garmin, is a supersized 50mm, 67g model that has the same “unlimited” battery life as the smaller 45mm model. Even in maximum battery GPS mode, the watch won’t ever need to be charged as long as you’re using it in an area with 50,000 lux or more of sunlight.

The 2X features the same 176 x 176 px memory-in-pixel display as the 45mm model, but it’s a full 5mm larger than the finest Garmin watch. However, it has an LED flashlight as a new feature.

The flashlight can be used as a red safety light to prevent night blindness and to help you stay visible to vehicles and other objects, or it can be used to create a strobe effect to match your running rhythm.

Additionally, the watch’s location accuracy in GPS routing and TracBack modes is enhanced by a new multi-band GNSS sensor. In addition, Obstacle Course Racing is now a selectable workout profile, enabling you to manually record obstacle splits to differentiate between running and obstacle navigation phases, similar to how you might do with a Garmin for strength training.

The watch appears to offer much of the same functions and experiences as a Garmin Instinct 2 or 2 Solar, aside from that. This multidisciplinary approach continues to make the Instinct 2 series a terrific triathlon choice, especially with its 10ATM water resistance certification. Its dedicated exercise profiles for running, swimming, strength training, hiking, skiing, and cycling, among other activities, making it an excellent all-arounder. Out in the direct sunlight,the watch will last for an incredible 40 days in smartwatch mode (smashing the Apple Watch Ultra’s paltry 36 hours) and 60 hours in GPS mode.

An Instinct 2X Solar Tactical Edition is also offered, just as other Instinct timepieces. In addition to having extra features like Stealth Mode, which prevents GPS data sharing, and Jumpmaster Mode, which is intended for skydivers, its LED lights green rather than red. When you leap, the device immediately recognizes it and uses the compass and barometer to start navigating. Although it’s a clever tactic, only the military and extreme thrill-seekers will find it useful.

4.Garmin Venu 3S

As the third of a trilogy of watches, the Garmin Venu 3 is really the best of the three, in contrast to most movie trilogies. This is actually among the greatest Garmin watches available.

This wristwatch and health tracker are rather well-balanced, just like the other Venu models. Firstly, the Garmin Venu 3 has a rich and vivid AMOLED screen that looks fantastic and rivals some of the greatest Apple watches. This watch may last up to two weeks without needing to be recharged, unlike Apple Watches, which can only last a meager 18 or 36 hours.

Some of the more expensive running features are not available here, such as the Training Readiness score, or Race Predictor, like you would get on the Garmin Forerunner 265 for example. But you do get advanced sleep tracking and suggestions, an evening report, unique wheelchair user-specific training metrics, and more health insights.

This watch also features a speaker and microphone meaning you can take calls from a connected phone, right there on your wrist. It also means the meditation training is more immersive with audio guidance, music, and more.

Unquestionably, the Garmin Venu 3 is a stylish wristwatch that doubles as a fitness tracker and a stylish daily worn. The silicone strap has a simple design, is comfortable, and is waterproof. It also has a high-end finish thanks to the stainless steel bezel, something that rival curved-screen wearables like the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Apple Watches lack.

But you can’t truly appreciate the quality until that screen comes to life. The stunning 1.4-inch AMOLED display on this watch has a high resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. Regardless of the lighting, this incredibly bright and vivid screen makes all of your measurements visible and appealing.

The touchscreen on the Venu 3 is fantastic; it not only makes menu scrolling simple but also has beautiful graphical transitions that create an intuitive way to explore the menus. It’s all encased in Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to make sure it stays scratch-free – which was the case throughout our frankly harsh testing. 50-meter waterproofing does set your mind at ease: you can use it anywhere, including underwater, and it’s dustproof to boot.Additionally, you have three buttons to facilitate menu interactions, which are effectively used. For instance, you must confirm using one of the buttons after hitting the red cross on the screen to abandon an exercise.

There are two sizes available for the Venu 3: the bigger 45mm size, called the Venu 3, and the smaller 41mm version, called the Venu 3S. The Venu 3 is available in black, white, or black with a leather strap. There are even more options if you choose the Venu 3S, such as sage gray, rose pink, and soft gold.

5.Garmin Vívomove Trend

Not all Garmin smartwatches are athletic, like the Vivomove Trend. It’s a lifestyle hybrid smartwatch instead. This implies that it’s less about working up a sweat during a triathlon and more about matching it to your attire before going to yoga.The usefulness of a smartwatch is unmatched; it can tell the time, remind you to take your steps, and even make calls when you need to. However, this product category has a reputation for being disorganized, as there are now too many proprietary charging cables and docks.

Although the majority of smartwatches, whether for fitness or not, have built-in chargers, the issue with their design is that they typically take the shape of a charging puck or a magnetic pin, or a jumble of both. And even if they do support wireless charging, it’s often a proprietary format that prevents the watch from working with third-party accessories. (It’s also another cable that you’ll have to manage, whether it’s situated on your office desk, kitchen, or bedside.) Garmin’s Vívomove Trend, dare I say, bucks the trend.

That’s only the first image that popped into my head — probably because that’s the version of me I wished I was while testing the Trend. (Alas, my ‘fits are more practical than cute, my nails are chipped, and it’s been years since my sneakers were white.) Garmin says the Trend is targeted toward women, but its design isn’t so feminine that it’s only for women. I could easily see it on the wrist of a businessperson in a snazzy suit saying smart-sounding things about EBITDA margins, especially since there’s an all-black version, and you can swap the straps out for any standard 20mm band. It’s got a 40mm case, but there are plenty of people who prefer that to larger ones. The Trend won’t appeal to anyone looking for a rugged vibe, but it’s not intended to.

The Trend is intended to be the Vivomove lineup’s intermediate choice. It features a liquid crystal display, a plastic shell, and a chemically toughened glass lens, in contrast to the more costly Vivomove Style and Luxe. However, I didn’t think the Trend was a degradation. The Trend’s stainless steel bezel is helpful; it’s a minor adjustment that improves the appearance overall.

More significantly, it weighs 43 grams with the strap, which makes it perfect for daily use. I never felt the need to tear it off while I was sleeping, it never caught on my sleeves, and it didn’t make my arm feel heavy when I was exercising. Because of its 5ATM water resistance, you could jump in the pool with it and be fine, though I wouldn’t because touchscreens and water don’t mix. However, you don’t have to take it off if you’ve got a pile of dishes to wash, get caught in a downpour, or need to wrestle a prickly cat into the bathtub.

What is the best Garmin watch?

My in-person testing led me to conclude that the Fenix 8 AMOLED is the greatest Garmin watch overall because it has almost all of Garmin’s features and allows for tracking of all activities inside the Garmin ecosystem. There aren’t many, if any, other Garmin watches that can withstand as many activities, situations, and settings as this one. Although the high cost may be a turnoff, this watch performs better than the majority of Garmin rivals.

How we test Garmin watches?

The display features, interface, extended battery life, durability, activities supported, and cost of these Garmin watches were all tested and assessed. However, not every attribute received the same amount of weight. Interface, display, and pricing were ranked lower than supported activities, features, and battery life. High design durability was a recurring trend among the Garmin watches under consideration, and several of the models did not differ all that much from one another.