The Best Garmin Watches of 2024, Tested by Experts
Track your runs, bike rides and laps with precision.
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The options seem endless when it comes to fitness trackers and smart watches, which provide a bigger picture of your health and wellness and send handy smart notifications straight to your wrist. If you’re looking for a watch that excels when it comes to tracking your sports activity, performance and recovery, Garmin has made a name for itself. A favorite among athletes and fitness enthusiasts for its reliability, accuracy and practicality, Garmin watches track activities ranging from skiing to golfing, running, rowing, yoga and beyond. Not only do most Garmin watches boast days’ worth of battery life so you don't have to worry about charging yet another device, but the majority have built-in GPS so phone-free runs can now be a reality.
The analysts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Media and Tech Lab test consumer electronics and fitness gadgets from the best smart watches for men to smart watches for women, smart rings and fitness trackers. We’ve tested dozens of smart watches over the years in the Lab, evaluating their ease of use, comfort, performance and features. We’ve not only taken watches out for a run, but we’ve dropped them on the floor and submerged them in the pool to see how they really perform. We’ve also shared watches with consumer testers who try them out and provide us with real-user feedback about their experience. These are the best Garmin watches in 2023 according to our Lab evaluations and rave consumer reviews.
Our top picks:
After our top picks, keep reading to learn what to look for when shopping for a Garmin watch.
Garmin Forerunner 265S
Pros
- Tracks a variety of activities and metrics
- Super bright screen
- Lightweight, comfortable design
- Impressive battery life
Cons
- Pricey
Whether you’re preparing for a half marathon or trying to improve your overall health, the Forerunner 265S is here to track everything from your everyday health stats and training metrics for activities and sports such as swimming, golfing, skiing, Pilates and more. Featuring a lightweight, comfortable design and super bright color display, we were impressed by how easy this watch was to read no matter the weather. We found the touchscreen responsive and intuitive but loved being able to also rely on the five physical buttons, especially when abruptly starting or stopping activity. Unlike some smart watches, you don’t have to worry about the watch’s battery dying on you when taking it hiking for the weekend. According to Garmin, it should last up to 15 days (though this may be reduced based on use of GPS and other factors).
One of our favorite Garmin features is daily workout suggestions and body battery monitoring, which tracks physical activity, sleep and more to help you better understand your personal energy needs and manage them. With these insights, you can try to optimize times when your body is ready to be active or when you may need to take it easy and rest. Runners will be especially pleased that this watch tracks all types of running activity, from outdoor track to treadmill to trail running; there’s even a unique live tracking feature that enables friends and family to access your location during a race. In addition to the user-friendly app that makes reviewing your metrics easier than ever, we love that GPS is built into the watch so you can leave your phone behind and still get highly accurate data. Those who like to exercise to music can download songs straight to their watch for phone-free listening. Our pros also recommend the more premium Forerunner 965 for advanced runners looking for even more insights and analytics.
| Battery Life | 15 days |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Screen size | 1.1" |
| Built-in GPS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.08 lbs |
Garmin Forerunner 55
Pros
- Great value
- Tracks most activities and metrics
- Comfortable, lightweight design
- Impressive battery life
Cons
- Display isn’t as bright as more premium screens
- Doesn’t feature touchscreen
- No music storage
Similar in design to the Forerunner 265, the Forerunner 55 is significantly more affordable and a great choice for runners and fitness enthusiasts on a budget. It comes with many of the same features as the more premium model, including built-in GPS for quick distance and pace readings, heart rate monitoring, recovery tips and body battery energy monitoring. When you’re ready to work out, choose among apps like swimming, hiking and HIIT to start tracking activity.
Just keep in mind that for the lower price you’re giving up some of the more niche outdoor recreation profiles as well as the higher resolution, bright AMOLED display and touchscreen capabilities you’ll find on the 265 model. Because there are fewer sensors built into the watch, you also miss out on some of the more advanced features such as blood oxygen monitoring, sleep score and thermometer, but most newbie runners won’t miss this. In tests, our pros did find the screen more difficult to read and the buttons less intuitive to navigate, but overall the watch’s functionality and battery life remained fairly similar.
| Battery Life | 14 days |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Screen size | 1.04" |
| Built-in GPS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.08 lbs |
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Pros
- Large, bright display
- Easy to use and responsive
- Built-in speaker and mic for calls
- Features ECG app
Cons
- Could benefit from 5-button design
The Venu 2 Plus is similar to many smart watches on the market today, but carries over Garmin's popular athletic features and built-in GPS. Unlike other watches featured on this list, this is the only model with a built-in speaker and mic that makes it possible to make quick phone calls from your watch when you're out running as well as ask your phone's voice assistant questions when paired with your compatible smartphone. We love the large and bright AMOLED touchscreen display that makes reading stats and smart notifications crystal clear as well as the sleek, lightweight stainless steel design that has a lifestyle look. Though you lose two buttons, this watch remains packed with all of Garmin's greatest features like 25+ sports apps, sleep score insights and women's health tracking. It's also one of the only Garmins to feature an ECG app that tracks irregular heart rhythms.
"This watch feels like it could easily be an everyday watch for someone who wants to get high-level tracking of their athletic activity," says one tester. "I think it's a real improvement in Garmin's efforts to strike the balance between getting a watch that feels like it'll help you out of a war zone and one that will help you get through an ordinary commuting exercise routine." Other testers applaud the responsive display, great visuals and accurate tracking. "I liked being able to access a lot of different data points in an easy-to-understand way," says one tester.
| Battery Life | 9 days |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Screen size | 1.3" |
| Built-in GPS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.1 lbs |
Garmin Fenix 7S
Pros
- Versatile training features and sports apps
- Advanced metrics and monitoring
- Features real-time mapping
- Can be charged with solar energy
Cons
- Very expensive
- Screen is not as bright as AMOLED
Whether you're backpacking this summer, an avid golfer or preparing for a triathlon, the Fenix 7S is made for all outdoor enthusiasts and athletes alike. It's an all out survival watch with GPS, a compass, a barometer and advanced training features. "This watch is hyper-focused on sports and it does a great job at tracking just that," says one tester. In fact, you can track everything from fishing to kitesurfing to horseback riding, and divers will be pleased that you can take this watch underwater up to 100 meters. We especially like that you're able to trace back your steps when hiking or running should your phone lose signal thanks to real-time mapping.
What sets this robust gadget further apart is its solar charging lens. Spend three hours outdoors in full sun and witness your battery life extend. While we haven't yet tried this feature out on a hiking trip and can't attest to the exact rate at which the sun charges the Fenix, we like that you can view solar intensity on the watch itself. We're also fond of the rugged design that doesn't feel too bulky on petite wrists, though ultimately recommend this watch only for those who are serious about sports and eager for the most advanced performance metrics and monitoring. Also, keep in mind that the screen isn't bright like some other Garmins so you'll need to press the light button at night.
| Battery life | 11 days (14 with solar) |
| Water resistant | 10 ATM |
| Screen size | 1.2" |
| Built-in GPS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.1 lbs |
Garmin Lily
Pros
- Slim, attractive design suitable for petite wrists
- Responsive and intuitive touchscreen
- Tracks vital health stats and data
- Choice of leather or silicone band
- Lightweight
Cons
- Doesn’t track as many activities as other Garmin watches
- GPS is not built-in
- No music storage
- Battery life could be longer
The Garmin Lily is the perfect choice for petite wrists hoping to prioritize style without sacrificing access to health stats and activity tracking. This slim watch is one of the most attractive smart watches we’ve tested, featuring a leather band and a stainless steel bezel offered in various shades that might lead some to mistake it for a traditional watch. If you prefer a watch with an easy-to-clean silicone band and aluminum bezel, consider the almost identical Lily Sport Edition. While the 34 millimeter screen is small, navigation is intuitive thanks to a responsive touchscreen and integrated digital button at the bottom of the watch face.
Like other Garmin watches, the Lily tracks steps, sleep, hydration stress and your body battery along with key activities such as walking, running and swimming. Though only seven activities can be displayed on the watch at a time, you can choose among 13 from the app and swap them in or out. Just keep in mind that you won’t have access to all activities so if you’re hoping to track sports such as skiing or golfing, you might need to opt for a more robust Garmin. Also, GPS isn’t built in, but as long as you have your phone with you during your walk or run you’ll be able to view your data in the Garmin app.
| Battery Life | 5 days |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Screen size: | 1.00” x 0.84” |
| Built-in GPS | No (connected GPS only) |
| Weight | 0.05 lbs |
How we test the best Garmin watches
The experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute routinely test smart watches and fitness trackers. In recent years we've reviewed at least 50 watches and trackers, and over a dozen Garmins specifically, testing each for performance, ease of use and durability. For many of our watches, we've analyzed over 300 data points to determine whether it's a product we stand by and recommend. When possible, we ask consumer panelists to provide qualitative feedback on their experience using the watch, noting specific features they like as well as how easy the watch was to navigate and operate. For this review, we went hands-on with each Garmin featured alongside consumer testers. Here are additional details regarding our standard protocols, which allow us to have true expertise in this space:
✔️ Performance: We consider each watch's performance features and its overall functionality. Our engineers measure battery life as well as the accuracy of the pedometer, heart rate monitor and other advanced monitoring tools, when relevant. We also ensure that all smart features operate seamlessly without glitches or syncing issues.
✔️ Ease-of-use: We first evaluate whether it's easy to set up the watch straight out of the box. Next, we assess how intuitive it is to navigate the device and whether the app is user-friendly and seamless to use alongside the watch. Once the watch has been set up, we score how simple it is to check for notifications, start activity and navigate to specific menus. Lastly, we assess comfort and design, considering each watch's weight, screen size and straps.
✔️ Durability: The drop test consists of dropping each smart watch from 30 inches or the height of a typical countertop, then verifying whether it remains fully functional. To check for water-resistance, we place each watch in approximately eight inches of water for one minute to simulate full submersion; we then wait 24 hours before checking for functionality. A smart watch that fails either test is automatically disqualified from our recommended list.
What to look for when shopping for a Garmin watch
Finding the right Garmin watch for your exercise habits and needs can be complicated with so many options to choose from. Here are some tips to help you get started:
✔️ Battery life: One feature Garmins have over other running watches is their excellent battery life. If you want to take your watch hiking or camping without needing to recharge, consider one with at least two weeks of battery life or solar charging capabilities. Keep in mind that using GPS will significantly reduce your watch's battery life.
✔️ Display: Some Garmin watches feature bigger, brighter screen displays that make checking on your activity or reading a notification a bit easier. If that's important to you, opt for a watch that has an AMOLED display. While most Garmin running watches are lightweight, also consider their size to ensure you'll be comfortable sleeping with the watch on if you plan on doing so. Lastly, double-check whether a touchscreen is included if that's a feature you'd like.
✔️ Features: Garming running watches are packed with features, sensors and training tools. Our first suggestion to finding the right one for you is to ask yourself what type of activity you want to track primarily. If you're an avid runner training for a marathon, you could benefit from having access to in-depth running stats like grade-adjusted pace, stride length and more. If you plan on using your watch while playing pickleball or paddleboarding, make sure it features that outdoor recreation profile. Certain watches will even have extra cycling, swimming and golfing features so if you participate in one of those sports, you should do a quick watch comparison check on Garmin's website by selecting the "compare" button to find the best one for you.
✔️ Water-resistance: You can jump in the pool or shower with most Garmins, but always double-check the ATM rating, which is the rating system Garmin has adopted. An ATM rating is a standardized way to classify a water rating in a Lab by looking at its ability to withstand static pressure to certain depths for a short period of time. Most smart watches are rated at 5ATM, which means that the watch has been tested to be swim resistant and withstand pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. Some Garmins will be rated at 10 ATM and are more suitable for diving to a depth of 100 meters as well as high-speed water sports.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Media and Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski has tested and reviewed the latest gadgets and gear in tech, travel, fitness, camping, home and more. She wrote this piece based on the latest Garmin watches tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but she’s an avid hiker, runner and outdoor enthusiast.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests and writes about tech, home, travel, fitness, parenting and health products. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
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