Top 5 Best Garmin Watches of 2025 

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.

We have thousands of hours of testing experience and 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 stylish and comfortable package with a bright screen, a good selection of training tools, and a long battery life.

However, Garmin manufactures more than just running gear. 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.

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Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Garmin Watches of 2025 

1.Garmin Venu 3 review

Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

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

This smartwatch and health tracker are fairly well-balanced, just like the other Venu models. Firstly, the Garmin Venu 3 has a rich and colorful AMOLED screen that looks fantastic and rivals some of the best Apple watches. This watch can 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, such as the Race Predictor or Training Readiness score, which are available on the Garmin Forerunner 265 for instance, are not available here. Advanced sleep tracking and recommendations, an evening report, training metrics tailored to wheelchair users, and additional health insights are provided, though.You can answer calls from a connected phone right on your wrist thanks to this watch’s speaker and microphone. Additionally, it indicates that the meditation training is more immersive, featuring music, audio guidance, and other elements.

Unquestionably, the Garmin Venu 3 is a stylish smartwatch that doubles as a fitness tracker and a stylish daily wearable. The silicone strap has a simple design, is comfortable, and is waterproof. That stainless steel bezel also gives it a premium finish, which other curved-screen wearables like Apple Watches and the Google Pixel Watch 2 are missing.

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 colorful screen makes all of your metrics visible and appealing.

In addition to making menu scrolling simple, the Venu 3’s touchscreen offers beautiful graphical transitions that make navigating the menus simple. All of it is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to ensure that it doesn’t scratch, which was the case during our frank and rigorous testing. You can use it anywhere, even underwater, and it’s dustproof, so the 50-meter waterproofing does ease your mind.

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 discard an exercise.

There are two sizes available for the Venu 3: the larger 45mm size, called the Venu 3, and the smaller 41mm size, 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.

2.Garmin Vivoactive 5

Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

According to this review, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a new sports and health tracking wearable that is competitive with the Garmin Venu 3 and even rivals some of the Forerunner models as one of the best running watches. Although the Vivoactive 5 is less expensive than many Forerunners, it still has a gorgeous AMOLED screen, more than 30 sports tracking options, and health features like stress and sleep tracking.

Because of all of that, the Vivoactive 5 is a great watch for people who lead active lives but may not be power users or marathon runners. It is undoubtedly competing for a position as one of the top fitness trackers, and because of its rich display, pebble-style design, and notification features, it even starts to make a play as an Apple Watch competitor.

Despite being smaller than the Vivoactive 4 and lacking solar charging, this model has a more effective 11-day top-end battery life. Longer-lasting and slimmer? This is encouraging for a follow-up, especially since the Vivoactive 5 keeps many of the high-end fitness tracking and GPS-powered workout features that set the best Garmin watches apart.

A look at our comparison of the Garmin Vivoactive 3 and Garmin Vivoactive 4 may help you make a decision. You may also find that the older models in the lineup work perfectly for your needs and will save you money when compared to purchasing a brand-new model.

Due in large part to its incredibly effective and efficient design that simply works, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 hasn’t changed much in appearance since a few models ago. It comes in a single 42mm size, and your body is now thinner than ever at just over 11mm.

Despite that slightly raised glass finish, which looks fantastic but makes it more vulnerable to damage, the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, so you won’t have to worry about scratches too much.In comparison to its 45mm predecessor, the Vivoactive 5 is slightly slimmer and smaller. However, it’s a welcome change with that gorgeous high-resolution screen and longer battery life. When paired with a silicone band, the tiny watch itself creates a barely perceptible wrist companion that is ideal for tracking sleep and wearing all day or overnight. With more plastic buttons and a lighter finish, a Forerunner might feel a little more upscale than this one, but the trade-off for a lighter watch that is less noticeable on your wrist might be worthwhile.

As a result of its 5ATM water resistance, you can use the watch to track your swims in the pool, the sea, or even the shower.The Garmin Vivoactive 5 replaces the previous MIP display with a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen. Because of its extreme brightness and color, this display can be used both underwater and in direct sunlight with clarity. Importantly, this display is also more energy-efficient, which means that it looks better than ever while actually using less battery than the MIP display.

You can easily read a lot of text on that tiny screen thanks to the high resolution. In addition to making details more readable and vivid, the vibrant finish allows Garmin to improve its layout. Compared to many other Garmin watches, including the most expensive ones, the new design makes it simpler to read notifications without reaching for your phone.

In the future, you’ll probably be able to use this functionality for additional features, such as Ring doorbell alerts. To be clear, you’ll need the Venu 3 for that at the moment, but with that multipurpose display, it might only take a Garmin software update to get the Ring doorbell interaction of the Venu 3 on the Vivoactive 5 in the future.

3.Garmin Fenix 8

Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Perhaps Garmin’s most anticipated product in a long time was the Fenix 8, and the announcement did not let anyone down. The Garmin Fenix 8 boasts the majority of Garmin’s best hardware features that have been added in the years since the Fenix 7 was released, and the Garmin Fenix 7 series has been ranked among the best Garmin watches ever.

The Fenix 8 incorporates features like an AMOLED display, a speaker and microphone for calls, and an LED torch for safety or attention-grabbing at night (and, er, for seeing in the dark).The Garmin Descent series is the source of its new waterproofing and Apple Watch Ultra-style dive watch functionality. The watch can function as a dive computer for scuba diving up to 40 meters, but according to Garmin product lead Jon Hosler, who we spoke with exclusively, it can go deeper.

The enhanced GPS comes with new software features. For example, it can automatically generate back-to-start directions during running and cycling workouts thanks to its “dynamic routing” capability, and if you’re running a predetermined route, your Fenix 8 will intelligently adjust if you veer off course. In addition to three distinct sizes, buyers can select between a solar-powered memory-in-pixel display (a less vibrant, more energy-efficient smartwatch screen) or a brighter, more smartwatch-y AMOLED one.

The Garmin Fenix 8 shares nearly the same structural design as its predecessors, the Fenix and Epix watches. Garmin has dropped the name Epix and merged it into the main Fenix line. The Epix line was a variant of the Fenix with that stunning, smartwatch-like AMOLED screen. The memory-in-pixel (MIP) screen is Garmin’s classic, duller, battery-efficient screen with Power Glass solar technology, which prolongs the watch’s battery life if you spend three hours or more outside. The Fenix 8 inherits that AMOLED screen as an option.

Although Corning Gorilla Glass is the screen’s default material, Sapphire glass, which is harder, is an option. Similarly, the case of the Fenix 8 is made of stainless steel and tough polymer, but titanium can be used for an extra fee to replace the metal parts. Although the base model should be more than adequate for all but the most daring outdoor enthusiasts, these improvements come on top of the already high price. Most people will be familiar with the thick, wipe-clean silicone Garmin band, but it can be replaced with a fabric loop designed for the trail, such as the Enduro.

The typical Garmin five-button arrangement consists of the Up, Down, and Options buttons on one side and the Start/Stop and Back buttons on the other. as well as touchscreens wwork well as they have always done, while a new raised section on the right-hand side makes it look a little like an Apple Watch Ultra in practice.ork well as they have always done, while a new raised section on the right-hand side makes it look a little like an Apple Watch Ultra in practice.

4.Garmin Instinct 2

Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The robust construction and useful design of the Garmin Instinct 2 distinguish it from other running watches in its price range. It’s well-designed and straightforward, but it’s more playful than the original Garmin Instinct. The original Instinct was one of our all-time favorite running watches because of its outstanding battery life and durability for harsh outdoor use. However, the Instinct 2 is also well-suited for extreme sports where it will be subjected to numerous drops and knocks. Do you want a watch for BMX or skating? You don’t need to search any farther.

A jazzier color scheme with shades like electric lime and poppy red, as well as the new capability to download personalized apps and faces to personalize the watch, reflect this exciting new direction. It’s loud in a self-aware way, but it’s definitely not a subtle watch.

The Instinct 2 is one of the more reasonably priced watches in Garmin’s current lineup, despite not being particularly expensive. This makes it a desirable option if you’re younger and don’t want to spend more than on a watch like the Fenix 7 or Forerunner 945.

All of the watch’s models have incredibly long battery lives, and the ones that come with Garmin’s photovoltaic Power Glass are extremely difficult to top. Even though your way of life prevents you from catching enough rays to keep the watch running indefinitely, it’ll easily last weeks between charges rather than days.

The monochrome memory-in-pixel (MIP) display of the Instinct 2 is a smart choice because it is easy to see in any lighting situation and uses little power, but it has one major flaw: navigation. The Instinct 2 has very simple maps on the screen, but it can track your location and guide you back to the beginning, and it lets you upload your own custom courses through Garmin Connect. There are no road signs, landmarks, or other guiding features; just a line indicates your route and an arrow points you in the correct direction.

However, GPS accuracy is very good; the Instinct 2 was accurate to within a few meters in our pre-measured 5-kilometer test. Monitoring heart rate is excellent as well, and thanks to the new smaller 40mm case option, it’s more practical and comfortable to wear at night so you benefit from full 24-hour health tracking.

With the Instinct 2, Garmin is aiming for a younger demographic, and even if you choose the traditional 45mm resin case over the smaller 40mm, the watch still has a slimmer overall appearance than its predecessor. The weight of the old and new watches is the same (52g), but the second-generation Instinct is thinner at 14.5mm compared to the original’s 15.3mm thickness. Even though it’s a small change, the new watch feels much less heavy when combined with a slightly simpler bezel design.

The 40mm Instinct 2 S that we tested weighed 43g with the silicone band included, and it is still leaner at 13.3mm. Although Garmin claims to weigh 42g, there is always some variation amongst devices.The original Instinct was available in a fairly somber range of colors, but the second-generation watch comes in some much brighter shades, such as electric lime and poppy red. If you choose the Surf edition, you can even get some dual-color options, or you can use the quick release pins on the back to switch the band for a different color.

Similar to the original Instinct, the Instinct 2 features a monochrome memory-in-pixel display with a tiny circular cutout that provides contextual information when navigating menus. When the device is in smartwatch mode, it can display information such as the current date, your step count, or calories burned.

5.Garmin Enduro 2

Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

One of the most durable GPS watches that Garmin offers is the Enduro 2. There is a noticeable weight difference compared to the smaller models because the 51mm case offers more space for a larger battery. This is the model for you if your goal is to spend long days in the backcountry without having the time or desire to worry about recharging.

This is a fantastic choice if you enjoy the Garmin ecosystem and battery life is a top concern. We were taken aback by the Enduro 2’s wearability despite its size; the wider straps actually make it as comfortable as the smaller 47mm cases. More data can fit on the larger screen, and navigating between data pages is less necessary. The dedicated flashlight is one of our favorite new features, and personally, we wouldn’t buy a new watch without one. The sapphire screen prevents scratches and looks clear in a wide variety of weather conditions. If you’re deciding between the Enduro 2 or Fenix series, we suggest determining based on battery life needs.

With a GPS and HR accuracy score of +/- 2.3 BPM and +/- 0.01 miles, respectively, the Enduro 2 was one of the most accurate GPS tracks we tested. Although it lacks Garmin’s most recent HR sensor, it does have multi-GNSS capabilities for increased accuracy. We tested all watches and discovered that the standard GPS works well in the majority of situations.

We recommend the Enduro 2 for extended excursions and expeditions. A lot of information can be shown with the 51mm case size without requiring you to navigate between data pages. Additionally, the navigation appears better on the larger screen. We appreciate that many of the topos are pre-downloaded. Utilizing both the touchscreen and specific buttons makes it simple to access in a wide variety of conditions. The MIP display also looks great in direct sunlight, and the solar charging allows us to stay out even longer.

Choosing from the Garmin lineup can be challenging because there is a lot of overlap. In our opinion, this is one of Garmin’s best activity-focused watches. Unless you are a serious athlete or just want the biggest and best, we really can’t recommend this model. The Enduro can handle any trip thanks to its more than 100 hours of battery life. On expeditions where weight and simplicity are crucial, having one less item to charge and worry about is a boon. You can find all of the different activity modes and metrics on the Garmin product page. We made extensive use of the trail running, hiking, and biking modes during our test.

The UI of nearly every Garmin model largely acts the same with minimal difference between them. Each has daily health tracking and sleep recording. This allowed us to keep in touch with our activity levels throughout the day and offered helpful statistics such as body battery and stress. Take the metrics with a grain of salt, as they are based on the accuracy of the HR monitor. The mobile Garmin Connect companion app recently got an upgrade, and some of the UI design was adjusted, making it easier to use and less cluttered. Our team has long complained about this, so we are happy with this redesign.

How to choose the best Garmin watch for you

When choosing a Garmin watch, there are three key points to consider: what sport are you interested in, what level are you at, and what is your budget?

If you’re starting your fitness journey and want a watch that will help improve your habits, that’s fantastic – a watch in the Venu line will suit you perfectly. They’re pretty small and discrete, making them great for all-day wear, and offer a good range of general fitness tracking tools. If your budget runs to it, the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus are our top picks, thanks to their onboard GPS and fantastic displays.

Suppose you’re a beginner or intermediate runner. In that case, the Forerunner 165 or 245 will work very nicely for you. If you also enjoy cycling, swimming or both, the Forerunner 265 or 965 are superb triathlon watches that will serve you well. Worried about scuffs and scratches? Take a look at the Instinct 2; it’s built like a tank and has incredible battery life.

Best Garmin watches for women vs men: Is there a difference?

Functionally, there’s no difference between Garmin watches for women and men: they’re generally unisex. Size, weight and style is a consideration for everyone, and where Garmin watches have multiple size options, we’ve outlined those options in our full reviews. Generally speaking, smaller sizes and lighter watches tend to be preferred by individuals with slimmer wrists, especially if they’re running watches.

Another aspect to consider are the features available, including women’s health tracking if it’s something you’re interested in. Most Garmin watches have the ability to track menstrual cycles using heart rate, skin temperature and other metrics it collects, but even if the watch features those options, you can choose to opt out or turn off the feature in Settings.