Which is the best Garmin smartwatch? The Big Garmin Watch Review UK

Garmin Smartwatches

Last updated: 09.11.2023 Reading time: 12 Min.

Extensive analysis tools for your training.

Numerous navigation functions for your outdoor adventures.

Particularly accurate tracking of heart rate and other data.

Are you looking for all this from your smartwatch? 🤔

Then there’s no better alternative than a premium wearable from Garmin!

There’s no doubt that the manufacturer offers some of the best smartwatches and fitness watches in the UK. 🚀

Read our review to find out which is the best Garmin watch for you!

Different Garmin Smartwatches are worn on our reviewer’s arm.

Here’s what we’ll be looking at:

  • The best Garmin watches
  • What can the wearables do?
  • Garmin watch overview
  • Which Garmin smartwatch is right for you?

The best Garmin smartwatches! 🏆

  • Best overall 🏆
    Fenix 7
    Price from £ 545 £ (689.99 )
    This modern smartwatch for men offers you extensive support for your training as well as many analysis tools.
    Fenix 7
    This modern smartwatch for men offers you extensive support for your training as well as many analysis tools.
    Price from £ 545 (£ 689.99 )
  • Good battery life
    Venu 2
    Price from £ 199.99 £ (329.99 )
    A high-quality, stylish watch for both fitness and your everyday activities.
    Venu 2
    A high-quality, stylish watch for both fitness and your everyday activities.
    Price from £ 199.99 (£ 329.99 )
  • User-friendly mobile app
    vivoactive 4
    Price from £ 199 £ (259.99 )
    A premium watch for sports enthusiasts.
    vivoactive 4
    A premium watch for sports enthusiasts.
    Price from £ 199 (£ 259.99 )
  • High quality workmanship
    Instinct 2 Solar
    Price from £ 151.42 £ (349.99 )
    A high-end outdoor smartwatch for hiking.
    Instinct 2 Solar
    A high-end outdoor smartwatch for hiking.
    Price from £ 151.42 (£ 349.99 )
  • Waterproof
    Vivomove style
    Price from £ 136.20 £ (299.99 )
    The Garmin vivomove style offers support for your day-to-day life with both smart and fitness functions.
    Vivomove style
    The Garmin vivomove style offers support for your day-to-day life with both smart and fitness functions.
    Price from £ 136.20 (£ 299.99 )

The best alternative! 🤩

  • Great offer 💶
    Grit X
    Price from £ 279
    A high-quality sports watch for ambitious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
    Grit X
    A high-quality sports watch for ambitious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
    Price from £ 279

Find out more about our favorites now

Best overall 🏆

Garmin Fenix 7

This modern smartwatch for men offers you extensive support for your training as well as many analysis tools.

If you're looking for the best support while exercising, look no further! The new Garmin Fenix 7 is your answer. No other sports watch offers you so many analysis tools to improve your performance.

The Garmin Fenix 7 is one of the best smartwatches for men in the UK market. 

Extensive support for your training

The Garmin Fenix 7 is the perfect companion during your workouts

You can choose from a large number of different sport profiles on this high quality sports watch. 

This modern sports watch not only records all fitness and health data, but also makes it accessible to you in the corresponding app or in your Garmin Connect account. 📱

© Fenix

In the app, you’re able to evaluate your data with the help of various analysis tools and therefore get the most out of the information. 

The Garmin Fenix 7 offers you crucial advice on how to increase your performance as quickly and effectively as possible. 🙌

Attention: Due to the very large range of functions, it may take a few days for you to get used to the Garmin Fenix 7. 

Your own personal activity tracker

With the Garmin Fenix 7, you will have an activity tracker with you at any moment. 🙌

Even in your everyday life, this smartwatch always tracks your fitness and health data. 

Garmin also offers you dynamic step targets. 

This means that if you reach your daily step target, the target for the next day will be increased slightly; if you do not reach it, it will be decreased slightly. 

This way you will always stay motivated. 🥳

The Garmin Fenix 7 also offers you extensive maps and many navigation options. This is especially useful for hiking enthusiasts.

The most important smart functions are on board 

Although the Garmin Fenix 7 is primarily designed as a smartwatch for exercise and sports, this wearable also offers you other important smart functions

Incoming messages and calls are displayed directly on this wearable. 

Additionally, there is the option to reply to text messages via predefined SMS templates. 

Furthermore, you will be able to control the music on your smartphone. 🎶

You can also use Garmin Pay to pay contactless for your shopping and purchases. 💶

Garmin Fenix 7

Long battery life

When it comes to battery life, almost no other smartwatch can reach the capacity of the Garmin Fenix 7. 🚀

In smartwatch mode, the wearable's battery is able to last up to 18 to 22 days (depending on the model). 

In power-saving mode, the watch lasts about 7 to 10 days with average use including sports activities and GPS tracking. 🙌

The solar variant is even capable of partially recharging its battery by itself. 🔋

New to the Fenix 7: the touchscreen 

The Garmin Fenix 7 is the first smartwatch in the Fenix series to have a touchscreen. 🚀

The smartwatch is now operated both via the side buttons and also directly via the touch display. 

Info: The Garmin Fenix 7 is available in 3 versions: Fenix 7S (42mm), Fenix 7 (47mm) and Fenix 7X (51mm). 

For slimmer wrists, we recommend the smaller Garmin Fenix 7S.  

A comprehensive smartwatch for athletes 

If you are looking to find a little best friend for your training which offers you an extensive training evaluation, the Garmin Fenix 7 is definitely the right choice for you. 

This high quality smartwatch offers you everything you need for your workouts. 🚀

Due to the particularly large range of functions and the various analysis tools, ambitious athletes will find everything they need with this smartwatch. 

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

Extensive support during workouts

Many training profiles and analytical tools

Very long battery life

Detailed sleep tracking

Waterproof up to 50 metres

Disadvantages:

Acclimatisation period necessary

Limited smart functions

High price

Good battery life

Garmin Venu 2

A high-quality, stylish watch for both fitness and your everyday activities.

The Garmin Venu 2 is a top-of-the-range smartwatch from the brand and is a real all-rounder. This wearable offers fantastic support thanks to its many health metrics and features that help your training and everyday activities.

This high-end Garmin smartwatch doesn’t just look chic, it also has plenty of useful features in store. 👇

Great training support

It goes without saying that the Garmin Venu 2 tracks all your important data during training.

In addition to this, there are many different preloaded workouts included. It is also possible to build personalised training sessions.

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) activity profile is also featured. 💪

Garmin Venu 2 is shown.
© Garmin

After your workout, you will receive a training summary in the Garmin Connect companion app. 📱

However, detailed analysis tools for pro athletes (like those featured on the Garmin Fenix 7) are not to be found on this device.

The Garmin Venu 2 was designed with sports enthusiasts and health-conscious people in mind.

Extensive health tracking

The Garmin Venu 2 tracks a wide range of health data as you go about your day.

This includes:

Garmin Venu 2 smart features

Streaming services like Spotify and Deezer are available on the Garmin Venu 2 thanks to the built-in music player. 🎶

You can also download many other third-party apps via Garmin’s own app store, Connect IQ Store.

What’s more, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus offers even more smart features:

  • Receive and send messages
  • Phone calls
  • Voice assistant
Info: The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is an upgraded edition of the model.

Particularly long battery life

The battery life of the Garmin Venu 2 is also quite impressive.

When in smartwatch mode, the timepiece boasts a battery life of up to 11 days. 🔋  

With GPS activated, you can use the fitness watch for around 22 hours before it needs to be charged again.

Conclusion of our Garmin Venu 2 review

The Garmin Venu 2 is a great all-rounder smartwatch for accompanying you in your everyday life

This stylish smartwatch is the perfect choice for sports enthusiasts and health-conscious people. 🙌

For those looking for more smart features, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus is the way to go.

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

Stylish design

Many health features 

Accurate GPS tracking in real-time

Always-On display 

Many activity profiles

Long battery life

Disadvantages:

Many smart functions only available on Garmin Venu 2 Plus 

Limited training analysis

User-friendly mobile app

Garmin vivoactive 4

A premium watch for sports enthusiasts.

The Garmin vivoactive 4 is the perfect partner for your everyday activities and training. The fitness watch tracks all your important health and fitness data and displays it in the app.

This high-quality fitness watch for sports enthusiasts has been on the market since 2019 and is a great all-rounder.

Navigation and maps

You can create various routes for your training or hiking in your Garmin Connect account on either your app or your PC. 🙌

They can then be easily sent to your watch via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Once you’ve done that, Garmin vivoactive 4 will be able to navigate your route.

Attention: The vivoactive 4 does not feature detailed maps. 

Multiple training plans for your workout

Garmin offers plenty of preloaded training plans.

In addition to this, you can also create your own workouts.

The fitness watch records all your important health and fitness data during your training session as well as throughout the day. This is then displayed in the app. 📱

Extensive analysis tools in the app

The intuitive Garmin Connect app allows you to access multiple analysis tools so you can get the most out of your tracked data. 🥳

Additionally, you can view the trends over the past days and weeks.

That way, you can keep an eye on your progress. 💪

Store up to 500 songs on your smartwatch

Thanks to the internal music storage, you can store up to 500 songs on your fitness watch.

That means you can leave your smartphone at home while you work out and simply use Bluetooth earphones to listen to your music. 🥳

Music streaming services like Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music can be used.

Customise your watch with widgets and bands 

Garmin offers many different ways for you to customise your timepiece.

Not only can you switch out your wrist strap thanks to the handy QuickFit technology, but you can also customise which data is displayed on your screen with widgets.

So you can style your watch exactly as you see fit!  🥳

Our verdict on the Garmin vivoactive 4

The Garmin vivoactive 4 really impressed us in our review! If you’re in the market for a new fitness watch, this device is a high-quality, modern option.

It includes all the most important tracking features. This makes the wearable the perfect choice for casual athletes. 🚀

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Body Battery and stress level tracking

PacePro function

Screen easy to read outdoors

Long battery life 

Store up to 500 songs

Intuitive app with many functions

Touch screen with 2 side buttons

Very good quality and premium design 

Records heart rate and pulse underwater

Disadvantages

No detailed maps

No automatic Multisport mode

Few banks supported by Garmin Pay in the UK 

Long familiarisation phase required 

High quality workmanship

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

A high-end outdoor smartwatch for hiking.

The Garmin Instinct 2 was designed primarily for outdoor adventures. With extensive maps and three satellite systems, it is the perfect companion when hiking or cycling.

The Garmin Instinct 2 offers a variety of functions for your adventurous outdoor activities. 👇

Includes extensive maps

Due to the numerous navigation functions, the Garmin Instinct 2 is advertised as an outdoor smartwatch by the producer.

The comprehensive maps allow you to create routes and navigate your journey to help you reach your destination. 🗺

On top of that, it also features a barometric altimeter as well as a compass.

Info: The three integrated satellite systems (GPSGLONASS and Galileo) allow for particularly accurate route tracking.

Sturdy design and long battery life

At first glance, the Garmin Instinct 2 seems quite hefty.

The casing itself is made from fibre-reinforced polymer.

So this smartwatch can definitely take a beating.

The watch is operated via five buttons on the sides. There is no touch-screen.

Garmin’s reliable MIP display is also put to use here, which allows for great readability, even in direct sunlight. ☀️

However, the display is monochrome, meaning no colour-coding to help you identify stats at a glance.


The front and back of the Garmin Instinct 2.

You don’t have to worry about your smartwatch’s battery life interrupting your long outdoor adventures.

In GPS mode, the smartwatch can last for 30 hours and in smartwatch mode, you can use it for up to 28 days! 🔋

Particularly useful: There is also a Solar edition of the wearable available, which partially charges your battery using solar energy absorbed through a light-sensitive bezel.

Fitness features and smart functions

It goes without saying that diverse fitness features are a must on the Garmin Instinct 2.

The wearable tracks your activities and allows you to access the recorded data in the Garmin Connect companion app. 📱

It also includes the Training Load feature, which can advise you to take some recovery time as well as letting you know when you are in the optimal range for improving your fitness level!

In addition to this, basic smart features are also included.

You can view, for example, incoming messages from your smartphone directly on your smartwatch.

Garmin Pay also allows you to make contactless payments quickly and easily with a flick of your wrist. 🙌

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar - Our conclusion

Garmin Instinct 2 is a robust, high-performance smartwatch perfect for outdoor activities.

With features like a compass, maps and altimeter, this device will be your best friend when hiking, mountain climbing and cycling. 🙌

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

Comprehensive maps

3 built-in satellite systems

Sleep analysis

Very sturdy

Disadvantages:

No colour display

Only basic smart features

Waterproof

Garmin Vivomove style

The Garmin vivomove style offers support for your day-to-day life with both smart and fitness functions.

It takes a second look to realise that this chic watch is not just an analogue watch. Indeed, this gadget comes equipped with a variety of smartwatch functions.

The well-known fitness watch brand, Garmin, also has a high-performance hybrid smartwatch up its sleeve: the Garmin vivomove style. 🙌

Stylish design and fitness features

This hybrid watch doesn’t just look good, it also offers great support thanks to its many functions: 👇

  • Step counter
  • Heart rate monitor
  • Distance travelled
  • Built-in GPS
  • Stress level
  • Body battery (energy reserves for the day ahead)
  • Breathing exercises
  • Cycle tracking for women’s health 💃
 Different functions shown on the Garmin vivomove style.
© Garmin
Garmin vivomove style records your important data during training, which you can then view in the Garmin Connect companion app.

Featuring smart functions

The elegant hybrid watch supports you not just in your training but also includes various smart functions.

This allows, for example, messages and emails from your phone to be displayed directly on your watch. 📱

Incoming message on the Garmin vivomove style.
© Garmin
You can also make contactless payments at the checkout thanks to Garmin Pay.

Two inconspicuous OLED displays 

At first glance, the Garmin vivomove style appears to be just a conventional analogue watch.

It takes a second look to notice the two small OLED screens in the upper and lower halves of the clock face. 🙌 

The displays are inactive when not in use. They are only activated by a double tap and the clock hands will move without blocking the displays.

Top tip: You can customise which widgets appear.

The Garmin vivomove style - Our conclusion

The Garmin vivomove style is a particularly high-performance hybrid watch that offers many options for fitness and health tracking.

You can hardly notice that this is not a conventional analogue watch. That makes this wearable perfect for matching with an elegant evening dress or a suit. 🚀

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Extensive health and fitness tracking

Smart features

Elegant design 

Hidden OLED displays

Water-resistant up to 5 ATM (50 metres)

Disadvantages

High price

Short battery life (5 days)

Garmin Pay is (currently) not compatible with most leading banks in the UK

The best alternative! 🤩

Great offer 💶
Polar
Grit X
Price from   £ 279

Polar Grit X

A high-quality sports watch for ambitious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Polar Grit X is a high-quality fitness watch that offers extensive functions to support you during your training sessions. On top of that, there are many navigation functions.

The Polar Grit X was specially developed for ambitious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. 

Extensive features for your training 

With the Polar Grit X, you can not only access many different pre-installed workouts, but also create personalised training sessions. 🥳

The fitness tracking device then records all important data during your workout. This smartwatch can detect many different types of sports and activities. It also offers swimming metrics and is water resistant up to 100 metres! 💪

You can find all the details as well as extensive analysis tools on the companion app for smartphone and PC.

The Polar Grit X offers many options for analysing your training. This way you can increase your performance quickly and effectively. 

Very limited smart features

Want to use your fitness tracker watch to make phone calls or control your music? Unfortunately, that won’t be possible with the Polar Grit X. 

This device offers hardly any smart features.

However, you can still receive push notifications with this wearable.  

Display and design of the Polar Grit X 

As far as the display and the design of the fitness watch are concerned, the Polar Grit X gets a thumbs up from us. 👍

The high-quality Gorilla Glass protects the display from scratches. 

The housing itself is also made of high-quality stainless steel. 

Tip: You can customise the look of the sports watch with different wristbands.
You can see the Polar Grit X's interchangeable watch bands.
© Polar
The Polar Grit X activity tracker is very comfortable to wear and not at all distracting during training. 

How to operate the Polar Grit X

The Polar Grit X features many different functions, which makes it slightly more difficult to use at first.

Once you spend a little time getting used to it, however, you'll easily manage using the modern sports watch. 🙌

Features extensive navigation functions 

Since this fitness watch was primarily developed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, extensive navigation functions on the wearable are a must.

This way you can create routes on the watch and allow it to navigate your journey. 🗺 

Tip: The popular Komoot app offers you even more hiking trails on the Polar Grit X. 

The Polar Grit X uses 4 different satellite systems to determine its location: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS

Our conclusion on the Polar Grit X

The Polar Grit X is a high-quality sports watch with an abundance of fitness features for ambitious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. 

The extensive data analysis and the many options for route planning are especially worth a mention.

If you can do without smart features, then we can definitely recommend this high-quality fitness watch to you. 🚀

Check Amazon*

Advantages:

High-quality and robust processing

Sporty design

Extensive support for your training

Accurate data recording with many analysis tools

Detailed sleep monitoring

Long battery life (about 1 week)

Available in 2 different sizes

Waterproof up to a depth of 100 metres

Compatible with both iPhone and Android phones

Disadvantages:

Time required for familiarisation

Very limited smart features

Quite high price

Comparison of Garmin watch functions

When it comes to smartwatches and fitness watches, the Garmin brand name is hard to miss.

The Switzerland-based company is known for its particularly comprehensive and innovative wearables.

But what exactly makes these fitness trackers so special? 🤔

What sets Garmin apart from other brands?

Let’s find out together in our Garmin watch comparison below. 👇

Comprehensive training support

Garmin smartwatches offer the best support currently available for your training! 🙌

Do you want to quickly and effectively improve your performance?

Are you preparing for a marathon, triathlon or another competition?

Is measuring your heart rate as accurately as possible important to you?

If so, we have the answer: Garmin! 🥳

Top tip: You can monitor your pulse and heart rate even more accurately with a chest strap.

Garmin HRM Pro*

Polar H10*

Training data is shown on the Garmin Fenix 7.
Garmin Fenix 7

The wearables offer both a variety of preloaded training plans as well as the possibility to build your own personalised workouts.

When it comes to your training, you will receive all your recorded data in the Garmin Connect companion app

Here you can find a variety of analysis tools and statistics.

Garmin smartwatches allow you to improve your performance quickly and easily.

Professional athletes can receive the best possible support here. 💪

Info: By the way, check out our review of the best fitness watches here.

Plenty of health-tracking features

In addition to the numerous training features, the best Garmin smartwatches also offer useful health features.

Among others, these include the following functions:

  • Pulse and heart rate tracking
  • Calorie consumption tracking
  • Step counter
  • Body battery
  • Blood oxygen levels (SpO2)
  • VO2 max
  • Stress management
  • Sleep analysis with Sleep Score
  • Breathwork exercises
  • Cycle tracking
Stress level is shown on the Garmin Fenix 7.
Garmin Fenix 7
Info: The range of functions varies from model to model.

Basic smart functions

As is clear from the name “smartwatch”, smart functions are a must-have.

As the focus of these wearables is mainly on training and outdoor activities, smart features are generally more limited.

However, the best Garmin smart watches offer the following:

  • Notification display
  • Quick-reply function
  • Call function
  • Music function (sometimes offline music)
  • Contactless payments with Garmin Pay
Info: Models from the Apple Watch series and Samsung smartwatches, on the other hand, offer a wide range of smart functions.

Here, you can find the best smartwatches for Android.

The notification function is shown on the Garmin Fenix 7.
Garmin Fenix 7
Top tip: We recommend using wireless earphones to make calls or listen to music on your smartwatch.

Review of the navigation function on Garmin smartwatches

In our Garmin smartwatch comparison, the extensive navigation functions of the wearables impressed us. 🗺

This is one of the most important features of Garmin watches.

Creating routes is super easy.

Your smartwatch can then help you on your way to your destination.

Top tip: When cycling, voice output navigation via wireless headphones is a good option. This way, you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. 🚴
The navigation function is shown on the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro

Many of the best Garmin smartwatches already come with pre-installed outdoor maps.

Some also allow you to install apps like Komoot or Strava.

Additional features:

  • Compass 🧭
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Built-in GPS and other satellite systems
Info: Golf and ski maps are also included on premium smartwatches from Garmin. 🙌

Location accuracy on the best Garmin fitness watches

The best Garmin smartwatches use different built-in satellite systems to determine your location as accurately as possible:

This way, the wearable can always determine your exact location.

Good to know: Modern Garmin smartwatches score the highest in our reviews when it comes to navigation functions.

Overview of the different models - Which is the best Garmin watch for you?

Garmin is known for its diverse training support, but not so much for its clear model structure.

The manufacturer doesn’t just offer many different series for different purposes.

There are also countless different models within each series.

Let’s shed some light on this topic with our Garmin smartwatch overview. 💡

Our Garmin smartwatch overview - The perfect model for every purpose!

Thanks to the many different Garmin watches available, there is a watch to suit pretty much everybody’s needs! 🙌

Let’s take a look at the most well-known and best model series from the manufacturer. 👇

The Garmin Fenix: for professional athletes and outdoor enthusiasts

The Garmin Fenix smartwatches are the undisputed best and most well-known wearables from the manufacturer.

The watches feature particularly extensive sports and fitness functions for a wide variety of activities.

Even hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased with these wearables, thanks to the many navigation functions.

You can get the most out of your training thanks to the numerous analysis tools.

Particularly handy: The Multisport function makes these smartwatches a great choice for triathletes.
Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 7

The broad range of functions included on these wearables makes them difficult to navigate in the beginning.

We would be less likely to recommend this model to beginners or casual athletes.

Info: The Garmin Epix series is similar to the Fenix watches in terms of function range. Instead of a MIP display, however, they feature a high-definition AMOLED display with high contrast.

You can read our review of the Garmin Fenix 7 here to find out more about the latest model in the Fenix range.

The Garmin Forerunner series: Perfect for runners

As the name suggests, the Garmin Forerunner series was specially designed for runners.

With features like Garmin Coach offering tailored training plans, workout suggestions and sports tracking, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your race goal.

Whether you are training for a marathon, triathlon or another sporting event, a multisport watch from the Garmin Forerunner series is a great choice.

© Garmin

Thanks to the lightweight plastic casing, you will hardly notice the wearable on your wrist.

The Garmin vivoactive and venu series: For fitness enthusiasts

For those who like to keep fit and healthy, the vivoactive and venu series from Garmin have everything you need. 🥳

The wearables support you in your training planning, offer workout analysis and feature some basic smart functions.

Garmin vivoactive und venu.
© Garmin
Info: Navigating these watches is much easier to get used to than with, for example, models from the Fenix and Epix series.

The Garmin Instinct series: For outdoor adventure-seekers

For those who enjoy outdoor adventures, we recommend the Garmin Instinct series.

These wearables can withstand weather conditions as well as shocks and impacts particularly well thanks to their extra-sturdy design. 💪

Garmin Instinct.
© Garmin

On top of that, the Instinct wearables offer a wide range of functions and extensive navigation features.

A barometer, as well as a compass, are of course included. 🧭

The Garmin Approach series: Smartwatches for golf

The Garmin Approach smartwatches were specially designed for golfers. ⛳️

These models come equipped with maps of 42,000 golf courses worldwide.

Garmin Approach.
© Garmin

Additionally, these wearables indicate the exact distance of all obstacles and dog-legs.

Also on board is a digital scorecard as well as a specific Garmin Golf App.

The Garmin Swim series: Smartwatches for swimming

Garmin also has smartwatches suitable for swimmers: the Swim series models.

These watches don’t just count the number of lengths you swim, they also recognise and analyse your swimming style.

Garmin Swim.
© Garmin

Also included: Underwater heart rate monitoring as well as your Swolf score.

Most Garmin smartwatches are usually water-resistant, meaning you can wear them while swimming without giving it a second thought. 🏊

Looking for the best swimming watch to help you improve your performance? We've reviewed our favourite options here.

Hybrid watches from Garmin: smartwatches in analogue style

Want a stylish watch in the classic analogue design, but don’t want to miss out on various smart functions?

If that’s the case, Garmin also offers hybrid watches, such as models from the Garmin Lily of vivomove series. 🥳

These wearables look just like conventional analogue watches.

Garmin hybrid watches.
© Garmin

Even if you don’t notice it at first glance, these models still record your various health data.

More smartwatches from Garmin

You now know all about the most popular and well-known smartwatches from Garmin.

Nevertheless, there are even more smartwatch series apart from these ones.

However, they target very specific groups.

For example, Garmin Tactix Delta is a smartwatch designed according to military standards especially for police officers. 👮🏾

Garmin MARQ, on the other hand, offers unique features for pilots. ✈️

The best Garmin smartwatches for men and women

When it comes to smartwatches, men and women obviously have different requirements.

This is true not only for the range of functions but also for the appearance of the wearable.

Women generally have slimmer wrists than men. 💃

Info: Here, we reviewed the best smartwatches for men in the UK.

Various Garmin smartwatches worn on an arm.

Some smartwatches, such as models from the Fenix and Epix series, can easily look quite clunky.

Garmin has also thought about this and has suitable wearables for both men and women on offer. 🙌

There are usually different versions available within a model series (e.g. Garmin Fenix 7 or Garmin vivoactive 4).

The Garmin Fenix 7 is available in three different sizes:

  • Fenix 7S (42 mm housing diameter)
  • Fenix 7 (47 mm housing diameter)
  • Fenix 7X (51 mm housing diameter)
Info: Smaller Garmin watches are generally labelled “S” while larger sizes are labelled “X.
Larger Garmin Fenix 7X.
© Garmin / Fenix 7X
Smaller Garmin Fenix 7S.
© Garmin / Fenix 7S

The smaller versions are, of course, a great choice for women with slimmer wrists. 🙋‍♀️

Apart from that, there are also special models, such as the Garmin Lily, that are specially designed for ladies.

Info: Check out our review of the best smartwatches for ladies.

Many interchangeable bands

Every fitness watch from Garmin features an interchangeable wrist strap. 🙌

That means you can easily switch out your strap for another one thanks to the quick-release mechanism.

You can wear a high-quality stainless steel strap to an elegant dinner, for example, while a silicon band is a good choice for working out.

The Garmin Connect App

You will need an app on your smartphone or a Garmin Connect account to evaluate the data recorded on your Garmin smartwatch. 📱

Garmin smartwatches can be used with both iOS devices as well as Android phones.

In the app, you can adjust numerous settings as well as access multiple analysis tools.

Garmin Connect App on a smartphone.
Garmin Connect App

This is where you will receive all your recorded data: from sleep analysis to stress level. 🙌

Additionally, you can create routes and transfer them to your smartwatch, and even compete against your friends.

You can also receive personalised coaching from the Garmin Coach and send training plans to your smartwatch.

Info: The data displayed in your Connect App depends, of course, upon what your smartwatch can record.

Alternatively, you can access your Garmin Connect account via your PC. 💻

Other important points when buying a Garmin fitness watch

Swimming, golfing, running…

First of all, of course, you must give a little thought to what you would like to use your Garmin smartwatch for. ☝️

After that, there are plenty more important points to consider when buying.

Let’s have a look at the other important criteria together.

Your smartwatch screen

The majority of Garmin’s wearables feature a MIP display.

Advantages of these displays:

  • Very good readability when outdoors (even in sunny conditions)
  • Energy saving

But there are always two sides to every coin.

Namely, the colour saturation and contrast of MIP displays are far weaker than on modern AMOLED or OLED displays.

Top tip: If you prefer OLED displays, the Garmin Epix could be a good option for you. It has a similar range of functions to Fenix models.

Controls: touchscreen or buttons?

Many of Garmin’s best smartwatches do not feature touchscreens.

Rather, they are operated using multiple side buttons.

At first, that may sound like a disadvantage.

But it does mean, at least, that you won’t accidentally change the settings during a workout.

Buttons on the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus.
Garmin Fenix 5 Plus

There are, of course, some models, such as the Garmin Fenix 7 or the vivoactive 4, that can also be operated with a touchscreen. 🙌

It is up to you to decide which option appeals to you more.

Reviewing the battery life of the best Garmin smartwatches

When it comes to reviewing battery life, we can only sing the praises of Garmin smartwatches! 🥳

These wearables boast the longest battery life you can currently find.

The Garmin vivoactive 4 being charged.
Garmin vivoactive 4

While popular smartwatches from Apple or Samsung, for example, only last a single day, Garmin fitness watches can run (in some cases) for multiple weeks from a single charge. 🔋

Info: The battery life of each smartwatch always depends, of course, on how intensively you use the device and whether energy-saving mode is activated.

Solar models for even longer battery life

Garmin offers solar charging versions of many of their smartwatches.

These watches are equipped with a special solar lens which can recharge your battery almost independently.

For this to be possible, however, optimal conditions are necessary.

In other words: Clear skies and direct sunlight. ☀️

If your watch is hidden from the sun behind your body or you are travelling through a shady forest, the charging function won’t work.

Do any Garmin smartwatches have SIM cards or LTE?

Many smartwatch manufacturers today offer special LTE versions of their watches.

These models can access the internet without your smartphone.

However, there are currently very few smartwatches available from Garmin that are LTE-capable.

An example of such a model from Garmin is the Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE.

How much do the best Garmin smartwatches cost?

Modern smartwatches from Garmin are currently among the top wearables available on the market.

Accordingly, these devices come with a hefty price tag. 💰

Flagship models from the Fenix or Epix series are especially expensive.

Top tip: Prices of new models usually fall sharply a few weeks after launch. 🤑

Models aimed at casual athletes from the vivoactive or venu series are perfectly adequate and far more affordable.

Garmin smartwatches in Which? UK smartwatch review

Independent UK consumer organisation, Which?, regularly reviews the best wearables.

And in their 2022 Best Smartwatch Review, two Garmin models came out on top in their “Best Overall” category! 🏆

The Garmin Forerunner 55 landed first place overall with a test score of 86%!

In second place, another Garmin watch appears, this time from the venu series. The Garmin venu Sq Music Edition scored an impressive 83% in the Which? review. 🥈

Other honourable mentions include the Garmin vivoactive 3, scoring 78% and placing second in the Which? “Most Accurate Step Counting” category.

In “Best Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitors,” Garmin Venu Sq and Garmin Instinct Solar score first and second place respectively.

According to Which?, Garmin watches also dominate as the best running watches, and are among the “Best waterproof smartwatches for swimming.”

Clearly, it’s not just us that consider Garmin watches to be some of the best around! 🚀
Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin Fenix 7

Comparing the best Garmin watches - Our conclusion

The high-quality smartwatches from Garmin are currently all the rage.

Wearables and fitness trackers from this brand are particularly popular among athletes and health-conscious folk.

And it’s no wonder!

After all, Garmin watches offer pretty much everything you could imagine. 🤩

Only when it comes to smart features do other manufacturers, like Samsung or Apple, win by a hair.

But if you are looking for the best support for your training, you’ll always strike gold with Garmin! 🙌

Whether triathlon, swimming, golf etc. - There’s always a suitable smartwatch for your sport. 🚀

Find out more:

  • Which Garmin smartwatch is the best?


    The new Garmin Fenix 7 is currently considered the best smartwatch from the manufacturer. This device offers particularly extensive support for a wide range of sports and activities. Beginners and casual athletes, however, may struggle with navigating it, due to the extremely high amount of functions.

  • Are Garmin smartwatches compatible with iPhones?


    The modern smartwatches from Garmin are compatible with both iPhones and Android smartphones. All you need to do is install the Garmin Connect companion app on your smartphone.

Corinna profile picture

Corinna

Exercise, good sleep and a healthy lifestyle are especially important to me. But in everyday life, it's often hard to find a good balance. That's why I'd like to introduce you to the best smartwatches, smart rings, and other wearables to track and improve your well-being.

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