Are you a runner? Do you work out in the gym? Play golf? Whatever your activity of choice, Garmin has a smartwatch that not only fits, but that is tailored specifically to your primary activity. The best Garmin watch for you will depend largely on what you do. Garmin has the Fenix, Forerunner, Instinct, Venu, Vivoactive, and other lines designed for different types of users, even one for kids.
Of course, most Garmin watches are suitable for anyone who wants to track their activities, health, and wellness. But some fitness watches excel in certain areas, like advanced running metrics or stylish and lightweight designs. If there’s a specific activity you do or design feature you need, you’ll want to get the model that fits.
I have reviewed dozens of smartwatches by Garmin over the last several years, so I have a good idea of which ones are the best. I also know which ones might offer similar experiences for half the price, helping you save money.
Best overall
The Garmin Venu 4 is the best Garmin watch for the widest range of people. It has nearly the same fitness tools as the Forerunner 570, but packed into a more traditional, sleeker watch design for those who prefer a less button-heavy aesthetic. It has a few smarts like Bluetooth calling and commands for people switching from Apple or WearOS smartwatches, while still offering Garmin’s trademark battery life.
It has the same sensor suite as the Venu 3, including ECG, HRV, breathing rate, and skin temperature. But the Venu 4’s Health Status establishes your body’s baseline health and then warns you of “outliers” that signal potential health issues. It also adds the Lifestyle Logging tool, letting you label when you’ve done certain things (like drink coffee) so the Venu 4 can track the effect of that action on your body.
On the fitness side, the Venu 4 is much more useful than the Venu 3. Garmin restricted several key features from that model to make the Forerunner 265 stand out, but now the Venu 4 is too expensive not to offer tools like training load, training readiness, Garmin Running/ Cycling Coach, daily suggested workouts, breadcrumb navigation, and more. My Venu 4 vs. 3 guide has the full list of upgrades.
While the Venu 4 is more suited to outdoor and multisport workouts than before, it’s just as useful for indoor workouts at home or in the gym. Aside from Garmin Strength Coach, the new Garmin Fitness Coach creates a personalized plan that mixes workouts from dozens of types and takes into account what equipment you have available.
The Venu 4 is smarter than before, packs more features like a flashlight and dual-band GPS inside, and is much more readable outdoors with a twice-as-bright display. The main issue, aside from its $100 price increase, is that it’s thicker and heavier than before, about on par with other high-end Forerunners and Instincts. It’s still fairly lightweight, but it’s not quite as comfortable for sleep tracking as before — unless you buy the 41mm model with a smaller display.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
2 AMOLED sizes, 2,000 nits of brightness |
★★★★☆ |
|
Design |
Attractive design with steel bezel and case, water-resistant but older Gorilla Glass protection, normal weight for Garmin watch |
★★★★☆ |
|
Battery life |
Both the days and GPS hours have fallen compared to the Venu 3, thanks to the brighter display, but still very respectable |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Health |
Accurate HR, HRV, Sleep Coach with skin temp and nap detection, continuous SpO2, ECG, and Health Status |
★★★★★ |
|
Fitness |
Full suite of Garmin Coaching and workout suggestions, adds training load and other vital perks over Venu 3; missing some Fenix-level features like maps |
★★★★☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
Jumps from Venu 3’s All-Systems GNSS to top-tier dual-band GPS that’s highly reliable |
★★★★★ |
|
Price |
The Venu 4 isn’t as accessible as the Venu 3 was, with an inflated price compared to most watches on the market |
★★★☆☆ |
Best affordable
Only a few Garmin watches are truly “affordable,” several of which are too old to recommend anymore (like the Forerunner 55). The Forerunner 165, on the other hand, is a great entry point to the brand, particularly for runners or cyclists. And it’s much more well-rounded than past “cheap” Garmins.
The Forerunner 165 beats the 55 with a more accurate HR sensor with HRV data for better Body Battery accuracy, blood oxygen data, all-systems GNSS like the Venu 3’s, a compass for breadcrumb navigation, an altimeter for elevation data, and post-run Training Effect data. Plus, of course, you switch from a dim MIP display to an AMOLED touchscreen, while keeping the same thin, lightweight design.
Getting all this, plus Forerunner essentials like Garmin Coach, recovery time estimates, daily suggested workouts, and VO2 Max, is an insane value for this price range. And when we tested its HR and GPS accuracy against other cheap brands, the Forerunner 165 either beat or matched comparable COROS and Fitbit devices.
Other Forerunners, like our next pick, are objectively better for “serious” outdoor athletes. Garmin stripped away training load, training load focus, training readiness, Performance Condition, multisport activities, and other key software tools to make pricier models more compelling.
You’ll have to pay hundreds more for an unrestricted experience, but my Garmin Forerunner 165 review explains why you shouldn’t “upsell yourself.” The watch still tracks your training load and recommends workouts or rest based on that data; you just can’t see it. The Forerunner 165 keeps things simpler, and anyone who relies on something like TrainingPeaks for workout plans can probably make do without the extras.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
1 small AMOLED option w/ decent bezel and “chemically strengthened” glass |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Design |
Very lightweight and thin, 5 buttons, 5ATM, plastic design |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Battery life |
11 days, 19 GPS hours is good but lower end for Garmin |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Health |
Accurate HR, HRV, sleep tracking, and SpO2, but no ECG or skin temp |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Fitness |
Daily suggested workouts, race-adaptive training, training effect, but no training load/readiness |
★★★☆☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
All-systems GNSS did very well in tests |
★★★★☆ |
|
Price |
$249 price is excellent for Garmin |
★★★★★ |
Best premium
Garmin prices keep rising, and past Fenix buyers might reasonably balk at spending $1,200 on the Fenix 8. If you’re willing to spend a lot for quality features, but without overspending on things you don’t need, I recommend the Garmin Forerunner 970 above the rest.
My previous pick for this slot, the Garmin Forerunner 965, is still available and easy to recommend, with nearly all the same high-end training load guidance, daily suggested workouts, and fantastic battery life for $150 less. The Forerunner 970 simply modernized the 965, adding a mic & speaker for calls and commands, an LED flashlight for navigation at night, ECG and skin temperature readings, and doubled AMOLED brightness to make it more readable outdoors.
My Garmin Forerunner 970 review praised how much more comfortable this watch is than my Fenix 8 for long runs, because it prioritizes lightweight polymers instead of stylish metal. It loses a week of battery compared to the 965 because of its brighter display, but you can manually dim the brightness back to the old 1,000-nit standard to stretch out its lifespan if you prefer.
In particular, I loved the Forerunner 970’s running tolerance metric. Garmin watches focus on cardiovascular load and recovery; the 970 finally expanded to focus on biomechanical load on your muscles and joints, judging how much your body can handle per week and whether certain activities will impact your recovery more than others. It’s vital context, especially when training for longer races.
The Forerunner 970 isn’t the strongest smartwatch, with occasional laggy maps and buggy voice commands; I’m hoping this is an area where Garmin can improve eventually. But since the Fenix 8 and other $1,000+ models share this trait, it feels easier to stomach this on the cheaper 970.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
1 large, thin-bordered, bright AMOLED with Sapphire glass; no small option |
★★★★★ |
|
Design |
Stylish titanium bezel, five buttons, 5ATM, lighter than Fenixes, polymer case |
★★★★☆ |
|
Battery life |
15 days / 21 multi-band GPS hours beats other recent Garmins with brighter display, but other pricey Garmins / 965 do better |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Health |
The latest Elevate v5 sensors, SpO2, ECG, and skin temperature |
★★★★★ |
|
Fitness |
Huge array of training load ratio / stamina data, topo maps, multisport, endurance/ hill scores; Fenix 8 only has a couple of exclusives |
★★★★★ |
|
GPS accuracy |
High-end multi-band GPS and SatIQ mode |
★★★★★ |
|
Price |
$750 makes it more affordable than Fenixes but too expensive compared to other Forerunners |
★★☆☆☆ |
Best battery
As Garmin prioritizes brighter AMOLED displays in new models, we’ve seen battery life stagnate for the brand, sticking around 10–15 days. That’s still excellent, but regular GPS workouts cut into that total. For long backpacking excursions or all-day races, you might need a battery buffer.
The Garmin Instinct 3 and Enduro 3 are your two best bets, but given the latter costs twice as much, I’ll recommend the model I’ve reviewed for myself. Specifically, I tested the Instinct 3 AMOLED, which lasts for weeks at a time but stretches much longer than my other picks because of an optimized processor and bulky design with room for a larger battery.
You could very well choose the Instinct 3 MIP Solar; I haven’t used it, but I did love the Instinct 2X Solar for its absurd longevity, dual-band GPS accuracy, and built-in flashlight. The newer model takes that same template and adds Power Glass that’s even more efficient at converting sunlight into smartwatch juice, helping the Instinct 3 50mm go from 34 to 60 multi-band GPS hours with solar, where the 2X Solar could only add nine hours (27 to 36).
Since I personally don’t need 40–60 days of battery, I prefer the AMOLED compromise. It’s so much more readable for notifications and widgets, with no “window” taking up space in the corner. I only wish Garmin had given the AMOLED model maps, but I suspect its optimized processor couldn’t handle them; you’ll need the Enduro 3 for them.
Whichever display you choose, you’re getting all the vital training load tools and daily workout suggestions you’d see on a Forerunner. Its bulky look will appeal to G-Shock or Casio fans, while others won’t appreciate the lack of touchscreen.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
Two AMOLED or MIP size options. AMOLED is more readable but not too bright; two-window MIP will only appeal to old Garmin fans |
★★★★☆ |
|
Design |
Military-grade rugged, 5 buttons, 10ATM, will appeal to old-school watch fans but too bulky for others |
★★★★☆ |
|
Battery life |
Can have “unlimited” lifespan if you get enough sunlight, while AMOLED model still lasts for weeks |
★★★★★ |
|
Health |
Like other Elevate v4 watches, delivers good HR and stress accuracy but short on ECG/temp, Sleep Coaching |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Fitness |
Similar training load / readiness/ coaching to Forerunners, though the missing topographical maps is frustrating |
★★★☆☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
Excellent multi-band GPS accuracy, or SatIQ mode |
★★★★★ |
|
Price |
Slightly higher cost for AMOLED, still much more affordable than Enduro |
★★★☆☆ |
Best mid-range
I’m always looking to introduce people to Garmin watches with models that won’t overwhelm them with niche features or scare them off with high prices. I used to recommend the Venu Sq 2 for this mid-range, entry-level slot, but it’s aged out of relevance and dealt with annoying bugs, making the Vivoactive 6 a much easier recommendation.
I haven’t used it myself, but my colleague Derrek reviewed the Vivoactive 6 and praised it as the “perfect entryway into the world of Garmin watches,” with a “more user-friendly UI” than past models he tested and a lightweight design that he appreciated.
He and I agree that the Vivoactive 6 is a Venu-lite experience, if you’re interested in training essentials but don’t need the Venu 3’s mic, speaker, or newer health sensors, or a Forerunner’s training load data or elevation tracking.
As for what you do get, the Vivoactive 6 offers Body Battery and sleep coaching, downloadable workouts with exercise animations and muscle maps, personalized Garmin Run or Strength Coach plans, dozens of sports modes, and a post-workout summary of how long to recovery and what the benefit was to your fitness.
I personally prefer a more in-depth Garmin experience, but not everyone will need the full suite of features. The Vivoactive 6 gives enough to motivate you, without extra distractions, and with a size small enough to be comfortable for sleep tracking.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
1.2-inch AMOLED, only comes in one size |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Design |
Touchscreen dependent, rounded aluminum casing with multiple distinct colors, comfortably light |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Battery life |
11 days, 21 GPS hours is only about average for Garmin, though still respectable |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Health |
HR, HRV, sleep coaching, Body Battery, but no newer sensors despite launching in 2025 |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Fitness |
Unique daily walking suggestions, great indoor workouts and essential running guidance, no training load or status but at least recovery time recs |
★★★☆☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
All-systems GNSS does very well, but no multi-band |
★★★★☆ |
|
Price |
Very accessible price for what it offers, compared to other Garmins |
★★★★★ |
Best hybrid
Garmin has a few hybrid smartwatches, with the Vivomove series designed for fashion-forward athletes who value style above smarts. But as much as we like the vívomove Sport and vívomove Trend, they’re painfully limited in features and battery to prioritize a sleek look. We think more potential Garmin fans will lean towards the rugged Instinct Crossover instead.
Our Instinct Crossover reviewer, Andrew Myrick, cited his “nostalgia” for his Casio G-Shock that made this rugged hybrid so appealing. It combines polymer and steel in the bezel; that and the analog hands give it a more striking look than the Instinct 2X, even if the Crossover otherwise mirrors it in display size, look, and weight.
The hands auto-shift to the 3 and 9 positions when you get a notification or you navigate menus with the Up/Down buttons, so they’re not going to distract you too much. They do take up space, but I still think you’ll prefer this display to the low-resolution Instinct 3 MIP display, or to other Garmin hybrids with tiny LCD cutouts.
The visibility is still much better than on Garmin’s other hybrids, where the LCD space is a tiny circular cut-out instead of the full watch face. You can even buy the Instinct Crossover AMOLED to combine physical hands with a higher-res display, though it’s more expensive and shorter-lived.
The standard Garmin Instinct Crossover will last a month on its own merits, or longer with the solar-powered version. That’s the main appeal here, along with Garmin’s typical training insights. But the 14-day AMOLED model may appeal more if readability is more important than longevity.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
0.9-inch low-res MIP, hands can block some data, but readable in sunlight; you may prefer the 1.2-inch AMOLED option |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Design |
10ATM with military-grade certification and five buttons; hybrid look is striking, watch itself isn’t too heavy |
★★★★★ |
|
Battery life |
14 days with AMOLED, 28 with MIP, or over two months with Solar |
★★★★★ |
|
Health |
HR, stress, sleep, and other standards, but no ECG/ skin temp, sleep coaching, relax reminders, etc. |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Fitness |
Includes training load / readiness, workout suggestions, and recovery time |
★★★★☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
Multi-GNSS included but only one at a time |
★★☆☆☆ |
|
Price |
$399–$449 is on par with most other picks; $649 AMOLED version feels more overpriced |
★★★☆☆ |
Best for runners
The Garmin Forerunner 265 topped this guide, along with my best running watch guide, for a long time. It hits the right balance between features and affordability, with the running form analysis, HRV stress to judge Training Readiness, and post-run Training Effect and Training Load Focus to guide you toward faster PRs or better VO2 Max.
You also get dual-band GPS for the same accuracy and guidance as the Forerunner 965 (barring a few exceptions). With pre-run Training Readiness and post-run Training Effect on VO2 Max, you’ll learn a lot about your running abilities and fitness level over time.
Nowadays, you could easily recommend the Forerunner 570 instead, except for the fact that it’s $100 more expensive and most of its new features are quality-of-life changes like a 0.1-inch larger, 1,000-nit brighter display, a mic & speaker, and an aluminum bezel. Unless you specifically need the Garmin Triathlon Coach or care about heat and altitude acclimation, the Forerunner 265 will give you the same training experience, more affordably.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
2 AMOLED size options, GG3, thicker border makes them slightly smaller than 965/ Venu 3 |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Design |
Polymer only, 5 buttons, 5ATM, comfortable weight (esp. 265S) but fairly generic looking |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Battery life |
13–15 days or 20–24 GPS hours (better on 265S) is good but lower than we’d like at this price point |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Health |
Elevate v4 quality for HR data, Sleep Coaching, and SpO2, but no ECG or skin temp |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Fitness |
Most of the 965’s training load features, only without real-time stamina, endurance/ hill scores |
★★★★☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
Multi-band GPS and SatIQ mode combine for high-end accuracy on par with 965 |
★★★★★ |
|
Price |
$449 on par with other high-end Venus and Instincts |
★★★☆☆ |
Best for big spenders
While I recommended the Forerunner 970 above as a good alternative, the Garmin Fenix 8 is still the Garmin flagship. With fantastic battery life, its full titanium case gives it a level of style that most polymer Garmins lack, and you get every current and future Garmin feature across the next couple of years.
In my Garmin Fenix 8, I called it a Frankenstein watch because it takes perks from different lineups — the longevity and ruggedness of an Instinct, the training tools and coaching of a Forerunner, and the health sensors and mic/ speaker of a Venu — and mashes them into one device. You’re buying the Fenix because you want everything.
The downside to this is that the Fenix 8 isn’t necessarily better than its cheaper counterparts. Its HR and GPS accuracy are excellent, but you’ll get identical results on a Forerunner 970 or Venu 4. The AMOLED resolution is the same, and 2025 models actually hit a higher brightness. You can get better maps on a Venu X1, or the same mic/ speaker quality on the Venu 4.
I still absolutely think the Fenix 8 belongs on this list, with enough battery to last a month with AMOLED or months with the MIP models. It’s one of the few models with diveproofing, and you get niche features like ski dynamics, MTB dynamics, and surfing. If you have the kind of active lifestyle where you’re trying every sport, or your favorite is ignored on cheaper models, then the Fenix 8 is the best fit.
You may also want to look into the Fenix 8 Pro, which adds LTE and satellite connectivity (plus a brighter AMOLED) for $100 extra.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
Three size options, can choose AMOLED or MIP based on priorities, up to sapphire glass protection |
★★★★★ |
|
Design |
Choose the titanium models for best weight; 10ATM resistance and dive certification; striking look across board; has mic/ speaker |
★★★★★ |
|
Battery life |
AMOLED models are stronger than other picks, especially for dual-band GPS, and MIP models rival Instinct solar watches with much better displays |
★★★★★ |
|
Health |
Elevate v5 sensor for slight heart rate accuracy boost, ECG, and skin temp, plus Sleep Coach. Same as Venu 3 |
★★★★★ |
|
Fitness |
Everything the Forerunner 965 offers, plus strength coaching, better map routing, and more niche sporting tools (ski maps, surfing/tides, etc.) |
★★★★★ |
|
GPS accuracy |
Matches other dual-band GPS watches on this list for accuracy |
★★★★★ |
|
Price |
$999–$1,299 prices all Fenix 8 (Pro) models outside the budget of everyday people |
★☆☆☆☆ |
Best for kids
Garmin watch designs can be too large for many adults’ wrists, let alone children’s little arms. Most of the features are too advanced anyway and not designed to track things like kids’ playtime. Garmin watches just aren’t that fun-looking either. But the Garmin Bounce is the exception to the rule as one of the best kids’ smartwatches, geared specifically towards fitness.
The Garmin Bounce boasts 5ATM water resistance and is “swim-friendly,” where other kids’ watches can’t survive a dip in the pool. It also has two days of battery life and offers nightly sleep insights, while some rival tech like the Fitbit Ace LTE can’t last a full day and doesn’t support sleep tracking.
The watch comes with educational games and daily challenges, rewarding your kid for completing chores or 60 minutes of activity per day. You set up what chores you want them to complete in the app, and what rewards they’ll receive for doing so. Our reviewer found that his kid enjoyed trying to beat his workout and sleep scores, and found it comfortable to wear while sleeping.
The Garmin Bounce requires a $10/month subscription for its LTE features; check the LTE coverage map before buying it, as you can’t use your own network, only Garmin’s.
Our Garmin Bounce reviewer praised how both the on-watch UI and phone app are “intuitive,” making it easy to figure out messaging or parental controls. The LiveTrack tool is useful for peace of mind, the school mode ensures it isn’t a distraction during class, and the mic & speaker were high-quality.
We haven’t tested the step-up Bounce 2, which boasts improvements like a brighter, circular AMOLED screen with two-way voice calling, improved voice-to-text messaging, and fall detection. But it’s also double the price. So, unless those features are crucial for you, the last-gen model is still worth buying and is more affordable.
|
Attribute |
Quick look |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
1.2-inch LCD is good size for kids, if a bit low-res |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Design |
5ATM, very light at 37g and built to withstand active kids, 2 buttons |
★★★★☆ |
|
Battery life |
2-day battery is good considering LTE support, but slow charging and still a bit short-lived |
★★☆☆☆ |
|
Health |
No HR tracking, does track sleep and has geolocation for safety tracking |
N/A |
|
Fitness |
Tracks steps, run/walk/bike activities with GPS, nothing more advanced needed for kids |
★★★★☆ |
|
GPS accuracy |
GPS/ Galileo is only meant for basic tracking, not serious athletes |
★★★☆☆ |
|
Price |
Affordable at $149, though you’ll need to pay monthly for cellular support |
★★★★☆ |
How to choose
Which of the best Garmin watches should you buy?
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It’s challenging to crown only one of these wearables as the best Garmin watch. You can choose an Instinct for battery power, Venu for lifestyle tools, Forerunner for in-depth running and cycling tools, or a Fenix for all of the bells and whistles possible.
Since it’s our job to recommend just one, we have to go back to the Garmin Venu 3. It’ll ease non-Garmin users into a more limited UI than you’re accustomed to with a typical smartwatch. But it’s not some basic, mainstream device, either; you’re still getting vital insights into improving your fitness and avoiding overtraining when your sleep or Body Battery is off.
Otherwise, if you’re looking for something more affordable, the Forerunner 165, or even the Vivoactive 6 will save you money and still give you the Garmin essentials you crave.
Need more specific advice to help you decide which watch would be the best fit for you? Let’s break things down by category:
Best Garmin watch for battery life
Most Garmin watches last at least one week, with two weeks as a baseline if you don’t use GPS tracking too often. If you need something built to last for weeks or months, you’ll want to look at models with solar panels, or else choose bulkier models with plenty of battery regardless of the sun in your region.
- Garmin Enduro 3 (w/solar): 90 days, Unlimited (Expedition), 320 hours (GPS), 90 hours (multi-band)
- Garmin Fenix 8 51mm Solar: 48 days, 118 days (Expedition), 149 hours (GPS), 65 hours (multi-band)
- Garmin Instinct 2X Solar: 40 days to “unlimited,” 60 days to “unlimited” (Expedition), 145 hours (GPS), 36 hours (multi-band GPS)
- Garmin Enduro 2 (w/ solar): 46 days, 172 days (Expedition), 150 hours (GPS), 81 hours (multi-band GPS)
- Garmin Fenix 7X Pro (w/ solar): 37 days, 139 days (Expedition), 122 hours (GPS), 41 hours (multi-band GPS)
- Garmin Instinct 2 Solar: 28 days to “unlimited,” 32 days to “unlimited” (Expedition), 48 hours (GPS)
- Garmin Fenix 8 51mm AMOLED: 29 days, 84 hours, 62 hours (multi-band)
- Garmin Forerunner 965: 23 days, 31 hours (GPS), 19 hours (multi-band)
Best Garmin watch for health tracking
Garmin has upgraded its core Elevate sensor a couple of times in the last few years. The newest Elevate v5 sensor added ECG and skin temperature tracking, while the Elevate v4 sensor gave us more accurate heart rate data and HRV information for stress and recovery. Generally speaking, you’ll want to buy newer Garmin models with either the v4 or v5 sensor.
The Garmin Venu 3 is the most affordable watch today with the v5 sensor and the latest health tricks and sleep coaching; in the two years since, mostly flagship models like Fenix, Epix, and Enduro have gotten the best sensors, and even the Venu 4 uses the same sensors as before.
Most Garmin watches sold since 2022 have the Elevate v4 sensor, which we’ve found delivers consistently reliable heart rate data across various Forerunner, Venu, and Instinct models. That includes many 2025 models like the Vivoactive 6 and Instinct 3. You’ll have to accept paying extra to get AFib readings and nightly skin temp data.
Best Garmin watch for tracking accuracy
You have three main levels of GPS accuracy on Garmin watches: GPS only, All-Systems GNSS, and multi-band GPS w/ All-Systems. Although all-systems mode is generally accurate on its own merits, multi-band mode is the best for tracking you in difficult conditions like heavy foliage, tall buildings, or nearby mountains that can block satellite signals.
You can check the full list of multi-band Garmin watches, bike computers, handhelds, and so on. Generally speaking, all of the recent Garmin Forerunners above the 255 have multi-band tracking, plus the Instinct 2X or 3, Fenix 7 / 8, Epix Gen 2 series, Venu 4/ X1, and other high-end models like Tactix.
Newer mainline or budget models like the Vivoactive 6 or Forerunner 165 stop at All-Systems mode, but you can count on it being more accurate than your typical GPS-only watch; we’ve found it does quite well in our testing.
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Why you can trust Android Central
☑️ 15 years of product testing, including the first smartwatches and fitness bands
☑️ We test HR, GPS, battery life, steps, training plans, and more
☑️ Reviews for every major Garmin watch, as well as competing brands like COROS, Polar, Fitbit, Suunto, Samsung, and Apple
Android Central has reviewed fitness watches and bands since they first became popular, from the Samsung Galaxy Gear in 2013 to the first Fitbit Charge in 2014 and the Pebble Time in 2015. While fitness isn’t our site’s only focus and we were relatively late to the Garmin party, we’ve reviewed most new Garmins over the last five years, starting with the Forerunner 745 in 2020.
As the one who reviewed the majority of those watches, as well as competing brands’ fitness watches, I have become well-versed in Garmin’s feature set and UI. I know what features will be new and exciting to you and focus on testing those in reviews, so you know what to expect.
Across each Garmin watch, I test its heart rate accuracy against an optical arm monitor or chest strap to see whether it can be trusted for accuracy, and check its GPS map against my actual route in track lanes or along trails in tree-lined parks to see how it matches up. I even use a physical pedometer to track step accuracy!
I also wear each Garmin watch day and night, using them regularly for workouts, notifications, and so on, to make sure I catch any random glitches and see how well they do for battery life.