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The Best Garmin Watches in 2023

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The Best Garmin Watches in 2023

When it comes to watches, one of the top names to watch out for has to be Garmin. The brand creates a wide selection of watches for all sorts of needs, which make them a go-to name for athletes and regular people alike. With so many to choose from, we understand that it can be hard to find the best Garmin Watches right now.

Garmin Watches are known for having fantastic designs. Aside from amazing features, these watches are very stylish too. While they’re a bit on the pricey side, the watches from Garmin are well worth it considering what they bring to the table. Here are some of the best Garmin Watches that you can get in 2023.

01 Garmin Venu 2

While Garmin has many watches, it’s often tough finding ones that will fit all of your needs. For the best Garmin watch and the one that balances what you need, you might want to check out Garmin Venu 2.

Garmin Venu 2 sits between a smartwatch and a sports watch. You might think that it’s a bad idea for the brand to avoid focusing on one aspect but, no. The watch delivers the best of both worlds in a single package. Its design is simple and stylish, but despite this, the Garmin Venu 2 is packed with a wide selection of features including training tools, an accurate GPS, and even access to the popular Garmin Coach training plans as well. That’s just the beginning though.

Aside from the features above, the Garmin Venu 2 also includes heart rate monitoring and training modes. It can even sync with gym equipment and apps. The watch can accommodate up to 650 songs on its own. However, it can also deliver tunes through apps such as Deezer and Amazon Music. To round it all up, the display lets you view important things such as heart rate, stress levels, water intake, and a lot more.

The display is a high-resolution AMOLED display that features three brightness settings. There’s also an always-on mode that presents a ton of data, thus doing away with the need to bring out your phone regularly. As an all-purpose watch, the Garmin Venu 2 brings with it a ton of features that are very hard to pass up considering all of these are packed in a stylish watch. Truly the best that Garmin has to offer right now.

The Garmin Venu 2 is the best Garmin watch by a huge margin. It’s tough to beat this watch right now as even competitors from other brands pale in comparison.

Pros

  • Stylish design
  • Packs a lot of premium features
  • Amazing touchscreen display

Cons

  • No multisports mode

Specification

  • Price $279.98
  • Display 1.1-inch diameter touchscreen AMOLED
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 12 days/ 22 hours
  • Storage 8 GB
Garmin Venu 2

02 Garmin Forerunner 955

If budget isn’t an option, then you should have more than a handful of Garmin watches to choose from. Without considering how pricey it is, the best Garmin watch right now might just be the Garmin Forerunner 955.

The Garmin Forerunner 955 is currently the brand’s premium running-focused smartwatch. It’s the best in this line, and that’s saying a lot considering how well-made these usually are from Garmin. The Garmin Forerunner 955 offers top-quality running and fitness tracking features which is definitely a must for those that are living a healthy and active lifestyle. It’s a great everyday watch but it doesn’t focus on a single sport specifically.

The watch comes with its own multi-band GPS and heart rate monitor. When it comes to heart rate monitoring, the Garmin Forerunner 955 offers what could be the most accurate in the field right now. On top of all that, the watch also features Garmin’s premium additions such as the new Training Readiness and Body Battery features. There are also full-color maps and 20 days of battery life, and all of these are powered by Garmin’s Power Glass solar battery.

The price of the Garmin Forerunner 955 is definitely premium. It could be the most expensive fitness watch on the market right now. However, it’s a pretty solid investment if a good part of your day is dedicated to running. While the features are definitely premium, the Garmin Forerunner 955 lacks a lot in terms of versatility. It’s mainly focused on running. If you want a watch that does more, continue reading this list as Garmin has other options for you.

Pros

  • Accurate GPS and heart rate monitor
  • Premium features from Garmin
  • Full-color maps

Cons

  • Not good for other sports

Specification

  • Price $599.99
  • Display 1.3-inch touchscreen
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 49 days/20 days
  • Storage 32 GB
Garmin Forerunner 955

03 Garmin Vivosmart 5

As we’ve said, Garmin has a lot of great options if you’re into running watches. If you want something that’s more affordable but something that doesn’t skimp on the features, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is the choice for you.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is a simple but very informative smartwatch for running. It gives you as much of the data as you need for your health and fitness. As it’s super small and lightweight, it’s very easy to wear around as well. Despite looking relatively smaller compared to other Garmin watches, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 isn’t short on what data it provides you. In fact, it’s one of the more impressive choices in this regard.

Many users are particularly impressed with the sleep-tracking tools of the device. Again, because it’s so small and lightweight, it’s something that you can wear at night without having to worry about, let alone feel. Unfortunately, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 doesn’t have a colored screen, but that shouldn’t matter too much if you want something that’s straightforward and simple. The Garmin Vivosmart 5 prefers simplicity over anything else.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 can be used as is. There’s no need to subscribe to anything as the watch will give you access to everything in the Garmin Connect app. This app will let you access historic data, trends, and a wealth of fitness trackers to keep you updated on your performance. The watch doesn’t have GPS and music, unfortunately, but if it’s a jog in the park you’re after, this should be more than enough.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is one of the best, simplest Garmin watches out there. It’s hard to deny that its price is very attractive for what it brings to the table.

Pros

  • Well-designed interface
  • Light and comfortable
  • Great sleep monitoring

Cons

  • No GPS and music

Specification

  • Price $149.99
  • Display 0.73-inch touchscreen
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 7 days
  • Storage 7 timed activities, 14 days activity tracking data
Garmin Vivosmart 5

04 Garmin Enduro 2

Some people don’t mind splurging on a good watch. If you want something more functional, why not spend it on the Garmin Enduro 2 instead? This premium watch from the premium brand has everything that you need for a price unlike any other.

The Garmin Enduro 2 is one of the most expensive watches from the maker right now. The real question is whether or not the thousand-dollar price tag is worth it. In our opinion, the answer is yes. This is Garmin’s masterpiece. The watch features amazing build quality, the best features, the latest sensors, and much more. It’s for those that really want to put in the extra work when it comes to their workout sessions and healthy lifestyle.

One of the best features of the Garmin Enduro 2 is its amazing battery life. It can last for days, even when running the GPS, which is very rare. The size of the watch might be too big for comfort for some. That said, the watch is relatively heavy too. As such, it might not be something that you’d want to wear casually. However, it’s a beast when it comes to its trackers, features, and sports functions which is why this is the best premium watch from Garmin right now.

The build of the watch is impressive and it could attribute to the watch’s insane price. It’s made out of titanium, which means it’s as durable as it can get. One of the more impressive features of the watch is that it comes with a super-bright flashlight. A lot of users particularly love this addition as it adds a lot of safety when you’re out jogging at night. What’s really impressive though is just how bright the flashlight can get.

The Garmin Enduro 2 is definitely for the discerning watch lover, but the features it brings to the table are definitely worth it. If you have the money to splurge, this is the watch to get.

Pros

  • Premium build and quality
  • Unbeatable battery life
  • Amazing features

Cons

  • Bulky and expensive

Specification

  • Price $1,079.98
  • Display 1.4-inch touchscreen AMOLED
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 34 days/150 hours
  • Storage 32 GB
Garmin Enduro 2

05 Garmin Fenix 7

When getting a watch for athletics, you’d want one that comes with a variety of features that make it viable for a selection of sports. If that’s the case, then you might want to get the Garmin Fenix 7.

The Garmin Fenix 7 is a sports watch that caters to people that enjoy partaking in a variety of sports to push themselves to the limit. It comes packed with a variety of training tools, as well as some additions that you won’t find elsewhere. One of the best is a real-time stamina graphic that lets you keep track of your performance. There’s also a graph that shows your VO2 performance and how it changes over time.

Although it’s the 7th entry in the Fenix line, this is actually the first watch in the series to have a touchscreen. The display itself is pretty clear and easy to navigate. On top of that, it’s fairly easy to use thanks to the great menu. Garmin has made it so that the touchscreen is automatically locked during workouts which is a good thing as it can prevent accidental touches while you’re moving about wearing the Garmin Fenix 7.

Garmin added a new map manager to the watch. This makes it easy to quickly process the maps that you’ll use. Partner that with the satellite positioning of the watch, and you’ve got one of the best GPS systems out there. Tests show that the GPS of the Garmin Fenix 7 is actually very precise and accurate. On top of all this, the watch features an impressive set of biometric trackers which make it excellent for a variety of purposes.

Pros

  • Amazing battery life
  • Great for a variety of sports
  • Features advanced training tools
  • Great GPS and navigation

Cons

  • No screen contrast

Specification

  • Price $699.99
  • Display 1.4-inch touchscreen AMOLED
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 1 year/122 hours
  • Storage 32 GB
Garmin Fenix 7

06 Garmin Instinct 2

The Garmin Instinct was one of the best watches from Garmin, but it did have its flaws. The makers rectified those issues with the Garmin Instinct 2.

The Garmin Instinct 2, keeps all of the amazing features of the original while adding new features that fans are going to love. For starters, the biggest difference between this and the first iteration is the size. The Garmin Instinct 2 is slimmer, and it comes in two sizes which is great for those that have smaller wrists. On top of that, the watch retains the same durable build that the Garmin Instinct is well-known for.

The Garmin Instinct 2 is a full-multi-sports watch that features well-designed tracking modes that let you keep track of running, cycling, and swimming activities. Like most modern Garmin watches, this also comes with workout suggestions, as well as recovery time guidance. Overall, the Garmin Instinct 2 will let you achieve the perfect balance between working out and resting, all in a great package.

The Garmin Instinct 2 also comes with the ability to download extra apps, data fields, and more. Everything from the Garmin Connect IQ app is available here. The watch also comes with a wider variety of colors. There are a lot of other features that make the Garmin Instinct 2 a cut above the first iteration of the product. If you’re getting an upgrade, this watch will give you just that.

Pros

  • A lot better than original Instinct
  • Amazing battery life
  • Great GPS tracking

Cons

  • Poor map quality

Specification

  • Price $345.00
  • Display 0.79-inch or 0.9-inch
  • Battery Life On Stand By/With GPS 28 Days/48 hours
  • Storage 32 MB
Garmin Instinct 2

Jonas Sunico

Feb 28, 2023

Jonas is a writer with over 6 years of experience in the tech and gaming industry. He holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from University of the East Philippines and is one of the proud leaders of the academe's Journalism Society. At heart, he's a hardcore tech junkie that loves video games, the latest gadgets, and the wonderful science behind social media and AI.

314 Articles Published

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