Best Garmin watch in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed for every budget | Tom's Guide

Garmin makes a lot of watches; these ones are best

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Garmin makes some of the most reliable and well-respected fitness-focused smartwatches around. With more than a dozen models to choose from, we've tested and assessed them all to help you choose the best Garmin watch for your needs, from the beginner and wallet-friendly Forerunner 165 to the golf-centric Approach S62.

The best Garmin watches range in price from $149 to $1000+. And the features, smart and fitness-focused, vary, too. They all track steps, sleep and heart rate but some models, like the Forerunner 265 and 965, are more focused on training, rest and recovery. Still, they're all water-resistant and boast multiday batteries, even when using GPS. So, you can venture outdoors with confidence.

These models all sync to Garmin Connect, which provides a wealth of health and fitness data to help you reach your goals. After much running, biking and sweating, we've hand-picked the best Garmin watches on the market to guide you in deciding which is right for you.

Best Garmin watch for runners

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best Garmin watch overall for runners and workout enthusiasts. It sports a bright AMOLED screen and comes in two sporty-looking case sizes. With loads of advanced training metrics on offer and a long-lasting battery, the Forerunner 265 also boasts rock-solid GPS tracking.

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Best affordable Garmin watch

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an affordable, entry-level running and workout watch well-suited for those looking to track their training but don't need any extra bells or whistles. It still looks and feels like a Garmin watch without the hefty price tag. More importantly, it's just as accurate as far more advanced models.

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Best Garmin watch for beginner runners

For folks just getting into running, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is a lightweight and easy-wearing GPS smartwatch with onboard maps, fall detection, live route tracking and plenty of battery life. It also offers some of Garmin's more advanced training tools to grow into, like running form analysis and Pace Pro.

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Best Garmin watch for triathlons

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the best Forerunner we’ve ever tested. It’s got a bright AMOLED screen, 23 days of battery life and some of Garmin’s most advanced training features for hardcore athletes. It can also track complex multisport activities, making it the best Garmin watch for triathlons.

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Best Garmin watch for hiking

The Garmin Enduro 3 is built for long adventures in the great outdoors boasting a rugged, waterproof design, incredible battery life that can be extended indefinitely by the solar panels that ring the watch face and a handy built-in flashlight. All this adds up to the best Garmin watch for hiking.

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Best Garmin watch for fitness

The Garmin Lily 2 Active is the best Garmin watch for basic fitness tracking, especially the 'Active' model which sports onboard GPS. Lightweight, comfortable and easy on the eyes, the Lily 2 may also be Garmin's best-looking smartwatch model.

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Best Garmin watch for marathons

The Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED is built for adventures — whether that’s 26.2 miles, or further. The best sports watch in Garmin’s range, it's ideal for keen athletes thanks to its impressive sports tracking and training analysis, which can help you prepare for your events and excel on race day itself.

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Best Garmin watch for golf

The Garmin Approach S62 comes with key golf features such as access to data on 41,000 courses worldwide, GPS readings on distance and hole hazards, and a shot-tracking function. It also offers solid battery life and is comfy and lightweight enough that it won't throw off your game.

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Best Garmin watch for battery life

The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar edition boasts an infinite battery life— yep, it has the power to last forever, charging with sunlight. The standard Instict 2 lasts for an also-impressive 28 days. Moreover, this sporty smartwatch is also hard-wearing and waterproof up to 100 meters on the wrist.

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Our expert review:

✅ You want a mid-level Garmin: The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a perfect training companion for anything from a 5K to an ultramarathon. It has plenty of advanced training metrics to help you PR your next race.

✅ You want a bright screen: The Forerunner 265 has a bright, AMOLED screen, which is easy to see in direct sunlight. It does mean, however, the battery life isn't as long as watches with an MIP display.

❌ You want a smartwatch: Like a lot of Garmin's the Forerunner 265 isn't the most exciting from a smartwatch perspective. That said, you can still view phone notifications, download music and use Garmin Pay.

❌ You're a golfer: If you spend your weekend's on the green, there's no golf support on the Forerunner 265. There is on the Forerunner 965, however.

⌚ The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a wonderful watch, that'll help you train for your next race, and give you a lot of Garmin's advanced training features, without costing the earth.

1. Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 9652. I walked 8,000 steps with Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Forerunner 265 — here’s which won

What you need to know

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is Garmin's mid-level running watch, replacing the Forerunner 255 — check out our Forerunner 255 vs Forerunner 265 face-off here if you're struggling to decide between the two watches. The main change Garmin made to the watch was the screen, which is now a wonderfully bright, AMOLED touchscreen.

The Forerunner 265 comes in two different sizes — the Forerunner 265 has a 1.3-inch display, with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels, and the Forerunner 265S has a 1.1-inch display, with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. During testing, we were blown away by how bright this little watch was, even in direct sunlight.

This is an excellent watch for most runners — it's got a lot of the training tools of the more expensive watches on the market, yet it's far more affordable than the likes of the Fenix, or the Forerunner 955/965. The bright touchscreen also makes it feel more like a smartwatch if you're planning on wearing your Garmin 24/7.

Design: Like all of Garmin's touchscreen watches, the touchscreen is automatically disabled in sports modes, meaning you can still navigate around the watch using the buttons — three on the left, and two on the right. This makes it easier to start, stop, pause, or lap the watch with sweaty fingers, or when wearing gloves.

The Forerunner 265 is lightweight and comfortable around the wrist, and the smaller size option is beneficial for runners with petite wrists.

Battery life: Despite the brighter display, the battery life of the Forerunner 265 has pretty much stayed the same. The 265S has a 15-day battery life in smartwatch mode and a 24-hour battery life in GPS mode. The 265 has 13 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode. Normally, it’s the larger of the two watches that have the longer battery life, but it seems with the bigger and brighter screen, the larger 265 will need charging ever so slightly sooner.

Training features: Aside from the screen, the only other difference between the 265 and the older watch is Garmin's Training Readiness Score. The score shows you at a glance how ready you are for a difficult day of training based on sleep, recovery time, HRV status, acute load and stress. Each category carries a different weight, so your Training Readiness might go up during the day, as your needed recovery time goes down.

The Forerunner 265 has Garmin’s Elevate V4 sensor — the green light records heart rate and the red light records blood oxygen levels (referred to as Pulse Ox on the watch). This sensor is used to calculate breathing rate, HRV, and stress. It also has Garmin’s Morning Report feature, which gives you a snapshot of how well you slept, how hard you’ve been training, and a look at the weather for the day ahead.

Read the full review: Garmin Forerunner 265

Our expert review:

✅ You're looking for an entry-level watch: The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an excellent watch if you want to keep an eye on your running training and sleep, without all the extra bells and whistles. It's simple, and easy to use.

✅ You're on a budget: Unlike some of the other watches on this list, the Forerunner 55 won't cost you a month's rent. It's definitely the most affordable Garmin for runners.

❌ You want to listen to music from your watch: There's no built-in music storage on the watch, so if you want to leave your phone at home, you won't be able to here.

❌ You want to record strength workouts: There's no strength training mode on the Forerunner 55, so you'll have to record strength workouts as 'Other'.

❌ You want to make contactless payments from your wrist: Unlike other watches on this list, the Forerunner 55 doesn't support Garmin Pay contactless payments.

⌚ The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a basic running watch that definitely isn't to be sniffed at. Sure, it doesn't have Training Readiness or Garmin Pay, but it'll give you suggested workouts, connect with Garmin Coach, and let you get a better idea of how well you're sleeping.

1. Garmin Forerunner 55 review2. Garmin Forerunner 55 vs Garmin Forerunner 255

What you need to know

If you’re starting to get into running, chances are you want a device that’s a step up from a basic fitness tracker and won't break the bank. Among Garmin watches, the Forerunner 55 is a clear choice. It's a simple, easy-to-use running watch that'll help you keep an eye on your running stats, heart rate and sleep from your wrist.

The watch doesn't have some of the high-end training features you'll see in other watches on this list. There's no Training Readiness Score, for example, and the watch doesn't let you listen to music, or pay for groceries from your wrist, but don't let this put you off.

Design: The Forerunner 55 looks like most of the other Forerunners in the Garmin collection — it doesn't have a touchscreen, so you'll need to navigate around the watch using the buttons, three on the left and two on the right. The watch only comes in one size and has a 1-inch, MIP display, with a resolution of 208 x 208 pixels. However, even on the sunniest days, we could see the Forerunner 55’s transflective MIP display without an issue. But, if you're worried, consider the Garmin Forerunner 165 instead.

Battery life: A fully charged Forerunner 55 can last up to two weeks in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode, a significant increase from its predecessor. This is especially impressive compared to the latest Apple Watch Series 9. However, the screen on the Forerunner 55 isn't anywhere near as bright as Apple's smartwatch. Either way, you could go away for a weekend marathon without worrying about packing your charger.

Training features: The Forerunner 55 has Garmin's PacePro technology, which gives you gentle speed and cadence alerts on the run. There are also suggested recovery times and workouts, based on your training history, fitness levels and recovery.

Like most of the watches on this list, you can also use Garmin Coach on this watch, which lets you download free training plans from one of Garmin's coaches. We've used a Garmin Coach training plan over the marathon distance, and have been impressed.

Read full review: Garmin Forerunner 55

Our expert review:

✅ You want an affordable watch with a bright screen: The Forerunner 165 boasts a lovely ALMOED screen that's easy to view in bright daylight

✅ Physical buttons make you happy: In addition to a touchscreen the Forerunner 165 features five tactile buttons around its case, making the device a breeze to operate, even with sweaty hands.

✅ You want to view maps on your watch: For hikers, runners, joggers and walkers, onboard maps make it easy to find your way.

✅ You want insights into training and recovery: The Forerunner 165 inherits many of Garmin's best training features from higher-end models like Training Effect, Body Battery and recovery time suggestions.

❌ You want a smartwatch with the most smart features: The Forerunner 165 has lots of tools for recording activities and reaching fitness goals, but it doesn't have many smart ones.

❌ You want to track multi-sport activities: Triathletes will need to step up to a higher-end Forerunner model to track complex multi-sport activities. Consider the 265 or 965 instead.

❌ You're a swimmer: With just 50 meters of water resistance, the Forerunner 165 is okay submerged for short periods but shouldn't spend too much time in the wet stuff.

⌚ The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a comfortable and lightweight GPS smartwatch with a bright AMOLED touchscreen, lots of physical controls, satisfactory battery life, precise health sensors and advanced training tools borrowed from higher-end Garmin wearables.

1. Garmin Forerunner 165 review2. Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Garmin Forerunner 265

What you need to know

The Garmin Forerunner is marketed as a GPS watch for first-time marathon runners and while it's perfectly well-suited for this task thanks to a solid balance of health-tracking tech and training features, it's also a great option for folks just getting into running, who have no aspirations to compete in a marathon.

Lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods, the Forerunner 165 boasts a bright AMOLED touchscreen that's highly visible, even in direct sunlight, a five-button design for easy navigation and accurate GPS tracking.

Battery life when using the GPS is good for up to 19 hours, more than enough for even the most challenging day hikes. Plus, the 165 keeps tabs on sleep, recovery, menstrual health and stress. It can also automatically alert emergency personnel if you fall while out on the trail.

Design:

The Forerunner 165 shares nearly the same design as the Forerunner 265 with three buttons along the left side of the case and two on the right. The 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen has a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels and is noticeably higher quality than the screen on the Forerunner 55. Water resistance is 50 meters, which is more than enough to survive sweat, splashes and short submersions.

Battery life:

With a full charge, which takes roughly two hours, the Forerunner 165 has enough juice in smartwatch mode to last roughly 11 days or 19 hours using the GPS to track a hike, walk, run or bike ride. This is a bit less than both the Forerunner 55 and 265 but still respectable. When using a mix of smartwatch mode and GPS tracking, you can expect it to last roughly one week.

Training features:

The Forerunner 165 has a lot of Garmin's best training and recovery features. For runners, PacePro can assist you in maintaining an ideal cadence. Body Battery is another useful tool that can help inform daily workout plans. Speaking of which, the Forerunner 165 provides workout suggestions, along with recommendations for post-workout recovery times, insights into sleep quality, stress and overall well-being.

Read the full review: Garmin Forerunner 165

Our expert review:

✅ You want a running watch with the best GPS: The Forerunner 965 has Multi-Band GPS, which is the most accurate GPS in situations that are tricky for GPS watches, like cities with skyscrapers.

✅ You want to view maps on your watch: If you're looking for a watch to view maps on, the large AMOLED screen on the Forerunner 965 makes things easier.

✅ You're looking for a watch to cope with multiple sports: The Forerunner 965 has multisport modes for triathlon, duathlons, brick workouts and swim/run.

❌ You're using the watch for watersports: Compared to watches like the Fenix 7, which has a water resistant rating of 10ATM, the Forerunner 965 only has a rating of 5ATM. It's fine for swimming, but don't wear it for watersports or diving.

❌ You're clumsy: The Forerunner 965 has a plastic “resin” backing, rather than the stainless steel or titanium used in the Fenix and Epix line. This means is less hardy, and is more likely to get scratched.

❌ You prefer a smaller watch: The Forerunner 965 only comes in one size — 47.2mm/1.4 inches.

⌚ The Forerunner 965 is our favorite Forerunner yet it has all of Garmin's top training features, a beautiful color touchscreen, and multisport modes.

1. Garmin Forerunner 955 vs Garmin Forerunner 9652. Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Forerunner 9653. Apple Watch Ultra vs Garmin Forerunner 965: Which is best for a marathon?

What you need to know

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the upgraded version of the Forerunner 955. It's a top-tier running watch, and possibly the best Forerunner we've ever tested. If you're trying to decide between the newer model and the older version, read our Forerunner 955 vs Forerunner 965 face-off here.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 has all of the high-tech training features of the Forerunner 955, but one big upgrade — an AMOLED touchscreen. Compared to the likes of the Fenix 7, this bright screen makes it easier to use full-color maps on the Forerunner 965. The watch is also equipped with Multi-Band GPS, making it more accurate in areas with notoriously bad GPS reception.

Design: The AMOLED screen has a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels; it's extremely bright and easy to see in all weather conditions. Like all of the Garmin watches with touchscreens, the screen is automatically disabled during activities, allowing you to start, stop, pause and lap the watch using the buttons. There are five buttons in total — three on the left and two on the right. They are easy to use and press with sweaty fingers or wearing gloves.

The watch only comes in one size — 47.2mm/1.4 inches, so if you have particularly small wrists, you might want to look at the Forerunner 265 instead. It comes in three different colors — yellow, black and white, and the bands are interchangeable.

Battery life: Despite the higher resolution and the bigger screen, the battery life on the Forerunner 965 still holds its own. It has a battery life of 23 days in smartwatch mode, 31 hours in GPS mode without music and 8.5 hours in GPS mode with music. During testing, we found it lived up to Garmin's estimates, although it dipped dramatically if the always-on display was turned on.

Training features: The watch is also jam-packed with Garmin's most advanced training features, mapping capabilities and recovery tools, including Chronic Training Load. Where the Acute Load feature measures a short-term sum of your training, Chronic Load focuses on a longer period of 28 days.

Read full review: Garmin Forerunner 965

Our expert review:

✅ You want a long-lasting Garmin watch with the brand’s top features: Only the Instinct 2 can match the Enduro 3’s battery life, but it lacks the Enduro’s maps, smarts and training features.

✅ You’re put off the Fenix 8 by its high price: The Fenix 8 has even more features, but both the solar and AMOLED versions of the Fenix are more expensive than the Enduro 2.

❌ You want an AMOLED watch: The Garmin Fenix 8 and other models like the Forerunner 965 offer a brighter display than the Enduro 2.

❌ You see a great deal on the Enduro 2: The Enduro 3 is cheaper than the Enduro 2 on list price, but the 2 will be available in sales and mostly matches the 3 for features.

⌚ The Garmin Enduro 3 is an amazing adventure watch thanks to its durable design, long battery life and useful features like maps and a built-in flashlight.

What you need to know

The Garmin Enduro 2 was essentially a Fenix 7X Pro Plus, offering the same features as the Fenix with longer battery life, and a higher price tag. Garmin has made the distinction between the Fenix and Enduro lines clearer with the Enduro 3, which is now cheaper than the Fenix and focuses on long battery life and a lightweight design.

It misses out on some of the features introduced with the Fenix 8, like the mic and speaker and dive proof design, but the Enduro 3 still excels in the areas that matter for an adventure watch, offering maps, accurate tracking, outstanding battery life and a very durable design that includes a built-in flashlight and solar panels to extend the battery further.

Design: The Garmin Enduro 3 has a similar look to the Fenix line, with yellow accents on the bezel and button being the main difference, plus the fact the Enduro 3 comes with a nylon strap as standard. We find this more comfortable than Garmin’s silicone bands, and it helps to make the watch lighter — at 63g with the strap and 57g without, the Enduro 3 is lighter than the Fenix 8X, which also has a 51mm case.

While the memory-in-pixel display is not as bright and engaging as an AMOLED screen, we found the Enduro 3’s screen clear to read, especially when outdoors, and it lengthens the battery life of the watch. A titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal screen make the Enduro 3 very durable, and while it’s a large watch we found it comfortable to wear 24/7.

Battery life: One of the star features of the Enduro 3 is its battery life — if you’re in sunny conditions, it will last up to 90 days in watch mode and can last indefinitely in expedition GPS mode. Even if you use the more intensive and accurate GPS modes you can expect 60-90 hours of tracking. We found with heavy use, running every day without much sun, the watch lasted us 17-19 days on a charge, which is outstanding and only bettered by the Coros Vertix 2S in our testing.

Training features: Aside from the new diving modes introduced on the Garmin Fenix 8, the Enduro 3 has all of Garmin’s top training features, including insightful training analysis that rates your endurance and ability on hills, which will be handy for ultramarathon runners in particular.

The watch also tracks your training load, estimates your VO2 and race times, and gives a training readiness rating each day based on factors like your sleep, heart rate variability and recent training. The Enduro 3 has Garmin’s latest and most accurate Elevate Gen5 optical heart rate sensor which we found compared closely with a chest strap’s readings during our workouts, and offers multi-band GPS for extra accuracy and we didn’t experience any notable GPS errors throughout our testing.

Read full review: Garmin Enduro 3

Our expert review:

✅ You want to track your periods from your watch: The Garmin Lily 2 Active is designed for female users and allows you to track your menstrual cycle and pregnancy from your wrist.

✅ You want a sports watch that doesn't look like a sports watch: The Garmin Lily 2 Active could easily pass as jewelry and is up there with the Oura ring in terms of being a discrete tracker.

❌ You want Garmin's best training tools: The Garmin Lily 2 Active has built-in GPS and records basic workout data but doesn't offer as comprehensive training tools as you'll find on higher-end models.

❌ You want a color screen: The Lily 2 Active has a 16-level grayscale display.

⌚ The Garmin Lily 2 is a pretty fitness tracker, designed for women, but won't suit anyone doing serious training.

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What you need to know

If you’re looking for an activity tracker that doesn’t look like an activity tracker, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is for you. It’s arguably Garmin’s most fashionable smartwatch and has several useful tools for female users, including menstrual and pregnancy tracking, giving mums-to-be a better understanding of their day-to-day health.

In addition to the Lily 2 Active, there are two other models in the line: The Lily 2 and the Lily 2 Classic. Neither of these models has an onboard GPS like the Active. The former is priced at $249.99 and the latter is $279.99 and supports mobile payments. The Classic features a leather strap and comes in three case colors: cream gold, silver, or dark bronze. The standard Lily 2 comes on a soft silicone band that’s easier to clean post-workout and is available in two case colors: cream gold and metallic lilac.

Design: Where the Garmin Lily 2 is in its display and its responsive, monochromatic touchscreen, which is easy to use, even in direct sunlight. This would make a brilliant first-time smartwatch for the fashion-conscious shoppers out there, especially someone with a smaller wrist. It’s also one of the best cheap smartwatches on the market and quite comfortable.

Battery life: Garmin rates the Lily smartwatch for five days of battery life, including overnight wear for sleep tracking. During testing, we found the display settings have the biggest impact on battery life. At max brightness, we lost more than 30% of juice in one day, but when we relied on auto-brightness, the battery drain rate slowed.

Training features: We've said it before and we'll say it again, this isn't the Garmin to buy if you're doing serious training. It'll let you keep an eye on your cycle, your hydration levels, your stress, and your heart rate from your wrist, but you'll need your phone with you for tracking workouts, as there's no built-in GPS. Want to leave your phone at home? Consider the Forerunner 55 instead.

The Garmin Lily 2 replaces the original Garmin Lily. And though it shares the same design, screen and battery life, the Lily 2 has some of Garmin’s newer health tracking features, including sports profiles for Zumba, Afrobeat and Bollywood dancing. Optionally, it can also send you daily reminders to move.

Read the full review: Garmin Lily review

Our expert review:

✅ You want the best Garmin sports watch available: The Fenix 8 packs more features than other watches into a gorgeous design with a dazzling AMOLED screen.

✅ You want the dive mode and/or mic and speaker: These are the key additions to the Fenix 8 compared with older Garmins, along with the slightly improved battery life.

❌ You’re on a budget: The Fenix 8 is more expensive than other great AMOLED Garmin watches like the Epix Pro, Epix 2 and Forerunner 965, which offer similar sports tracking..

❌ You need the longest battery life possible: MIP models like the Fenix 8 Solar or Enduro 3 have duller displays, but will last longer on a charge than the Fenix 8.

⌚ The Garmin Fenix 8 is a brilliant sports watch with a fantastic design and will satisfy any keen athlete thanks to an extensive range of useful training tools.

1. Garmin Fenix 7 vs Fenix 7 Pro

What you need to know

The Garmin Fenix 8 is the flagship sports watch in Garmin’s range and now contains both AMOLED and MIP options, with the latter offering solar charging. The Fenix 8 AMOLED replaces the Garmin Epix Pro, while the Fenix 8 Solar replaces the Fenix 7 Pro. We prefer the AMOLED watch, which still offers great battery life and a much more engaging screen.

While the core sports tracking experience of using the Fenix 8 is similar to older Garmins, it has some unique features like a diveproof design and new dive sports modes, and is also the first Fenix to have a mic and speaker. The user interface has also been updated and the AMOLED watch has slightly better battery life than the Epix Pro. As keen marathoners we find the watch the perfect training tool, and it offers features that will also appeal to other athletes and adventurers.

Design: The Garmin Fenix 8 comes in three sizes — 43mm, 47mm and 51mm — all of which have built-in flashlights and vivid AMOLED displays. We tested the 51mm watch, which offers the best battery life but is also the heaviest and biggest, though you do get used to the feel of the watch on your wrist.

The AMOLED touchscreen is what makes the design stand out compared to the Fenix 8 Solar and Enduro 3 watches, which both have similar features but memory-in-pixel displays. The Fenix 8 also adds a mic and speaker, and is dive proof to depths of 40mm thanks to a design which includes leakproof buttons. You can get the watch with a titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal display, or a steel bezel and a glass display — the sapphire watch is lighter and more durable, but costs $100 more.

Battery life: Despite having an AMOLED screen the Fenix 8 is still an impressively long-lasting watch, especially the 51mm model which lasted us 12-13 days even during marathon training when we were running every day with the screen set to always-on. You can also increase the battery life by using the raise-to-wake feature, which would be worthwhile with the smaller 43mm and 47mm models, which will then last 10-16 days on a charger, rather than four to seven with the screen always-on.

Training features: The Garmin Fenix 8 is a comprehensive sports tracker that also offers extensive and insightful training analysis. It can help you prepare for events like marathons through daily suggested workouts, training load analysis and a rating of your overall endurance, plus race predictions and a VO2 max estimate.

It also has modes for diving, which are the main sports tracking upgrade you get compared with the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro. The GPS and heart rate tracing was reliably accurate throughout our testing, and while initially the sheer amount of information the watch provides about your training can be overwhelming, we quickly zoned in on the stats and analysis that were most helpful to us.

Read our full review: Garmin Fenix 8

Our expert review:

✅ You're serious about golf: The Garmin Approach S62 is one of the best golf watches on the market, with all the features you could need on the green.

✅ You also want to track other workouts: Unlike cheaper golf watches, the Approach S62 allows you to track other sports activities and has features like Garmin's Body Battery.

❌ You're a beginner: There's an awful lot on this watch, and if you're a complete beginner, you're probably better off with a cheaper version, like the Garmin Approach S20.

❌ Battery life is important: The battery life on the Approach S62 isn't the worst, but if you're going on a week's golf holiday, you'll want to take a charger.

⌚ The Garmin Approach S62 is one of the best golf watches on the market, jam-packed with features, and an upgrade on the Garmin Approach S60.

1. Garmin Approach S12 review2. Garmin Approach S42 review3. Garmin Approach S60 review

What you need to know

If golf is your game, then the Garmin Approach S62 is the watch for you. With a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and silicone straps, it’s rugged enough for a round of 18 while stylish enough for the 19th hole in the clubhouse.

The Garmin Approach S62 comes with key golf features such as access to data on 41,000 courses worldwide, GPS readings on distance and hole hazards and a shot-tracking function. There’s also a virtual caddie that recommends clubs based on distance to the pin. It may be a lot for a novice golfer (if that’s you, check out our Garmin S20 review,) but veteran golfers will appreciate the insight —and may even leave the rangefinder at home.

Design: The Garmin Approach S62 looks similar to other Garmin watches on this list, with a round 1.3-inch screen and three buttons on the right-hand side, allowing you to navigate around the watch without using the touchscreen if you're wearing a golf glove.

The watch has a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and interchangeable silicone straps that strike an excellent balance of style and comfort. To that effect, it looks sporty enough for clubhouses yet stylish enough for a steakhouse. We reviewed the all-black unit, but there’s a white version that better resembles a golf glove, which some aesthetically minded players might prefer.

Battery life: The Garmin Approach S62 lasts about 14 days without a charge, although you’ll get just 20 hours in continuous GPS mode. Our tester, a golfer with 30 years of experience, made it through a week with 3 rounds before needing to recharge the S62, so it’s safe to say you can leave Garmin’s proprietary charger at home for a weekend golf trip.

Training features: Off the course, the watch tracks a variety of additional indoor and outdoor exercises, including swimming, along with heart rate and sleep. It also boasts Garmin’s “Body Battery” energy monitor. Plus, the Approach S62 can track bicycling, rock climbing, skiing, running and a variety of indoor exercise. It’s also waterproof so it can record your swims or be worn while paddleboarding, and you get handy smartwatch features like Garmin Pay, along with customizable smartphone notifications.

Read full review: Garmin Approach S62

Our expert review:

✅ You care about battery life: The Garmin Instinct 2 has infinite battery life. Yep, it lasts forever thanks to its solar charging.

✅ You're looking for an adventure watch: This watch is rugged and hardwearing, designed to cope with knocks and drops.

✅ You want something lightweight and stylish: This watch comes in two sizes and a wide variety of fun colors.

❌ You want an AMOLED screen: Like most solar charging watches, this watch has an MIP display, which isn't as bright.

❌ You want unlimited sports profiles: Most of the obvious sports are covered, but the Instinct 2 only has 40 profiles, which is less than some of the other watches on this list.

❌ You care about smart features: The Instinct 2 offers few.

⌚ The Garmin Instinct 2 is a cheaper version of the Fenix 7 or Epix 2, designed for the great outdoors, with an excellent battery life.

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What you need to know

The Garmin Instinct 2 boasts an infinite battery life — yep, it has the power to last forever, charging with the sunlight. There are a few catches, from which features work on solar power, to which versions of the Garmin Instinct 2 even pack a solar panel, to how many hours a day the watch needs to be exposed to sunlight. But beyond that, the Instinct 2 is better than the first Garmin Instinct in almost every way.

Design: It retains its rugged feel while borrowing features from some of Garmin's more expensive watches. It also now comes in a smaller 40mm size — the 2S, designed for smaller wrists.

On the wrist, it's hard-wearing (with a Military Standard 810 rating against extreme environments and temperatures), waterproof up to 100m and its display is bright and easy to see, even in direct sunlight. Unlike the new Garmin Fenix 7 range, there's no touchscreen, but the five-button functionality is easy to figure out and use on the move.

The Garmin Instinct 2 is available now and comes in a dozen different configurations. In addition to Solar-powered options, Garmin offers Surf, Tactical and Camo editions with special color variations and dedicated features. The Surf Edition comes loaded with a tide widget and Surfline Sessions compatibility, for example. The Garmin Instinct 2 "dezl" Edition, meanwhile, was created for truckers.

Battery life: When it comes to unlimited battery life, there's a catch — it's only available on the solar versions of the Instinct 2. The Solar Instinct 2 has a battery life of 48 hours in standard GPS mode, 370 hours in max battery GPS and unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode. The non-solar Instinct 2 lasts 30 hours in GPS mode, 70 hours in standard GPS mode, 28 days in smartwatch mode and 65 hours in battery-saver mode.

Training features: The Instinct 2 is outfitted with the same Elevate V4 heart rate sensor found in the Venu 2 and Fenix 7 and provides tracking for just over 40 activity types. It has VO2 Max readings, a pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen (SpO2) levels and features like Garmin's Body Battery. However, there aren't the same advanced training metrics as on the Fenix 7 line, such as Training Readiness Score.

Read full review: Garmin Instinct 2

Because Garmin watches span a wide range of prices and features, it’s important to identify which are most important to you within your budget.

Battery LifeMost of Garmin’s watches have excellent battery life, but some are better than others. Some Garmin watches, like the Fenix 7 and the Instinct 2 have solar charging options, increasing the battery life of the watch. If you plan to spend extended periods of time outdoors, choose your watch accordingly.

Training featuresMost of Garmin’s watches have excellent training features but pay attention to the metrics that matter to you. In addition to standard metrics, some models like the Garmin Forerunner 965 also track heat and altitude, which are key for planning the impact of outdoor workouts. Others, like the Garmin Approach S62, offer in-depth golf training, too.

GPSGarmin is known for its GPS technology, so it’s no surprise that nearly all Garmin watches have excellent GPS features.

Smartwatch featuresSome Garmin models have more smartwatch features than others. The Venu 2, Epix 2, Garmin Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 965 also boast touch-sensitive AMOLED displays, which provide a premium experience, especially when wearing them 24/7.

Onboard musicNot all Garmin watches support onboard music with built-in storage. For athletes who want to bring music on their go in their workouts, you’ll want a tracker that lets you leave your phone behind.

PriceThere’s a good range of Garmin watch prices for every budget. For under $150, the Forerunner 55 is a good value, as you get access to Garmin Coach and all of Garmin’s other training features. On the other hand, you can spend up to $1,149 on the Fenix 7 Pro. Most models, however, fall between $200 and $500. If you want to save a little extra on your purchase, have a look at our Garmin coupon codes page to see the latest discounts.

By wearing them, of course! When Garmin comes out with a new watch, we fully charge it up and strap it on our wrist for several weeks or so to test out all the features.

First and foremost: How does it feel? Some watches are pretty bulky, which means they won't fit comfortably on smaller wrists or make sense for all-day wear. Next, we look at fitness features such as heart rate monitor, GPS and custom workout tracking. How accurate are the Garmin’s sensors, and how well does the watch track your exercise and overall health?

We also look at the other useful features, including sleep tracking, female health tracking, mobile payments and smartphone notifications.

Additionally, we test Garmin’s battery life claims and compare it to our actual use. Some sensors chew up juice faster than others, so if you've got the screen on constantly or you’re always using the heart rate monitor or Pulse Ox sensor, battery life may vary. We also check if the battery-saving modes will still meet your workout-tracking expectations.

You'll need to download the Garmin Connect App to sync your watch to your phone. It's available on both Android and iOS, and once you've downloaded the app and signed up, you'll be able to connect your Garmin to your phone.

The Garmin Connect app lets you see all your data at a glance in an easy-to-read format. Depending on your tracker, it'll give you deeper insights, such as your body battery (based on your sleep data) and your fitness age. There are also challenges and in-depth sleep reports for you to keep an eye on.

As well as this, depending on your watch model, you'll be able to use the Garmin Connect app to use Garmin Coach to download running and cycling training plans and upload them directly to your watch. To do this, head to more, then training in the Garmin Connect app. You'll then be able to select training plans and download the best one for you depending on your ability and your goals.

Check out our guide on how to use Garmin Connect here, as well as our guide to how to use the Body Battery feature on your Garmin watch.

Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

Dan Bracaglia covers fitness and consumer technology with an emphasis on wearables for Tom's Guide. Based in the US Pacific Northwest, Dan is an avid outdoor adventurer who dabbles in everything from kayaking to snowboarding, but he most enjoys exploring the cities and mountains with his small pup, Belvedere. Dan is currently training to climb some of Washington State's tallest peaks. He's also a big photography nerd.

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