Looking for a smartwatch that actually tracks your workouts, monitors your health, and survives your training sessions? After testing dozens of fitness-focused smartwatches over the past year, I’ve put together this guide to help you find what works for you. Whether you’re training for a marathon, lifting heavy at the gym, or just getting started, there’s a watch on this list for you.
Before we get to the recommendations, here’s how I evaluated each watch.
First, I tested GPS accuracy by comparing route tracking against known distances and professional GPS devices. A fitness smartwatch with bad GPS is useless for runners and cyclists. I did multiple outdoor runs and rides to check each device’s precision.
Heart rate monitoring got tested during various workout intensities, from easy walks to HIIT. I compared readings against chest strap monitors, which are the gold standard.
For battery life, I ran continuous GPS tracking until each watch died. I also measured typical daily use drain so you know what to expect.
Fitness feature depth meant checking what metrics each watch tracks, how customizable workout profiles are, and whether it offers advanced features like VO2 max estimates, recovery recommendations, and training load analysis.
Water resistance and durability got evaluated through pool swimming and daily wear.
The Apple Watch Series 9 still sets the standard for what a fitness smartwatch can do. It’s not exclusively a fitness device like some Garmin models, but its fitness capabilities have come a long way, making it the best overall choice for most people.
Key Features:
The Series 9 has the new S9 chip, which enables on-device Siri processing and brings the Double Tap gesture for easier interaction during workouts. The display now reaches 2000 nits, making it easy to read in bright sunlight—important for outdoor athletes.
The fitness tracking is comprehensive. The Workout app shows real-time metrics, and the Activity rings provide daily motivation. For strength training, the new Precision Playbook feature can automatically track reps and sets for certain exercises, though it’s still not perfect compared to dedicated lifting apps.
Where Apple Watch really shines is ecosystem integration. If you use an iPhone, the seamless connection with other Apple devices makes everything work better. Notifications, music control, and safety features like Fall Detection and Crash Detection add everyday value beyond fitness.
Battery life is the main tradeoff. You’ll get about 18 hours of typical use, or roughly 7-8 hours with continuous GPS tracking. This works fine for most daily workouts but falls short for ultra-endurance events. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 addresses this for serious athletes.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $399
The Garmin Forerunner 265 offers most of the advanced fitness features found in Garmin’s flagship models at a lower price. This is the watch I’d recommend for anyone serious about improving their fitness without spending too much.
Key Features:
Garmin finally brought the vibrant AMOLED display to the Forerunner line, making this watch a significant upgrade from its predecessors. The 265 packs serious fitness intelligence into a lightweight 47g package that won’t weigh you down during runs or gym sessions.
The training features are where this watch really excels. Training Readiness analyzes your sleep, recovery, and training load to tell you how ready you are for a hard workout each morning. This takes the guesswork out of planning your training schedule and helps prevent overtraining.
Morning Report gives you a daily summary of how you slept, your training readiness, weather, and suggests a workout for the day. It’s like having a personal coach on your wrist.
The Multi-band GPS technology provides excellent accuracy, even in challenging environments like dense urban areas or forests. This was previously reserved for Garmin’s premium models, so its inclusion here is a big deal.
For runners, the Forerunner 265 includes detailed pace and distance metrics, race predictor, and recovery time recommendations. Cyclists can track with compatible sensors, and the watch supports multisport activities for triathletes.
Battery life is exceptional: up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode with music. This easily handles even the longest marathon training runs.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $499
For dedicated runners, the Garmin Forerunner 965 delivers an exceptional experience with features specifically designed to improve your running performance. This is the watch I’d choose if running is my primary fitness activity.
Key Features:
The Forerunner 965 builds on everything that makes the Forerunner 265 great and adds features specifically for serious runners. The larger 1.4-inch display makes it easier to read metrics at a glance during races, and the full topographical maps are invaluable for trail runners or those exploring new routes.
ClimbPro is a standout feature for runners who encounter hills in their training or races. It shows real-time information about upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance, and vertical ascent. This helps you pace your efforts more effectively on hilly courses.
The real-time stamina feature is like having a fuel gauge for your body. It monitors your effort throughout a run and tells you how much you have left, helping you avoid blowing up in the final miles of a race.
Garmin’s Race Predictor uses your recent training data and performance to estimate your race times for various distances from 5K to ultramarathon distances. It’s not perfectly accurate but provides helpful goal-setting guidance.
The Multi-band GPS with SatIQ automatically selects the best satellite system for your location, balancing accuracy with battery conservation. In testing, this produced consistently excellent distance and pace accuracy.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $599
For swimmers, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most capable smartwatch I’ve tested. While it’s primarily designed as an adventure and outdoor sports watch, its swim tracking capabilities are exceptional.
Key Features:
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was designed with water sports in mind. The 40-meter water resistance rating means it’s suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and recreational scuba diving. The dedicated Depth app automatically activates when you submerge, showing current depth, maximum depth reached, and water temperature.
For pool swimmers, the Apple Watch automatically detects swim workouts and counts laps. In testing, lap counting accuracy was impressive, though it occasionally needed manual correction for flip turns. The Workout app displays distance, pace, strokes, and SWOLF score (a measure of swimming efficiency).
Open water swimming gets a boost from the built-in compass, which can set waypoints for navigation. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 can also be paired with the Oceanic+ app (subscription required) for more advanced scuba functionality, turning the watch into a fully functional dive computer.
The larger 49mm case provides a generous display for viewing metrics underwater, and the action button can be customized for starting intervals or marking splits.
Battery life is dramatically improved over standard Apple Watch models. You can get through a full Ironman-distance triathlon with GPS tracking, though you’ll want to enable Low Power Mode for ultra-endurance events.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $799
When it comes to strength training specifically, the Whoop 4.0 takes a unique approach that many serious lifters prefer. Rather than traditional smartwatch features, it focuses entirely on optimizing training and recovery.
Key Features:
The Whoop 4.0 takes a fundamentally different approach to fitness tracking. It doesn’t have a display—all data is analyzed and presented through the smartphone app. This might seem like a drawback, but for strength training, it actually works well. You’re not constantly checking your wrist; instead, you review your training data afterward.
Strength exercises are automatically recognized using Whoop’s extensive exercise library. In testing, it correctly identified common movements like squats, deadlifts, bench press, and shoulder press. This automatic tracking means you don’t have to manually start workouts.
The Strain Coach feature is particularly valuable for lifters. It provides real-time guidance on how hard to push during workouts, helping you balance training stimulus with recovery. The goal is to optimize your “strain” score—neither undertraining nor overtraining.
The Recovery score each morning tells you how prepared your body is for training based on heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and sleep quality. This helps you make informed decisions about whether to train hard or take a recovery day.
Whoop’s analysis goes beyond basic metrics. The app provides detailed insights into how your training affects your recovery, helping you understand the relationship between strain and recovery over time.
Cons:
Price: $239/year (subscription required)
Not everyone needs or wants to pay for a premium fitness smartwatch. The Fitbit Charge 6 delivers impressive fitness tracking at a fraction of the cost, making it an excellent choice for fitness-focused users on a budget.
Key Features:
The Fitbit Charge 6 represents a significant upgrade from previous Charge models, mainly through the addition of built-in GPS. Previous versions required a phone for GPS tracking, but now you can leave your phone at home and still get accurate distance and pace data for outdoor workouts.
Fitness tracking includes over 40 exercise modes, from running and cycling to yoga and strength training. The heart rate zones are clearly displayed, helping you train in the right intensity range for your goals.
Google integration brings useful features like Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions during outdoor activities and YouTube Music controls. These aren’t as robust as what you’d get on a full smartwatch, but they add meaningful functionality.
Sleep tracking has always been a Fitbit strength, and the Charge 6 continues this tradition with detailed sleep stage analysis and a daily Sleep Score. The Sleep Score provides an easy-to-understand metric for how well you slept.
The design is compact and comfortable, making it easy to wear 24/7 for continuous health monitoring. The AMOLED display is bright and clear, though small compared to traditional smartwatch displays.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $159
For triathletes, adventure athletes, and anyone who participates in multiple sports, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is the ultimate tool. This is Garmin’s most capable multisport watch, packed with features for serious athletes.
Key Features:
The Fenix 7 Pro is essentially a portable training command center. The solar charging capability can extend battery life significantly, making it practical for multi-day adventures where you might not have access to charging.
The topographical maps include contour lines, elevation data, and points of interest. Whether you’re hiking, trail running, or navigating unfamiliar terrain, these maps prove invaluable. The multi-continent coverage means you’re covered almost anywhere in the world.
For triathletes, the multisport transitions feature automatically switches between swim, bike, and run modes, tracking your complete race in one session. The Fenix also supports advanced dynamics for cycling and cadence sensors.
The training features are comprehensive. Training Readiness combines recovery, sleep, strain, and HRV to give you a daily readiness score. Training Load shows how much strain your workouts are placing on your body. And the heat and altitude acclimation features help you perform your best in challenging conditions.
Pros:
Cons:
Price: Starts at $799
| Model | Price | Battery (Smartwatch) | Battery (GPS) | Water Resistance | Built-in GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 9 | $399 | 18 hours | 7 hours | 50m | Yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | $499 | 13 days | 20 hours | 5 ATM | Yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | $599 | 23 days | 31 hours | 5 ATM | Yes |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $799 | 36 hours | 12 hours | 100m | Yes |
| Whoop 4.0 | $239/yr | 5 days | N/A | 1 ATM | No |
| Fitbit Charge 6 | $159 | 7 days | 12 hours | 5 ATM | Yes |
| Garmin Fenix 7 Pro | $799 | 22 days | 57 hours | 10 ATM | Yes |
Before making your final decision, consider these important factors that will impact your daily experience.
For fitness tracking, battery life matters more than you might expect. A watch that dies mid-workout is worse than no watch at all. Consider how you’ll use the watch:
Optical heart rate sensors have improved dramatically, but accuracy still varies. For high-intensity workouts, chest strap compatibility adds reliability. If you use heart rate zones for training, verify accuracy during varied intensities.
Built-in GPS is essential for outdoor activities. Multi-band GPS (receiving signals from multiple satellite systems) provides the best accuracy, especially in challenging environments. This feature was once exclusive to premium models but is increasingly available at mid-range prices.
Consider what metrics matter to you:
Your smartphone ecosystem matters:
Understand the ratings:
Do I really need GPS in my fitness smartwatch?
If you track outdoor activities like running, cycling, or hiking, built-in GPS provides significantly better distance and pace accuracy than phone-based tracking. However, if you primarily do indoor workouts or gym sessions, GPS becomes less critical.
How accurate are optical heart rate monitors?
Modern optical sensors are generally accurate for moderate exercise. During high-intensity interval training or activities with significant arm movement, accuracy can decrease. For critical heart rate training, a chest strap provides superior accuracy.
Should I choose a fitness-focused brand like Garmin over Apple or Samsung?
Garmin specializes in fitness tracking with deeper metrics and typically better battery life. Apple and Samsung offer more versatile smartwatches with broader app ecosystems. Choose Garmin for pure fitness optimization; choose Apple or Samsung for a balance of fitness and everyday smartwatch features.
How often should I replace my fitness smartwatch?
Most fitness smartwatches remain functional for 3-5 years, though battery capacity degrades over time. Software updates typically continue for 3-4 years. Consider upgrading when battery life becomes limiting or when new features significantly improve your training capabilities.
Can I use a fitness smartwatch without a smartphone?
Most fitness smartwatches require initial smartphone setup and benefit from phone connectivity for notifications and data sync. Some Garmin models offer more standalone functionality with onboard music storage and maps. Apple Watch requires an iPhone for initial setup and many features.
The “best” fitness smartwatch depends on your specific needs, budget, and how you plan to use it. After testing all these models, here are my final recommendations:
Choose Apple Watch Series 9 if you want the most versatile device that excels at fitness while offering the best overall smartwatch experience. It’s perfect for iPhone users who want comprehensive health tracking without sacrificing everyday functionality.
Choose Garmin Forerunner 265 if you’re primarily focused on fitness and want exceptional training features at a reasonable price. The battery life and training intelligence make it ideal for athletes training for specific goals.
Choose Garmin Fenix 7 Pro if you’re a serious athlete or adventurer who needs the most capable multisport device available. The solar charging and comprehensive maps justify the premium price.
Choose Fitbit Charge 6 if you want solid fitness tracking on a budget. It delivers the essentials without unnecessary complexity.
No matter which watch you choose, remember that the best fitness smartwatch is the one you’ll actually wear and use consistently. All the advanced metrics in the world won’t help if the watch sits in your drawer. Consider your primary activities, your budget, and how you prefer to interact with your data.
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