
The most effective Garmin smartwatches compared
Editor’s tip | Worth tip | ||||
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Product | Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE | Garmin Intuition 2 | |||
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Benefits |
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Disadvantages |
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Ranking | Garmin Epix 2 – evaluation | Garmin Venu 2 Plus – evaluation | Garmin Fenix 7 – evaluation |
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To the provide* |
Within the desk above you may discover our private highlights from Garmin’s a number of smartwatch sequence. Within the additional course of this text, we’ll present you all of the fashions from the assorted sequence as soon as once more intimately, together with their detailed technical specs.
Desk of contents:
- Shopping for recommendation: Which Garmin smartwatch is the perfect for me?
- The most effective Garmin smartwatches by sequence
1. Shopping for information: What to anticipate from Garmin’s watches?
Garmin launched its first sports activities watch with built-in GPS in 2003. Again then, the iPhone was nonetheless a distant concept in Steve Jobs’ head, and good options in watches had been goals of the long run. In 2022, we’re making telephone calls and chatting on our wrists, however we’re additionally utilizing our smartwatches to test our vitals and measure our health ranges. In spite of everything, no different gadget is worn so near the physique in the course of the day.
Within the following paragraphs, we’ll due to this fact check out which sports activities and health options Garmin smartwatches provide on the one hand – and which smartwatch options you’ll be able to anticipate on the opposite.

1.1 Sports activities & health options on Garmin watches
Clearly, crucial factor about Garmin’s watches are their sports activities and well being options. All sports activities watches from Garmin – right here in factors 2.1 to 2.4 – provide a coronary heart charge sensor together with measurement of resting coronary heart charge and coronary heart charge variability. The physique battery operate, i.e. your every day form, can be accessible on all fashions, as are sleep and stress monitoring. And all Garmin sports activities watches additionally decide your cardio health within the type of the VO2Max worth.
The snapshot of your well being knowledge known as “Well being Snap Shot” is supported by all Garmin smartwatches listed right here, except the Forerunner fashions. The Forerunner 55 additionally lacks measurement for flooring climbed and SpO2 values, and the Forerunner 245 doesn’t file your respiration charge. All different fashions embody these options.

Bluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi are on board with all Garmin sports activities watches besides the Forerunner 55. Which means the smartwatches not solely connect with your Wi-Fi at house and your smartphone, but additionally to numerous equipment from Garmin, together with cadence sensors for biking or varied chest straps. Nevertheless, the operating effectivity values that the extra superior Garmin chest straps measure usually are not supported by the Venu and Vivoactive sequence.
GPS sensors are additionally current in every single place. Some new fashions additionally help multi-band GPS, though we couldn’t discover any distinction to the already wonderful GPS accuracy of the Garmin smartwatches within the sensible check of the Epix 2, for instance. By the best way, all Garmin smartwatches lack an ECG measurement. If this function is essential to you, I like to recommend having a look at our smartwatch finest record.
1.2 Smartwatch capabilities in Garmin’s smartwatches
The Garmin fashions usually are not solely wonderful sports activities watches, but additionally smartwatches with varied good options. Notifications from smartphones can be found on all fashions described right here, in addition to fundamental calendar capabilities and climate forecasts. Garmin Pay can be included in the entire watches described right here (besides the Forerunner 55), and Garmin’s fee service helps many banks within the USA. A present record may be discovered right here on the Garmin web site.
Aside from the Intuition, Forerunner 55 and non-music Forerunner 245, all Garmin smartwatches provide an inner storage for music – however controlling music saved on the smartphone is feasible on all watches. The Venu 2 Plus is the one mannequin that at present helps voice assistants, and the Forerunner 945 is the one one to supply an LTE choice.

All Garmin smartwatches on this comparability even have the proprietary Join IQ Retailer in widespread. Right here you will discover watchfaces and knowledge fields for exercises in addition to quite a few apps like Spotify, Komoot, Amazon Music or Accuweather. You too can check out the choice within the browser through this hyperlink.
The underside line is that the Garmin watches provide numerous smartwatch options. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t anticipate such a seamless integration together with your smartphone as for instance with the Galaxy smartwatches or the Apple Watch.
1.3 Garmin smartwatches for men and women
With only a few exceptions, Garmin’s smartwatches are designated as unisex – and that is a superb factor. Happily, most fashions additionally are available in quite a lot of sizes. Since ladies are inclined to have slimmer wrists, the S fashions ought to usually be fascinating right here, for instance the Garmin Fenix 7S or the Intuition 2S.
Then again, some fashions even have an X variant, for instance the Garmin Fenix 7X. The 7X is especially big, and must also prove too large on many males’s wrists with its ridiculously huge 51-millimeter case.

2. The most effective Garmin smartwatches by sequence
Garmin’s smartwatches may be divided very roughly into 4 main totally different sequence:
- For demanding customers and professional athletes: Fenix, Epix, Tactix & extra
- Stylish all-rounders from the Vivoactive and Venu sequence
- Garmin’s operating watches: meet the Forerunner sequence
- The strong fashions of the Intuition-2 sequence
2.1 For demanding customers: Fenix, Epix, Tactix and extra

Garmin builds the highest fashions across the Fenix sequence – right here, nevertheless, it’s a must to reckon with a reasonably huge design and upscale costs. The Fenix 7 begins at round 600 euros, whereas the Tactix 7 Professional Photo voltaic Ballistic has an MSRP of 1600 euros.
For that sum of money, Garmin has squeezed nearly every part that’s at present attainable when it comes to sensors in its high-end watches – the fashions from the Fenix, Epix, Tactix, D2 & Co. sequence have all that in widespread. Nevertheless, there are particular fashions for various goal teams which are, for instance, appropriate for being learn with night-vision tools or provide particular security options.
The next desk reveals crucial fashions from Garmin’s Fenix 7 sequence compared with the Epix 2, Tactix 7, Quatix 7 and D2 Mach 1.
Product | Garmin Tactix 7 | ||||
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Determine |
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Case dimension | 42 mm | 47 mm | 51 mm | 47 mm | 51 mm |
Strap dimension | 20 mm | 22 mm | 26 mm | 22 mm | 26 mm |
Show expertise | MIP | MIP | MIP | AMOLED | MIP |
Show glass | Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Glass |
Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Glass |
Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Glass |
Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Glass |
Sapphire Glass |
Show dimension | 1.2 inches | 1.3 inch | 1.4 inch | 1.3 inch | 1.4 inch |
Decision | 240 x 240 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels | 280 x 280 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels | 280 x 280 pixel |
Touchscreen | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure |
Reminiscence | 16 / 32 GB | 16 / 32 GB | 16 / 32 GB | 16 / 32 GB | 32 GB |
Weight | 47 – 58 g | 73 – 79 g | 89 – 96 g | 70 – 76 g | 89 g |
Battery life (smartwatch) | as much as 11 d / 14 d (photo voltaic) |
as much as 18 d / 22 d (photo voltaic) |
as much as 28 d / 37 d (photo voltaic) |
as much as 16 d | as much as 28 d |
Battery life (GPS) | as much as 37 h / 46 h (photo voltaic) | as much as 57 h / 73 h (photo voltaic) | as much as 89 h / 122 h (photo voltaic) | as much as 42 h | as much as 89 h |
Waterproof | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
Particular options | – | – | Flashlight | – | Tactical capabilities Evening imaginative and prescient mode Flashlight |
Photo voltaic operate | relying on mannequin | relying on mannequin | all fashions | relying on mannequin | all fashions |
Variants | customary Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Customary Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Customary | Customary Professional Professional Ballistics |
Worth (MSRP) | from $699 | from $699 | from $899 | from $899 | from $1099 |
Analysis |
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Garmin Fenix 7 – evaluation |
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Garmin Epix 2 – evaluation |
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To the provide* |
2.2 All-rounders from the Vivoactive and Venu sequence

In Garmin’s Venu and Vivoactive sequence, you may discover the all-rounders. These smartwatches are typically a bit extra elegantly designed than the Forerunner fashions, for instance – and naturally way more discreet than the reasonably cumbersome fashions from the Fenix sequence. Whereas the Forerunner fashions are aimed extra in the direction of runners, the Venu and Vivoactive watches are reasonably focused in the direction of all-around athletes and health fans.
Not like the Forerunner fashions, the assorted Venu 2 and Vivoactive 4 fashions provide the Well being Snapshot. Right here, the watch analyzes your general well being based mostly on pulse, coronary heart charge variability, SpO2 worth, respiratory charge, and stress and offers you a abstract. Then again, the Venu and Vivoactive fashions haven’t got the superior operating metrics. Even with a suitable chest strap, you sadly will not have entry to floor contact time, vertical motion and the likes whereas operating.
One other distinctive function in Garmin’s lineup may be discovered within the Venu 2 Plus: The smartwatch is suitable with Siri, Bixby and Google Assistant. Because of the built-in microphone and speaker, you may as well use the watch as a speakerphone and depart your smartphone in your pocket.
The desk beneath reveals the Garmin Venu 2S, Garmin Venu 2 Plus and Garmin Venu 2 compared with the Vivoactive 4S and Vivoactive 4.
Product | Garmin Venu 2S | Garmin Venu 2 Plus | Garmin Venu 2 | Garmin Vivoactive 4S | Garmin Vivoactive 4 |
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Case dimension | 40 mm | 43 mm | 45 mm | 40 mm | 45 mm |
Strap dimension | 18 mm | 20 mm | 22 mm | 18 mm | 22 mm |
Show expertise | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | MIP | MIP |
Show glass | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
Show dimension | 1.1 inch | 1.3 inch | 1.3 inch | 1.1 inch | 1.3 inch |
Decision | 360 x 360 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels | 218 x 218 pixels | 260 x 260 pixel |
Touchscreen | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure |
Reminiscence | approx. 4 GB | approx. 4 GB | approx. 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
Weight | 38 g | 38 g | 49 g | 40 g | 51 g |
Battery life (smartwatch) | as much as 10 d | as much as 9 d | as much as 11 d | as much as 7 d | as much as 8 d |
Battery life (GPS) | as much as 7 h | as much as 8 h | as much as 8 h | as much as 5 h | as much as 6 h |
Waterproof | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Particular options | – | Helps voice assistants | – | – | – |
Photo voltaic operate | no | no | no | no | no |
Worth (MSRP) | from $351 | from $399 | from $449 | from $299 | from $299 |
Ranking |
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Garmin Venu 2 Plus – evaluation |
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To the provide* |
2.3 Garmin’s operating watches: the Forerunner fashions

Because the title suggests, Garmin’s Forerunner sequence is aimed toward runners. Accordingly, even the second smallest mannequin, the Forerunner 245, is provided with operating metrics to be able to get an in depth analysis of your operating effectivity values with the matching chest strap.
Then again, you additionally must do with out consolation options within the Forerunner fashions. For instance, all the lineup all the best way to the highest mannequin doesn’t have touchscreens, and the Well being Snapshot function can be lacking. Garmin clearly differentiates between endurance athletes and all-round athletes in its two mid-range sequence. If you need the perfect of each worlds, you may have to succeed in for the Fenix fashions.
There are additionally a number of options you may must do with out on the smaller or older Forerunner fashions. The Forerunner 55, for instance, can’t monitor blood oxygen saturation and doesn’t help operating effectivity evaluation. The Forerunner 245, however, lacks respiration charge measurement.
Within the following desk you’ll be able to see crucial technical knowledge of the Garmin Forerunner 55, Forerunner 245, Forerunner 745 and Forerunner 945 compared.
Product | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Forerunner 945 |
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Determine | ![]() |
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Case dimension | 42 mm | 42 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
Strap dimension | 20 mm | 20 mm | 22 mm | 22 mm |
Show expertise | MIP | MIP | MIP | MIP |
Show glass | Chemically strengthened glass | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass DX | Gorilla Glass DX |
Show dimension | 1.0 inch | 1.2 inch | 1.2 inch | 1.2 inch |
Decision | 208 x 208 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels | 240 x 240 pixels |
Touchscreen | No | No | No | No |
Reminiscence | okay. A. | okay. A. / approx. 4 GB (music model) | approx. 4 GB | approx. 8 GB |
Weight | 37 g | 39 g | 47 g | 49 – 50 g |
Battery life (smartwatch) | as much as 14 d | as much as 7 d | as much as 7 d | as much as 14 d |
Battery life (GPS) | as much as 20 h | as much as 24 h | as much as 16 h | as much as 36 h / 35 h (LTE) |
Waterproof | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Particular options | – | – | – | LTE model accessible |
Photo voltaic operate | no | no | no | no |
Variants | Customary | Customary Music |
Customary | Customary LTE |
Worth (RRP) | $169 | $249 / $299 (music) | $419 | $469 / $565 (LTE) |
Ranking |
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To the provide* |
2.4 The rugged fashions of the Intuition 2 sequence

Every sequence beneath Garmin’s Fenix lineup embodies a sub-aspect of the flagship fashions. Garmin’s Venu and Vivoactive fashions are the all-rounders with broad health options and touchscreens, whereas the Forerunner fashions are aimed toward endurance athletes. Lastly, the Intuition 2 sequence represents the outside capabilities and resiliance of the Fenix lineup.
For instance, the Intuition 2 and Intuition 2S provide wonderful battery runtimes – and within the solar-powered variants they may even be operated completely with out recharging. That is proper: The Intuition 2 Photo voltaic affords just about infinite battery life, so long as you get to see the solar often. As well as, the Intuition watches are extraordinarily strong and waterproof as much as 10 ATM.
Then again, it’s a must to do with out a touchscreen and as a substitute get two nested monochrome shows with comparatively low decision. You even have to chop again on the built-in reminiscence. As an alternative, there are a number of particular variants of the Intuition 2 every with their very own options, for instance, particularly for surfers, hunters or truckers.
The next desk reveals the technical specs of the Garmin Intuition 2S and Garmin Intuition 2 compared:
Product | Garmin Intuition 2S | Garmin Intuition 2 |
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Determine | ![]() |
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Case dimension | 40 mm | 45 mm |
Strap dimension | 20 mm | 22 mm |
Show expertise | MIP (monochrome) | MIP (monochrome) |
Show glass | Chemically strengthened glass | Energy Glass |
Show dimension | 0.79 x 0.79 inch | 0.9 x 0.9 inch |
Decision | 156 x 156 pixels | 176 x 176 pixels |
Touchscreen | No | No |
Reminiscence | 32 MB | 32 MB |
Weight | 42 – 43 g | 53 g |
Battery life (smartwatch) | as much as 21 d / 51 d (photo voltaic) | as much as 28 d / limitless (photo voltaic) |
Battery life (GPS) | as much as 22 h / 28 h (photo voltaic) | as much as 30 h / 48 h (photo voltaic) |
Waterproof | 10 ATM | 10 ATM |
Particular options | Accessible with particular capabilities as Camo, Tactical, Surf and Dezl model | |
Photo voltaic operate | relying on mannequin | relying on mannequin |
Variants | Customary Photo voltaic |
Customary Photo voltaic |
Worth (MSRP) | from $349 | from $349 |
Ranking |
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To the provide* |
Extra wearables from Garmin
At this level, we’ve got targeted on the 4 main smartwatch sequence from Garmin. Other than these fashions, nevertheless, the producer additionally affords numerous different wearables that we want to point out a minimum of as soon as right here:
- Garmin’s Vivomove sequence: hybrid smartwatches with an analog watch face and show.
- Garmin’s Vivosmart sequence: health trackers within the traditional wristband type issue
- Garmin’s Vivofit sequence: easy health trackers with extraordinarily lengthy battery life
- Garmin’s Vivofit Jr fashions: exercise trackers for teenagers in a strong design
- Garmin Lily: compact, modern smartwatch with easy health options
Within the close to future, you may additionally discover extra detailed data in addition to evaluations, how-tos and extra on the above fashions on NextPit. Additionally, after all, I like to recommend you to take a look at our large smartwatch information:
Did we neglect something, like a particular mannequin or piece of data you’d discover useful? And which Garmin smartwatches are your favorites? We look ahead to your suggestions!