Garmin’s watch lineup is usually a bit complicated with so many alternative fashions, together with some really specialised watches. On this article, we attempt to navigate this lineup and clarify in easy phrases what are the Garmin watches most individuals ought to take into account, in addition to some professionals and cons of every mannequin.
We also needs to say that this text is predicated on private expertise with the fashions from a number of folks on our staff. Many people are avid runners and we now have been utilizing varied Garmin watches all through the years. We’re simply as enthusiastic about sports activities as you could be.
Greatest Garmin watches for athletes / sports activities:
- Forerunner 265 — Good steadiness of value and options. Comes with OLED display screen and in two sizes, and it has 5 bodily buttons. Value: $450
- Forerunner 165 — Greatest cheaper choice. Some exercise varieties are lacking: there is no such thing as a triathlon monitoring, ebike or open water swimming. Just one smaller measurement. Value: $250
- Forerunner 965 — Greatest premium choice. Has all of the options of the Forerunner 265, but in addition provides maps and a extra fashionable look. Value: $600
- Fenix 8 — Garmin’s greatest watch. Overkill for most individuals, aside from endurance athletes. Very costly. Value: $1,000+
Greatest way of life Garmin watches:
- Venu 3 — Garmin’s try at a life-style smartwatch. Is available in two sizes and helps a voice assistant, and a few apps. Solely three bodily buttons, although, so you’ll navigate it principally by contact. Value: $450
- Vivoactive 5 — Garmin’s price range smartwatch. Just one measurement, plasticky design, however in any other case fairly first rate. Value: $250
- Intuition 2 — A watch with rugged, military-style seems. Not fairly probably the most superior sports activities tracker, however adequate and has killer battery life. Is available in three sizes. Value: $300+
Avoid:
Older Garmin watches with MiP screens (these monochrome ones you may need seen extra previously). Such fashions embody:
- Forerunner 55
- Forerunner 255
- Fenix 7
- and so on.
You even have specialised Garmin watches such because the Garmin Descent sequence for divers, the Garmin Quatix for water sports activities, in addition to golf watches within the Garmin Strategy household. These are area of interest watches which have their place, however they transcend the scope of this text as they aren’t an optimum alternative for simply the typical particular person.
And here’s a fast information to Garmin watch sizes:
“S” suffix (like Venu 3S, Fenix 7S) stands for “small”, normally 41mm or 42mm
“X” suffix (like Fenix 7X, Intuition 2X) stands for “xtra massive”, normally 50mm or 51mm
No suffix signifies a mid-size mannequin, normally 46mm or 47mm
Additionally, listed below are the at present widespread Garmin watch sequence, in case you’re a bit confused with all these names:
- Forerunner sequence — runner’s watches
- Fenix sequence — premium multisport watches
- Venu sequence — on a regular basis smartwatches
- Vivoactive sequence — combine between a smartwatch and a sports activities watch
- Vivosmart sequence — reasonably priced sports activities bands
- Intuition sequence — sports activities watches with rugged, Casio-like design
Garmin Forerunner 265
One of the best operating and triathlon look ahead to most individuals.
Value: $450 | Sizes: 42mm, 46mm
- Attractive OLED display screen, good measurement choices, and the one huge function lacking is maps.
Launched in February 2024, the Forerunner 265 is vital as a result of it marked the second Garmin’s hottest operating watch switched to an OLED display screen with beautiful, vibrant colours.
The Forerunner 265 has all of the options for 99% of athletes, and it even consists of assist for triathletes. The one factor lacking is maps and the additional sturdiness one may want for an extremely race, however these folks already know what’s the watch they want (and truthfully, some may simply do it with this one).
The Forerunner 265 makes use of the Elevate Gen4 coronary heart charge sensor, which is Garmin’s older era sensor, however that shouldn’t be a lot of a priority as it’s nonetheless very correct.
This watch additionally has dual-frequency (multi-band) GPS, which implies correct and dependable GPS reception in every single place, even in dense city environments.
This being a Forerunner, you’ll be able to function it utilizing the five-button navigation or the contact display screen.
Garmin Forerunner 165
Nice price range sports activities watch that helps the preferred sports activities: operating, biking and swimming.
Value: $250 | Measurement: 43mm
- In comparison with the 265 mannequin it lacks triathlon and specialised modes like ebike or open water swimming. Most individuals mustn’t care about this although.
The $250 Forerunner 165 has been on my wrist for almost all of 2024, and it has served me properly as a each day watch, but in addition for my runs and biking.
Until you might be set on finishing an Iron Man or a triathlon, this watch ought to be completely enough. It’s best to, nevertheless, remember that it doesn’t assist some extra area of interest actions. You probably have an eBike, there is no such thing as a devoted profile for that (the common Bike one will not detect your coronary heart charge correctly). Open water swimming can be lacking, and so are a couple of others.
I personal an eBike and regardless of that, I nonetheless use the Forerunner 165 just because I like its mild weight, comfort and value (and I’m not competing after I cycle).
For most individuals, this watch can be simply the suitable alternative as it is not too costly and nonetheless has the accuracy and the entry to the highly effective Garmin ecosystem.
Garmin Forerunner 965
The premium choice that has every part.
Value: $600 | Measurement: 47mm
- It has every part that the 265 fashions have, however provides Maps and a extra premium styling on high of that. Nevertheless, it lacks a smaller measurement choice.
Should you like path operating or extremely races, you may wish to spend a bit extra and take into account the $600 Forerunner 965 as an alternative of the in any other case glorious 265 mannequin.
The Forerunner 965 provides maps and that’s its most notable addition over the 265. We additionally like its styling and extra premium seems, however in case you have a smaller wrist, then robust luck as there is just one (larger) measurement.
Garmin Fenix 8
Probably the most superior Garmin watch, however provides little greater than Forerunner 965 and $1,000 value will not be justified
Value: $1,000 | Sizes: 43mm, 47mm, 51mm
- It seems the half, however the stand-out options like a built-in voice assistant are most likely not well worth the exorbitant $1,000+ value.
You could be tempted to purchase the tremendous premium, $1,000 Garmin Fenix 8, launched in August 2024.
It was a a lot anticipated launch, however the checklist of recent options will not be all that lengthy. The 2 highlights are that you may now take the Fenix 8 diving, so that you need not purchase an costly dive laptop, and that it has a local voice assistant that understands some fundamental instructions with out connecting to your cellphone. If these two sound helpful to you, then there may be nothing fallacious getting this fancy new mannequin.
Nevertheless, for many else, it’s similar to the Epix Gen 2 fashions that may usually be discovered at a lot decrease costs, and for most individuals these can be a way more good selection.
Garmin Venu 3
That is Garmin’s try to combat the Apple Watches and Galaxy Watches of the world.
Value: $450 | Sizes: 41mm, 45mm
- It has for much longer battery life than an Apple Watch, however continues to be nowhere practically as good.
Garmin nonetheless runs its personal proprietary working system and it doesn’t assist apps. Heck, it does not even assist issues in your watch face that you might faucet on!
However the Venu 3, launched in June 2024, comes closest to Garmin’s concept of a smartwatch.
It has a brand new menu system the place built-in apps have a extra distinguished place, it helps a voice assistant (through your cellphone), and it even has the latest Elevate Gen 5 coronary heart charge sensor.
Should you worth these options greater than a five-button navigation system and a sports activities focus, then get the Venu 3 over our high sports activities decide, the Forerunner 265.
Garmin Vivoactive 5
Garmin’s price range smartwatch try.
Value: $300 | Measurement: 42mm
- You get into the Garmin ecosystem and it has correct sports activities monitoring, however the watch seems plasticky and really low-cost.
The Vivoactive 5 is an effective low-cost Garmin watch that does loads of what the Venu 3 can do at a 50% cheaper price.
However we now have some severe points with its seems. Should you do not care about that, although, this can be a great way to avoid wasting cash and get the practical Garmin ecosystem.
Garmin Intuition 2
If you’d like a rugged watch that has basic, military-inspired seems and killer battery life, that is the one.
Value: $300+ | Sizes: 40mm, 45mm, 50mm
- Go for this one if you’re after the seems.
The Intuition 2 sequence stand out for his or her seems. I imply, simply take a look at that rugged model!
The watches are getting a bit outdated now, some fashions had been launched in 2023 and the smaller sizes date again to 2022, so they’re due for a refresh in 2025. Nevertheless, if you would like a rugged watch now, properly, they’ve the lengthy battery life, the Garmin exercise accuracy and the model all there.