Garmin’s top 12 watches

*Editor’s review of the best. Selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and not a buying guide. Before buying it you should consult a specialist.

Before Garmin company was known mainly for its tourist and car navigators. However, now its range is much wider – it includes action cameras, smart watches and some other devices. And it is about watches that we will talk about in this article. We will tell you about the best models that will appeal to the tourist, athlete, and just a person who wants to keep in shape. This review is based on analysis of data onsmartwatch/.

Rating of the best watches by Garmin

Garmin Fenix 6 Sapphire

Rating: 4.9

One of the most expensive products among the released by Garmin. In Russian stores for this smart watch are asking more than 70 thousand. rubles! For this money you get a great example, the front panel of which is a round display with a diagonal of 1.3 inches. Resolution 260×260 pixels allows you to not observe pixelation – the picture seems very clear.

The body of this device is made of stainless steel, part of the high price is due to this. The strap is made of silicone. However, you can easily change it in the future. The watch also boasts a sapphire crystal that covers the display. The materials chosen by the manufacturer have made it possible to realize a waterproof. It complies with the WR100 class. So, the owner of the watch can safely wear it even dive. But without diving!

The device seems to be very convenient to use. Its strap is very easy to adjust in length, and the software allows you to synchronize with any smartphone, no matter what operating system it runs. Interestingly, this watch can even play audio, sending sound to a wireless headset via Bluetooth. More to send and receive data it uses Wi-Fi, NFC and even ANT+! In short, the Garmin Fenix 6 Sapphire is able to interact with some sports sensors.

This model is the best choice for a traveler and a lover of climbing the mountains. The watch has absolutely everything you need built in. It has a thermometer, altimeter, digital compass and pulsometer. All that’s missing is a barometer. The watch can also be useful during sleep, as it can monitor sleep.

Remains to tell about the battery life. Garmin has tried to squeeze the most out of the technology available to it. From the clock you can get 48 days of work on a full charge. But this is only if you turn off almost all of the functionality. It is more appropriate to talk about the “Expedition” mode, in which the device will require the connection of a network adapter in 28 days. Also impressive result! Well almost full functionality begins to consume a lot of power, which makes it last for a much shorter period. GPS on only as a last resort, as its activation reduces the battery life to 36 hours (and up to 10 hours if you choose to listen to music at the same time).

Advantages

• Implemented water resistance;
• The case is made of steel;
• Long battery life;
• It is possible to use the GPS-chip;
• Built-in modules Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and ANT+;
• There is a compass, altimeter and thermometer;
• It is possible to constantly measure your heart rate.

Disadvantages

• Very high cost;
• PayPass resets the password every few hours;
• Not very bright backlight of the screen;
• The silicone strap is not particularly reliable.

Garmin Forerunner 945

Rating: 4.8

This watch exists in two versions. The regular one is priced at 45k. RUB. A lot of people will be happy with that. But if you do sports on a professional basis, it’s better to look at the HRM kit – it includes two additional sensors, working wirelessly. This is the kind of kit that will be able to track absolutely every parameter you can think of – down to your breathing rate.

But let’s go back to the regular smartwatch, which costs 10k. less expensive. This model has some moisture protection. But the manufacturer doesn’t recommend diving with it, which is a bit disappointing. The device is held on the hand with a comfortable silicone strap. Weight of the device does not exceed 50 grams. And this is a very good result! If you look at the competitor’s products, you will notice that they are much heavier.

As expected, the smartwatch is able to connect to any smartphone. It will display various notifications, including notifications of incoming calls. The small vibration motor doesn’t let you miss any of them. Notification text is well readable, because it uses a good 1.2-inch display that has a resolution of 240×240 pixels. Its round shape allows the device to look quite stylish. The gadget also allows you to play music, outputting it to a wireless headset, but with certain limitations, so we do not put this fact in the list of advantages.

The hiker will like the watch due to the presence of not only a heart rate monitor, but also an altimeter and compass. The Garmin Forerunner 945 has a GPS-chip, thanks to which both route and speed are saved during jogging. But we recommend not be spoiled with the constant use of the navigation chip, because the operating time is significantly reduced. If with GPS it is 36 hours, in normal mode, the smartwatch can function for up to two weeks!

This device can monitor not only your physical activity but also your sleep. Installing apps will allow you to use the extra functionality. Well, as for the wireless modules, the user is waiting, as they say, “full stuffing”.

Advantages

• There are Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi and ANT+ modules;
• Long battery life;
• There is an altimeter and compass;
• It is possible to measure your heart rate permanently;
• There is a built-in GPS chip;
• Low weight.

Disadvantages

• No barometer and thermometer;
• High cost, especially in the extended set;
• Optical heart rate monitor may not work properly;
• Not all devices work for a long time.

Garmin Fenix 6

Rating: 4.7

This smart watch looks very expensive. And why wouldn’t they look like that if they are asking 50k for it?. Roubles? Their case was made of steel. As for the strap, it is made of silicone. It’s easily adjustable, but that’s its only virtue. The fact that the attachment of this accessory turned out to be very unreliable, one day it may break, as with several buyers among those who wrote reviews. Fortunately, the strap can be easily changed to any other.

This smart watch displays information on a 1.3-inch round LCD screen, the resolution of which is 260×260 pixels. The screen is covered with protective glass. But it is not a sapphire, if you are interested in this fact! The display shows the altimeter, thermometer, compass and built-in pulsometer. The latter, by the way, can take measurements in continuous mode. And do not forget about the smart firmware that supports the installation of additional applications – it can expand the functionality of the watch even more.

During a run, the device allows you to activate the GPS-chip, which captures the speed and route. It can also be useful when you are in another city – the watch can help you find a hotel or restaurant by acting as a navigator. However, we still do not recommend playing with the GPS. If it will be constantly active, the smart watch will need to connect the AC adapter after 36 hours. If it is switched off, the device should work within a week and a half or two weeks. And in “Expedition” mode you can count on 28 days!

This gadget is water resistant standard WR100. This suggests that you can swim with it and even dive, but to a shallow depth. If you are going scuba diving, it is better to look for another model.

This is probably one of the best watches Garmin has ever created. And at their cost, it’s no surprise that the device includes Bluetooth, ANT+ and NFC wireless modules.

The advantages of

• There is a GPS-chip;
• Long battery life;
• There is a compass, thermometer and altimeter;
• It is possible to measure the heart rate constantly;
• There are popular wireless modules;
• Great display;
• Implemented water resistance;
• The body is made of steel.

Disadvantages

• High Cost;
• Not a very reliable strap.

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Sapphire

Rating: 4.7

Another model of smart watch from Garmin, which exists in several variants. They differ from each other not by sensors, but by the material used to make the case and strap. In particular, if you are not limited in financial resources, you can consider buying the version with a leather strap. And the watch with the titanium case seems richer than its stainless steel alternative. However, all this is your choice, because the functionality of all versions is absolutely the same.

This smart watch is great for camping use because it has some shock protection. They’re not afraid of water either, as IPX7 and WR100 certificates prove. The manufacturer claims it is safe to swim in, even underwater. Should only be avoided when scuba diving.

The device is quite heavy, with the scale underneath showing 96g. This is due not only to the rich internals, but also to the rather thick silicone strap. But to the service life of the latter absolutely no one could complain.

Unlike many other instances, the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Sapphire can be synchronized with any smartphone. Even very old devices running Windows Phone are supported! The device itself has a 1.2-inch LCD screen, which has a resolution of 240×240 pixels. All notifications coming to the smartphone are displayed on it. Also, the watch will vibrate if someone calls you. And you can also use them as an MP3-player, outputting sound on a Bluetooth headset. The built-in 15 GB memory is used for music storage.

The list of wireless modules present here is not limited to Bluetooth 4.2 LE. You can activate Wi-Fi, NFC and even ANT+. The device also has a digital compass and GPS-chip, which perfectly complement each other. If you keep the latter active all the time, you will need the AC adapter after 32 hours. But if you turn it off, you can achieve 20 days of battery life. However, this is an ideal result. It is unlikely you will enjoy it, because you want to include a constant measurement of heart rate, which also actively consumes energy.

What else can be said about the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus Sapphire? Many tourists will like this model also because of the altimeter – somewhere in the mountains it will come in handy. There is also a thermometer. Perhaps the only thing that is missing is a barometer.

Advantages of

• Implemented water protection;
• The body is made of stainless steel or titanium;
• Reliable strap;
• Not a bad LCD display;
• Long battery life;
• There is support for all modern wireless standards;
• Continuous measurement of heart rate is possible;
• Built-in GPS-chip;
• There is a compass, thermometer and altimeter.

Disadvantages

• High cost;
• The work of the software can not be called fast;
• Hand starts to sweat under the strap;
• Inconvenient pin code input in Garmin Pay.

Garmin Forerunner 935

Rating: 4.6

You might have been under the impression that Garmin only makes expensive smart watches. But no, there is in its range and mid-budget models. For example, for the Garmin Forerunner 935 they ask about 36 thousand people. rubles. It is still not a low price, but it is not exorbitant. For this money you get a device with a plastic body and a silicone strap. It is water resistant, but only to WR50 standard, which implies showering and swimming without diving.

On the front panel of the 49-gram gadget is a color display of round shape, the diagonal of 1.2 inches. The resolution is quite acceptable, 240×240 pixels. A smaller setting would lead to well observed pixelation, and a larger setting would lead to increased power consumption. The screen is covered with mineral glass, not bad cope with its protection.

It is interesting that this model has not only a vibrator, but also a speaker. Also included in the device wireless modules ANT +, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The manufacturer got rid of the NFC-chip to reduce cost and weight, so you can forget about paying for purchases at the cash register. Garmin has not eliminated the GPS. So you can save the route of your run, as well as all the speed figures. More navigation chip can help in an unfamiliar city.

This smart watch is capable of monitoring physical activity and sleep. They have a built-in heart rate monitor that can work in continuous mode. But do not forget that it consumes a lot of battery power. If you turn it and the GPS on, you’ll need the power adapter after 24 hours. Also this model can boast a thermometer, compass and altimeter.

Advantages

• Low weight;
• Not a bad LCD display;
• It has a built-in GPS chip;
• There is support for many wireless standards;
• There is a speaker;
• Temperature, altimeter and compass.

Disadvantages

• High price;
• The body is made of plastic, albeit of high quality;
• Not the best water resistance;
• The heart rate monitor can lie a lot;
• Not very fast software.

Garmin Venu

Rating: 4.5

Another, and far from the latest smart watch, equipped with a case made of stainless steel. They still look quite expensive, which allowed the manufacturer to price them at 33k. RUB . Unlike the models discussed above, it uses an AMOLED display with higher resolution. To be precise, it is 390×390 dots. This greatly increased the clarity of charts and fonts. But there are no miracles in the world. The screen had a big impact on battery life, which became very short.

The device comes with a silicone strap. The watch looks great on any hand, even on a very thin. At some points you forget about the existence of the device, because its weight does not exceed 46.3 g. Its insides are protected from water. But not too much – the watch meets the standard WR50, allowing you to swim but not dive.

Garmin products are rarely without a GPS-chip. Here too, it is present, saving the route of the run and the speed shown. However, its activation absolutely kills the duration of operation from a full charge, so many buyers have tried to forget about its presence. But many of the owners of Garmin Venu use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi regularly. It also has support for ANT+, a wireless technology used by all kinds of sports sensors.

This model is able to boast a very broad functionality. It is also able to display readings from its own sensors. However, the number of them – very limited. Heart rate monitor, thermometer and compass – that’s pretty much it. Alas, this gadget will not be able to measure atmospheric pressure and altitude. But it is able to monitor sleep, which will definitely make someone happy.

Advantages

• Very high resolution display;
• There are four color options;
• Very small size and weight;
• Built-in GPS chip;
• There are modules ANT +, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi;
• There is a thermometer, heart rate monitor and compass.

Disadvantages

• Not particularly long battery life;
• Not the best water resistance;
• An altimeter would not be a bad thing;
• Counts extra steps in the shower and even during sleep;
• Incorrect counting of floors;
• Not all of the sensors are supported.

Garmin Vivoactive 4s

Rating: 4.5

These smart watches most of all should appeal to girls. The thing is that they have a body, made of stainless steel and painted in a beautiful bronze color. Nothing bad can be said about the strap, made of polymer material. The round display completes the fine picture by resembling a traditional mechanical watch. The screen diagonal is 1.1 inches and the resolution is 218×218 pixels. Not much, but still enough to familiarize yourself with one or the other.

As expected, this device can be synchronized with your smartphone. In this case, it will receive notifications of calls, messages and events in the applications. As for independent capabilities, the watch is equipped with a compass, thermometer and even an altimeter. There is also a heart rate monitor that can take measurements in continuous mode. And the manufacturer has included a GPS-chip in his creation. However, it is worth admitting that there is no point in turning it on, as the active navigation chip will make you take the gadget off to recharge it after only five hours.

Garmin products are usually able to boast of moisture protection. Here it meets the standard WR50. This means you can still take a shower while wearing the watch, but diving underwater is no longer recommended. But the manufacturer managed to reduce the weight to 40 grams. This is another argument in favor of the fact that the device will appeal specifically to women.

Otherwise, this is a typical smartwatch, sold at far from the lowest price. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, usually used to synchronize with your smartphone. The second, though, is also needed to transmit sound to a wireless headset. The device has the support of ANT+, which allows you to receive information from some sports sensors.

Advantages

• Cute design;
• A very small size and weight;
• A very high quality display;
• Built-in GPS chip;
• There is a compass, altimeter and thermometer;
• Implemented the constant measurement of heart rate.

Disadvantages

• Short battery life;
• Not the best water protection;
• The design is not very reliable.

Garmin Vivomove HR Premium

Rating: 4.5

Another watch similar to its mechanical counterparts. Their case can be painted in silver or gold. As for the strap, it is surprisingly made of leather. In short, the impression is that this is a watch for the business man, not for some traveler. Although the opposite is evidenced by a set of sensors, including an altimeter and heart rate monitor. The second, by the way, is able to work in constant mode. Only the thermometer and the GPS chip are missing.

The manufacturer has tried to reduce the size of his creation as much as possible. The result is a very lightweight device. The time here show the usual hands. Underneath it is the display, the borders of which are barely visible. It displays notifications from your smartphone, as well as readings from the above-mentioned sensors. The diagonal of this screen is only 0.38 inches, so the graphs and pictures do not hope – all information is displayed as a one-two lines of text. Display resolution is 64×128 dots.

In this watch you can theoretically go to the pool. However, if you want to dive under the water, it can lead to unfortunate consequences, because the water resistance is only standard WR50. Still some people are not satisfied with the wireless modules built into this device. The fact that among them there is neither NFC, nor Wi-Fi. For interaction with a smartphone using only Bluetooth. The watch also supports ANT+, a technology used by sports sensors.

It remains to be added that if you don’t save battery power, it should last for 120 hours of use. The maximum you can get from the device 336 hours, but for this you will have to turn off all the smart features.

Advantages

• Weight is only 56.5 grams;
• Comes with an additional silicone strap;
• It is possible to control a smartphone player;
• The touch screen display is under the analog hands;
• Constant heart rate measurement is available;
• Stylish design;
• Small size and weight.

Disadvantages

• There is no GPS-chip;
• There is no Wi-Fi and NFC;
• Not the best moisture protection;
• The display is very small;
• Measurements are not always accurate.

Garmin Instinct

Rating: 4.4

If above we talked about a fairly expensive smart watch, now it’s the turn of the copies of cheaper. For example, for Garmin Instinct in Russian stores ask for 20 thousand. rubles or slightly more. It is clear that for such money the manufacturer could not offer a device with a body made of stainless steel. Here instead of it, plastic is used. But there are at least six color options to choose from! As for the strap, it is made of silicone.

Despite the relatively modest cost, this model can boast of water resistance standard WR100. So, the watch can even dive, albeit without scuba diving. At the same time, the device can not be called heavy, because the scale under it will show only 52g.

If you want a smartwatch with an incredibly large screen, then you’re at the wrong place. The Garmin Instinct includes a tiny display, which has a diagonal of only 0.91 inches, and a resolution of 128×128 pixels. In addition to that, it’s also monochrome!

It would seem that a watch with such a display would have to work on a full charge for a very long time. But no, the manufacturer claims only 336 hours, and that’s without using smart features. In reality, the gadget will require a network adapter every three to four days. And all because the device has received a decent number of sensors and wireless modules. For example, there is a GPS-chip. If you activate it during a run, the smartwatch will save both the route and speed readings. It also has support for the ANT+ standard, which is used by sports sensors. And to synchronize with your smartphone is designed Bluetooth.

As befits such a device, it can monitor not only physical activity, but also sleep. The watch includes an optical heart rate monitor, which can take measurements in continuous mode. You can also get thermometer, altimeter, and compass readings on the screen of the gadget.

Advantages of

• Implemented water protection;
• Not too much weight;
• There is a GPS-chip;
• Has a thermometer, compass and altimeter;
• Many color options.

Disadvantages

• The screen is monochrome;
• There is no Wi-Fi or NFC;
• Not a very long battery life;
• Not the most correct measurements;
• The altimeter needs to be calibrated regularly.

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Rating: 4.4

This watch is available in four colors. And whichever one you choose, you’ll get a device whose body is made of stainless steel. According to the already good tradition, the gadget received a round touch screen display. As for the strap, silicone was used to create it. Some won’t like it. But do not forget about the fact that the strap can be changed, buying, for example, a leather accessory.

This model can boast of water protection, but very simplified – the maximum owner of the clock is allowed to swim without diving. The weight of the device does not exceed 43g. It must be one of the lightest representatives of our rating! In this case, the device has found a place for a 1.2-inch display, the resolution of which was 240×240 pixels. The screen is covered with scratch-resistant glass, but it is not sapphire.

Garmin is trying to equip its devices with a large number of sensors and wireless modules. Garmin Vivoactive 3 is no exception to the rule. Let’s start with the fact that there is a GPS-chip. With its help you can learn absolutely everything about your run. Especially when you use the ANT-enabled sports goggles+. The gadget is able to synchronize with your smartphone, which uses Bluetooth technology. There is also an NFC-chip that allows you to pay for purchases with the watch. Only Wi-Fi is absent in the device. However, there’s nothing wrong with that.

To finish the story about the Garmin Vivoactive 3 it is necessary to list the presence in this watch sensors. Altimeter is useful for those who walk in the mountains or ride a bike on hilly terrain. The thermometer is a nice bonus. The compass is useful for viewing the map. A heart rate monitor warns you if your workout is getting out of hand. By the way, the device can monitor sleep, which also can not but please. But the battery life is disappointing. Only 168 hours maximum can be achieved from the device. Realistically, you will use the network adapter every three or four days.

Advantages

• Many popular wireless modules are available;
• Constant heart rate measurement is available;
• There is an altimeter, thermometer and compass;
• A GPS chip is built in;
• Good display;
• Relatively small size and weight;
• The body is made of stainless steel.

Disadvantages

• Not the longest battery life;
• Not perfect water protection;
• Poorly counted floors;
• Weak vibration, which makes the alarm clock useless.

Garmin Vivomove HR Sport

Rating: 4.3

Another clock that displays the time with analog hands. But this is already a youth model, so the hands here are painted in bright colors. Well, the low cost allowed the manufacturer to release five color variants – you can not doubt that all of them will be sold out.

Underneath the arrows here is a modest display, which has a diagonal of 0.38 inches. It is almost impossible to notice its borders, unless you look at the watch at an unnatural angle. Screen resolution is small, just 64×128 pixels. So you can only count on text information, you will have to forget about charts and graphs.

The watch is very light, its weight does not exceed 40.8 grams. This is not surprising, because the body of the device is made of plastic and the strap is made of silicone. Also, the manufacturer has spared on waterproofing, which here corresponds only to the standard WR50.

Rather inexpensive smart watch could do without many useful sensors and wireless modules. But Garmin didn’t go that far after all. Not only does it have Bluetooth, which allows you to sync with your smartphone, but it also supports ANT+. This allows for the future to expand the functionality of the watch, buying some sports sensors.

As it should be, this gadget monitors not only physical activity, but also sleep. It is also able to determine the current altitude. It also has a heart rate monitor with continuous measurement. Perhaps someone will miss only the thermometer. And a GPS chip, for that matter. However, the latter, with such a screen would be useless.

The size of the display has a positive impact on battery life. In this respect, this model shows very good results, on average functioning on a full charge for about one week or even slightly longer.

Advantages

• Modest size and weight;
• The screen is under the analog hands;
• ANT+ support is implemented;
• Long battery life;
• There is an altimeter;
• Constant heart rate measurement available;
• You can control the smartphone player;
• Not so high price.

Disadvantages

• Not the best water resistance;
• There are no many useful sensors;
• No GPS;
• No Wi-Fi and NFC;
• Some problems with the software.

Garmin Forerunner 35

Rating: 4.2

Not ready to spend a lot of money on a smart watch, but you definitely need a product from Garmin? In this case, you can consider buying a Forerunner 35. This device is not the first time, but for 10 thousand. It is able to offer quite a wide range of functions. In particular, it can monitor sleep. The watch also allows you to control your smartphone player. And, of course, there is a heart rate monitor. Unlike a fitness tracker, the watch is able to measure heart rate continuously.

This model has a plastic body and a silicone strap. All this had a positive impact on weight, which was only 37.3g. Smart watch can be under water splashing for a while. Theoretically, they can even swim, unless you do not like diving. This is evidenced by the WR50 waterproof rating.

On the front of the device is a square monochrome screen. It is because of this display the manufacturer was able to save money by greatly reducing the final price tag. The screen resolution is 128×128 pixels, which is quite enough to display all sorts of icons. Controls are done by pressing the buttons on the sides of the display. There are also physical keys – they are located on the side ends.

Garmin Forerunner 35 synchronizes with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Also here there is ANT+ support, necessary for interaction with sports sensors. Also the watch has a GPS-chip, which at some points may also be useful.

Alas, otherwise this is a typical inexpensive smartwatch. For example, there is no altimeter. Eliminated as unnecessary and the thermometer. The manufacturer didn’t even splurge on a digital compass! However, a smart watch with a monochrome screen is in any case not the best choice for a hiker or climber.

Advantages

• Constant heart rate measurement is possible;
• Very small size and weight;
• ANT+ support is present;
• There is a GPS-chip;
• Not very high cost.

Disadvantages

• Not the best water protection;
• Display is monochrome;
• It could use an NFC-chip;
• There are very few sensors of all kinds;
• Not particularly long battery life;
• The method of control will not appeal to everyone;
• Picking up GPS satellites takes a couple of minutes.

Conclusion

Now you know what kind of Garmin watches you should pay attention to. It remains to be regretted that this company has to install components that are now almost not developed – Garmin can not create its own processor. Alas, Qualcomm processors designed for smart watches suffer from one misfortune – they can’t provide long battery life. Fortunately, not all “Garmin” watches are based on such a chip.