For most runners and gym-goers, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the fitness watch to buy. It has built-in GPS, strong training tools and up to 11 days of battery, and it works with iPhone and Android.
Want a watch that is also a phone on your wrist? Buy from your phone’s maker: the Apple Watch SE 3 for iPhone, or the Galaxy Watch 7 for Android.
Best for runnersGarmin Forerunner 165Check price
Best for AndroidSamsung Galaxy Watch 7Check price
Best for iPhoneApple Watch SE 3Check price
Best all-round healthGarmin vívoactive 5Check price
Garmin Forerunner 165
For: runners who train for races
- Works withiPhone and Android
- GPSBuilt in
- BatteryUp to 11 days; 19 h with GPS
- ScreenAMOLED touchscreen plus buttons
The Forerunner 165 pairs a bright, high-contrast AMOLED touchscreen with real buttons. Buttons still work with sweaty hands and gloves. Built-in GPS tracks your pace and distance without your phone.
Each morning it shows a report on your sleep, recovery and HRV (heart-rate variability, a sign of how rested you are). It suggests workouts that adapt to how you're doing, and Garmin Coach can build a plan for a race date.
What we like
- Strong training and recovery tools
- Bright screen plus buttons
- Up to 11 days per charge
Watch out for
- Fewer apps than an Apple or Samsung watch
- No ECG (heart-rhythm test)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
For: Android phone owners, especially Samsung
- Works withAndroid; full health features need a Samsung phone
- Size44 mm
- HealthHeart rate, sleep, Energy Score
A full smart watch for Android. It runs Wear OS, Google's watch software, so you get apps from Google's store. It tracks runs and rides, compares each workout to your last one, and gives a morning Energy Score.
Samsung says its sleep tracking can help detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea, when breathing stops during sleep. Sleep apnea alerts and the ECG app need a Samsung Galaxy phone. Much of the analysis also happens on your phone.
What we like
- Full smart features on Android
- Detailed sleep tracking
- Heart-rate tracking that filters out movement
Watch out for
- Best health features need a Samsung phone
- Doesn't work with iPhone
Apple Watch SE 3
For: iPhone owners who want workouts and smart features in one
- Works withiPhone only
- BatteryUp to 18 hours
- SafetyFall and crash detection
Apple's lower-cost watch tracks running, strength training and daily steps with live stats. It can also send sleep apnea notifications. It handles texts, calls, music and Siri, with your iPhone nearby or over Wi-Fi.
It can call for help after a hard fall or car crash. Apple rates the battery at up to 18 hours, so it suits shorter workouts better than all-day hikes.
What we like
- Best app selection and iPhone integration
- Fall and crash detection
- Fast charging
Watch out for
- Charge it daily
- Doesn't work with Android
Garmin vívoactive 5
For: everyday health tracking plus a mix of sports
- Works withiPhone and Android
- GPSBuilt in
- BatteryUp to 11 days (5 days with always-on screen)
- ExtraWheelchair mode
A good fit if you care about sleep, stress and energy as much as workouts. Garmin's Body Battery score estimates how charged up you are. Sleep coaching suggests how much rest you need. It covers more than 30 sports, from walking to swimming and golf.
It also has a wheelchair mode that counts pushes instead of steps.
What we like
- Up to 11 days per charge
- Sleep and energy tracking
- Wheelchair mode
Watch out for
- Basic smart features
- No ECG (heart-rhythm test)
Amazfit T-Rex 3
For: hikers and anyone who's hard on gear
- Works withiPhone and Android
- Battery3+ weeks; up to 180 h with GPS
- GPSDual-band, free maps
- WaterRated to 328 ft
A large, rugged watch with a very bright screen and a steel bezel. It has dual-band GPS, free downloadable maps and turn-by-turn directions.
Amazfit rates it for over three weeks of normal use. With GPS on, it lasts up to 180 hours, enough for a long backpacking trip.
What we like
- Very long battery life
- Free offline maps
- Built for rough use
Watch out for
- Large on a small wrist
- Smart features are basic
Smart watch or sports watch?
- Smart watches from Apple, Samsung and Google are the best all-rounders. They have lots of apps, payments, music and calls, plus solid workout tracking. Most need charging every day or two.
- Sports watches from fitness brands focus on training. They often give more detailed running and cycling data and last far longer with GPS on, but have fewer apps.
If the watch is mainly for training, choose a sports watch. If it is mainly a phone on your wrist, choose a smart watch. Our comparison of Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch covers the two biggest smart watch makers.
GPS and heart rate
GPS matters most for runners and cyclists. Some watches use “dual-band” GPS, which listens on two radio bands from each satellite. It stays more accurate between tall buildings and under trees. Compare battery life with GPS on, since a long run or ride needs hours of recording.
The heart-rate light on the back of a watch works well for steady exercise and resting heart rate. It is slower to catch quick changes during sprints. Many sports watches can pair with a chest strap, which is more accurate for hard efforts.
Some watches can also take an ECG, a quick reading of your heart’s electrical rhythm. See our guide to ECG smart watches. A watch can flag a possible problem, but only a doctor can diagnose one.
Training features worth paying for
- Recovery advice uses your sleep and heart data to suggest whether to train hard or rest.
- Workout plans you load from an app or a coach make intervals easy to follow.
- Swim tracking needs a 5 ATM water rating, which means safe for swimming laps. See waterproof fitness trackers.
- App connections to services like Strava share your workouts with friends, clubs or a coach.
How we rate
We score every pick out of 10 on four things, weighted for how a gadget earns its place in daily life: how well it does its core job (40%), meaning a watch's tracking and battery life, a camera's video and alerts, a vacuum's suction and navigation, measured against the maker's specifications rather than the marketing; reliability and support (25%), including app quality, firmware updates, ecosystem compatibility (Apple, Android, Alexa, Google Home, Matter) and what owners report after months of use; ease of setup and everyday use (20%); and value, counting any subscription (15%). For gear with no app, like dumbbells or bands, build quality and safety take the place of app and update support.
We have not tested these products ourselves. We read the manufacturer's specifications, compatibility lists and support pages and look for the patterns in verified owners' reviews, both the praise and the recurring complaints. No brand pays for placement, and a commission cannot buy a higher rating. When a pick changes, we will say so on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a subscription for a fitness watch?
No. Garmin’s core features are free, and its optional Connect+ plan adds extras like AI insights. Apple and Samsung watches also work fully without a plan. Check the maker’s current plan if you want the extras.
Can I move my workout history if I switch brands?
Usually only partly. Many apps let you export workouts as files, and services like Strava can hold your history across brands. Check the export options before you commit.
Is a big watch uncomfortable for sleep tracking?
It can be. Larger watches hold bigger batteries but feel bulky in bed, especially on small wrists. If sleep tracking matters, consider a smaller case size or a slim fitness tracker.
