Top 2023 Garmin Smartwatches: Review & Buying Guide

Discover the best Garmin smartwatches for 2023 with our comprehensive review and buying guide

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In a world filled with ever-evolving technology and the increasing need for convenience, finding the perfect smartwatch can be quite a task. Whether you’re an avid adventurer, a fitness enthusiast, or simply looking for a device that can seamlessly integrate into your daily routine, there are countless options to choose from. In this article, we will be comparing a selection of smartwatches that have caught our attention, offering a range of features and functionalities that cater to various needs and preferences. So, if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, stay tuned as we delve into the world of cutting-edge technology and explore the pros and cons of these top contenders.


Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Graphite

Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Graphite

The Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar is a rugged outdoor smartwatch that features solar charging capabilities, allowing for vastly extended battery life. It is equipped with built-in sports apps and health monitoring features, making it a versatile companion for outdoor activities. The watch is water-rated up to 100 meters and is constructed to U.S. military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance. It also includes a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and supports multiple global navigation satellite systems for accurate tracking in challenging environments. The smartwatch offers activity tracking for running, biking, swimming, strength training, and more. Additionally, it provides all-day health monitoring and estimates for pulse ox, heart rate, stress levels, and sleep patterns. It’s important to note that the Pulse Ox feature is not intended for medical purposes. The watch also offers body battery energy monitoring to track how your body uses energy throughout the day. Overall, the Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar is a durable and advanced smartwatch designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Garmin Venu 2, GPS Smartwatch

Garmin Venu 2, GPS Smartwatch

The Garmin Venu 2 GPS smartwatch is a stylish and versatile device, available in two color options and featuring a bright AMOLED display. It offers impressive battery life, with up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 8 hours in GPS mode with music. The watch supports various applications including GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity.

With preloaded workouts and the Garmin Connect app, users can choose from a wide range of exercise options and even create their own workouts. The watch can store up to 650 songs, allowing users to enjoy their favorite music while working out. Garmin Pay contactless payments are also supported, eliminating the need for cash or cards.

The smartwatch delivers smart notifications, keeping users informed of calls, texts, and social media alerts right on their wrist when paired with a compatible smartphone. Safety and tracking features are also included, such as incident detection and assistance, which can send messages and the user’s live location to emergency contacts.

The Garmin Venu 2 is equipped with advanced health monitoring features, including health snapshot, Body Battery energy levels, sleep score, fitness age, and stress tracking. It provides insights into various aspects of the user’s health and fitness. Additionally, the watch offers more than 25 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, catering to a wide range of physical activities.

Overall, the Garmin Venu 2 GPS smartwatch is a reliable and feature-packed device that seamlessly integrates health monitoring, fitness tracking, and smartwatch functionalities.

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Garmin vivoactive 4S, Smaller-Sized GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors and More, Silver with Gray Band

Garmin vivoactive 4S, Smaller-Sized GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors and More, Silver with Gray Band

The Garmin vivoactive 4S is a smaller-sized GPS smartwatch that offers a wide range of features. It allows you to monitor your energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, heart rate, and hydration. Please note that the Pulse Ox feature is not a medical device and should not be used for medical purposes.

With this smartwatch, you can easily download songs, including playlists from popular music platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer (premium subscription may be required). You can also connect headphones (sold separately) for a phone-free listening experience.

The watch comes with over 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, such as yoga, running, and swimming, making it easy to track different types of physical activities. Additionally, animated workouts for strength, cardio, yoga, and Pilates are available on the watch screen.

The battery life of the Garmin vivoactive 4S is impressive, offering up to 7 days of usage in smartwatch mode and up to 5 hours in GPS and music mode.

Personalization is a key feature of this smartwatch, with thousands of free watch faces, apps, and widgets available from the Connect IQ store.

Garmin Pay is another notable feature, allowing you to make contactless payments directly from your watch (availability may vary based on country and payment network).

For safety and tracking, the watch includes incident detection (during select activities) and assistance features that send your real-time location to emergency contacts when paired with a compatible device.

The vivoactive 4S ensures you stay connected with smart notifications for incoming calls, text messages, calendar reminders, and more when paired with a compatible device.

It also offers Garmin Coach, providing free training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races that adjust based on your performance in the plan. The watch is water-rated at 5 ATM, making it suitable for swimming and other water activities.

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Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music, GPS Running Smartwatch with Music and Advanced Dynamics, Black

Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music, GPS Running Smartwatch with Music and Advanced Dynamics, Black

The Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music is a GPS running smartwatch that offers advanced training features. It features a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens and a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, making it durable for active use. The strap is made of silicone for comfort during workouts. The battery life is impressive, with up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours in GPS mode with music.

One of the standout features of this smartwatch is its ability to evaluate your current training status and provide insights on whether you are overtraining or not doing enough. It also offers additional performance monitoring features to help you track your progress.

You can get free adaptive training plans from Garmin coach or create your own custom workouts on the Garmin connect online fitness community. This allows you to tailor your training to your specific goals and preferences.

The Forerunner 245 Music also provides advanced running dynamics, including ground contact time balance, stride length, and vertical ratio. To access these features, you will need to use the Running Dynamics Pod or compatible heart rate monitors, which are sold separately.

In terms of safety and tracking, this smartwatch includes incident detection during select activities. If an incident is detected, it will send your real-time location to emergency contacts through your paired smartphone.

Additionally, you can sync the Forerunner 245 Music with music streaming services like Spotify. This allows you to easily store and play your favorite songs directly from your watch, eliminating the need to carry a separate music device during your workouts.

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Garmin Forerunner 45S, 39mm Easy-to-use GPS Running Watch with Coach Free Training Plan Support, Black

Garmin Forerunner 45S, 39mm Easy-to-use GPS Running Watch with Coach Free Training Plan Support, Black

The Garmin Forerunner 45S is a 39mm GPS running watch with Garmin Coach training plan support. It features a smaller-sized and easy-to-use design, estimating heart rate at the wrist and offering GPS tracking for pace, distance, intervals, and more. The watch is compatible with free Garmin Coach Adaptive training plans, providing personalized coaching directly to your wrist. Smartphone compatibility includes iPhone and Android devices, with connected features like smart notifications for texts and calls, automatic uploads to the Garmin Connect online community, live tracking, and music controls. Safety and tracking features are also included, such as incident detection during select activities, which sends your real-time location to emergency contacts through your paired smartphone. The package includes the Forerunner 45S, charging cable, and documentation.

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Conclusion

The Garmin 010-02293-10 Instinct Solar, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Built-in Sports Apps and Health Monitoring, Graphite is probably the base choice for you if you are looking for a smartwatch with extended battery life through solar charging, water and shock resistance, and versatile tracking capabilities. Its focus on outdoor activities and health monitoring makes it a great option for those who enjoy adventurous sports and want to monitor their fitness levels closely. With its rugged design and comprehensive features, it is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Read More

The Garmin Venu 2, GPS Smartwatch is probably the base choice for you if you are looking for a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display, long battery life, and extensive fitness and health monitoring features. It stands out with its stylish design and the ability to download and store music directly on the watch. Whether you want to track your workouts, make contactless payments, or receive smart notifications, this smartwatch offers a great balance between functionality and style. Read More

The Garmin vivoactive 4S, Smaller-Sized GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors and More, Silver with Gray Band is probably the base choice for you if you are looking for a smaller-sized smartwatch with advanced fitness and health tracking capabilities. It excels in providing detailed information about your energy levels, heart rate, respiration, stress, and sleep. With its variety of preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, animated workout guidance, and personalized watch faces, it offers a comprehensive fitness companion in a compact size. Read More

The Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music, GPS Running Smartwatch with Music and Advanced Dynamics, Black is probably the base choice for you if you are looking for a running-focused smartwatch with music streaming capabilities and advanced training features. It offers insights into your running dynamics, evaluates your training status, and provides adaptive training plans from Garmin coach. With its built-in GPS and music syncing, it allows you to track your runs and enjoy your favorite songs without needing a smartphone, making it perfect for dedicated runners. Read More

The Garmin Forerunner 45S, 39mm Easy-to-use GPS Running Watch with Coach Free Training Plan Support, Black is probably the base choice for you if you are looking for a user-friendly GPS running watch with support for Garmin Coach training plans. It offers accurate heart rate tracking, GPS for pace and distance, and compatibility with smartphones for smart notifications and music control. With its focus on simplicity and support for personalized coaching, it is an ideal choice for beginners or individuals who prefer a straightforward running watch experience. Read More

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