The perfect Garmin smartwatches as compared
Editor’s tip | Worth tip | ||||
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Product | Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE | Garmin Intuition 2 | |||
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Disadvantages |
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Ranking | Garmin Epix 2 – assessment | Garmin Venu 2 Plus – assessment | Garmin Fenix 7 – assessment |
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To the supply* |
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 are going to present you all of the fashions from the varied sequence as soon as once more intimately, together with their detailed technical specs.
Desk of contents:
- Shopping for recommendation: Which Garmin smartwatch is one of the best for me?
- The perfect 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 thought in Steve Jobs’ head, and sensible options in watches have been desires of the longer term. In 2022, we’re making telephone calls and chatting on our wrists, however we’re additionally utilizing our smartwatches to examine our vitals and measure our health ranges. In any case, no different gadget is worn so near the physique throughout the day.
Within the following paragraphs, we are going to due to this fact check out which sports activities and health options Garmin smartwatches supply on the one hand – and which smartwatch options you’ll be able to count on on the opposite.

1.1 Sports activities & health options on Garmin watches
Clearly, an important 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 – supply a coronary heart charge sensor together with measurement of resting coronary heart charge and coronary heart charge variability. The physique battery perform, i.e. your every day form, can also be out there 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, excluding 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 hook up with your Wi-Fi at house and your smartphone, but additionally to varied equipment from Garmin, together with cadence sensors for biking or varied chest straps. Nonetheless, 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 all over the place. Some new fashions additionally assist multi-band GPS, though we couldn’t discover any distinction to the already glorious GPS accuracy of the Garmin smartwatches within the sensible take a look at of the Epix 2, for instance. By the way in which, all Garmin smartwatches lack an ECG measurement. If this characteristic is essential to you, I like to recommend looking at our smartwatch finest record.
1.2 Smartwatch capabilities in Garmin’s smartwatches
The Garmin fashions usually are not solely glorious sports activities watches, but additionally smartwatches with varied sensible 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 also be included in the entire watches described right here (besides the Forerunner 55), and Garmin’s cost service helps many banks within the USA. A present record will be discovered right here on the Garmin web site.
Aside from the Intuition, Forerunner 55 and non-music Forerunner 245, all Garmin smartwatches supply an inside 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 the moment helps voice assistants, and the Forerunner 945 is the one one to supply an LTE possibility.

All Garmin smartwatches on this comparability even have the proprietary Join IQ Retailer in frequent. Right here you’ll find watchfaces and knowledge fields for exercises in addition to quite a few apps like Spotify, Komoot, Amazon Music or Accuweather. You may also check out the choice within the browser by way of this hyperlink.
The underside line is that the Garmin watches supply plenty of smartwatch options. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t count on such a seamless integration along with your smartphone as for instance with the Galaxy smartwatches or the Apple Watch.
1.3 Garmin smartwatches for ladies and men
With only a few exceptions, Garmin’s smartwatches are designated as unisex – and that is factor. Luckily, most fashions additionally are available quite a lot of sizes. Since ladies are inclined to have slimmer wrists, the S fashions ought to typically be attention-grabbing 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 enormous, and also needs to end up too huge on many males’s wrists with its ridiculously large 51-millimeter case.

2. The perfect Garmin smartwatches by sequence
Garmin’s smartwatches will 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, nonetheless, it’s a must to reckon with a moderately large 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 amount of cash, Garmin has squeezed nearly every part that’s at the moment attainable by way of sensors in its high-end watches – the fashions from the Fenix, Epix, Tactix, D2 & Co. sequence have all that in frequent. Nonetheless, there are particular fashions for various goal teams which can be, for instance, appropriate for being learn with night-vision gear or supply particular security options.
The next desk exhibits an important fashions from Garmin’s Fenix 7 sequence as 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 measurement | 42 mm | 47 mm | 51 mm | 47 mm | 51 mm |
Strap measurement | 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 measurement | 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 perform | relying on mannequin | relying on mannequin | all fashions | relying on mannequin | all fashions |
Variants | normal Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Commonplace Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Photo voltaic Sapphire Photo voltaic |
Commonplace | Commonplace Professional Professional Ballistics |
Worth (MSRP) | from $699 | from $699 | from $899 | from $899 | from $1099 |
Analysis |
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Garmin Fenix 7 – assessment |
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Garmin Epix 2 – assessment |
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To the supply* |
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 usually a bit extra elegantly designed than the Forerunner fashions, for instance – and naturally far more discreet than the moderately cumbersome fashions from the Fenix sequence. Whereas the Forerunner fashions are aimed extra in the direction of runners, the Venu and Vivoactive watches are moderately focused in the direction of all-around athletes and health fans.
In contrast to the Forerunner fashions, the varied Venu 2 and Vivoactive 4 fashions supply 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 do not have the superior operating metrics. Even with a appropriate chest strap, you sadly will not have entry to floor contact time, vertical motion and the likes whereas operating.
One other distinctive characteristic in Garmin’s lineup will be discovered within the Venu 2 Plus: The smartwatch is appropriate with Siri, Bixby and Google Assistant. Due to the built-in microphone and speaker, it’s also possible to use the watch as a speakerphone and go away your smartphone in your pocket.
The desk under exhibits the Garmin Venu 2S, Garmin Venu 2 Plus and Garmin Venu 2 as 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 measurement | 40 mm | 43 mm | 45 mm | 40 mm | 45 mm |
Strap measurement | 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 measurement | 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 perform | 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 – assessment |
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To the supply* |
2.3 Garmin’s operating watches: the Forerunner fashions

Because the title suggests, Garmin’s Forerunner sequence is geared toward runners. Accordingly, even the second smallest mannequin, the Forerunner 245, is supplied with operating metrics so to get an in depth analysis of your operating effectivity values with the matching chest strap.
Then again, you additionally need to do with out consolation options within the Forerunner fashions. For instance, the whole lineup all the way in which to the highest mannequin doesn’t have touchscreens, and the Well being Snapshot characteristic can also be lacking. Garmin clearly differentiates between endurance athletes and all-round athletes in its two mid-range sequence. If you need one of the best of each worlds, you may have to achieve for the Fenix fashions.
There are additionally a number of options you may need to do with out on the smaller or older Forerunner fashions. The Forerunner 55, for instance, can’t monitor blood oxygen saturation and doesn’t assist operating effectivity evaluation. The Forerunner 245, then again, lacks respiration charge measurement.
Within the following desk you’ll be able to see an important technical knowledge of the Garmin Forerunner 55, Forerunner 245, Forerunner 745 and Forerunner 945 as compared.
Product | Garmin Forerunner 55 | Garmin Forerunner 245 | Garmin Forerunner 745 | Garmin Forerunner 945 |
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Case measurement | 42 mm | 42 mm | 44 mm | 47 mm |
Strap measurement | 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 measurement | 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 out there |
Photo voltaic perform | no | no | no | no |
Variants | Commonplace | Commonplace Music |
Commonplace | Commonplace LTE |
Worth (RRP) | $169 | $249 / $299 (music) | $419 | $469 / $565 (LTE) |
Ranking |
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To the supply* |
2.4 The rugged fashions of the Intuition 2 sequence

Every sequence under 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 geared 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 supply glorious 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 water-proof as much as 10 ATM.
Then again, it’s a must to do with out a touchscreen and as an alternative 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 exhibits the technical specs of the Garmin Intuition 2S and Garmin Intuition 2 as compared:
Product | Garmin Intuition 2S | Garmin Intuition 2 |
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Case measurement | 40 mm | 45 mm |
Strap measurement | 20 mm | 22 mm |
Show expertise | MIP (monochrome) | MIP (monochrome) |
Show glass | Chemically strengthened glass | Energy Glass |
Show measurement | 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 | Out there with particular capabilities as Camo, Tactical, Surf and Dezl model | |
Photo voltaic perform | relying on mannequin | relying on mannequin |
Variants | Commonplace Photo voltaic |
Commonplace Photo voltaic |
Worth (MSRP) | from $349 | from $349 |
Ranking |
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To the supply* |
Extra wearables from Garmin
At this level, we now have centered on the 4 main smartwatch sequence from Garmin. Aside from these fashions, nonetheless, the producer additionally affords plenty of 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 youths in a sturdy design
- Garmin Lily: compact, trendy smartwatch with easy health options
Within the close to future, you may additionally discover extra detailed data in addition to critiques, how-tos and extra on the above fashions on NextPit. Additionally, in fact, I like to recommend you to take a look at our huge smartwatch information:
Did we overlook something, like a selected mannequin or piece of knowledge you’d discover useful? And which Garmin smartwatches are your favorites? We look ahead to your suggestions!