Top Garmin watches of 2024

Choosing the right Garmin watch can be difficult, with so many smartwatches and fitness watches available. Luckily, the watches on this list have been heavily researched and tested by athletes and wearable enthusiasts alike. Below, we’ll review the best Garmin watches and examine the details and features that make them the top picks.

Forerunner 265

The Garmin Forerunner series has been ongoing since the early 2000s. The watch has evolved greatly from the first Forerunner 101 model in 2003 to the latest Forerunner 165 in 2024.
Today, the Forerunner ranges in features from basic distance and heart rate tracking to more advanced running metrics like cadence and VO2 max.

The most popular Forerunner today, packed with the most essential features for the serious runner, is the Forerunner 265 model. The watch itself consists of a 1.3” AMOLED display, weighs about 47 grams, and the battery lasts for 20 hours in GPS mode and almost two weeks in smartwatch mode.

It also features a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, advanced training and recovery metrics, a touchscreen, and offline music storage, among many other features. The watch is marketed as the intermediary watch in the Forerunner series.

Venu 3

The Venu series from Garmin is more of a stylish smartwatch in the classical sense compared to the more fitness-focused Forerunner. The Venu 3 incorporates a bright 1.4” AMOLED touchscreen display, weighs 47 grams with the included band, stainless steel bezel, up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode, detailed health and wellness insights, offline music storage, advanced fitness metrics, and the ability to make calls and send texts among other features.

For the price point, the Venu 3 will be at or around the same price as the Forerunner 265. When deciding on whether to pick the Venu 3 or Forerunner 265, the key consideration would be your objective goal with your smartwatch. If you are an athlete training for a competition or focused on general health, your best bet is the Forerunner 265. If you are more of a casual athlete focused on smartphone integration along with advanced health metrics, the Venu 3 is a better option.

Fenix 7

The Fenix series from Garmin is, without a doubt, their top-of-the-line premier smartwatch. The Fenix 7 is branded as Garmin’s rugged fitness and outdoor watch. and weighs 79 grams with the bands, has a stainless steel bezel, 1.3” touchscreen, an impressive 18-hour battery life in smartwatch mode with a potential 57 days in battery saver mode, twice as much memory as the Venu 3 and Forerunner 265 at 16 GB, advanced health and fitness metrics, and advanced mapping and GPS sensors among many more features.

Generally speaking, the Fenix 7 will have all, if not most, of the same features in the Venu 3 and Forerunner 265, plus a multitude of advanced features. As expected, the Fenix 7 is priced much higher than the Venu 3 and Forerunner 265 due to the various advanced features and design.

Review

Ultimately, deciding on the Fenix 7, Forerunner 265, or Venu 3 will depend largely on your preferences and spending range. If you are an average to advanced runner, the best Garmin watch for you is the Forerunner 265. If you are looking for a Garmin smartwatch that is more in line with the Samsung Galaxy Watch, Apple Watch, or Google Pixel Watch, the Venu 3 will be your best bet. If you want the ultimate outdoor fitness watch with all the features of a fully loaded smartwatch and are not worried about price, the Fenix 7 is an amazing choice.

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