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10 Best Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watches 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0 score

Garmin vívoactive® 6, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Up to 11 Days of Battery, Metallic Pink Dawn with Pink Dawn Band

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a versatile health and fitness smartwatch that stands out with its bright 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offering clear visuals for notifications and workout stats. It shines in tracking your heart rate continuously with wrist-based monitoring, and its built-in GPS accurately follows your outdoor activities like running and cycling. The battery can last up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, which is quite impressive, so you won’t need to charge it frequently. It also offers water resistance, making it suitable for swimming and other water-related exercises.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,274
Display Quality
Battery Life
Heart Rate Monitoring

Most important from
1052 reviews

Display Quality
The AMOLED display is exceptionally crisp and bright, making navigation smooth and visually pleasing.
Battery Life
Battery life impressively exceeds seven days even with continuous blood oxygen monitoring and GPS active.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Sleep tracking aligns well with personal sleep quality, offering reliable and insightful health data.
Smart Features
The redesigned user interface feels modern and premium, delivering smooth performance without any lag.
Activity Tracking
Custom workout creation and the ability to sync courses directly to the watch enhance training flexibility.
#2
9.7 score

Garmin Forerunner® 965 Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black and Powder Gray, 010-02809-00

The Garmin Forerunner® 965 is designed for runners and multisport athletes who want detailed training feedback and reliable tracking. It features a bright 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen alongside traditional buttons, making it easy to view and control even on the move. Its heart rate monitoring is wrist-based and pairs well with other training metrics like cadence, stride length, and running power, helping you understand your performance better. GPS tracking is very accurate thanks to multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology, which also helps save battery. Speaking of battery, it offers an impressive 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours with GPS active, so it can easily keep up with long training cycles or races.

Rating
9.7
Battery Life
GPS Tracking
Heart Rate Monitoring

Most important from
1625 reviews

Battery Life
The battery life is outstanding, lasting over 11 days with significant charge remaining, far surpassing typical smartwatches.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is incredibly reliable, even in remote areas with poor coverage, providing precise location data that outperforms older devices.
Heart Rate Monitoring
The watch offers comprehensive health and fitness tracking, including sleep, heart rate, and workout metrics, which have helped improve fitness dramatically.
Smart Features
Smart features like Garmin Messenger enable texting via GPS even in the wilderness, adding valuable connectivity beyond standard smartwatch functions.
Display Quality
While the user interface is less intuitive than some competitors, it becomes easy to navigate with a short adjustment period.
#3
9.7 score

Garmin fēnix® 8 – 47 mm, Solar, Sapphire, Premium Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Dive-Rated, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Pebble Gray Band

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and adventurers, showcasing impressive features that cater to a variety of outdoor and fitness activities. A standout aspect is its exceptional battery life, offering up to 28 days in smartwatch mode and 92 hours in GPS mode, especially when combined with solar charging. This makes it a reliable companion for extended outdoor adventures. The watch also excels in heart rate monitoring, providing real-time data along with advanced metrics such as training readiness scores, which can help users optimize their training regimens. It features top-notch GPS tracking with multi-band support, ensuring accurate navigation, while the dive rating allows for underwater activities, appealing to divers and swimmers alike.

Rating
9.7
Heart Rate Monitoring
Battery Life
Activity Tracking

Most important from
1621 reviews

Heart Rate Monitoring
Accurate ECG, heart rate, and steps tracking.
Battery Life
Battery life is amazing, brightness is great, connectivity is great and Bluetooth calling is very good.
Activity Tracking
Accurate ECG, heart rate, and steps tracking.
Smart Features
Battery life is amazing, brightness is great, connectivity is great and Bluetooth calling is very good.
Design and Comfort
Super nice features with solar charging and lightweight design.

Top 10 Best Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watches 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0  score

Garmin vívoactive® 6, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Up to 11 Days of Battery, Metallic Pink Dawn with Pink Dawn Band

Heart Rate Monitoring: wrist-based monitoring
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS
Battery Life: up to 11 days smartwatch mode
Water Resistance: suitable for swimming
Smart Features: notifications, alarms, cycle tracking
Activity Tracking: 80+ sports apps, animated workouts
Display Quality: 1.2-inch AMOLED display

Chosen by 1274 this week

Garmin Forerunner® 965 Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black and Powder Gray, 010-02809-00

Heart Rate Monitoring: Wrist-based
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS, multi-band GNSS SatIQ
Battery Life: 23 days smartwatch, 31 hours GPS
Water Resistance: Water-resistant, supports swim profiles
Smart Features: Workouts, recovery, sleep, race planning
Activity Tracking: Running, multisport, swim, cadence, stride
Display Quality: 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen

Garmin fēnix® 8 – 47 mm, Solar, Sapphire, Premium Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Dive-Rated, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Pebble Gray Band

Heart Rate Monitoring: real-time data, advanced metrics
GPS Tracking: multi-band support
Battery Life: 28 days smartwatch, 92 hours GPS
Water Resistance: dive rating
Activity Tracking: Multisport, Activity Tracker
Smart Features: Bluetooth for calls, voice commands
Design and Comfort: sapphire lens, titanium bezel, 80g

Garmin Venu 3S Soft Gold Stainless Steel Bezel 1.2-Inch AMOLED Touchscreen Display Smart Watch with 41mm Ivory Case and Silicone Band

Heart Rate Monitoring: Wrist-Based Heart Rate
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS
Battery Life: Up to 10 days
Water Resistance: Water-resistant
Activity Tracking: Activity Tracking
Smart Features: Phone calls, voice assistant, texts
Design and Comfort: Sleek design, gold bezel, silicone band

Garmin Forerunner 165, Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black

Heart Rate Monitoring: Wrist-based heart rate monitoring
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS
Battery Life: 11 days smartwatch, 19 hours GPS
Smart Features: Call/text notifications, Garmin Pay
Activity Tracking: Running, cycling, HIIT, other profiles
Display Quality: Bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen

Garmin Forerunner 265S Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Whitestone and Neo Tropic

Heart Rate Monitoring: advanced heart rate monitoring
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS, multi-band GNSS, SatIQ
Battery Life: 15 days smartwatch, 24h GPS running
Smart Features: Suggested workouts, HRV, morning report
Activity Tracking: 30+ profiles: running, cycling, swimming
Display Quality: bright, colorful AMOLED touchscreen

Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, Rugged GPS Smartwatch, Built-in Flashlight, Solar Charging Capability, Multi-Band GNSS, Graphite

Heart Rate Monitoring: wrist-based heart rate
GPS Tracking: multi-band GNSS
Battery Life: infinite with sunlight
Water Resistance: meets U.S. military standards
Activity Tracking: running, biking, swimming, strength
Design and Comfort: 50mm case, 67 grams
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Buying Guide for the Best Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Watches

Choosing the right Garmin heart rate monitor watch can significantly enhance your fitness journey by providing accurate data and insights. To make an informed decision, it's essential to understand the key specifications and how they align with your personal fitness goals and lifestyle. Here are the main specs to consider when selecting a Garmin heart rate monitor watch.
Heart Rate MonitoringHeart rate monitoring is the primary function of these watches, providing real-time data on your heart rate during various activities. This spec is crucial for tracking your fitness levels, optimizing workouts, and monitoring your overall health. Basic models offer standard heart rate tracking, while advanced models include features like heart rate variability and stress tracking. If you're a casual user, a basic model will suffice, but for serious athletes or those with specific health goals, advanced features are beneficial.
GPS TrackingGPS tracking allows the watch to accurately record your outdoor activities, such as running, cycling, or hiking, by mapping your routes and measuring distance, speed, and elevation. This feature is important for anyone who exercises outdoors and wants precise data on their performance. Basic models may have connected GPS, which uses your phone's GPS, while higher-end models have built-in GPS. Choose based on how often you exercise outdoors and your need for detailed route information.
Battery LifeBattery life determines how long the watch can operate before needing a recharge. This is important for convenience and ensuring the watch can last through long workouts or multi-day activities. Basic models may offer a few days of battery life, while advanced models can last up to several weeks in smartwatch mode and several hours in GPS mode. Consider your usage patterns; if you frequently engage in long-duration activities, opt for a model with extended battery life.
Water ResistanceWater resistance indicates how well the watch can withstand exposure to water, which is crucial for swimmers or those who engage in water sports. Basic models may offer water resistance suitable for splashes and rain, while advanced models can be used for swimming and diving. Choose a watch with the appropriate level of water resistance based on your activities; for example, if you swim regularly, ensure the watch is rated for swimming.
Smart FeaturesSmart features include notifications, music control, contactless payments, and compatibility with various apps. These features enhance the watch's functionality beyond fitness tracking, making it a versatile accessory. Basic models may offer limited smart features, while advanced models provide a comprehensive suite of smart capabilities. Consider how much you value these additional features in your daily life and choose accordingly.
Activity TrackingActivity tracking encompasses the watch's ability to monitor various types of physical activities, from running and cycling to yoga and strength training. This spec is important for getting a complete picture of your fitness routine. Basic models may track a limited number of activities, while advanced models offer extensive tracking options and detailed metrics. Select a watch that supports the activities you engage in most frequently.
Display QualityDisplay quality affects how easily you can read the watch's screen in different lighting conditions. This is important for usability, especially during outdoor activities. Basic models may have simpler displays, while advanced models feature high-resolution, color displays with better visibility. If you often exercise outdoors or in varying light conditions, a watch with a high-quality display will be more beneficial.

FAQ