Main points
- Garmin offers a variety of smartwatches and fitness trackers with features tailored for every activity and budget.
- Garmin watches come with rich features, customization options, and longer battery life than their competitors.
- Garmin’s updated Connect app addresses user complaints with a modern design, customization features, and improved functionality.
If you’re looking for a smartwatch or fitness watch of some kind, your options are truly endless these days. Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Amazfit, and many other brands have options to suit every experience, goal, and budget level. So, with all these options, where does Garmin fit in among them?
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Garmin’s Forerunner 165 offers just about everything a runner could want
In addition to some lifestyle and fitness features, Garmin’s latest wearable is a complete package.
Garmin watch series
Available in a variety of uses, styles and ages
To say Garmin has a great selection of watches would be an understatement. The company has equipment designed for just about every niche activity you can imagine, including golf, flying, and diving. There are even Garmin watches for kids. Of course, there are also watches for more standard activities like running, adventure, and swimming, as well as fashion-focused models. The capabilities of most of these devices go far beyond their marketed capabilities. The Garmin Forerunner series, for example, is tailored for running while also tracking a variety of swimming activities and gym workouts.
Garmin offers a variety of watches in every category to suit different budgets and experience levels, from entry-level to professional. Garmin watches range in price from as low as $80 to as high as $3,100, so the company’s products truly run the gamut. If you want a smartwatch of some sort, chances are Garmin has what you’re looking for.
To say Garmin has a great selection of watches would be an understatement.
In addition, the company frequently launches new watches, expanding its already long product lineup. So far this year, it has released the Forerunner 165 and Lily 2, with more releases expected throughout the year. The fact that Garmin keeps launching new devices shows that it’s invested heavily in the watch business, which is always a good thing for us users.
Garmin watch features
Software innovation and tracking
Specific watch features vary widely across many of Garmin’s devices, but overall, they’re all feature-rich and capable watches. A quick breakdown on the Garmin website shows 105 watches offering sleep tracking, which can tell you the length of each sleep stage, resting heart rate, restless moments, and more. One hundred watches offer built-in GPS to provide accurate location data during workouts, providing more reliable distance, pace and mapping than watches that rely on smartphones for location data.
High-end watches are the first choice of many people because of their data accuracy and impressive features.
Many of the company’s watches can also automatically count reps during a workout, and at the most basic level, all can track your steps throughout the day. Most are highly customizable, so you can choose a watch face that suits your style and adjust the available menus, data fields, and workout options. Additionally, Garmin watches often lead the pack when it comes to battery life compared to other brands, which is crucial to many of us.
Of course, more expensive watches will offer more features. High-end watches are the first choice of many people because of their data accuracy and impressive features. But even Garmin’s more budget-friendly options offer plenty of valuable features to help you monitor your health and fitness.
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Garmin Connect
Application compatibility and integration
For years, people have been begging Garmin to update its Garmin Connect app. For a long time, the app felt clunky and outdated. It also doesn’t put useful information front and center, so I found myself digging for the stats I wanted to see.
Luckily, Garmin finally listened to us and announced in January of this year that it would begin rolling out the updated app as a beta experience. You can’t opt into the beta yourself, you have to wait until Garmin invites you. However, once invited, you can opt in or out of the beta program if you wish.
Although it’s taken Garmin a long time, it’s nice to see it finally addressing common user complaints. Plus, the fresh design shows a move to keep things relevant and functional, which is always good.
Test the Garmin Connect app beta yourself
I finally got the beta version last month or so and was pleasantly surprised. It does look more modern, with a simpler, cleaner design. It’s customizable, so you can choose what information appears on the homepage. It’s nice to see that it offers a similar level of customization in the app as it does on the watch. The new app design also makes it easier to add or access your events and take advantage of the company’s training programs.
Although it’s taken Garmin a long time, it’s nice to see it finally addressing common user complaints. Plus, fresh designs show a move to keep things relevant and functional, which is always good.
Are Garmin watches worth buying?
When it comes to whether a Garmin watch is worth buying, the simple answer is that it is absolutely worth it. The company is clearly actively investing in the development of its products (watches and apps), so support will continue. Their wide range of products means there’s something for just about everyone to appreciate.
That said, most Garmin watches aren’t cheap. Not everyone needs a $600 running watch. Whether a Garmin watch is worth it for you depends on many factors, such as your goals, budget, and preferences. For those who want a basic, affordable fitness tracker, even Garmin’s cheaper devices may be overkill. But if you’re looking to take your fitness to the next level, want a device you can rely on for years to come, or are looking for a device with multiple features, then yes, a Garmin watch may be worth your while.