The Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPR-H1000 will stand out on any wrist thanks to its bold, angular design – and, in this model's case, punchy yellow finish. This watch screams tough at first glance and Casio is selling on that basis. It might be big enough to get knocked as you wear it, but it's built to take every hit, making it a contender for the best running watches.
It comes with an optical heart rate sensor and full GPS to place it in the running against even the best Garmin watches out there. In fact, this has the Garmin Enduro 2 squarely fixed in its sights, competing on the more extreme tracking with a thermometer, barometer, pressure sensor, altimeter and more onboard. While the Casio tracks well, it doesn't offer maps. This makes it a little limited as a true adventure companion.
However, the Rangeman does pack in solar charging, which will enable you to continue using basic functionality even once the bulk of battery life has been consumed. Although note that with a battery life that lasts up to two months and up to 19 hours in GPS tracking mode, the watch has you covered.
Despite looking chunky, a soft urethane band and double-pin buckle actually mean the Rangeman is comfortable to wear and effortless to find the right fit – presuming your wrist is large enough to pull off this over-sized statement watch.
G-Shock Rangeman: Price and availability
The G-Shock Rangeman is available now worldwide, priced at $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$999.99.
There are two versions available, the yellow GPR-H1000-9 model reviewed here, and a black variant named the GPR-H1000-1. Other than color differences, they're essentially the same model and share an identical price.
Since launch, both models have been available on various third-party websites at a reduced price. At time of publishing, the Rangeman can be bought for as low as £375 / $480 / AU$725.
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G-Shock Rangeman: Design
Comfortable strap and accurate clasp
Rugged exterior
Too chunky for some
The G-Shock Rangeman is all about that chunky, rugged design and bold looks, which makes it both unique and attractive. But it's worth saying right from the outset that if you have a smaller wrist then this watch might feel a little bulky and heavy. That said, its super comfy strap and very accurate clasp system – plus relatively low weight at 92g – ensure it's as comfortable as a statement watch of this kind can be.
Primarily, this is a button-based beast, so you won't have to suffer touchscreen fingerprints or difficulty controlling screens while taking part in sport or activity. But the flip-side is that you have to scroll through the menus to get to what you want. That said, G-Shock menus are very intuitive, having been developed over many generations of watch, and since the buttons are all mud- and water-protected, they work well. If I have one gripe here it's that the up and down options are on the left, which means you need to use your thumb, rather than fingers, which I found a little awkward or at least took some getting used to.
The display is a negative MIPS, which is a far cry from the color displays on other watches of this kind – and a shock, if you're moving from an AMOLED. That said, it's super clear in daylight, gets you a long battery life, and also offers high contrast so that even underwater it's very clear to read – which was actually helpful when swimming.
The Rangeman has a waterproof rating of 200 metres, yet after a half-hour pool swim the watch's screen appeared to fill with a bubble of some sort that was visible across the screen, and remains still now. The watch works fine, but is now showing this odd line that's definitely worrying. In reality, we'd hope that you could send this back to Casio for a replacement if you suffered the same.
The companion app from Casio is decent and allows you a way to control the watch without all those menus. So if you want to re-order the sports available or setup the data screens, for example, you can do that far more easily through the app, which makes it genuinely helpful. The app is also a better, clearer way to view any data –sleep scores and daily steps metrics, for example.
Design score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
G-Shock Rangeman: Features
Tracks many sports
Offers so many sensors
Lacks music
The G-Shock Rangeman is absolutely crammed full of features and sensors, delivering the ability to track nine activity types: trekking, running, biking, gym workout, interval timer, pool swimming, open-water swimming, trail running, and walking. And while taking part in an activity, you have access to data such as distance, direction, altitude, climbing speed, time, pace, heart rate, and burned calories.
Swimming offers stroke count, distance and heart rate, as well as a timer with the option to record splits – so all you could want from a swimming watch then. This works both indoors in a pool as well as outdoors for open water swimming, where the GPS can also help with your data readouts. The screen is fantastically clear above and underwater, and I found the stroke count accurate when compared with the Garmin Forerunner 965.
The lack of onboard music, available with most Garmin watches now, was certainly missed here; there's no option to connect headphones and enjoy music during activities. While it isn't a deal breaker, it certainly would have been a welcome feature at this price point.
Solar charging is a great addition here, since it helps to keep the watch function going for pretty much forever. While the GPS and heart rate tracking might leave you out of battery for the sports modes, you'll still have access to the G-Shock time and date basics. The features the watch part offers include a stopwatch, a 60-minute countdown timer, world times, four different alarms, power saving, and a full auto backlight that illuminates for either 1.5 or five seconds, depending on your preference.
While this doesn't pack all the dedicated surf smarts of the G-Shock G-Lide surf watch, you do still get helpful tide data such as 3,300 points for the tide graph. You also have phone notifications – although, on this screen they're a faff to read. I found myself simply using them as an alert before reaching for my phone – helpful, if you want the phone on silent.
It soon became clear while testing the G-Shock Rangman that wearing it to bed for sleep tracking was not the most comfortable. I did get used to it, but it was never what I'd call a comfortable experience – but this would apply to all brands of "oversize" watch. During the day, there was no slipping this under a sleeve either. As such, the watch was on show constantly, clearly getting attention with that bright yellow finish.
To be clear, this is a comfy watch, and that strap fits perfectly. It's just chunky, and if you find yourself knocking it on things at first, don't be surprised. This shouldn't worry you, however; that tough exterior appears to be able to handle more than a knock or six. That said, there was an issue with the display on this test unit.
After swimming, it looked like half the screen was filled with water; I pressed down and this moved about under the surface of the screen's top-cover. The watch continues to work just fine, only the screen has this half-filled finish. You can see it in the picture below, where it looks like a trick of the light showing the top third as lighter; but this is water or, perhaps, air inside? Either way, it's disappointing when Casio claims that the G-Shock Rangeman is good for a 200m of diving depth – double that of most Garmins.
(Image credit: Future)
In use, the watch performed well. Heart rate was a little on the high side, and quick to jump when compared to a Garmin and chest strap, but this generally levelled out after a while. For cycling, the Rangeman was helpful, where adjustments appeared quickly; but for running , where pure accuracy is ideal, this could have been a little smoother. GPS worked well, with the watch adapting quickly and recording metrics such as speed, pace and distance accurately.
While the menus are dense, the watch is intuitive to navigate, meaning you can access lots of data relatively easily while exercising. It's only really the smaller screen that limits you here, with it often far easier to wait and view the dive data once it had synched.
Performance score: 3.5/5
G-Shock Rangeman: Battery Life
Two months standby
19 hours with GPS
Solar powered extras
Casio has certainly used all that chunky G-Shock frame space well when it comes to batteries, since the Rangeman offers up to two months off a single charge. For use just as a watch, that time is extended further thanks to the solar charging smarts, which sees the watch keep going for basics such as time telling.
As you'd expect, it's with GPS use that a smartwatch battery is really tested, and in this regard the Rangeman achieved 19 hours in GPS mode – although that's with intermittent location acquisition. In reality, with it left turned on, battery is nearer to 14 hours. Still, that's plenty for most exercise sessions, while an easy to attach bespoke clip-on charger that uses USB, will bring the Rangeman back to full charge in just a few hours.
One of the great things about this watch is that you can keep using the Rangeman as a watch alone for months, without charging – say , if you're injured and don't need GPS tracking – topping it back up once you're back to activities.
Finnish outdoors brand Suunto is arguably best known for its hardy navigational devices and diving watches, often lagging behind the competition when it comes to genuinely excellent fitness smartwatches.
The fact of the matter is, the market is almost at saturation point. Garmin seemingly brings out a new watch every few months, covering every conceivable exercise niche you can think of, while rivals such as Polar and Coros with its Pace 3 and Apex Pro models, have brought some serious touchscreen-enabled contenders in recent months.
Traditional smartwatch makers like Apple and Samsung, now have models that also crossover into the outdoors/fitness space with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, offering excellent workout tracking, navigation and all of the handy smartphone control, notifications and features you will actually use every day. In fact, the Apple Watch just keeps improving as a fitness partner with every watchOS update.
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In the interest of brevity, the Suunto Race Titanium (the premium version I tested) is the best watch it has made to date, with a crystal clear AMOLED screen, premium styling, and a whole host of fitness-tracking features that can genuinely rival those offered by Garmin et al.
However, it’s far from perfect. There are a number of areas that could easily be improved, including the achingly slow raise-to-wake, the sometimes glitchy OS, and the fact that offline mapping takes a painfully long time to download and upload to the map.
In essence, Garmin still rules the roost if you want the absolute cutting-edge of workout, recovery and training analytics, but Suunto is definitely getting close. Pair that with solid GPS tracking, an impressive battery life and an easy-to-navigate accompanying smartphone app, and you have an enticing offering at this price.
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Suunto Race: specifications
Suunto Race: Price and availability
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$449 in the US
£398 in the UK
AUS$720 in Australia
The Suunto Race is offered at two price points. The most affordable stainless steel version costs $449 / £398 / AUS$720, while the more expensive titanium-clad model comes in at $549 / £479 / AUS$879.
There is no difference between the hardware that powers these watches: it’s all about the finish and how opulent you want your watch to feel. In my opinion, the titanium model elevates the overall build quality, thanks to its contrasting Charcoal finish. The bezel on the stainless steel model is all black, which instantly makes it feel a bit cheaper.
Both models can be purchased directly from the Suunto website. At this price point, it's a pretty favorable comparison with its closest competitors, such as the much more expensive Garmin Forerunner 965. Great value.
Value score: 5/5
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Suunto Race: Design and screen
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Excellent build quality, especially on the titanium model
Only one size
Apple-style digital crown
Some horologists often scoff at the basic design of today’s fitness smartwatches, as they tend to involve a large circular display that’s clad in some kind of metal or plastic to keep everything safe. But it's a winning, practical design, and the Suunto Race isn't reinventing the wheel.
The Suunto Race Titanium comprises a considerable 49mm bezel that houses 1.43-inches of AMOLED touchscreen, running a 466 x 466 resolution. It’s not one for skinny wrists and sits rather proudly even on thicker arms. The fact Suunto doesn’t offer any other sizes is a bit of an oversight: not everyone's going to want a beast of a watch like this.
The build quality is good and the watch feels solid, with the titanium finish adding a nice pop of contrast colour that makes it stand out. There are a limited number of pre-loaded digital watch faces available that range from replicas of analogue timepieces to fully digital displays with adjustable splashes of colour.
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Overall, they look good, but there’s not the breadth you’ll find via Garmin’s ConnectIQ app (although a lot of those are rubbish), nor are they as exciting or as interactive as what you find on an Apple Watch Series 9 or the latest Google Pixel Watch. However, that's expected of training tools rather than smartwatches.
There are some neat etched-in vents on the titanium bezel that add a bit of texture, while the included silicone strap is ventilated for added breathability and features a small popper mechanism that makes it easy to fit. It’s a great do-it-all choice that works for most activities.
Finally, robustness is built-in via a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide casing and sapphire crystal glass protecting the delicate display beneath. During testing, it held up well, shrugging off scratches and dings with ease. The whole thing is ergonomic and easy to use during training sessions too. Interaction with the Suunto Race is either via prodding and swiping the screen, or through the chronograph style, three-pusher layout of buttons on the right-hand side.
The middle of those is a ‘digital crown’ that can be used to quickly cycle through menus or zoom in and out of maps. Think of it as a kind of Apple Watch Ultra lite set-up, while long-pressing either the top or bottom buttons accesses various shortcuts to menus.
Design score: 4/5
Suunto Race: Features
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Accurate GPS
HRV and recovery info
No NFC payments
In general, there’s a lot to like about the feature set on offer here. You can control the music playing on your phone with the watch, and receive notifications when you are getting a call. You can do more with Android devices than you can with Apple, such as send predefined replies to incoming messages from the watch.
It has a full suite of sensors, now ubiquitous on fitness devices, which ranges from wrist-based heart rate sensing to an altimeter and gyroscope so it knows exactly when you are moving.
(Image credit: Future)
There’s sleep tracking, accurate GPS thanks to compatibility with five satellite systems, and the obvious stuff, such as step tracking, all carefully built-into the relatively diminutive device on your wrist.
As soon as you throw software into the mix, you start to delve into things like Heart Rate Variability, sleep cycle detection and stress and recovery status delivered directly to the AMOLED watch face. Arguably where the cheaper Garmin Forerunner 265 and Garmin Venu 3 stand tall is with lifestyle offerings like Garmin Pay, which allows you to sync bank cards with the watch and pay from the wrist. Garmin also offers guided workouts, complete with animated exercise guides on some models.
Also where features are concerned, other watches like the Polar Vantage V3 come packing a seriously advanced set of biosensing equipment that offer an exceptionally accurate heart rate from the wrist. Right now, Suunto isn’t quite there.
Features score: 3.5/5
Suunto Race: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Initial set-up of the watch is breezy. It’s just a case of downloading the accompanying smartphone app, punching in a few personal details and then getting on with it.
However, if you want to navigate from the wrist, you first have to download offline maps onto your phone, and then onto the watch. This process is extremely slow and boring in comparison to something like the Garmin Epix Pro, yet vital if you want to see any kind of map show up when out running, cycling, or walking. Thankfully, they look great once installed and they’re super easy to scroll around.
On the subject of exercise, there are over 95 profiles covering the full gamut of sports and workouts, with each setting up the AMOLED screen to show the most important stats for each. Of course, you can dive into settings and swap this all around so you can see what’s most important to you.
As for the specific profiles, this definitely feels like a watch predominantly geared towards running, cycling and swimming, but don't they all? The depth of data for each of these activities is impressive, with it able to automatically detect segments in a triathlon and even detect different swim strokes and log stats for each.
Similarly, where running is concerned, you get wrist-based running power, while cyclists can add Bluetooth power meters (and HRM chest straps) quickly and easily. However, you can only add one of each type of sensor, which will be annoying for ardent indoor cyclists or triathletes, who might want both HRM and power meter options.
Within the app, you can create structured workouts or link in existing services, such as Strava, Adidas Running or Training Peaks if these are your preferred methods to train.
(Image credit: Future)
Again, it feels like Garmin offers more in its ecosystem, with a number of training plans available to get you running a 5K or even a marathon, complete with guidance on training laid, rest and recovery.
Granted, Race does feature Suunto Coach, which goes into detail on things like Chronic Training Load (its metric for your overall fitness), as well as a look at the training stress balance. This uses heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep quality as factors on your overall readiness to train.
As with so many smart fitness watches, it takes time for this information to build and the Suunto Race only gets better the more you wear it. But also like a lot of its rivals, they tend to bias cardio and endurance activities, rather than strength training.
During testing, I found that strength work in the gym played havoc with the wrist-based heart rate monitoring, which was already proving not particularly accurate on a couple of test runs and cycles. With an Apple Watch Ultra 2 strapped to the other wrist and linked to a chest HRM, I found the Suunto slow to react and often a few bpm out at most points.
Similarly, the entire operating system feels slow and clunky, regularly baffled by too many quick inputs. There’s a definite lag when flicking between menu screens and dithering when raising the watch to wake. You can turn this off, but then battery life is impacted.
Thankfully, battery life is absolutely massive, with an enormous 26 days in time mode, a whopping 12 days with 24/7 tracking and smart notifications. Absolute minimum you will get is 40 hours with GPS running full tilt, but that’s a massive single workout.
In reality, we managed to eke around a week from the battery when wearing it constantly (including to bed), training three or four times per week for around an hour and occasionally using it to navigate on a weekend walk.
The Coros Pace 3 is a strong entry in the best cheap running watch stakes, and perhaps has even earned a place as one of the best running watches released this year. It’s a slender and lightweight device at 32g with a nylon strap (39g, if you opt for silicon), but it’s a powerhouse for evaluating your running performance, collecting plenty of information on stride length, cadence, heart rate zones, elevation and more, presenting it all in an accessible, legible format.
Music storage, a redesigned rear sensor array, a toggle on-off touchscreen functionality and improved satellite navigation tech have meant a small price increase, but it’s still an excellent buy unless you own its admittedly similar predecessor. It’s a superb stripped-back running companion and should serve most recreational road-runners very well indeed.
It isn’t perfect by any means: its light, plastic construction and lack of a properly raised bezel mean it isn’t particularly rugged and is unlikely to stand up to a great deal of punishment on your adventures. I wouldn’t wear it on the trails, or while scrambling up mountainsides, for instance. It falls flat next to the best Garmin watches and best Apple Watches, too, purely from a “smart” perspective, with both offering far superior notification and third-party app interfaces, on-wrist payment options, and more ways to interact with your watch in general.
However, this is what I mean when I say “stripped-back”. It will be great in the middle of a race, and a terrific budget buy for fun-runners and annual marathon participants – but it has a long way to go as a lifestyle watch. Still, for under $250 / £219 / AU$399, it’s a wonderful running watch and I wouldn’t think twice about hitting the roads with the Coros Pace 3 on my arm.
Coros Pace 3: Specifications
Coros Pace 3: Price and availability
Costs $229 in the US
£219 in the UK
AU$399 in Australia
The Coros Pace 3 is available worldwide, costing $229 in the US, £219 in the UK, and AU$399 in Australia. That’s pretty cheap compared to most of the best running watches, such as the Polar Pacer Pro – and I’d place the Coros Pace 3 in a similar bracket to the Polar.
Some of the best fitness trackers such as the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, higher-end bands such as the Fitbit Charge 5, and specialist running watches such as the Garmin Forerunner 55 all run cheaper. But these are a little more outdated, and not as feature-packed as the Pace 3.
More expensive running watches such as the Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, or even higher-end watches such as the Apple Watch Ultra, all feel less cheap, are far more durable, and offer better smart capabilities. However, you might be hard-pressed to get more running metrics from most watches that cost even twice as much as the Pace 3’s asking price.
Value score: 5/5
Coros Pace 3: Design
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Lightweight plastic chassis
Simple to navigate watch
Intuitive app layout
The design of the Coros Pace 3 is fairly bare-bones, with a white polymer case and bezel that meets a mineral glass LCD screen. The screen is bright enough to see in most settings, although a little faint in bright, direct sunlight. Plus, it doesn’t have the charm of Garmin’s MIP display, nor the full-bodied brightness of a responsive OLED screen such as the Garmin Venu 2. The screen is touch-sensitive, which can be toggled from navigation-only to always-on, but more on that later.
Bands are available in both silicon and nylon options – we were given the nylon strap to test. The rip-away nylon and velcro feels comfortable; it isn’t irritating and won’t budge on runs (at least, it didn’t during my tests). However, it isn’t the best-looking option for everyday wear. It can feel like a wide festival wristband at times, and really emphasizes its place as a running tool rather than an everyday watch. Which sounds fine in essence; but when it arrives with a long battery life that is in place to ensure the device can be exercised, slept and lived in to monitor recovery, you at least want something that looks nice.
It’s lucky, then, that the design on the software side is nice and economical. Pressing the lower button on the watch’s right-hand side takes you out of your watch face and into a menu of workouts and other system settings, such as Music and Navigation. You can then scroll up, down and select these options with the Apple-style digital crown. Pressing the digital crown first, instead of the lower button, takes you to a widget stack. This displays your vital stats such as steps, floors, running fitness and so on.
It’s an elegant design and works well, and this ethos is shared in the companion Coros app. The “Progress” tab is your main port of call, showing you your vital stats, training calendar, running fitness and recovery metrics, including your sleep, HRV index and even body mass (if you’re diligent enough to continue recording it) at a glance. The “Activities” tab allows you to review your most recent workouts in more detail, while the “Explore” tab takes you to a GPS map feature that allows you to generate routes, which you can import into your watch as courses to be followed via breadcrumbs.
Design score: 4/5
Coros Pace 3: Features
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Tons of excellent metrics
Not many smart features
No app-based music control
Features-wise, there’s a lot for runners to love here. The newly redesigned rear sensor array offers advanced heart rate metrics, including heart rate variability while you sleep, and BPM measurements taken at 10-minute intervals throughout the day. You can scroll back through the day on-watch using the rotating crown, or even further in the app. During a workout, those new optical heart rate sensors help to calculate aerobic and anaerobic power, your heart rate zones (explained in full, as opposed to simply numbered as they are in most watches), while the gyroscope looks at cadence and stride, and the GPS calculates elevation and distance.
It’s all presented in granular detail, but never feels impenetrable. It isn’t quite as clean and slick as Apple or Samsung’s presentation, but it’s decent. Sleep tracking is present and feeds into recovery metrics, but no advice is given about how you can improve your sleep. As such, those looking for serious guidance or information about their chronotypes might be better off with one of the best Fitbit watches or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.
Fitness tests can be taken and the results logged, and perhaps my favorite feature is “running fitness” – a catch-all widget that offers a granular score based on the performance of your most recent runs. It’s a bit like Garmin’s Endurance and Readiness scores all rolled into one, and the drive to push it up (it started me at 0! The cheek!) has kept me on the roads this week.
However, as someone who doesn’t own a lot of music and mostly relies on Spotify these days, I was disappointed about the lack of music control features. Music storage is available, but if you want to toggle stuff on your phone from your watch, you’re out of luck. No loading your card onto your watch to make payments, either. If you want to do anything other than simply run, you’ll need your phone with you. Call and text notifications are available, but no third-party app widgets or interfaces (other than Strava, and so on) also means no Whatsapp. Like the Polar Pacer Pro, it feels very much like a training tool.
Features score: 3.5/5
Coros Pace 3: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
Super impressive battery life
Great performance on the road
Touchscreen a little laggy
I tested the Coros Pace 3 on several runs on holiday and at home, and was impressed with the quality, accuracy and breadth of the metrics collected. I was able to create a course in-app and follow it on the watch with little difficulty, although it’s in breadcrumb format rather than full-color maps such as those offered by the top Garmin devices. I was very pleased with the graphs of cadence and stride length, and the Pace 3 even produces on-wrist running power – a feature even the best Garmin watches have struggled with until relatively recently.
Each metric provides not only a graph, but a breakdown of the reasons it matters to your running performance and how it’s measured. This might not sound like a big addition, but it’s massively important: it makes the watch and the information it collects so much less impenetrable and far more accessible. GPS maps of your routes are present, although I’d like a Garmin-style heat signature map of your effort at certain points along the way. I also tried some of the other workout profiles, such as pool swims, and was impressed: I attained information about water temperature and stroke counts, which are essential metrics for triathletes.
I was also blown away by the battery life. After casual use of GPS mode over 10 days or so after its initial full charge, my watch is sitting pretty at 40%. It looks like those claims of a full 24 days in Smartwatch mode, and up to 38 hours in GPS mode, are pretty accurate after all. Expect the watch to last around 18-20 days or so with moderate use, and probably two weeks for power users. This isn’t to be sneezed at for any watch, but at this price point it’s a revelation. Coros has been hard at work to extend the Pace 3’s battery life, and it shows, even with an always-on display.
However, one thing that did prove a little frustrating is the touchscreen. An LCD touchscreen was never going to match the silky refresh rate of an OLED Apple Watch, but I still ended up turning it off, using the buttons and rotating crown to move through the watch’s internal architecture with little difficulty.
I ended my test a little irritated at the lack of the watch’s smart features, but pleased overall with its performance on the road.
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 was reviewed in October 2022, and the Vivosmart range hasn't been updated since then. However, it's still the cheapest tracker in Garmin's stable, and band-based fitness trackers haven't moved forward all that much as a category since its release. For our money, it's still a good buy for budding runners, cyclists, and generally active people especially as it can be found quite cheaply now. It provides access to the very sophisticated Garmin Connect app, which can help you comprehensively plan your training and recovery for specific events.
The rest of this review remains as previously published.
Two-minute review
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is a lightweight fitness tracker that takes the fight directly to Fitbit – and fares well. It's certainly not as attractive as devices like the Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit Luxe thanks to its rather utilitarian design and monochrome screen, but it's practical and puts a huge amount of data right at your fingertips.
Key specs
Size: 19.5 x 10.7 x 217mm (small), 19.5 x 10.7 x 255mm (large) Weight with strap: 24.5g (small), 26.5g (large) Display type: grayscale OLED GPS: No Sports modes: 14 total, 10 available on watch at a time Operating system: Garmin Watch OS
The most obvious upgrade from the Vivosmart 4 is the larger, higher resolution screen. Garmin makes good use of all that extra space to cram in an impressive array of data – including graphs and charts to show trends, which is something you don't get on many fitness trackers this size. Despite the lack of color to differentiate different pieces of data, it's all clear and easy to interpret at a glance.
Unlike the Fitbit Charge 5, the Vivosmart 5 lacks on-board GPS, meaning it's dependent on a Bluetooth connection to your phone for monitoring your route and pace during outdoor activities. It can also use its on-board accelerometer to estimate distance and pace, but it's only a rough guide and shouldn't be relied upon if you're training for an event.
While some of Fitbit's best features (including advanced sleep and stress insights) are only available if you have a Fitbit Premium subscription, all of Garmin's data and stats are yours to browse free of charge in the excellent Garmin Connect app. You'll also find a selection of guided workouts to follow, plus adaptive training plans for cycling and running. You won't get the vast library of videos that you do with Fitbit's premium service, but Garmin doesn't lock anything behind a paywall.
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 looks very similar to the Vivosmart 4 at first glance, but there are several notable differences, including a new interchangeable band (Image credit: Future)
The Vivosmart 5 isn't quite as beginner-friendly as an entry-level Fitbit, putting statistics front and center, but if you're a bit of a data nerd then that approach will definitely appeal.
The Vivosmart 5 could also be a smart choice if you already own a full-fat Garmin sports watch but find it cumbersome for everyday wear in between training sessions. The Garmin Connect app supports multiple devices, and all your data is pooled together, regardless of which watch you were wearing.
Price and release date
Released April 2022
Cost $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$229 at launch
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 was released on 20 April, 2022 – four years after the Vivosmart 4 – with a recommended retail price of $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.
That's a standard price for a higher-end fitness tracker, but if you're starting to get serious about running and are looking for a watch with GPS that'll give you guidance on your training, you can currently pick up the excellent Garmin Forerunner 55 for only a little more.
The Vivosmart 5 is controlled using a physical button and a touchscreen (Image credit: Future)
Battery life
Seven days in smartwatch mode
Four days with all sensors and sleep tracking enabled
The Vivosmart 5 offers the same battery life as the Vivosmart 4. Garmin quotes a maximum runtime of seven days in smartwatch mode, but enabling SpO2 monitoring will cut that significantly. In our tests, the watch lasted four days and nights with 24-hour SpO2 monitoring enabled, and tracking one workout per day. We were able to recharge the battery from flat in a little over two hours.
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 uses the same proprietary charging cable as all the company's recent watches (Image credit: Future)
Design and display
Larger display than Vivosmart 4
Available in two sizes
New physical button on face
First of all, it's worth noting that the Garmin Vivosmart 5 comes in two sizes: small/medium (for wrists with a circumference between 122mm and 188mm), and large (for wrists with a circumference between 148mm and 228mm).
At first glance, both versions look very similar to the Vivosmart 4. The tracker itself has a slim build, and sits in a soft silicone band/case. This time around though, the band is replaceable; just bend the band back a little to pop the tracking unit out, then push it into the new strap – no tools necessary.
The Vivomove 5 lacks the aluminum bezel of its predecessor – a decision that makes it look a little less stylish, but almost certainly helped Garmin's designers save a few precious grams. The small/medium version we tested is just 24.5g including its band, while the large model is 26.5g, making it seriously lightweight.
Garmin has replaced the capacitive button of the Vivosmart 4 with a physical button that's easier to operate while wearing gloves (Image credit: Future)
Garmin has also swapped the capacitive button at the bottom of the watch's face for a physical one. This might seem like a strange choice as it interrupts the device's sleek lines, but it's a decision we welcome because it makes the Vivosmart 5 much easier to operate when you're wearing gloves, or have wet hands (the device is water resistant for swimming, though not for diving or fast watersports).
On the reverse, you'll find the optical heart rate and SpO2 sensors, plus the charging socket. The Vivosmart 5 uses the same proprietary charging cable as all other Garmin devices used in recent years, and it plugs in securely.
Perhaps the most obvious difference between the Vivosmart 5 and its predecessor is its new, larger OLED screen. The Vivosmart 5 has a higher resolution display than its predecessor, but it's still monochrome rather than color. This makes it less striking than the Fitbit Luxe, but Garmin's designers have used the limited space and palette in a smart way, conveying an impressive amount of of data on each screen. Rather than being cut off (as was sometimes the case with the Vivosmart 4), longer snippets of text scroll, and you can see at least three stats on screen at any one time.
The Vivosmart 5 has a significantly larger display than its predecessor, though it's still monochrome rather than color (Image credit: Future)
The Vivosmart 5 also has an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the brightness of the screen dynamically to suit the current conditions. We found it worked well, but it's also possible to pick a brightness level manually, adjust the timeout period before the screen goes to sleep, or even choose always-on mode (though all of these will have an impact on battery life).
Everyday health tracking
Excellent sleep tracking
SpO2 monitoring drains battery rapidly
All-day stress monitoring works well
The Vivosmart 5 monitors sleep automatically, and in our tests it accurately detected when we fell asleep and woke – and its sleep stage tracking largely aligned with that recorded by our Withings Sleep Analyzer. Each morning you'll be presented with a mini report, including a sleep score (based on your sleep duration and time spent in each stage), a tiny weather forecast for the day ahead, and a quick overview of your upcoming calendar eventes. You can explore your sleep data in more detail using the Garmin Connect app.
The only downside is that Garmin's sleep tracking doesn't account for naps, and if you grab 40 winks in the evening, it can throw out your nightly data. Naps are something Amazfit devices track well, and we've got our fingers crossed that Garmin will update its sleep and recovery algorithms to accommodate them soon.
The Garmin Vivosmart 4 tracks sleep automatically, measuring heart rate, movement, respiration, and stress (Image credit: Future)
You can also choose to enable SpO2 monitoring overnight, or 24 hours a day, but as mentioned earlier, this has a huge impact on battery life. Unless you're particularly concerned about oxygen saturation (if you suspect you may suffer from sleep apnea, or are training at altitude for example), leaving it off may be a sensible compromise.
Garmin combines data from your sleep and daily activities to generate a Body Battery score. Much like Fitbit's readiness score, this is an estimate of how much energy you have to tackle tasks throughout the day, but unlike Fitbit's metric, Garmin devices like the Vivosmart 5 allow you to see changes in real time and adapt your plans on the fly. If you were planning a tough training session but your body battery is running low, it might be wise to take it easier with a more gentle recovery session.
It's a useful tool, and your current Body Battery score is only a tap away on the Vivosmart 5. There's also a handy line graph showing how your score has changed over the last four hours, and a note to inform you whether your Body Battery is 'charging' or 'draining'. It's a lot of data to cram into such a small space, and reduces the need to open the app on your phone for more data.
The Vivosmart 5 displays your current Body Battery score, and tapping this will allow you to see a chart of your energy level over the last four hours (Image credit: Future)
All-day stress monitoring is another helpful feature. Unlike the Fitbit Sense and Charge 5, which measure stress by checking for changes in the electrical conductivity of your stress, the Vivosmart 5 uses an algorithm called Firstbeat Analytics that's based on heart rate variability.
It can't always determine the difference between physical and emotional stress, but is suspended during tracked workouts, so should give you a good general idea of your mental state. If you are starting to feel the tension, the Vivosmart 5 (like all recent Garmin watches) can lead you through a very basic but effective square breathing exercise to lower your heart rate.
The Vivosmart 5 will track your energy level throughout the day, with live updates on the watch itself, and measure stress via heartrate variability (Image credit: Future)
Workout tracking
Can store 10 workout tracking modes
No on-board GPS
Responsive heart rate monitor
First, it's important to note that (like last year's Garmin Lily) the Garmin Vivosmart 5 doesn't have an on-board GPS module. Instead, it uses your phone's GPS chip to track your pace and route during outdoor activities, so if you choose to run or cycle without your handset, you'll only see basic workout stats at the end.
There's a huge range of different sports profiles to choose from, but the little Vivosmart 5 can only store 10 at a time, so you'll need to take a moment to set up your preferred activities in the Garmin Connect app before hitting the pavement, the pool, or the gym. Once that's done, just press the button on the tracker's face, select Activities, and you're ready to get started.
The Vivosmart 5 doesn't have the same heart rate monitor as Garmin's recent sports watches, but it's responsive nonetheless, and its readings largely align with those recorded by the company's pricier wearables (Image credit: Future)
Automatic activity tracking also works well, and you can choose how long the Vivosmart 5 should wait before beginning to record.
However, bear in mind that the device won't connect to your phone's GPS unless you begin monitoring your workout manually. You'll still get distance measured using the device's accelerometer, but it won't be as accurate. In a measured 5km run, it was 150m short, and pace was quite dramatically off during an interval training session.
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 doesn't have on-board GPS, so if your phone isn't within Bluetooth range it can only estimate your pace and distance using its accelerometer (Image credit: Future)
The Vivosmart 5 doesn't use the same heart rate monitor as recent watches like the Fenix 7 and Forerunner 55, but nevertheless it proved accurate and responsive in our interval training tests. You can also choose to broadcast your heart rate to a paired device via ANT+ compatible devices like treadmills (look for the ANT+ logo on your machine or check its manual to find out if yours will play along).
Once your workout is over, data is shared with the Garmin Connect app almost immediately provided your phone is within Bluetooth range. The watch can store data from seven timed activities, so don't worry if you can't sync it straight away.
Other tools
No on-board music storage
App and call notifications
The Vivosmart 5 has no on-board music storage, but that's to be expected for a device this small. You can, however, use it as a remote control for your phone's media player, meaning you don't have to dig your handset out of a pocket or armband mid-run when you want to switch tracks.
You can't use it to take calls either (you'll need the Garmin Venu 2 Plus for that). You will, however, be alerted to incoming calls and texts via customizable vibration on your wrist, and you can see small snippets of SMS, email, and app notifications by tapping them when they appear on the Vivosmart 5's display.
Another handy feature is the ability to find your phone using the Vivosmart 5 or vice versa – even if your phone is on silent. It's very loud, and very effective if you're disorganized.
Companion app
Data syncs almost instantly
Well organized and easy to understand
Nothing behind a paywall
Like all Garmin fitness trackers and sports watches, the Vivosmart 5 syncs data with Garmin Connect. The app supports multiple devices, so if you own a chunky GPS watch and are thinking of picking up a Vivosmart to wear in between workouts, you'll have no trouble doing so – all your health and workout data will be collected together, regardless of which device was used to record it.
Garmin Connect is one of the best apps of its type, presenting a huge amount of data in a way that's clear and easy to understand. The app's homescreen is a dashboard containing stats for the current day such as heart rate, stress level, Body Battery (Garmin's name for your energy level), menstrual cycle, and recent workouts. You can add, remove, and rearrange these at will.
Tap any stat or dive into the app's menu, and you can drill down through increasingly detailed data on your health, fitness, and training.
There's no need to pay a subscription fee to see historic data in the Garmin Connect app (Image credit: Future)
Everything in Garmin Connect is free, but if you're thinking of trading in your Fitbit, you should be aware that there are far fewer instructor-led workouts on offer here. If you're a runner or a cyclist then you'll appreciate the adaptive training plans that are designed to help you hit a particular goal (like completing a sportive or setting a new half marathon personal best), but you don't get the huge catalog of video tutorials you do with Fitbit Premium membership.
Which fitness tracker suits you best will depend on the type of experience you're looking for. If you're already happily settled into a workout routine, then the data-rich Vivosmart 5 may be the device for you, but if you want inspiration and more of a community experience then it's worth considering whether Fitbit membership will fit into your monthly budget.
• Original review date: March 2022 • Instinct 3 rumored for launch • Launch price: $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 • Official price now: $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549
Update: November 2024. In 2024 the Garmin Instinct 2 is still one of the best Garmin Watches on the market, especially for outdoor adventure. It hasn't changed since its first release, boasting a great range of sizes, a slim but tough chassis, great training tools, very good GPS, and formidable battery life.
Maps remain a small weakness, but otherwise, this is a great pick. At two years old, it's also a prime candidate for a hefty discount during major sales events, so it really pays to shop around for a bargain. That's even more true now that a rumored Instinct 3 should be just around the corner. You might want to wait, but early signs indicate the upgrade might not be huge, making the Instinct 2 a great alternative choice.
Two-minute review
What sets the Garmin Instinct 2 apart from other running watches in its price band are its tough build and practical design. It’s thoughtfully crafted and no-nonsense, but unlike the original Garmin Instinct, it’s is fun rather than austere. It’s still hard as nails for tough outdoor use, with exceptional battery life (factors that made the original Instinct one of our all-time favorite running watches), but the Instinct 2 also lends itself well to extreme sports where it’s going to take more than a few knocks and spills. Want a watch for skating or BMX? Look no further.
This fun new direction is reflected in a jazzier color palette, including hues like poppy red and electric lime, and the new ability to download custom apps and faces to make the watch your own. It’s certainly not a subtle watch, but it’s loud in a self-aware way.
(Image credit: Future)
Although not cheap, the Instinct 2 is one of the more affordable watches in Garmin’s current lineup, which again makes it an appealing choice if you’re younger and not planning to drop over $500 on a watch like the Fenix 7 or Forerunner 945.
Battery life for all versions of the watch is very impressive, and the models topped with Garmin’s photovoltaic Power Glass are very tough to beat. Even if your lifestyle means you don’t catch enough rays to keep the watch running indefinitely, it’ll easily last weeks between charges rather than days.
The Instinct 2’s monochrome memory-in-pixel (MIP) display is a sensible choice – clearly visible in all lighting conditions and modest in its power consumption – but it does have one significant drawback, and that’s navigation. While the Instinct 2 does allow you to upload your own custom courses via Garmin Connect, and can track your location and lead you back to the start, maps on the screen are very basic. There’s only a line to show your route, and an arrow to lead you in the right direction – no road markings, landmarks, or other details to help you find your way.
GPS accuracy is excellent though, and in our pre-measured 5km test, the Instinct 2 was accurate to within a handful of meters. Heart rate tracking is excellent as well, and thanks to the new smaller 40mm case option, it’s more practical and comfortable to wear at night so you benefit from full 24-hour health tracking.
(Image credit: Future)
Price and release date
Launched early 2022
Mid-range price
The Garmin Instinct 2 launched on February 9, 2022. Prices range from $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 for the standard edition watch, through to $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$749 for the solar tactical and surf editions, placing it squarely in the mid-range when it comes to running watches.
The original Instinct retailed at $399 / £269.99 / AU$299.99 when it went on sale in 2018, so the new watch is actually slightly cheaper than the original if you’re based in the US. That’s a pretty great deal considering how much more the second-gen device has to offer. There are Garmin promo codes that could save you more too.
Watch models
45mm and 40mm case options
Power Glass models available
Tactical, Surf, Camo, and Dezl editions
The Garmin Instinct 2 isn’t a single watch, but an entire series. First of all, there are now two case sizes to consider: the standard 45mm, and a new 40mm diameter model. The watch we tested here was the 40mm Garmin Instinct 2S, and although 5mm shaved off the case size might not sound like much, it makes the watch much more comfortable and practical for smaller wrists.
You can also take your pick from standard or solar models, the latter of which uses Garmin’s Power Glass to gather energy from the sun and extend battery life. You’ll still need to give the watch an initial charge, and heavy use will gradually discharge it, but if your needs are modest and you soak up a decent amount of daylight on a regular basis (Garmin gives the example of working as a lifeguard) then you may never need to charge it up again.
(Image credit: Future)
The solar models are a little more expensive, but the photovoltaic material doesn’t have any effect on the look of the display, so it’s well worth considering the extra investment to avoid frequent charging.
As with the original Instinct, there are also special Surf, Tactical, and Camo editions of the Instinct 2. The Surf edition adds extra tools including tide data and a dedicated surf tracking mode that records details including waves surfed, maximum height, and distance travelled. It also comes with Garmin’s Surfline app pre-installed, showing conditions at your five nearest surf spots.
The Tactical edition has a stealth mode that cuts off all wireless communications, a screen mode designed for reading with night vision goggles, and a killswitch that deletes all data stored on the watch, including location information. It also has Garmin’s Jumpmaster app installed for skydiving.
The Camo edition doesn’t add any extra functions or apps, but has a camouflage patterned band and case.
The Instinct 2 is also available in a Dezl edition for professional truck drivers, which connects to Garmin’s in-cab navigation systems and can show important health stats and alerts on the bigger screen. It syncs with a new Dezl app, which can guide truckers through simple exercise routines while they’re taking a break.
(Image credit: Future)
Design and display
Slimmer than original Instinct
Relatively lightweight
Monochrome MIP display
Garmin is leaning on the youth angle with the Instinct 2, and the watch’s overall look is leaner than its predecessor, even if you opt for the classic 45mm resin case rather than the compact 40mm. There’s no difference in weight (both old and new watches weigh 52g), but while the original Instinct was 15.3mm thick, the second-gen watch has been slimmed down to 14.5mm. That’s a tiny difference, but paired with a slightly simplified bezel design, it makes the new watch feel significantly less cumbersome.
The 40mm Instinct 2 S we tested is leaner still at 13.3mm, and when placed on the scales it weighed 43g including the silicone band. Garmin’s quoted weight is 42g, but there’s always a little variability between devices.
For comparison, the 41mm Apple Watch 7 weighs 32g in aluminum, 42.3g in stainless steel, and 37g in titanium. Its 45mm counterpart is 38.8g in aluminum, 51.5g in stainless steel, and 41.5g in titanium.
(Image credit: Future)
While the original Instinct came in a fairly sober range of colors, the second-gen watch is available in some much brighter shades including poppy red and electric lime – there are even some dual-color options if you choose the Surf edition, or you can switch the band for something different using the quick release pins on the back.
Like the original Instinct, the Instinct 2 has a monochrome memory-in-pixel display, with a small circular cut-out that shows contextual information while you’re navigating through menus, and can show data like the current date, your step count, or calories burned while you’re using the device in smartwatch mode.
The Instinct 2’s display has a much higher resolution than its predecessor – 176 x 176 pixels compared to 128 x 128 pixels for the original. This results in clearer text and icons, and means Garmin has been able to fit more data onto the display at once without sacrificing legibility,
(Image credit: Future)
A monochrome face might seem an odd choice when more and more smartwatches are arriving with bright color displays, but it makes a lot of sense for the Instinct 2. It uses far less power than an AMOLED display (like that of the Garmin Epix and Venu 2), and it offers more contrast than a color MIP screen (which was one of our few complaints about the Garmin Fenix 7).
There are a few drawbacks, though. It can be tougher to differentiate between different stats at a glance – you can’t check your heart rate zone by simply glancing at a color-coded icon, for example – and it’s not so great for maps.
The lack of a touchscreen isn’t ideal for maps either, as it makes panning tricky, though the five-button interface is handy for all other functions and works well with wet or gloved hands. All buttons are clearly labelled, too
Battery life
Indefinite for solar models
Longer for 45mm watches than 40mm
As always, the longevity of this watch's battery will vary depending on how you use it. Functions like SpO2 monitoring and GPS will drain power more rapidly, but if you've opted for one of the solar models, you can expect your Instinct 2 to last much, much longer between charges.
Here are Garmin's quoted figures for the regular and solar editions of the Instinct 2 and the smaller Instinct 2S:
Those are the most impressive figures we've seen for any running watch to date, and Garmin assures us that for the solar 45mm model, indefinite battery life is a real possibility,
In our tests, the Garmin Instinct 2S Solar lasted approximately two weeks with no sunlight exposure and an average of one workout per week. When exposed to sunlight, however, the battery meter barely dropped, even with SpO2 monitoring and regular use of GPS for activity tracking. Although the power level is gradually declining and won't last forever, at the time of writing we've not needed to give it a second charge.
When you eventually do need to juice it up, the Garmin Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S both use the same proprietary USB cable as the rest of Garmin's watches, which plugs securely into the back of the case.
(Image credit: Future)
Smartwatch features
24-hour health monitoring
Garmin Pay
Remote music controls
The original Garmin Instinct was a brilliant sports watch, but its chunky, utilitarian design meant it wasn’t one we were inclined to wear it as a regular timepiece. The Garmin Instinct 2’s slimmer profile, optional 40mm case and new colorways mean it’s fun rather than purely functional, so you’re more likely to wear it as an everyday smartwatch.
When you do, you’ll benefit from a wealth of everyday health monitoring features, including Garmin's Body Battery tool, which tracks factors including heart rate, sleep, and activity to tell you how much energy you have for the day ahead. It’s not unlike Fitbit and Oura’s readiness scores, but unlike those metrics, your Body Battery score is updated throughout the day so you can balance activity and rest on the fly.
There’s no microphone, so you can’t take calls or use your phone’s voice assistant from your wrist as you can with the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, but if you own an Android phone then you can automatically reject calls with a text message. Like many of the watch’s more advanced features, that’s easy to set up and customize in the Garmin Connect app.
Unlike the original Instinct, the Instinct 2 allows you to download additional faces and apps from Garmin Connect IQ. The watch’s dual-screen design means it’s not compatible with Garmin’s custom face designer, but the extra options let you prioritize the data and tools that really matter to you – or just pick something that looks a bit slicker than the default design.
(Image credit: Future)
The Instinct 2 also supports Garmin Pay for making contactless purchases and paying for public transport, and you can use it to control the music on your phone without digging through your pockets for your handset. That's particularly useful in cold weather, as the watch's buttons are easy to operate while wearing gloves.
Fitness tracking
Wide range of activities (plus multi-sports mode)
Advanced training tools for running, cycling, swimming
Screen doesn't work well for mapping
Like all Garmin watches, the Instinct 2 offers extremely accurate GPS; in our measured 5km test it was accurate to within 50 meters, which is one of the best results we’ve ever seen from a running watch. It’s quick to establish a satellite lock as well, so you won’t be waiting around in the cold before you start your run, walk or ride.
There are profiles for a huge range of activities, with a multi-sport mode for events like triathlons and duathlons so you don't have to stop tracking between each stage. You can take your pick from the entire list any time, but when setting up the watch you’ll be prompted to choose just a handful that you use most frequently. When you press the activity button (top right) it’ll select the activity in the middle rather than the top of the list to minimize scrolling – the type of small but thoughtful touch that characterizes the Instinct 2.
(Image credit: Future)
The watch will detect certain activities automatically, and while some older Garmin watches had a habit of recording unknown workouts as elliptical training, the Instinct 2 does a great job of differentiating between them.
As is usually the case, though, it's runners, cyclists and swimmers who get the most training tools. These include suggested run workouts (a handy way to ensure you're mixing up your training and not getting stuck in a rut), training load (so you can avoid under- or over-training), and training effect (so you can see whether your last workout was chiefly aerobic or anaerobic).
(Image credit: Future)
These are all tools we've seen in other recent Garmin running watches, and we're pleased to see that they've made their way to the mid-range Instinct as well. This isn't a watch built with seriously competitive athletes in mind, but those at an earlier stage in their fitness journey stand to gain a lot from this kind of bespoke guidance.
Recovery time is also an extremely useful tool; even if you're a regular runner or rider, you might be surprised just how long it can take to recover from an intense effort, and if you don't get sufficient rest then the Instinct 2 will factor this in and extend your recovery period.
(Image credit: Future)
We put the watch to the test for several sweaty indoor cycling sessions, and found that the watch quickly detected changes in heart rate throughout the workout, and once we were done, accurately identified which heart rate zones we were training in. The watch remained comfortable throughout, and sat comfortable against our skin as the temperature rose – something recorded by the watch’s built-in thermometer.
The Instinct 2 will also track your respiration rate, which is useful during workouts and at night, when it can be a handy indicator of how deeply you're sleeping.
The only real downside for the Instinct 2 is mapping. It’s possible to create routes in Garmin Connect and transfer them to to watch (a process that’s quick and easy), but when you come to use them, the lack of on-screen detail means finding your way can be surprisingly tricky.
(Image credit: Future)
The screen’s small sub-window provides a useful directional arrow to help you get your bearing, but the lack of information on-screen means you’ll have to really pay attention to make sure you’re going the right way. If you’re hoping to use your watch to navigate new areas regularly, you’ll be much better served by the Garmin Fenix 7, which absolutely excels here.
Companion app
Deep insights into historic data
Biometrics clearly presented and explained
The Garmin Instinct 2 syncs with the excellent Garmin Connect app, which is one of the most refined and well developed of its kind. All your daily stats are presented in a fully customizable dashboard, with panels to show metrics such as heart rate, Body Battery (your current energy level), sleep score, stress recent workouts, and much more. You can add, remove, and rearrange panels to suit your preferences, and any changes will be saved for future use.
(Image credit: Future)
Tapping a panel will open a more detailed view, showing information from the last day, week, month, and even further back. Unlike some apps (we’re looking at you, Fitbit) there’s no separate fee to pay in order to review historic data and look for trends that can give you a better understanding of your habits and their effects. Every metric is clearly explained, with an information screen describing exactly what it means for your health; unlike some apps, Garmin Connect doesn't expect prior knowledge.
If you don’t have time to browse through historic stats, that’s not an issue – the app will provide you with occasional ‘insights’ based on your lifestyle and workouts. For example, if you tend to take fewer steps on a Thursday, the app will nudge you to get outside and take a stroll before the day is out.
There's also no charge to use the various workout programs included with Garmin Connect, including the bespoke cycling and running plans that can help you prepare for a new event, or aim for a personal best.
Just enter a few key details including the time you hope to achieve, and how many times per week you want to train, then select a coach and the app will put together a personalized plan just for you, which you can sync with your Instinct 2. The plan will adapt on the fly based on your performance in training sessions, and will even shift workouts around if you decide you need to skip a day.
(Image credit: Future)
As we mentioned earlier, you can also use Garmin Connect to plan routes and transfer them to your running watch, but that's a feature that works best with watches like the Fenix 7 or Epix (Gen 2); to get the most out of the navigation tools, you really need a high-res color display that can show streets, paths, and landmarks.
The app will, however, tell you a lot about yourself, and taking time to drill through the various options in the Training, Health Stats, and Performance Stats menus will show you the impact your efforts are having on your health, and spur you on to tweak your regular workouts.
Buy it if
You're hard on your watches The Instinct 2 might be slimmer than its predecessor, but it's still built like a tank and will shrug off serious knocks.
You want to leave the charger at home The Instinct 2 offers extremely long battery life, and the solar edition can keep running indefinitely with sufficient sunlight.
Don't buy it if
You want to go exploring The Garmin Instinct 2's monchrome MIP display means it doesn't handle maps all that well. Sure, you can upload routes, but with limited detail visible on-screen, you might have a hard time following them.
• Original review date: October 2021 • New Fenix 8 launched September 2024 • Launch price: $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049 • Official price now: $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049
Update: November 2024. The Garmin Genix 7 was recently supplanted by the Fenix 8 at the very top of Garmin's range. The new model for 2024 packs advanced GPS and a new heart rate sensor, but it is very expensive. The Fenix 7 wasn't cheap in its heyday either, but you can normally find a pretty good deal on one these days, making it an attractive pick.
Savings of nearly 30% off make the Fenix 7 an enticing pick over some of Garmin's mid-range models, or a great cheaper alternative to the Fenix 8. In fact, if you find the right deal, you might end up paying up to 50% less for your Fenix 7 compared to the newer model, which is a saving not to be sniffed at.
Two-minute review
The Garmin Fenix 7 is designed for anyone who gets a thrill from the competition and wants to push themselves to hit a new high – whether it’s a cycling sportive, a half marathon, an Ironman, or the gruelling sweat of a CrossFit competition. The Fenix 7 doesn’t assume that you’ve already nailed down a full training plan and know exactly how to balance work and recovery, though – it gives you tools that will help you understand your current fitness level, set a realistic goal, and train in a way that will help you achieve it.
It packs the same advanced workout tracking and training tools that made the Garmin Fenix 6 the best multi-sports watch around back in 2019, but also introduces some new features that make it all more accessible to new users.
The most obvious upgrade here is the introduction of a touchscreen. The watch still has the five physical buttons of previous Fenix watches (including a newly reinforced start button), but it's a huge help for panning across maps. It's been carefully implemented, though; the screen is locked by default during workouts to prevent accidental button presses, and Fenix purists can opt to deactivate touch entirely if they prefer.
The display is still memory-in-pixel rather than AMOLED like the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) or Garmin Venu 2. It's readily legible in most lights but lacks contrast, and the use of a blue rather than white backlight means its colors are sometimes muddy. However, it's part of what makes the Fenix 7 so frugal with its power usage. This is a watch that can keep running for weeks in the right conditions, and even the non-solar versions offer impressive longevity.
The Garmin Fenix 7 comes in three sizes, and is available in standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar editions (Image credit: Future)
On the software side, there's a new real-time stamina meter that shows how your energy declines during a workout so you can adjust your effort accordingly. This is the first time it's been possible to see changes in stamina in a chart that you can read at a glance.
There's also a new on-screen race predictor that estimates how your current training regime will affect your 5k, 10k, and half marathon race times. This data was already available in the Garmin Connect app, but the new chart on your wrist allows you to see how your times are trending – and hopefully dropping – thanks to your efforts.
If you're already happy with your Fenix 6 then we wouldn't recommend rushing out to upgrade right away, but the Fenix 7 is packed with thoughtfully crafted new features and refinements that make a real difference in everyday training.
Garmin Fenix 7: Price and release date
Available to order now
Costs more than Fenix 6
The Garmin Fenix 7 series launched on January 18, 2022, and is available to buy direct from Garmin. Prices start at $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,049 for the standard version. The top-tier Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is $999.99 / £859.99 / AU$1,499.
That’s a significant increase from the Fenix 6, which started at $599.99 / £529.99 / AU$949 when it launched in 2019. However, it’s much less than the Garmin Epix premium everyday watch, which launched the same day, starting at $899.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,399. While you're working out how to save, check out the Garmin promo codes currently available.
The Garmin Fenix 7 has a thinner bezel than previous models (Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Design
Touchscreen and physical buttons
No increase in weight
Premium materials
Design score: 5/5
The Fenix 7 comes in three sizes (42mm, 47mm, and 51mm), with standard, Solar, and Sapphire Solar variants:
We tested the standard 47mm Sapphire Solar edition, which is the first watch that combines the advantages of its sunlight-harvesting Power Glass with tough crystal.
Our review watch had a graphite gray titanium case and a black silicone strap, but various other colorways are available. The silicone band is a good choice for sport and is easy to clean, but you can also choose a watch bundled with an additional leather or woven strap for everyday use.
The watch uses Garmin's QuickFit bands, which are released from the case housing by pushing down on a plastic clip. They're extremely easy to swap, but aren't interchangeable with the old-style quick-release bands, which are removed by pushing a pin to the side. The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar weighs 73g with the silicone strap attached, and 50g without.
That’s almost exactly the same as the Fenix 6 Solar, which comes in at 72g with its strap, and 49g without. It’s impressive that Garmin has managed to keep the weight consistent while increasing battery life substantially, and improving the screen technology.
The watch has the same five-button setup as the Fenix 6, but adds a touchscreen (Image credit: Future)
The Fenix 7’s interface will be immediately familiar to Fenix 6 users, and consists of five physical buttons together with a touchscreen that locks automatically during activity tracking to avoid accidental pausing or cancelling of activities. If you’d prefer to stick with just the buttons, you can choose to disable the touchscreen completely. It’s also possible to switch it off during sleep to avoid accidental touches at night, but we didn’t find this to be a problem.
Rather than equipping the Fenix 7 with an AMOLED screen like that of the Venu 2 and Epix watches, Garmin has stuck with a transflective memory-in-pixel display. It’s a sensible choice that helps conserve battery life, though it’s not as bright as we might have liked.
It's easy to read in most lighting conditions, but we found it a little lacking in contrast compared to watches like the Garmin Instinct Solar (shown below on the left) and often needed to use the backlight. The fact that this light is blue rather than white means that the screen colors can sometimes look muddy; particularly red and purple shades.
The Garmin Fenix 7 (right) has noticeably lower screen contrast than the Instinct Solar (left) (Image credit: Future)
When it comes to charging, the Fenix 7 uses the same proprietary USB cable as all other Garmin watches released during the last couple of years. This may come as a disappointment to anyone hoping for contactless charging this time around, but the cable is easy to use and plugs securely into the back of the watch.
The Fenix 7 is water resistant to depths of 100m, making it suitable for pool and open water swimming, plus activities like kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding (all of which have their own profiles), but for diving, you’ll want a specialized swimming watch like the Garmin Descent Mk2.
(Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Battery life
Largest model lasts up to five weeks
Customizable battery saving settings
Solar and Sapphire Solar versions available
Battery life score: 5/5
Battery life has always been one of the selling points of Garmin's sports watches, and the Fenix 7 range really delivers. First, though, it's important to note that the life of each watch in the range will depend on the size of its battery, whether it has a solar cell, and the size of that cell.
The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar we tested is equipped with the Garmin's Power Glass, which harvests energy throughout the day to keep the watch’s battery topped up. You’ll still need to plug the watch in occasionally, but the solar cell extends its battery life significantly.
To clarify, you can't charge the watch via solar charging only; it merely reduces the battery drain. You can't just leave the watch out on the sun all day and expect it to be fully charged by the time you collect it in the evening. Exactly how often you'll need to recharge will depend on how you use it and which sensors you choose to enable. These are the figures given by Garmin itself for this particular model:
All of those figures are a huge upgrade on the equivalent Fenix 6 Solar, and real-world performance proved even better. Despite us making regular use of the backlight, tracking an average of one workout per day using GPS, and keeping nocturnal SpO2 monitoring enabled, the watch kept running for three weeks before needing a top-up from its charging cable.
We were also able to try the non-solar Garmin Fenix 7S, and despite having the smallest battery capacity in the range, it retained 56% of its charge after a week of use. That far exceeds Garmin's suggested battery life of 11 days in smartwatch mode alone.
It’s now easier to see the remaining charge level; one of our chief complaints with the Fenix 6 Solar was that you could only see power remaining measured in days, but the Fenix 7 gives you the option of checking the percentage as well. It’s a small but welcome touch.
You can toggle the general Battery Saver mode on and off through the watch itself, or make more specific tweaks through the Garmin Connect smartphone app by disabling certain tracking metrics.
You can adjust battery settings on the watch itself, or within the Garmin Connect app (Image credit: Future)
Garmin Fenix 7: Smartwatch features
Excellent GPS navigation tools
On-board music storage and Garmin Pay
No microphone for hands-free calls
Smartwatch feature score: 4/5
The Garmin Fenix 7 features all the sensors you’d expect from a top-end smartwatch, including the company’s latest generation Elevate 4 optical heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor, and temperature sensor.
SpO2 monitoring can run continuously, overnight, or only on demand during spot-checks. The Garmin Fenix 6 recently received a firmware update that alerts you if you move your wrist too much while the watch is taking an SpO2 reading, and that’s a feature you’ll also see here with the Fenix 7.
The Fenix 7 boasts impressive mapping tools, which are ideal for everyday navigation as well as during training (Image credit: Future)
On the subject of travel, the Fenix 7’s GPS tracking and mapping are excellent. The watch recorded our pre-measured 5km test route to within 50 meters, making it the most accurate running watch we've tested to date.
The Fenix 7 excels for everyday navigation as well, removing the need to have your phone out and clearly visible in an unfamiliar place where it could be easily stolen. The Fenix 7 can even highlight points of interest for you, such as stores and cafes. It’s well thought through and really enhances the Fenix 7 as a watch for everyday use rather than just sports.
Until now, if you wanted a set of maps for your Garmin watch, you'd have to pay for and download them through the Garmin Connect app, but no longer. The Fenix 7 Sapphire editions come with a full set preinstalled, which is extremely useful, and users of the standard models can download their preferred packs directly through the watch using its new Map Manager.
The touchscreen makes panning across maps far easier than using buttons alone, though the MiP display doesn't refresh as quickly as an AMOLED screen, resulting in less smooth scrolling, and the blue-tinted backlight means things aren't always as easy to distinguish as we might like.
The course plotter in Garmin Connect can create a measured route that you can follow with turn-by-turn directions on the Fenix 7 (Image credit: Future)
If you’re tired of your usual running, cycling or walking routes, you can use the course creation tool in Garmin Connect to create a new one; just select a starting point, a distance, and an overall bearing (north, south, east, or west) and the app will generate a suitable route in a couple of seconds. You can then sync this to your Fenix 7, which will give you turn-by-turn directions as you go.
There’s also Garmin’s extremely useful TracBack feature, which lets you tag your starting point and then directs you back there once you’re ready to finish your walk, bike ride or run. It’s ideal for occasions when you want to go on a little adventure, though if you’re out hiking or orienteering, then you should always have a paper map and compass to be safe; the Fenix 7’s multi-band GPS is excellent, but no device is infallible.
Sleep monitoring is also impressive, accurately detecting changes between sleep and wakefulness that sports watches often fail to differentiate. Each morning you’ll receive a sleep score, together with some tips on how to get a better night’s rest, but this data will also be factored into stats such as your body battery, which shows how you're balancing work and recovery.
There’s storage for music, too (the Sapphire editions of the watch give you more space for saving maps and tracks), and you can use the Fenix 7 to listen to songs, podcasts and audiobooks through your phone’s default media player.
When you’re on the move, you can use Garmin Pay to make contactless payments in stores and pay for public transport in many locations. Sadly, most UK-based banks aren't supported, but at least it's also valid for a range of public transport services, including Transport For London.
One feature that’s conspicuously lacking from the Fenix 7 is the microphone featured in the recently released Garmin Venu 2 Plus, which allows you to receive phone calls and use your phone’s voice assistant directly from your wrist. It’s an extremely useful feature to have at your disposal mid-workout, and we’ve got our fingers crossed that Garmin might introduce it at a future date in a Garmin Fenix 7 Plus.
Garmin Fenix 7: Fitness tracking
One of the most accurate GPS watches we've tested
Real-time stamina tracking to help with pacing
Training load guidance for balancing rest and work
Tracking score: 4.5/5
The Fenix 7’s upgraded training tools help you balance work and recovery and make the abstract concept of training load easy to understand. It’s still a watch tailored to serious athletes, but Garmin’s advanced features are now more accessible for those taking their training to the next level.
Perhaps the best example of this real-time stamina tool, which shows how much fuel you have in the tank during your workout. This helps you avoid bottoming out and lets you more accurately judge when to turn around during an out-and-back run.
It’s a practical addition that’s extremely simple to use and accurately reflects your energy levels based on your training load. During runs on tired legs, our reported stamina drained much faster than when we were fresh, and we were able to adjust our training on the fly accordingly.
The Fenix 7 shows how your training affects your race time predictions (Image credit: Future)
The watch’s heart rate monitor is extremely responsive, making this an excellent watch for high-intensity interval training (which is now available as an activity profile). A colored bar at the top of the watch screen allows you to see your current heart rate training zone at any time, so you can increase the effort when you want to push to the next level and see the effects immediately.
Once your activity is finished, the Garmin Connect app will reveal how your stamina decreased – and whether your effort matched your potential. It’s another useful insight that lets you know whether you’re pushing yourself hard enough or holding back as you start to tire.
The Garmin Connect app makes it easy to manage your training load and check the effects of your workout on your fitness (Image credit: Future)
Another new motivational tool is the race predictor, which uses your current performance to estimate how long it will take to complete a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon based on your current fitness. It’s only an estimate, but a graph showing how your predicted time changes based on your training can really galvanize your efforts. It’s all available right on your wrist, so there’s no need to delve into Garmin Connect to find it.
In our tests, Garmin's predicted race times were roughly accurate – erring on the optimistic side – and changed rapidly in response to your most recent performance. We set out to beat our predicted 5k time, and although we didn't quite manage it, the watch set us a tougher goal in response.
The Fenix 7's super-accurate GPS tracking is extremely useful for pacing, and you can check your splits in the Garmin Connect app post-run (Image credit: Future)
You can see your seven-day training load at a glance on the watch face, with advice on whether you need to dial up the intensity, take your foot off the gas, or stay where you are for optimal results.
The Fenix 7 isn’t just a runner’s watch, though – it also has an impressive set of tools for cyclists and can be connected to the company’s line of bike computers and lights. Garmin has recently expanded its range of cycling modes and takes factors like incline and terrain into account when calculating your exerted effort.
Mapping for cyclists is particularly impressive. The watch won't just map a route for you; it also gives you the option to avoid toll roads, narrow trails, unpaved roads, and major highways, letting you customize your ride to suit your bike, your preferences, and your level of confidence. Touches like this really show that this was a watch developed by people with a genuine passion for their sport and who want to make it accessible to a wider range of people.
The watch can detect climbs automatically as well; its ClimbPro feature identifies when you've begun an ascent and presents you with info on the gradient, distance, and elevation gain of the entire hill so you can manage your effort and avoid setting out too hard or keeping too much in reserve.
Garmin Fenix 7: The Garmin Connect app
All data presented clearly and explained
Lots of extra tools including gear tracker
Personalized workouts and training plans
Companion app score: 5/5
Like all Garmin watches, the Fenix 7 syncs with the Garmin Connect app for iOS and Android. Connecting the watch is a breeze, and the watch syncs data automatically whenever you complete a workout, or open the app.
If you’re upgrading from an older Garmin device, all the data will be pooled together seamlessly, though selecting a training session will allow you to see which device recorded it.
Garmin Connect is one of the best-developed fitness apps and puts much more information at your fingertips than the likes of Huawei Health or even the official Coros app. All your most recent stats (such as heart rate, workouts, sleep, and menstrual cycle) are shown on a central dashboard that you can rearrange and customize at will. Don’t want to see your step count? Just slide it to the right, and it’s gone.
The Garmin Connect app presents daily and weekly data insights in a customizable dashboard (Image credit: Future)
Tapping on any of these stats will allow you to drill down through the data in more detail, and every graph and table is accompanied by an info panel that explains exactly what the information means and how you can use it. The app also provides suggestions where appropriate so you can improve your training habits.
Open up the app’s main menu, and you’ll discover a huge array of extra tools, all specifically designed with sportspeople in mind. For example, there’s a gear tracker so you can keep track of how long you’ve been using your various pairs of running shoes and work out when it’s time to replace them, and you can set up emergency contacts who should be alerted if the Fenix 7 detects an accident.
You can connect with other Garmin users as well, though most users are more likely to make use of the app’s Strava compatibility instead.
After a workout, you can drill down into detailed stats on your performance and your body's response (Image credit: Future)
There are customizable training plans for runners and cyclists, which set you certain sessions to complete during the week and adjust based on your performance, plus various Peloton-style instructor-led workouts. It’s all free of charge, and there’s no indication that Garmin plans to implement a Fitbit Premium-style subscription to access it.
You can download third-party apps, new watch faces, and extra data fields (which are presented on screen during workouts) through a second app called Garmin Connect IQ.
There isn’t a huge array of apps to download, but many of those available have been created by passionate Garmin users and solve a real need – such as the unofficial Parkrun apps, which display your personal barcode, so you don’t have to carry it on a keychain or wristband. There are also apps for popular services, such as mapping tool Komoot, which are favored by runners and cyclists.
First reviewed January 2022
Garmin Fenix 7: New updates
Since its launch, the Fenix 7 range has received a number of software updates, and Garmin very kindly added quite a few features to the watch that were previously only available on newer Forerunners, such as heart rate variability tracking, Training Readiness Score, Race Day widget and more.
One of the most significant improvements is the addition of SatIQ. This system automatically scans for GPS signals and changes the GPS settings in real-time to conserve battery life without compromising GPS accuracy. Considering how good the battery life on the Fenix 7 is, the addition of SatIQ turns the watch into an absolute battery powerhouse, only overshadowed by the Garmin Enduro 2, a watch that has a battery life that shouldn't be possible on a wrist wearable.
Garmin added other features as well, like the morning report and improved the running power feature, making the Fenix 7 an even more competent multisport watch than before. There really isn't anything the Fenix 7 isn't good for, from running training and outdoor adventure tracking to cycling recovery.
Buy it if
You want to crack a new personal best The Garmin Fenix line has always offered some of the best training tools, but the new additions offered by the Fenix 7 make it easier to balance rest and recovery, and help you see the long-term benefits of the work you're putting in today.
You want to explore For long camping trips, the excellent battery life will keep the watch running for days even with regular use of the watch’s navigation tools. Its multi-band GPS is extremely accurate, and its turn-by-turn navigation and TracBack functions make it easy to try out unfamiliar routes or just go exploring.
You're tough on your watches The Fenix 7 is built to last, and the new Sapphire Solar version means you no longer have to choose between maximum battery life and durability. You can also rest safe in the knowledge that Garmin will continue to support it with firmware updates for many years to come (the Fenix 6 received a major update just the day before the Fenix 7 launched).
Don't buy it if
You’re a casual sportsperson The Fenix 7 is a joy to use, but will be serious overkill for casual runners, cyclists and gym-goers. Other watches in the Garmin range, including the entry-level Forerunner 55 and the all-purpose Venu 2 Plus, are a better choice if you’re not planning to kick your training up to the next level.
You’re happy with your Fenix 6 The Fenix 6 has stood the test of time, and received a major firmware update the day before the launch of the Fenix 7 that brings its workout tracking profiles and fitness algorithms right up to date. The Fenix 7 is a seriously premium watch, and if you’re satisfied that you’re making the most of your existing watch’s training tools, it’s tough to justify the extra cost.
