Wonder what is the best GPS watch for you? We’ve reviewed many GPS watches for any taste and budget. Be sure to read about them in this article!
The best GPS watch will give you a bunch of data when you run, hike, or cycle, helping you to watch your progress and plan your training according to it. If you actively do sports, a GPS smartwatch is a must-have for you. Still, how to choose a good one? There are just too many of them today! They come in many sizes, shapes, and have many functions.
Today, we’ll look at a variety of different watches with great onboard GPS. The only rule with such watches is to choose one with a very accurate GPS, and the rest may vary. In addition to GPS, such a device should have a good enough battery to keep it going for longer. Read our top-10 picks and explore them yourself!
10 Best GPS Smartwatches
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Garmin Forerunner 245 Music–Pro with GPS Tracking
Features
- Heart Rate Monitor
- Running Dynamics Pod
- Advanced running dynamics
- Free training plans
- Up to 7 days
- GPS
This watch has one of the best data tracking among GPS watches. If you are a competitive runner, this is extremely important for you. This device is the best fit for pros who want very accurate data of their training. Moreover, this watch is all-in-one. You can listen to music and integrate with many music apps for playlists.
This watch can give lots of data about your workouts. It tracks lap splits, speed, time, stride length and cadence, heart rate, calories burned, and much more. The device supports third-party apps like Strava or Apple Health, and you can track pretty everything using this watch.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Lightweight and not bulky
- Lots of data about each workout
- Syncing with third-party apps like Strava or MyFitnessPal
- Easy shoe mileage tracking
- The display is bright in the sunlight
- Many chances to customize it
- Great mobile app
- Music storage
- Excellent battery life
Why we hate it:
- Bad integration with Spotify
- Speed controls in podcasts
- It takes too many actions to navigate the watch
- Bluetooth connectivity is unstable
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Garmin Forerunner 25 – Best Budget Choice
Features
- Runs and activity sharing via Garmin Connect
- GPS
- Heart rate monitor
- Calorie, step, distance counting
- Inactivity indicator
This is a low-cost GPS watch that can track time, speed, distance, and some more. This device is light and small with a big monochrome display. It is big and easy to read. The device has Bluetooth compatibility, so you can sync with Garmin Connect to upload data.
This device doesn’t have many “smart” functions that would connect it with your smartphone. It can receive text and email notifications, but only when the phone is near you. It can track time, distance, and speed, as well as heart rate and calories. There is also a run/walk alert, which is great if you are doing the adjacent sports program. There is also an activity tracker, so it will show you steps taken and give you reminders to be more active.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Great price
- Wide functionality for a budget watch
- Good battery life at 8-10 hours
- Syncing with smartphone
Why we hate it:
- No wrist-based heart rate monitor
- No advanced features like programmed workouts.
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Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) – Best Suit for IPhone
Features
- GPS
- Retina display
- Optical heart rate sensor
- Swimproof
- Emergency SOS
- Health innovations
If you have an iPhone, this GPS watch will be the best for you. This iOS device can track walking, hiking, running, yoga, and many other exercises. It shows your stats in real-time, which means you can look at distance traveled, heart rate, calories burned, pace, and many more.
The Workout app on the device holds 12 sports options which you can choose and start a workout. Also, there is an automatic workout detection, so you may skip the workout choosing part and still enjoy your stats.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Proactive health monitor
- Great design
- Water resistance
- Workout tracking
- Large display
- Cellular connectivity
- Large storage capacity
- Can send and receive calls
Why we hate it:
- High price
- Low battery life
- Limited compatibility
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Garmin Forerunner 945 – For Triathletes
Features
- GPS for running/triathlon
- Training load focus
- Aerobic and anaerobic training effects
- Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode
- Up to 10 hours in GPS mode with music
This device is for people who are serious about fitness. If you like triathlon, or if you train professionally, this watch will be a great fit. It has lots of features such as music and payment options, which will make your life much easier. This device is a 2-in-1 fitness tracker that has incorporated maps, so you will never be lost.
Due to its compact and lightweight design, it sits comfortably on hand. It can track running, skiing, triathlon, swimming, strength training, cycling, and much more. While you are training, you can listen to music from the storage that has up to 1000 songs. GPS ensures accurate route tracking and tracks your steps and calories even in daily life.
This device is water-resistant up to 50 meters. It can also track women’s health, anaerobic, and aerobic activity. On the smartwatch side, it can receive texts and notifications and pay on the go.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Compact and lightweight design
- Fast reaction times and loaded speed
- Maps are easy to use and accurate
- Great GPS
- Comfortable straps
- Heart rate monitor has advice on fitness and stress
- Music player and payments
- Track every element of triathlon
- Great for planning, analysis, and tracking if you train seriously
Why we hate it:
- The battery could be better – now only 10 hrs of GPS and music playing
- Rather expensive
- Not very user-friendly interface
- No answers for phone notifications
- The band is sometimes fiddly and might not fit smaller wrists
- Rather low resolution on maps
- No hydration tracking
- The circular screen isn’t always comfortable
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Garmin Fenix 6 – Ultimate in Outdoor Sports Watches
Features
- GPS
- Pulse Ox sensors
- 3-axis compass
- Gyroscope
- Up to 14 days in smart mode
- Up to 36h in GPS mode
With this GPS device, you can track nearly all outdoor sports. There are runs, rounds of golf, bike rides, hikes, and even times on the slopes that you can track. Also, there are powerful navigation and mapping features that will help you navigate when you are out.
With lots of battery life, you can spend outdoors as much as you need. You may forget about the charger for months or weeks – depending on how you use the device. There is now also a solar edition that allows you to recharge from the sun, which adds extra hours to battery life.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Large two-week battery life
- Durable design
- Comfortable to wear all-day
- Outdoor tracking is top
- Accurate and detailed activity tracking
Why we hate it:
- Not much smartwatch functionality
- Not many new features since the last model
- Very high price
- Connect IQ store is not very convenient
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Polar Vantage V2 – Perfect Choice for Athletes
Features
- Heart rate monitor
- GPS
- Cycling and running performance tests
- Sleep tracking
- Training load and recovery tools
- Up to 40 hours in GPS mode
This device has a powerful GPS and a bunch of functions for athletes. It comes with a massive 100-hour battery and a lighter design. If you train often, you will appreciate its training, sleep, and recovery tools, which will help you stay active.
Also, there are smart fuelling recommendations and hill tracking that will keep you going. Together with route guidance, the device will be a great helper when you are out. It has a great swim, running, and bike track to meet all of your athletic needs.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Recovery tests
- Insightful performance
- Sleep and recovery tools
- Great controls
- Good value
Why we hate it:
- The battery isn’t as powerful as stated
- Inaccurate GPS in low power mode
- No mapping or music storage
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COROS APEX Pro – With Blood Oxygen Monitoring
Features
- GPS, GLONASS, BDS
- 24/7 blood oxygen monitoring
- Altitude acclimatization assistance
- SpO2 sensor
- 30 days of regular use
- 40 hours in GPS mode
This watch is a GPS fitness-focused device that has a durable case and many activity trackers. Its long battery life will help you stay connected anytime. The fitness tracker of this device can track your distance, sleep, calories, heart rate, cadence, recovery time, and many more.
One outstanding feature of this device is blood oxygen monitoring, which helps to give a more insightful view of your health. This device is a great choice for those who want to track outdoor activities because its GPS allows detecting ski, snowboard, strength training, cardio, and much more.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Lightweight design
- Accurate fitness tracking
- Long battery life
Why we hate it:
- No onboard music storage
- No loudspeaker or microphone
- Not many third-party apps
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Amazfit T-Rex – With a Large Display
Features
- High-precision GPS
- Water resistant up to 5ATM
- All-day heart rate monitoring
- 14 sports modes
- 30 days of regular use
- 40 hours in GPS mode
This new Huami smartwatch has a 1.39” AMOLED display with 360*360 resolution. It is protected by Corning Gorilla 3 Glass, which ensures its durability. This smartwatch is waterproof and perfect for diving or plain swimming. There are 14 sports modes such as mountain climbing, hiking, cycling, and many more.
You can use the strong accurate GPS and GLONASS connection to locate and navigate. There is also a step counter, activity reminder, heart rate monitor, and many other features to keep you active.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Removable strap
- Unique design
- Waterproof
- GPS and GLONASS
- Large display
Why we hate it:
- No blood pressure measurement
- No blood oxygen monitor
- No payments
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Garmin Approach S62 – Premium Golf GPS
Features
- Scratch-resistant
- CourseView full-color maps
- Hazard View
- 14 days in smartwatch mode
- Up to 20 hours in GPS mode
This watch is designed for golf, and it serves the purpose well. It displays wind direction and speed, which makes it easier to decide where to aim and which club to use. Virtual Caddie feature makes smart recommendations for your shots and calculates the typical distance for the specific club. There is also a hazard feature, which you can view by scrolling through a list of hazards.
With Pulse Ox, you can see your blood oxygen levels and keep track of your health. With a touchscreen display and Garmin Pay, it’s easy to make purchases on the go. There are many preloaded sports activities, such as yoga, indoor biking, pool swimming, and many more.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Large touch screen
- Touch targeting
- Long battery life
- Fitness tracking
- Automatic shot tracking
- Wind speed and direction
Why we hate it:
- The most expensive golf watch on the market
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Suunto 9 – Multi-Sport Modes
Features
- Durable design
- Over 80 sports modes
- Wrist heart monitor
- Water-resistant to 100 meters
- Up to 120 hours of GPS use
This smartwatch stands out among the others by its massive 120 hours of GPS tracking. It has 80 sports modes, which are far more than any other GPS smartwatch. You can switch to full GPS navigation with a heart rate monitor and still go far. Many users find the Suunto app rather uncomfortable to use, but the other functions are on the level.
Read Customer Reviews on Amazon!
Why we like it:
- Large battery life
- Great running feedback
- Accurate HR tracking
- Integration with Strava
Why we hate it:
- Doesn’t sync well
- The app isn’t top
- Sometimes inconvenient to use
What to look for in GPS Watches
- Reliable GPS: This is the first and foremost feature that should be even more than perfect. We buy GPS smartwatches for sports and navigation mostly, so a weak GPS should not disappoint you.
- Easy to Read Display: Ideally, your display should be visible in all weather, be it night or a bright sunny day. Crisp, easy-to-read numbers and letters are what you need.
- Comfort: The watch should feel nice and comfortable on your wrist. Otherwise, you would just want to take it off all the time. Some of us prefer silicone bands, while others like only leather ones!
- Battery life: It depends on your purposes. If you want a durable sports smartwatch, you should have at least 4 days of battery. But if you recharge daily, 24h might be enough.
- Heart rate monitor: This essential feature will tell you lots about your health, workouts, and general fitness level.
- Hardware Design: The buttons should be easy to use and intuitively understood, while the touchscreen should be responsive. Even if you don’t plan to swim with the watches on, buy a waterproof device for rainy weather or the shower.
- Access to apps: Think which apps you will need in your daily life and choose a device according to this. Some popular requests are music apps, weather, notifications, and payments.
- Connectivity and sensor support: If you need advanced health data, the phone should have a heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, and others.
- Accelerometers and Altimeters: GPS watches are often for sports, and these two features are nice to have if you are often out in the wild.
Conclusions
Today, we’ve looked at the ten best GPS watches that have different functionality, price, and design. If you search for a budget smartwatch, look at Garmin Forerunner 25, which has basic functions but does them well. If you fancy more pro-like devices, Garmin Forerunner 245 Music will be a good choice for you.
If you feel like triathlon is your kind of sport, look at a specialized Garmin Forerunner 945. And if your kind of sport is golf, Garmin Approach S62 will help you with its smart suggestions. Next, if you like being outdoor, consider Garmin Fenix 6 with its powerful mapping.
For multi-sports modes, look at Suunto 9 to get all sports tracking functions in one. Amazfit T-Rex will fit those who like large displays, and Polar Vantage V2 will be best for serious athletes. Finally, if you want a perfect device to pair up with your iPhone, choose Apple Watch Series 3 to match your iOS device.
