The smartwatch is one of the most convenient devices ever created, especially if you’re a runner. In contrast, the best smartwatches provide a lightweight way of keeping up with all your notifications and taking advantage of third-party apps and other things. Finding a balance between the two is how the best smartwatches for running stand out from competitors, blending the convenience of great features with hard-hitting exercise trackers.
While almost every smartwatch on the market has some built-in fitness features, not all are going to offer the same level of detail and tracking runners need to get the most out of their exercise. It’s a fine line between basic fitness tracking and great smartwatch features, so we’ve put together some of the best smartwatches you can buy to take your runs to the next level with fantastic tracking and other features. Of course, not all are equal, so we’ve highlighted each watch’s strengths and weaknesses as well.
Go running with one of these smartwatches
Garmin Venu 3
A great place to start
The Garmin Venu 3 gives you the best of both worlds when you want some serious reliability: a true smartwatch with the tracking features runners need when getting out there.
- Nice, vibrant display
- Garmin’s extensive tracking features
- Solid battery life
- Third-party apps remain elusive
- Needs the proprietary charger
While Garmin would point dedicated runners to its Forerunner range, those who want to prioritize the smartwatch elements would be better off picking up the Garmin Venu 3. It won’t match the accessibility of a device running Wear OS when it comes to third-party app support and built-in features, but the Venu 3 provides some core smartwatch features. A key one is making and taking calls directly from your wrist through the built-in speaker and microphone. It can also hold up to 650 songs, including downloaded playlists from Spotify and Amazon Music.
On top of that, it’s packed with features that runners love, from the basics of accurate GPS and heart-rate tracking to Garmin Coach’s custom training plans and Body Battery, which tells you how ready you are for a workout. It supports ANT+ for additional accessories, and all the data is neatly collected in the Garmin Connect app — which remains one of the best for runners who like to nerd out over the data.
Garmin Forerunner 965
When it’s time to get serious
The Forerunner 965 is Garmin’s top-of-the-range sports watch. What it lacks in smartwatch flexibility, it makes up for with fitness features that athletes will love.
- Training and workout plans
- Accurate maps and excellent tracking
- Outstanding battery life
- No ECG
- No solar variant available
If you’re willing to spend more, you can take things further with the Garmin Forerunner 965, which cuts off on-wrist calls and virtual assistants, but comes with more features that runners will love. There’s Training Load and Training Readiness — two features helping runners improve by analyzing their pre- and post-run metrics to ensure they’re pushing themselves without going too far. There’s even a Race Day Widget that counts down to the big day, showing your goal time and your current predicted finish time.
A big difference this time around is the vibrancy of the screen, which just looks and feels like a big upgrade over the previous Forerunner 955. Unfortunately, you won’t be seeing too many third-party apps on it because the Garmin IQ store offers a very limited selection. It’ll do notifications, but this is definitely more of a running watch than a smartwatch. The battery promises up to 23 days (with GPS off), so it’s built for those who want to go for longer.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Great for casual runners
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is more smartwatch than fitness tracker, but it packs enough punch for casual runners that want to be able to track basic runs while still taking advantage of great smartwatch features.
- Tough display
- Packed with smartwatch features
- Multiple sensors
- Accuracy could be better
- Some features require a Samsung device
If you’re looking for great value, it’s hard not to look at one of Samsung’s latest smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 6. Just released within the last couple of months, the Galaxy Watch 6 is a smartwatch first and a fitness tracker second, but it’s still packed with helpful features that you can use to track your runs. The accuracy is slightly improved from the Galaxy Watch 5, and it’s the same price as the Watch 5, too.
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While we haven’t seen it hitting any big discounts like the Watch 5, it’s still a great value, especially if you’re into running casually. It won’t offer the same level of tracking as other options on this list, but if you just want a smartwatch that can do the basics, the Galaxy Watch 6 is a great place to start.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Bigger, tougher, and ready to run
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is Samsung’s first Pro smartwatch, an amazing showcase of what it can do with Wear OS 3, and generally just a built-tough all-day warrior for workout fiends and multitaskers eschewing their phones.
- Sapphire glass and titanium body
- Plenty of tracking features
- Better battery life
- Too big for most small wrists
- GPX maps only support hiking and cycling
While it boasts many similarities to the Galaxy Watch 5, the 5 Pro takes a few different turns, like the tougher titanium frame, sapphire glass screen, and a bigger 590mAh battery. Samsung makes no bones in positioning it as a more serious wearable for those looking to train or meet fitness goals.
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One of the reasons why is the Route workout feature. It lets you import GPX route files to Samsung Health and then sync with the Watch 5 Pro. When not on the run, you can also make use of the BioActive Health sensor, which improves how much more accurate heart rate, ECG, VO2 Max, and other metrics can be, though it’s not entirely clear if the 5 Pro is more precise than its sibling.
Polar Vantage V3
Putting you to the test
Polar designed the Vantage V3 to step up its ability to track all sports, with running being a key one among them.
- Includes effective running test
- Personalized workouts
- Expanded health and fitness tracking
- Polar Flow app doesn’t sync maps
- Lower waterproof rating
The Polar Vantage V3 presents a Running Performance Test you run for 30–45 minutes to calculate aerobic power, aerobic speed, VO2 max, and max heart rate. It also calculates running power to gauge how hard you’re working, including data on sprints, short intervals, and hilly areas where you can keep track of ascent and descent. Once done, the Polar Flow app tells you whether you’re on track with someone in your age group. The exercise tracking is significant, except the Vantage V3 also marks a drop in water resistance to 50 meters from the previous 100 meters.
Beyond that, this watch marks a shift for Polar to a more substantial offering. There are ECG (electrocardiogram), SpO2 (blood oxygen), and skin temperature sensors this time around, plus a newer heart rate monitor to deliver a more extensive set of tracking features. Despite all the additions, battery life is actually better this time around, lasting up to 12 days without GPS and from 3-7 days days while using GPS only when you need it. The software is visually better, too, except not being a Wear OS watch means you don’t get much as far as third-party app integration goes.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5
Two screens for one in this watch
Mobvoi makes TicWatch Pro 5, bringing in several features to go with newer software that culminates in a smartwatch worth considering. No other watch has a dual-layer display quite like this, which does wonders for battery life.
- Unique dual-layer display
- Improved app experience
- Longer battery life
- Unclear Wear OS update cycle
- Mobile app needs some work
TicWatch Pro 5 is no less an example of Mobvoi’s attempts to make a compelling case as an alternative if you’re out there running. With a somewhat overhauled app experience, the watch’s data is easier to see and interpret, even if the full presentation won’t come close to what the likes of Garmin might give you. Still, it’s nice to have automatic run tracking kick in after 10 minutes.
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The unique dual-layer display technology is a battery saver unto itself, bringing together a vibrant OLED with a low-powered LCD, which allows you to see pertinent info on a run without actually turning on the main OLED screen. Battery life holds up fairly well at up to 80 hours per charge, depending on how you use it.
Google Pixel Watch 2
A mix of Google and Fitbit
Maybe it’s still not a true “running” smartwatch, but the Pixel Watch 2 offers everything Wear OS can provide, including third-party apps and Fitbit tracking, making this an interesting choice.
- Very nice design
- Fitbit tracking features
- Third-party app support
- Run tracking won’t be as deep
- Limited upgrades from last generation
As was the case with the original, the Pixel Watch 2 pitches itself as a mix of Google’s ecosystem and Fitbit’s health and wellness features, which sounds like a dream combo for those looking for the best running smartwatch. Google didn’t change a whole lot in both looks and functionality, but it did refine this sequel with the benefits of Wear OS 4, including no longer needing to reset the watch when switching phones.
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Reliable battery life and improved fitness tracking, wrapped up in a near-identical package
Built-in GPS is nice, as is the fact the watch will automatically track running after 10 minutes, though you may not see as much data from it. The only downside is the GPS tends to run down the one-day battery quickly, so ultrarunners need not apply. Overall, it’s great as a smartwatch, only the high entry price means that you may gravitate toward a dedicated running watch instead.
Fitbit Sense 2
Get fit with the Sense 2
If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that offers the advantages of Fitbit’s app and features, then the Sense 2 is a solid option. Just know that you’re signing away a lot of the features that make smartwatches so handy. Still, it is one of the best options Fitbit has right now.
- Great design and look
- Premium options provide more insights and features
- Battery lasts for up to a week with lighter use
- No third party app support
- Very limited smartwatch features
Fitbit has a number of great fitness trackers, but if you’re looking for one that doubles as a smartwatch, you won’t get any closer than the Sense 2. The only unfortunate downside here is that the Sense 2 doesn’t offer third-party app support, which means you’ll need to find separate options for Google Maps and even Google Wallet.
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The health monitoring on the Sense 2 is stronger than the Versa 4, which we previously recommended, and Fitbit premium options like Daily Readiness only make things better. The Fitbit app also remains one of the best in the business, especially if you’re just starting your fitness journey and need some pointers.
Suunto Race
The Suunto Race keeps you focused
Most running watches from the likes of Garmin and Polar focus on fitness at the expense of smartwatch features, which makes the Suunto 7 highly unusual. It’s a bit longer in the tooth compared to other smartwatches, but can still hold its own just fine.
- Titanium or steel build options
- Tons of sports and exercise modes
- Comfortable fit
- Software not as deep as competitors
- No music or contactless payments
- Pricey
Suunto has made plenty of smartwatches, but the Suunto Race stands out because it’s something of an overhaul from previous models. A new AMOLED screen sits within either a stainless steel or titanium bezel, giving it a thicker body overall. The durability helps considering the Race is capable of going to depths of 100 meters underwater, though that’s only scratching the surface of its heavy focus on sports and activity tracking, supporting almost 100 exercises with coaching and training metrics. You essentially get the best of both worlds: a dedicated running watch made for athletes and smartwatch functionality too.
The Race isn’t laden with a wide range of sensors, meaning the heart rate monitor does a lot of the work in helping determine how your body responds and recovers to workouts. Google’s Wear OS isn’t part of the software package, though battery life is actually lower than other running watches, hitting a peak of 40 hours on one charge in dual GPS mode, or five days in Tour mode. All this focus on running, exercise, and sports means the Race misses out on music storage and contactless payments, so your phone will likely have to come along on a run.
Coros Pace 3
When a Garmin is just too much
The Coros Pace 3 is a smartwatch that skews closer to the kind of tracking and transparency budding athletes would want, which is also why it stands out as an alternative to big names out on the market. It won’t match the ruggedness of more expensive options, but it’s still worth a look.
- Lightweight build easy to wear
- Excellent tracking features
- Solid battery life
- Not especially rugged
- Limited smartwatch integration
The Coros Pace 3 will probably be one of the lightest smartwatches you can wear, including among this group, though a big reason why is because of the plastic body and nylon strap. You can’t do anything about the overall construction, but you can make use of the tools available, particularly the built-in GPS and improved sensors to track runs and activity with greater precision. The metrics are an excellent snapshot of where you stand after each time out.
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You’ll be hard pressed to find these features for this price anywhere else
Plus, you can rely on the battery life to last you up to three weeks (with GPS off). It all requires a sacrifice in the kind of smartwatch integration you find elsewhere. While you can load music files on the Pace 3, you can’t download content from streaming services or even control playback from the watch. Third-party apps aren’t readily available, either, which is why you wear this with the stated intention of its tracking features.
Which smartwatch is best for running?
Finding the perfect running smartwatch is difficult, but there are still a lot of great options for you to choose from right now. It really comes down to figuring out which features are most important to you and then sorting out which of the smartwatches available fit your budget. For those looking to get the most value out of their purchase, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 offers great fitness features alongside fantastic smartwatch support. It isn’t the most accurate or in-depth running tracker, but it will handle anything casual runners through at it.
Of course, if you aren’t worried about spending more or if you just want to push yourself to your peak level while running, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is a premium option that comes with all the features you’d expect from a more expensive smartwatch and fitness tracker. The price here is steep, but it’s well worth it for those ready to get serious about their running and exercise tracking.
Finally, for those who are just starting or who want more detailed running insights, the Garmin Venu 3 is a heavy hitter that shouldn’t be ignored. It offers a lot of good compromises when it comes to smartwatch and fitness tracking features, which makes it a great option and one of our favorites.
Garmin Venu 3
Grab it and run
The Garmin Venu 3 is a great place to start when you want to take your running workouts to the next level. The superb accuracy and extensive tracking features are useful tools, and you still get some smartwatch features to make it worth wearing every single day.
