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Compare Garmin Watches

Comparison Charts with Images and Price

Compare Garmin Watches | Side-by-Side Comparison Chart

***Updated with new watches and more user-friendly design in Sept. 2023***

How heavy is this Garmin GPS Watch? How big is the display? Is it a touchscreen? Does it have built-in maps, a barometric altimeter for elevation metrics—does it have enough battery life between charges for what I do?

These are just some of the a questions you might have when you're looking to buy a fitness watch.

Maybe you're looking for the best Garmin watch for training for a triathlon. Or perhaps you're looking to level-up from avid runner to ultra runner.

Do you need solar-charging or the most rugged built-quality? What about on-watch music or making/taking calls or texts from the wrist?

And all of this might come down to your budget.

We made these these comparison charts for Garmin fitness watches under $500 and more hardcore multisport GPS watches over $500, so you can get the details side by side.

And now we have a Running Watch Quiz to help you find your ideal running GPS watch!

Ready to shop? Smash the watch image in the chart to visit the product page or cycle through the colors/models in the menu below to see every option.

Now, let's get to know your dream watch.

NOTE:  Because this is SO much information on your screen, we have added sections above each chart for the shared features in the categories of Training Features, Health, and Smart Notifications to reduce the amount you have to scroll the page.

Garmin Fitness GPS Watches Under $500 Comparison Chart

The following are shared features for all the of the watches in the chart that follows.

Advanced Training Features

  • Built-in sports apps
  • VO2 Max (run)
  • HR Broadcast
  • Advanced workouts
  • GPS-based distance, time, and pace

Health Features

  • Writs-based heart rate
  • Respiration rate
  • Fitness Age
  • Body Battery
  • All-day stress
  • Advanced sleep
  • Hydration
  • Women's Health

Smart Features

  • Connect IQ™ Store
  • Smart Notifications
  • Calendar
  • Weather
  • Controls smartphone music
  • Find my watch
  • Find my phone
Features Forerunner 55 Venu Sq 2 Venu 3/3S Forerunner 265 Forerunner 255/255S Instinct 2/2S

Price

$199.99

$249.99–
$299.99

$449.99

$449.99

$349.99–
$399.99

$349.99–
$449.99

Display

1.04" (26.3 mm) diameter
sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) color display

1.41" (35.9 mm) diagonal AMOLED optional always-on mode color display

Venu 3—1.4" (35.4 mm) diameter
Venu 3S—1.2" (30.4 mm) diameter AMOLED optional always-on mode color display

FR 265—1.3" (32.5 mm) diameter
FR 265S—1.1" (28.1 mm) diameter AMOLED optional always-on mode color display

FR 255S—1.1" (27.5mm) Diameter
FR 255—1.3" (33 mm) diameter sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) color display

Instinct 2S—custom, two-window design; 0.79” x 0.79” (20 x 20 mm)
Instinct 2—custom, two-window design; 0.9” x 0.9” (23 x 23 mm) monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)

Touchscreen

Dimensions/
Weight

42 x 42 x 11.6 mm / 37 g

40.6 x 37.0 x 11.1 mm / 38.0 g

V3—45 x 45 x 12 mm / 47.0 g
V3S—41 x 41 x 12 mm / 40.0 g

FR 265—46.1 x 46.1 x 12.1 mm / 47 g
FR 265S—41.7 x 41.7 x 12.1 mm / 39 g

FR 255S—41 x 41 x 12.4 (mm)
/ 39 g
FR 255—45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 (mm) / 49 g

Instinct 2S—40 x 40 x 13.3 mm / 42 g
Instinct 2—45 x 45 x 14.5 mm / 53 g

Battery Life

Smartwatch mode: Up to 2 weeks
GPS-only mode:
Up to 20 hours

Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days

Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days

GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours

All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours 

Venu 3/3S Battery Life

Venu 3
Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days (5 always on)
Battery saver smartwatch mode: Up to 26 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 11 hours

Venu 3S

Smartwatch mode: Up to 10 days (5 always on)
Battery saver smartwatch mode: Up to 20 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 21 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 15 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 8 hours

FR 265/265S Battery Life

FR 265

Smartwatch mode: Up to 13 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 16 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 14 hours

FR 265S

Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 24 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 18 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 15 hours

FR 255/255S Battery Life

FR 255

Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days
GPS-only GNSS mode: Up to 30 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 25 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode plus Multi-Band: Up to 16 hours

FR 255S

Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days
GPS-only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode plus Multi-Band: Up to 13 hours

Instinct 2/2S Battery Life

Instinct 2

Smartwatch: Up to 28 days
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 65 days
GPS: Up to 30 hours
Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 70 hours
Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 32 days

Instinct 2S

Smartwatch: Up to 21 days
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 50 days
GPS: Up to 22 hours
Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 54 hours
Expedition GPS Activity: Up to 25 days

GPS

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

Other Sensors

  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Accelerometer
  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor
  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor
  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Thermometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor
  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Thermometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor

Connectivity

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®

Maps/Nav

  • Back to start
  • Back to start
  • Point-to-point navigation
  • Breadcrumb trail in real time
  • Back to start
  • TracBack®
  • UltraTrac Mode
  • Up Ahead
  • Elevation Profile
  • Distance to Destination
  • Projected waypoint
  • Point-to-point navigation
  • Breadcrumb trail in real time
  • Back to start
  • TracBack®
  • UltraTrac Mode
  • Up Ahead
  • Elevation Profile
  • Distance to Destination
  • Projected waypoint
  • Point-to-point navigation
  • Breadcrumb trail in real time
  • Back to start
  • TracBack®
  • UltraTrac Mode
  • Reference Point
  • Elevation Profile
  • Distance to Destination
  • Projected waypoint

Advanced
Training
Features

Shared features above, plus:

  • Race Predictor
  • Recovery Time
  • Finish time
  • Interval training

Shared features above

Shared features above

FR 265 Training

Shared above, plus:

  • HRV status
  • Interval training
  • Running dynamics with compatible accessory
  • Wrist-based running power
  • VO2 Max (trail run)
  • Training status, training load, training load focus, training effect
  • Rest timer (ultra run only)
  • Course-and-weather-specific Race Predictor
  • Veritical Speed
  • Total ascent/descent
  • Performance Condition
  • Recovery Time
  • Finish time
  • Improved recovery time
  • Virtual partner
  • Running power
  • Grade adjusted pace
  • PacePro™

FR 255 Training

Shared above, plus:

  • HRV status
  • Interval training
  • Running dynamics with compatible accessory
  • Wrist-based running power
  • VO2 Max (trail run)
  • Training status, training load, training load focus, training effect
  • Rest timer (ultra run only)
  • Course-and-weather-specific Race Predictor
  • Veritical Speed
  • Total ascent/descent
  • Performance Condition
  • Recovery Time
  • Finish time
  • Improved recovery time
  • Virtual partner
  • Running power
  • Grade adjusted pace
  • PacePro™

Instinct 2 Training

Shared above, plus:

  • Training readiness
  • HRV status
  • Running dynamics & running power with compatible accessory
  • Heat & altitude acclimation
  • VO2 Max (trail run)
  • Veritical Speed
  • Total ascent/descent
  • Training status, training load, training effect
  • Performance Condition
  • Recovery Time
  • Finish time
  • Improved recovery time
  • Virtual partner
  • Running power

Health
Features

Shared features above

Shared above, plus:

  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Health Snapshot

Shared above, plus:

  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Meditation
  • Sleep Coach
  • Nap Detection
  • Health Snapshot
  • Jet lag advisor

Shared above, plus:

  • Morning Report
  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Health Snapshot

Shared above, plus:

  • Morning Report
  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Health Snapshot

Shared above, plus:

  • Morning Report
  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Health Snapshot
Smart Features

Shared features above

Shared above plus:

  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Battery saver
  • On-watch music with Venu Sq 2 Music
  • Garmin Pay™

Shared above plus:

  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Battery saver
  • On-watch music storage
  • Bluetooth phone calling and voice assistant support
  • Garmin Pay™
  • On-device Connect IQ

Shared above plus:

  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Battery saver
  • On-watch music storage
  • Garmin Pay™
  • Smart trainer control
  • Stocks
  • On-device Connect IQ

Shared above plus:

  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Battery saver
  • On-watch music storage
  • Garmin Pay™
  • Smart trainer control
  • Stocks
  • On-device Connect IQ

Shared above plus:

  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Battery saver
  • On-watch music storage
  • Smart trainer control

Golf
Features

Garmin Multisport GPS Watches Over $500 Comparison Chart

The following are shared features for all the of the watches in the chart that follows.

Sensors

  • Garmin elevate wrist-based heart monitor
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
  • Accelerometer
  • Thermometer
  • Pulse Ox blood saturation monitor

Maps/Nav

  • Point-to-point navigation
  • Breadcrumb trail in real time
  • Back to start
  • TracBack®
  • UltraTrac Mode
  • Around Me Mode
  • Up Ahead
  • Elevation Profile
  • Distance to Destination
  • Projected waypoint
  • ClimbPro ascent planner
  • Downloadable cartography support
  • GPS coordinates
  • Future elevation plot

Smart Features

  • On-device Connect IQ™ store
  • Smart notifications
  • Text response or Reject call with text (Android only)
  • Morning Report
  • calendar/weather
  • Battery saver
  • Controls smartphone music
  • Plays controls music on watch and music storage
  • Find My Watch
  • Find My Phone
  • Virb remote
  • Smart trainer control
  • Garmin Pay™
  • Stocks

Health Features

  • Writs-based heart rate
  • Pulse Ox
  • Respiration rate
  • Fitness Age
  • Body Battery
  • All-day stress
  • Advanced sleep
  • Sleep score & insights
  • Hydration
  • Women's Health
  • Health Snapshot

Advanced Training Features

  • Training readiness
  • HRV status
  • Built-in sports apps
  • Running dynamics & running power with compatible accessory
  • Realtime stamina
  • Trail run auto climb
  • ClimbPro
  • Veritical Speed
  • Total ascent/descent
  • Heat & altitude acclimation
  • Grade-adjusted pace
  • VO2 Max (run & trail run)
  • Training status, training load, training load focus, training status, training effect

Training Features Cont'd

  • Roundtrip course creator
  • Course guidance
  • Rest timer
  • Hill score
  • Running power
  • PacePro™
  • Race Predictor
  • Performance Condition
  • Recovery Time
  • HR Broadcast
  • Finish time
  • Strava Live segments
  • Garmin Live segments
  • Run/walk/stand detection
  • Endurance Score
Features Forerunner® 955/955 Solar Forerunner 965 fēnix® 7/7S/7X Pro tactix 7 Series epix™ Pro (Gen 2) Enduro® 2

Price

$499.99-$599.99

$699.99–$899.99

$799.99–$899.99
fēnix 7 Series here

$1,099.99-$1,599.99

$899.99–$999.99
epix Pro Series here

$1,099.99

Display/
Materials

1.3" (33 mm) diameter
sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) color display

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 DX

Bezel/rear case cover: fiber-reinforced polymer

1.4” (35.4 mm) diameter, AMOLED always on

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 DX

Bezel: titanium; Rear case cover: fiber-reinforced polymer

fēnix 7 Pro: 1.3" (33.02 mm) diameter (1.2" for 7S & 1.4" for 7X)

Solar Edition: Power Glass
Sapphire Solar Edition: Power Sapphire

Bezel/rear case cover: stainless steel (Solar)/titanium (Saphire Solar)

1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter,

Standard: Sapphire lens

Pro Solar Edition: Power Sapphire

Bezel/rear case cover: titanium

epix Pro 47 mm: 1.3” (33 mm) diameter AMOLED (1.2" for 42 mm & 1.4" for 51 mm)

Standard: Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Sapphire Edition: Sapphire Crystal

Bezel/rear case cover: carbon gray DLC titanium or pure titanium

1.4” (35.56 mm) diameter
sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) color display

Power Sapphire lens

Bezel/rear case cover: titanium

Touchscreen

Dimensions/
Weight

46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4 mm / 53 g

47.2 x 47.2 x 13.2 mm / 53 g

fēnix 7 Pro: 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm / 73-79 g

51 x 51 x 14.9 mm / 89 g

epix Pro (47 mm): 47 x 47 x 14.5 (mm)
/ 70 g

51 x 51 x 15.6 mm / 70 g

Battery Life

FR 955 Battery Life

Smartwatch mode: Up to 15 days/20 days with solar
GPS-only mode without music:
Up to 42 hours/49 hours with solar
All-Systems GNSS mode plus Multi-Band with music:
Up to 8.5 hours
All Systems GNSS mode plus Multi-Band without music:
Up to 20 hours/22 hours with solar
Ultratrac mode:
Up to 80 hours/110 hours with solar

FR 965 Battery Life

Smartwatch mode: Up to 23 days
GPS-only mode without music: Up to 31 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode: Up to 22 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band: Up to 19 hours
GPS-Only GNSS mode with music: Up to 10.5 hours
SatIQ (AutoSelect) GNSS mode with music: Up to 9.5 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode + Multi-Band with music: Up to 8.5 hours

fēnix 7 Pro Battery Life

 Smartwatch: Up to 18 days/22 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 57 days/173 days with solar
GPS Only: Up to 57 hours/73 hours with solar
All Satellte Systems: Up to 40 hours/48 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 23 hours/26 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hours
Max Battery GPS: Up to 136 hours/289 hours with solar
Expedition GPS: Up to 40 days/74 days with solar

tactix 7 Battery Life

Smartwatch: Up to 28 days/37 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 90 days/1+ year with solar
GPS Only: Up to 89 hours/122 hours with solar
All Satellte Systems: Up to 63 hours/77 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 16 hours Max BatteryGPS: Up to 213 hours/578 hours with solar
Expedition GPS: Up to 62 days/139 days with solar

epix Pro (47 mm)

Smartwatch: Up to 16 days (6 days always-on)
Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 21 days
GPS Only: Up to 42 hours (30 hours always-on)
All Satellite Systems: Up to 32 hours (24 hrs always-on)
All Satellite Systems + Multi-band: Up to 20 hours (15 hrs always-on)
All Satellite Systems + Music: Up to 10 hours
Max Battery GPS: Up to 75 hours
Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days

Enduro 2 Battery Life

Smartwatch: Up to 34 days / 46 days with solar
Battery Saver Watch Mode:
Up to 111 days / 550 days with solar
GPS:
Up to 110 hours / 150 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems:
Up to 78 hours / 96 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems and Multi-band:
Up to 68 hours / 81 hours with solar
All Satellite Systems and Music:
Up to 20 hours
Max Battery GPS:
Up to 264 hours / 714 with solar
Expedition GPS:
77 days / 172 days with solar

Solar-Charging Options

GPS

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

GPS/GLONASS/Galileo

  • Multi-frequency positioning
  • SatIQ™ Technology

Other Sensors

See shared above

See shared above, plus:

  • Ambient light sensor

See shared above, plus:

  • Ambient light sensor

See shared above

See shared above, plus:

  • Ambient light sensor

See shared above

Connectivity

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®

Maps/Nav

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps
  • Road & trail maps

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps
  • Road & trail maps
  • Reference point
  • Nextfork Navigation

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps
  • Road & trail maps
  • Preloaded ski resort maps
  • Reference point
  • Nextfork Navigation

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps
  • Road & trail maps
  • Preloaded ski resort maps
  • Reference point
  • Nextfork Navigation

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps (Sapphire only; download on Solar)
  • Preloaded road & trail maps (Sapphire only; download on Solar)
  • Preloaded ski resort maps
  • Reference point
  • Nextfork Navigation

See shared above, plus:

  • Preloaded topographical maps
  • Preloaded road & trail maps
  • Preloaded ski resort maps
  • Reference point
  • Nextfork Navigation

Advanced
Features

See shared features above, plus:

  • Course- and weather-specific race predictor

See shared features above, plus:

  • Course- and weather-specific race predictor

See shared features above, plus:

  • Reference point
  • Power modes

See shared features above, plus:

  • Improved interval

See shared features above

See shared features above

Health Features

See shared features above

See shared features above

See shared features above, plus:

  • Jet lag advisor

See shared features above, plus:

  • Jet lag advisor

See shared features above, plus:

  • Jet lag advisor

See shared features above, plus:

  • Jet lag advisor
Smart Features

See shared features above

See shared features above

See shared features above

See shared features above

See shared features above

See shared features above

Golf Features