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The Best Smartwatches Running

Updated April 2026·Experts: Runner's World, Tom's Guide

Best Overall

Garmin Forerunner 970

$650-$750

If you're serious about running and want one watch that does everything, training load, recovery, navigation, health monitoring, the Forerunner 970 is the clear answer. Nothing else comes close for dedicated runners.

What holds up

  • Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor with medically-certified ECG and skin temperature monitoring
  • Multi-band SatIQ GPS delivers precise location even in dense urban areas and heavy tree cover
  • Full offline color topo maps with ClimbPro and dynamic routing for trail runners
  • New running economy and impact load metrics not found on other Garmin watches
  • Built-in LED torch, music storage, Bluetooth calls, and Garmin Pay

What to know

  • Some advanced analytics require purchasing the HRM 600 chest strap separately
  • Battery life in smartwatch mode shorter than some rivals
  • Garmin Connect app remains clunky and needs improvement
  • Premium price point
Expert verdict
The Forerunner 970 almost offers Fenix-level firepower in a more wrist-friendly design. You get Garmin's brightest 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and the hugely useful built-in LED torch.
Runner's WorldView source
Expert verdict
GPS tracking is exceptional with multi-band SatIQ technology delivering precise location data, even in dense urban areas or heavy tree cover. Testing against chest straps and a Holter monitor, I have found that the HRM in this device is more accurate than others I have tested.
Runner's World (US)View source
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Best Value

Coros Pace 4

$200-$250

For runners who want accurate GPS and real training insights without spending $600+, the Coros Pace 4 is the obvious pick. The battery life improvement alone over its predecessor makes it a no-brainer upgrade.

What holds up

  • 41 hours GPS battery life in max mode, massive improvement over previous generation
  • Dual-frequency GPS stays stable even in high-rise urban environments
  • Full Evo Lab training tools including Training Load, recovery time, and pace zones
  • Lightweight at just 32g with nylon strap
  • AMOLED display and breadcrumb navigation at entry-level price

What to know

  • No full offline color maps, breadcrumb navigation only
  • Digital dial is fiddly, especially with gloves
  • Notification text is quite small
  • Optical heart rate sensor struggles at times like all wrist-based sensors
Expert verdict
If you're after impressive staying power, in-depth training features and accurate GPS, the Pace 4 is one of the best money-can-buy choices going.
Runner's World UKView source
Expert verdict
The Pace 4 battery life has gone up compared to the 3, even with the addition of the brighter display, boasting 31 hours of battery life in max GPS mode.
Runner's World (US)View source
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Best for Beginners

Garmin Forerunner 55

$150-$200

If you're just getting into running and don't want to overspend, the Forerunner 55 gives you everything you actually need. You'll outgrow it eventually, but that's a good problem to have.

What holds up

  • Built-in GPS at an accessible price point
  • 20-hour GPS battery life covers multiple training sessions
  • PacePro speed and cadence alerts during runs
  • Recovery plans, suggested downtime, and workout recommendations
  • Strava integration with Garmin's gold-standard run tracking

What to know

  • No third-party apps, contactless payments, or onboard music storage
  • Garmin's ecosystem can feel confusing for new users
  • Interface not as user-friendly as it could be
  • Limited advanced analytics compared to higher Forerunner models
Expert verdict
Garmin's range is massive, so it's not entirely surprising that they offer some models more catered for beginners. You still need to navigate Garmin's slightly confusing ecosystem, but it's still easily the best option.
Tom's GuideView source
Expert verdict
The company's run tracking is the gold standard its competitors try to replicate, there's integration with Strava, the most popular run tracking app, and built-in GPS (not a given at this price) and 20-hour battery life, which should easily see you through multiple sessions.
Tom's GuideView source
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Best Lifestyle Running Watch

Garmin Venu 4

$400-$450

The Venu 4 is the watch for runners who also want to look good at work. It's not the deepest running watch Garmin makes, but it's the most versatile, and the health tracking is genuinely best-in-class.

What holds up

  • Steel case with AMOLED display looks premium enough for daily wear and meetings
  • New multi-band GPS and Training Readiness/Training Status added over Venu 3
  • Lifestyle Logging tracks caffeine and alcohol impact on sleep and HRV, closest thing to Whoop
  • 17-hour GPS battery life with multi-band, up to 12 days in smartwatch mode
  • Over 80 pre-loaded workouts including mixed-session multi-sport tracking

What to know

  • No full offline color maps, breadcrumb navigation only
  • Pricier than the Venu 3
  • No Endurance Score or Hill Score like the premium Venu X1
  • No Auto Lap feature that recognizes official race course markers
Expert verdict
If you're after something that toes the line between a rugged running watch and a genuinely stylish smartwatch, the Venu 4 is hard to beat. Sure, you can wear a gnarly Fenix or an Instinct all day, but I love that the Venu looks equally at home whether I'm heading out for a long run or into a meeting.
Runner's World UKView source
Expert verdict
Heart rate and fitness tracking are fantastically accurate, closely matching results from chest straps and other high-end wearables. Its GPS acquisition picks you up quickly and stays accurate, too.
Runner's World UKView source
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Best for iPhone Users

Apple Watch Ultra 3

$799-$849

If your iPhone is your life and you want serious running features without switching ecosystems, the Ultra 3 is the answer. It's not a Garmin replacement for hardcore runners, but it's closer than ever.

What holds up

  • Deep iPhone integration with seamless notifications, Apple Pay, and app ecosystem
  • Custom run creation, heart rate zones, power, cadence, and ground contact time metrics
  • Cellular connectivity built-in, no GPS/WiFi-only version
  • Rugged design with best-in-class display for an Apple Watch
  • Crash and fall detection plus emergency SOS safety features

What to know

  • Requires third-party apps for advanced features like route planning, not built-in like Garmin
  • Shorter GPS battery life than dedicated running watches
  • Significantly more expensive than comparable Garmin options
  • Less seamless experience for pure running/training focus compared to Garmin ecosystem
Expert verdict
If you want all the smartwatch features Apple has to offer then an Apple Watch can act as a great running watch. Alternatively, if your fitness and running progress is your main concern, this is Garmin's bread and butter as a brand.
Tom's GuideView source
Expert verdict
Best for Apple Users: Apple Ultra Watch 3
Runner's World (US)View source
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