Train better, race stronger, and recover faster with our selection of the best running watches on the market.
A good running watch is a powerful tool. The coaching element helps you fine-tune your training, measure performance and progress, and increase motivation. Even the cheaper options have the basics, with reliable GPS, wrist-based heart rate tracking, and training, coaching, and recovery insights to help you reach any goal.
What will be the best running watch of 2025?
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is the best running watch I’ve tested. The ultra-clear AMOLED touchscreen adds user-friendly smartwatch style to Garmin’s market-leading training, performance, and recovery insights. Overall accuracy is generally excellent, and the one-week battery life will accommodate almost any level of runner.
Other running watch recommendations
1. Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin has been at the top of the running watch tree for a while now, and for my money it ranks right up there with the Forerunner 965. This is the best running watch I’ve had the pleasure of testing. It may be much more expensive than its predecessor, but its numerous upgrades make it well worth the extra expense.
The large AMOLED touchscreen display looks great and provides a dream-like interface experience. This works with long battery life, accurate GPS, and a host of performance metrics that can truly enhance your run.
2. Corospace 3


Although it doesn’t have a crisp AMOLED display like the other running watches featured in this guide, the COROS Pace 3 is more budget-friendly in that regard. What it lacks in sharpness, it more than makes up for with a suite of execution enhancements. There are very few running watches under £300 that come with features like blood oxygen level monitoring and barometric altimeter.
Building on the great foundation of COROS Pace 2, Pace 3 now has longer battery life and 15.5 hours of GPS training on a single charge. It also provides accurate GPS in dual frequency mode.
3.Polar Vantage V3


Polar is back in a big way with the Vantage V3. The Vantage V3 is a great-looking running watch that does the basics very well and has some useful extra features. Free subscriptions to Strava and Komoot are nothing to turn your nose up at either.
Wrist-based heart rate tracking still has a ways to go, but we found the Vantage V3 to have one of the most reliable and accurate heart rate measurements of any running watch we tested. The AMOLED display is large and bright, and the interface is intuitive. Battery life is also improved over previous models.
4. Suntrace


If Suunto has struggled to make a mark with recent running watches, the Suunto Race represents a big step in the right direction. It’s a beast of a watch, with a huge display that’s easy to read and operate while running. When it comes to navigation, performance is clearly improved compared to previous models thanks to multi-band, dual-frequency GPS.
Battery life is also impressive, especially considering the screen size it requires power, and it’s considerably cheaper than other AMOLED options on this list.
5.OnePlus Watch 2


OnePlus has to be the first WearOS to offer multi-day battery performance on the Watch 2. It’s probably the most stylish-looking Watch we’ve tested, and it operates in two modes to optimize battery life. Smart mode gives you access to all fitness features and third-party apps with 4 days of battery life. Power saving mode gives you access to the watch’s built-in apps, sports modes, and tracking features, extending its lifespan by 12 days.
Sleep and heart rate tracking are decent, and despite its sleek appearance, it’s robust enough to withstand the rigors of adventurous workouts.
6. Apple Watch Ultra 2


If you want a smartwatch that can do some running and has a decent budget, look no further than the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple continues to dominate when it comes to day-to-day tracking and smartwatch features. in front.
However, if you want to know more about your running metrics, there are better and cheaper watches available. And not many people buy an Apple Watch for the battery life. But when it comes to smartwatch features and the best screens in the industry, Apple still loses out to some extent.
7. COROS Pace Pro


COROS’ latest running watch, the Pace Pro, is aptly named. The advanced processor is twice as fast as Pace 3, and the battery provides power for 38 hours of continuous outdoor activity or up to 20 days of regular use.
The slightly larger 1.3-inch screen at 1,500 nits is also brighter than before, and I had no trouble scanning stats even in direct sunlight. Overall, the COROS Pace Pro promises to be an ideal running partner, but you’ll have to spend a lot more money than the Pace 3 to get it.
8. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music


With the Forerunner 165 Music, Garmin is setting a new benchmark for affordable running watches. For less than $300, you get most of the important training insights found in more expensive watches, as well as a bright and crisp 1.2-inch AMOLED screen. Of course, it also has the ability to play music offline.
One concession is that battery life is pretty average. You may want to manage battery life, especially if you plan on playing music on most of your runs. But if your running routine can accommodate it, you’re getting a great value running watch with plenty of high-end features.
9.Polar Grit X2 Pro


Polar Grit X2 Pro is Polar’s top-end enhanced, adventure-ready GPS sports watch. Built to handle all your training, racing, and exploring endeavors on and off the grid. This latest upgrade adds a punchier AMOLED display, dual-frequency GPS with improved accuracy, Polar’s latest biosensor, and snappier performance.
Throw in new navigation skills like offline maps, Strava route sync, breadcrumb navigation, and better battery life than the OG Grit, and you’ve got a strong competitor to the Garmin Fenix.
How we tested the best running watches
Kieran Alger is an ultramarathon runner and professional product tester. He wore each of these watches for at least four weeks running various distances near his base in west London.
What makes a good running watch?
The best running watches get the basics right, including accurate heart rate, fast satellite links, and reliable GPS tracking of pace and distance. Along with long running GPS battery life, these are non-negotiables. Good news. Now you can find these essentials in even the cheapest running watches.
A good running watch will have a bright, clear and crisp screen that is easy to read in all light conditions and especially on the move. There’s a big trend towards AMOLED screens, with major brands like Polar, Suunto, and Garmin all adding these Apple-like, crystal-clear displays to their mid-range to high-end watches. However, you might sacrifice the longest battery life for that fun.
The running statistics and post-run watch face customization are also very useful. And the best watches have nimble interfaces, responsive controls, and touchscreens. You don’t want to keep pressing an unresponsive button while trying to do a split.
When it comes to training insights, the best watches today track a huge number of metrics and provide extensive feedback. These range from post-run training effects, fatigue build-up and recovery time recommendations, to heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, daily stress, sleep, and even electrocardiograms.
You might look for lifestyle health tools like sleep tracking and workout readiness scores, but be careful. Almost all sleep trackers lack accuracy, and readiness scores, which often rely on sleep data, also contain errors.
Robust design options
If you’re heading off-grid to the trails or planning on doing some ultrarunning, larger, rugged adventure running watches like the Garmin Fenix 7 and COROS Vertix 2 offer a more rugged design, longer battery life, and more power. Provides navigation tools.
If navigation is your priority, route planning using breadcrumb navigation makes sense. But better watches come with clever features like turn-by-turn navigation, offline topographic maps, back-to-start, elevation profiles, and waypoint markings.
Smartwatch skills have improved, and most watches can now read notifications, text messages, and call alerts. If music is important to you, some will let you control your smartphone’s music player, while better watches offer offline music storage and work well with streaming services like Spotify and Deezer.
App and web training tools are also important, and Polar Flow is very different from Garmin Connect, COROS, and Suunto apps. If you’re new to these, it’s a good idea to download them (it’s free) and try them out first before purchasing your watch. These partner training tools can be a big part of your overall experience, so it’s worth your time investment.