The best budget running watches that will help you get healthy for less money

Natalie Vesna 03/22/2019

Average rating+1

Save to bookmarksSavedDeleted 8

• 0
• 3
• 0
• 7
• 2
• 12shares

Athletes have to think hard when it comes to choosing a GPS smartwatch for running. These devices are a great support and assistant for runners, tracking distance, pace, heart rate, calories burned and more. But which ones are the best and most suitable?

We have compiled a review of running watches - the top 10 best models with descriptions, characteristics and their pros and cons. Most of them have functions for both running and other sports tracking. With such devices, you can monitor your health, keep data statistics, view your physical activity history and monitor your sleep quality. All of these are smart sports watches with a GPS tracker that you can choose for yourself in 2020.

Apple Watch Series 5

• Sizes 42mm and 44mm
• Heart rate monitor
• Swim-proof
• Distance, time, pace and rhythm
• Third party apps from Strava, Runkeeper, etc.
• Price: $399

When the Apple Watch first came out, we would never recommend it as a running watch, but!

Built-in GPS is accurate and locks instantly, so there's no waiting around on cold days, and Apple has given third-party apps like Strava access to sensor data. Yes, data is limited to pace, time, distance and heart rate - but you'll also get session credit thanks to Apple Watch's excellent fitness tracking features.

Syncing Apple Music playlists is ridiculously easy, and you can pay for your water with Apple Pay when you're done with your workout. What's more, the addition of LTE means you can stream tunes on the go and make long-distance calls for increased personal safety.

With the Watch Series 5, you won't get groundbreaking data on the front end, although Apple has now introduced an always-on display mode to make tracking easier. However, it is recommended to turn this feature off when tracking mileage, especially over long distances. The battery life comes in handy for GPS and heart rate tracking.

However, the heart rate sensor on the Series 5 handles the testing challenges very well and performs better than the competition in HIIT sessions.

The best sports smart watches

Well, what if you don't really want to spend hundreds of dollars on something you'll only use a few times a week? Then maybe you just want a smartwatch that you can wear every day. They will also be on your hand while running or other activities you might think about. Well, we have some good offers for that!

Top Pick: Apple Watch Series 4

Without a doubt, the Apple Watch Series 4 is one of the best smartwatches out there. And they make a good fitness monitor too. We were amazed at how reliable they were.

The watch has a GPS sensor, and Apple has packed a lot of smart and useful features into a small, lightweight package. The watch tracks a good amount of health and fitness related data. This data is conveniently collected in the beautiful iPhone Health app. The watch monitors tension, calories burned, heart rate and many other indicators. They tell you if they find anything that could cause heart problems. Other safety features include fall detection and calling for help in emergencies. They automatically detect when a workout is in progress, which is quite nice.

The watch also tracks your driving rhythm and distance traveled (your current pace), and can send you a speed signal. We really liked this last feature: the watch vibrates when you slow down or exceed your set pace.

They're water-resistant, 50 meters submersible, and can track more than 15 sports, including swimming and yoga.

In addition, you can listen to streaming music and radio broadcasts directly from the Apple Music service, so that it is not so boring to run. By the way, they also have an interesting opportunity called Activity Competitions. You can invite your friends to compete in a chosen activity for 7 days. This is a pretty cool way to get motivated to exercise (or get injured?).

It's worth noting that there is a version called the Apple Watch Nike+, which is aimed specifically at runners. But even the regular version of the watch is a good all-around sports watch.

If you already have an iPhone or are familiar with Apple products and find them convenient, then there is no reason to look for another watch. This watch will serve you well and is a good choice for all runners.

For competition participants: Samsung Galaxy Watch

The only watch that resembles an Apple watch in terms of build quality, features, and reliability is the Samsung Galaxy Watch. In recent years, Samsung has almost caught up with Apple in terms of features, operating system and product quality.

Samsung claims that its watches have military-grade durability. They feature a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display and are water-resistant for swimming.

Among the sports sensors, they are equipped with an optical heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and built-in GPS. This means that the Samsung Galaxy watch has a lot of health and fitness features that don't have anything to envy the Apple watch. This watch can track calories, steps, distance, floors climbed, amount of physical activity throughout the day, VO2 Max and more. The Samsung Health app is nice and uncomplicated, and offers features like sleep tracking, stress tracking, breathing tracking, and calorie management. In total, the watch can track 39 different types of workouts and exercises (21 of which are indoor-specific).

The battery keeps the watch running much longer than the Apple Watch - from 3 to 7 days, depending on the capacity of the selected battery. That's pretty impressive considering they have an always-on display and an LTE connection that allows you to make phone calls, send text messages, and listen to streaming music while running.

Whether you're an Apple hater or looking for a good alternative, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is a solid choice as both a smartwatch and an everyday fitness monitor.

Budget option: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

This watch replaced the Gear Sport model. They're $100 cheaper than the regular Samsung Galaxy watch, but worth a look. Their design saves significant money, the watch looks less “premium”, but more sporty. And the glass edging was replaced with two buttons.

Priced at $199, the watch has all the sensors and advanced fitness monitoring capabilities. At the same time, their battery has a smaller capacity and allows you to work without recharging for only 2 days.

So the battery is the main drawback of this watch. But if you want a fitness monitor with a budget price tag, then the Galaxy Watch Active is quite suitable.

Garmin Forerunner 45

• 39 and 42 mm sizes
• Pace, distance, time
• Heart rate monitor
• ANT+ support
• VO2 Max
• Water resistance 50 ATM
• Price: $199.99

A fantastic all-rounder, the Forerunner 45 isn't Garmin's cheapest running watch (its predecessor, the Forerunner 35, is cheaper), but it packs a lot of features at a great price.

They are so thin and light, and with sizes of 39 mm and 42 mm they fit perfectly into the unisex concept. And while they're certainly at the entry level of Garmin's vast array of devices on offer, they're far from an easy option.

You get advanced running metrics, as well as more advanced analytics with VO2 Max estimates to monitor your fitness.

To the point

Fitbit Inspire HR review of one of the best fitness trackers

It has the same display as all Garmin watches, with water resistance to 50 meters and an optical heart rate monitor. They will track running, cycling, treadmill running, indoor running, elliptical, cardio, yoga, but they don't have a swimming profile despite being water resistant.

They are compatible with both Android and iOS, with basic tracking skills such as running and cycling.

SmartWatch features on Forerunner 45 include notification support, and Connect IQ compatibility lets you customize your watch face.

If you're not planning on buying too expensive a watch, the Forerunner 45 (and 45S) should be a good fit.

The Best GPS Watch for Road Running

Best choice: Garmin Forerunner 245 music

This is a great all-around GPS watch that sells for a mid-range price. Measuring 43mm in diameter and weighing 38.5g, they're impressively light, yet pack not only all the features you'll need for road running, but so much more. The watch has a good design with five buttons, making it easy to operate in any weather. They have a nice color display, wrist-based heart rate sensor, and are smartphone compatible (both Android and iPhone). The watch can store up to 500 songs, and can sync directly with streaming music services (such as Spotify).

The 245 has enhanced training and dynamic running capabilities, providing detailed reporting of your runs. This is partly thanks to all the sensors built into them, such as a compass and a pulse oximeter that allows you to monitor your blood oxygen saturation. The results can provide a much more in-depth analysis of your heart rate. For example, the watch can monitor your VO2 max (maximum oxygen intake and consumption per minute) and adjust your workouts accordingly.

This watch is also compatible with the Garmin Coach app, which offers free training plans and tips from Garmin's expert trainers.

The watch can track many more activities than just running, such as swimming (it has a 5 ATM water resistance rating).

Garmin has included a nice safety feature in its watch that automatically detects accidents during your activities and sends your geolocation to three selected emergency contacts. This means that if you lose consciousness, the watch itself will be able to notify someone about it. All you need to do is set them up to communicate via Bluetooth with a smartphone that has the appropriate connection plan. This is very important for those who, for example, train in the mountains. Other safety features include Assistance, LiveTrack and Live Event Sharing (allowing friends and family to monitor your status).

Our favorite feature of this watch is the Body Battery™. This feature allows you to estimate your energy reserves throughout the day, expressing them as a number in the range of 0-100. This is done by tracking metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep, stress, or physical activity.

Battery life on a single charge is quite impressive - it ranges from 7 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 24 hours in GPS mode without listening to music. When listening to music in GPS mode, the battery will last for 6 hours. Overall, this is a pretty impressive watch that offers a lot of useful features and is the perfect running companion.

For competition participants: Polar Vantage M

The Polar Vantage M was our only choice for a competition watch because, while it's priced comparable to the 245 (minus the music option), it doesn't offer many of the smart features of that watch. However, this watch still offers significant value for its price and has a long battery life.

However, they have a very reliable GPS sensor and heart rate monitor, and they have advanced sports tracking capabilities. For example, they can assess your training load, measure your sleep, and estimate your VO2 max.

The watch is equipped with GPS and GLONASS sensors. Their “next-generation” wrist-based heart rate sensor is the only one on the market that combines optical sensor and bio-impedance technology to eliminate motion-induced reading errors.

The watch is compatible with various types of spot and even eventing, but most of all it is attractive to runners. So if you are committed to keeping track of your performance, this could be the perfect watch for you.

Budget Option: Garmin Forerunner 45

Priced at $199.99, this little sister to the 245 is an impressively well-designed entry-level GPS smartwatch. They're lightweight and offer all the essential features of the 245: the same user-friendly five-button design, all the important safety features (automatic accident detection and call for help). They support GLONASS and Galileo in addition to GPS, are compatible with the Garmin Coach app, and also display an accurate Body Battery™ indicator. While this watch doesn't offer music storage, it can be connected to your phone to control your music.

The 45th model provides battery life without recharging for 7 days in smartwatch mode, or for 13 hours in GPS mode. This is the same time as this watch's predecessor, the Forerunner 35, but the 45 features a color display. As long as you're satisfied with day-to-day health/heart rate/stress tracking and basic workout-related data output, this watch will provide everything you need. They really have a very competitive quality to price ratio.

Polar ignition

• 43 mm case
• FitSpark workout analysis
• Optical heart rate
• 17 hours GPS tracking
• Price: $229.95

Priced well below the Polar Vantage series, the Ignite is a slim-bezel fitness watch that makes a great running companion.

They measure 43mm, weigh just 35g and are 8mm thick, ideal for thinner wrists.

Despite its thin frame, the Ignite has just about everything you could want in a running watch. They are equipped with a color touch display for viewing indicators, as well as a reliable heart rate monitor.

Of all the Smart Watch features, it only offers notifications, although it works on iPhone and Android devices. This is essentially a decent fitness tracker.

What's special about them is the FitSpark feature, which analyzes your workout data to offer recommendations and advice. If you've had a particularly intense run, she may recommend a series of assistance exercises to help you recover.

Battery life is rated at 17 hours based on GPS and heart rate tracked workouts. In smartwatch mode, they will last four or five days before needing a charger.

It's beautiful and a good alternative to the Forerunner 45 if you're looking for a more sophisticated design.

Fitbit Flex 2 - Thin and Lightweight Swim Band

The second generation Fitbit Flex is the perfect tracker for the pool. It's thinner and lighter than the original Flex, and although it doesn't have a screen, it does have an LED display with notifications and alerts, giving a clear visual indication of how long you've been swimming.

Flex 2 has a removable tracker unit and interchangeable straps in up to 7 colors. Its sleek design makes this bracelet perfect for women. In addition, the company made sure that the fair sex felt truly feminine, and therefore developed special accessories in the form of a bracelet and pendant, which contain the Flex 2 tracker and look like jewelry.

Garmin Forerunner 245

• Running, cycling, swimming, training in the gym
• Heart rate monitor
• VO2 Max
• Play music, store 500 songs
• Spotify Sync
• Price: $349.99

This is one of the most popular models of the latest generation of Forerunners, and the music support makes this watch a great option for those who prioritize playback of things like Spotify.

Built-in music player support works just like on other Garmin watches. You can transfer your music or playlists from streaming services, then plug in your Bluetooth headphones and leave your phone at home. The 245 has enough space for 500 songs, which should be enough for most users.

But this watch isn't just about music - the Forerunner 245 Music is also an amazing running watch. Unless you're a marathon veteran, they have everything you need, including GPS and a built-in heart rate monitor.

The Forerunner 245 has many of the advanced analytics engines found on more expensive Garmins. They use an optical heart rate sensor to obtain a VO2 Max reading, which is then converted into recovery information. The data consists of training load, during-training condition and post-training effect and is determined by analyzing oxygen consumption and heart rate variability.

The watch also features PacePro, which uses GPS data to speed up races to your desired finishing time - even taking into account hills.

Battery life is about a week with standard use, although naturally using the music features will shorten this. The watch lacks payment support and an altimeter, but overall it's a great running option for those who value music features.

A Brief Review of the Best GPS Watches for Running

• Best GPS watch for road running: Garmin Forerunner 245 music Released in mid-2020, this beautiful, lightweight watch packs a ton of features and has exceptional build quality. There's a reason why Garmin is the dominant manufacturer of GPS watches. At $349.99, this watch does everything you could ever need when running on the road. For competitors: Polar Vantage M Budget option: Garmin Forerunner 45

• Best GPS Watch for Eventing: Garmin Forerunner 945 Also released in mid-2020, this watch really does it all: switch between different sports, improve tracking for fitness, show color maps, play music, and more. And all this with record battery life without recharging. If you can afford this watch, it is the best of all the watches presented here. Dot. Competition: Polar Vantage V Budget: Coros APEX

• Best GPS Watch for Cross Country: Suunto 9 baro This is a premium yet rugged watch that tracks almost every athlete's parameters and biometrics imaginable. We liked their touch screen and crisp graphics, as well as their reliable and durable construction. In our opinion, this is the perfect GPS watch to take with you on your cross-country route, and even for extra runs, thanks to its long battery life. For competitors: Garmin Fenix ​​5X Budget option: Coros APEX

• Best sports smartwatch: Apple Watch 4 We include this category of watches for those who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a device that will only be used a few times a week. So if you're looking for a smartwatch that you can wear all the time and that can also be used while running, you won't do better than the Apple Watch Series 4. It comes with a GPS sensor, and Apple has put together a whole a bunch of smart and useful features in a small, lightweight package. For competition participants: Samsung Galaxy Watch Budget option: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

Garmin Forerunner 945

• Triathlon
• Case size 47mm
• Heart rate monitor
• ANT+
• Advanced Analytics
• Running Dynamics with Running Under
• Smartwatch notifications and Garmin Pay
• Sync Spotify and offline music (1000 songs)
• 36 hours GPS tracking, 17 hours with music
• Price: $599.99

The 945 sits at the top end of the Forerunner range, and while they're designed purely for running tracking, they actually support a huge range of workouts, as well as Garmin Pay support, music playback, navigation, color and map functions.

With tons of metrics, they really do track everything you can dive into after your workout.

To the point

Which smart watch is better to choose?

They're also compatible with the Garmin running box, which adds additional data such as vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length and lactate threshold.

They have battery life and built-in heart rate monitoring, which is a significant improvement over previous heart rate tracking features.

The big benefits of detailed workout analysis come from VO2 Max, heart rate variability, and post-workout oxygen consumption. These features, called Training Effect, Training Load and Training Status, ensure you don't overload yourself. They'll report your progress, predict race times, and let you know how long to rest before your next run.

This is an option for power users, and as such, most buyers will be better off with something less feature-rich and less expensive.

Main conclusions

Fitness bracelets, which are designed for swimming in the pool, have only recently begun to conquer the electronics market. The variety of options and capabilities makes it difficult for the average user to choose. When purchasing such a tracker, we advise you to pay attention to:

• moisture protection class of the device (at least IP67, the best option is IP68);
• convenient and tight fastening of the strap, since when performing strokes, the design of the bracelet will be subject to additional load;
• battery capacity and your preferences regarding charging frequency.

With the right swimming tracker, you can monitor accurate indicators of physical activity and make your own workouts more productive.

Garmin Phoenix 6

• Huge array of track sports
• 47mm case
• Optical HR+ANT+ support
• Advanced Analytics
• PacePro
• TOPO mapping
• Connect IQ apps
• 2000 songs + Spotify sync
• Price: $699

The Garmin Fenix ​​6 is the best running watch for the company. They cater to all outdoor sports and there are modes for normal and running routes, not to mention hiking and skydiving.

These include: VO2 Max, recovery time, race forecast, training effect (aerobic and anaerobic from each session), training load (break time) - all delivered from the built-in optical sensor.

For those who like to explore their runs, there's full topo mapping, an upgrade over the standard Fenix ​​5, and the ability to load GPX routes to keep you from getting lost.

As for music, this watch has features that let you drag and drop your own music and podcasts onto the watch. There's enough space for 2,000 songs, and of course you can take advantage of support for apps like Spotify and Deezer. This means you can listen to playlists offline without your phone.

The small and lightweight design makes it easy to use, and while streaming music will affect battery life, it will take a few sessions before it reaches 0%.

Best GPS Watch for Eventing

Top Pick: Garmin Forerunner 945

This GPS watch simply embodies everything Garmin has to offer. They contain the classic set of features that were included in the Forerunner series watches in 2020 - a nice five-button design, all modern safety features (automatic accident detection and call for help), in addition to GPS, they support GLONASS and Galileo, are compatible with the Garmin Coach application , and also displays the helpful Body Battery™ indicator.

But that's not all they do. The watch provides music storage with Garmin Pay for up to 1,000 songs. You can even set up to listen to music from your favorite streaming services.

But the real increase in quality comes from the additional sensors included with the watch. This includes a barometric altimeter, a gyroscope, and even a thermometer! This means the watch corresponds to deeper activity and fitness tracking. They monitor all factors that influence metrics such as VO2 max and training status, heat and altitude acclimation, concentration on training loads, recovery time, and aerobic and anaerobic effects of training. Their activity profile even mentions skiing and golf.

And on top of all this, in smartwatch mode the battery lasts up to 2 weeks, in GPS mode without music - up to 36 hours, and up to 10 hours in GPS mode with music.

This makes this watch truly ideal for eventers as you can switch between different sports/activities at the touch of a button.

It should be noted that the watch can also be sold for $749.99 as a set, which includes 1 additional black strap, HRM-Tri™ monitor and HRM-Swim™ monitor. In the latter case, the watch strap is blue rather than black. If you can afford to buy this watch, then keep in mind that this is truly the best watch, perhaps even not only among those mentioned in the review.

For competition participants: Polar Vantage V

These premium multi-sport parts are perfect for eventing. We've already discussed the Polar Vantage M, which begs the question, why spend an extra $200 on this high-end watch?

First of all, they have a color touch screen that allows you to quickly and easily use “gestures” during your workout. Like the Vantage M, this watch offers access to the Garmin Coach app and has a comprehensive set of tools to help you set your training and recovery plan. And it's the first watch to show running power right on your wrist. This allows you to monitor the effectiveness of your workout. They also support orthostatic tests, making it easy to analyze your post-workout recovery and optimize your training plan.

This watch, like the Polar Vantage M, also features next-generation heart rate tracking technology. They support 130 different sports (from mountain biking to CrossFit), including running, cycling and swimming. They also have a built-in barometer to track your altitude.

But most importantly, their battery allows them to work without recharging for up to 40 hours, which is noticeably different from the 30 hours of the battery in the Vantage M.

If you don't need any of these extra features, then the Polar Vantage M might be your ideal eventing watch. Otherwise, the Polar Vantage V truly offers high-end capabilities.

Budget option: Coros Apex

Although we've placed the Coros Apex in the budget category, it offers all the extra features for just $349.99. This watch has one of the best quality/price ratios on the market and is truly a watch for all athletes. And they have a powerful battery!

So let's start with that. This battery lasts up to 30 days without recharging during normal use of the watch, and up to 35 hours when operating the watch in GPS mode. The watch even has an UltraMax GPS mode, which allows you to not recharge the battery for 100 hours!

The watch is equipped with all modern sensors such as barometer, altimeter and compass. They support work with GPS and GLONASS satellites. And of course they have a wrist heart rate monitor. The watch comes pre-loaded with cross-country route maps. And they come with tracking and navigation capabilities.

The Coros Apex excels at tracking large amounts of training and performance data. The watch can track interval, aerobic and anaerobic workouts. This model features Intelligent Stride, which learns your running form. And they work with the COROS Trainer app, allowing for more accurate analysis of your training and performance. This watch also has other features such as displaying VO2 max or recovery tips. They can show threshold pace, training load over the last seven days, personal fitness index, etc.

We also really liked the material from which the watch is made. They have a sapphire crystal, the edging of which is made of a titanium alloy.

As we said, this watch has it all. So, although it has a “budget” price, it is not a budget watch in terms of features and may well be good enough for you.

Polar Grit X

• 47mm case
• 1.2-inch, 240 x 240 pixels
• Replaceable straps 22mm
• MIL-STD-810G durability
• 40 hours GPS battery life, 100 hours tracking in low GPS mode
• Optical HR
• GPS, Glonass, Galileo
• Running power and rhythm on your wrist
• 130 sports modes
• FuelWise refueling recommendations
• Hill Splitter segmented ideas
• Step-by-step navigation
• FitSpark recovery-based workout recommendations
• Overnight sleep recharge and restoration of insight
• Price: $429.99

The Grit X goes against the Garmin Fenix ​​6 and places an emphasis on endurance and ultra-speed, with a feature set that most will find too niche. It comes in one size - 47mm - although the watch itself is incredibly light, just 64g compared to the Fenix ​​6's 84g.

Ultra runners require good battery life and it gets it, thanks to 40 hours of full GPS tracking that can be extended to 100 hours. Runners can expect a full range of performance features - and the emphasis here is on running power, for those interested in performance-based motivation.

Key features such as FuelWise allow you to plan your food intake and provide travel reminders.

The Hillsplitter feature tracks ascents and descents and analyzes tempo, and navigation can be customized by using mapping from third-party navigation company Komoot. This is simple waypoint tracking, an essential feature for an outdoor watch.

The 10-LED heart rate monitor is the most advanced to date on a Polar watch, helping to fuel a variety of data points, from recovery and sleep tracking, to running analytics pulled from HRV and VO2 Max.

There's sleep tracking with an emphasis on recovery, and running stats and VO2 Max are a big part of the feature set. The Load and Benefit workout will help you better understand your training and make sure you're not overworking your body because FitSpark workouts are based on your fitness.

Xiaomi Mi Band

The Xiaomi Mi Band smart bracelet is one of the best models, as it has balanced technical characteristics and is suitable for open water activities.

The device can work without recharging for a month. It effectively solves the following problems:

• Calculation of distance traveled;
• Pulse rate;
• Keeping statistics on lost calories;
• Notifying the user about incoming calls to a smartphone and text messages;
• The ability to set up a smart alarm clock that will track your sleep quality and help you wake up at the best time.

Garmin Phoenix 6S

• Huge array of track sports
• 42 mm case
• Optical HR+ANT+ support
• Advanced Analytics
• PacePro
• TOPO mapping
• Connect IQ apps
• 1000 songs + Spotify sync
• Price: $599

To the point

Best Wear Apps: Essential Downloads for SmartWatch Life

For serious athletes with thinner wrists, the Fenix ​​6S should be high on the list.

Garmin introduced a smaller version of its outdoor watches with the Fenix ​​5 series, and for its latest release it's doing the same. In terms of running performance, they are on par with the Forerunner 945, but they have more sport profiles, especially for outdoor activities, so they are definitely suitable for hikers, trail runners and ultra runners.

Like the Fenix ​​6 and Fenix ​​6X, the 6S has all the same features, albeit packed into a 42mm body. They come in standard and professional models, the latter of which has a built-in music player, mapping and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Both models have a 1.3-inch display, which is larger than the 6S. The watch is also available in a sapphire version with additional screen protection.

In terms of new features, you'll get the latest version of Garmin OS, which has improved the user interface and the way you find your data. There's an improved heart rate monitor, a new Garmin PacePro feature for runners, and new battery modes to help you get the most out of your already impressive battery life.

There is VO2 Max, Training Effect, Training Load and Training Status. Lots of sports tracking options and advanced metrics like payments and a built-in music player if you choose the Pro model.

Garmin has made their watches much nicer and more comfortable to wear all day, if you're looking for a sleek, feature-packed running watch, this is it.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

PROS:

• Excellent build quality
• Updates
• Third party app support
• Making calls using your phone
• Convenient bezel for scrolling content
• Exact data
• GPS route maps
• Premium design
• Changing watch faces
• Smart notifications
• Can be used with gloves
• Motivations, competitions, tips, reminders

MINUSES:

• Quite a large body
• Short battery life with active use
• Proprietary dimensional charger
• Limited functionality with iPhone

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive running watch with GPS, the Amazfit Bip is a better choice. But if you are a respectable person who combines style and sport, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Black is your option.

Despite the fact that the device has a classic design, here you will find many functions not only for everyday use, but also for sports. While running, you will be provided with all the important information: from the number of steps and distance to heart rate and average running pace. After your workout, you can check all the collected data right on your wrist, including route traveled, heart rate, elevation, distance and active minutes.

Auto-pause is a very convenient way to take a break for a while to catch your breath, and the ability to control the display using the bezel is a godsend for those who like to go for a run on frosty winter mornings or whose fingers get very sweaty while playing sports.

The Galaxy GPS watch phone gives you the ability to answer and receive phone calls by connecting to your smartphone. Now you don't need to take it out of your backpack or pocket while you're running. All important calendar events, alerts and notifications are at your fingertips.

Sport

• Run
• Treadmill
• Walking
• Cycling
• Exercise bike
• Strength trainer
• Swimming
• Circuit training
• Another exercise
• Sleep (phases)

Features and sensors

• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• Barometer
• Heart rate monitor
• Ambient light sensor
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• NFC (Samsung Pay)
• A-GPS / Glonass
• 4 GB internal memory
• Music storage and playback
• Possibility of use in the pool
• Calendar
• Reminders
• Alarm
• Start a workout
• Adding widgets
• Third party app support
• Changing watch faces
• Emergency SOS call
• Voice prompts
• Answer an incoming call
• Photo and image viewer
• Message exchange
• View incoming notifications with the ability to respond

But this is more of a men's running watch. The women's model also exists under the name Galaxy Watch Rose Gold, which is available in rose gold and measures 42mm.

You can see a detailed review of the 42 mm version with all functions, specifications, photos and videos here.

Price – from $266.

Suunto 9

• 100m water resistance
• Valancell optical HR
• Data recovery
• 50 mm case
• GPS modes 25 h / 50 h / 120 h
• Swimming, cycling, running, multisport training
• Price: $599

Another sports watch with a clear USP, it's just the ultra-runners who should apply for club membership with the Suunto 9. With a whopping 120 hours of GPS life if you put the device in its strictest power-saving mode.

There are a variety of sports that are tracked in addition to running (such as cycling, hiking, and swimming), but the main focus is on battery life.

Before your workout, you'll be told how much battery power is available, and alerts will ask you to charge your battery before it's too late. What's more, you can switch battery modes midway, so there's no need to worry about Suunto finishing your run before you do.

Suunto uses an excellent FusedSpeed ​​feature that estimates speed from hand movement when GPS becomes uneven. This is great news for runners who are fed up with garbled GPS data when running in the woods.

But the lack of application and analysis means this watch will be attractive to those who value battery life.

Amazfit Bip

PROS:

• Budget running watch
• Lightweight and comfortable
• 45 days of battery life
• GPS
• Pulse measurement
• Sleep phase recognition

MINUSES:

• Protected against splashes and dust only
• Stopwatch and timer do not work in the background
• No support for third party apps
• MiFit app needs improvement
• No beep

Amazfit Bip is the best running watch with GPS and heart rate monitor at a low price.

They were developed by Xiaomi's subsidiary Huami and have a transflective display, thanks to which the device can last from 30 to 45 days on a single charge. The square screen is touch-sensitive and color, and is covered with 2.5D Corning Gorilla 3 protective glass.

Bip comes in 4 vibrant color options and allows you to receive emails, text messages, calls and app alerts that you can see on the device's display.

The watch offers tracking of your runs with routes, detailed statistics and heart rate zones. The always-on screen gives you a quick view of the time, date, steps, weather, sports metrics, received notifications and more.

Besides Running mode, every other sports tracking mode provides detailed statistics and GPS maps for the following information:

• Time
• Speed
• Pace
• Step length
• Heart rate zone
• Height
• Calories burned
• Much more, depending on the selected mode

When you're resting, Amazfit Bip provides detailed sleep monitoring, providing data on duration, deep sleep, light sleep, and wake time.

Sport

• Running outside
• Treadmill
• A ride on the bicycle
• Hiking
• Additional sports modes

Features and sensors

• Weather forecast
• Alarm clocks
• Timer
• Compass
• Daily status overview
• GPS+GLONASS
• Bluetooth
• 3-axis accelerometer
• Optical heart rate sensor
• Barometer

The Xiaomi Amazfit Bip GPS smartwatch is the perfect assistant in your daily life to keep you aware of your health and active.

Read a detailed review of Amazfit Bip here.

Price: $78.

Moov Now - fitness bracelet for the pool

Moov Now is the second generation of the Moov multi-sport bracelet, the most advanced fitness tracker in the world, which is designed specifically for the aquatic zone. The device has a 9-axis omnidirectional motion sensor that can capture and analyze all your movements in 3D, and the battery life reaches up to 6 months.

This dust and waterproof bracelet is designed for swimmers, so you will need to enter your pool length to get an accurate measurement. However, the water resistance rating does not allow this gadget to dive as it can only withstand 3 barometric pressure.

Moov Now analyzes every movement and determines what style you are swimming: whether freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly or backstroke. The smartphone app allows you to view statistics and training data.

During your pool workout, the activity tracker suggests difficulty levels, fueled by voice guidance. This voice is quite motivating, and your achievements and personal records will make you return to swimming again and again.

Video: Moov Now

Pros:

• Automatic activity tracking
• Comfortable to wear
• Long battery life
• Motivation
• Affordable price

Minuses:

• Unattractive design
• No display
• The tracker falls out of the strap
• Robotic voice

Conclusion

The main advantage of the Moov Now sports bracelet is the demonstration of your daily activity level. Plus, it's comfortable to wear and a great motivator.

Amazon price $68.95.

What do you need to know when choosing a fitness tracker?

When choosing any sports tracker, you should pay attention not only to its comfort, durability or resistance to shaking, but also to an equally important factor - protection from sweat and moisture. But not all sports bracelets are waterproof, and if you want to buy a gadget specifically for swimming, you should put this factor first.

Also, protection from water droplets and splashes does not mean that the device is suitable for wear in the pool or sea. When swimming, you need a fully waterproof fitness bracelet. IP and ATM standards are numbers that indicate how well a device is protected from water. Thus:

• IP68 is the maximum degree of ingress protection at a depth of 1 meter (the number 6 indicates dust protection)
• 1 ATM and above means that the gadget can withstand up to 10 m of pressure under water. Don’t think that 1 ATM will allow you to go 10 meters underwater. With this indicator, you can wash your hands under running water without fear of droplets getting on the device. 10 m (1 ATM) is the designation at which the watch can withstand 10 atmospheres.

The pressure measurement does not indicate that the activity tracker, capable of being submerged to a depth of 10 m, will be able to withstand a stream of water from a hose. Conversely, devices designed to withstand high pressure are not necessarily ready to go to great depths underwater. Therefore, you should pay attention to both water immersion indicators and atmospheric pressure estimates.

Read in more detail: IP and ATM - protection from dust and moisture, resistance to water. Tables with interpretation of indicators.