Best Running Watches Across Brands For Beginners to Ultras

The best running watch isn’t always the most expensive one on the market. It’s the one with the features that will truly help improve your training and fit your lifestyle and running needs.

For some runners, that means focusing on wrist-based heart rate; for others, it’s elevation gain on the trails and reminders to fuel on long runs; while others just want it to fit into their day with notifications and then track distance.

Now that we have a team of testers, we’re able to get our hands on even more watch models and brands.

Of course, everyone ends up having a favorite depending on their needs and running goals. But we’ve tried to put together a list that covers a wide range of options.

If you’re looking for the best running watch, this is the article for you. You’ll find the best running watches broken down by categories, as well as what you need to consider when buying a running watch.

Best Running Watch for 2026

The best running watches are the most versatile fitness wearables you can buy. This guide’s GPS-enabled running watches are more than simply smartwatches.

At the very least, there should be an integrated heart rate sensor, as well as quick GPS and health and wellness capabilities, in a good running watch. Not to mention a smart algorithm that accurately estimates all key running metrics.

Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Coros, AmazFit, and other brands are competing for the title of best running watch.

We’ll give you a breakdown by the major categories, but if you want to do more digging or compare watches, we’ve done that for you in a number of articles:

• Polar vs Suunto
• Amazfit vs Garmin
• Garmin Vs Polar
• COROS Vs Garmin

Best Overall Running Watch – Garmin 570

This is probably one of the most design-appealing watches that Garmin currently has out there.

Sure, it’s labeled an advanced watch, but what you’re basically getting is a watch that allows you to take phone calls, play golf, and track really specific multisport activities.

The Garmin Forerunner 570 is a fantastic watch for athletes who run, cross-train, focus on strength, and more. If you have an interest in other sports like golf or mountaineering, skiing, or team sports as it has some very specific features that you’re going to love.

For it being considered an advanced watch, it’s probably the Garmin watch with the battery life that goes very quickly. You can see from the specs below that it barely lasts 18 hours when used as a smartwatch. Just something to keep in mind!

We typically suggest the Garmin 265 as the best overall watch for features and price; however, we think it may be getting phased out. It’s still on the Garmin website, but it’s not on their main watch list.

Two of the biggest differences between the two watches are price (about $100) and the ability to take calls on the 570 (though you still cannot text).

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Best Running Watch for Beginners (and anyone looking for simplicity): Garmin 55

This is one of the watches that our team recommends at least 9 out of 10 times if you’re just looking for a watch with a GPS to track your runs.

It’s as basic as it gets, not all of the extra bells and whistles. You won’t get things like race predictor, music control or storage, sleep tracking and some other running data insights.

If you’re planning to do any running in the mountains, or in places like Colorado, there isn’t a a built in accelerometer, altimeter or barometer, so you won’t be getting any information about elevation changes.

The only downside here is that you aren’t getting the top-level GPS. So if you take it on the trails or through a lot of buildings, it may not be as accurate.

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Best Budget-Friendly Running Watch with Advanced Features: Amazfit Balance 2

If you’re a beginner or maybe you’re on the running and Hyrox train, they heard you and have a watch to easily track both this! The Balance 2 is going to give you just about all the features we’re looking at with the Garmin 570, plus the ability to send a text message!

We did find that the HR readings were unreliable, the watch size is very large and the strap feels kind of cheap. But when it came to the GPS, stride, altitude and other standard workouts readings everything was coming in on par.

Zepp Health has created an app that lines up pretty close to Garmin. And you’ll find you can still easily adjust the data you want to see on each screen for your workouts.

You can see here it’s got a large easy to read screen and it’s ready to help you track just about any style of workout you choose to do.

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Best Running Watch for HR: Polar Vantage V3

The V3 is built for runners who want deep training and recovery insights without feeling lie you need to learn a whole new language to use the watch.

It features a shiny and bright AMOLED screen and has every piece of data that you could need right on your wrist.

The Vantage V3 is lightweight and like with other Polar watches pretty spot on HR data.

Polar Vantage V, V2 and now V3 have the most sophisticated wrist based HR on the market and I’ve found it to be insanely accurate over many months of testing (including an Ultramarathon).

Its build quality is better than the first generation of the Vantage V and is undoubtedly an improvement overall. It has a variety of useful tests and data for dedicated runners and cyclists looking to improve their form and prepare for competitions better.

Even better, most of the tests and data that the Vantage V3 gives you can’t be found anywhere else. This makes it even more appealing to athletes who want more data delivered reliably.

The battery life is incredible and when turning on GPS it will tell you just how many hours you can get out of it. No more wondering if it might make it through a long run.

It tracks elevation gain and descent, along with altitude – so it’s great for trail running. You can load maps to it which is great for trails or new cities.

Like most high end GPS watches it also includes VO2 Max.

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Best Running Smartwatch: Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3 still remains Apple’s most runner-focused watch.

With improved GPA accuracy, a larger durable design (well this may be a deal breaker for some), and a longer battery life than other Apple models.

This is a solid option for runners who want to track some fitness metrics and still have access to all the smartwatch features Apple is known for.

It’s everything that you need for running and everyday life in one watch. So if you’ve switched between two watches in the past, this will definintely solve that probelm so that everything is in one spot.

In the Apple Ultra 3 you are getting connected to multiple satellites via dual-frequency GPS (just like the other big GPS watch brands) and they’ve added technology to assist with tracking through tall buildings. The idea is that if you blip out, it takes into account your stride, pace, etc., and can still correctly map your distance.

This watch comes in only one size, and it’s beefier than your standard Apple Watch. So it may not be everyone’s style, especially if you have a smaller wrist.

Checkout our guide on tips for running with an Apple watch to make the most of it.

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Wondering how to make the most running with your Apple watch? Check out our guide here.

Best Running Watch for Smaller Wrists: COROS Pace 4

When comparing the Pace 4 to the Pace 3, there are a few improvements and updates. The display is brighter and clearer, with higher resolution and an AMOLED display. There is an additional action button on the watch for shortcuts to your most used features, pins, and more.

The battery life is increased from 25 to 41 hours during activities and 15 days to 19 days during daily use. Additionally, there is a microphone for recording training notes and voice commands, as well as menstrual cycle tracking.

A new feature on the Pace 4 is the ability to record voice notes. After a workout, you can select your RPE using the dial of the watch. Then there is an option to leave a voice note using the built in microphone.

COROS watches have a reputation for the wealth of data that they provide. The Pace 4 offers all the data that runners need with some additional features added on. The updated design with a bright and clear AMOLED display makes it ideal for wearing all day long. And a few small updates take this watch to the next level, making it an all around top choice for runners.

**BONUS: If you like a Garmin, but need a smaller size look for the S version. It’s available in most of their running watches now and will make the screen size smaller for a better fit.

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Best Running Watch for Data Lovers: Suunto Race

This watch is packed with features designed for athletes who want to dive into the details, think advanced metrics, recovery insights, and even race preparation tools.

For seasoned runners who love having a wealth of data at their fingertips (and who prioritize map and navigation features), this watch could be perfect for you.

At first, the three-button layout might feel a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, customizing your watch and arranging your favorite widgets is a breeze. The crown scroll button lets you easily navigate through features, or you can use the touchscreen, depending on preference.

While the Suunto Race offers more smartwatch capabilities than any other running watch we’ve tested, it does miss a few key features that many runners value, like contactless payments, multi-bluetooth pairing, and media storage, which you’ll often find on competing models.

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Best Running Watch for Trail Running: Garmin Enduro 3

This GPS watch from Garmin stands out from the crowd, thanks to its solar-charging capabilities! But even without it, the battery life is excellent with up to 120 hours in GPS mode, and 90 days in smartwatch mode (with solar)!

While it’s LARGE, it’s also really accurate and these newer models make it easier than ever to download maps and routes. All of which are going to make your trail runner exceptionally happy.

It comes with all the standard features any trail runner would need for GPS accuracy, and other features such as VO2 max, blood oxygen, and everything in between.

Super fans of this watch.

It’s more than most runners need, but the battery life is so freaking incredible and the data always feels spot on even when out in the deep recesses of Colorado trails.

As you might guess it’s also wildly durable. Bash it here, there, everywhere and this watch is holding strong without a scratch.

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Budget-Friendly Running Watch for Trails: Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro

The best thing about this watch is its combination of the most advanced features on the planet without compromising simplicity.

Amazfit states that the T-Rex 3 Pro is “built for every adventure,” and they’re not wrong. This watch can power your long run or track your heart rate fluctuations.

It can remind you of your upcoming meeting agenda or tell you to get up off the couch, while also easily connecting to your power meter, heart rate monitor or guiding you through turn-by-turn directions for a long run in a new city.

The user experience and journey were clearly created with athletes in mind. While you’re getting a watch that can do nearly everything, the consumer journey to achieve each task is simple.

It has that higher-end feel, but far from that higher-end price tag… there’s almost an $800 difference between the AmazFit and Garmin watches in this category!!

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Of course, we will keep this list updated as technology evolves and new watches hit the market.

And if you’ve got feedback on a watch make sure to drop it below, we’re always interested in your feedback. We know what our team found in testing, but maybe you experienced something else on the road or trails that will help another runner.

Looking for what to read next?

• Best Garmin Watch for Running | Key Feature Comparison
• Is the Treadmill or My Watch More Accurate?
• 10 Everyday GPS Watch Tips and Tricks Every Runner Should Know

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