Best Swimming Smartwatches in 2026

Want to get the most out of your pool workouts or open-water swims? A good swimming smartwatch can become a valuable investment. Detailed analytics help make every session more effective. The best models on the market accurately track GPS routes, count laps in the pool and collect important biometric data. The right choice depends on your training style, required metrics and budget.

Garmin Fenix 8: the best overall choice

Pros: incredibly bright display, complete set of training data, smart voice control.

Cons: high price, almost no other drawbacks.

The Fenix series finally received a vibrant AMOLED display, and this is a huge win for swimmers. Numbers on the screen remain easy to read even during fast arm movements. You no longer need to squint to check your pace or heart rate through the water.

The watch keeps all the powerful multisport features that made the Fenix lineup so popular. Accurate GPS and detailed statistics make this model an ideal tool for triathlon preparation. The case is still quite large, so swimmers with a tight wetsuit or smaller wrists should consider the 43 mm version. Sapphire glass provides maximum protection without adding unnecessary weight.

Garmin Epix Gen 2: the watch with the best display

Pros: excellent readability underwater, major discounts on this model.

Cons: weaker battery life compared with Fenix.

The huge AMOLED display remains clearly visible even in dark and cloudy lake water. Water resistance up to 10 ATM (100 metres) is twice as high as many cheaper alternatives. The watch can count laps, intervals, strokes and calculate SWOLF efficiency as well as critical swim speed.

Garmin Swim 2: the best value for money

Pros: excellent data collection, convenient analysis in the app, affordable price.

Cons: narrow specialisation.

Need a watch specifically for swimming without unnecessary extras? Garmin Swim 2 is the perfect solution. The device covers everything required for water workouts. The optical heart-rate sensor works reliably directly from your wrist.

In the pool, the watch tracks distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type and SWOLF score. In open water, built-in GPS additionally records an accurate route and stroke length. All statistics can be easily analysed through Garmin Connect. Smartphone notifications are a useful bonus.

Suunto Race: the best multisport option

Pros: powerful battery, huge feature set, accurate GPS and biometrics.

Cons: only one sensor of each type can be connected at the same time.

These are arguably the best watches Suunto has ever created. The combination of a touchscreen and three physical buttons makes control extremely convenient. The feature list includes everything swimmers need.

The device performs equally well in indoor pools and open water. It includes distance tracking, automatic intervals and stroke analysis. The watch can also measure heart-rate variability. This important metric directly affects sleep quality and recovery assessment after training. The battery lasts up to 40 hours in GPS mode.

Garmin Forerunner 970: the best training watch

Pros: excellent AMOLED display, highly accurate heart-rate monitor, adaptive smart coach, open-water metrics.

Cons: bright display drains the battery faster, high price.

This model was designed primarily for runners, but swimmers will also find plenty of useful features here. The latest version received a high-contrast AMOLED display that remains easy to read in cloudy water.

The device truly shines as a serious training tool. The huge selection of metrics covers almost every need during water workouts. During rest periods at the pool edge, the watch can read heart rate from a chest strap. The smart Triathlon Coach assistant creates a personalised training plan to help reach peak performance.

Suunto Vertical 2: the best navigation for open water

Pros: excellent training and navigation features, large battery, sharp display.

Cons: no ANT+ support, no music storage, medium-sized screen.

The Vertical 2 model focuses mainly on hiking and exploration, but the developers did not forget about water enthusiasts. The Finnish brand claims water resistance up to 100 metres, making the watch suitable for long underwater sessions.

The list of 120 sports profiles includes modes for both pool and open-water swimming. The watch records speed, distance and intervals. Multi-band GPS guarantees a stable signal in challenging conditions. The display is not the largest, but the AMOLED panel remains easy to read underwater. The lack of music storage is unlikely to bother serious swimmers.

Polar Vantage M3: the best mid-range option

Pros: sharp display, premium features, attractive price, software from flagship models.

Cons: the companion app needs improvement, average battery life.

The Vantage M3 received software from the more expensive V3 and Grit X2 Pro models while costing significantly less. To reduce the price, Polar sacrificed some battery capacity and premium case materials. However, the lightweight 53-gram design is barely noticeable on the wrist.

The 1.28-inch display delivers excellent image quality. The watch includes dual-frequency GPS and a blood oxygen sensor. Triathletes will appreciate reliable tracking for both pool and open-water sessions.

Polar Vantage V3: the best button-based control

Pros: automatic stroke recognition, highly accurate GPS, bright display and excellent biometrics.

Cons: high price.

Polar’s bright AMOLED display easily cuts through the water in cloudy conditions. For its price, the watch offers a complete set of sports features.

The system can recognise different swimming styles beyond freestyle. Breaststroke-focused triathletes will especially appreciate this feature. It works only in pools, but in open water the watch makes up for it with excellent GPS performance. The device also measures skin temperature, analyses sleep and helps plan race nutrition.

Coros Pace 3: the lightest watch

Pros: swimming statistics tracking, excellent GPS, long battery life.

Cons: very difficult to find weaknesses in this category.

The third generation of the Pace series became a real gift for budget-conscious athletes. The developers kept the convenient digital crown and added a touchscreen. With a weight of just 30 grams, the watch feels almost weightless.

The simple LCD display handles its tasks perfectly. The battery lasts 38 hours in GPS mode and an entire month as a regular watch. The software includes 20 sports profiles. During swimming, the system provides stroke rate and SWOLF measurements. In the pool, the algorithm automatically recognises freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke.

Coros Pace Pro: our top recommendation

Pros: excellent price-to-performance ratio, vibrant AMOLED display, multiple swimming modes, plenty of route storage.

Cons: basic strap quality, average battery life.

The Pace Pro became the first Coros watch to receive an AMOLED display. The sharp screen makes it easy to read data through swimming goggles. The watch weighs only 49 grams and costs less than many competitors with similar features. Water resistance is rated at the standard 5 ATM.

In the pool, the device easily recognises all four main swimming styles and counts laps for different lane lengths. In open water, you need to swim freestyle only for GPS tracking to work correctly.