The three best sports smartwatches in 2024

We tested these connected sports watches in real situations to evaluate their design and comfort, especially in terms of their size and weight. Next, we judged the quality of their screen in daylight and night. We explored the applications and menu of each watch to check the responsiveness of their interface, but also their intuitiveness. The features were also tested with particular attention to those that are useful during the practice of various sports such as GPS, activity detection and heart rate. The sensors had to be precise, but also that their use did not have too much impact on the autonomy of the watches.

The selection of the 3 best sports connected watches to choose in 2024

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Garmin Forerunner 55: the most affordable

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This sporty watch, light (37 grams) and waterproof up to 5 ATM, is comfortable with its 42 mm case. Its 1.04″ LCD screen is not touchscreen, but it is easy to use thanks to its 5 physical buttons. Garmin Connect and Garmin Coach offer basic programs and analyzes, particularly for running. GPS and heart rate are accurate, but the accelerometer has errors, and it lacks features like the compass and the altimeter On the other hand, it allows you to record emergency contacts The autonomy varies between 1 and 2 weeks. but only 20 hours with GPS enabled The lack of power saving mode and the USB-A cable are small drawbacks.

The pluses:

• Affordable price
• Light and comfortable to wear
• Waterproof up to 5 ATM, suitable for swimming
• Easy-to-use interface with 5 physical buttons
• GPS and heart rate accuracy
• Garmin Connect and Garmin Coach for programs and analyzes
• Battery life of 1 to 2 weeks without GPS

Cons:

• Accelerometer with margins of error
• No electronic compass or barometric altimeter
• Lack of power saving mode
• USB-A charging cable instead of USB-C

Garmin Venu 3: the greatest autonomy

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This watch, light (47 grams) and comfortable, is available in 41 and 45 mm, suitable for sport and daily use. Waterproof up to 5 ATM, it offers a bright AMOLED screen with Always-On mode. It has 3 buttons and an intuitive touch interface under Garmin OS. It offers more than 30 sport modes with accurate sensors, although calorie estimation and altitude are sometimes inaccurate. GPS is reliable, but basic. In health, it monitors sleep, stress, blood oxygenation, and has an electrocardiogram. It allows contactless payments and calls. Battery life reaches 14 days in moderate use, with a recharge in 1h30.

The pluses:

• Available in two sizes, light and comfortable
• Waterproof up to 5 ATM, suitable for swimming in pools
• Intuitive interface with buttons and touch screen under Garmin OS
• 30+ sport modes with precise sensors and comprehensive health tracking
• Contactless payments via Garmin Pay
• Call function and notification management
• Battery life up to 14 days with moderate use and 26 hours with GPS

Cons:

• Overestimated calorie estimation
• Altitude sometimes incorrect despite barometric altimeter
• Reliable GPS, but with basic functions
• Limited app catalog

Suunto Race: for diving

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This robust watch, waterproof to 10 ATM, is ideal for underwater activities, but its large 46mm dial and 83g weight make it less comfortable for sports. Its 1.43” AMOLED screen is good, but the touch interface is slow. It has 2 buttons, including a rotating crown for easy navigation, even in the rain. It offers accurate GPS with navigation features and offline maps, but distance and altitude lack accuracy. Connected functions are limited, without contactless payment. Battery life is 12 days in connected mode and 40 to 120 hours with GPS. Recharging takes less than 1h30.

The pluses:

• Waterproof up to 10 ATM, suitable for underwater activities
• Large, good quality 1.43” AMOLED screen
• Accurate GPS with navigation features and offline maps
• Accurate heart rate
• Reliable sleep analysis
• Good battery life of 12 days in connected mode and up to 120 hours with GPS
• Fast recharge in less than 1h30

Cons:

• Large dial and high weight, less comfortable for sports
• Slow touch interface
• Distance and altitude sometimes imprecise
• Limited connected functions, no contactless payment

Other models tested

• Garmin vivoactive 5 : We excluded this sports smartwatch from our selection because its plastic design does not make a good impression. Additionally, we got imprecise data, especially regarding altitude and heart rate, and the GPS was quite slow.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra : We excluded this sports smartwatch from our selection because its heavy, imposing design didn't stick to the skin as well during our tests, skewing some data. In addition, the battery life of around 2 days is much lower than other models and certain applications can only be used if you have a smartphone from the same brand. At such a price, we prefer not to suggest it.

4 key criteria for choosing your smart sports watches

According to our product experts, here are the key criteria to consider when choosing your smart sports watches.

The design

• Comfort depends on the weight, format and strap of the watch.
• A lighter watch is more comfortable to wear.
• The dial should not exceed the size of the wrist to avoid discomfort.
• The bracelet must be flexible, especially for sporting activities.
• If you are a jogger, rain and weather resistance is sufficient.
• If you are a swimmer, choose a watch with a minimum water resistance of 5 ATM.
• If you are a diver, opt for a resistance of 10 ATM.

Autonomy

• GPS watches use lithium-ion batteries.
• The screen backlighting and GPS activation have a strong impact on battery life.
• With GPS enabled, the battery drains 5 to 12 times faster.

GPS accuracy

• GPS accuracy is an essential criterion for a connected sports watch.
• The quality of the tracker depends on the response time and the geolocation system.
• Some models use a multi-satellite (3 satellites), providing more effective position cues.

Features and connectivity

• The heart rate monitor measures heart rate during activity.
• The Pulse OS sensor calculates the oxygen level in the blood, useful for high altitude trails.
• Most watches offer options like notifications, music, payment, compass, etc. These options should be considered according to your objectives and needs.
• The memory allows you to save your personal results.
• GPS watches can transfer training data to a computer via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ANT+.
• Some watches offer automatic synchronization.
• Data storage software varies by brand.

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