Best running watches 2021 | Android Central

Best
running watches
Android Central
2021

Best overall: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

If you’re a runner of any kind, chances are you’ve heard a thing or two about the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. It’s been around for two years, but this is one of those running watches that ages gracefully. Newer models continue to come out — from Garmin and other top brands — but the Forerunner 245 Music continues to be a go-to choice for many running enthusiasts.

As the name suggests, one of the stand-out features of the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is onboard storage for up to 500 songs. If you’re a dedicated runner who enjoys listening to music while you exercise, this allows you to leave your phone behind while still having access to your favorite tunes. This is a wonderful bonus, but the real selling point here is the impressive running features you’ll get.

This Garmin smartwatch offers multiple tools that help your train better, including Running Dynamics and Garmin Coach. Additionally, the training status feature lets you know whether you’re overtraining or undertraining. You can use the training load feature to compare your most recent exercise volume to the optimal range for your current fitness level. You’ll never be short on run profiles, either. The Forerunner 245 Music offers treadmill running, indoor and outdoor track running, trail running, and virtual running.

This running watch offers seven days of battery life in smartwatch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode, and 6 hours in GPS with music mode. If you’re someone who likes extra features, you might be disappointed to learn that the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music does not offer NFC for Garmin Pay. The music model of the watch is more expensive, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re on the fence about whether or not you need built-in storage.

Shopping for the best running watch doesn’t automatically mean you need to spend a fortune. In fact, many numerous entry-level options still come loaded with features that are geared toward runners. One example is the new Garmin Forerunner 55. It’s perfect for daily wear yet still a good option when you need a sport-ready watch that’s lightweight and comfortable. You’ll also be able to find plenty of third-party Garmin Forerunner 55 bands when you need to switch things up.

Perhaps one of the best things about the Garmin Forerunner 55 is the battery life. It offers a whopping two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode or 20 hours in GPS mode. It comes with all the core features that Garmin usually offers, including GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, built-in sports apps, Body Battery energy monitoring, stress tracking, and more.

Runners will enjoy having everything they need at their fingertips, including several run profiles. These include running, treadmill running, indoor track running, outdoor track running, and virtual running. The recovery advisor helps you understand how much rest time you need between workouts. Another neat perk is the race predictor, which accounts for your fitness level and training history when helping you reach your race goal. You’ll also be able to view the impact of training on your predicted finish time.

With such a budget-friendly price tag, it makes sense that some compromises must be made. The Garmin Forerunner 55 doesn’t have NFC for Garmin Pay. You’re also missing an altimeter, so you won’t have any elevation data when recording your workouts. While the watch allows you to control the music playing on your phone, you won’t have onboard storage available. These are small sacrifices in the grand scheme of things, especially when considering how affordable this running watch is compared to its competitors.

If you consider yourself a casual runner, you may not need tons of high-end features. Not to mention that you’ll save some money by going with a more basic option, like the Fitbit Versa 3, for example. In this case, basic isn’t a bad thing. You get everything you need — nothing more, nothing less.

It offers a slim, lightweight design with a vibrant AMOLED touchscreen. It’s compatible with interchangeable bands, so you always have the option to change up your look. Keep in mind that Versa 3 bands aren’t compatible with previous Versa bands, though. Digging a little deeper, you’ll get six days of battery life, depending on usage.

You get plenty of features for tracking your health and fitness. Examples include heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, automatic exercise recognition, on-screen workouts, and female health tracking. So whether you’re going for a walk, outdoor run, or treadmill run, the Versa 3 can track it. Active Zone Minutes is another useful feature. You’ll earn Active Zone Minutes for the time you spend in fat burn, cardio, or break heart-rate zones.

If you’re big on third-party app selection, you’ll want to manage your expectations when buying the Fitbit Versa 3. It has improved over time, but it’s not as robust as some other Android smartwatches. If you opt for the always-on display feature, be prepared for your battery to train faster. As we mentioned, you don’t get any super advanced features here as far as running is concerned. Casual runners and those just getting started with their fitness tracking journey will appreciate the efficient simplicity of the Versa 3.

If you’re looking for a straightforward running watch with stellar battery life, look no further than the Coros Pace 2. Most premium smartwatches aren’t exactly cheap, but this one does a great job of providing key features at an affordable price point. Of course, you’ll have all of the features you’d expect, including built-in GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, multiple workout modes, and more.

Another reason the Coros Pace 2 is an excellent choice is that it offers a lightweight design. With the nylon strap, this watch weighs a mere 29g. If you prefer a silicone strap, the weight will be closer to 35g. You also get a 1.2-inch LCD with 64 colors. While many people are accustomed to AMOLED displays, the LCD allows for long-lasting battery life. Many users will prefer longer battery life over a fancier display.

As you might have guessed, the Coros Pace 2’s battery life is the star of the show. This smartwatch can last for up to 20 days with regular use. That translates to 30 hours in continuous GPS mode. For serious athletes recording daily workouts or more, 20 days probably isn’t a realistic figure. On the other hand, casual users may only need to charge their watch a couple of times per month.

The Coros Pace 2 is a running watch to its core, but don’t expect much else from it. While some other options on this list offer extra perks, like NFC payments and music storage, those features aren’t available on this model. It also lacks an SPO2 sensor for blood oxygen tracking, which is rather disappointing. If comfort is a top priority for you, be sure to consider the silicone band. When running and sweating, the nylon strap has proven to be itchy and uncomfortable.

While all runners train at some point, some do it much more than others. So whether you’re a professional athlete or you’ve got a calendar full of races coming up, you’ll appreciate how focused on training and recovery the Polar Vantage V2 is. It may not be quite as popular as some of the other brands on this list, but the Vantage V2 deserves recognition for being one of the best running watches on the market.

It’s quite the upgrade from the previous model, for starters. You’ll have access to several elite performance tests that are designed to help you measure, improve, and monitor key metrics. These tests include running performance, VO2 max estimate, a leg recovery test, Training Load Pro, and Recovery Pro. If you’re interested, you can also enjoy access to personalized, pre-made workouts as well as daily guidance with the company’s FitSpark program.

The running performance test will help you monitor your progress while personalizing your heart rate, speed, and power zones. The Recovery Pro feature can help you determine whether your body is prepared for training with helpful recovery feedback right on the screen. One unique feature is the leg recovery test, which tells you if your legs are ready for high-intensity training. You don’t need any special equipment for this feature, either. Last but not least, the Running Index feature estimates your maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) while running. This score indicates how efficient your running is and can be monitored over time so you can track your progress and performance.

Considering that many of the watches on this list offer between one to two weeks of battery life, the Polar Vantage V2 could use some improvement in that area. The watch claims to offer 40 hours of battery life for continuous training. There are some battery saver options, which are supposed to extend battery life up to 100 hours. There aren’t any mapping options, which some runners can’t live without. Finally, the 47mm case still might be too large for some wrists. For everything you get with this running watch, the price tag makes sense. That said, it’s a stretch for beginners and budget shoppers.

If you’re familiar with the Garmin Forerunner 945, you’ll notice that the new Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE offers many of the same features, including two weeks of battery life. As the name indicates, the main difference is LTE connectivity. When it comes to LTE smartwatches, most people think of making calls and sending texts from their watch without their phones connected. The Forerunner 945 LTE takes a different approach.

The ability to use the LTE connectivity on this watch does not depend on your carrier. With other LTE smartwatches, you might only…