Swimming is a implausible low-impact exercise that may provide help to enhance your well being and wellness whereas additionally serving to you calm down due to the pure results of being within the water. Water offers buoyancy however provides resistance, so it’s gentle in your joints and helps enhance your flexibility.
One method to monitor your train exercise is with a water-proof sports activities watch, and there are many choices available for purchase as we speak. At ZDNET, we have examined the entire finest smartwatches in the marketplace, evaluating elements like the power to perform whereas submerged in water, coronary heart charge accuracy within the water, battery life, sensible options, and particular options optimized for actions in or on the water.
Finest smartwatch offers of the week
Offers are chosen by the CNET Group commerce crew, and could also be unrelated to this text.
What’s the finest waterproof smartwatch proper now?
Primarily based on each our hands-on testing and insights from consultants, we named the Apple Watch Extremely 3 one of the best waterproof smartwatch resulting from its 10 ATM score, diving certification, lengthy battery life, storage capability, high-quality titanium supplies, sleep-tracking capabilities, girls’s wellness options, and superior exercise metric characteristic suite. However when you’re not an Apple consumer, learn on to see how watches from Google, Samsung, Garmin, Polar, Coros, and Suunto evaluate to search out one of the best waterproof smartwatch on your wants and your wrist.
The most effective waterproof smartwatches of 2025
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The Apple Watch maintained the identical kind issue and primary design for eight years, however all of that modified in 2022 when Apple launched the novel new Apple Watch Extremely, constructed and optimized for the outside adventurer. The Extremely 3 builds on the Extremely and Extremely 2 with the brand new S10 processor, a bigger show, improved battery life, and enhanced connectivity choices with assist for 5G and satellite tv for pc networks.
Why we prefer it: The Apple Watch Extremely 3 is essentially the most rugged and succesful Apple Watch up to now and provides a brilliant, flat 49mm show fabricated from scratch-resistant sapphire glass and 3000 nits most brightness with broad angle assist. The brand new Hypertensions Notifications characteristic offers extra well being info to customers with the potential to avoid wasting lives and improve consciousness of hypertension diagnoses.
Help for satellite tv for pc connectivity out of your wrist is a key characteristic in watches launched in late 2025 and in our testing the Apple Watch Extremely 3 is one of the best due to no subscription charges (at the very least for 2 years), a capability to ship textual content messages and your location straight from the Apple Watch 3 to family and friends with no charges, and simple connectivity to emergency providers by way of satellite tv for pc when crucial. Others require a subscription, require a particular utility for the recipient, or restrict connectivity
Who it is for: Past the construct high quality and superior coaching features, no different smartwatch helps as many functions and utilities as an Apple Watch, clearly making it one of the best smartwatch accessible as we speak. Its functionality to function a major technique of communication additionally makes it powerful to beat.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In case you are not an iPhone consumer, then do not even think about an Apple Watch Extremely 3 because it would not connect with an iPad or MacOS laptop. There are nice choices from Google and Samsung when you personal an Android smartphone.
Apple Watch Extremely 3 tech specs: Show: 49mm, 422 x 514 pixels OLED LTPO3 sapphire glass | Battery life: 42 hours | Dimensions: 49 x 44 x 14.4mm | Weight: 61.8 g | Water/Mud resistance: 100m with IP6X | 5G mobile choice: Sure, and satellite tv for pc
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Why we prefer it: The Apple Watch Collection 11 seems to be just like the Collection 10, however improves with battery life, enhanced sturdiness, and sooner mobile 5G connectivity. Battery life has been elevated from 18 hours to 24 hours with extra scratch-resistant Ion-X glass on the show.
Who it is for: Apple Watch customers who need a slim, glossy watch with out the majority of an Apple Watch Extremely ought to significantly think about the Apple Watch Collection 11. Extending the battery life from 18 hours to 24 hours is a big enchancment with quick charging supporting offering as much as 8 hours of battery life with simply quarter-hour of cost.
Sleep apnea detection was a brand new characteristic within the Collection 10 and with the Collection 11 we see Apple launch with its new Hypertension Notifications characteristic that may present certified customers with a notification that their coronary heart charge knowledge signifies they could be experiencing hypertension. The notification seems after 30 days and it’ll not present precise blood stress readings, however a system for logging blood stress readings with a cuff.
The dearth of precision begin for GPS monitoring is a limitation stopping me from deciding on the Collection 11 as my major smartwatch in lieu of the bigger Apple Watch Extremely 3.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In case you are not an iPhone consumer, then do not even think about an Apple Watch Collection 11 because it would not connect with an iPad or MacOS laptop. There are nice choices from Google and Samsung when you personal an Android smartphone. In order for you a extra rugged Apple Watch, think about the Apple Watch Extremely 3.
Apple Watch Collection 11 tech specs: Show: 416 x 496 pixels (46mm) and 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) OLED | Battery life: 24 hours | Dimensions: 46 x 39 x 9.7mm (46mm) and 42 x 36 x9.7mm (42mm) | Weight: 37.8 grams (AL 46mm) and 30.3 g (AL 42mm) | Water/Mud resistance: 50m with IP6X | 5G mobile choice: Sure
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Why we prefer it: Garmin watches are nice for lengthy battery life, sturdy construct high quality, and excessive customization of knowledge fields so as to customise the expertise on your private actions. The watches are additionally very correct and connect with different sensors, corresponding to exterior coronary heart charge displays.
Who it is for: Whereas most of those watches are targeted on use within the water, the Garmin Quatix 7 Professional additionally excels for features floating on high of the water. It helps connections to numerous marine electronics whereas serving to you sail, preserve an anchored place, view the native tides, and extra. When you spend time with actions corresponding to crusing, fishing, kayaking, and are on high of the water greater than within the water then you must think about the Quatix 7 Professional.
Having an LED flashlight available in your wrist within the marine atmosphere is essential, too. Issues are sometimes dropped into the bilges or in tight areas on a ship, the place a flashlight is essential to discovering objects, flipping switches, and trying out the situation of the vessel. The LED flashlight additionally has pink gentle mode to see issues in darkish circumstances with out ruining your night time imaginative and prescient. Sustaining night time imaginative and prescient on the bridge or helm is essential to see navigation lights, buoys, and different objects on the water at night time.
The watch physique is made with ocean-bound plastics whereas your entire favourite water sports activities are properly supported. This consists of open swimming, pool swimming, browsing, and extra.
Who ought to look elsewhere
: In order for you a smartwatch that excels within the water whereas additionally supporting a number of third social gathering apps then it’s possible you’ll wish to have a look at an Apple or Google smartwatch as an alternative.
Garmin Quatix 7 Professional tech specs: Show: 416 x 416 pixels AMOLED | Battery life: 16 days or 6 days with AOD | Dimensions: 47 x 47 x 14.6mm | Weight: 47 g (with out band) | Water/Mud resistance: 10 ATM | LTE mobile choice: No
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Why we prefer it: Garmin’s watches are GPS sports activities watches targeted on serving to you enhance your well being, health, and efficiency. There are sometimes some options that rival conventional smartwatches, however the Venu 3/3S is clearly one of the best Garmin to tackle the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch.
The Venu 3/3S is extraordinarily well-built. It has a superb AMOLED show, its battery lasts for greater than every week, it allows you to settle for and make calls from the wrist, and it helps voice assistants by way of a linked smartphone.
Assessment: Garmin Venu 3S
Who’s it for: One nice side of the Venu collection is the dimensions and weight in comparison with among the chunkier bigger Garmin watches. The Venu 3S is nice for these with smaller wrists who need a sturdy dependable smartwatch.
Along with its smartwatch features, the Venu 3/3S helps the entire superb Garmin features and huge ecosystem. This consists of subscription music assist, Garmin Pay, Join IQ app assist, and the very good Garmin Join smartphone utility.
You’ll be able to observe your pool or open water swimming with the Venu 3S so you may have the watch provide help to depend these laps and the influence in your well being. Stand-up paddleboarding and rowing are additionally supported by the watch.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In order for you a smartwatch that excels within the water whereas additionally supporting a number of third social gathering apps then it’s possible you’ll wish to have a look at an Apple or Google smartwatch as an alternative.
Garmin Venu 3S tech specs: Show: 390 x 390 pixels AMOLED | Battery life (GPS): 21 hours | Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12mm | Weight: 27 grams (40 grams with band) | Water resistance: 5 ATM | LTE Mobile choice: No
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Why we prefer it: Apple took a shot throughout the bow of great GPS sports activities watch manufacturers with the Apple Watch Extremely collection, and now Samsung joins the social gathering with the massive Galaxy Watch Extremely. Samsung branded it the identical means as Apple, together with a well-known orange button and waterproof silicone band. Just a few different superior options present in Apple’s mannequin are current within the Samsung mannequin, which is a good factor for Android telephone house owners, particularly Samsung Galaxy telephone house owners.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely has a singular sq. design with a spherical watch face, an attention-grabbing magnetic lug system, three buttons on one aspect, gesture assist, superior operating dynamics, and extra. Samsung’s Galaxy AI is current within the type of wellness insights that mix right into a each day rating to assist information you to optimum efficiency, together with wholesome sleep ranges.
Assessment: I purchased the 2025 model of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Extremely – this is the mannequin I might advocate as an alternative
Who it is for: The Watch Extremely runs the Samsung-powered Google Put on OS 6.0 with One UI Watch 8.0, which means it nonetheless seems to be like a Samsung smartwatch, but additionally helps Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pockets, Google Play Retailer, and extra Google apps.
It has an working system optimized for the spherical watch design with a digital rotating bezel. Fall detection, messaging, telephone calls, and extra can be found on the watch, with superior health knowledge corresponding to VO2 Max and superior operating dynamics knowledge additionally supported.
At $649, it’s the most costly Samsung Galaxy watch, however it’s nonetheless $150 lower than Apple’s competing Apple Watch Extremely 3. There are some implausible offers accessible and stable trade-in choices, so in case you are contemplating this watch, ensure that to take a look at the most recent costs on Samsung’s web site.
Who ought to look elsewhere: When you use an iPhone, do not even take into consideration the Galaxy Watch Extremely. Google WearOS watches used to work with iOS, however that’s now not the case so that you want an Android telephone to make use of this watch. The Galaxy Watch Extremely can also be a really massive watch so if in case you have smaller wrists then think about the Galaxy Watch 8 or Google Pixel Watch 4.
Galaxy Watch Extremely tech specs: Show: 1.5 inch, 480 x 480 pixels Tremendous AMOLED | Battery life: Two to a few days | Dimensions: 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1mm | Weight: 60.5 grams | Water resistance: 10 ATM+IP68 | LTE mobile choice: Sure
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Why we prefer it: Google continues to enhance its Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 4 could also be one of the best smartwatch in the marketplace in the case of security options. The Pixel Watch 4 additionally continues to combine Fitbit options, together with improved coronary heart charge sensors and GPS monitoring, making it one of the best watch accessible for each Fitbit and Google Pixel followers.
The emergency satellite tv for pc SOS performance works properly and is efficacious to have with you with no subscription required. As well as, emergency sharing, security test, and automated emergency detection options make this a watch that retains an eye fixed on you if you end up not ready and likewise offers a communications platform if you need assistance with out a telephone by your aspect.
Who it is for: The Google Pixel Watch 4 is a surprising smartwatch with beautiful fashionable colour choices and a kind issue that’s engaging and purposeful. Google additionally made the watch pretty straightforward to restore if there’s ever a difficulty by way of the usage of screws as an alternative of adhesives.
Google integrated a operating exercise builder that gathers your well being knowledge over a two-week interval after which creates a program that adapts to your knowledge frequently. Actual-time steerage is offered as you run, superior metrics are tracked after which Google exhibits you methods to enhance the metrics, a Each day Readiness Rating is offered even in case you are not a Fitbit Premium subscriber, and Cardio/Goal load options can be found. The Cardio and Goal load options could even trump among the finest sports activities watches. Backside line: When you’re a Fitbit fan and are on the lookout for the most recent and biggest Fitbit in a watch kind issue, then the Google Pixel Watch 4 is the wearable for you. When you additionally get pleasure from Google’s tackle wearables and wish years of updates, then that is the watch to contemplate.
Assessment: I attempted the Google Pixel Watch 4 – and these key options made it really feel indispensable
Who ought to look elsewhere: When you use an iPhone, do not even take into consideration the Pixel Watch 4. Google WearOS watches used to work with iOS, however that’s now not the case so that you want an Android telephone to make use of this watch. It is also not the most suitable choice for these on the lookout for a rugged watch resulting from its proud show and minimalist kind issue.
Google Pixel Watch 4 tech specs: Show:
1.2-inch (41mm) and 1.45-inch (45mm) AMOLED | Battery life: 30 hours (41mm) and 40 hours (45mm) with AOD | Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12.3mm and 45 x 45 x 12.3mm | Weight: 31 g (with out band) and 37 g | Water/Mud resistance: 5 ATM/IP68 | LTE mobile choice: Sure
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Why we prefer it: The Polar Grit X2 is basically the identical watch because the Polar Grit X2 Professional in a sleeker kind issue that can also be priced $200 much less. It’s the newest sports activities watch accessible from the corporate with a deal with a number of new sensors and options. In case you are on the lookout for essentially the most exhaustive smartphone utility and web site for analyzing your knowledge and operating studies, then a Polar watch is the way in which to go for accessing that knowledge. The customized coaching plans are implausible, even for low season coaching.
The watch has multi-band GPS, and monitoring has confirmed to match different flagship sports activities watches. The Grit X2 offers blood oxygen, wrist-based ECG, nightly pores and skin temperature, and extra.
Polar continues to make use of an AMOLED show beneath curved Gorilla Glass 3 materials. Offline maps are additionally offered for phone-free navigation and points-of-interest. Greater than 150 sports activities profiles are included, so that you might be sure that the Grit X2 will observe each exercise.
Who it is for: The Grit X2 is constructed for followers of Polar watches that need the most recent and biggest in a bit much less rugged watch physique. Polar may be very targeted on coaching and serving to you obtain your health and sleep objectives, but it surely has fewer smartwatch options than most different sports activities watches.
Who ought to look elsewhere: The Polar Grit X2 is fairly costly in comparison with different sports activities watches so in case you are not embedded within the Polar ecosystem then it’s possible you’ll wish to look elsewhere. There are additionally no third social gathering apps so be sure you are all in on Polar earlier than shopping for this watch.
Polar Grit X2 tech specs: Show: 1.28-inch 416×416 pixels | Battery Life (GPS monitoring mode): 30 hours | Dimensions: 45.8 x 45.8 x 12.7 mm | Weight: 62 grams (with strap) | Water/Mud Resistance: 50m | Band Dimension: 22mm
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Why we prefer it: The Suunto Vertical 2 is likely one of the finest GPS sports activities watches I’ve used on this value vary. It shines with correct location monitoring, helpful well being/wellness knowledge, and stable {hardware}. With the addition of a devoted LED flashlight I’ve thought of making this my major look ahead to prolonged use.
The Suunto smartphone app is well-designed and offers top-of-the-line consumer interfaces I’ve seen from a sports activities watch model. It offers key weekly stats at a look, whereas colourful, detailed outcomes are only a faucet away.
Who it is for: The Suunto Vertical 2 is a flagship sports activities watch that gives personalized knowledge fields and correct well being monitoring. If lengthy battery life is considered one of your major wants, Suunto is working some type of magic with one of many most lasting watches with an AMOLED show, simply offering a number of days of use and as much as 65 hours with the very best stage of location monitoring.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In case you are on the lookout for a watch that has a social community related to it then think about one thing from Garmin. Suunto has third-party apps, however they’re a bit restricted, so do not anticipate music, wrist-based fee programs, and different smartwatch options.
Suunto Vertical 2 tech specs: Show: 1.32-inch 466 x 466 pixels AMOLED | Battery Life (GPS monitoring mode): 65 hours | Dimensions: 48.6 x 48.6 x 13.5 mm | Weight: 87 grams (with strap) | Water/Mud Resistance: 100 M | Band Dimension: 22mm
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Newest information on waterproof smartwatches
Newest updates
- In our December 2025 replace, we added a number of new watches to the record, whereas others had been eliminated because of the season of recent releases in late 2025. New options, together with satellite tv for pc connectivity, had been additionally highlighted.
- In our August 2025 replace, we verified our suggestions are all accessible and nonetheless signify one of the best picks in the marketplace. Made small edits for readability. We additionally included the most recent information on smartwatches.
Different waterproof smartwatches
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This smaller-sized multi-sport GPS watch options an always-on 1.2-inch show, lengthy battery life, and 24/7 well being monitoring. It is bought a smaller display (wonderful for smaller wrists) and is impressively rugged, designed with a fiber-reinforced polymer case.
This watch is ideal for outside explorers–it’s bought built-in sensors for the 3-axis compass, a gyroscope and barometric altimeter, and helps multi-GNSS satellite tv for pc programs. We had been extremely impressed by its battery life; on a single cost, the Garmin Fenix 7S can last as long as 11 days in smartwatch mode, as much as 37 hours in GPS mode, and as much as 26 days in Expedition mode.
Try our evaluation for the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Photo voltaic watch.
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The Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 could arguably be the only option for some Android customers. It has a singular dual-layer show, lengthy battery life, and in depth well being/wellness assist. It boasts a formidable 80 hours of battery life and consists of over 100 skilled exercise modes. It is bought a inbuilt compass, GPS, and barometer, is open water swim appropriate and 5ATM waterproof, and has over 1000 watch faces to select from.
Plus, TicWatch is operating a again to high school sale for over 60% off choose obsidian and sandstone fashions.
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For more information about smartwatches and different activity-tracking tech, try our record of the finest bone conduction headphones, the finest Android smartwatches accessible, a subscription-free Oura-like sensible ring, and the finest smartwatches for teenagers.
Smartwatches Reviewed & In contrast
