Best Garmin Watches for iPhone in 2023

When it comes to smartwatches, many iPhone users prefer to explore options beyond what Apple offers.

They look for affordability along with unique features and different designs. 

If you are also finding the perfect smartwatch companion for iPhones, Garmin emerges as an exceptional choice. 

But most users find themselves asking if Garmin watches are compatible with iPhone? 

Garmin smartwatches combine functionality and style seamlessly, making them a perfect match for iPhone users.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best Garmin for iPhones in 2023! 

Get ready to discover the perfect combination of style, functionality, and connectivity on your wrist!

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Tops 5 Garmin Watches for iPhone

Product	Outstanding Feature	Price (USD)
Garmin Venue 2 plus	Vibrant AMOLED Display	Check Price
Garmin Fenix 7	Impressive Battery Life	Check Price
Garmin Forerunner 955	Advanced Performance Features	Check Price
Garmin Instinct 2	Exceptional Durability	Check Price
Garmin Vivosmart 5	Body Battery Monitoring	Check Price

Our thoroughly researched selection presents the best of Garmin’s expertise, offering a variety of features designed to enhance your iPhone experience. 

From keeping track of your health to navigating with GPS, these watches seamlessly work together with your iPhone. 

Let’s dig in to find the perfect pal that keeps you connected, motivated, and in control all day long.

1. Garmin Venue 2 Plus

Specs and Features:

• Vibrant AMOLED touchscreen display
• Advanced sensors 
• Preloaded Sports Modes 
• Music Storage and Streaming
• Customizable Watch Faces
• Up to 11 Bays of Battery Life 

Designed with the needs of iPhone users in mind, this feature-packed device stands out as the ultimate choice for those seeking a companion that can elevate their digital lifestyle.

One of the standout features of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus is its comprehensive health and fitness tracking capabilities.

With advanced sensors and tracking technology, it offers accurate heart rate monitoring, stress tracking, sleep analysis, and more. 

With a wide range of preloaded sports modes and GPS tracking, you can accurately monitor your activities and track your progress.

The watch provides real-time data on distance, pace, and heart rate, ensuring you get the most out of every workout. 

Whether you’re running, cycling, or participating in other activities, the Venu 2 Plus has you covered.

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus boasts a sleek and stylish design that complements any outfit or occasion. Its vibrant AMOLED display offers crisp visuals and excellent visibility, even in bright sunlight.

iPhone users can seamlessly sync this data with their devices, gaining valuable insights into their well-being and progress towards their fitness goals.

With just a few taps, you can connect your iPhone to the Venu 2 Plus, enabling you to receive notifications, calls, and messages directly on your wrist.

Stay connected without needing to constantly check your phone, ensuring you never miss an important update.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with iPhones
• Allows convenient notifications and connectivity
• Comprehensive health and fitness tracking features 
• Accurate GPS tracking 
• Stylish design with customizable options 
• Music storage and streaming capabilities 
• Long battery life 

Cons:

• Limited compatibility primarily geared towards iPhone users
• The AMOLED display may be less visible in bright sunlight

If you’re having trouble connecting Garmin watch with your iOS device, check out this complete guide on how to connect Garmin watch to your iPhone.

2. Garmin Fenix 7

Specs and Features:

• Transflective Color Display
• Battery Life Up to 24 days 
• Water resistant up to 100 meters
• Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ANT+ compatible

The Garmin Fenix 7 stands as the pinnacle of adventure smartwatches. Its compatibility with iOS makes it the best choice for iPhone users seeking a robust and feature-rich companion.

The Fenix 7 is designed to excel in the great outdoors.

Its rugged construction, scratch-resistant display, and water resistance up to 100m ensure durability in extreme conditions. This makes it the ideal companion for hiking, camping, and other adventurous pursuits.

This smartwatch is equipped with cutting-edge GPS and multi-satellite support.

It includes GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, offering unparalleled accuracy and reliability in tracking your location and navigating trails.

With comprehensive topo maps and route planning features, you can confidently explore new territories.

Whether you’re running, cycling, swimming, or engaging in various sports, this smartwatch provides detailed metrics, including distance, pace, elevation, heart rate, and more. 

iPhone users can effortlessly sync this data to their devices, allowing for seamless analysis and progress tracking.

You can receive notifications, calls, and messages directly on your wrist, without the need to constantly check your iPhone.

This connectivity keeps you in touch with important updates while you immerse yourself in nature.

Pros:

• Unmatched outdoor performance 
• Advanced GPS and navigation features
• Extensive activity tracking options 
• Comprehensive health and wellness monitoring
• Seamless integration with iPhones

Cons:

• Premium pricing may be a deterrent for budget-conscious buyers
• Robust and complex features for new users

3. Garmin Forerunner 955

Specs and Features:

• Color Touchscreen Display 
• Water-rated up to 100 meters
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Wi-Fi for seamless synchronization with iPhones
• Compatible with both iPhone and Android devices

The Garmin Forerunner 955 is a powerful and feature-rich smartwatch that caters to the needs of iPhone users who are passionate about performance and pushing their limits. 

With a focus on advanced tracking and precise metrics, this device sets itself apart as the ultimate companion for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. 

The Forerunner 955 offers advanced GPS and multi-satellite support. It accurately measures distance, pace, and routes, providing athletes with precise data to analyze and improve their performance.

This smartwatch goes beyond basic tracking by offering advanced biometric metrics. 

With features like wrist-based heart rate monitoring, VO2 max estimation, training load balance, and recovery advisor, users gain valuable insights into their fitness levels.

The Forerunner 955 also comes equipped with a variety of training tools and plans to help athletes optimize their workouts.

It offers personalized training suggestions based on the user’s goals, training history, and performance data, ensuring efficient and effective training sessions.

Seamlessly connecting with iPhones, the Forerunner 955 allows users to receive notifications, calls, and messages directly on their wrist. 

It also features music controls, enabling users to play, pause, and skip tracks without reaching for their phone.

Despite its advanced features, the Forerunner 955 boasts impressive battery life. It can last up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, ensuring extended use without the need for frequent charging.

While the advanced features may not be necessary for everyone, for those who seek an elevated iPhone experience, the Forerunner 955 is a go-to choice. 

Pros:

• Advanced performance tracking 
• Training tools for athletes
• Accurate biometric metrics 
• Seamless integration with iPhones 
• Long battery life 

Cons:

• Advanced features may be overwhelming for casual users 
• The price point may be higher 

4. Garmin Instinct 2

Specs and Features:

• Military standards design
• Water resistance up to 100 meters
• Transflective monochrome display 
• Built-in GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite systems
• 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter
• Up to 24 days battery life
• Compatible with Garmin Connect and Connect IQ™ 

The Garmin Instinct 2 is a reliable and robust GPS smartwatch that caters to adventure enthusiasts and outdoor explorers. 

With its durable construction, comprehensive tracking features, and long battery life, the Instinct 2 is designed to accompany you on your most daring escapades.

The Instinct 2 is built to withstand the harshest conditions.

Its fiber-reinforced polymer case, scratch-resistant display, and water resistance up to 100 meters ensure durability and reliability in rugged environments.

Equipped with advanced GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite systems, the Instinct 2 offers precise location tracking and navigation.

It includes navigation sensors like a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for accurate route planning and guidance.

Whether you’re hiking, trail running, or engaging in other outdoor pursuits, the Instinct 2 provides comprehensive activity tracking. 

It offers metrics such as distance, pace, heart rate, and elevation gain, allowing you to analyze your performance and progress.

The Instinct 2 incorporates essential health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress tracking. These insights help you manage your well-being and optimize your performance.

The Instinct 2 offers smart notifications, allowing you to receive calls, messages, and alerts directly on your wrist.

It is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, ensuring seamless integration and connectivity.

Explore with confidence and embrace your sense of adventure with the Garmin Instinct 2.

Pros:

• Rugged and durable construction 
• Accurate GPS 
• Precise route planning and tracking
• Comprehensive activity tracking 
• Essential health monitoring capabilities 
• Compatibility with iPhone and Android devices
• Impressive battery life

Cons:

• The design may be too rugged and bulky 
• The user interface and navigation can be overwhelming

5. Garmin VivoSmart 5

Specs and Features:

• Automatic activity detection 
• Water resistance up to 50 meters for swimming
• Smart notifications 
• Music controls 
• Battery life of up to 7 days
• Seamless integration with Garmin Connect app

Since the Apple itself it yet to come up with a fitness tracker of their own, we decided it would be more than fair to introduce a Garmin fitness tracker for iPhone as well.

The Garmin Vívosmart 5 is an advanced activity tracker that combines style and functionality to support your health and fitness goals. 

With its sleek design and a wide range of features, this fitness band offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities to help you maintain an active and balanced lifestyle.

The Vivosmart 5 excels in monitoring your health around the clock.

It offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, allowing you to track your heart rate during exercise and throughout the day. 

Additionally, it features a Pulse Ox sensor to measure your blood oxygen saturation levels and provide insights into your overall wellness.

The advanced sleep tracking feature analyzes your sleep stages, providing you with valuable information to improve your sleep quality.

The Vívosmart 5 includes Body Battery, a unique feature that assesses your body’s energy reserves.

It combines data from various sensors to provide you with a holistic view of your energy levels, helping you plan your activities and optimize your performance.

This fitness band also automatically detects and records activities such as walking, running, and swimming.

With water resistance up to 50 meters, it is suitable for tracking your swims and water activities.

The Vívosmart 5 keeps you connected by providing smart notifications for calls, texts, and other alerts directly on your iPhone. 

It seamlessly syncs with the Garmin Connect app, which is available for both Android and iOS. It provides a comprehensive platform to analyze your data, set goals, and track your progress. 

If you are seeking a reliable companion for your iPhone, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is an excellent choice 

Pros:

• Comprehensive health monitoring
• Body Battery energy monitoring 
• Automatic activity tracking 
• Swim tracking for various workouts
• Smart notifications and music controls 

Cons:

• The display may be small for some users
• Limited onboard storage

How to Choose the Best Garmin Watch for an iPhone?

Choosing the right Garmin watch for your iPhone can enhance your fitness journey and provide you with valuable insights into your health and well-being. 

With a wide range of options available, it’s important to consider certain factors to ensure you find the best Garmin watch that seamlessly integrates with your iPhone. 

Here are some key points to consider when making your decision:

• Compatibility: Ensure that the Garmin watch you choose is compatible with your iPhone model. Check for compatibility with the iOS version on your iPhone to ensure a smooth connection and synchronization between the devices.

• Features and Tracking Capabilities: Consider the features and tracking capabilities that align with your fitness goals. Garmin watches offer various functionalities such as heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, sleep tracking, advanced workout metrics, and more. 

• Design and Style: Garmin watches come in a range of designs, from sleek and minimalistic to rugged and sporty. Consider your personal style and preferences when choosing a watch that complements your lifestyle and can be comfortably worn throughout the day.

• Battery Life: Evaluate the battery life of the Garmin watch, especially if you engage in long-duration activities or travel frequently. Look for watches with longer battery life to ensure they can keep up with your active lifestyle without frequent recharging.

• App Integration: Garmin watches often have companion apps, such as Garmin Connect, that provide in-depth analysis, goal setting, and community features. Consider the compatibility and usability of the companion app and ensure it meets your requirements for tracking and analyzing your fitness data.

• Budget: Set a budget for your Garmin watch purchase. Garmin offers a range of watches at different price points, so it’s important to determine your budget and find a watch that offers the features you need within that range.

• Reviews and Recommendations: Read reviews and seek recommendations from trusted sources or fellow iPhone users who have experience with Garmin watches. Their insights can provide valuable information and help you make an informed decision.

Wrapping it Up

If you’re an iPhone user looking for the best Garmin watch that seamlessly integrates with your device, and delivers exceptional performance, the Garmin Fenix 7 is the ultimate choice. 

With its advanced capabilities and rugged design, it empowers you to conquer your fitness goals and explore the great outdoors with confidence.

Users are always recommended to pick the one that suits their lifestyle and needs!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Garmin better than Apple Watch?

Both Garmin and Apple Watch offer distinct features and functionalities that cater to different user requirements.

Garmin watches are known for their robust fitness tracking capabilities, long battery life, and durable designs.

On the other hand, Apple Watch is renowned for its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, extensive app ecosystem, and intuitive user interface.

Which Garmin is most like an Apple Watch?

While Garmin and Apple Watch have different approaches to smartwatches, the Garmin Venue series is often considered the closest in terms of design and features to the Apple Watch.