Swimming watches have improved a lot recently. Every year, some models perform better than others. This makes it hard to pick the best smartwatch for swimming from all the available options. Here is a list of the 6 best watches for swimming.
Garmin Swim 2: The Best of All Smartwatch For Swimming

Specifications
- Screen: 1.04″ 208 × 208 pixels, Anti-reflective, MIP transflective
- Weight: 36 g
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
- Battery life: 1 week
If you are looking for the best swimming smartwatch with an incredible list of features for both pool and open water swimmers, the Garmin Swim 2 is what you need. It can accurately record various data (calories burned, distance covered, time, automatic rest). It also detects different swim types such as SWOLF and much more.
And it is a multi-sport smartwatch also capable of tracking a wide variety of activities outside of the water. It is equipped with a sleep tracker. Its 3-day battery life in connected mode is better than that of an Apple Watch. Operating underwater, its GPS accuracy is unmatched. Its only small flaw is that it does not recognize kicking with a board as a form of swimming. These data need to be manually entered to be counted.
Pros
Pros
- Excellent features dedicated to swimming
- Built-in and functional GPS
- Does not recognize the kickboard as a swimming style
- Available in only 2 colors
Apple Watch Ultra: The Best Apple Watches To Take Swimming

Specifications
- Dimensions: 49 mm x 10.4 mm
- Screen: Retina 2000 nits
- Battery Life: 36 hours
- Capacity: 32GB
- Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Recently launched, the Apple Watch Ultra is also a smartwatch ideally made for swimming. Waterproof up to 100m, it can be worn during snorkeling sessions. Its new Oceanic+ app is specifically designed for this purpose. You can perfectly swim laps with it on your wrist. It tracks your SWOLF score and has other impressive tracking features as well.
With a battery life of 36 hours, which is superior to other Apple Watches, it’s one of the best smartwatches that the bitten apple brand has produced. Equipped with a large bright screen, the displayed data is easily readable. And its action button located on the side makes it easier to handle. No need to scroll through the widgets on the touchscreen when you want to stop or start an activity. This is a feature that facilitates the flow of any swimming session.
Pros
Cons
- Latest Apple smartwatch
- Excellent screen
- Swimming performance could be improved
- Not sensitive enough
Garmin Forerunner 945: The Best Smartwatch Underwater

Specifications
- Compatibility: Android/iOS
- Screen: 1.2 Inches
- Dimensions: 4.83 x 4.83 x 1.37 cm
- Waterproof: 5 ATM
- Weight: 51.03 grams
In 3rd place, the Garmin Forerunner 945 is the 3rd best swimming watch on the market. And this position is well-deserved because it’s one of the few smartwatches capable of accurately measuring heart rate underwater on its own.
And it’s even more incredible to be able to listen to music underwater. But thanks to this smartwatch, it’s possible. You just need to have waterproof earphones to listen to your favorite tracks. Moreover, for swimming, the water metrics include distance with GPS tracking, pace, stroke count, stroke rate, and efficiency. And this Forerunner can also tell you how many calories you’ve burned.
Without counting the fact that it’s a smartwatch equipped with many other features. For example, it’s possible to make contactless payments. And it can track your health metrics outside of the water.
Pros
Cons
- Heart rate measurement underwater
- Music function active underwater
- The design is not very stylish, no distinctive signs
- Looks similar in appearance to other Forerunner models
Suunto 7: The Best Swimming Watch For Training

Specifications
- Dimensions: 2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm; 51.9 grams
- Weight: 70 grams
- Screen: 1.39″ AMOLED 454 x 454 pixels
- Battery life: up to 2 days in normal mode and up to 12 hours with GPS activated
If you want to own a smartwatch for swimming that is the best in a specific domain, the Suunto 7 is ideal to help you improve your performance during your training. This Finnish smartwatch offers profiles for both pool and open water swimming. And it is capable of measuring data for 2 specific swimming strokes.
And recovery apps help you plan your training effectively. This is essential to make the most of each session. Plus, the Suunto 7 has a diary that will allow you to track the progress of your workouts.
The statistics she provides are often accurate. And the voice commands working through the Google Assistant on this smartwatch are excellent. Allowing you to keep your hands free.
Pros
Cons
- Multi-functional smartwatch
- Features a heart rate sensor that works underwater
- Requires keeping the Suunto app and Google Fit during use
- Has fewer options than the Suunto 9
FitBit Versa 2: The Smartwatch For All Ages

Specifications
- Dimensions: 3.96 x 4.04 x 1.19 cm
- Screen: 1.34 Inches
- Weight: 4.54 grams
- Waterproof: 5 ATM
- Applications: Amazon Alexa integrated
The Fitbit Versa 2 has qualities that make it the best swimming smartwatch for both kids and adults. One of the main strengths of this watch is its screen. It’s clear and easy to read underwater. With a water resistance of 5ATM, it records and displays your swimming workout with crystal-clear precision.
It is made for casual swimmers who are not obsessed with splitting and counting the number of movements made in the water. Powerful and reliable enough, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a sufficient smartwatch for tracking and monitoring time spent in the water.
However, when it comes to the smartwatch features, you get the best that Fitbit has to offer. You can check notifications, access music controls, and listen to music on Deezer. Plus, there’s Fitbit Pay and a microphone for using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and taking calls via Bluetooth.
Pros
Cons
- Swimming smartwatch for beginners or enthusiasts
- Good battery life
- Not equipped with GPS
- Does not display swim type and no SWOLF data
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: is a Good Reference

Specifications
- Case size: 45 mm
- Case components: Titanium and Sapphire Crystal
- Weight: 46.5g
- Battery life: 590mAh
- GPS: Built-in
Finally, Samsung’s latest smartwatch running on Google’s Wear OS 3 could be the best swimming watch in terms of measuring the efficiency of a swimming style. It generally provides good accuracy in the water and is also comfortable to wear.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro displays measurements such as distance, strokes, lap time, and SWOLF effectively. And these data are cleverly shown on its Super AMOLED screen. Then, thanks to its Wear OS system, it’s easy to access third-party apps to track your swimming sessions if you can’t connect to Health in your country.
Pros
Cons
- Excellent smartwatch apart from the Apple Watch
- Works in open water and in a pool
- Could do better in terms of features
- Not recommended for diving