The best waterproof smartwatches of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

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The best waterproof smartwatches of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Swimming is a incredible low-impact exercise that may provide help to enhance your well being and wellness whereas additionally serving to you loosen up due to the pure results of being within the water. Water gives buoyancy however provides resistance, so it’s mild in your joints and helps enhance your flexibility.

One technique to monitor your train exercise is with a water-proof sports watch, and there are many choices available for purchase at present. Although we might point out {that a} waterproof smartwatch may be useful even for individuals who do not swim laps, reminiscent of of us who get tremendous sweaty on the fitness center, are open air for work and might be caught within the rain, or just those that neglect to take off their watch earlier than a bathe.

At ZDNET, we have examined the entire best smartwatches in the marketplace, evaluating components like the power to operate 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.

What’s the greatest waterproof smartwatch proper now?

Based mostly on each our hands-on testing and insights from consultants, we named the Apple Watch Ultra 2 one of the best waterproof smartwatch as a result of 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 for those who’re not an Apple consumer, learn on to see how watches from Samsung, Garmin, Polar, Coros, and Suunto evaluate, to seek out one of the best waterproof smartwatch on your wants and your wrist.

Additionally: The best Apple Watches we’ve tested

The very best waterproof smartwatches of 2025

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The Apple Watch maintained the identical kind issue and fundamental design for eight years, however all of that modified in 2022 when Apple launched the novel new Apple Watch Ultra, constructed and optimized for the out of doors adventurer. The Extremely 2 builds on the Extremely with a brand new processor, a a lot brighter show, twice the storage capability, and using recycled titanium supplies.

Additionally: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Watch Ultra: Is it time to upgrade?

The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is essentially the most rugged and succesful Apple Watch thus far and provides a shiny, flat 49mm show made from scratch-resistant sapphire glass and 3000 nits most brightness. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is bigger than the Sequence 9, however the titanium case helps preserve the burden down, and it’s far lighter than competing sports activities watches.

The native help for water sports activities is clear as quickly as you submerge the Apple Watch Extremely 2. The primary time I noticed the depth gauge, it was clear that this watch is optimized for the pool. Along with the depth and time underwater, the Depth app reveals you the water temperature so you may make knowledgeable choices for time spent within the water. For those who put on it in salt water, be very cautious to rinse it off instantly in recent water and keep away from going too deep with the watch.

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The Apple Watch Series 10 seems to be much like the Sequence 9, however improves the consumer expertise with narrower black borders, bigger shows, and a a lot thinner kind issue, making it the thinnest Apple Watch ever. Regardless of the discount in thickness, the Apple Watch Sequence 10 nonetheless features for greater than a day, and now it fees up way more rapidly, so you’ll be able to high it off whilst you prepare for the day.

Together with an improved show, the Sequence 10 additionally will get a brand new processor. For the primary time, patrons also can select a shiny jet black shade aluminum watch that has a 30-step anodization course of for a trendy and stylish look.

Additionally: I replaced my Apple Watch Ultra with the 46mm Series 10 for a month, and it’s surprisingly capable

Sleep apnea is a situation that is quite common at present, but it’s reported that 80% of circumstances are undiagnosed. The Apple Watch Sequence 10 can assist point out whether or not or not it is best to search medical analysis for the situation. If sleep apnea shouldn’t be handled, it will probably result in hypertension, sort 2 diabetes, and cardiac points.

Additionally, just like the Apple Watch Extremely 2, the Sequence 10 watches now help the built-in water temperature and depth utility that may activate robotically as you enter the water. A Tides app can be accessible that can assist you monitor circumstances for greater than 115,000 seashores and browsing areas around the globe.

Apple Watch Sequence 10 tech specs: Show: 416 x 496 pixels (46mm) and 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) OLED | Battery life: 18 hours | Dimensions: 46 x 39 x 9.7mm (46mm) and 42 x 36 x9.7mm (42mm) | Weight: 36.4 grams (AL 46mm) and 30 g (AL 42mm) | Water/Mud resistance: 50m with IP6X | LTE mobile choice: Sure

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Whereas most of those watches are centered on use within the water, the Garmin Quatix 7 Professional additionally excels for features floating on high of the water. It helps connections to varied marine electronics whereas serving to you sail, keep an anchored place, view the native tides, and extra.

Having an LED flashlight available in your wrist within the marine setting is necessary, too. Issues are sometimes dropped into the bilges or in tight areas on a ship, the place a flashlight is vital to discovering gadgets, flipping switches, and trying out the situation of the vessel. The LED flashlight additionally has purple mild mode to see issues in darkish circumstances with out ruining your evening imaginative and prescient. Sustaining evening imaginative and prescient on the bridge or helm is necessary to see navigation lights, buoys, and different objects on the water at evening.

Additionally: This is the perfect smartwatch for anyone who loves the water

The watch physique is made with ocean-bound plastics, so all your favourite water sports activities are properly supported. This consists of open swimming, pool swimming, browsing, and extra.

The Garmin Quatix 7 Professional additionally consists of the entire suite of Garmin’s , reminiscent of coronary heart charge monitoring, stress monitoring, pulse ox studying, girls’s well being options, and extra.

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Garmin’s GPS sports activities watches are centered 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 this point, particularly when in comparison with 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 per week, it allows you to settle for and make calls from the wrist, and it helps voice assistants by way of a related smartphone.

Along with its smartwatch features, the Venu 3/3S helps the entire superb Garmin features and huge ecosystem. This consists of subscription music help, Garmin Pay, Join IQ app help, and the very good Garmin Join smartphone software.

Overview: Garmin Venu 3S

You may monitor your pool or open water swimming with the Venu 3S, that means the watch can assist you rely these laps and decide the influence in your well being. Stand-up paddleboarding and rowing are additionally supported by the watch.

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Samsung has joined the GPS sports activities watch occasion with the big Galaxy Watch Extremely. Samsung branded it the identical means as Apple, together with a well-known orange button and waterproof silicone band, and some different superior options present in Apple’s mannequin are current within the Samsung mannequin, which is a superb factor for Android cellphone homeowners, particularly Samsung Galaxy cellphone homeowners.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely has a singular sq. design with a spherical watch face, an fascinating magnetic lug system, three buttons on one aspect, gesture help, and superior working dynamics amongst different options. 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.

Overview: The Galaxy Watch Ultra convinced me to replace my Apple Watch in less than a week. Here’s why

The Watch Extremely runs the Samsung-powered Google Put on OS 5.0 with One UI Watch 6.0, that means it nonetheless seems to be like a Samsung smartwatch, but in addition helps Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pockets, Google Play Retailer, and extra Google apps.

Its working system is optimized for the spherical watch design with a digital rotating bezel. The watch provides fall detection, messaging, cellphone calls, and extra. It additionally helps superior health knowledge reminiscent of VO2 Max and working dynamics knowledge.

At $649, it’s the costliest Samsung Galaxy watch, however it’s nonetheless $150 lower than Apple’s competing Apple Watch Extremely 2. Samsung additionally has some superb provides across the hoildays, together with reductions and beneficiant trade-ins, so ensure to control the Samsung web site in case you are on this watch.

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Polar’s newest mid-range GPS sports activities watch brings in almost all of its superior coaching and restoration instruments from its flagship watches in a smaller, lighter, and extra inexpensive package deal. The Polar Vantage M3 is concentrated on the multi-sport athlete, so it is excellent for swimming, rowing, working, biking, and extra.

The watch has superior coaching instruments, restoration steerage, efficiency assessments, superior sleep monitoring with pores and skin temperature sensors, and offline maps for navigation that look nice with the good 1.28-inch AMOLED touchscreen.

Overview: Polar Vantage M3 review: One of the best mid-range sports watches

Polar is clearly centered on serving as your superior coaching software, not simply performing like a smartwatch. It has restricted notification help, no third-party software help, no wrist-based funds, and no offline music help.

Supported actions within the water embrace canoeing, kite browsing, open-water swimming, water working, and aqua health. The watch is not that huge both, so it’s comfy to put on when collaborating in these sports activities within the water.

Please be aware that this selection is at the moment out of inventory, but it surely ought to be accessible quickly.

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The Suunto Race shines with correct location monitoring, helpful well being/wellness knowledge, and strong {hardware}. There are just a few areas for enchancment, however the cheap worth makes it simpler to just accept compromises, particularly with the idea that future software program updates can streamline its efficiency.

The Suunto Race helps pool swimming and consists of the aptitude to rely your laps with the swim timer. The Race can be used for swim-run occasions, with computerized transitions between your open-water swim and your working phase. Browsing stats, together with what number of waves you floor and your browsing velocity, are additionally supported on the Race.

Overview: One of the most gorgeous sports watches I’ve tested also has week-long battery life

Different knowledge reminiscent of sleep monitoring, HRV measurements, coaching load, and restoration metrics matched a lot nearer to different watches I have been testing. I rapidly picked up the watch consumer interface and located the rotating crown button to be helpful for scrolling by way of lists, choosing to open extra particulars, and transferring across the colourful maps. I additionally discovered the brilliant AMOLED show helpful, despite the fact that I might ideally like to have some brightness controls and purple mild choices.

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The Kospet Tank T3 Extremely 2 is optimized for the pool–and for greater than 170 different sports activities modes. The watch helps SWOLF, a swimming metric that measures swimming effectivity by combining time and stroke rely per pool size. The watch acknowledges your stroke sort, stroke rely and charge, common swim tempo, and lap rely so for those who spend time swimming and need an inexpensive wearable, that is the look ahead to you.

The watch additionally helps dual-band positioning with six GNSS receivers. The Tank T3 Extremely 2 could be very sturdy with 5 ATM, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H certification so you’ll be able to take it snorkeling, swimming, and exploring in nearly any environmental situation.

Overview: I found a tough smartwatch that won’t break the bank – and it’s not a Garmin

The smartphone companion app is properly designed with a customizable residence display, loads of personalization choices, third-party service connectivity, and way more. Nevertheless, it did take a number of hours to replace the firmware, with me repeatedly having to decide on handbook replace within the app, so chances are you’ll must be affected person with the updates.

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My decide for one of the best waterproof smartwatch total is the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It could be debatable if an iPhone is one of the best smartphone or not, however it’s clear the Apple Watch is the wearable to beat — particularly for Apple customers. The Extremely 2 is lauded by athletes and members of the press as one of the best Apple Watch ever made.

For those who’re an Android consumer, chances are you’ll want a Samsung Galaxy 6 Basic — the latest of the corporate’s smartwatch lineup. I picked up the LTE mannequin that gives mobile connectivity independently from my cellphone, however when paired with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it is an ideal mixture of class and energy. Plus, the battery life even exceeds that of the usual, and comparably priced, Apple Watch Sequence 9.

Smartwatch	Worth	Battery life	Face dimension
Apple Watch Extremely 2	$799	36 hours	49mm
Apple Watch Sequence 10	$399	18 hours	46mm
Garmin Quatix 7 Professional	$800	6 days	47mm
Garmin Venu 3S	$400	10 days	41mm
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely	$650	40 hours	47mm
Polar Vantage M3	$400	7 days	44.7mm
Suunto Race	$450	12 days	49mm
Kospet Tank T3 Extremely 2	$150	12 days	48mm

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For those who’re within the Apple ecosystem, we extremely suggest the Apple Watch Extremely 2 or Apple Watch Sequence 10 because of the straightforward connectivity and comfort of options like Apple Pay and Apple Music.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely is a superb smartwatch constructed to final with stellar sensors and the power to work with all Android telephones, however optimized for Samsung cellphone customers.

Nevertheless, discovering one of the best waterproof smartwatch for you may be extra difficult, particularly for those who’re on the lookout for one that matches a selected use case. Take a look at my professional suggestions under.

Select this smartwatch…	For those who want…
Apple Watch Extremely 2	The very best, longest-lasting smartwatch with buttons to rapidly launch your favourite apps or carry out crucial features. It is a sturdy, rugged watch that may be your iPhone companion in all conditions.
Apple Watch Sequence 10	A well-rounded smartwatch for health and communication. There’s additionally Crash Detection, which might detect if you’re concerned in a automotive crash and join you to emergency providers.
Garmin Quatix 7 Professional	A high-end watch that works properly with any related smartphone whereas having options particular to actions within the water. You may’t go improper with the good AMOLED show, LED flashlight, and huge ecosystem that helps swimming, boating, and different actions in and above the water.
Garmin Venu 3S	A smartwatch for superior well being monitoring. You may see your restoration ranges, superior coronary heart charge monitoring, working metrics, and race time predictors. It additionally helps calls and your voice assistant.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely	Samsung’s latest Galaxy watch collection has upgraded sleep monitoring and well being insights, a rugged design that’s constructed to resist the weather, and options for water immersion.
Polar Vantage M3	A smaller, lighter watch with a superb AMOLED show and superior help for actions within the water. The Polar Stream ecosystem can be optimized for multi-sport athletes.
Suunto Race	A strong watch that tracks your laps, browsing metrics, and has an extended battery life. Your sleep and different well being metrics are additionally captured with the AI coach offering steerage for optimum efficiency.
Kospet Tank T3 Extremely 2	Probably the most inexpensive watch in our listing additionally has one of many highest ranges of sturdiness and help for water sports activities. If you’re trying to spend simply $150 on a smartwatch then that is the one for you.

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Smartwatches function companions to our smartphones, and there are a number of issues to contemplate as you discover the various choices accessible to you. A number of components will provide help to rapidly slender down accessible candidates, so let’s take a better look and assist you choose one of the best smartwatch for you.

Main smartphone: Begin by trying on the cellphone in your hand. For those who personal an iPhone, then you’ll be able to contemplate an Apple Watch, or a watch working an working system that’s not powered by Google’s Put on OS. For those who personal an Android smartphone, neglect about shopping for an Apple Watch, as they don’t even work with an iPad or Apple laptop, not to mention your Android. Android customers can contemplate Google Put on OS watches, in addition to these working proprietary working techniques like these discovered from Garmin and Suunto.
Worth: Most smartwatches are priced within the $400 to $800 vary, so worth is clearly a consideration on your waterproof smartwatch. Apple provides the high-end Apple Watch Extremely 2, whereas there are some specialised Google Put on OS and Garmin watches that may price greater than $1,000.
Battery life: Anticipate your Apple or Samsung smartwatch to final a full day and evening, so you’ll be able to monitor your sleep after which cost it whilst you prepare for work. Different waterproof watches on this listing final for days and even weeks so you’ve numerous choices in the case of determining your required charging technique.
Mobile connectivity: Whereas smartwatches function companions to our smartphones, some fashions help mobile connectivity. For those who purchase one in all these then you will have a watch line together with your service, however these are usually $10 per thirty days. The Apple Watch Extremely 2 solely comes with LTE help, however you aren’t required to allow mobile service. Mobile functionality is nice for individuals who wish to go away their telephones behind and nonetheless stay related for communications, software utilization, and security.

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The entire smartwatches included on this listing have been chosen based mostly on how they carried out when examined in the actual world by the ZDNET crew. Once we take a look at smartwatches, we usually observe the identical routine for each to see which performs greatest.

Day by day put on: We put on the smartwatch as our main watch with communications, functions, and different parts being examined as if it was our solely smartwatch.
Software choice and efficiency: One facet that makes smartwatches completely different than commonplace watches is the help for functions. We load up the watch with apps after which take a look at the efficiency and performance of these functions. Apple excels within the space of third occasion software help with Google’s Play Retailer bettering every year. Garmin, Suunto, and others are also increasing the quantity and number of apps accessible on watches.
Exercises: Smartwatch makers have embraced well being and health so we take our smartwatch out for swimming within the pool or native lakes, working with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and strolling with the household. GPS and coronary heart charge knowledge is tracked after which we consider the accuracy in opposition to confirmed GPS sports activities watches.
Sleep and exercise monitoring: Sleep monitoring has improved with smartwatches over time and we consider them as in comparison with sensible rings and different watches. Evening time can be a very good time to cost your smartwatch so chances are you’ll select to not use your watch to trace sleep so your watch can serve faithfully all day and into the evening.

For extra, take a look at our full smartwatch testing methodology.

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Newest information on waterproof smartwatches

Google Put on OS watches used to work with each Android and iPhone units, however the brand new Put on OS 4 and later watches from Samsung and Google solely help Android smartphones. iPhone customers ought to stick to the Apple Watch, whereas Android cellphone customers ought to significantly contemplate a Google Pixel Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch mannequin.

Garmin, Polar, Suunto, and Kospet watches work flawlessly with each Android and iPhone units.

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You completely can! Nevertheless, most of their screens are too small to sort on, so you will compose messages with speech-to-text or different dictation features or select from a number of generic, auto-generated responses.

Garmin watches help quick-response textual content messaging by way of a related Android smartphone. Apple restricts third-party textual content messaging on the iPhone.

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When you can go away your iPhone at residence whilst you run, go to the shop, or stroll on the seashore, you should have an iPhone turned on and related to the web at this different location. That is one cause why connecting to an iPhone and switching to an Android makes the Apple Watch ineffective with an Android cellphone.

After preliminary setup, a cellular-enabled Samsung Galaxy Watch can act as a stand-alone cellular machine. With the most recent Galaxy Watch 7 or Watch Extremely working Put on OS powered by Samsung, many extra apps can be utilized on the go, so you’ll be able to go away the cellphone behind usually.

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Well being and health monitoring have been the areas with essentially the most improvements and enhancements in the previous few years. Whereas these watches are usually not medical units, they’ve sensors, algorithms, and functions that provide help to monitor traits in your coronary heart charge, stress ranges, and blood oxygen ranges, even permitting you to detect when ovulation happens. You should utilize it as a fundamental ECG to examine if additional investigation is required. The most recent Galaxy Watch Extremely also can measure your physique composition; testing signifies it matches different strategies moderately properly.

These smartwatches also can function succesful GPS sports activities watches to trace the main points of your out of doors actions. Train steerage is offered on the watch with related well being functions in your smartphone so you’ll be able to preserve monitor of your progress, too.

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Newest updates

In our August 2025 replace, we verified our suggestions are all accessible and nonetheless characterize 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 out of doors 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 techniques. We have 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.

Take a look at our evaluate for the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar 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 help. It boasts a powerful 80 hours of battery life and consists of over 100 skilled exercise modes. It is bought a in-built compass, GPS, and barometer, is open water swim appropriate and 5ATM waterproof, and has over 1000 watch faces to select from.

Plus, TicWatch is working 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, take a look at our listing of the best bone conduction headphones, the best Android smartwatches accessible, a subscription-free Oura-like smart ring, and the best smartwatches for kids.

Smartwatches Reviewed & In contrast

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