Best 2022 Smartwatches for mapping and navigation

#1 Garmin MARQ Gen 2
4.6

Mapping and navigation were major strengths, with praise for TOPO maps, golf maps, turn-by-turn guidance, and route handling.

Pros: display quality, battery life

Cons: value for money, smartphone notifications

#2 Garmin Forerunner 955
4.6

Mapping and navigation were repeatedly praised for clear maps, turn-by-turn directions, route planning, and trail usefulness.

Pros: GPS accuracy, battery life

Cons: onboard music storage, charging convenience

#3 Polar Pacer Pro
3.6

Navigation was useful but limited: reviewers liked turn-by-turn routes and back-to-start, while criticizing simple arrows, basic mapping, or clunky Komoot routing.

Pros: GPS accuracy, value for money

Cons: battery life, smartwatch features

#4 Fitbit Versa 4
3.5

Mapping and navigation were useful additions, but reviewers noted phone dependence and limited turn-by-turn or no-map functionality.

Pros: battery life, GPS accuracy

Cons: value for money, heart rate accuracy

#5 Suunto 9 Peak Pro
3.1

Navigation was useful for routes, breadcrumbs, turn prompts, and app planning, but reviewers repeatedly criticized the lack of full on-watch maps.

Pros: battery life, GPS accuracy

Cons: value for money, mapping and navigation

#6 Coros Apex 2
2.9

Mapping and navigation were the most common tradeoff: maps were useful and sometimes enhanced, but missing routable guidance, small-screen use, weak route planning, and lagging Garmin-like features limited it.

Pros: value for money, GPS accuracy

Cons: mapping and navigation, onboard music storage

#7 Garmin Forerunner 255
2.7

Navigation was mixed: one reviewer liked course waypoint support, but most criticism focused on missing full maps and basic breadcrumb guidance.

Pros: GPS accuracy, battery life

Cons: smartphone notifications, mapping and navigation

#8 Polar Pacer
2.1

Mapping and navigation are clear limitations; reviewers repeatedly note missing navigation, mapping, or only basic back-to-start support.

Pros: value for money, workout tracking variety

Cons: GPS accuracy, mapping and navigation

#9 Fitbit Sense 2
2.0

Mapping and navigation were mostly discussed as delayed or coming soon, so early reviewers treated Google Maps support as promising but not yet a dependable reason to buy.

Pros: battery life, stress tracking

Cons: value for money, GPS accuracy

#10 Polar Ignite 3
1.8

Mapping and navigation were weak, with reviewers noting no mapping, no route/course support, and only basic back-to-start style help.

Pros: display quality, coaching features

Cons: value for money, battery life

#11 Garmin Venu Sq 2
1.6

Navigation was a clear weakness: reviewers described it as basic compass-style guidance and repeatedly noted the lack of maps or breadcrumb navigation.

Pros: battery life, display quality

Cons: smartwatch features, style and design