Best 2025 Garmin Smartwatches for watch face quality

#1 Garmin Venu X1
5.0

Watch faces were praised in the two reviews that mentioned them, with the default face called a favorite.

Pros: display quality, comfort

Cons: battery life, value for money

#2 Garmin Approach S44
4.6

The watch face earned praise for readable large-number yardages that made key green distances easy to see.

Pros: display quality, value for money

Cons: smartwatch features, coaching features

#3 Garmin Forerunner 570
4.6

Watch face quality received limited positive evidence for clean defaults and strong customization of stats, color, and layout.

Pros: heart rate accuracy, GPS accuracy

Cons: value for money, mapping and navigation

#4 Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED
4.5

Watch faces were praised for making good use of the AMOLED screen and analog hands, including dynamic and playful effects.

Pros: style and design, flashlight usefulness

Cons: value for money, mapping and navigation

#5 Garmin Forerunner 970
4.5

Watch-face quality was praised through customization and the large Connect IQ selection, including many free third-party options.

Pros: heart rate accuracy, GPS accuracy

Cons: battery life, value for money

#6 Garmin Tactix 8
4.5

Watch face quality had limited but positive evidence, mainly around multiple styles and configurable faces.

Pros: battery life, durability

Cons: value for money, band quality

#7 Garmin Instinct 3
4.2

Watch face quality has limited positive evidence, with the default layout liked and watch-face customization available.

Pros: battery life, display quality

Cons: mapping and navigation, smartwatch features

#8 Garmin Vivoactive 6
4.2

Watch face quality is positive in the scored review, with Connect IQ offering many watch-face options.

Pros: battery life, comfort

Cons: heart rate accuracy, sleep tracking accuracy

#9 Garmin Approach S50
3.2

Watch face quality was a mild limitation because more and better customization was identified as an S70 advantage.

Pros: value for money, comfort

Cons: fit, band quality

#10 Garmin Bounce 2
3.0

Watch faces offer some child-friendly personalization, but choices are limited and third-party designs are unavailable.

Pros: smartwatch features, safety features

Cons: value for money, call handling

#11 Garmin fenix 8 Pro
2.5

One reviewer disliked the default watch face, while noting it could be changed.

Pros: LTE connectivity, battery life

Cons: value for money, safety features