Smartwatches do so much more than just being a fancy accessory. For instance, it lets you have limited access to your phone and it can track your health stats as well as sports activities. There's so many out there that tracks running and hiking, but how about swimming?
There have been many brands releasing waterproof watches so you can bet that you'll benefit from wearing them too. But, which do you pick?
How to choose the right smartwatches for swimming?
Of course, not all smartwatches are created equally. If you are looking for a smartwatch made suitable for swimming purposes, you should turn your head onto not just the waterproof rating, but also the swimming-related features that it can do.
Aside from a recommended water-resistance of up to 50 metres, look out for and activity-tracking stats that can record the likes of swimming laps, time, pace, distance and swimming strokes. The brand of a smartwatch is just as important, with popular examples like Garmin, Fitbit and Samsung being reputable names that are leading experts in producing quality smartwatches with support and upgrades.
We've listed some of the best smartwatches for swimming online.
Want a watch that does it all? The Garmin Forerunner 935 is a feature-packed smartwatch that has several built-in activity profiles such as running, swimming, hiking and cycling. If you'd like to take a break from swimming and head the treadmill, the watch's running profile has indoor, outdoor or trail run tracking with details like running pace, distance or heart rate.
On to swimming; Garmin Forerunner 935 is rated 5ATM (50 metres in depth for 10 minutes). So it's best for swimmers in-training to monitor their progress with details like stroke & pool lap recognitions, stroke efficiency (SWOLF) and various pool swim metrics.
The watch's battery life stays up to 24 hours. Moreover, it has an accurate GPS sensor and customisable screen which allows you to display your preferred activity data.
Lightweight and swim-friendly; this smartwatch from Samsung can track pool or even open-water swimming activities such as pace, lengths and stroke. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is rated with a water resistance level of 50 metres, so dive into that pool at ease!
Not surprisingly, the watch has a pretty bright and vibrant 1.5-inch curved AMOLED display. This makes it easy for viewing your watch even when underwater. Other features that the watch comes with include GPS, accelerometer, barometer and heart rate sensor.
The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music has quite good music compatibility and ample storage which lets you store up to 500 songs. And you can transfer them via Bluetooth or WiFi connection using the Garmin Connect app. Once loaded into the smartwatch, just pair it with your wireless earpieces and you are good to go.
Aside from music listening, the smartwatch comes with various activity trackers for sports like indoor/outdoor cycling, walking and swimming; all integrated to monitor your performances. Its water-resistance rating of 5 ATM definitely lets you swim at up to 50 metres deep underwater.
Moreover, Garmin Forerunner 645 Music has quite a good battery life, capable of going up to 5 hours if you have GPS mode and music on. Otherwise, enjoy it at up to 7 days for normal smartwatch mode.
Under that sleek-looking design is a swim-friendly tracker that accurately tracks swimming laps with real-time stats. As it comes with a 5ATM water resistance, you can wear it confidently in showers or for long-distance swimming.
The smartwatch has a 24/7 heart rate sensor and a lightweight design that allows for all-day-long wear including outdoors which is possible thanks to that bright display for easy viewing. Besides tracking swimming activities, the Fitbit Versa’s 15+ exercise modes record various workouts such as running, cycling and walking.
Like its given name, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music lets you play music synched from your smartphone via Garmin Connect app. To note, the watch has onboard storage for up to 500 songs!
Music playback aside, the smartwatch can track various workouts regardless of indoors at the gym or swimming outdoors. It also has essential features like a heart rate sensor and GPS. Not forgetting, but its battery has an above-average life that lasts up to 7 days.
Compatible with both Android and iOS, the Fitbit Ionic is rated to go under water immersion of up to 50 metres. What else is hand is that the swim-tracking features will record your strokes, laps and distance.
Wear is great too, as the Fitbit Ionic is lightweight and comfortable enough for long wear hours. Its square-shaped face panel is built with a high-resolution touchscreen display that holds a brightness level of up to 1000 nits. In terms of durability, the smartwatch is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and sturdy aerospace-grade aluminium materials.
Smartwatches aren't cheap. But thanks to Xiaomi, those on a budget can get their hands on this affordably-priced Mi Band 4. At such a price point, it comes with features such as a 5 ATM water resistance rating, accelerometer and gyroscope which is handy for tracking swimming patterns.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is even equipped with a heart rate detector and customised menu options via Mi Fit app. Its watch face is quite a beauty too, sporting a 0.95-inch full-colour AMOLED display that is bright enough for even under sunlight conditions
The Garmin Vivomore HR Premium offers versatility as you can wear it every day for business, leisure or for workout purposes. It even comes with a luxurious matching leather strap that looks good for all occasions.
If you'd like to take it for a swim (or shower), it's possible as it has a water-resistant 5 ATM rating that can withstand rain and splashes. Moreover, the smartwatch will keep your health in check by tracking your stress level, heart rate and daily activities, distance travelled as well as sleep monitoring.