Best Waterproof Smartwatch in 2020

by David Wright | Last updated January 20th, 2020

Smartwatches shined last year as they never did it before. It seems that customers and fabricants were able to match all their requirements and many models started to pop up. A waterproof smart wrist watch model stands out as one of the best options.

It can be easily an extension of your life, and despite its little size, it can hold a lot of features. To help you select the best waterproof smartwatch, we reviewed some of the most popular models of this season. One of them immediately got our attention for its features and design.

It was the Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch SM-R600NZKAXAR. Samsung is already well known for its electronics products which are manufactured with the highest standards, and this model confirms it. It is water-resistant up to 50 meters and also helps you track your fitness and calories. Read further for more information about this model and find out other great smartwatches as well.

Top Waterproof Smartwatches – our picks

1. Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch SM-R600NZKAXAR – Best Overall

This model stands out for the variety of features it offers. It is robust and very well designed. It is also perfect for swimming because it is waterproof up to 50 meters.

All your daily apps are at your command, and it may control all the other smart devices. Pay, exercise, and track. You can do it all with this smartwatch.

Besides being swim-ready, you may also rely on it to get the best personal coaching. It is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and you can stay connected with your favorites Apps while receiving and replaying calls and text messages. You can wear it anywhere and also pay on the go because it is compatible with Samsung Pay NFC.

You can download music, access your apps (Android and iOS), and track the progress of your workout routine. Overall, it is a great choice but not so suitable for the scuba divers.

Pros and Cons

2. Fitbit Versa Special Edition – The Best to Achieve Goals

Fitbit is a very recognized brand for its fitness trackers. This time they took all their experience to create this swimming smartwatch that combines the best features of both products.

With this model you can get statistics from 15+ exercise modes. It is fully aligned with all your goals during the day as it allows you to plan and execute your aims by accessing all your apps from the phone.

The watch resists water up to 50-meter depth. It is compatible with GPS tracking via smartphone. The kit includes a Lithium Polymer Battery that once charged last for over four days.

You can also make secure payments thanks to the built-in NFC chip. One more benefit the Fitbit Versa SE gives is that you can choose from 5 different colors.

Pros and Cons

3. Multifunction Smartwatch

It might surprise you that this waterproof smart wrist watch has so many functions and yet very reasonable price. The smartwatch offers all the functionalities of the most famous brands and its design and HD touchscreen make it ideal for the most demanding buyers. It is unisex and manufactured with Nano TPU85 material strap and precision laminating process.

The model is compatible with different language settings. The watch facilitates with App notifications (Twitter, Facebook, texts, calls, etc.). Connect the microphone and/or turn on the speakers to answer the phone calls. It features a delicate ergonomic convex design that brings comfort in addition to the extended durability.

Pros and Cons

4. Skmei Women’s Smartwatch B36 – Best for Women

Besides being a swimming smartwatch, this model also has a unique design for women. From the very beginning, it stands out for its elegance and fashion-forward appearance. It supports women physiology as it displays the four stages of the period to help women get organized about it.

The Skmei B36 also offers all the functionalities of the most advanced models and connects with both Android and iOS. It easily syncs with the apps on your phone and serves with timely notifications. The battery life is exceptional and provides 3 to 4 days of working.

The straps of this smartwatches are made of silicone. It is a lightweight product with delicate design that are highly appreciated by women.

Pros and Cons

5. Huawei Fit Smartwatch

This Huawei model offers a complete training experience and is an excellent smartwatch for swimming too. As it is 5ATM waterproof, it allows sweat, rain, and splash. It offers a new style for fitness lovers. The inactivity reminder lets you realize that you have to move, and when you’re moving, it tracks all your daily activities.

It syncs with your social media apps and shows timely notifications. In addition to the calls and messages, the watch organizes the calendar events as well. The TruSleep Huawei Technology introduces Scientific Sleep Tracking feature that is available with this promising product.

Once fully charged, the battery lasts for up to 6 days.

Pros and Cons

6. Garmin Vivoactive 3

If you are looking for a more versatile smartwatch for your fitness exercises, then Garmin Vivoactive 3 is the way to go. It presents impressive features that beat both Apple and Fitbit fitness wise.

For starters, it features an integrated GPS with a signal that connects instantly once you put it on. That allows to track your fitness routes, distance, pace and much more when you’re in the outdoors. You can choose different ways to get fit thanks to the 15 preloaded apps that this watch comes with.

The smartwatch also features a heart rate sensor to monitor the effect an exercise has on your body. In addition, you get to track your fitness stage using VO2 max and fitness age evaluations to know your stress level.

The Vivoactive 3 features simple and easy to use design. It operates on both a touchscreen and side button interfaces for greater convenience. Also, it presents a large design with 43 millimeters with a 1.2-inch diameter display.

Once you press the face of this watch, you can see a menu that allows you to personalize the settings. It is compatible with Connect IQ store that allows you to download faces, apps, and widgets.

Another useful part about having this smartwatch is that it features a mobile payment system called Garmin Pay. It allows you to pay for items as you go by tapping your card. The battery of this smartwatch will take to up to seven days using the smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS.

Pros and Cons

7. Garmin Forerunner 235

Garmin Forerunner 235 is a perfect match for your fitness and activity tracking which also offers versatile functionality. It presents a comfortable and lightweight design which feels great on your wrist.

The watch features a GPS tracker to monitor your location. It also includes an activity tracker that is able to monitor all your activities like distance, calories burnt, sleep as well as mileage. Forerunner 235 also has a wrist-based heart rate variant that monitors your stress level as you work out.

In addition, it is up to 164 feet of water-resistant which allows you to swim or shower without taking it off. The smartwatch offers great convenience as it is compatible with your phone for smart notifications. Here, you can see text messages, incoming email, call alerts and much more.

This Garmin model has the ability to measure how much oxygen your body can handle with the VO2 max Estimate.

The Forerunner 235 features an LCD screen of 1.23 inches. There are two buttons on the right side that are used for controlling the watch as it lacks a touchscreen interface. When you wear the watch, your wrist remains cool and dry thanks to the silicon material on the band.

It comes with an option to change to the band color you want to suit different occasions. The watch is compatible with Connect IQ to download watch faces, data fields, applications, and widgets. It has a battery life of 11 hours while training and 9 days of normal use including activity tracking, heart rate and notifications.

Pros and Cons

8. Garmin Forerunner 935

Garmin Forerunner 935 is a premium smartwatch offering advanced features and functions for running, cycling and also swimming. It has everything an athlete needs to get started on their fitness tracking progress.

The watch features a multipurpose activity tracking tool that records and analyzes all your daily activities. You get to monitor your running, sprinting, cycling, swimming, skiing, biking, strength training and more. It contains a barometric altimeter to provide you with accurate altitude and elevation data, especially for mountain climbing.

Featuring a water resistance rating of up to 50 meters, this watch is perfect for swimming and other water-related activities. It also has a wrist-based heart rate monitor with an option of a chest strap to monitor lactate threshold and heart rate variability stress test. You get accurate data on distance, pace, time, VO2 max, stride strength and more.

The Forerunner 935 is made in a sleek and comfortable design that lets you enjoy using the smartwatch. There are metal buttons surrounding the display that are super easy to use. You experience pleasant comfort on your wrist as the strap features a silicone material that stretches between the lugs. It has a 1.2-inch display on the round screen with 64 colors and 240 x 240 resolution for perfect visibility.

In addition, the smartwatch uses transflective technology that allows outdoor use even with more sunlight. You get smart notifications sent to your wrist when you pair the watch with a compatible smartphone.

Pros and Cons

9. Apple Watch Series 4

Apple Watch Series 4 was introduced to the market in September 2018. This is a smartwatch with advanced features, cutting-edge technology and has a beautiful and durable build.

It features a bigger display, thinner body, faster processor, unconventional sensors and health features compared to its predecessor. The large screen allows you to view all the information you need at once and is also visible in broad daylight. The smartwatch also gives a digital crown haptic feedback for a more tangible experience while scrolling through the contents.

The upbeat health monitor lets you do more to acquire a healthier life as it takes note of every activity including the calories burned. It also monitors your heart rate and alerts you of serious concerns. There is a a fall detection and Emergency SOS to send a signal when your body experiences some kind of danger. The ECG app relays important data for you and your doctor for healthy living.

The Apple Series 4 is a truly “smart” device for your training sessions as it automatically detects the type of workout. Also, you can track your monthly activities, share the data with friends for friendly competitions and also motivate you to achieve higher fitness goals.

With this smartwatch you can receive calls, read messages, stream music from Apple music and Apple podcasts thanks to an integrated cellular in the watch. The speakers are quite audible.

Pros and Cons

10. Fossil Men’s Gen 4

Fossil Men’s Gen 4 sport is a lightweight smartwatch with plenty of useful features that make it outstanding. It is a sports-focused smartwatch that lets you in on your health information as well as date and time.

You are able to track a lot of activities that you take part in. Those include running, walking, rock climbing, weightlifting, surfing, tennis, martial arts, yoga and many more. It is 5ATM water resistant meaning you can safely swim with the smartwatch. This model features a heart rate monitor that automatically measures your heart rate while you work out. There is also a GPS tracker to track your distance.

The Fossil Sport comes with a simpe minimalistic design. It has a 43mm case size and a 22-millimeter band. You have the option to change the band with all Fossil 22mm bands that will suit your style.

The screen has a straightforward interface and is touchscreen enabled for you to access and respond to information with much ease. This watch is Google’s Wear OS powered and is well-suited for Android OS 4.4+ and iOS 9.3+ smartphones. It delivers notifications straight to your wrist as you work out.

You can also add other apps via Google Play Store on the watch. It has a battery life of about 24 hours depending on how you use it. What’s more, it includes a rapid charger.

It also has Google Pay which allows you to make payments with your card on the watch.

11. Pebble Time Steel Smartwatch

There is no doubt that Pebble Time Steel smartwatch is designed to suit a lot of outdoor activities. It features essential apps that are responsible for your fitness and also lets you stay updated while on your wrist. The good part about this smartwatch is that it is compatible with both Android and iPhone smartphones for perfect convenience.

It presents a healthy fitness app that monitors your steps and a sleep tracker. Your daily stats are delivered straight to your timeline and also has a weekly graph to show all your progress. When you are in the outdoors, you can use it while swimming as it is water resistant up to 30 meters.

You can also control your music while you engage in other activities with this smartwatch.

The Pebble Time Steel, as the name suggests, presents an all steel body which is an upgrade in design. It has a beautiful color e-paper display that is always on with LED backlight and comes with a button interface. The thick design allows for easy access to the buttons as they are slightly higher.

Another benefit of this smartwatch is its battery life. It provides an impressively long battery runtime that extends up to 10 days regardless of how you use it.

You can control your music while you engage in other activities with this smartwatch. What’s more, you never miss important notifications, events, missed calls and more since they are delivered straight to your wrist. Apart from telling time and date, it allows you to get ready for your next event thanks to sync with calendar.

There is an integrated microphone built for voice notes and fast replies.

12. Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsun Galaxy watch presents numerous features for outdoor use and an analog design all in one package. This watch lets you connect to your surrounding seamlessly.

First off, the watch allows you to monitor your fitness progress and focuses more on your exercises for great motivation. It measures your heart rate as well as six other activities you engage in while exercising. Also, you can select from the numerous activities (39+) to move from one fitness level to the next.

The smartwatch has a GPS to track your routes, a built-in altimeter and a barometer for higher areas. At the end of the day you can see all the events that happened throughout the day. And when the day is over, the watch can track your sleep during the night.

The Galaxy Watch comes with an authentic analog display with various watch faces and a wonderful lighting effect. You can choose either a Bluetooth model of case size 42 millimeters or standard LTE model with 46 millimeters. The LTE version allows you to pick calls and also read your messages without necessarily looking at your smartphone.

Also, it’s possible to customize the watch by selecting a strap of your own choice to suit your style. The smartwatch has an Always On sAMOLED display which lets you see the time and all the functions without turning it on. You can swim, shower or use it with other water-related activities without taking it off thanks to the 5 ATM water resistance rating.

The Galaxy Watch supports NFC Samsung Pay for easy payments.

13. Casio Men’s “Pro Trek”

If you are looking for a quality smartwatch that is built for the outdoors, then Casio Men’s Pro Trek can be your solution. It is a Google Wear OS smartwatch, meaning it comes with numerous features suited for outdoor use. These include a GPS tracker for your routes, Location memory to mark the routes, moment setter to increase outdoor usability and many others.

It supports outdoor activities happening in other areas and relays the information on a full-color map. Also, it is well-suited for Android smartwatches running on 4.3 and iPhone 5 running on iOS 8.2+. What’s more, it features built-in quad sensors that deliver altitude, directions, and atmospheric pressure accurate measurements.

The Pro Trek has a stylish, rugged and versatile design that allows plenty of features and functionality. It presents a case diameter of 61.7 millimeter which is a lot thinner than the previous models. You can use the smartwatch in all your outdoor adventures including swimming. The smartwatch is water resistant up to 165 feet.

What You Need to Know about Smartwatches (Buying Guide)

When you want to find the best waterproof smartwatch, you have to take advantage of the full range of features available now in the market. Smartwatches took the lead as one of the favorite accessories because of it.

Although you are seeking specifically for a smartwatch for swimming (or not for swimming, but still with watertightness), there is no excuse for not using the opportunity to enjoy all other features they can offer. On the other hand, the waterproof feature may vary from one model to another. Even though many buyers want it as a swimming smartwatch, it is also the truth that daily activities require some waterproof resistance too.

The Difference between Waterproof and Water Resistant

It is important to first understand the difference between being waterproof and water resistant in order to use your smartwatch better. Oftentimes when you get near the water with your watch on, you tend to take it off to avoid getting it damaged by any kind of moisture. This is either because you don’t know how much water it can handle or it is not water resistant at all.

But here, you can find smartwatches that are designed for outdoor use and also use around or in the water. Waterproof and water-resistant refer to the amount of water a device can endure when exposed to it.

Waterproof, as the name suggests, means that there is no amount of water that can penetrate through a device. However, there is no smart device that is impervious to water completely. The closest we have to be waterproof is by an (IP) Ingress Protection Rating. Here, a device is referred to by how it reacts to keep water from penetrating into it.

There is a scale used from 0-8 to measure the effect of water on a device when submerged or exposed for a long time. That means that the higher the waterproof rating a device has, the more impervious it is to water.

Water resistant, on the other hand, refers to how a device is able to hold out against water penetration to a certain level of exposure. That means that it’s able to keep out water to some degree and if that is surpassed, water can easily get in and damage the device. There are smartwatches that are designed to make it more difficult for water to penetrate than others. More often than not, the devices with a higher water resistance rating are coated with a substance that increases endurance chances with water exposure.

It is worth noting that the levels of water resistance in watches vary from one watch to the other. To determine the levels, the watches go through a series of tests once manufactured and before releasing them to the market.

There are factors that contribute to a watch being in the water. Those include the reaction of pressure as a watch is immersed in water repeatedly like swimming. Also increased moisture temperatures and unexpected temperature changes in a short span.

The degree of water resistance may also vary depending on how old the watch is. It is believed that as time goes by, the seals of a watch tend to weaken and fail at resisting water.

A waterproof smartwatch is built to endure a higher level of water exposure than a water-resistant option. Here, you can submerge the watch in water and it will have no effect at all. A smartwatch with this nature is best suited for diving and other water related sports. Water resistant watches can only endure the effect of water to some level.

May I not be afraid of water if it’s waterproof resistant?

Despite the fact that this feature may appear in many models, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it makes it swim-ready. It is essential that you verify what the limitations of it are.

Water may come from the shower, the rain, pools, beaches and so on. Manufacturers commonly clear up those limits, and that simplifies your research. Make sure to read the specifications about all the features.

IP ratings explained

IP (Ingress Protection) rating is used as a standard measure to show how effective a unit is at blocking foreign substances. It is often referred to as an International Protection rating which means it is an international standard of EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989). These ratings usually have two letters and start with IP.

The first letter represents the degree of protection a unit has against solid substances and the second, protection against water.

The first digit of Ingress Protection and its meaning:

1. No reliable protection
2. Protection from larger solid objects with a diameter of 50mm and above
3. Protection from objects with a diameter of 12mm
4. Tool penetration protection (above 2.5mm in diameter)
5. Protection against solid substances above 1mm in diameter
6. Dust protection
7. Entirely dustproof

Second Digit of moisture protection:

1. Lacks protection
2. Condensation protection
3. Water droplets protection up to 15 degrees from vertical
4. Water spray protection up to 60 degrees from vertical
5. Protection from water spray coming in different directions
6. Low-pressure water jets protection from all directions
7. Strong water jets and waves protection
8. Momentary immersion protection
9. Extended immersion under pressure protection

Most of the time, we focus on the moisture IP rating since we tend to be around water more often. That doesn’t mean we have to remove a smartwatch every time you want to wash your hands or engage in other water-related activities. That’s why you will find that some units include an ‘X’ to replace one of the numbers in the IP rating. It means that the excluded digit hasn’t been established for that category. So, if you find a smartwatch with an IPX5 rating, just know that it is resistant to liquids only.

What smartwatch can you swim and dive with?

Smartwatches have become greatly advanced and include plenty of features that aid in different fields. Nowadays, you will find smartwatches with a heart rate sensor to monitor the behavior of your heart while engaging in different activities. Some smartwatches have taken the responsibilities of a fitness tracker and include GPS to locate and map your routes while jogging, running or simply walking.

An all-sports smartwatch, however, has all the above and more and include a waterproof build for water-related sports like swimming.

A good and suitable smartwatch for water-related activities is one with a high IP rating. You should definitely go for a smartwatch with a higher IP rating if you want one for swimming. A high IP rating means that it has little to no chance of water exposure having an effect on it.

You can confidently take a dip without removing your smartwatch in fear of it getting damaged by water. The watches that offer a certain depth at which they’re water resistant are always ideal. That’s because you are aware that if you exceed the level, then the watch can be damaged.

For instance, a smartwatch with a 5 ATM rating means that it can withstand water under ~50 meters* of being submerged.

* The pressure at depth depends on water density – the higher the density, the higher the pressure. So, for example, the depth at which you can use a smartwatch in the sea and ocean will be always less than in rivers, lakes and any other freshwater reservoirs.

Features and what is a smartwatch good for?

Despite the little tiny size of smartwatches, they comprise many features. Nowadays, they are practically an extension of people’s life. They can store a lot of information and be a very efficient assistant.

Therefore, why would you settle for less? The size, weight, and design of the smartwatch don’t get affected for it. Manufacturers have a lot of freedom due to the advancement of technology.

Once you understand the advantages of a smartwatch, it becomes easier to own one. It’s a computerized wearable that you wear on your wrist and that comes with more features and functions besides telling time. It integrates to your smartphone to make receiving calls and reading messages a breeze.

In addition, it includes different applications that provide additional functionality for greater convenience. For instance, you can get information about the weather and also the location all on your wrist.

A smartwatch is easier to use compared to a regular watch with complicated features. It has some privilege that make it easier to use – for instance, a touchscreen display. You can easily access the important information from your smartphone through it.

With a smartwatch you can prevent robbers and thieves from stealing your smartphone simply because you get it out less often.

Another great advantage of a smartwatch is that it helps you keep track of your fitness routine. Most smartwatches have built-in fitness trackers that aid in your daily workouts. You don’t have to burden yourself with a separate fitness tracker device when jogging or running.

The top models have impressive features for incredible use both in the indoors and outdoors. Some measure your heart rate and amount of exercise you engage during the day. You will also find that there are smartwatches with sleep tracking to ensure you get enough sleep and monitor your sleeping time.

Samsung Gear Sport – a Short Video Review

Conclusion

A waterproof feature is the icing on the cake for any smartwatch. In the last years, electronic devices started to put significant efforts to add this feature to them and that has improved greatly. These are excellent news and all the models in this review have all the waterproof features you need.

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