7 Best Waterproof Smartwatches in 2021 [Tested in 5 to 10 ATM Depths]

Now, smartwatches are never really 100% waterproof but a lot of them survive under pretty deep water. Now, when I say deep, I don’t mean ocean depths but, most of them can survive anywhere from 30 meters to even up to 100 meters underwater. That’s more than enough for rains, swimming & even surfing.

When we wear smartwatches, we wear them all day long. Now, life loves to introduce unexpected problems and if one of those comes as a water splash on your watch, that might just ruin it. That’s why most of us prefer a waterproof smartwatch, but which one to get is a tougher question?

Yes, having good waterproofing does matter a lot for a smartwatch. But, that’s not the only thing you’re getting a smartwatch for right? You may want it to track your daily health, attend calls on the go, stream music, check notifications, quickly reply to texts, or just have a few convenience factors right on your wrist.

Keeping all these factors in mind besides good water resistance, can be confusing. As you’re here, you surely have your fair share of doubts. That’s okay, because with this article, I’ve listed the 7 best-rated waterproof smartwatches that aren’t just water resistant, but also come with a lot of other features.

Best Waterproof Smartwatches in 2021

Before I finalized the list, I’ve evaluated a 63 devices for 17 weeks. Based on comprehensive research, I’ve selected these models based on the needs of different types of users with different budgets. So, if you have some really general or maybe some really premium preferences, you’re covered either way.

1. Best Overall: Garmin Fenix 5X Plus

Starting off with the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus, it has the highest amount of waterproofing on the list. I chose it over the newer Fenix 6 because of the excessive pricing while this one is heavily discounted. It also has all the Garmin exclusive Sports & Fitness stuff like Pace Pro and the Mountain Biking & Golfing features.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Garmin supports both iOS and Android powered devices including Motorola, OnePlus, Google Pixel, and even the flagship Samsung Galaxy S21 series. On the connectivity side, you get Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, ANT+, alongside, GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.

Waterproofing

When it comes to waterproofing, the Fenix 5X Plus is rated for 10 ATM  Which means it can survive up to 100 meters underwater. That is more than enough for daily splashes, rain, swimming, surfing, and even regular diving. But, as I have mentioned earlier, if you take it skin diving in the deep ocean, it won’t survive.

Design & Build Quality

This is made possible by a premium fiber-reinforced polymer case with a metal back and a Sapphire top layer. The Stainless Steel bezel looks great but, there is also a more premium Titanium variant available. These exotic materials make the device sturdy and premium to look at.

Display

Perhaps one of the biggest letdowns in many of the premium Garmin devices is the display. The 1.2-inch Transflective MIP panel has good sunlight visibility and it gets the job done. However, compared to the fancy high-res OLED panels competitors are offering, the one here just looks less sharp with okay-ish colors.

Performance

In the performance department, the 5X Plus is indeed one of the fastest Garmin devices out there. The UI works really well for the internals. Apps open fast and there are no stutters or lags. The included 16GB of Internal Storage lets you store a lot of third-party apps and music in Spotify.

Health & Fitness

For health and fitness, the company has included a Blood Oxygen Sensor and a Thermometer. It also has Heart Rate Monitoring, Stress Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, etc. with dedicated Sports modes with Garmin’s exclusive Running, Biking & Golf features.

Battery Life

The Fenix 5X Plus can do up to 20 days of typical use. More extensive use like using GPS while streaming Music at the same time, can decrease this to 13 hours which is still pretty impressive. That means it is the longest battery life smartwatch on the list.

Who is this smartwatch for?

Overall, if you want the best waterproofing on a smartwatch that is also premium and has excellent health and fitness features on board, you should absolutely consider the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus.

2. Best for iPhone Users: Apple Watch Series 6

Now, for the iPhone users, I have to recommend the Apple Watch Series 6. It can survive under a lot of water and it is the latest & greatest wearable that the California giant currently makes. For anyone who wants to go swimming in a pool, keep track of health, or avoid possible medical emergencies, this is a great choice.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Apple watches are only compatible with iPhones, so it’s not gonna work with Android devices. On the connectivity front, you get Bluetooth 5.0, Dual-band 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 4G LTE connectivity (optional) alongside, GPS/GNSS.

Waterproofing

The Watch Series 6 is certified at 5 ATM for waterproofing. That means it can survive up to 50 meters underwater. That is enough for surviving spills, shower, rain, pool & surfing. However, don’t go skin diving with it. It also has a feature where it pushes out water from the inbuilt speaker by playing special sounds.

Design & Build Quality

Build quality-wise, you can get the device in Aluminum, Titanium or Stainless Steel variant with Glass/Sapphire top layer. The design hasn’t changed much since Series 4. You get the rectangular case with rounded corners and the top glass wraps around the sides. It looks premium and the build quality is also great.

Helpful Read: Apple Watch 6 Titanium vs Stainless Steel [Which Variant?]

Display

The 1.78-inch (1.57-inch on 40mm) LTPO OLED display can go up to 1000 nits, has excellent colors & infinite contrast, and the texts & visuals look super sharp. The always-on display is now twice as bright compared to the Series 5. You can also create custom watch faces or select one from Apple’s massive library.

Performance

The Apple Watch Series 6 is the fastest wearable available right now. The Apple S6 chip combined with 1GB of RAM, handles Watch OS 7 like butter. You can navigate through menus super fast and apps open almost instantly. The 32GB storage is more than enough to store music & apps.

Health & Fitness

When it comes to health & fitness, Apple has included Blood Oxygen Monitoring & ECG which are pretty important. Alongside that, the device also has Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep tracking, Workout Tracking, Swim Tracking, dedicated Sports modes, and more with access to guided workouts through Apple Fitness+.

Apple doesn’t allow blood glucose monitoring from the device, but you can use a Dexcom G6 and get its readings on the watch itself.

Battery Life

The battery tops out at 18 hours of mixed usage. If you have the LTE model, you can drain it under 1.5 hours with calls over 4G network. The device does support fast charging with 0%-80% in about an hour.

In case you don’t have the budget for the Series 6, you can get the Apple Watch Series 3 which currently costs under $200 and also comes with a 5 ATM rating. If you want something slightly more updated, you can also get the Apple Watch SE.

Who is this smartwatch for?

The Apple Watch Series 6 appeals to hardcore health & fitness enthusiasts and to those who just want the convenience of the Apple ecosystem. Either way, if you need to use a smartwatch with your iPhone and you don’t want to worry about water damage, this is the best one you can get.

3. Best for Samsung Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

If you’re a Samsung user and you want the best smartwatches they are making, you need to get the Galaxy Watch 3. It has a luxury build with the company’s best waterproofing on board and it is full of useful features.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Samsung smartwatches support iPhones & Android smartphones but the cellular connectivity won’t work with non-Samsung devices. Speaking of connectivity, alongside optional 4G LTE, it also has Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS (doesn’t support Google Maps directly), GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou.

Waterproofing

Just like the Series 6, the Galaxy Watch 3 is also rated at 5 ATM which means it can survive under 50 meters of water. However, Samsung also included an additional IP68 rating which gives the device dust resistance as well. You can still take it to pools, showers, and even surfing if you’re into that.

Design & Build Quality

The circular case of the Watch 3 is made out of Stainless Steel and it even has that signature rotating bezel. The top is indeed glass and it holds up against day-to-day scratches really well. The design looks premium and the build quality feels solid. That’s no surprise considering this is Samsung’s flagship.

Display

Considering the fact that Samsung makes some of the best AMOLED panels in the market, of course, the Galaxy Watch 3 has an amazing display. The 1.4-inch panel (1.2-inch in 41mm variant) is bright, vibrant, and sharp. The always-on display looks amazing with those pitch-black levels.

Performance

Samsung’s in-house Exynos 9110 and 1.5GB of RAM (768MB in non-LTE variant) delivers fast & smooth performance with no noticeable lags or stutters. Tizen’s UI works perfectly here and it’s pretty easy to use. The 8GB internal storage should be enough to store all the apps you need alongside some offline music.

Health & Fitness

In the health & fitness department, it has Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Stress Tracking, and ECG (US only) as the front-row premium features. Alongside that, it also has Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, Workout Tracking, dedicated Sport modes, Distance Tracking, and more.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Watch 3 can last about two and a half days with typical mixed usage. Of course, if you’re using LTE calling or a lot of GPS, it’ll drain a lot faster. The device does support fast charging though.

In case you want a similar experience but, your budget is slightly lower, you can go for the Galaxy Watch Active 2. It does not have the ECG feature but, it has most of the rest and comes with the same 5 ATM/IP68 rating.

Who is this smartwatch for?

You’ll benefit from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 the most if you use a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. But, if you don’t want LTE and you don’t care about the ecosystem integration stuff either, it’ll work just fine with any other smartphone.

4. Best Fitbit: Fitbit Sense

Outside the Apple & Samsung bubble, the other player that does health & fitness really well, and also has great waterproofing, is Fitbit. The Fitbit Sense is the latest flagship from the company and alongside having some top-notch features, it can survive all your daily water troubles.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Fitbit’s wearables are compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and you can also use the PC & Mac apps to view your data. On a connectivity standpoint, you get Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS & GLONASS.

Waterproofing

The Sense comes with a 5 ATM water resistance rating. That means the device can survive under 50 meters of water. That makes it waterproof against showers, rain, pool, and even surfing sessions. So, it can’t get ruined by accidental and most intentional water encounters.

Design & Build Quality

Build quality is also a bit different on the Fitbit Sense. While the other smartwatches from the company are using an Aluminum body, although the Sense is also using that, it has a Stainless Steel bezel on the top. The squircle shape is still there and the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Display

The Sense is using a 1.59-inch OLED panel. The peak brightness goes up to 1000 nits, there is a always-on-display mode, and you can customize the look of your display with a nice selection of watch faces. The colors are punchy, it has that infinite contrast ratio, and the texts look sharp.

Performance

One area where Fitbit doesn’t excel at, is performance. Now, Fitbits software works fine and there are any issues with the UI either. But, the internals aren’t as powerful as some of the competition out there. The company should indeed make some significant upgrades in this area.

Health & Fitness

Then again, in the Health & Fitness department, they have some really advanced features like ECG, Skin Temperature Checking, Blood Oxygen Monitoring, and Stress Monitoring. Other than that, there is Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim tracking, Workout Tracking, Distance Tracking, and more.

Battery Life

The Sense can do up to 6 days on a single charge. Now of course, things like using a lot of GPS or Music Streaming will drain the battery quickly. Thankfully, the company has included fast charging that can fill up the device to 80% in just 40 minutes.

Now, in case the Sense one seems too expensive for your wallet and you can live without ECG, you can also try out the Fitbit Versa 3. It has almost the same feature set and even has the same display and it costs less.

Who is this smartwatch for?

The Fitbit Sense is for the no-compromise fitness enthusiasts and if that’s the category you find yourself to be in, go for the Fitbit Sense and you won’t be disappointed. If the average performance is something you can’t live with, maybe look at something else.

5. Best Under Budget: Garmin Venu

If you want to be in the Garmin ecosystem but, the flagship Fenix series seems a bit too much for your wallet, you can consider the Garmin Venu instead. It is way cheaper in price, still has half the waterproofing, doesn’t compromise on necessary health and fitness features, and it has a better display.

Compatibility & Connectivity

As far as compatibility goes, the device does support iOS and Android at the same time. On the connectivity side, it has Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS, GLONASS & Galileo. It even has ANT+ which is pretty common in Garmins set of wearables.

Waterproofing

As mentioned earlier, the Venu has half the waterproofing of its flagship siblings. So, 5 ATM instead of 10. Anyway, that’s actually more than enough for running in the rain, taking a shower, swimming in a pool, surfing on the sea, and accidental spills. I’d however recommend avoiding diving in the ocean.

Design & Build Quality

Garmin’s fiber-reinforced polymer makes a comeback here with a Stainless Steel bezel on the top. So, the circular case isn’t making any unnecessary compromises on build quality. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and it holds up against scratches really well.

Display

For the display itself, the company has finally used a 1.2-inch OLED panel, and it is way better compared to their Transflective MIP stuff. The colors are punchy, it has deep blacks, infinite contrast, and the texts & visuals look sharp. This is the best display on any Garmin device as of now.

Performance

The Venu handles day to day tasks just fine. Garmin’s software, UI, and the internals work together really well. There are no noticeable stutters or lag but, it still isn’t as fast as some of the offerings from Apple or Samsung.

Health & Fitness

On the health & fitness segment, the Venu does really well. It has Blood Oxygen Monitoring  & Stress Tracking in the premium health category alongside, Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Step Counting, Swim Tracking, and more. You also get the Garmin exclusive Running & Golfing features.

Battery Life

Battery backup is pretty good with up to 5 days of mixed usage. The actual battery life will vary based on your usage with the worst case scenario being 6 hours of use with GPS & Music Streaming active all the time. However, with regular usage, you should get pretty close to the claimed battery life.

Who is this smartwatch for?

If you are getting a Garmin Venu, you should be considering it for the better display, lower-price tag, exclusive features from the company, and as something outside a restricted ecosystem. In case those are your reasons, go for the Venu.

6. Best Under Budget: Amazfit GTS 2

Now, if you’re further limited on budget but don’t want to compromise on features or good waterproofing for that matter, the Amazfit GTS 2 might be a great option for you. It is thin & light, looks premium, and has good waterproofing. Also, it doesn’t miss out on necessary health & fitness features.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Just like other Amazfit devices, the GTS 2 is compatible with Android and iPhones. On the connectivity side, it comes with Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS & GLONASS. That’s pretty impressive for a budget offering.

Waterproofing

When it comes to waterproofing, the device is rated for 5 ATM (50 meters underwater.) That’s the same as most of the premium devices on the list and it can also withstand pools,rain, showers, etc. So, there aren’t any compromises on this area.

Design & Build Quality

As mentioned earlier, the device does look premium and that’s actually because of the rectangular Aluminum construction with the top glass wrapping around the sides. However, the bottom is made out of plastic. Still, the design and build are quite impressive for the money.

Display

The 1.65-inch AMOLED panel is bigger than most of the competition and you get all the advantages of OLED like an infinite contrast ratio with pitch blacks, vivid colors, crisp details, and it even has an always-on display which is also rare in its price segment.

Performance

From a performance standpoint, the device does really well with no significant lags or stutters with day-to-day usage. The UI seems responsive and user friendly. However, there is no third-party app support, so you should take that into consideration.

Health & Fitness

The Health & Fitness department doesn’t have many compromises though. It offers Blood Oxygen Monitoring & Stress Tracking which we don’t really expect on a budget. Other than that, it also has Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Step Counting, Workout Tracking, and more.

Battery Life

The battery life is pretty great with up to 7-days on a single charge. That’s of course with typical mixed usage but, considering the lack of third party apps, you won’t be pushing the device hard anyway. So, it should be pretty close.

Who is this smartwatch for?

You should buy the Amazfit GTS 2 when you’re on a tight budget but, you don’t want to compromise on looks and would like to have some good health and fitness features on board. However, do consider that you’d be stuck with the stock apps forever. If that’s okay for you then you can get this one.

7. Cheapest Option: HUAWEI Watch GT 2e

If you’re not a fan of the rectangular form factor, and you want something circular on a budget, I’ve to recommend the HUAWEI Watch GT 2e. It has almost all of the good stuff the Amazfit GTS 2 has and it also has good waterproofing.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Huawei’s wearables support both iOS and Android devices, so of course, the GT 2e is no exception. On the connectivity side, it has Bluetooth 5.1 which is hard to find i wearables right now but you do lose Wi-Fi support. There is GPS though, so it’s up to you if you care about having Wi-Fi.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing isn’t compromised though as the device does come with a 5 ATM rating. That means it can survive up to 50 meters underwater. So, it’s still good to go in pools, in the rain, those surfing sessions, under a shower, etc. It’s nice to see Huawei hasn’t compromised in this segment.

Design & Build Quality

The device has a circular Stainless Steel chassis with a plastic back cover which is slightly premium to the GTS 2. However, The design doesn’t necessarily look more premium. At the end it’ll come down to your personal preference. You may like one over another.

Display

When it comes to the display, the company has used a 1.39-inch AMOLED panel and it performs really well. It’s sharp, vibrant, has perfect black levels, and good brightness levels. It doesn’t have an always-on display so, in case you need one, get the GTS 2 instead.

Performance

Performance is actually pretty good for a budget smartwatch. The company is using the home-baked Kirin A1 and it does an excellent job of handling Huawei’s software. There are no hiccups in day-to-day performance and the UI is also user friendly & easy to use.

Health & Fitness

On the health & fitness side of things, again there isn’t much compromise. The device does have Blood Oxygen Monitoring & Stress Tracking alongside, Heart Rate Monitoring, Swim Tracking, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Step Counting, and more.

Battery Life

The Kirin A1 and the OLED panel do an excellent job of power management. The device can go up to 14 days on a single charge which is damn impressive. That means, even if you push the device really hard, you should still be able to get more than a week of usage.

Who is this smartwatch for?

The Huawei Watch GT 2e can fit you really well when you’re on a budget but, don’t really care about having Wi-Fi and you have to have the circular design on your wrist. If you think the small trade-offs are worth it, you won’t have any complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

In case you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, you should make sure that it has some level of waterproofing. Although there are a boatload of choices, by now you should have a good idea of which one you must go for. In case you still haven’t decided, let me make this little easier for you.

• If you want a premium fitness focused smartwatch without ecosystem restrictions, go for the Fitbit Sense. 
• In case you want the highest level of waterproofing possible and you don’t mind spending a slight premium, get the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus.
• If you live in the Apple ecosystem and money isn’t an issue, get the Apple Watch Series 6. But, if you are on a budget though, you can also go for the Apple Watch Series 3.
• If you do want Garmin’s features but, the Garmin Fenix 5X Plus seems too much for your wallet, get the Garmin Venu.
• In case you’re a Samsung user, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 or the Galaxy Watch Active 2 if you’re on a tighter budget.
• For those looking into the budget segment, get the Amazfit GTS 2 or the HUAWEI Watch GT 2e depending on what shape you prefer your smartwatch to be.

One you’ve identified yourself with one of the categories mentioned above, you won’t have any issues choosing the best waterproof smartwatch for yourself. In case you want to explore other options, consider checking out other articles on the website exploring smartwatches from different categories.