The Best Waterproof Smartwatches for Swimming: User’s Guide & Reviews

By | January 17, 2020

best waterproof swimming smartwatches

With a variety of smartwatches on the market becoming smarter and more powerful with each new model, it’s difficult for customers to balance the price, quality and needed features.

Water resistance, of course, is one of the obvious features a swimmer would look for in this aiding gadget, but in order to make a good bargain, there are more points to be considered if you want to find the best smartwatch for swimming.

Luckily, we’ve created this nifty user’s guide that will provide you with everything you need to know when buying a waterproof smartwatch to perfectly match your fitness needs and preferences.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase a product after clicking on a link. This does not cost you anything.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A WATERPROOF SMARTWATCH?

There are a lot of waterproof smartwatches available, but not all meet the demands of a professional or a recreational swimmer. There are several points you need to look into before making a final purchase:

IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH MY PHONE?

Many companies (like Apple or Samsung) make products that can be synced only with the same brand’s smartphones. Be aware that it might matter which phone you are using to maximize your smartwatch’s performance.

HEART RATE MONITOR

Most of the smartwatches out there feature this option, however, not all of them are perfectly accurate and well-reviewed. This is an important feature to look for if you are a fitness enthusiast.

DOES IT HAVE A GOOD BATTERY LIFE?

In order not to constantly worry about your battery dying, be careful to choose a smartwatch that can last at least 3 or 4 days without charging.

IS IT REALLY A SMARTWATCH?

There is a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. Although as a swimmer you will most probably need health and fitness-related data tracking and apps, it’s useful to consider other features such as texting, making and answering calls, listening to music, making payments, etc. After all, if you are making an investment, you would want to get your money’s worth, wouldn’t you?

The Best Waterproof Smartwatches for Swimming

Taking everything into consideration, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best waterproof smartwatches you can buy if swimming is one of your favourite activities.

Best waterproof smartwatch for iPhone – Apple Watch 5 Review

The iPhone owners surely are privileged to be able to use Apple smartwatches, as they are considered one of the best on the market these days. Apart from having all of the main characteristics of an iPhone (texting, answering and making calls, internet access), the Apple Watch 5 encompasses all the great fitness features from the previous series, including the swimming abilities, such as distance measuring, length covered, heart rate, calorie-burning, swimming style recognition and more.With the Always-on Retina display, this elegant Apple’s gadget can stay inactive during swimming, but with a simple raise of your hand, you can check your metrics and monitor your progress without having to interrupt your strokes. However, it does eat up on the battery, so it might need regular overnight charging.

Compared to other Apple smartwatches, it comes with a slightly larger display ( 759 sq mm display area) that may be impractical in fitness terms, and is still a more high-end device, therefore Apple Watch 4 could be a more approachable version for those who are not able to invest more.

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Pros

  • Non-stop working display
  • Extensive fitness and swimming data for different types of workouts
  • Wearable in sport-unrelated situations (app store available)
  • Music sync feature
  • Comfortable to wear underwater

Cons

  • A little bit pricy
  • Lower battery span
  • Bigger display
  • Functional only with iPhones

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Samsung Galaxy Watch Review

If you are more into classic, watch-like devices, a more elegant option for you is the Samsung Galaxy Watch. This watch is a practical choice for those who need a smartwatch for both the workplace and outdoor activities since it comes in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors ( like Galaxy Watch 42 mm Rose Gold, Galaxy Watch 46mm Silver, Gear S3 Frontier black).

Although some users find it a bit bulkier and uncomfortable for swimming, it does come with the most important fitness and health features like heart rate monitoring, calorie-burning track, step counting, distance and length covered, nutrition tracking and more.

Its highly durable battery (up to 4 full days) is what makes it great for listening to music, downloading apps, texting, making calls and other multitasking while working out or going for a swim.

All in all, if you are a Samsung owner, this waterproof smartwatch is a great choice, but you should also consider Samsung Galaxy Watch Active which is smaller and more sporty, and also much cheaper. However, it comes with fewer features and options as well.

Pros

  • Long-lasting battery
  • Suitable for both sporty and more elegant customers
  • Extensive fitness data
  • Comes in a variety of styles and features
  • More affordable
  • Connectable to other Android phones
  • Also works with iPhones (but without calls, texting or e-mails)

Cons

  • Bulky and large for swimming, according to some users
  • Not fully fitness-oriented

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Fitbit Versa Health & Fitness Smartwatch – Best smartwatch for swimming under £200

Dive right into affordable smartwatches with Fitbit’s Versa Health and Fitness Smartwatch. This fitness aiding gadget is specifically made for sports lovers and is quite cheap compared to its similar contestants.This smartwatch comes with heart-rate monitoring, step counting, sleep tracking and is able to go up to 50m underwater. It is comfortable and small enough to wear while swimming and it doesn’t fail to accurately measure data when shifting from under and out of water movement. On the other hand, its small design and thin straps make it too fragile for some customers in terms of durability and resilience (which may become a problem after longer use underwater).

Battery performance is also great for outdoor activities and underwater sports. On the other hand, hiking and running lovers may have a problem with the GPS being connected through the phone.

Although it is a smartwatch and you can read notifications and use other apps, it more resembles a high-quality fitness tracker since it focuses on health and fitness features.

Pros

  • Durable and long-lasting battery
  • Comfortable and easy to use
  • Very affordable
  • Great performance underwater

Cons

  • No texting and calling options
  • Some users find it difficult to sync with their phone
  • Not so versatile
  • Too fragile for longer periods of wear
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Check price and reviews on Amazon >

HUAWEI Watch GT Active – GPS Smartwatch Review

Another low-cost, worthy-of-its-price smartwatch is Huawei Watch GT Active, with a built-in GPS feature that makes it easier to go for long hiking, running or even swimming sessions.Furthermore, Its outstanding battery life (up to two weeks without charging) makes it so much easier to organize your workouts and the low power consumption system is great for not worrying about charging or weakened performance as the battery runs out.

It comes with multiple sports models, including pool and open-water swimming, which makes it practical for having access to important features and metrics.

Apart from being up to 50m underwater resistant, it comes with a stroke recognition feature which can accurately count the number of strokes you make, no matter the swimming style.

That being said, this smartwatch does not offer much concerning smartphone abilities, such as texting, answering and making calls, listening to music or downloading apps.

Pros

  • Amazing battery performance
  • A variety of sports models
  • GPS
  • Highly affordable
  • Compact and comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Some customers complain about a difficult user interface
  • Only receive and read notifications
  • Limited options (not very versatile outside the non-workout environment)

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch Review

A waterproof smartwatch also worth considering is this sleek and stylish Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch that suits perfectly those who want to track their health and diet goals while exercising.It also comes with the stroke recognition feature and it has the 5ATM water resistance. The intuitive rotating bezel makes it stand out from other similar products on the market and really practical and user-friendly.

A unique option is an access to fitness-related apps that make swimming tracking easier and more accurate. Gear Sport can also be used as a GPS smartwatch which is essential for accurate measuring of distance and length covered.

Pros

  • Compact and very stylish
  • Practical and easy to use
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Reported to sometimes freeze and have problems with being slow
  • Not many apps available

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Fitbit Versa Lite Health & Fitness Smartwatch – Best smartwatch for swimming under £100

Yes, it’s possible to get a good smartwatch for swimming under  £100! This more affordable Fitbit’s smartwatch tracks steps,  measures your heart rate, distance, tracks your sleep and calorie burn.As far as swimming is concerned, it will provide you with essential fitness and health data, but maybe not as accurately and extensively as more high-end devices.

It’s very comfortable to wear and ideal for those who are not looking to spend too much on a smartwatch.

Pros

  • Cheap compared to similar devices
  • Comes with a decent amount of fitness features
  • Comfortable and light
  • Good performance in the long run

Cons

  • Lack of apps
  • Limited options for swimmers

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Smart Watch

This primarily sports watch is a fantastic choice for those who are looking for something mostly fitness-purpose. With built-in sports apps and the ability to customize the same, you can easily and accurately track your health and fitness data. It’s very comfortable and light to wear, perfect for underwater use.Its versatility concerning sports and workouts that it can track makes it an enviable choice for the average person’s needs. It features a side-swipe interface that makes it easy and fast to use and scroll through, as well as a high-quality display easy on the eyes even in direct sunlight and underwater.

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On the other hand, if you are looking for a genuine smartwatch that will replace your smartphone functions, it’s safer to opt for maybe more expensive, but all-round products.

Pros

  • Very popular and well-reviewed among fitness enthusiasts
  • Preloaded fitness-related apps
  • Ability to create your own apps
  • Good battery span
  • Great for different types of workouts and sports
  • Appealing design and comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Reported not to have very accurate heart rate monitoring
  • Not very versatile (very fitness-oriented)
  • Slow interface

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Best budget buy waterproof smartwatch – YAMAY Smart Watch

If you’re on a budget, this is a waterproof smartwatch for you! However, be aware that the lower price means fewer possibilities. This handy device can connect to your phone’s GPS, measure your heart rate, count steps and active minutes and track calorie burning. It’s practical for fitness enthusiasts since it features goal-based exercise modes, however, it doesn’t actually provide anything specifically useful for swimmers and underwater sports, except for being waterproof. It can alert you about incoming calls and texts.

In any case, it’s an extremely positively reviewed smartwatch to opt for when looking for a good-quality fitness tracker, if you’re not focusing on big brand names or major investments.

Pros

  • Very affordable compared to similar products
  • Thin, light and discrete-looking
  • Easy-to-use touch screen
  • Great reviews on health and fitness tools

Cons

  • Lacks apps and features of an advanced smartwatch
  • Fitness-related only

Check price and reviews on Amazon >

Conclusion – Which is the best waterproof smartwatch for swimming?

In the end, it all boils down to your personal preferences and needs. For swimming purposes, probably the best option would be the Huawei Watch GT Active since it checks all the important boxes, from the reasonable price to additional apps and possibilities.

That being said, the more expensive products like Apple Watch 5 will give you the high-tech experience of an iPhone on your wrist, with more amazing and user-friendly features. If you, on the other hand, want to avoid spending much on a fitness device Yamay Smart Watch will definitely cover everything essential a swimmer needs to have in a smartwatch.

Use this review as your base point for deciding on your preferred smartwatch features and you will definitely find the perfect match for the best swimming experience.

Author Bio
Sofia Alves is a fitness enthusiast who loves running and motivating others to adopt and stick to healthy habits. She is always learning, searching and investing in further education to build her knowledge. She strongly believes the worst workout is the one you didn’t bother to do.

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