The BEST and WORST Smartwatches of 2023! - Annual Awards!

[@turalfh]

I bought Garmin 7 Pro (47mm, Sapphire Solar) two weeks ago. It has been an amazing experience so far. This is my first Garmin and already it is my fav accessory.

[@thomasorchard]

I just bought the Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar. Amazing watch! Little overwhelming with all the features. Definitely a step up from my Venu 3. Now i don't know what to do with my Venu 3

[@icaroluca41]

Dus Fenix awnser to phone 📱 cols?,,,I mean dus it have a microphone?🤙🤗

[@thomasorchard]

@@icaroluca41 no

[@JerelMcCollum]

I’ve been looking at the same watch and glad you’re having a great experience.

[@richardquye877]

I was going to buy the fenix 7 but found the epic gen 2 for a bargain price. £374.00. I had the 735xt for years and loved it. Bought my son the 245 and I felt I needed to upgrade. 😊

[@koniuwielki]

A watch is like a knife ...the best one is the one you have with you. Thanks for all the videos this year.

[@peanutburg1778]

That's an amazing way to look at it. My friend knows nothing about TV's and asked my opinion on what he should get. I said unless you buy all of them, you'll never know the difference.

[@bingbong2935]

Glad to see Suunto back in the game!

[@beachs7210]

I love Garmin, have a Fenix 6s. I wish Garmin would marry the Phone capabilities with the Fenix and Forerunner. I love the look of the stainless bezel on my Fenix 6 and the running functionality of the forerunner 265 and the convenience of the phone capabilities on the Venu. Come on Garmin!! Great video!

[@m18miro]

I’ve gone from Apple Watch Ultra to instinct 2x . Loved the battery, sports / health metrics for garmin . Decided to sell the ultra and just grabbed a Fenix 7 pro . Pretty pumped to put it through its paces . Awesome review ! Loving the videos !

[@The.JZA.]

How are you going with it two months later?

[@L-dw5sx]

I’m waiting for the instinct 3 to switch from apple

[@nickh9791]

Great video man! I just switched from a COROS Pace 2 to an Epix Pro Sapphire and am so happy with the change. It’s an incredible watch and that display is beautiful.

[@SeeChadRun]

Ha! Love the trophy/crown award. I'm happy to see Suunto get some recognition. They've done well and compete with the best of them, but I feel that Suunto also looks much cleaner/sleeker than some of the other watches (* cough * Garmin) without compromising durability. All this said, I just bought the Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar for Christmas and I'm super excited!

[@myownbasement]

my only gripe with suunto watches is HR accuracy, I'm not expecting a 99% accuracy but at least not below the 75% mark

[@RedLeg777]

Always been a huge Suunto fan! Really happy with the progress they’re starting to make to get back in the game. Great video thank you!

[@011majan]

Are they better? I´m just asking, bcs I love them.

[@suksmonoadi5268]

Suunto Vertical & Suunto Race have shown that they made progress

[@cm99cox]

I think most improved watch would be a good catagory or brand even. But seeing suunto come out with some bangers while they have been stagnant is definitely most improved this year

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I actually did film a "most improved" segment but didn't love it so I dropped it. I'd say Suunto gets that one though!

[@TheHutchRuns]

I, unfortunately, bought my Epix Gen 2 a couple of months before the Pro came out but still love it as I don't mind charging it every 2 or 3 days, it's features are brilliant and I love the way it looks!

[@ChaseTheSummit]

The original Epix is still a great watch!

[@lucfh973]

I bought the Garmin Forerunner 965 2 months ago and I think it has all the important features of the Epix (maps, music, large 1.4 inches AMOLED display) but it's lighter and more affordable. It's a win for me!

[@kmsingh8539]

It's battery is inferior to epix and fenix

[@Neilveg]

@@kmsingh8539 The battery life and lightweight of the 965 is its strongest selling point.

[@alexisramirez3063]

Still rocking with the garmin fenix 6 pro solar since launch for hikes,fishing,kayking and i still love it

[@Craigeek]

Granted I'm super biased because I own it and it's my first smartwatch, but the Fenix 7 Pro takes the king for the most innovative for the simple feature of a real wrist mounted LED "torch". I use that feature every single day, I'm not even kidding around. I know it's not a new feature for Garmin watches but adding it that single feature to the Epix 2 and Fenix 7 in my opinion is one of the best things on the market. Compared to my neighbor's Apple Watch Ultra 2 "flashlight" feature (if you can call it that), the light output from my Fenix 7 Pro is significantly brighter on even the lowest setting compared to the highest setting on the Apple Ultra 2.

[@liamhealy112]

Moved back to sunnto from garmin. Love my vertical, cleaner and less gimmicky ( my opinion!!!). Awesome to see them back in the game. Thanks for all your great videos 🤩.

[@FrozenDung]

Was thinking of getting a 9 Peak Pro or a Race they look great.

[@LatencyProblem]

Its nice that Garmin's GPS chops are translated well into their smartwatches

[@The.JZA.]

Good to see the Apple Watch Ultra getting some praise. I'm still rocking the Gen 1 and still loving it.

[@meowzic]

I want a garmin epix but something i can afford/would like to spend. Mainly something with great offline gps navigation and accurate monitor sensors. Do you know any budget watch that offers that?

[@thecooldude4564]

Aluminum Apple series 9

[@UPENNACNP]

Fun video. I agree with your conclusions. Glad to see Suunto on the list! Thanks for producing this. Happy holidays.

[@robbie2993ie]

Best release for me was the Epix Pro 51mm. Everything I ever wanted in a fenix watch

[@mikephilpot]

I'm loving the Garmin Forerunner 965 a day in. I just hope it can hold up in salt water and surfing. 🤙🏻

[@Gabrielerf]

Great video, in my opinion the best release of this year was the Suunto Race, it has a nice valance in price, features and looking. thanks Dave.

[@hectorespinoza4202]

Honestly guys I have the Garmin fenix 6X pro solar and I got it for 400 on sale and it is such a great watch for being a bit older . If you wanna start with a Garmin but high quality go for it!

[@AK8T3]

I know it’s an oldie, but how do you rate the FR255 going into 2024? Is it still a worthy contender in your opinion?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

It's still a great watch and recently got a bunch of welcome updates!

[@AK8T3]

@@ChaseTheSummitAwesome, looking at getting one 😊 thanks so much for your reply. Your videos are really great, and entertaining. Follower all the way from South Africa.

[@robhunt8378]

It's an amazing watch, same as the 955 if you need maps. 265/965 are vastly overpriced IMO.

[@AK8T3]

@@robhunt8378 Thanks for your reply. I’m thinking of getting a FR255, their price has dropped here, and it seems like it’s perfect for what I need. Even though it’s not a brand new model, it may just be one of Garmin’s best devices of all time.

[@ZeRo-22-]

Great vid, Dave. I’ve been testing out an Epix gen 2 Pro for the past month, really enjoying it so far. It’s probably staying with me and not being sold. My Apple Watch Ultra has been sitting in my drawer (mostly) since I got the Epix. I still hate bringing the phone with me on runs so I’ve become a dual-watch runner. One for music and text, one for fitness metrics. I swore I’d never be “that guy” but I’ve given in. Until Apple gets fitness training metrics like Garmin, I guess I’ll have to settle for switching between the two.

[@Walter.Hartwell.white99.1]

I’m thinking of getting the Pace 3 as my first actual sports watch as I’m sick and tired of my old Fitbit do you think that’s a good choice for a semi beginner with a limited budget? I’m so torn whether to go Garmin or COROS.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

COROS pace 3 is a great choice or the Garmin 165 if you want AMOLED.

[@Walter.Hartwell.white99.1]

@@ChaseTheSummitawesome! I think I’ll be able to sleep now 😂 I think I’ll go with the pace 3 as it meets most of my needs and if not I’ll upgrade to a garmin in a few years

[@Leonardqh5kp]

Thanks for a great review - with sections that matter! Loved the heart rate and gps accuracy reviews

[@archi-mendel]

I'm waiting for my Suunto Vertical to arrive to me soon. The main reason I picked it is that it looks like it gives the most mobile-phone like experience while giving a battery life that is better than Garmin devices (which from my perspective are less convenient to use).

[@anthonyrampino7734]

I really like the look of the Suunto watches too. But do you think that they will/can upgrade the maps to work like Garmin?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I doubt it. The infrastructure needed for what garmin does is tremendous. Garmin is lucky because they can leverage their decades of GPS device history and so it wasn't a huge deal to port the tech over to the watches. For the other brands they basically have to start from scratch. But they're catching up!

[@anthonyrampino7734]

@@ChaseTheSummit ok, thanks. I like the fenix too but if I go with the epix vs the 7 pro is it a pain with the amoled when using the maps because you have to keep activating it vs the display on the 7?

[@Jenenden]

This channel made me switch to the Garmin brand. Since battery life for me is most important and some ruggedness I getting (it's laying under the christmastree) an instinct 2X.

[@chriscarpunky]

Garmin Fenix 7 pro Saphire for me. 18 day battery life but a week on an hour of gps a day. Accurate compared with my ultra 2. Always on display and don’t have to raise it like Amoled (I just don’t like the amoled displays). I love how you can even turn off the backlight and put on a regular watch face without data and it looks like an normal analog watch as you can even get a 22 mm leather quick fit band for going out (I have black and brown). Plus love the flashlight. I use it every day.

[@NOKIA6031]

thank you for your vlog! very very insightful! I still use my coros apex 46mm and as a back up the huawei gt runner which is solid. If I had to choose a watch to buy now, it would have been the Suunto Race! Season greetings from Greece!

[@Uns_Maps_8]

Just baked only 17 minutes ago 😊 The winner in all categories is the Garmin Fenix 7x Pro

[@bjc1219]

Thanks, Chase! I've had my new Garmin (Epix Pro Gen 2) for a few weeks now and love it. I appreciate the videos. Mapping is indeed fantastic. Especially for hiking and snowboarding. The latter of which is surprisingly only sparsely covered on YT. Having the trail names and colors of different runs while being at the resort is awesome. Cheers all!

[@reineroberhaus]

I agree for 75 Percent. Coros is the most underestimated Brand , who deserves more. Suunto also ; but I Like your Thoughts

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@habibhassan7770]

The issue with Coros (for me personally) is that it's a Chinese brand. And I don't want to give my data to Chinese company

[@giancarloricagno1050]

​@@habibhassan7770 Suunto is chinese too 😂

[@habibhassan7770]

@@giancarloricagno1050 good for me then, I use Garmin

[@xander0901]

I was very surprised that Apple released the Ultra 2 this year. It is an amazing watch, but the Ultra 1 is still an amazing watch at the end of 2023. I can somewhat understand the decision since it was priced similarly to the Ultra 1 and did have some improved features. I see it as a watch for people who generally shy away from the first model of any new product.

[@tec2224]

Great video as always I just recently switched from a Apple Watch 2nd gen se to a Coros pace 3 hard for me being such a Apple fan but the pace 3 I do like a lot better for battery life and tracking my workouts.

[@kmsingh8539]

Pace 3 is the king for best value for money and battery life

[@kerstentheuma3532]

The garmin instinct 2x tactical solar wins for me 🙃 Wish it has good mapping though

[@NicolasCaron]

My Suunto 9 Baro still does it's job well... but I am REALLY tempted to splurge and get a Vertical Titanium Solar as an upgrade.

[@patterbt]

Unless you REALLY need the mega battery life of the Vertical, the Suunto Race is a far better value. I am a tester for Suunto so I have been using both watches for quite a while. They both are just about identical in accuracy and features, with the Race have a big advantage in readability due to the OLED display and also a big advantage in purchase cost. Either watch is great, but you get more bang for your buck with the Race. Enjoy your upgrade!!

[@pablo147videoadicto]

What about the suunto 9 peak pro? What do you think about it?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I prefer the Suunto Race or Race S over the 9 Peak Pro but that's just my opinion!

[@pablo147videoadicto]

@@ChaseTheSummit the thing is that I think you can scratch the race S much more easily than the 9 peak pro, I don't care much about the screen resolution. And about the Race is that It is much more expensive than the 9 peak pro which is 299€ in my country. Should I buy it at that price?

[@StuartMiller-l1l]

​@@ChaseTheSummitDo you know if Reflex Active watches can download other apps not related to the app that had to be downloaded on my phone? As it is my first attempt at trying the smartwatch market and I just wanted to test if it was needed to spend to buy something decent, thanks.

[@Jorge_Munik]

Coming from Polar v800 to Garmin Forerunner 735XT to a Garmin Venu 2 and this one is good but not for triathlon I’m waiting for forerunner 975 I think that would be good if they are releasing on March 2024

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Where did you get that March timeframe from?

[@Jorge_Munik]

@@ChaseTheSummit I was reading that Garmin will release a new one but I don't think it's very reliable, I rectify, I hope they will release a new one this year. :)

[@jakupmadsen490]

So did you test the Amazfit Cheetah Pro? It's supposed to be a more dedicated fitness watch than the Amazfit Balance.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I did, and there’s an entire video on my channel about it. Long story short, I got better accuracy out of the Balance and it has basically the exact same features while also being cheaper and nicer looking (in my opinion)

[@jakupmadsen490]

@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks for your quick reply 🙂 I've been thinking about buying the Amazfit Balance, but then again, I've also been looking at the Ticwatch 5 Pro, which isn't so expensive at the moment, and then I did get a membership newsletter from a local hardware/electronics store that they're beginning their January sales early and amongst the smartwatches there are Xiaomi Watch S2 Pro, Polar Grit X, Polar Ignite, Polar Pacer Pro, Suunto 9 Peak Pro, and various other models, and it's all warches that I think have some good aesthetics in their design, and not all of them are too "chunky" and also, most have great functionality as well. ... I am very often out on forest trails on foot, as well as horseback and on my mountain bike, so a key feature for me is that the watch allows me to hook up with my earpods, which allows me to answer calls without taking my hands of the reins when riding (I often train/ride horses that have a skittish nature and can scare/spook easy) and of course a multi-system GPS tracking/trail function is always great as I often go "off trail" and then it's great to be able to backtrack another day if new found trails/tracks seem good. Oh, and I like fiddling with watch face design, so again, a watch that has easy accessable interchangeable app/watch faces ... Isn't the easiest decision 🙈

[@jakupmadsen490]

@@ChaseTheSummit thanks 👍 I've bought the Balance now... Just got the 2nd update today. Apparently they don't work as quickly with releasing updates to Europe at the same time as the U.S.

[@katiejohnson4365]

Does fenix 7 Pro also do the same mapping feature that epix pro 2 does with being able to select something on screen and get turn by turn navigation? I’m trying to decide between epix 2 pro and fenix 7 pro and it’s so tough

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Yes they’re basically the same Watch. The only difference is the display and battery life.

[@LHB5808]

I am in exact same process... I think I am going for the Fenix 7 Pro Solar - what did you choose and are you happy about your choice?

[@JohannesHörteis]

Please help me find a watch that meets this reuqirement: My current watch (Pebble Time) allows me to (assuming the watch is set to it's music mode) * go to the previous/next song (or seek when it's a book or podcast) * pause/play each with just one physical button press (no need to see or touch the screen) I am looking for another watch that gives me this capability for all ios apps with playback funcitons.

[@allanother8427]

Does the garmin venu 3 offer navigation and mapping?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Nope, just basic bearing navigation.

[@allanother8427]

Thanks

[@fitdude]

I used the AW Ultra, I was using all sorts of apps to try and match Garmin metrics for fitness tracking. But yesterday I moved to a Garmin Epix 2 because it has all the fitness tracking features and maps and awesome screen with at least twice the battery life. Giving up amazing smartwatch features for amazing fitness features. Why can’t I get both? Oh well.

[@splatmatt]

Original - you made some good points - Happy Holidays to you and your family, Dave!

[@enonek2960]

Dave, not a category, but I'd appreciate it if you can give your opinion on this question. Of all the watches you tested, have any models or brands ever caused skin irritation where the optical HR senson contacts the skin?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Not for me, but I know this happens to others as I’ve seen on Facebook and Reddit. Very odd!

[@enonek2960]

@@ChaseTheSummit yes it's odd but I believe Apple watches are more of an everyday wear type of Watch. But I've seen on garmin's website and others that you should take a break from wearing your watch which would indicate acknowledgment of maybe an issue?

[@tjc2016VT]

My only gripe on the AWU2 heart rate is that it randomly goes dark/greys out in the middle of my runs for minutes at a time 😅. Have you ever had this issue?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Haven't seen that. What kind of band are you using?

[@zane05d]

I’ve had this issue on outdoor runs in the cold. Wearing a chest strap or the Coros arm heart rate monitors solved this.

[@martowl]

I had this happen a lot. AWU1 is gone.

[@davidcampos5878]

Yep. Happens all the time, even in indoor cycling. I finally got rid of it for this reason. I’ve had others tell me the same thing

[@nitin-bp8bw]

I got Garmin forerunner965......love it❤❤

[@mrbjorndekker]

Thanks for the great and fun video! I must say that I would put Apple products always as a let down because of the wall that they put up for non-apple products. I use a mixture of apple and non-apple products (Iphone for work and android private, Ipad but also chromebook) so it is always tricky to see if it will work, thats why I try to stay away from Apple wearables and use a garmin as a daily watch although in general, the Apple watch would be nice for some features also...

[@angelvargasvlogs]

there is a thing with Garmin, most of them are Sport watches with smartwatches functionality, I mean is a device intented for sports. So it is very important to select the one that suits your needs, in my case I am a trail and street runner, so I need something very resistant with GPS , lots and lots of battery so I got a Fenix! 🙂

[@endymionsrage]

Just bought a Suunto Vertical after dabbling with Garmin and Coros for years. I only care about GPS and Batterylife mostly so happy to see them mentioned here.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

The Vertical is a great watch! Enjoy it!

[@endymionsrage]

@@ChaseTheSummit I struggle with the very generous Step Tracker (over 2000 Steps difference to Garmin) and the Sleep Tracker which took my pee break at 4am as my wake up time while I still slept 3 more hours afterwards. Sure, those are the simple day to day things but it urks my impression so far. Maybe we see a Fenix8 or Enduro3(2X/Pro) in the next months.

[@alexjohnson668]

I’ve been eyeing Garmin 965, fenix 7pro and the epix 2. Still torn on which one I want to get come 2024

[@Zoltan1412]

Huawei watch 4 pro, in low power mode it lasts 16 days with 1 hour of exercise per day u can also send and receive messages

[@JanaV-x9x]

Hi Dave, great video as always 🙂The most exciting release for me this year were the Forerunners 965/265. I ended up with buying 265. It's amazingly lightweight and the display is just great. I was previously using the Fenix line and oddly enough what I am missing from the Fenixes is a tiny difference in how the timer works 😃On the Forerunners it only shows you that the timer is done, while on the Epixes it shows the number of minutes or hours. As I often use multiple timers, this is so much more convenient. And also I quite like the flashlight on the Fenixes and Epixes. So I am a bit torn apart. I may decide to buy Epix next year. The amoled display is something I really like.

[@redos111]

Wheres Polar vantage V3? Havent noticed on your video

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Didn’t include it in this one. If anything it would fall into the “let down” category but I’m going to be re-testing it soon with a replacement from Polar with new firmware . Stay tuned.

[@mikael2989]

What watch do you put on your wrist after this?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

965 basically lives on my wrists but I'm not 100% sure why.

[@lauratownsend1427]

Thanks so much for this review!! My cousin is wanting to start a running program and was so overwhelmed with decisions. I’ve been running over 18 years but like her get overwhelmed with all the choices. I have the Coros Apex which I love & never regretted but wasn’t sure if that was best fit for her. I sent her your video after recommending the Apex Pace 3 due to your recommendations. Have a great holiday season & keep your videos and podcasts coming 👌

[@grantrussum9560]

Doesn't samsung also have the double tap? I'm not sure who came up with it first though

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Samsung and Apple both had this feature before "Double Tap" in the Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. However, these features were previously for "accessibility" for people who couldn't interact with the watch with 2 hands. Those accessibility features weren't all that great in my testing and FAR less reliable than the double tap implementation in S9/U2. Apple claims their new S9 Sip chip is able to sample your movements much more frequently thereby improving the accuracy of gestures and the experience.

[@ferencantal708]

Thank you for your work in this year. You showed us a lot of new and great things about gadgets. Wish you good luck for the next year and a happy holiday season to you and your family!

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Thank you for tuning in! Happy Holidays!

[@Sinasi08]

Great video! Best wishes for 2024 🎉🎉

[@tomd5178]

Teriffic video. A key thing for me is ECG as well as price so decided to go with Venu 2 Plus instead of Venu 3. Coming in at $100 less kept it in my under $400 price point. And we'll see how ECG sensors work out.

[@TheRiseofKorolev]

Suunto Race us beautiful! I had it for a month until I decided it just didn't cut it for me. Dang, I miss it.

[@thanhthanh831]

Can you give me a comment on the battery life, finish quality,... of Race??? Thank you

[@angrychilimango630]

@@thanhthanh831the suunto race is built like a tank, just got mine today, Saffire crystal, 100M, love it .

[@ardlishahlinaardli9031]

Hi dave what ear bud use in this video?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Beats Fit Pro

[@ardlishahlinaardli9031]

@@ChaseTheSummit thank you dave. Have a nice day!!

[@johnmanley4528]

Happy holidays Dave. You should consider splitting your mapping category to include travel. It’s probably the same for an android watch. If you are walking around in another city or even your own and you want to find something, using Apple Maps and your AW is super useful. The AW will also vibrate when you should turn and give you arrows. Garmin cannot come close to that. I tried that when I had the 955, but it never worked that well. It was hard to find a landmark on the watch map and just did not work properly. Just my 2 cents.

[@VernL4]

I've found that navigation while hiking and/or biking on the Fenix 7 is awesome. I get an alert before I need to make a turn, and another when I need to make the turn. The alert is loud enough to be heard even when I'm cruising along on my bike with the wind passing my ears. The alerts are loud enough that others in my group hear them as well. The "Around Me" feature on the Garmin maps has banks, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, sports venues, and all kinds of stuff. Just tap on one of the icons and it will route you to that place.

[@markocampo8979]

What do you think of the amazfit falcon?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I've got a whole video about it. Long story short it's a bit expensive for what it is. It's got great looking and feeling hardware but the GPS and HR weren't perfect and their newer Amazfit Balance seems to have an edge in most other areas for way less money.

[@markocampo8979]

@@ChaseTheSummit thanks for replying. I have an offer to buy a falcon for 100 dollars new. Haha I’m still contemplating.

[@darlingmuyumba]

Amazfit Falcon wasn't mentioned. It's one of the watches that look great...😊

[@ArchangelD78]

I have the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Caters for everything I need. Sure it can make me coffee as well if I want it to 😂

[@johnnyfalk2545]

How come your Enduro 2 doesnt have that flourescent green button in the top right like all that I´ve seen have.?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

It does, I guess it's just not noticeable in this video.

[@danieloherrick6332]

100% agree with the Venu 3.

[@GOLFADDICT65]

For me the best watch of the year was the Garmin s70..love the golf watch / smart watch did 130 + rounds LOVED IT

[@robhunt8378]

For the discounted price you can find it for nowadays the 255 is still amazing value. Still totally unconvinced by the 265 range. Curved displays. horrible oversized "RUN" button, hefty Amoled tax.

[@Navanirunz]

Big Garmin fan, until my Dr had me get the Apple Watch. I chose the AWU. The gps connects so much faster than My Garmin Fenix 6. Literally the AW will find signal for a run in :30 or less, while my Garmin (worn on other wrist) took three entire minutes once. It’s light and durable, and I realized I don’t mind throwing it on the charger every other day. Battery has been fine while out on the trail or a run. Only complaints is lack of treadmill calibration post run, and Apple health is much less streamlined when compared to Garmin Connect.

[@DrewRidesMTB]

Is the Garmin instinct 2 a good watch?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Yes, it's great!

[@DrewRidesMTB]

@@ChaseTheSummit ok, thanks!

[@Itsmekvn]

Glad to see the 965 not getting overrated here. I think its not the right price for the pros and cons

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I still love the 965 and wear it 99% of the time but there were some great releases this year. It’s all about personal preference!

[@Itsmekvn]

@@ChaseTheSummit true. Suunto made a nice decision doing a high quality but not so pricey approach. Just wish it isnt so expensive here in Japan. Its like 600usd

[@runsoon7717]

6:50 here should be coros vertix 2, it has 90 hours in dual frequency.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

It’s 50 hours in dual frequency on the Vertix 2. 90 hours is with “all systems” without multi frequency. Still impressive though!

[@runsoon7717]

@@ChaseTheSummit okey, then it means 60hours vs 50hours (solar power usually overestimated). But looks standard GPS mode vertix2 same with vertical : 140hours? But definitely it's really good news that one more player in game!

[@Cassadin1410]

Hey m8. How can you compare venu 3 vs balance (just for daily watch). Few days ago i can get venu3 for 359€ from amazon (30 day or bit more to return) but ....watch looks smaller than on yt , poor build quality and buttons are really bad . Balance win . Garmin pay kuch better than zepp pay (with curve) image on notifitacion and redshift mode. How about HR and gps?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

The Balance is awesome for the money but I'd rather have a Venu 3 for taking for runs. The GPS, heart rate, and metrics just seem more reliable.

[@Cassadin1410]

@@ChaseTheSummit thx for quick answer. I have to wait till is again price drop to 359 or similar. Before balance was release than venu was my first choice . When i had both on my hand i like balance much more and the curved glass in gv3 glare lot of lights and also Burton issue. In balance is crown annoying because i press IT with my wrist and watch want turn off . I still can send my balance back till end od January .

[@GotDamBoi]

Is multiband gps really worth it? that's the only reason i'd upgrade my forerunner 45 at this point.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

In some cases. It kinda depends how particular you are about GPS accuracy. The Forerunner 265 would probably be a substantial upgrade from your 45.

[@Emtbtoday]

I remember when Garmin was the smartwatch to avoid it was so bad good to see their better these days

[@ChaseTheSummit]

When was that? They've been a top selling brand for the past decade!

[@lov2playtn]

Can you recommend a Garmin watch that has V2 Max and health related features, but without most of the fancy stuff like flashlight, music, messages. Thanks!

[@BrunoPicard974]

Awesome video like usual ! 🙏… thank you… my Suunto Race is off with the HR sensor ! What can Ido? 😢

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Unfortunately it was for me too. The one shortcoming of that watch.

[@BrunoPicard974]

Oh I hop the update will correct that.. Is i it the same for the Vertical? @@ChaseTheSummit

[@cazetcazet9298]

Thanks for the great video

[@ActiveIdeas]

Awesome video Dave! 🔥

[@TheJordanicas]

My favorite watch aesthetically has to be the Samsung watch6 classic. I ended up with the Foreeunner 965 though, because of all the Garmin features for my outdoor adventures.

[@DonGib888]

Thanks Dave. If Apple introduce training readiness and fitness analysis etc like Garnin, they'd walk it wouldn't they. Polar V3 was biggest let down at that price.

[@Neilveg]

Polar has the best HR accuracy. The only thing I can say about my Garmin FR965 is the battery lasts for a week but the menus are cluttered and the software is unreliable. The wrist HR is unusable so don’t buy Garmin unless unless you want to to wear a chest strap 24/7. Apple is a great smartwatch but too reliant on the touch screen to be usable for running. Don’t listen to the hype

[@DonGib888]

​@@Neilveg I get decent HR accuracy from the Grit X Pro to be fair but get much better results from Apple. They have the best optical HR for me. But.... they lack the training analysis of a Garmin / Polar etc. Once they sort that... could be game over.

[@Emtbtoday]

Im looking for a new smartwatch not had one since galaxy gear 2 lol loved that watch but what is a good watch to go for now? Hard to move away from Samsung

[@ChaseTheSummit]

If you've got a samsung phone the samsung watches aren't bad for daily wear but if you're looking for something more sport-specific the Garmin's, COROS, and Suunto's are a great alternative that work on both android and IOS.

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

Can you recommend a 40-42mm slim android watch? I want something that looks like a traditional classy watch. Not super thick like most smartwatches. I want something that looks like a normal watch. I don't especially care about fitness features. I want something I can read and reply to messages with, can play music on paired bluetooth ear buds, has apps and ideally calling. I like the Honor GS3 aesthetically and several Pebble watches. They have the slim profile I'm looking for. But they all seem to have larger faces, which just makes you look like a child wearing an adults watch imo.

[@jibittararai]

Great video 🙂

[@kuzia1984]

For me, the biggest let down was the Suunto Vertical. Every fitness option / guesstimate is based on a few factors. Distance, pace, vertical ascent/descent, heart rate, SpO2, etc. If the watch itself cannot be fed, reliably, that data then everything it estimates is off the mark. If i'm hiking on a 15 degrees climb and the watch shows 120BPM then you know that everything else it infers from that metric is wrong. If i'm resting after said climb, by walking easily and taking deep breaths to recover myself and the watch shows a constant 145-150BPM then you're either unfit for the job or about to burst a vein (neither is the case since my AWU1 and my 7X Pro showed simillar results on the same trail). Thanks to this and this alone, Suunto Vertical (especially considering its price point) should be this year's biggest letdown. Why would anyone spend 800Euro for a watch that lacks routable maps, NFC payments and has a severely lacking OHR monitor is beyond me.

[@torbjornhb]

Legendary video Dave 😅. Not just informativ, but fun!

[@snk-alpha]

great energy!!!!😀

[@jswong8200]

I was expecting the biggest disappointment of the year to be the Polar Vantage V3. It was supposed to be the "comeback product" and yet the software feels antiquated, the heart rate sensor's accuracy is terrible, and the watch has stability issues. The design looks fantastic, the AMOLED screen looks great, ergonomics-wise it seems pretty good, but the innards and the software is a major let-down.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

It was on my radar. Here's the scoop: Polar reached out to me and have implied that the have improved the VV3 and they are sending me a new one with new firmware/hardware tweaks that should perform better. If that's the case, I'll have a follow up video about my findings. I didn't want to throw them under the bus before giving them the benefit of the doubt. Thanks for tuning in!

[@jswong8200]

@@ChaseTheSummit That's awesome! Looking forward to a thorough review of the "fixed" Vantage V3!

[@easterroad2089]

@@ChaseTheSummit I’ve always had polar products but getting a bit fed that they seem to be falling way behind. Polar flow as much as it gives good data seems outdated and needs a massive UI refresh. They need to offer music storage too as this could drive me to my first garmin after being a long term polar user.

[@emirgundogar79]

I would like to know if Garmin didn’t have a chest strap would you still choose 965 or Venu over Apple watch because Apple have better sleep tracking and HR accuracy. Wouldn’t you feel bad knowing that some other wrist watch measures everything better.

[@viccao8431]

I'm biased but my favourite looking by far is the Tactix 7 amoled. But its not the most versatile looking watch

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I also reeeeeeallly like the Tactix 7 AMOLED with its flat bezel. Close call!

[@RuiRosca]

I love my Garmin Epix 2 Saphire, it is just amazing all around.

[@wilsoch]

I don't get the love for the Apple Watch. I do have one, but I don't get the hype. For sports of any type, for health metrics, for sleep analysis, Garmin is just way better, and they look nicer. (Try running with the Apple Watch -- it just doesn't work great, a sleeve can accidentally stop it running, etc.) And then there is the battery life. My Ultra is ok, but I still have to charge it every day based on my usage. People always say that the Apple is just a better "smart watch" than the others, but people never really clarify why, and mostly just use it for notifications, which other watches do as well. Honestly, I think the Venu 3 is just a better watch.

[@matrhein]

Hey Dave, thanks for this opinionated take on this year's releases! I always return to my Garmin watch simply due to the utility and versatility the hotkeys and the torch are offering. 90% of what I use on the watch is literally one button combination away. DND, touchscreen, redshift mode, timer, you name it. through the five buttons I can work those blindfolded. I think that deserves a mention of sorts. Maybe an award topic (Utility watch), but certainly something for the comment section ;-)

[@DavidSettonPersonal]

How do you get DND with a hotkey?

[@tiger119851]

What is the best garmin watch suunto Apple Watch

[@brummerb375hh]

Just got the Tactic 7 AMOLED! Great watch.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

Love that one! It was a close contender for "best looking".

[@snowwalker9999]

Do you think Suunto Race will have any firmware updates this coming year?

[@ChaseTheSummit]

I think so. But time will tell!

[@martowl]

It just had one and yes there will be more.