10 Best Heart Rate Watches 2026 in the United States

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a heart-rate watch that also covers a wide range of fitness and health features. It offers continuous 24/7 heart rate monitoring and built-in GPS, which is great for tracking outdoor activities accurately without needing your phone nearby. The battery life lasts more than six days, making it convenient for daily use without frequent charging. With water resistance up to 50 meters, you can wear it while swimming or in the rain without worry.

The watch features over 40 exercise modes and automatic workout detection, helping users stay motivated and track different types of activities easily. It also provides detailed sleep tracking and stress management tools, which are helpful if you want to improve your overall well-being. The display is a 1.58-inch touchscreen with customizable clock faces, making it easy to navigate and personalized to your style. Comfort-wise, it comes with two band sizes to ensure a good fit for most wrists.

On the smart features side, the Versa 4 supports on-wrist calls, texts, Fitbit Pay, and voice assistants like Alexa, which adds convenience beyond fitness tracking. The watch relies on Bluetooth for connectivity and may not have as many app options or advanced smartwatch functions compared to some competitors. The interface might be straightforward but less polished if you are used to high-end smartwatches. This makes the Fitbit Versa 4 particularly well suited for fitness enthusiasts who want a reliable heart rate monitor with solid GPS and health tracking, combined with everyday smart features, all packed in a comfortable design.

The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a comprehensive health and fitness smartwatch featuring a bright AMOLED display and a long battery life of up to 11 days. Its heart rate monitoring is robust, providing detailed insights into your health, including stress and sleep tracking, and even specific modes for activities like HIIT and swimming. The built-in GPS is reliable for tracking outdoor activities without needing your phone, making it great for runners, cyclists, and hikers.

The watch is water-resistant, suitable for swimming, ensuring it can withstand various environments and activities. Smart features such as music storage, Bluetooth connectivity, and compatibility with both Android and iOS enhance its versatility. Users can download playlists from Spotify and other music services, which is a great touch for workout enthusiasts.

The touchscreen interface, combined with physical buttons, makes navigation intuitive, even for those new to smartwatches. Design-wise, the vívoactive 5 is sleek and lightweight, making it comfortable for prolonged wear. However, some users may find the 1.2-inch screen a bit small if they prefer larger displays. The Garmin Connect app offers extensive customization for workouts and health data, though it might seem a bit complex for beginners. In essence, the vívoactive 5 is well-suited for those who want a reliable, feature-rich smartwatch to aid in their fitness and health monitoring journeys, though users seeking a very large display or a more simplified interface might want to consider other options.

The Garmin Instinct E 45mm is a rugged outdoor GPS smartwatch designed for users who want reliable health and activity tracking in tough conditions. It offers wrist-based heart rate monitoring that works around the clock, along with advanced sleep tracking and Pulse Ox measurement, which provides a good estimate of your body's oxygen levels (though it’s not a medical device). Its built-in GPS and multiple satellite systems help you navigate accurately, complemented by a compass and barometric altimeter, making it particularly useful for hiking or outdoor adventures. The watch stands out with a strong battery life of up to 16 days, so you won’t need to recharge it frequently, which is great for long trips or busy days.

When it comes to durability, the Instinct E is water-resistant up to 10 ATM (suitable for swimming) and is built to military standards for shock and thermal resistance, so it can handle rough environments. On the smart features side, it supports smartphone notifications and lets you customize apps and watch faces through Garmin's Connect IQ store, adding personalization and convenience. The display is a small 0.9-inch round screen, which is clear but might feel a bit limited if you prefer larger or more colorful visuals. The watch weighs just 48 grams and has a comfortable design for most wrist sizes, making it easy to wear all day without discomfort.

Compared to some other smartwatches, it lacks some advanced smart features like music storage or a touch screen, focusing more on durability and core fitness functions. This watch is suited for people who need a tough, long-lasting device with strong GPS and heart monitoring, especially outdoor enthusiasts, though it might feel basic to those wanting a more feature-packed smartwatch experience.