137 reviews

154 reviews

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#1 most mentioned

Reddit · r/garmin

Feature-Rich Sports Watch for Endurance Athletes

Switchback Travel · Best Sports Watches of 2022

#49 most mentioned

Reddit · r/garmin

Great features such as music, an oximeter, and improved battery life compared to the 935

Journaling features are fantastic

Can charge it while it's on your wrist

Strap hog with plenty of options for straps

Compatible with other sports and activities

Great combination of running watch and fitness tracker features

IP68 rated for swimming in pools

Music controls and syncs with alerts

Compatible with Mac computers

Tracks steps and sleep when worn all day

Not living up to its potential in terms of battery life

GPS accuracy is not reliable when running under trees

High price tag

Not all users have had a positive experience with the software

Watch face may be slightly smaller than some people prefer

Can be difficult to delete playlists and recover disk space

Verdict

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a feature-packed sports watch with a high price tag. It has great features such as music, an oximeter, and improved battery life compared to the 935. However, it does not live up to its potential in terms of battery life and GPS accuracy when running under trees.

Verdict

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music is a versatile device that combines the best features from running watches and fitness trackers. It is IP68 rated and can be used for swimming in pools, and it also has music controls and will sync with your alerts. However, some users have reported issues with the software when trying to delete playlists or recover disk space. Additionally, the watch face may be slightly smaller than some people prefer. Overall, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music is a great choice for those looking for a hybrid smartwatch with plenty of features.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

Battery Life

Forerunner 935 is better

5 of those were with music) over about 4 days and was down to 14% battery. When new, my 935 would have gotten probably about double that. I don’t know if I got a defective model or something but my commute to and from work via bicycle is about 50 mins each way. Without music, it would drain 8-10% battery

3/5

5 years ago

rei.com

I am very happy with this watch, but remember I wish I bought AW in the beginning. My main concern now is the difference in battery life. I am very pleased with Garmin, and have heard about battery issues with AW. I think that is the only thing holding me back is this, and the price maybe:):)

Positive

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/AppleWatch

Price

ALMOST as good as it gets... almost...

excellent watch with crummy buttons. If I hadn’t caught it on sale, I think I would’ve regretted the purchase, as I would’ve just gone straight for the 955 (which is current right now). However, if you find this watch for a nice price (like I did), it’s worth it… crummy buttons and all

4/5

2 years ago

amazon.com

Running watch - Game Changer?

I wasn't sure how much I would personally benefit from one, so I didn't want to invest a lot but wanted a strong feature set. I went with the Garmin Vivoactive 3, and you can buy them for $130 but sometimes get them on sale for as low as $100-110. It's a great value for that price, and I would recommend it if you are unsure and want to try one and see if it is for you.

Positive

3 years ago

reddit.com/r/running

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