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Whether you want a waterproof smartwatch that’s suitable for just a shower or go diving with, your ability to do so safely depends on what water resistance rating it has.
Watches are given a water resistance classification that is based on what atmospheric pressures they can resist. These are most commonly 30 metres / 3 ATM, 50 metres / 5 ATM, 100 metres / 10 ATM, or 200 metres / 20 ATM.
Some watches are also given an IP rating, such as IP68 or IPX7. IP68 devices can be submerged in water up to 1.5m for 30 minutes, while IPX7 devices can be submerged in water up to 1.0m for less than 30 minutes.
For a watch to be considered ‘waterproof’ (in fact, no watch is truly waterproof and the International Organization for Standardization issued ISO 2281 in 1990 prohibiting watchmakers from calling their watches ‘waterproof’), we would say that a 50m water resistance rating is required. With a 50m rating, a 5 ATM smartwatch can be showered with, but for swimming, you should be looking for a 10 ATM smartwatch for a 100m water resistance rating.
Below, we have listed the top 10 waterproof smartwatches you can buy. Please note that none of these smartwatches are truly waterproof – but they at least offer a good level of water resistance. So, without further ado, let’s begin:
Water resistance rating: 100m
The Garmin Fenix 6 doubles the water resistance rating of the options listed above, although it runs Garmin’s own proprietary software, which doesn’t offer the same number of apps as Android Wear or the Apple Watch.
If you can look past that, the Garmin Fenix 6 is a solid smartwatch. It’s squarely aimed at active folks, like all Garmin devices. So, it has GPS and GLONASS satellite positioning, a barometric altimeter and a 3-axis compass with gyroscope.
You can choose between 42mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes to suit your wrist, and the full-color Garmin Chroma Display is a joy to use. With heart rate monitoring and preloaded activity profiles for all your sports and adventures, the Garmin Fenix 6 has plenty to offer.
Water resistance rating: 50m
The Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30 is a fantastic all-rounder. It runs Android Wear 2.0, so you can download and run applications straight from the device, and it crams a GPS, Magnetometer, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth module into its rugged, durable body.
The testing of this smartwatch also goes beyond regular product durability tests. It has been tested against the MIL-STD-810G standard, a military standard for durability. This means it resists shock, pressure and temperature changes better than most devices.
With a 50m water resistance rating, the WSD-F30 is good for showering and light swimming, although you shouldn’t go diving with it. It’s comfortable to wear, with a chunky silicone strap that’s well ventilated. The chunky raised bezel also protects the screen from damage.
Water resistance rating: 50m
The Apple Watch Series 5 garnered lots of attention when it was launched thanks to its “swim-proof moniker”. To show off this feature, it has two swimming modes that allow you to track your swims in open water or in a swimming pool.
At 50m, Apple Watch Series 5’s water resistance rating isn’t up there with the best on the market but it’s enough to protect the device when swimming. It’ll also resist showers and perspiration perfectly and the touchscreen works surprisingly well when wet.
This device is best-suited to iPhone users because Apple limits the functionality when paired with an Android phone. It has a heart rate sensor and tracks activity well, although it doesn’t automatically detect when you switch between swimming strokes.
Water resistance rating: 50m
If you are after some luxury to go with your technology, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 fits the bill. This Swiss-made timepiece has a ceramic bezel, titanium case, and sapphire crystal. It’s impeccably well-made and stylish to boot.
Running Android Wear 2.0, the Connected Modular 45 offers all the features of the best smartwatches from tech companies, but improves on image and build quality. Interestingly, it is powered by an Intel Atom processor as opposed to a Snapdragon processor.
With a 50m water resistance rating, you’ll be able to swim, shower and bathe whilst wearing the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45. GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi comprise the connectivity modules, and you’ll get 24-hours of use from it before it needs recharging.
Water resistance rating: 1.5m for 30 minutes
The HUAWEI Watch 2 4G Sport Smartwatch can be differentiated from the standard HUAWEI Watch 2, thanks to its silicone strap. It has standalone 4G connectivity and GPS and is IP68 rated for submersion in water up to 1.5m for up to 30 minutes.
With its IP68 water resistance rating, you can bathe and shower in your HUAWEI Watch 2 but we don’t recommend swimming with it. It’s good for running and gym workouts though, with a heart-rate sensor and live GPS mapping for real-time guidance.
The standout feature of the HUAWEI Watch 2 is the 1.2” circular AMOLED display, which is bright, crisp and responsive. This smartwatch also has GLONASS support in addition to standard GPS, ensuring you can track your activity from anywhere.
Water resistance rating: 1.5m for 30 minutes (but be careful in pools)
The Samsung Gear Fit2 has an IP68 water resistance rating, so it’s fine for showering with and bathing with but shouldn’t be taken into a swimming pool (you can at your own risk, but there have been reports of IP68 devices failing in swimming pools).
Instead, the Gear Fit2 is best for running and general workouts. It has GPS to map your runs and has a heart-rate monitor to track every second on your workout. It has storage for up to 500 songs too, so you won’t have to rely on your smartphone for your tunes.
The Samsung Fit application is also very good. You can view your progress on the Fit2’s display, but the most useful data is viewable within the smartphone app. The AMOLED screen is bright and responsive, and you get up to 4 days of battery life from a single charge.
Water resistance rating: 1.5m for 30 minutes
The Montblanc Summit 2 is another IP68-rated smartwatch. It’s a luxury smartwatch with a stunning AMOLED display with 390×390 resolution, and it has an integrated heart rate monitor, altimeter, and fitness tracking sensors to track all your workouts.
In truth, the Montblanc Summit is more of a classical timepiece than a sporty one, even if it can track all your workouts. The domed sapphire crystal is beautiful, and the cases (available in steel or titanium) is perfectly machined, as you would expect from Montblanc.
With Android Wear 2.0, it offers all the same features as the best smartwatches do, and it packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 processor, so it’s just as fast. It comes at a premium, but it costs less than the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 and looks just as good.
Water resistance rating: 50m
If you are looking for a proper fitness smartwatch, the Garmin Vivoactive HR is an excellent choice. It has a 50m water resistance rating, GPS, Garmin Connect push notifications, and will automatically switch between run, bike, swim, golf, and ski modes.
Offering up to 13 hours of battery life with GPS on, this smartwatch is perfect for runners and swimmers. Using heart-rate data, it accurately tracks calorie burn and provides insightful data on its display which is perfectly legible in direct sunlight.
The only downside to the Garmin Vivoactive HR is its design. It is a chunky and old-fashioned device in appearance compared to the likes of the HUAWEI Watch 2, although it is a device for a completely different purpose (workouts), and for that purpose, the Garmin Vivoactive HR excels.
Water resistance rating: up to 10m
The Polar M600 is rated for the IPX8 standard, which means it is protected from water submersion and is suitable for swimming. It also has GPS and a heart-rate monitor, with a dedicated swimming mode to track all your swims.
With a square display and silicone band, the Polar M600 is tailored for the fitness market more so than the casual wearer. Still, it’s a stylish device and you have a choice of a black or white band (these are interchangeable). There’s also a red band available separately.
GPS, GLONASS, heart-rate monitoring, and Bluetooth ensure you have everything you need for a good workout. The color touchscreen only has a 240×240 resolution, which is a bit of a let-down, but other than that the M600 is a decent waterproof smartwatch.
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