The Nightlord ComethIs Elden Ring Nightreign inspired by mods? Im not sure, but its certainly a dream come true for Seamless Co-op and randomiser enjoyersNightreign wont be for everyone, but for those who dabbled with Elden Rings mods, prayers have been answered.Image credit: FromSoftware Article by Kelsey Raynor Guides Writer Published on Jan. 2, 2025 The world cant get enough of Elden Ring, and neither can FromSoftware apparently, with the announcement of a co-operative roguelite set in a world parallel to the gargantuan RPGs events during The Game Awards last week: Nightreign.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. This year, I replayed Elden Ring for the umpteenth time as I prepared for the DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. Though, replaying it wasnt enough to satiate my desire to fell boss after boss, and thats where Seamless Co-op and randomiser mods eventually came in. Me and my friends geared up almost ten of us for what was supposedly going to be the most epic co-op run of all time. You can only imagine how that went.With a lack of coordination, bosses were respawning mid-fight thanks to others resting at a Site of Grace, and it took us a shameful amount of time to actually go ahead and beat up ol Margit. I was drained, which isnt what you want when stepping through the yellow fog gates of Elden Rings first Great Enemy.Our group immediately grew smaller after that first chaotic session four of us, then three, and then finally, two remained. As a determined duo who fancied more of a challenge, we decided to randomise just about everything excluding fog gates. Sure enough, our first randomised run in Seamless Co-op was done in a matter of days, though we only had one hurdle left: Malenia.Malenia was one of the first bosses we encountered, hanging out in the early-game area of Castle Morne, with her health pool suitably scaled down. This didnt make her any less formidable as we tried to take her down, and we collectively agreed to make Malenia the final boss of the run. That was a mistake, because after a rendezvous with Morgott in place of the Elden Beast and returning to Malenia with full builds and overpowered weapons, she was rather underwhelming to fight.And thats how yet another randomised Elden Ring run began, one that I am actually yet to finish, as the DLC very quickly caught up with me.Lets get back to the point. Im excited for Nightreign. Thats where this is all going. Im certainly not alone in that. A co-operative experience of some of Souls biggest and best bosses set in a world adjacent to Elden Rings events? Not only is it co-operative, but youre telling me this new game takes the form of a roguelite? Dreams really do come true, I guess. Sign me up and take my money, FromSoftware.My experience with playing Elden Ring in co-op, with randomly generated items and bosses, was admittedly the most fun experience of Elden Ring Ive had outside of the first time playing it (something I really wish I could do all over again). So, the fact that a co-op Elden Ring game is actually coming to fruition with each experience of Nightreign not being the same as the last without the need for mods or any sort of faffing not only makes me excited for the game itself, but just how many different friends Ill hopefully be able to experience it all with.Its hard not to assume that FromSoftware has, perhaps, looked at fans' demands for co-op and witnessed just how much fun players have had with this, randomisers, and other mods. If thats the case, then that only makes me more hopeful for Nightreign and FromSoftwares future.

Image: Marvelous (XSEED)The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!Switch eShop - New ReleasesYs Memoire: The Oath in Felghana (Marvelous (XSEED), 7th Jan) - Originally conceived as a reimagining of the 16-bit console classic Ys III: Wanderers From Ys, this fan-favorite entry returns, newly remastered for the Nintendo Switch system as Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. Nearly 15 years after its previous release, longtime fans can look forward to numerous improvements and upgrades, including an all-new voiceover for legendary protagonist, Adol Christin. With remastered high-definition visuals and music, the epic adventure has never looked or sounded better.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube Rivenaars Grove (eastasiasoft, Jan 8th) - Rivenaar's Grove is a top-down fantasy adventure spin on sliding puzzles. The quick little apprentice can only move in straight lines from one border of the field to another. Its up to you to figure out how to use these nimble movements to gather crops as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once each field is cleared, youll be able to move to the next, with 50 levels in all! As you progress, new traps, obstacles and portals will be introduced, making it even trickier to harvest. To further prove your worth, you can tackle challenge modes with limited moves and time limits. Can the student truly become the master?What will you be downloading this week? (73 votes)Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana56%Rivenaar's Grove 0%Nothing for me this week44%So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

Spotify announced Thursday the launch of its new Partner Program that lets popular podcast hosts monetize their video content. Spotifys new program gives qualifying creators on its platform opportunities for extra income beyond just advertising revenue, such as video payouts. The program was initially announced back in November and is officially available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia starting Thursday.The program is expected to enhance Spotifys video podcast library, likely aimed at competing with YouTube, which currently dominates the overall video space. According to Spotify, over 65% of eligible podcast shows have already enrolled in the Partner Program since the company revealed it at its Now Playing event. This includes Smart Money Happy Hour, The Paranormal Podcast, The Makeshift Podcast, Girls Rewatch Podcast, and more.Spotify has also begun allowing Premium users to watch video podcasts without ads. It also launched a new tool called Podcast Clips, which are short-form videos uploaded by creators to promote their shows and help users discover them more easily. Since the features launch in select markets in November, the company claims that clips are 33% more effective than previews at converting browsers into engaged listeners.

Thomson Reuters has acquired tax automation company SafeSend in an all-cash transaction valued at $600 million. Founded in 2008, Ann Arbor, Michigan-based SafeSend serves a cloud-based platform designed to streamline the processing and sharing of sensitive financial documents. This includes tools for delivering tax returns, gathering e-signatures, collecting payments, automating workflows, meeting compliance obligations, and more.SafeSend, which has some 235 employees, previously raised an undisclosed figure from Lead Edge Capital, and says its used by 70% of the top 100 accountancy firms in the U.S. SafeSend in actionImage Credits:SafeSendWhile Thomson Reuters is known for its news agency, the Canadian company also operates a range of products spanning the legal, tax, and accounting spheres. In fact, SafeSend already offers native integrations with Thomson Reuters tax preparation software, and by bringing the company under its direct stewardship, this will go some way toward helping Thomson Reuters support the so-called last mile of the tax return process.This acquisition underscores our commitment to addressing the evolving challenges faced by tax professionals and taxpayers alike, Elizabeth Beastrom, Thomson Reuters president of tax, audit and accounting professionals, said in a press release announcing the acquisition. By integrating SafeSends innovative technology with our existing solutions, were simplifying tax preparation workflows, and meeting the dynamic demands of businesses we serve to help them thrive in an increasingly complex tax landscape.SafeSend isnt the first such tax automation company that Thomson Reuters has acquired it snapped up SurePrep in a $500 million transaction in 2022. Indeed, there are clear parallels between SafeSend and SurePrep both in terms of their product lineup, and how they had started to embrace AI and automation. In early November, SafeSend launched a new AI product dubbed SafeSend One, which automates the entire tax process, from document gathering through tax return delivery.Thomson Reuters says it plans to continue offering SafeSend as a standalone product, and will continue to support multiple vendors across the tax software sphere.

Room Within A RoomWith the speculative Studiolo installation, Spanish practice HANGHAR explores the potential of nonprescriptive spaceByAdrian Madlener January 2, 2025Interiors, International (Luis Daz Daz)SHAREWorking to challenge the conventions attributed to increasingly constrained urban residential interiors, Madrid-based speculative architecture practiceHANGHARdebuts Studiolo, a room-within-a-room installation with no predetermined purpose. Domestic space has been overly commodified in the last century, as real estate has become much more prolific, said Eduardo Mediero, founder and principal of the Madrid-based practice HANGHAR. This has severely affected not only how we dwell but also how our homes are designed. The practice is deliberately intended to only exist for one decadeit will close in 2030and in this time, is committed to developing speculative work that tries to subvert market-driven impacts and decommodify residential architecture. It accomplishes this by suggesting different spatial configurations that can accommodate less prescriptive functions.In creating the form of the recently completed Studiolo project, Mediero and his team reexamined the importance of the room as an architectural entityone that has the potential for open, unconstrained activation. Our intention was not to assign a specific use to a space and try to make that use as efficient as possible, but rather to create a spatial structure that does not convey the use or program assigned to it, Mediero explains. We were interested in how inefficient environments can open up a vast array of possibilities of use. Drawing inspiration from Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina, specifically his paintingSaint Jerome in his Study(1475), HANGHAR introduced a deep-green, cabinet-like room within Medieros own central Madrid apartment. This space functions as his own little studio, the direct translation of the Italian word from which the project takes its name.Read more on aninteriormag.com. ApartmentsSpain

PeopleFrom Billboards to Balloons: Charlie Markert's Sky High ArtA career as a billboard pictorial artist paved the way into the niche of hot air balloon painting.Better LettersJan 2, 2025 3 min readThe incredible hot air balloon art of Charlie Markert.Sign painting often precedes different and tangential career paths, but few have moved into a niche quite as narrow as Charlie Markert and his work on hot air balloons. In the video below he describes himself as "really unique in what I did", and it was his extensive experience as a billboard pictorial artist that paved the way.The journey started while he was working for Naegele Outdoor in Minneapolis, and a request came in to have the Golden Grahams cereal packet painted on a hot air balloon. Charlie recalls exclaiming, "Oh my gosh, hot air balloons; that sounds interesting!", and the rest, as they say, is history, which Charlie recounts in this interview.Charlie Markert Interview on YouTube.Charlie Markert at work as a billboard pictorial artist for Pacific Outdoor in California.Charlie Markert following the move to Minneapolis and joining Naegele Outdoor.Work-in-progress and the finished hot air balloon from Charlie Markert's first commission for Golden Grahams and Whittaker Balloons.Charlie Markert at work in the barn that he remodelled for painting the fabric used for hot air balloons.Thank you to Brent Jones for bringing Charlie Markert's work to my attention. The photos below are of a restaurant they worked on together, and the picture at the top of this page is from a still from the The Most Beautiful Hot Air Balloon in the World on YouTube.More PeopleMore Films

Looking for Lorraine (2024), natural andsynthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, and acrylic and crystal glass beads, 55.5 x 68 inches. All images courtesy of the artist and Rockwell Museum, shared with permissionIn Paintings and Quilts, Stephen Towns Spotlights Black Leisure in the Jim Crow SouthJanuary 2, 2025Kate MothesIn central Florida, Ocala National Forest is dotted with more than 600 lakes and rivers. A nearby recreation hub, Silver Springs, has capitalized on the tourism potential of these glistening, clear bodies of water for decades, offering sandy riverside beaches and taking visitors on jaunts in glass-bottom boats.Until 1968 and the passing of the Civil Rights Act, Silver Springssimilar to many other places in Florida and the South more broadlywas racially segregated and only open to white patrons. In 1949, the owners of Silver Springs opened Paradise Park a mile down the road as a destination for colored people, as the welcome sign read, who were prohibited from the other resort.Swimming Lessons (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inchesParadise Park was one of three beaches in Florida open to Black visitors during this time and also offered sandy beaches, rides in glass-bottom boats, a petting zoo, a dance pavilion with a jukebox, performances, games, and a softball field. It remained in operation until 1969, shortly after desegregation, and became a subject of fascination for photographer Bruce Mozert (1916-2015), who documented happenings at both recreation areas.For artist Stephen Towns, Mozerts images and the history of Paradise Park provide the foundation for Private Paradise: A Figurative Exploration of Black Rest and Recreation, now on view at the Rockwell Museum. Through paintings and quilted compositions, the artist explores how certain parks could be places of refuge and leisure for Black Americans during the Jim Crow era. Black people had to set up their own spaces in order to find recreation and to find peace, Towns says in a video accompanying the exhibition. This show is a way of illuminating that. It gives people a sort of way into history thats not as scary as it can be in other forms.Towns paintings portray groups of children swimming, sunbathing, and playing on the sandy shoreline. His fabric compositions are imagined scenes of respite and togetherness, which come across as disarming and candid. Motown in Motion (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, and acrylic and crystal glass beads, 55.5 x 68 inchesMotown in Motion, for example, depicts a group of young people gathered on the beach, and I Will Follow You My Dear trails two women swimming underwateranother nod to Mozerts work as a pioneer in underwater photography.The figures in Towns paintings are more posed, drawn directly from Bruce Mozerts snapshots, depicting smiling kids at play. Towns often uses reflective materials like metal leaf that emanate light back toward the viewer, reiterating a sense of brightness. I want people to feel that warm, reflective energy when they see the show, he says.Explore more on Towns website and Instagram, and if youre in New York, you can see Private Paradise in Corning through January 19.Taking Flight (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inchesI Will Follow You My Dear (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, and acrylic and crystal glass beads, and shells, 55 x 72 inchesWhen We Were Young (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inchesA Taste of Lemonade (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, crystal glass beads, metal and resin buttons, 55.5 x 68 inchesPhotograph of visitors at Paradise Park by Bruce MozertNext article

Foodora Norway, the Oslo-based subsidiary of online quick-commerce (Q-commerce) food delivery brand Foodora Group, has partnered with Nordic communications company Tele2 to pilot test home deliveries using robots and drones supported by 5G internet of things (IoT) technology.The Stockholm metropolitan area was chosen as the test location for the ground robot and drone delivery trials. The Doora robot will be used in the ground tests while the drone trials are being conducted as part of the parallel Foodora Air project. A subsidiary of Berlin-based Delivery Hero, Foodora is currently present in Norway, Sweden and Finland, where the company delivers restaurant food, groceries and other consumer goods using cars and bicycles. Foodora also operates in Austria , Hungary and Czechia.The collaboration with Tele2 forms part of Foodoras two-year plan to roll out GPS-based robot home deliveries across the Nordic countries by in 2025 and 2026. The ambitious joint venture with Tele2 is focused on self-driving robots and drones connected to 5G and IoT technologies.Foodora is hoping to roll out commercial Doora ground robot deliveries in Sweden and Norway by year-end 2025, with drone services introduced in 2026. Scandinavian countries are lagging behind the US and Finland as regards the development of self-driving robot food delivery services, said Prashant Segaard, CEO at Foodora Norway. Our partnership with Tele2 in Sweden will help identify the opportunities, challenges and physical obstacles we face in making Doora work as a viable and popular form of food delivery across Nordic markets, he added.In Finland, S-Group and its S-Market supermarket chain partnered with the Tallinn-based Starship Technologies in 2023 to roll out the Starship Robot. The first autonomous S-Market delivery robots (ADRs) became operational in selected towns during December 2023. Monitored in real-time for disruptions to service, the electric-powered Starship ADRs use artificial intelligence (AI) and GPS to plan routes and complete delivery missions.The Starship Robot platform, over the five-month operating period to 30 May 2024, delivered 150,000 orders to households. Working off S-Markets dedicated home delivery mobile app, the service had linked to an initial 100 S-Market grocery stores by the end of November.The platform currently serves 14 towns and cities across Finland , including Helsinki , Tampere and Espoo . S-Group is estimating full-year 2024 deliveries exceeding 400,000 homes.Additionally, S-Market is recording downloads of over 20,000 per month for the home delivery app, said Tiina Meyer, a senior business developer of retail ecommerce at S-Group.The robot delivery service is a major retailing innovation boosting our grocery business, she said. Because of its convenience, its hugely popular. Customers appreciate the convenience of this new technology, the speed at which their orders are processed and delivered, the aesthetically pleasing robots, and especially enjoy the music the robots play upon delivery.Starship Technologies was incorporated in 2014 by Janus Friis and Ahti Heinla, the two Estonian co-founders of Skype. Headquartered in San Francisco , the company operates engineering subsidiaries in Tallinn and Helsinki .Foodoras pilot trials of the ground delivery Doora in Sweden include specific tests related to how the robot navigates pedestrian crossings and curbs, as well as how the robot recognises its surroundings and communicates.The Doora and Foodora Air projects will help to test and evaluate the full potential of the delivery systems when connected to Tele2s 5G network and IoT technology, said Stefan Trampus, the executive vice-president of Tele2 B2B.Within this project, we will be able to use the robot delivery concept to look at other industries and areas of use, he said. We can track how GPS and IoT function, and look to optimise solutions. The 5G IoT technology is essential for the drones smooth operation. The target is to achieve rapid response times and substantial data transfer capabilities to ensure safe delivery management.The Doora ground robot is designed to transport food and other products up to a maximum weight of 20kg. The delivery robot has a top speed of 6km (3.72 miles) per hour and a battery life of eight hours, with a four-hour charge.The Foodora Air projects core focus is on testing the operability of a fleet of battery-powered drones, utilising 5G technology provided by Tele2, to deliver meals from various restaurants located in the Stockholm suburb of Vrmd. The Nimbi drones, developed by Swedish firm Aerit, are integrated into Foodora Airs technology platform.The all-weather certified Nimbi drones used by Foodora Air are able to operate within a maximum delivery range of 21km and emit 2g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. The Nimbi has a maximum payload carrying capacity of 4kg (10lb), and features a proprietary winching system that enables package pick-up and drop-off without the need for supporting infrastructure.As part of the Foodora Air trial, deliveries are being restricted to customers properties, including front and back gardens where packages can be safely lowered by cable from airborne drones.Read more about drone technologyDrones can automate the traditionally challenging job of inspecting industrial sites, including hard-to-reach infrastructure.Through a series of initiatives, Dubai is positioning itself to reap the benefits of apromising global market for drone technology.Drones could get life-saving equipment to heart attack victimsahead of emergency services staff, increasing survival rates.The results, and shared test data, emanating from the Doora robot and Foodora Air trials in Sweden will help to shape how the company rolls out drone and robot-supported delivery services in Norway , said Segaard. We are closely following the tests in Sweden and hope to learn from that experience, he said. The data we collect from the project and trials will better inform us about the challenges we face in Norway and need to overcome and solve.Foodora has opened a dialogue with public and private players to expand robot delivery services across Norway . The first significant hurdle will be to obtain authorisation from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen), and local municipalities, ahead of launching autonomous robots, and at a later stage, drones, in Norway.Foodora is hoping to roll out a robot delivery service in Norway during the first half of 2025, in collaboration with Danish autonomous air and ground vehicle firm Holo.In August, Holo partnered with Foodora Norway to conduct a demonstration test at Fornebu, a suburb of Oslo , using a six-wheeled delivery robot supplied by California-based Cartken. The Cartken robot is equipped with three 5G modems and connectivity to multiple mobile operators to ensure continuous communication to shield against signal drop-off. The Cartken uses a PIN code system enabling customers to unlock and retrieve food and other deliveries.Holo also collaborated with Posten , Norway s state-controlled postal service, on a pilot trial to test electric-powered delivery robot Ottobot. The robot was supplied by New York-based Ottonomy.IO. The test, which was conducted in the Oslo district of Filipstadkaia in November and December 2022, has so far not resulted in a decision by Postern to procure delivery robot units for commercial use. The Ottobot pilot test was run as a partnership project with AMOI, Norway s largest digital marketplace that connects specialist retailers, including restaurants, with customers ordering home delivery.Posten has been something of a trailblazer in Norway as regards the testing of ground robot delivery systems. In 2018, the company conducted a pilot trial in Oslo on the Buddy Mobility autonomous parcel delivery robot. However, high operating costs and low demand for the service resulted in Posten shuttering the project in 2019.

Garmin GPS sports watches aim to help you improve your health and wellness by collecting data from your daily lifestyle and using the Garmin Connect ecosystem to analyze and present the data in useful ways. Garmin has significantly improved its track record for supporting previous models with the latest software features while also releasing new smartwatches with innovative features. You can even join the public beta program to try out the latest and greatest features before they are released to everyone. What is the best Garmin watch right now? I've tested nearly every popular Garmin watch on the market, evaluating their features, durability, battery life, price, and more, to help you determine which model is best for your fitness, wellness, and other tracking needs. I typically run, row, ride, hike, walk, sleep, and live with the watches for weeks at a time before providing my final evaluation of the watch.My current pick for the best Garmin watch overall is the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED thanks to its long battery life, AMOLED display, support for all Garmin activities, three size options, and LED flashlight. Garmin unveiled this watch last summer, and I published my review in November. Despite my pick for best Garmin watch, I went back to using the Garmin Enduro 3 due to the extended battery life, subtle always-on MIP display, and reality that I rarely use the speaker and microphone options on the Fenix 8. Read on for the rest of my tested picks for the best Garmin watches you can buy right now. Sort by All Health & wellness Build quality/durability Advanced features Applications Core functionality The best Garmin watches of 2025 Show less View now at Garmin For a couple of years, Garmin carried the Epix line with an AMOLED display that stood apart from the Fenix series. In August 2024, that changed with the Fenix 8 now appearing with both AMOLED and solar MIP display options. Given that the Enduro 3 offers a solar MIP display, has longer battery life, and is less expensive, the AMOLED Fenix 8 models are a top choice for mapping and communications.TheGarmin Fenix 8 AMOLEDconnects seamlessly to Android and iOS smartphones, in addition to golf club sensors, bike sensors, and more. Just about every sport is covered, including pickleball, with an updated smartphone experience so you can customize the watch settings on your phone and sync them over to the watch.New communications features for the Fenix series include an integrated speaker and microphone that supports phone calls from the wrist, access to your connected phone's assistant, onboard voice commands, and voice recordings. These features, along with an updated user interface for notifications, bring the Fenix 8 closer to serving as your primary smartwatch.Touchscreen capability is available, while the traditional Garmin five-button interface is also present to give you access to all options for navigating the watch. The buttons now use haptic sensors, with the watch supporting deeper dive activities, so the physical response when you press buttons on the Fenix 8 is different from other Garmin watches. No solar options are available since the AMOLED display consumes too much battery power for solar to make much impact. There is solar available on the MIP display option of the Fenix 8 if you prefer that option for longer battery life.You can buy the watch in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes with a variety of watch case and band color options too.Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (51mm) tech specs: Display: 1.4-inch 454x454 pixels | Battery Life (GPS tracking mode): 84 hours | Dimensions: 51x51x14.7 mm | Weight: 92 grams (with band) | Water/Dust Resistance: 10 ATM | Band Size: 26mm Health & wellness 9 Build quality/durability 10 Advanced features 10 Applications 8 Core functionality 10 Pros Gorgeous, brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display Extensive size and feature options Solid battery life Vast performance metrics Three available sizes Mic and speaker Cons Expensive Always on display mode significantly reduces battery life Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Best Garmin watch overall 4.7 / 5 Score For a couple of years, Garmin carried the Epix line with an AMOLED display that stood apart from the Fenix series. In August 2024, that changed with the Fenix 8 now appearing with both AMOLED and solar MIP display options. Given that the Enduro 3 offers a solar MIP display, has longer battery life, and is less expensive, the AMOLED Fenix 8 models are a top choice for mapping and communications.TheGarmin Fenix 8 AMOLEDconnects seamlessly to Android and iOS smartphones, in addition to golf club sensors, bike sensors, and more. Just about every sport is covered, including pickleball, with an updated smartphone experience so you can customize the watch settings on your phone and sync them over to the watch.New communications features for the Fenix series include an integrated speaker and microphone that supports phone calls from the wrist, access to your connected phone's assistant, onboard voice commands, and voice recordings. These features, along with an updated user interface for notifications, bring the Fenix 8 closer to serving as your primary smartwatch.Touchscreen capability is available, while the traditional Garmin five-button interface is also present to give you access to all options for navigating the watch. The buttons now use haptic sensors, with the watch supporting deeper dive activities, so the physical response when you press buttons on the Fenix 8 is different from other Garmin watches. No solar options are available since the AMOLED display consumes too much battery power for solar to make much impact. There is solar available on the MIP display option of the Fenix 8 if you prefer that option for longer battery life.You can buy the watch in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes with a variety of watch case and band color options too.Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (51mm) tech specs: Display: 1.4-inch 454x454 pixels | Battery Life (GPS tracking mode): 84 hours | Dimensions: 51x51x14.7 mm | Weight: 92 grams (with band) | Water/Dust Resistance: 10 ATM | Band Size: 26mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less In the early days, Garmin watches were popular primarily with runners. Today, there are dozens of Garmin watches to choose from, many priced at $400 or more. But the new Garmin Forerunner 165 gets back to the basics with an affordable, $250 watch focused on providing what most recreational runners need to track their performance.Even at this affordable price, Garmin's Forerunner 165 includes a brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display for that elegant smartwatch visual experience found in Apple and Samsung smartwatches. It's also a perfect watch for those with smaller wrists, especially in a market full of big, bulky watches.While the Garmin Forerunner 165 can be used for a wide variety of sports and activities, it is primarily focused on supporting runners, with features like adaptive training plans, wrist-based running power and dynamics tracking, training effect, course support, and more. You'll also find 25profiles for activities like swimming, pickleball, yoga, and pilates.A feature I particularly enjoyed using was "Morning report," which summarizes my previous day and evening's tracking, along with the training plan for the day of. Sleep monitoring with sleep scores and nap detection were also welcome features.Garmin Forerunner 165 features: Battery life (GPS):19 hours |Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Affordable with advanced running metrics|Size:43 mm Health & wellness 8 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 4 Applications 6 Core functionality 9 Pros Small and light AMOLED display 19 hours of GPS tracking Colorful options available Cons Limited activities are supported In the early days, Garmin watches were popular primarily with runners. Today, there are dozens of Garmin watches to choose from, many priced at $400 or more. But the new Garmin Forerunner 165 gets back to the basics with an affordable, $250 watch focused on providing what most recreational runners need to track their performance.Even at this affordable price, Garmin's Forerunner 165 includes a brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display for that elegant smartwatch visual experience found in Apple and Samsung smartwatches. It's also a perfect watch for those with smaller wrists, especially in a market full of big, bulky watches.While the Garmin Forerunner 165 can be used for a wide variety of sports and activities, it is primarily focused on supporting runners, with features like adaptive training plans, wrist-based running power and dynamics tracking, training effect, course support, and more. You'll also find 25profiles for activities like swimming, pickleball, yoga, and pilates.A feature I particularly enjoyed using was "Morning report," which summarizes my previous day and evening's tracking, along with the training plan for the day of. Sleep monitoring with sleep scores and nap detection were also welcome features.Garmin Forerunner 165 features: Battery life (GPS):19 hours |Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Affordable with advanced running metrics|Size:43 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Instinct 2X Solar is a GPS Garmin watch with features tailored to outdoor pursuits. Its ABC sensors help users better navigate trails, and the trackback routing feature makes it easy for hikers and runners to get back to their starting points. Multi-band and multi-frequency support is provided too. It is built to withstand the elements, and its rugged design isn't just for looks.With solar charging built-in, the Instinct 2X has the potential to run near-limitless on outdoor adventures without needing to constantly top off and charge. Garmin has significantly improved the software on the Instinct 2X, even including support for activities like golf, surfing, and obstacle course racing. The more I used it while testing it out, the more I enjoyed it, particularly the small secondary display in the top right corner that provides clear at-a-glance information.If you spend time outdoors in the fall and winter months, whether it is for hunting, skiing, or enjoying the snow in other forms then the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar may be the watch for you. It even supports the ability to track your dog if you are out bird hunting with your favorite companion.Additionally, this mid-range price modelincludes many health monitoring features, such as sleep and stress tracking and women's health capabilities. It also supports the Garmin Connect store, so you can load it up with the Starbucks app and many more third-party options.Review:Instinct 2X SolarGarmin Instinct 2X Solar features: Battery life (GPS):60 hours, 145 with solar |Display technology:Memory-in-pixel monochrome|Unique feature:LED flashlight, 2nd window |Size:50 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 10 Advanced features 7 Applications 4 Core functionality 9 Pros Unlimited battery potential with solar charging for smartwatch mode 100-meter water resistance Mid-range price LED flashlight Cons No offline music or maps The Instinct 2X Solar is a GPS Garmin watch with features tailored to outdoor pursuits. Its ABC sensors help users better navigate trails, and the trackback routing feature makes it easy for hikers and runners to get back to their starting points. Multi-band and multi-frequency support is provided too. It is built to withstand the elements, and its rugged design isn't just for looks.With solar charging built-in, the Instinct 2X has the potential to run near-limitless on outdoor adventures without needing to constantly top off and charge. Garmin has significantly improved the software on the Instinct 2X, even including support for activities like golf, surfing, and obstacle course racing. The more I used it while testing it out, the more I enjoyed it, particularly the small secondary display in the top right corner that provides clear at-a-glance information.If you spend time outdoors in the fall and winter months, whether it is for hunting, skiing, or enjoying the snow in other forms then the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar may be the watch for you. It even supports the ability to track your dog if you are out bird hunting with your favorite companion.Additionally, this mid-range price modelincludes many health monitoring features, such as sleep and stress tracking and women's health capabilities. It also supports the Garmin Connect store, so you can load it up with the Starbucks app and many more third-party options.Review:Instinct 2X SolarGarmin Instinct 2X Solar features: Battery life (GPS):60 hours, 145 with solar |Display technology:Memory-in-pixel monochrome|Unique feature:LED flashlight, 2nd window |Size:50 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Garmin's watches are typically GPS sports watches focused on helping you improve your health, fitness, and performance. While they offer some features that rival other smartwatches, the Venu 3/3S is clearly the best Garmin to take on the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. I tested the Venu 3S for several days, as did my daughter, and it convinced her to switch from her Fitbit thanks to its longer battery life and sleek look.The Venu 3/3S is extremely well built, has a brilliant AMOLED display, lasts for more than a week, lets you accept and make calls from the wrist, and supports voice assistants via a connected smartphone.In addition to its smartwatch functions, the Venu 3/3S supports all of the amazing Garmin functions and vast ecosystem. This includes subscription music support, Garmin Pay, Connect IQ app support, and the superb Garmin Connect smartphone application.If you are looking for a health and wellness watch that lasts longer than one or two days, the Garmin Venu 3S is tough to beat.Review:Garmin Venu 3SGarmin Venu 3S features: Battery life (GPS):21 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Calls and voice assistant |Size:41 mm Health & wellness 8 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 6 Applications 6 Core functionality 8 Pros Brilliant AMOLED display More than week-long battery Exquisite design, fit, and finish Cons Expensive Garmin Venu 3S Best Garmin smartwatch to compete with Apple and Samsung 3.6 / 5 Score Garmin's watches are typically GPS sports watches focused on helping you improve your health, fitness, and performance. While they offer some features that rival other smartwatches, the Venu 3/3S is clearly the best Garmin to take on the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. I tested the Venu 3S for several days, as did my daughter, and it convinced her to switch from her Fitbit thanks to its longer battery life and sleek look.The Venu 3/3S is extremely well built, has a brilliant AMOLED display, lasts for more than a week, lets you accept and make calls from the wrist, and supports voice assistants via a connected smartphone.In addition to its smartwatch functions, the Venu 3/3S supports all of the amazing Garmin functions and vast ecosystem. This includes subscription music support, Garmin Pay, Connect IQ app support, and the superb Garmin Connect smartphone application.If you are looking for a health and wellness watch that lasts longer than one or two days, the Garmin Venu 3S is tough to beat.Review:Garmin Venu 3SGarmin Venu 3S features: Battery life (GPS):21 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Calls and voice assistant |Size:41 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Garmin's Vvomove line is known for blending the natural mechanics of a traditional analog watch with its latest digital features. This makes models like the Vvomove Trend ideal for users who prefer a subtle and timeless smartwatch design.ZDNET's reviews editor June Wan tested the latest Vvomove Trend and found it to strike a good balance of in-app health and fitness features, battery life, and charging tech. Speaking of which, the Trend is the first Garmin watch to support wireless charging in general. That means you can plop the wearable on any Qi-enabled charging pad and it'll power up nicely. (There's also a wired option included in the box if that's more your cup of tea.)Also:Garmin's Vvomove Trend fixes my biggest issue with its smartwatchesWith a hybrid design, the Vvomove Trend's motorized hands will adaptively rotate around the watch face as you interact with it, from swiping through fitness metrics to changing sound and vibration settings to starting a workout. Auto workout detection is still a thing, as is Garmin Pay and the slew of data the companion app provides for any other model, so you won't miss out on every Garmin feature by going with more style here."In ways, I appreciated the focus on digital well-being here, with the lack of bright, distracting, and colorful screen animations, alongside my daily health metrics," Wan wrote about the watch.Garmin Vivomove Trend features: Battery life (Smartwatch):Five days|Display technology:OLED|Unique feature:Minute hands and wireless charging|Size:40 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 7 Advanced features 3 Applications 3 Core functionality 8 Pros Excellent battery life thanks to the hybrid design Motorized hands that adapt to what's on-screen Supports wireless charging Cons Not as rugged and durable as sportier watches Only comes in a 40mm watch size Garmin Vvomove Trend Best budget Garmin watch 2.8 / 5 Score Garmin's Vvomove line is known for blending the natural mechanics of a traditional analog watch with its latest digital features. This makes models like the Vvomove Trend ideal for users who prefer a subtle and timeless smartwatch design.ZDNET's reviews editor June Wan tested the latest Vvomove Trend and found it to strike a good balance of in-app health and fitness features, battery life, and charging tech. Speaking of which, the Trend is the first Garmin watch to support wireless charging in general. That means you can plop the wearable on any Qi-enabled charging pad and it'll power up nicely. (There's also a wired option included in the box if that's more your cup of tea.)Also:Garmin's Vvomove Trend fixes my biggest issue with its smartwatchesWith a hybrid design, the Vvomove Trend's motorized hands will adaptively rotate around the watch face as you interact with it, from swiping through fitness metrics to changing sound and vibration settings to starting a workout. Auto workout detection is still a thing, as is Garmin Pay and the slew of data the companion app provides for any other model, so you won't miss out on every Garmin feature by going with more style here."In ways, I appreciated the focus on digital well-being here, with the lack of bright, distracting, and colorful screen animations, alongside my daily health metrics," Wan wrote about the watch.Garmin Vivomove Trend features: Battery life (Smartwatch):Five days|Display technology:OLED|Unique feature:Minute hands and wireless charging|Size:40 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Garmin's Vivoactive 5 joins other modern smartwatches with a brilliant high-resolution AMOLED display, replacing the memory-in-pixel displays of all past Vivoactive models. It's comparable in design to the new Venu 3 series with the Venu, focused on challenging smartphones with phone call and voice assistant support. The Vivoactive 5 is much more affordable than the Venu 3/3S with its focus on casual athletes.The Vivoactive 5 is a lovely watch available now for $300 in four color options and one size for all users. Garmin also included significant software upgrades with support for Body Battery personalized insights, Sleep Coach, workout benefits, recovery time, and more.More than 30 sports modes, support for wheelchair activities, nap tracking, and more make the Vivoactive 5 a fantastic GPS sports watch option for the masses.Garmin Vivoactive 5 features: Battery life (GPS):21 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Animated workouts |Size:42 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 7 Advanced features 5 Applications 5 Core functionality 8 Pros Budget-friendly Brilliant AMOLED display Responsive touchscreen display Cons No larger size Garmin Vvoactive 5 Best Garmin watch for casual athletes 3.2 / 5 Score Garmin's Vivoactive 5 joins other modern smartwatches with a brilliant high-resolution AMOLED display, replacing the memory-in-pixel displays of all past Vivoactive models. It's comparable in design to the new Venu 3 series with the Venu, focused on challenging smartphones with phone call and voice assistant support. The Vivoactive 5 is much more affordable than the Venu 3/3S with its focus on casual athletes.The Vivoactive 5 is a lovely watch available now for $300 in four color options and one size for all users. Garmin also included significant software upgrades with support for Body Battery personalized insights, Sleep Coach, workout benefits, recovery time, and more.More than 30 sports modes, support for wheelchair activities, nap tracking, and more make the Vivoactive 5 a fantastic GPS sports watch option for the masses.Garmin Vivoactive 5 features: Battery life (GPS):21 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Animated workouts |Size:42 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Instinct Crossover provides long battery life and rugged features with a classy, iconic design. If you like wearing a watch primarily to always provide you with glanceable time and want a watch that tracks all of your health and activity data, then the Instinct Crossover may be just what you are looking for. It also helps that Garmin incorporated a new GPS chipset with much more accurate performance than the Instinct 2 series.The nice thing about a watch like the Garmin Instinct Crossover is that it functions primarily as a watch and then captures your health and activity data passively as you work out and live. Open up the Garmin Connect smartphone application and then you will find all of your data in full color with extensive capability to create reports and analyze your data. This includes blood pressure data from the new.It takes a few days to fully appreciate theGarmin Instinct Crossoverand for me it took viewing the watch in low light conditions where the hands and hour marks were always crystal clear, watching the hands dynamically switch whenever the content needed to be viewed, and the complete lack of thought about battery life. I continue to fall back on watches that last for weeks and will never fully embrace a watch that only lasts for one to three days again.Garmin Instinct Crossover features: Battery life (GPS):25 hours|Display technology:Memory-in-pixel monochrome|Unique feature:Minute hands and center display|Size:45 mm Health & wellness 7 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 4 Applications 3 Core functionality 8 Pros Long battery life Always present luminescent hands Innovative hand/display synchronization Cons Expensive Garmin Instinct Crossover Best hybrid Garmin watch 3 / 5 Score The Instinct Crossover provides long battery life and rugged features with a classy, iconic design. If you like wearing a watch primarily to always provide you with glanceable time and want a watch that tracks all of your health and activity data, then the Instinct Crossover may be just what you are looking for. It also helps that Garmin incorporated a new GPS chipset with much more accurate performance than the Instinct 2 series.The nice thing about a watch like the Garmin Instinct Crossover is that it functions primarily as a watch and then captures your health and activity data passively as you work out and live. Open up the Garmin Connect smartphone application and then you will find all of your data in full color with extensive capability to create reports and analyze your data. This includes blood pressure data from the new.It takes a few days to fully appreciate theGarmin Instinct Crossoverand for me it took viewing the watch in low light conditions where the hands and hour marks were always crystal clear, watching the hands dynamically switch whenever the content needed to be viewed, and the complete lack of thought about battery life. I continue to fall back on watches that last for weeks and will never fully embrace a watch that only lasts for one to three days again.Garmin Instinct Crossover features: Battery life (GPS):25 hours|Display technology:Memory-in-pixel monochrome|Unique feature:Minute hands and center display|Size:45 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Garmin Approach S70 improves on the previous S62 with an AMOLED display, 42 and 47mm size options (people with smaller wrists can now enjoy this complete golf experience), improved PlaysLike features (temperature and barometric pressure accounted for), green contours with Garmin Golf subscription, and improvements in other health and fitness aspects of the Garmin ecosystem outside of golf.Some of the golf features found on the Approach S70 that are not available on other Garmin watches include custom targets, PinPointer, PlaysLike distance, Swing Tempo, green contours, and shot dispersion. Shot dispersion may be one of my favorite new features as it displays a box on the watch to show where your selected club shot may end up, based on your golfing history.I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course with theGarmin Approach S70and have yet to find another golf watch that offers as much as it does. If you're passionate about golf, and you want a watch that can help you with other fitness activities just as much, then this is the watch to consider.Garmin Approach S70 features: Battery life (GPS):20 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:18-hole status indicator|Size:47 mm Health & wellness 6 Build quality/durability 8 Advanced features 7 Applications 7 Core functionality 9 Pros Complete golf experience Brilliant AMOLED display Support for extensive number of activities Cons Pricey Limited battery life Garmin Approach S70 Best Garmin watch for golf 3.7 / 5 Score The Garmin Approach S70 improves on the previous S62 with an AMOLED display, 42 and 47mm size options (people with smaller wrists can now enjoy this complete golf experience), improved PlaysLike features (temperature and barometric pressure accounted for), green contours with Garmin Golf subscription, and improvements in other health and fitness aspects of the Garmin ecosystem outside of golf.Some of the golf features found on the Approach S70 that are not available on other Garmin watches include custom targets, PinPointer, PlaysLike distance, Swing Tempo, green contours, and shot dispersion. Shot dispersion may be one of my favorite new features as it displays a box on the watch to show where your selected club shot may end up, based on your golfing history.I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course with theGarmin Approach S70and have yet to find another golf watch that offers as much as it does. If you're passionate about golf, and you want a watch that can help you with other fitness activities just as much, then this is the watch to consider.Garmin Approach S70 features: Battery life (GPS):20 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:18-hole status indicator|Size:47 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Garmin The latest in its triathlete-tailored Forerunner series, the Garmin Forerunner 965 builds on the extensive training features from its predecessor. Aside from the impressive performance metrics like outlining your running routes, showing training effects, and measuring VO2 Max, the 965 has a brilliant AMOLED display that is sure to turn heads.Improved GNSS tracking with multi-band and multi-frequency support, managed via SatIQ, ensures your exact location is always accurately tracked. Bold color mapping is available for turn-by-turn navigation, trail running, and more.While the Forerunner 965 is focused on the runner, there is also extensive support for golf so you don't need a separate watch to recover from your running on a local course. However, Garmin's unique product lineup strategy leaves CT-10 golf club sensors off the list for compatibility with this watch.Garmin Forerunner 965 features: Battery life (GPS):31 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Advanced training metrics|Size:47 mm Health & wellness 9 Build quality/durability 9 Advanced features 7 Applications 9 Core functionality 10 Pros Triathlon-geared features Vivid AMOLED display Multiple GPS protocols, including onboard mapping Recovery time meter Cons No LED flashlight No support for Garmin CT10 golf club sensors Garmin Forerunner 965 Best Garmin watch for triathletes 4.4 / 5 Score The latest in its triathlete-tailored Forerunner series, the Garmin Forerunner 965 builds on the extensive training features from its predecessor. Aside from the impressive performance metrics like outlining your running routes, showing training effects, and measuring VO2 Max, the 965 has a brilliant AMOLED display that is sure to turn heads.Improved GNSS tracking with multi-band and multi-frequency support, managed via SatIQ, ensures your exact location is always accurately tracked. Bold color mapping is available for turn-by-turn navigation, trail running, and more.While the Forerunner 965 is focused on the runner, there is also extensive support for golf so you don't need a separate watch to recover from your running on a local course. However, Garmin's unique product lineup strategy leaves CT-10 golf club sensors off the list for compatibility with this watch.Garmin Forerunner 965 features: Battery life (GPS):31 hours|Display technology:AMOLED|Unique feature:Advanced training metrics|Size:47 mm Read More Show Expert Take Show less Apple Watch vs Garmin: Why choose Garmin? The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall, and Apple continues to challenge Garmin's fitness expertise with the inclusion of training load. However, the Watch Ultra 2 still has limited battery life, so if you want a watch that lasts for days or weeks rather than hours, then Garmin watch models may be a better fit for your lifestyle.Garmin has an extensive native fitness and training ecosystem, while Apple relies on third-party developers to provide these advanced training solutions. Garmin watches also work flawlessly with the Apple iPhone, so both are great solutions for iPhone users. I personally wear a Garmin on one wrist and an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the other. Show more What is the best Garmin watch? Based on my hands-on testing, I chose the Fenix 8 AMOLED as the best Garmin watch overall because it includes nearly every feature from Garmin, and supports tracking of all activities in the Garmin ecosystem. Few, if any, other Garmin watches are designed to handle as many sports, circumstances, and environments as this one. While its steep price may be a deterrent, this watch delivers more in function than most Garmin alternatives. To compare all of our top choices to see what best fits your budget and battery life needs, here is a chart for a quick comparison. Garmin Watch modelPriceSolar chargingBattery life (GPS)Fenix 8 AMOLED$1,200 No 84 hours Forerunner 165$250No 19 hours Instinct 2X Solar $350Yes 60 hours, 145 hours with solar Venu 3S $450 No 21 hours Vivoactive 5 $300 No 18 hours Vivomove Trend $270 No Five days (smartwatch mode) Instinct Crossover $340Yes 25 hours Approach S70 $650 No 20 hours Forerunner 965 $565No 31 hours *Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts. Show more Which is the right Garmin watch model for you? Choose this Garmin watch modelIf you want...Fenix 8 AMOLEDZDNET's choice for best Garmin watch overall. It has the most features and functions, and a brilliant AMOLED display and a built-in LED flashlight.Forerunner 165There are not many options available for those with smaller wrists who want a lightweight watch, but Garmin hit it out of the park with this Forerunner 165 that provides the full package in a small form factor. The lovely AMOLED display, colorful watch body and band options, metrics focused on casual runners, and a $250 price make this an easy one to recommend.Instinct 2X SolarThe Instinct 2X Solar is built for the outdoor adventurer who puts their watch to the test with inclement weather, rough conditions, and yet wants a watch that lasts forever. The solar charging support and integrated LED flashlight make it the watch for campers, hunters, fishers, and more.Venu 3SIf you want a smartwatch, but are not interested in an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch then the Venu 3S is the one for you. You can make and receive calls, use your voice assistant, have 3rd party apps, and more with a watch that lasts more than a week between charges.Vvoactive 5A fully functional GPS smartwatch with an emphasis on exercise and health features. It's also one of the most affordable Garmin watches available yet still has that lovely AMOLED display.Vvomove TrendA hybrid smartwatch with the flexibility of wireless charging. The Trend nicely blends both digital and analog features, making it a great option to wear from work to workout.Instinct CrossoverThis hybrid watch is perfect for those who like to see physical analog hands on a watch yet still be able to enjoy the vast Garmin ecosystem for health and wellness. The battery lasts a long time and the Instinct Crossover is a great watch for G-Shock lovers.Approach S70If your preferred activity is golf, then no other Garmin watch beats the experience provided by the Approach S70. If you use the watch as designed, you don't have many excuses left to not improve your game. Vast amounts of data is collected by the watch, especially when connected to the CT10 club sensors.Forerunner 965A triathlon-geared smartwatch. The Forerunner 965 is packed with extensive fitness tracking for running, biking, swimming, and more. It also now sports a modern AMOLED display and despite having other Garmin watches on hand the Forerunner 965 keeps finding its way back on my wrist. Show more Factors to consider when choosing a Garmin watch Before you choose a Garmin watch, you should consider the following:Primary activity: As you start your search for a Garmin watch, it is important to start with identifying the main activities that you want to track with your watch. Garmin watch series are primarily organized by the type of your intended activity with watch designs optimized for those activities.Size: Do you want a large watch or a small watch? Garmin offers several different varieties, ranging from slim and sleek to larger and more utilitarian.Screen type: Do you want a brilliant AMOLED display that rivals a smartwatch or would you like longer battery life with a memory-in-pixel always-on display that looks great in direct sun?Price: One fantastic aspect about Garmin's lineup of watches is that they vary in price in $50 increments from about $150 all of the way up and over $1,000. Buyers can also save money by picking up models from previous years, and with Garmin providing improved software support for these models, you should consider saving some money for functional older watches. Show more How we test Garmin watches These Garmin watches were tested and evaluated by display functions, interface, long battery life, durability, supported activities, and price. Not all attributes were given equal weight, however. Supported activities, functions, and battery life were given more priority than interface, display, and price. High durability in design was a common theme throughout the considered Garmin watches and did not always vary significantly between many of the products.When we test Garmin watches, we consider the following:Display functions and interface:Each Garmin interface on this list has slight variations. Depending on whether you're using the watch to train for a triathlon or run outdoors, you may want different functions, such as trail trackback capability.Long battery life: Your watch is only as powerful as it's alive and working. We considered solar and wireless charging options that provide ultimate battery life as you train and track, along with other options with a battery life that is well over 20 hours on a single charge.Durability: You'll need a watch that withstands your environment, especially if you're training outdoors and in the water.Supported activities: We considered the array of activities -- outdoor and indoor -- you'll be wanting to track with your Garmin.Price: Smartwatches can cost a pretty penny -- especially quality models -- so we were sure to include mid-range models as well as the units with a more luxury price tag. Once our top pick from each series was determined, they were then compared to each other and reviewed within this guide using the same criteria as above. Each of the five was selected as superlative in some role or for some audiences. For instance, the Fenix 8 AMOLED is the "best overall," and the Forerunner 965 is the "best for triathletes." These rankings are the opinion of the reviewer in the context of the review, based upon the above-stated criteria.For more details on our testing process, check out our full smartwatch testing methodology. Show more Garmin Watch FAQs Which Garmin watch is most accurate? Typically, the newest models are the most accurate when it comes to body measurements because heart rate sensor technology improves with time, and Garmin integrates its latest sensors in new models. GPS has now reached near perfection with multi-band and multi-frequency receivers in the watches, so positioning accuracy is about as good as it will ever get.Accuracy is also dependent on the fit of the watch on your wrist. For my larger wrists, the Garmin Fenix 8 51mm and Instinct 2X Solar are perfect and provide the best accuracy. For those with smaller wrists, the Forerunner 165 or Venu 3S are likely the best watches for heart rate accuracy. Show more Are all Garmin watches waterproof? Yes. Most Garmin GPS watches are water resistant from up to 50 or 100 meters. Less expensive and older models tend to be water-resistant up to 50 meters, although this can vary by model and series. The more expensive and newer models like the Fenix 8 are water-resistant to 100 meters. All of them can be used in the rain, while sweating as you work out, and even while swimming. Show more How do I take care of my new smartwatch? The following tips can help you properly care for your new Garmin watch:Reset: If your watch fails to function properly, sometimes a simple reset is all that is needed to get things back up and running again. Go to System > Reset on your watch to view the available options. These include reset default settings, delete all activities, reset totals, and delete data and reset settings. The last option is useful if you are selling your watch or want to start over from scratch.Sync: Garmin smartwatches connect to your smartphone via the Garmin Connect app. The Garmin Connect IQ app is also used to sync apps and data fields that you select to completely customize and optimize your watch. Bluetooth can be finicky at times, so you may need to turn Bluetooth off and then on again on your smartphone if a sync issue pops up.Updates: Garmin has done a fantastic job the past couple of years with regular quarterly updates for its watches, so it's a good idea to check for updates through the Garmin Connect app on your phone, the Garmin desktop utility, or on the watch itself. Updates usually add new features and improve in other areas that may have bugs. You can even sign up for the public beta to test the latest and greatest features on your Garmin watch. Show more What happens if my Garmin watch breaks? If the watch breaks within the first year and your limited consumer warranty covers it, then you may be able to have Garmin fix it for free or for a small fee. However, if it breaks outside of that warranty, you'll likely need to have it repaired.You can request a repair through the Garmin website and mail the company your GPS watch for repair. There are also third-party repair businesses that may work on Garmin GPS watches. Show more Does my Garmin watch have a warranty? Through most mainstream distributors, Garmin watches willinclude a limited warranty. However, this is a blanket warranty for Garmin watches, and specific models can have different warranties. The base warranty is a one-year manufacturer's warranty, and Garmin does not offer extended warranties in most situations. Show more What is the Garmin Connect app? The Garmin Connect app is your digital hub for compiling all your fitness stats in one place. After downloading it on your phone, you can use a compatible device (like a Garmin sports watch) to see daily step totals, max heart rate during workouts, and much more. Further, the "Last 7 Days" gives you a weekly average of your physical activities, sleep, and average heart rate.At CES 2024, Garmin announced a redesign of the Garmin Connect experience, which is now available for all Garmin users. The new version offers a fresh look at your data and provides information in tiles via the At a Glance screen.If you want a larger view of your data with access to many reports, you can also log in to the Garmin Connect website and take a deep dive into all of the data captured by your Garmin watch. Show more Are Garmin watches the best for marathon and triathlon training? Thanks to Garmin watches' extensive tracking features and athlete-oriented metrics, Garmin watches are a highly popular choice among marathon runners and triathletes, especially its Forerunner series."I really like the data the Garmin connect provides from all my past activities, I can see the progress I've made over time and look back to previous training schedules, similar runs, Routes, etc," says two-time Iron Man competitor and avid marathon runner, Jeramie Pinter.Pinter, who completes one to two marathons a year, has been using his Garmin to train since 2011. He specifically utilizes Garmin's training mode for certain workouts like track and tempo runs, measuring his pace zones for the given workout. Show more Other Garmin watches we've testedWhile we tried to include a wide array of Garmin watches in our review, there are many more to consider than what we can represent here. Consider one of these three alternatives for those who didn't find the Garmin watch they want above. ZDNETs Smartwatch Guide Smartwatch Roundups Smartwatches Reviewed & Compared Apple Watches Explained ZDNET Recommends

ZDNET's key takeaways The Sharge Icemag 2 power bank is available on Amazon now for $50. With a perfect size, a powerful battery, RBG lighting, and a tiny fan to keep things cool, this power bank is ideal for those on the go. The Icemag 2 isn't exactly the fastest charging power bank on the market but it's still a bargain. $49.99 at Amazon Power banks are a dime a dozen, and you can find all sorts of features that range from the gimmicky to the "why didn't they think of this before?" I've reviewed plenty of power banks and generally find them to do exactly what they are needed for charging my phones when a power outlet isn't available.Also: The best USB-C chargers of 2025: Expert recommendedBut not every power bank is created equal. I've experienced some that can get overly warm during the charging process (either charging a phone or when topping off the charger). The Sharge Icemag 2 is one of the few power banks I've used that has yet to get even slightly warm. Anyone who travels a lot, stuffing their phones in bags, and relies on such a charger will immediately get the inherent benefit of having a charger that doesn't get hot.Slap your phone on the charger, put it in your bag, and go. There's no need to worry that this baby will get hot enough to cause issues. How does it work? Let's take a look at the specs first. details View at Amazon The specsProtection from undervoltage, short-circuits, over-voltage, over-loads, high temps, and over-current.<25 dB ultra-silent usage.8000 RPM fan for cooling.Active thermal design.20W wired fast charging (iPhone 15 from 0% to 58% in 30 minutes).10,000mAh battery which can charge an iPhone almost two times, an iPad Pro one time, and AirPods Pro 15 times.Compatible with iPhone and Android.Supports MagSafe devices.Price - Amazon for $50.My experiencePower banks and phone chargers aren't exactly the sexist bit of technology to review, but when you need one, you'll always be glad it's there to help out. I've been in plenty of situations where a power bank was the difference between me being able to have a phone at my disposal or not. Whether it's a power outage or a trek into remote corners of the world, sometimes having the ability to charge your phone could be crucial.Also:The best power banks for recharging your devicesWhen I purchased my Pixel 9 Pro, I ordered a case from Google as well. That case included a Magsafe magnet, which the Sharge Icemag 2 can use. Slap the phone onto the charger, and the magnets will be powerful enough to hold it securely. The Icemag 2 also includes a small kickstand, so you can prop your phone up and use it while it's charging. The vent kicks out warm air to keep the charger cool. Jack Wallen/ZDNETI've used the Icemag a few times to charge my Pixel 9 Pro and found it to be the ideal combination of size, ease of use, and power.As I mentioned earlier, the Icemag 2 includes a tiny fan to keep the charger from getting hot and it does a good job with that task. Hold your finger next to the vent, and you will actually feel warm air escape. The one thing it does not do, however, is keep your phone from heating up. If your phone has a tendency to get hot when charging, the Icebank isn't going to help with that. And while I did find the Pixel 9 Pro did get a bit warm, it wasn't anything to be concerned about.I did make use of the kickstand and found it sturdy enough for me to use my phone while it was charging. There's also a light indicator (on the back side) to keep you informed about how much charge the Icebank 2 has remaining.Also:Traveling with multiple cables gives me a headache. This tiny gadget solved that problemThe only knock I can give this handy charger is that it's not exactly the fastest charging device I've used, but because the charge is small enough, you can easily use your phone while it's charging (which I did several times). If you want faster charging, simply plug your phone (via USB-C cable) into the charger, and you'll find it to be considerably faster. The Icemag 2 ships with a short USB-C cable, so when you decide to use the wired capability, the cable won't get in your way. My guess is that the Icebank 2 will wirelessly charge an iPhone faster than an Android phone.One feature that I really appreciate with the Icemag 2 is that it automatically shuts off when you remove your phone. I have other powerbanks that remain on until you manually shut them off. This is great for on-the-fly charging when you don't want to have to remember to switch off the power bank when charging is done.ZDNET's buying adviceThe Icemag 2 is a wireless power bank for portable devices. But unlike many portable chargers, this one is small enough to carry with you and has just the right amount of features to make it worth the $50 price tag.This charger would be useful for anyone who needs a power bank with wireless features and a fan to keep it cool. It's simple to use, reliable, and does exactly what it claims charges your phone. If your phone's case supports MagSafe devices, this charge is even better, as you can slap the two together and know that the charging will happen even while you use your phone.Featured reviews