10 Best Swim Watches 2026 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 GPS 42mm is a strong contender as a swim-watch thanks to its 50-meter water resistance, making it safe for pool and open-water swimming. It features advanced swim tracking capabilities through its fitness and health apps. The built-in GPS offers accurate outdoor swim route tracking, while heart rate monitoring is supported by both optical and electrical sensors, providing reliable data during workouts.

Battery life supports about 24 hours of typical use, which is sufficient for daily wear including swim sessions, and fast charging means you won’t be tethered to a charger for long. Comfort-wise, the lightweight aluminum case and sport band make it pleasant to wear during extended sessions, including sleep tracking. The always-on Retina display is bright and clear even underwater, enhancing usability during swims.

Beyond swimming, the watch excels with a broad range of health insights such as ECG, blood oxygen, hypertension alerts, and sleep quality scoring, adding value as an all-around health companion. While it may not offer some niche swim analytics and longer battery life preferred by endurance swimmers, it is an excellent choice for casual to moderate swimmers who want a versatile smartwatch with extensive health and fitness features.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a premium, rugged smartwatch built to withstand tough conditions, including swimming and diving up to 100 meters deep, making it a strong choice for swimmers and water sport enthusiasts. Its large, bright Retina display is easy to read in and out of the water, and the sapphire crystal adds durability. Swim tracking is well-covered with multisport support and precise dual-frequency GPS, ensuring accurate distance and location tracking. Heart rate monitoring is advanced, with notifications for irregular rhythms and useful health insights like blood oxygen and sleep tracking.

Battery life is solid, offering up to 42 hours with normal use and 20 hours of continuous GPS and heart rate monitoring, which is plenty for most swim workouts and extended adventures. The watch also shines with safety features like fall and crash detection and emergency satellite communication, adding peace of mind during outdoor activities. Comfort-wise, the titanium case and variety of band styles provide a good fit for daily wear and intense training sessions, though the 49mm size might feel large or bulky for smaller wrists. The cellular capability allows calls and music streaming without a phone nearby, which adds convenience but also increases cost.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is relatively expensive compared to simpler swim watches and requires an iPhone for full functionality. Some users might find the array of features overwhelming if they only want basic swim tracking. Also, the battery life, while good, won’t last days of continuous heavy use without recharging. This smartwatch suits serious swimmers, triathletes, and adventurers looking for a durable, feature-packed device that goes beyond swimming to include comprehensive health monitoring and safety tools. Casual swimmers or those on a tighter budget might find simpler models more suitable.