The best fitness tech rarely comes cheap, so should you buy a Garmin smartwatch this Black Friday and take advantage of the limited-time discounts on offer?
In this year's event, some of the brand's top trackers have had their prices slashed by up to 65%, making for some serious savings. The best Garmin deals include the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music (down by $46%, at just $187.70), the top-of-the-range Garmin Fenix 7 (now $100 cheaper) and the Garmin Forerunner 735XT (now 64% off its usual price).
Our team of testers can compliment these smartwatches with confidence, having reviewed many of them in their quest to find the best fitness tracker. And, you'll be pleased to know, each one we've got our hands on has left our team thoroughly impressed.
Pro-level models like the Fenix 7 and Epix 2 have a higher price tag, but you do get more for your money including downloadable maps, the ability to program routes to follow sans-smartphone, and in-depth exercise tracking across a multitude of sports. We found their powerful performance more akin to a fitness computer than a fitness tracker at times.
Or, if you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Venu and Forerunner 735XT provide the Garmin experience (complete with in-built GPS, durable design and more) for a lower fee. Both these smartwatches are currently available for much less thanks to Black Friday discounts.
Year on year, smartwatches are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As high-tech specs rise, so can prices.
Black Friday runs from 25 November until 28 November, when the event becomes known as Cyber Monday. While Garmin has already delivered some fantastic deals, there's a chance we could see further reductions in the next few days. We're here to explain when you should buy a Garmin Smartwatch on Black Friday, when you should consider holding off, and some incredible deals on a top range of Garmin Smartwatches.
Are Garmin Smartwatches good?
Garmin Smartwatches still reign supreme as one of the leading smartwatches for sports and fitness tracking. They're known for their hard-wearing and durable exterior, but the watches still suit everyday use and tough terrain training – including hiking, skiing, swimming, and more – which is why we love them.
Alongside the basic metrics you'd expect to see on a smartwatch (like calories, distance, and steps) these watches offer in-depth GPS navigation, extensive battery life, heart rate monitoring, smart payments, and music storage. Some models, like the Garmin Instinct 2, even power through solar charging. You can also use Garmin Connect to download third-party apps.
Why buy a Garmin Smartwatch on Black Friday?
Black Friday is an annual savings event that sees many retailers slash the prices of hundreds of products, making it a great time to pick up a bargain. It runs from November 25-28, when the event becomes known as Cyber Monday.
This Black Friday, you can pick up some significant savings on a range of items including many of the best Garmin smartwatches, so timing is everything if you want to save big. But because this is one of the biggest sales events of the year, you’ll want to act quickly. Stock isn’t guaranteed to last, so if there’s a particular model you’ve got your eye on, it’s better to snap it up while it’s available.
Not to mention, winter can be a tricky time for fitness with darker mornings and evenings. Investing in a smartwatch can help you to stay motivated; be it tracking your step count or sleep habits.
A leading reason to buy during Black Friday is the cost of living crisis. As we tighten the purse strings in anticipation of rising fuel and energy bills, it's becoming harder than ever to justify splashing out on anything deemed a luxury. Black Friday is therefore the perfect opportunity to save big on a Garmin Smartwatch.
Why should you wait to buy a Garmin Smartwatch?
In some cases, it might be better to wait and shop around for your Garmin Smartwatch instead. The Black Friday sale runs over the entire weekend, so some retailers may drop their prices further as we edge closer to Cyber Monday. And just because it's Black Friday, doesn't mean this is the cheapest we're going to see Garmin smartwatches in 2022. It may be that you can pick up a model for less in the Christmas sales.
But there's no guarantee you'll necessarily find the right color, size, or model. Waiting could be a risk if your desired Garmin wearable doesn't show up on the day, or sells out before you’ve had a chance to hit “add to basket”.
It's also worth noting that Garmin might not ship to your location, so make sure your model is available to your address if you plan to wait for Cyber Monday. Setting up notifications can get you updates on when stock returns and prices drop, so you might find a better time to invest if you hold on for other sale events.
Best Garmin Smartwatch deals
For more discounts, check out our live blog, Black Friday deals: Fitness, home health and home tech for all the latest offers as they come up.
