10 Best Swim Watches 2026 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a strong choice for swimmers looking for a versatile smartwatch that combines health monitoring and fitness tracking with swim-friendly features. It offers a solid water resistance rating of 50 meters, which means it can handle swimming in pools or open water with confidence. The watch includes a built-in GPS system, so it can track your swim routes and distances without needing your phone nearby. Its heart rate monitoring is advanced and continuous, providing useful data during workouts and also alerting you to irregular heart rhythms or hypertension signs.

Comfort-wise, the Series 11 is thin and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear during long swim sessions and even while sleeping to track recovery and sleep quality. The always-on Retina display is bright and easy to read underwater or in bright sunlight, which is a plus in swim environments. Battery life supports up to 24 hours of normal use, with fast charging available to quickly top up, though heavy GPS use during swimming might reduce that time.

For those seeking a smartwatch that performs well for swimming while also delivering comprehensive health insights and smart features, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a suitable option. However, if deep swim analytics or longer battery life specifically for extended swim sessions are priorities, more specialized swim watches may be better choices.

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.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a versatile smartwatch that can handle swimming thanks to its water resistance and built-in GPS. It offers solid heart rate monitoring and a range of health features including sleep tracking, temperature sensing, and alerts for irregular heart rhythms, which can be helpful for swimmers who want detailed health insights. The always-on Retina display is bright and easy to read underwater or in sunlight, making it convenient during swim sessions. Battery life stands at about 18 hours with normal use, which should cover regular workouts, though longer multi-day tracking might require charging.

Comfort-wise, the 40mm size and lightweight aluminum case with a sport band make it suitable for most wrist sizes, ensuring it stays secure during swimming without feeling bulky. While it has good fitness tracking capabilities, it doesn’t include specialized swim metrics like stroke detection or advanced swim drills that some dedicated swim watches provide. It also relies on connection with an iPhone for some features, so if you want full standalone use, this could be a limitation.

This Apple Watch model serves as a great all-around fitness and swim companion for casual swimmers or those who want a mix of smart features and health tracking, but it may not satisfy very serious or competitive swimmers looking for detailed swim analytics.