Best Garmin Smart Watch for contactless payments

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Best for contactless payments

Garmin Enduro 3

5.0 feature score

Highest scored product for this feature based on supporting review evidence.

Safest pick

Garmin Tactix 8

4.4 feature score

Balances feature score, supporting reviews, and overall product strength.

Most evidence

Garmin Venu Sq 2

6 supporting reviews

Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.

Best overall product

Garmin Forerunner 165

4.2 overall score

Strongest overall product among items with scored evidence for this feature.

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#1 Garmin Enduro 3
5.0
2 reviews

Contactless payments were strongly praised by reviewers who used Garmin Pay frequently and treated it as part of daily use.

Pros: contactless payments, reliability

Cons: onboard music storage, watch face quality

#2 Garmin Tactix 8
4.4
2 reviews

Contactless payment support was viewed as easy and premium, though the evidence was brief.

Pros: wellness insights, build quality

Cons: LTE connectivity, band quality

#3 Garmin Forerunner 970
4.3
2 reviews

Contactless payments were valued, especially by reviewers who rely on Garmin Pay, though bank support was described as solid in the US and mixed elsewhere.

Pros: stress tracking, customization options

Cons: menu navigation, companion app quality

#4 Garmin Lily 2 Active
4.0
2 reviews

Garmin Pay is considered useful and easy to set up, though one reviewer notes its value drops if a phone is still needed for music.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking

Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage

#5 Garmin Fenix 8
4.0
1 review

Contactless payments were counted as part of Garmin’s complete smartwatch-tool package in the supporting review.

Pros: workout tracking variety, onboard music storage

Cons: LTE connectivity, value for money

#6 Garmin Forerunner 165
4.0
1 review

Garmin Pay was viewed as a straightforward, effective contactless payment feature.

Pros: smartphone notifications, watch face quality

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#7 Garmin Instinct 3
4.0
1 review

Contactless payments are treated as a useful everyday feature that survived Garmin’s feature cuts.

Pros: customization options, charging speed

Cons: onboard music storage, voice assistant quality

#8 Garmin MARQ Gen 2
4.0
5 reviews

Contactless payments were appreciated for phone-free outings and setup ease, though bank support and PIN friction limited convenience.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: size options, call handling

#9 Garmin Vivoactive 6
3.9
3 reviews

Contactless payments are useful, but reviewer sentiment is tempered by Garmin Pay bank compatibility and smoothness limitations.

Pros: software smoothness, comfort

Cons: LTE connectivity, voice assistant quality

#10 Garmin Venu Sq 2
3.7
6 reviews

Contactless payments worked well for some reviewers and were convenient, but support varied by bank and territory.

Pros: charging speed, coaching features

Cons: ECG functionality, call handling

#11 Garmin Venu 3
3.6
5 reviews

Contactless payments are convenient when set up, but evidence is mixed because setup can feel unnecessary and bank support is patchier than Apple or Google Pay.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, software smoothness

Cons: LTE connectivity, mapping and navigation

#12 Garmin Forerunner 255
3.6
3 reviews

Garmin Pay was useful when supported, but bank compatibility made the contactless payment experience inconsistent.

Pros: durability, cross-platform compatibility

Cons: stress tracking, app ecosystem

#13 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.6
4 reviews

Contactless payments are polarizing: Garmin Pay can be quick and widely useful, but bank support and intuitiveness vary by region.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#14 Garmin vivomove Trend
3.5
2 reviews

Contactless payments were useful but mixed, with easy setup in one review and bank/support slickness criticized against Apple Pay in another.

Pros: activity auto-detection, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, Bluetooth connectivity

#15 Garmin Approach S62
3.3
3 reviews

Contactless payments were useful in principle, but bank compatibility limitations made Garmin Pay less compelling for one UK-focused reviewer.

Pros: software smoothness, style and design

Cons: voice assistant quality, onboard music storage

#16 Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.3
2 reviews

Garmin Pay worked for reviewers, but it was described as less slick or less compelling than rival watch payment systems.

Pros: step counting accuracy, fit

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, charging convenience

#17 Garmin Venu X1
3.2
3 reviews

Garmin Pay worked as a useful convenience in one review, but other reviewers criticized it as less slick or limited by bank support.

Pros: pairing reliability, watch face quality

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#18 Garmin Lily 2
3.1
6 reviews

Garmin Pay is considered useful, but its value depends heavily on bank support and is limited in some regions.

Pros: pairing reliability, wellness insights

Cons: ECG functionality, body temperature tracking

#19 Garmin Forerunner 955
3.1
4 reviews

Contactless payments were helpful where supported, but bank availability and regional support were recurring limitations.

Pros: outdoor visibility, charging speed

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#20 Garmin Vivoactive 5
3.0
3 reviews

Garmin Pay worked, but reviewers repeatedly noted it was less slick or had narrower bank support than rival payment systems.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, wellness insights

Cons: software smoothness, ECG functionality

#21 Garmin Forerunner 265
2.8
2 reviews

Garmin Pay was useful when supported, but bank compatibility could make contactless payments worthless for some users.

Pros: step counting accuracy, third-party app support

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#22 Garmin Venu 4
2.8
2 reviews

Garmin Pay was useful in theory but limited by passwords and uneven bank support, making contactless payments a mixed attribute.

Pros: activity auto-detection, style and design

Cons: LTE connectivity, charging convenience

#23 Garmin Approach S50
2.5
2 reviews

Contactless payments were criticized for limited bank support in the UK, making Garmin Pay much less useful for some users.

Pros: touchscreen responsiveness, health tracking accuracy

Cons: call handling, voice assistant quality

#24 Garmin Approach S70
2.5
1 review

Contactless payments are limited by bank support in the evidence, especially for the UK reviewer who could not test Garmin Pay with his bank.

Pros: recovery insights, GPS accuracy

Cons: software smoothness, fitness tracking accuracy

#25 Garmin Forerunner 965
2.3
3 reviews

Garmin Pay was treated as useful in concept but limited by inconsistent bank support, especially outside the US.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#26 Garmin Vivomove Sport
2.0
3 reviews

Contactless payments were a repeated missing perk, with reviewers noting the absence of NFC or mobile payments as a drawback or limitation.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#27 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
2.0
2 reviews

Contactless payments were criticized mainly for limited bank support, especially in the UK.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#28 Garmin Vivomove Style
2.0
1 review

Garmin Pay was undermined by limited supported banks in the UK.

Pros: style and design, comfort

Cons: outdoor visibility, coaching features