Best Garmin Smart Watch for music controls

music controls Decision Dashboard

Best for music controls

Garmin Vivomove Sport

4.5 feature score

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

Safest pick

Garmin Lily 2 Active

4.5 feature score

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

Most evidence

Garmin Forerunner 955

3 supporting reviews

Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.

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#1 Garmin Vivomove Sport
4.5
2 reviews

Music controls were one of the better small-screen extras, repeatedly described as working well or being impressive on such a compact hybrid.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#2 Garmin Approach S70
4.5
1 review

Music controls are positively framed in limited evidence, with one reviewer calling music performance a strength.

Pros: recovery insights, GPS accuracy

Cons: software smoothness, fitness tracking accuracy

#3 Garmin Lily 2 Active
4.5
1 review

Music controls work well for controlling phone playback from the wrist.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking

Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage

#4 Garmin Vivoactive 5
4.5
1 review

Music controls were praised as a highlight in the smartwatch feature set.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, wellness insights

Cons: software smoothness, ECG functionality

#5 Garmin Vivoactive 6
4.4
1 review

Music controls are useful for controlling phone playback from the wrist, according to one reviewer.

Pros: software smoothness, comfort

Cons: LTE connectivity, voice assistant quality

#6 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.2
1 review

Music controls received limited positive evidence, with one reviewer calling the music controls and player well integrated.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#7 Garmin Forerunner 955
4.2
3 reviews

Music controls were useful and smooth in several accounts, especially with touchscreen support.

Pros: outdoor visibility, charging speed

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#8 Garmin MARQ Gen 2
4.1
2 reviews

Music controls were viewed as good or part of the premium smartwatch package, with limited deeper critique.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: size options, call handling

#9 Garmin Fenix 8
4.0
1 review

Music controls were positively included in the watch’s complete smartwatch toolkit, though detailed control testing was limited.

Pros: workout tracking variety, onboard music storage

Cons: LTE connectivity, value for money

#10 Garmin Venu 3
4.0
1 review

Music controls are functional, with playback controls for downloaded playlists covering the basics like pause, skip, and volume.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, software smoothness

Cons: LTE connectivity, mapping and navigation

#11 Garmin vivomove Trend
4.0
1 review

Music controls were useful in the one direct review because music could be controlled from the watch during workouts without leaving the workout screen.

Pros: activity auto-detection, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, Bluetooth connectivity

#12 Garmin Forerunner 255S
3.5
1 review

Music controls worked, but the lack of touch interaction made them feel less polished than they could be.

Pros: step counting accuracy, fit

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, charging convenience

#13 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
3.3
2 reviews

Music controls were mixed, ranging from good controls to complaints that Spotify/offline music feels less clean than Apple-style watches.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#14 Garmin Forerunner 965
3.3
2 reviews

Music controls were adequate for basic use, but one reviewer noted playback issues when skipping or changing playlists.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#15 Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED
3.2
1 review

Music controls were available but treated as a minor phone-control convenience rather than a standout feature.

Pros: heart rate accuracy, GPS accuracy

Cons: onboard music storage, mapping and navigation

#16 Garmin Enduro 3
2.8
2 reviews

Music controls were a weak spot: reviewers found the control page hard to avoid and phone music control clunky.

Pros: contactless payments, reliability

Cons: onboard music storage, watch face quality

#17 Garmin Approach S50
2.5
1 review

Music controls were criticized because controls did not automatically appear when music was playing on a phone.

Pros: touchscreen responsiveness, health tracking accuracy

Cons: call handling, voice assistant quality

#18 Garmin Approach S62
2.5
1 review

Music controls were only mixed because the control widget worked but did not automatically surface when music was playing.

Pros: software smoothness, style and design

Cons: voice assistant quality, onboard music storage

#19 Garmin Forerunner 165
2.0
1 review

Music controls were criticized as unintuitive during runs.

Pros: smartphone notifications, watch face quality

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#20 Garmin Vivomove Style
2.0
1 review

Music controls were a clear weak spot, with lag and playback-sync problems reported.

Pros: style and design, comfort

Cons: outdoor visibility, coaching features