Best 2023 Garmin Smartwatches for button controls

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#1 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
5.0

Button controls were consistently praised for intuitive navigation, glove/rain usability and reliable interaction during activity.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#2 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.6

Button controls are a standout usability feature, especially for workouts, with praise for tactile clicks and mid-activity control.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#3 Garmin Forerunner 265
4.2

Button controls were widely praised for workout reliability, tactile feedback, and the larger Run button, though one reviewer disliked squishy secondary buttons.

Pros: step counting accuracy, third-party app support

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#4 Garmin Approach S70
4.2

Button controls are generally useful and easy, though one reviewer still noted a learning curve.

Pros: recovery insights, GPS accuracy

Cons: software smoothness, fitness tracking accuracy

#5 Garmin Forerunner 965
4.2

Buttons were consistently praised as tactile, easy to use during workouts, and a dependable alternative to touch controls.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#6 Garmin Venu 3
3.5

Button controls are useful during workouts, but opinions are mixed because some reviewers wanted more button navigation or found the smaller buttons less usable.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, software smoothness

Cons: LTE connectivity, mapping and navigation

#7 Garmin Vivoactive 5
3.4

Button controls drew mixed reactions: some liked having dual navigation, while others preferred more dedicated buttons or found presses fiddly.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, wellness insights

Cons: software smoothness, ECG functionality

#8 Garmin vivomove Trend
2.0

Button controls were a recurring weakness because reviewers missed even a single physical button and found touch-only exercise control harder.

Pros: activity auto-detection, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, Bluetooth connectivity