Best 2022 Smartwatches for outdoor visibility

#1 Garmin Forerunner 955
4.9

Outdoor visibility was consistently strong, with reviewers repeatedly saying the screen remained easy to read in direct sunlight.

Pros: outdoor visibility, charging speed

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#2 Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4
4.8

Outdoor visibility is excellent in the reviews, with strong direct-sunlight readability and improved outdoor contrast.

Pros: contactless payments, pairing reliability

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#3 Polar Ignite 3
4.8

Outdoor visibility was praised, with reviewers saying the display remained readable in sunlight and challenging outdoor conditions.

Pros: brightness, charging speed

Cons: call handling, third-party app support

#4 Garmin Forerunner 255
4.5

Outdoor visibility was a consistent strength, with the MIP display repeatedly praised for sunlight readability.

Pros: durability, cross-platform compatibility

Cons: stress tracking, app ecosystem

#5 Fitbit Sense 2
4.5

Outdoor visibility is strong where reviewed, with the bright AMOLED display and max brightness helping readability in sun or outdoor use.

Pros: pairing reliability, durability

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#6 Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.5

Outdoor visibility was a major strength, with reviewers praising direct-sunlight readability and low glare from the memory-in-pixel display.

Pros: step counting accuracy, fit

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, charging convenience

#7 Garmin MARQ Gen 2
4.5

Outdoor visibility was praised for direct sunlight, hikes, runs, and sunlight-readable use.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: size options, call handling

#8 Polar Pacer Pro
4.5

Outdoor visibility was generally strong, with reviewers repeatedly saying the screen was readable outdoors and in bright light.

Pros: workout tracking variety, activity auto-detection

Cons: onboard music storage, blood oxygen tracking

#9 Coros Apex 2
4.5

Outdoor or low-light visibility was praised in one review where the workout screen was easy to read in early-morning conditions.

Pros: resume later function, durability

Cons: watch face quality, call handling

#10 Garmin Venu Sq 2
4.5

Outdoor visibility was mostly positive, with several reviewers reporting no sunlight issues, though one reviewer still needed to squint in bright sun.

Pros: charging speed, coaching features

Cons: ECG functionality, call handling

#11 Polar Pacer
4.4

Outdoor visibility is a clear strength, with repeated praise for sunlight readability and acceptable outdoor visibility during runs.

Pros: third-party app support, comfort

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#12 Fitbit Versa 4
4.3

Outdoor visibility was good overall, with reviewers saying the display was readable outdoors or in bright conditions.

Pros: pairing reliability, user interface

Cons: third-party app support, music controls

#13 Suunto 9 Peak Pro
3.8

Outdoor visibility was mixed, with some praise in full sun or bright conditions and criticism when glare or viewing angle made the display harder to read.

Pros: step counting accuracy, durability

Cons: voice assistant quality, contactless payments

#14 Garmin Vivomove Sport
2.8

Outdoor visibility was inconsistent and often a concern; several reviewers found the display dim or hard to use in bright sunlight.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage