How to Find the Best Garmin Deals This Prime Day

Prime Day runs from June 23rd to 26th, and Lifehacker will be sharing the best deals based on product reviews, comparisons, and price tracking tools before it’s over.

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• New to Prime Day? We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide for you, covering everything you need to know . Discount information is current at the time of publication, but prices and availability are subject to change.

Garmin offers such a wide range of watches that I’ve prepared an entire explanation to help you understand (some) of their model numbers. Things get even more confusing during sales, as you can get a more expensive model on sale for the same price as a newer entry-level model—especially if you’re willing to settle for an older model. (Because Garmin watches age well, older models are still a viable option if you’re looking for a bargain.)

Here are the key points: Garmin Forerunner series watches with a number in the name are the most popular options for runners and fitness enthusiasts in general. If the number ends in “70,” it’s a brand-new model that will receive the latest software updates. The Fenix, Epix, and Enduro are higher-end watches (and priced accordingly). The Vivoactive and Venu lines are, I’d say, lifestyle watches, where everyday use is a priority, with fitness being a secondary consideration. In these models, most functions are controlled via a touchscreen rather than buttons.

Finally, almost all new Garmin watches feature AMOLED screens (similar to those found on smartphones or smartwatches), but older models may feature MIP screens—an older technology that looks a bit dimmer but is energy-efficient if you prefer an always-on display. Here’s a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of MIP screens .

Many of the Garmin deals I’ve seen this week are part of Garmin’s “summer sale,” which isn’t an Amazon Prime promotion, but is running concurrently. So they may not show up if you’re only looking for Prime deals—though there are plenty of Prime deals on refurbished watches. With that in mind, here’s what I think are worth buying from today’s Garmin deals, sorted by price range.

Great deals on Garmin devices for $250 and under.

• Refurbished Forerunner 265S: $229.95 , regular price $319.99. (New was $449.99.) This is a great deal, as the 265 is one of my favorite running watches . It’s one generation older than the current model, so it no longer receives the best software updates. But it does have dual-band GPS, workout status display, the ability to connect to power meters, and other features only found on mid-range Garmin watches. For the price, it truly exceeds expectations.

• Forerunner 165: $199.99 , regular price $249.99. This is Garmin’s entry-level watch, one generation younger than the current 170 model. Our marathoner, Meredith Dietz, raved about it , though I’ll note that it only has single-band GPS (dual-band is better if available). This version doesn’t have offline music storage, but the 165 Music model is available for $50 more.

• Vivoactive 5: $189.99 , regular price $229.99. This is a primarily touchscreen watch designed for everyday use, but it still tracks workouts quite well and has physical buttons for easy navigation. It’s a slightly older version (the current version is the Vivoactive 6), but I consider it one of the most underrated Garmin watches .

• Forerunner 55: $149.99 , originally $199.99. This is a very basic watch, released two generations ago. It features single-band GPS and a MIP display. But to get things done, you don’t need anything more than the bare essentials: Sebastien Sawe wore one during his record-breaking marathon, running it in under two hours.

• Refurbished Forerunner 55: $99.99 , regular price $159.99. I’ve been saying for years that if the 55 ever dropped to $100 or less, it would be my go-to watch for a simple, reliable beginner. Well, here it is—if you don’t mind a refurbished model.

It’s worth considering models from other manufacturers besides Garmin : the Suunto Run, regularly priced at $199, is currently on sale for $148.99 . It’s one of my favorite budget running watches ( here’s my review ), featuring dual-band GPS and music storage. The Coros Pace 4 is a similar watch that’s not currently on sale, but even at its regular price, it’s $250, so it falls into this category. The older Pace 3 (with a MIP screen) is $199.

Great deals on Garmin devices for $500 and under.

Typically, $500 isn’t enough to buy a mid-range Garmin watch, but these deals include some of the newer models that typically cost over $500, as well as a few premium watches that typically cost significantly more.

• Instinct 2 Solar: $279.99 , originally $449.99. This is an older model (the current one is the Instinct 3). It features a black-and-white MIP display, solar charging, and some less common outdoor features, such as GPS coordinates and area calculations.

• Refurbished Epix Pro (2nd Gen) Sapphire Watch: $429.95 , regular price $549.99, original price new $1099.99. (It was briefly on sale yesterday for $365.45; price subject to change, so be sure to check the price for different watch sizes as you read this post.) This is an AMOLED watch that launched at the same time as the Fenix ​​7, which was a Minimal In-Place Edition (MIP) at the time. It doesn’t have the latest software updates that the 8th Gen Fenix ​​watches receive, but it’s still a fully featured, premium watch with a super-durable sapphire crystal.

• Forerunner 570: $449.99 , originally $549.99. This is one of Garmin’s newest running watches, an improved version of the 265. I really liked it, but I thought it was overpriced ; at the new discounted price, I like it even more. I’ve put a lot of miles on it, and I think it’s a great choice.

• Venu 4: $499.99 , originally $549.99. This is Garmin’s more expensive active lifestyle watch. It features all the latest software updates, an ECG function, and a similar feature set to the Forerunner 570, as well as a built-in flashlight. The discount isn’t huge compared to other models on this list, but the Venu 4 is the perfect watch for many people.

• Forerunner 965: $499.99 , originally $599.99. This is the top-of-the-line Forerunner model, but it’s a generation older. So, it doesn’t have the latest software updates, but it’s still a great watch, and it has offline maps built in. I’d buy it over the 570, since it’s only $50 more expensive and has those maps.

Great deals on premium Garmin devices priced at $1,000 and under.

A good Garmin watch can be truly excellent—and quite expensive. Here are a few high-end models that are discounted by $100 or more:

• Forerunner 970, $649.99 , originally $749.99. This is the latest version of the top-of-the-line Forerunner. Our in-house marathoner, Meredith Dietz, raved about this watch, especially as an upgrade over cheaper Garmin models. You can read her review here .

• The Enduro 3, $749.99 ( original price: $899.99), is a watch with a MIP display, released simultaneously with the Fenix ​​8. It features the latest software features but retains the older screen style for those who prefer it. The watch features sapphire crystal and a built-in flashlight.

• Fenix ​​8 Pro, $949.99 , originally $1,299.99. This is the latest generation of this top-of-the-line watch. It has every feature imaginable and more (golf? fishing? diving? yes, it’s all there). This is the lowest price ever for this model.

Looking for something different? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are running Prime Day-style sales, which are especially helpful if you don’t have an Amazon Prime subscription.

• Walmart’s Prime Day sale runs from June 22nd to 28th and includes discounts of up to 50%. This is an especially great deal if you have a Walmart+ subscription.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day sale runs from June 22nd to 28th, offering some of the best deals on tech online. This is an especially great deal for My Best Buy Plus or Total members.

• Target’s Prime Day sale runs from June 23rd to 26th, with discounts up to 50%. Joining the Circle program is free.

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