Best GPS Watches With The Longest Battery Life in 2023

1. Garmin Enduro 2

Garmin is one of the most popular watch brands out there, and the Enduro 2 features the brand’s longest battery life and one of the longest overall on the market. It’s a premium outdoor watch, offering much more than a great battery.

What We Like

Let’s get into the battery specifics right away. The Enduro 2 can last up to 34 days between charges in normal smartwatch mode. If you throw solar charging into the mix, it increases to 46 days.

In GPS mode, you can get up to 110 hours of use, which stretches to 150 hours with solar. And if you really need it, the battery-saver mode can give you up to 111 days of charge and an amazing 550 days if you use solar charging.

Regarding GPS, the Enduro 2 uses the latest Garmin multi-band GNSS system, which offers impressive accuracy. It has a handy SatIQ feature, which switches between different GPS systems depending on your surroundings and your needs, which makes a big difference to battery drain and stays fairly accurate.

A Power Sapphire glass lens allows you to run confidently outdoors, because it’s resistant to scratching. The glass also doubles as a solar cell, maintaining its impressive battery life with solar power.

For health and fitness tracking, the watch can track standard things like steps, calories burned, floors climbed, and intensity minutes. Then, there are other handy training features, such as advanced workouts, downloadable training plans, and customizable training profiles.

There are also a bunch of sports modes to choose from, so you’ll never find yourself at a loss, no matter what kind of cross-training you’re doing.

Plus, it’s loaded with data to help you track and improve your performance, including training load, training status, VO2 max, etc. Everything you need… And probably more.

Why We Like It

The battery life on the Enduro 2 is far beyond the original Enduro, and it outstrips many of the other Garmins as well.

For intermediate to advanced athletes, we can’t recommend it more—it has everything you may need to have a spectacular workout without worrying about your battery.

What to Consider

The Enduro 2 isn’t a small watch. For those with petite wrists, it’s quite chunky, which might be uncomfortable for some or be a little too bulky to wear when you’re not running.

Some users have also reported that it’s hard to see the screen indoors. It’s made primarily for outdoor use, but this could be a deal-breaker for some.

What’s New

The latest Enduro is more similar to the fenix than the previous Enduro model. These two watches have very little in common—the Enduro 2 is like a completely different model.

One of the biggest changes is the battery life, said to have increased by an impressive 40%, thanks in part to an updated Power Glass lens that absorbs solar more effectively.

This version also uses a scratch-resistant sapphire glass lens for increased durability. Adding topo maps is a big plus, so you can now use navigation.

Other new features include NextFork, which informs you of upcoming forks on the route you’re running, Grade-Adjusted Pace, which subtly adjusts your running pace based on the gradient you’re running on; and a built-in flashlight.

2. Garmin fenix 7 Solar Edition

The fenix is another popular Garmin, and it’s very similar to the Enduro 2. You’ll get comparable features and good battery life but at a lower price. For this review, we’ve chosen the standard solar version, but keep in mind other options and styles are available.

What We Like

The fenix 7 solar lasts an impressive 18 days between charges, and you can stretch that to 22 days with solar power. You can expect between 57 and 73 hours of use if you’re actively using GPS. It’s a noticeable upgrade from the previous version, thanks to the increased surface area of the solar panel.

Multi-band GPS makes the accuracy quite impressive on this watch. It uses GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites to pinpoint your location and estimate your distance and speed, and it’s accurate enough for most users to have no trouble with it.

You can also upload multi-continent maps and use the navigation feature with a high level of accuracy on your wrist, which is a handy feature for outdoor enthusiasts.

It’s a great choice for triathletes and outdoorsy types, thanks to the wide range of activity profiles and metrics available. Aside from all the activity profiles you could possibly need, you’ll find useful data like Real-Time Stamina, estimated sweat loss, PacePro, VO2 max, and various other detailed running dynamics.

Other excellent features include Garmin Pay, music streaming, 100-meter water resistance, and built-in accident detection features.

Why We Like It

The fenix 7 solar is one of Garmin’s finest watches. It offers everything an outdoor athlete might need, with a more impressive battery life than most, plus a variety of extra features.

What to Consider

Despite a slimmer design than the previous version, this watch can look a bit bulky on petite wrists. It might be a little uncomfortable for runners with smaller wrists.

What’s New

The watches in the fenix 7 series have been designed to be thinner than the 6s, which increases their comfort. They also feature button guards, downloadable worldwide maps, a Map Manager, a new Up Ahead feature, a race predictor feature, a new GPS-only mode, and upgraded solar functions.

3. COROS APEX 2

COROS watches are known for their exceptional battery life and are some of the most affordable options on the market. With a full spectrum of features, you won’t find a better value than the COROS APEX 2.

What We Like

The first thing to note is that the COROS is smaller than the Garmins. While its battery life may seem less than the first two on this list, consider that the case size is smaller, meaning it’s more comfortable to wear but sacrifices a bit of battery.

You’ll get 17 days out of it in regular smartwatch mode, around 45 hours in standard GPS mode, and up to 30 hours in its max GPS mode. Charging time is just under 2 hours until full, which is commendable.

You can look forward to high-performance GPS, thanks to the multi-band GNSS chipset and dual-frequency technology. Other useful features include health tracking, multiple sports tracking modes, and handy variables like HRV and other data.

We also particularly like the phone app, which is user-friendly and super comprehensive.

Why We Like It

You won’t find a more comprehensive watch for its size and price than the COROS APEX 2. It’s a great-looking watch with an impressive battery life and offers a ton of value.

Whether you’re new to GPS watches or an experienced runner, you can’t go wrong with this one, and it looks great on smaller wrists.

What to Consider

Runners who often use their watch for navigation might find it hard to see the maps on the screen due to its smaller size.

What’s New

The APEX 2 features all-systems GNSS, wi-fi connectivity, upgraded Bluetooth capabilities, night mode, an upgraded optical heart rate sensor, increased storage, sapphire glass on the lens, and has switched to a 3-button design. It also no longer features ANT+ support.

4. Apple Watch Ultra

Apple users, the Apple Watch Ultra is an excellent choice. Not only does it have great battery life, but it’s got a full spectrum of features for runners.

What We Like

The Ultra has a larger casing than before, which also means a bigger battery. With 73% more size, it naturally means a longer battery life, and you can look forward to 36 hours in normal mode, and 18 hours in full GPS mode. A low-power mode increases the lifespan of the watch to 60 hours.

Note that this is significantly less than the watches we’ve already reviewed, but the Ultra is so feature-packed that the battery does tend to run down faster than others, helped also by the always-on display. However, for an Apple watch, it’s still on the higher end.

The GPS features are fairly accurate and you can use real-world mapping on your wrist. Note that low-power mode may disable certain features, so it’s wise to check this before you head out.

You’ll find a full range of smartwatch features, like health tracking, fitness metrics, a range of watch faces to choose from, Apple Pay, music streaming, podcast downloads, and even a remote camera function.

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a cool smartwatch that’s got a pretty great battery and fairly accurate GPS, this one could be it. Ideal for Apple users who want a well-rounded watch for moderate use.

What to Consider

The data screens on the Ultra aren’t very streamlined and some may feel that they’re not user-friendly. Also, long-pressing the back button dials 911, so you may want to disable this feature if you plan to sleep with the watch on.

5. Garmin Instinct Solar 2

Garmin fan but looking for something a little more affordable? The Instinct Solar 2 is a good choice with excellent battery life.

What We Like

This rugged-looking watch packs a punch and offers a ton of features in a wallet-friendly package. It lacks some fancier features found on the more expensive watches, but it has plenty of top-notch features for its price range.

First up, the battery life is spectacular. In plain old smartwatch mode, you can get 28 days out of the battery, but add the solar charging function, and Garmin caps it at “unlimited.”

With the GPS in full force, you can keep going for 30 hours if the sun isn’t a factor. With a bit of solar power, you can take up to 45 hours. It also features a battery-saver mode, which will give you up to 65 days between regular charges.

The multi-band GNSS system on the watch makes GPS tracking as accurate as can be. Navigation and breadcrumb map tools are handy for outdoorsy people, and it has a durable, tactical design with a no-frills screen.

Smartphone features and health metrics add to the value of this watch, which features everything you need and nothing fluffy. Straightforward, simple, and robust.

Why We Like It

For a feature-packed Garmin, this one is worth what you pay. It’s an affordable option if you’re looking for a Garmin but the top-tier ones are out of your budget—you won’t be missing much with the Instinct 2 Solar on your wrist.

What to Consider

The watch is bulky, so it might not be great for smaller wrists. Some might find it gets in their way when doing non-running activities like kayaking or skiing.

What’s New

Here are plenty of new features on the Instinct 2 series. It now comes in an “S” version – which is a bit smaller. The screen resolution has improved, it has better battery life, and the optical HR sensor has been upgraded. It also added Garmin Pay, and multiple sports/health functions, all of which already appear on other Garmins.

6. COROS VERTIX 2

We already know the VERTIX 2 will have great battery life, but it’s also a brilliant choice if you want something rugged and outdoorsy.

What We Like

The VERTIX 2 has arguably the best battery life of all COROS models, with up to 60 days of regular battery, 50 hours in dual-GNSS mode, and 140 hours in normal GPS mode.

Dual-frequency GPS offers great accuracy, and the slightly bigger screen size means that navigation is a pleasure on this watch. But the same extra-sized screen could be a downer for some because it adds chunkiness to the design.

On the other hand, it adds to the robust, rugged look of the device. But it doesn’t just look the part—it’s the real deal, with a titanium alloy bezel and scratch-proof sapphire glass on the screen.

It has plenty of sports modes, including hiking, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, and other adventurous sports, adding to its rugged appeal. Plus, it’s waterproof to 100 meters, so it lives up to its tough appearance.

Why We Like It

The COROS VERTIX 2 has spectacular battery life, exceptionally accurate GPS, and all you need for a robust outdoor adventure—including a rugged, aggressive design.

What to Consider

Since its updates, this watch is no longer compatible with ANT+ devices. This fact may put off those who have ANT+ smart trainers and other devices.

What’s New

Here’s what’s new on the COROS VERTIX 2: downloadable maps, mp3 support, upgraded to dual-frequency GPS, increased storage space, wi-fi support, and increased battery life.

7. Suunto 9 Peak Pro

Suunto fan? If you’re looking for the Suunto style and features plus a little extra on the battery, the 9 Peak Pro is our recommendation.

What We Like

This unassuming-looking smartwatch might not seem like a multisport miracle, but the Suunto 9 Peak Pro offers a surprising array of features, including a great battery. With moderate use, you can carry on for about 21 days before needing to recharge, and with GPS running, you can go for 40 hours.

Multiple satellite systems make GPS surprisingly easy and accurate on this watch, and it also has great navigation features. We also like the route planning function, which allows you to plan ahead and follow your chosen route on the day.

Don’t be deceived by its lightweight design. This device has been tested to US military standards, can withstand submersion in 100 meters of water, and will work just as well in temperatures from -5°F to 130°F.

The titanium/stainless steel bezel and sapphire glass lens can handle bumps, knocks, and scrapes admirably, so you can run confidently without worrying about damaging your device.

Plus, with almost 100 preloaded exercise modes and all the usual health-tracking features, you won’t miss out on much here. Plus, Suunto is committed to using 100% renewable energy at their factories, so you’re also helping the planet when you choose this watch.

Why We Like It

The Suunto 9 Peak Pro is one of the most robust watches we’ve come across, and that tough exterior hides a great battery and a ton of built-in sporting profiles. You’ll have everything you need in this watch!

What to Consider

The screen isn’t quite as sleek as most others, which some might find disappointing. It’s not likely to impact the watch’s performance, but in a world of AMOLED screens, this one falls a little flat.

What’s New

New features include a newly-revamped, more powerful processor, a new GNSS chipset, a new user interface, and an added wrist-based running power metric.

8. Polar Grit X Pro

Polar is another big name in the GPS watch world, and we recommend the Grit X Pro if you’re looking for extended battery life.

What We Like

This sleek-looking watch has many features, but even its extended battery life doesn’t quite match up to the others on this list. The Grit X Pro has a battery life of roughly 7 days in normal smartwatch mode, although it will vary depending on your usage. You can get around 40 hours max in GPS mode, which is fairly average.

However, aside from the battery life, the watch has some serious features. We love the built-in cycling, running, and leg recovery tests, which help you optimize your training to your current fitness and recovery levels.

We like the onboard running power metric, turn-by-turn navigation, the HillSplitter function, and Fitspark suggested workouts.

The FuelWise nutrition planner is something really new and exciting. You can use it for long runs to help you fuel correctly, which is a game-changer that nobody else is doing yet.

Plus, it’s sleek-looking enough to fit right in with gym clothes or a suit. The Polar Grit X Pro fits right into your lifestyle.

Why We Like It

The Grit X Pro is a good-looking watch with many interesting features. We particularly love the fueling function, and the battery life is one of the best of the Polar watches.

What to Consider

If you’re a fan of Polar watches, this one offers great battery life for their models. However, it’s still behind compared to others on this list, so if you’re serious about getting the most battery life out of your watch, you may want to consider a different brand.

What’s New

New features on the Grit X Pro include multiple newly-designed dashboards and pages, HR sharing, Power ZonePointer function, cycling, running, leg recovery, and orthostatic tests, Recovery Pro feature, extra satellites, and switched to sapphire glass lenses.