# Choosing a smart watch **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [16 February 2024 01:46 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570 "2024-02-16T01:46:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nasatt](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/nasatt/32/29315_2.png) [@nasatt](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/nasatt)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2024 15:25 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/21 "2024-05-26T15:25:27Z")
Garmin Instinct 2 - There are different versions. Standard, Solar and 2x Each have the same Optical Sensor as the Epix 2. Smaller watch face too so arguably even more accurate HR data than the Epix (if you’ve a small wrist the bigger watch might find it difficult to correctly record HR). All for 200 euro if you shop around and you can live with a black and white screen. Fantastic watch and value for money. By basically all accounts, much more accurate HR data than Coros and Polar watches in the same price bracket. Someone mentioned an Amazfit - Never owned one but any reviews I’ve read re HR accuracy say that the Amazfit watches HR accuracy is so poor it’s worse than useless. ---
**Author:** ![bronekp](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/bronekp/32/29156_2.png) [@bronekp](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/bronekp)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2024 08:42 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/22 "2024-05-29T08:42:05Z")
> [@Skyler](#): > > That said, if you have the cash, going up to a higher X65 is probably the best option. FR255 does/has everything the 265 does/has, except for the oled touchscreen, and cost less than the 165 when I checked. ---
**Author:** ![Skyler](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/skyler/32/26409_2.png) [@Skyler](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Skyler)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2024 12:37 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/23 "2024-05-29T12:37:27Z")
Yeah it’s a great point, for what it’s worth it doesn’t have running power though ---
**Author:** ![Dreamystan](https://forum.intervals.icu/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dreamystan](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Dreamystan)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2024 13:11 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/24 "2024-05-29T13:11:38Z")
If you’re open to exploring options beyond the Apple Watch, you might find some great alternatives at [https://replicapatekphilippe.io](https://replicapatekphilippe.io). ---
**Author:** ![bronekp](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/bronekp/32/29156_2.png) [@bronekp](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/bronekp)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2024 13:16 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/25 "2024-05-29T13:16:34Z")
> [@Skyler](#): > > Yeah it’s a great point, for what it’s worth it doesn’t have running power though it does. it even has running dynamics. > **[Forerunner 255 Series Owner's Manual - Running Dynamics](https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-676967A0-1B23-4384-9BC9-76F3D643F1C8/EN-US/GUID-62A09512-518A-424A-8491-FE2B80CD2091.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Skyler](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/skyler/32/26409_2.png) [@Skyler](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Skyler)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2024 14:08 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/26 "2024-05-29T14:08:08Z")
You’re right, I’m thinking 245 - sorry 😆 ---
**Author:** ![CMN2015](https://forum.intervals.icu/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@CMN2015](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/CMN2015)\ **Post date:** [18 September 2024 07:20 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/27 "2024-09-18T07:20:51Z")
You can search on some online plattform for example :aliexpress,here is many smart watch from China can be choose , 😃 ---
**Author:** ![oldman\_vie](https://forum.intervals.icu/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/eb9ed0/32.png) [@oldman\_vie](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/oldman_vie)\ **Post date:** [10 November 2024 21:58 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/28 "2024-11-10T21:58:25Z")
+1 I‘m „just“ a runner - and the „polar pacer pro“ does everything I need in a perfect way, also sleep-tracking and all this fitness-stuff is very good. … recommend it ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 09:17 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/29 "2025-03-10T09:17:28Z")
I kindly ask for advice, I would like to buy a smart watch that allows me to monitor my heart with its parameters, HRV, sleep and everything else. I am basically interested in this, while I don’t need the activity recording functions, I do everything with the apps. obviously the integration with Intervals.icu is also very important. What could be a good choice? I ask you who are certainly more up to date, since I left competitive sports I have distanced myself from the Garmin or Polar world. Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![michael217](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/michael217/32/71156_2.png) [@michael217](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/michael217)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 10:26 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/30 "2025-03-10T10:26:52Z")
I personally use the Polar Unite basically for a similar usecase \>\> health and sleep tracking measurements but nothing more. In my opinion it is a good budget option without paying a premium for functions (like GPS, the garmin TSS tracking stuff) etc. which i do not use. (Also i am not a runner 😃 ) For the price the quality is ok, no extra high quality watch though. The measurements seem plausibly for me and integrate with intervals. Drawbacks: Somedays for whatever reason the sync with intervals won’t work, but in general works fine. Base HR/Resting HR is not really calculated or the API pushes a wrong info there \>\> Sleep avg HR as Resting HR … so i do that update manually in intervals… not ideal. Also regarding sleept tracking i do not trust the sleep phases or anything. I only look at HRV, sleep amount (and awake time) ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 10:53 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/31 "2025-03-10T10:53:00Z")
Polar, interesting. I’ll try to do some research to learn more. I don’t run either, so the only needs are HRV in particular, and something else that monitors health. I don’t need GPS or anything else. For weight training I use apps, as for bike racing. So the purpose is only to monitor health and see changes in my heart rate, to modify any ongoing training plans. ---
**Author:** ![Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/manuel_oberti/32/70397_2.png) [@Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Manuel_Oberti)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 11:31 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/32 "2025-03-10T11:31:58Z")
I use Amazfit Balance…fantastic ---
**Author:** ![dublet](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/dublet/32/51149_2.png) [@dublet](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/dublet)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 11:50 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/33 "2025-03-10T11:50:16Z")
I’ve been using Coros and Suunto watches… If you are only interested in tracking your heart and sleep, maybe you need something like an [Oura ring](https://ouraring.com/) (other rings are available) instead of a watch. ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 12:02 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/34 "2025-03-10T12:02:44Z")
Amazfit Balance, I’m looking at reviews and videos, it seems exceptional and the price is excellent, But you who have been using it for a while, can you tell me if it records HRV? and how it behaves with the integration with Intervals.icu? ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 12:04 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/35 "2025-03-10T12:04:21Z")
yes this is also an option that I consider, very interesting, but less so for the cost ---
**Author:** ![Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/manuel_oberti/32/70397_2.png) [@Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Manuel_Oberti)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 13:13 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/36 "2025-03-10T13:13:38Z")
Amazfit balance , no HRV Record…I use HRV4training ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 13:35 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/37 "2025-03-10T13:35:20Z")
I know HRV4Training, I used it. so you are forced to take the frequency with the phone every day? Or did you manage to pair the app with the watch? ---
**Author:** ![Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/manuel_oberti/32/70397_2.png) [@Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Manuel_Oberti)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 15:37 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/38 "2025-03-10T15:37:24Z")
I take the frequency every day before I get out of bed. I load the file automatically from hrv4training app to dropbox and automatically intervals.icu sync the data. ---
**Author:** ![Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/fabriziover/32/31058_2.png) [@Fabriziover](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Fabriziover)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 15:41 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/39 "2025-03-10T15:41:22Z")
great, but did you connect a heart rate monitor or do you use your smartphone to acquire your heart rate? ---
**Author:** ![Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/user_avatar/forum.intervals.icu/manuel_oberti/32/70397_2.png) [@Manuel\_Oberti](https://forum.intervals.icu/u/Manuel_Oberti)\ **Post date:** [10 March 2025 15:42 UTC](https://forum.intervals.icu/t/choosing-a-smart-watch/60570/40 "2025-03-10T15:42:11Z")
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