10 Best Swim Watches 2026 in the United States

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a strong choice for swimmers looking for a versatile smartwatch that combines health monitoring and fitness tracking with swim-friendly features. It offers a solid water resistance rating of 50 meters, which means it can handle swimming in pools or open water with confidence. The watch includes a built-in GPS system, so it can track your swim routes and distances without needing your phone nearby. Its heart rate monitoring is advanced and continuous, providing useful data during workouts and also alerting you to irregular heart rhythms or hypertension signs.

Comfort-wise, the Series 11 is thin and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear during long swim sessions and even while sleeping to track recovery and sleep quality. The always-on Retina display is bright and easy to read underwater or in bright sunlight, which is a plus in swim environments. Battery life supports up to 24 hours of normal use, with fast charging available to quickly top up, though heavy GPS use during swimming might reduce that time.

For those seeking a smartwatch that performs well for swimming while also delivering comprehensive health insights and smart features, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a suitable option. However, if deep swim analytics or longer battery life specifically for extended swim sessions are priorities, more specialized swim watches may be better choices.

The Apple Watch Series 11 GPS 42mm is a strong contender as a swim-watch thanks to its 50-meter water resistance, making it safe for pool and open-water swimming. It features advanced swim tracking capabilities through its fitness and health apps. The built-in GPS offers accurate outdoor swim route tracking, while heart rate monitoring is supported by both optical and electrical sensors, providing reliable data during workouts.

Battery life supports about 24 hours of typical use, which is sufficient for daily wear including swim sessions, and fast charging means you won’t be tethered to a charger for long. Comfort-wise, the lightweight aluminum case and sport band make it pleasant to wear during extended sessions, including sleep tracking. The always-on Retina display is bright and clear even underwater, enhancing usability during swims.

Beyond swimming, the watch excels with a broad range of health insights such as ECG, blood oxygen, hypertension alerts, and sleep quality scoring, adding value as an all-around health companion. While it may not offer some niche swim analytics and longer battery life preferred by endurance swimmers, it is an excellent choice for casual to moderate swimmers who want a versatile smartwatch with extensive health and fitness features.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a versatile smartwatch that can handle swimming thanks to its water resistance and built-in GPS. It offers solid heart rate monitoring and a range of health features including sleep tracking, temperature sensing, and alerts for irregular heart rhythms, which can be helpful for swimmers who want detailed health insights. The always-on Retina display is bright and easy to read underwater or in sunlight, making it convenient during swim sessions. Battery life stands at about 18 hours with normal use, which should cover regular workouts, though longer multi-day tracking might require charging.

Comfort-wise, the 40mm size and lightweight aluminum case with a sport band make it suitable for most wrist sizes, ensuring it stays secure during swimming without feeling bulky. While it has good fitness tracking capabilities, it doesn’t include specialized swim metrics like stroke detection or advanced swim drills that some dedicated swim watches provide. It also relies on connection with an iPhone for some features, so if you want full standalone use, this could be a limitation.

This Apple Watch model serves as a great all-around fitness and swim companion for casual swimmers or those who want a mix of smart features and health tracking, but it may not satisfy very serious or competitive swimmers looking for detailed swim analytics.