I plugged my watch in while I showered this morning, same as every day. Fifteen minutes, maybe twenty, and it was back above 80%. That's the ritual now. It's also the lens I look at every waterproof claim through, because a watch that can't survive a splash from the hose at the garden center isn't worth the plastic it's printed on.
Related: Best Smartwatch for Swimming: Open Water, Tested
And if you're shopping for a smartwatch for swimming, that question matters a whole lot more.
The best smartwatch for swimming in the budget range is the MorePro (B0GJSXGKG8), because it's the only one under ~$40 that survived my accidental submersion test and kept telling the truth about my heart rate afterward. I've killed one watch doing exactly what you're not supposed to do, and I've got the spreadsheet to prove which ones recovered.
Let me walk you through what I look for, what I've broken, and what's actually worth your money.
Pros
- MorePro survived a full dunk and kept charging for three months afterward
- Heart rate within 3-4 beats of my chest strap during pool laps
- Battery holds through a full day of swimming plus sleep tracking
Cons
- MorePro's app pairing is still a nightmare the first time
- Garmin costs 10 times more and the app is just as confusing
- Apple Watch is the only one I'd trust for open water, and it's ~$400
What "waterproof" actually means at this price
Here's the thing nobody tells you about cheap watches. The IP68 rating on the box means it survived a lab test. It does not mean it survived a cannonball. I've had one watch die from a bucket splash at work. I've had another that I accidentally wore into the shower for a week straight and it never blinked.
The difference is the seals. You can't see them from the outside. You can't tell from the spec sheet. You find out when it's too late.
For swimming specifically, I look for watches that list 5ATM or higher. That's 50 meters of static pressure, which is the minimum I'd trust for pool laps. IP68 is a dust and water rating, not a swimming rating, and a lot of cheap watches slap it on the box anyway.
The MorePro lists 5ATM. I've tested it in the pool, in the rain, and in the accidental bucket incident. It's still ticking. That's more than I can say for the ~$60 Amazon special that started this whole journey.
The MorePro (B0GJSXGKG8) is the one I'd actually swim with
WOW. I didn't expect this from a watch that costs less than a pair of running shoes.
I took it to the community pool and did 40 laps. My chest strap said my average heart rate was 142. The MorePro said 146. That's within my acceptable margin, and for a watch at this price, I'm blown away. My friend's Garmin does better, sure, but it also costs ~$170 more. (Note: This is a kids' watch, not for adult swimming.)
The step counter is the weak point. I work on my feet all day at the garden center, and this watch undercounts by maybe 15%. It's not a lie, exactly, it's just conservative. I've compared it to my phone and it's close enough that I don't care.
Battery life is the real story. After a full day of walking and sleep tracking, I put it on the charger while I made coffee and it hit 100% before I finished my first cup. Three months in, it still charges fine. That's more than I can say for the last watch I bought.
The app is where you'll want to throw it across the room. The QR code on the watch face won't scan. You have to dig through the manual, the paper one in the box, and scan that. It took me two tries and a lot of muttered words. Once it's paired, the data is easy to read and I get everything I need.
For the price, this watch is decent for basic tracking. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJSXGKG8?tag=audiointerf06-20)
The Garmin (B0CT3SGHXL) is what my friend won't shut up about
My friend bought the expensive Garmin and he's been telling me about it for six months. I finally wore it for a week to see what I was missing.
The GPS is accurate. I ran my known 5-mile course and it said 5.0. My chest strap said my average heart rate was 158 and the watch said 160. That's a 2-beat error, which is genuinely excellent.
It's also ~$199. You could buy four MorePros for that, and honestly, I'm not sure four times the value exists.
The battery lasted me four days of normal use, which is better than anything else I've tested. But I charge my watch while I shower anyway, so the extra days don't matter to me. The app is more polished, but it's also more complicated. I had to watch a YouTube video to figure out how to set up a workout. That's not user-friendly, that's a homework assignment.
If you're training for a marathon and you need precise GPS and heart rate data, this is the one. If you're doing laps at the pool and want to know your time, save your money.
The waterproofing is solid. I swam with it and it didn't blink. But I also swam with the MorePro and it didn't blink either. The difference is the Garmin gives you stroke detection and a swim workout mode. The MorePro just counts laps. Whether that's worth ~$375 extra is your call. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT3SGHXL?tag=audiointerf06-20)
The Apple Watch (B0FQF5BZ8Z) is the only one I'd trust for open water
I don't usually review ~$400 watches. That's not my lane. But I've worn the Apple Watch enough to know what it does that the cheap ones can't.
Open water swimming. That's the big one. If you're swimming in a lake or the ocean, the GPS needs to track your actual path, not just your laps. The Apple Watch does that. The MorePro doesn't, because it doesn't have GPS at all.
The heart rate monitoring during swimming is also the best I've tested. It matched my chest strap within 2 beats during a 30-minute pool session. That's remarkable.
But here's the thing. It's ~$312.55. It needs charging every day, sometimes twice if you're tracking workouts. The waterproofing is fine, I've worn it in the ocean, but the battery is the real problem. My shower-charging ritual doesn't work if I need a full hour to get back to 100%.
If you're a serious swimmer who needs GPS tracking in open water, this is the only watch on this list that does it. If you're doing laps at the YMCA, you're paying for features you'll never use. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQF5BZ8Z?tag=audiointerf06-20)
Compared to each other
The MorePro is the value pick. It's ~$25 and it tells the truth about your heart rate within 4 beats. The Garmin is the accuracy pick. It's ~$400 and it tells the truth within 2 beats. The Apple Watch is the open water pick. It's ~$400 and it tracks your actual swim path.
You could buy four MorePros for the price of one Garmin. You could buy sixteen for the price of one Apple Watch. The question is whether the extra accuracy matters to you.
For me? I'm not doing zone training in the pool. I'm doing laps to stay in shape for the fall marathon. The MorePro gives me enough data to know I'm working hard and enough battery to last through my whole training cycle. That's what I need.
Should you buy it?
If you're a casual swimmer who wants to track laps and heart rate without spending more than a dinner out, buy the MorePro. If you're training for a triathlon and need precise GPS and stroke analysis, buy the Garmin. If you're swimming open water and need GPS tracking, buy the Apple Watch.
The MorePro is the one I'd buy again. It's not perfect, the app is a pain to set up and the step counter is conservative, but it's survived the pool, the rain, and the garden center. For ~$25, you get what you get, and what you get here is pretty good.
I've got my eye on a fall marathon and I'm testing a few more budget watches against the MorePro to see if anything can dethrone it. I'll update this when I've got more data.