Pretty much every premium smartwatch nowadays has built-in GPS, but not every one is equal. Some excel in this department with better accuracy through additional bands. The best smartwatches support multi-system GNSS or multi-band GPS, simultaneously pulling data from various satellite systems. Some offer All-systems GNSS, which combines signals from different constellations so that if one gets blocked, another can compensate.
This is important for precise data, especially for people like runners, cyclers, and hikers who want to be able to see their entire route and avoid losing signal in dense areas. For the highest precision, dual-frequency GPS taps into both the older L1 satellites and the newer L5 satellites, which use protected aeronautic frequencies and faster error correction.
These are the best GPS smartwatches for location accuracy and mapping
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The most accurate GPS smartwatch
Aside from being our top pick for the best running watches, the Forerunner 265 supports All-Systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS. Our reviewer found its post-workout maps enormously accurate in areas where foliage and buildings thwart GPS-only watches. You can use it for 16 hours in SatIQ mode, switching to dual-frequency when there is a weak signal, but it otherwise uses battery-saving GPS.
Most affordable dual-frequency
The COROS PACE 4 blends affordability with function, and our reviewer calls it the best cheap running watch you can buy right now. Compared to the previous generation COROS PACE 3, it offers better battery life, a 2.5D AMOLED screen, and even a mic for logging thoughts while you run. Most importantly, it boasts dual-frequency GPS and can last a long time, even while using it. It's not as accurate as the Garmin Forefrunner series for GPS tracking, but it's pretty darn close.
Best affordable accuracy
Even though the COROS PACE 4 wins on paper, the Garmin Forerunner 165, which only offers 17 hours of all-systems GNSS mode and comes without features such as training load, beats the PACE 4 and its predecessor the PACE 3 in a GPS accuracy test for both a traditional run and a track run. It's slightly less accurate than the 265, but the Forerunner 165 costs less and is precise enough that everyday runners should be pleased with the results.
Hardcore fitness for iPhones
You'll rarely find dual-frequency GPS on a traditional smartwatch. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 delivers 14 hours of dual-frequency tracking, automatically refined using Apple Maps data and a nationwide track database. We ran accuracy tests with the previous generation Apple Watch Ultra 2 and it performed exceptionally well. While its 42-hour battery life may be underwhelming, the ultra-bright squircle display and robust app selection help make up for it.
Same tech, better battery, and maps
The Garmin Forerunner 965 has the same perks as the 265 for a slightly higher price, but lasts 19 hours in dual-frequency GPS mode and an extra 10 days in smartwatch mode. Unlike the Forerunner 265, it also comes with pre-downloaded topographical maps, so you can hike and look ahead to trailheads instead of downloading GPX files. Our Forerunner 965 vs. 265 guide runs through the other essential differences.
Runner-up for best GPS accuracy
The COROS PACE Pro is a great option for the price. Its 1.3-inch AMOLED display produces amazing colors, has an impressive 1,500-nit brightness, and has a dual-frequency GPS. Thanks to landscape and topographical maps in the COROS app, you can also create custom routes. The PACE Pro wins in accuracy over options such as the Amazfit, which wasn't very accurate.
Best watch for GPS and battery life
Dual-frequency GPS demands a lot of power, so most AMOLED smartwatches can't support it for long periods without quickly draining the battery. The Garmin Instinct 3 boasts multi-band GPS and its AMOLED variant can run for 40 hours using GPS, 30 hours with multi-band. There's also a solar version with theoretically unlimited battery life, though the AMOLED edition sports pretty impressive specs in this department when using GPS, too.
Best Android watch for GPS accuracy
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the best Wear OS watch, beating rivals like the Pixel Watch 4. You can't help but admire its 1.34-inch or 1.47-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 438 x 438 or 480 x 480, respectively. Its dual-band GPS has an exciting upgrade, triangulating your position using various satellites to evade obstacles such as mountains, foliage, and buildings. In our tests, we found it to be pretty close in terms of accuracy with the top brand in this space, Garmin.
Best everyday Android watch
The Google Pixel Watch 4 boasts WearOS 6 and a refined Fitbit and Gemini experience, making it the perfect everyday watch. But there's also some impressive GPS specs under the hood. You get dual-frequency GPS that our reviewer says is noticeably more accurate than the previous generation, as well as more battery efficient. There's also useful features like satellite SOS and cellular connectivity if you so choose. It's a fantastic all-around Android watch with great GPS performance.
Want a fitness tracker with built-in or connected GPS? Try one of these!
Our favorite fitness tracker
One of the rare fitness trackers with built-in GPS, the Fitbit Charge 6 is about as accurate as your typical GPS-only device. It relies on your smartphone tracking data to correct it in "Dynamic GPS" mode. However, the absence of an altimeter for elevation tracking and some reported antenna issues make it less ideal for runners. Still, it is affordable and does exceptionally well in other areas, like heart rate data.
Basically a mini-smartwatch
We're including this on our list of fitness trackers with high-precision sensors to precisely monitor your workouts and overall health. The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 has that along with over 150 sports modes, such as recovery time, training results, etc. While it uses connected GPS, the trade-off is worth it for the extended battery life. But you'll need to keep your phone nearby to track your route.
Affordable favorite
Amazfit is known for making fabulous smartwatch and fitness tracker alternatives for incredibly low prices. The Amazfit Bip 6 is more of a smartwatch design but it's worth noting because of the tremendous value for a watch that comes in at a tracker price. You get advanced features like connected GPS (so you need your phone), up to 14-day battery life, and even built-in Alexa.
Deciding how much GPS accuracy you actually need
We've described all the distinct watches with All-Systems GNSS or dual-frequency/ multi-band GPS, but do you need those? Or is simple GPS data all you need? Well, it depends on where you typically work out.
All-Systems mode uses two or more satellite systems at once. Still, this benefit depends on how well alternative systems like GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, or QDZZ perform in your area. Garmin says multiple GNSSs help with "increased performance in challenging environments and faster position acquisition than using GPS only," while COROS recommends it for these areas: "city near tall buildings, neighborhoods with significant tree canopies or mountainous/hilly terrain." This is a helpful perk, but you're still liable to deal with reflecting location signals.
Dual-frequency mode delivers the highest level of precision by tracking both L1 and L5 satellite signals. For example, if a tall building blocks one frequency, the other maintains your location data, providing consistent and accurate tracking even in challenging environments. Garmin says this delivers "more consistent track logs, improved positioning, improved multi-path errors, and fewer atmospheric errors." COROS recommends it for "rock/ice climbing sheer rock faces in narrow canyons, hiking deep within forests, between mountain peaks, or near sheer cliff drop-offs such as the Grand Canyon."
You may not always find the need for a dual-frequency watch unless you regularly face harsh conditions, but it's a great feature to have. It typically delivers more precise tracking, even in flat or open areas. Remember that this mode uses more battery power, so getting a GPS smartwatch with enough battery life to support it for your typical activities is essential.
As for trackers, most of our favorite fitness trackers rely on connected GPS, meaning you need your phone nearby to track your workouts. Most phones have pretty precise location data on par with what you'd get with a GPS-only smartwatch, so a fitness tracker or watch with built-in GPS lets you run without a phone but doesn't necessarily give you a vast precision boost. Only with All-Systems or dual-frequency will you get the best possible performance, which means choosing a bulky fitness watch over a tracker.
