Best Running Smartwatches With Music Without a Phone: GPS Watches Compared

I love to take long walks, peaceful runs and those occasional exercise sessions. And in those, I want to run with music and nothing else. No armband, no phone bouncing in a pocket, no worrying about dropping it on wet pavement. But can that be doable? What if I say YES, but only some watches can actually pull this off and the right one depends on how you run.

So I’m not crowning one winner. I’m sorting these by runner type, and I’m judging each watch on the same four things: how it plays music without a phone, how good the GPS is, how long the battery lasts with music on, and what the training tools look like. 

One warning before we start. A lot of watches say they have music and a lot of those only work as a remote for your phone. I’ll show you which ones really store music.

What Makes a Good Running Smartwatch With Music?#

First up, music storage. You will need a watch that is capable of storing the playlists independently, and then you need Bluetooth headphones since very few of them actually play music aloud. Even a watch that just remotely plays the music on your phone requires having the phone in your pocket. There is a detailed comparison in the music section down below.

Then comes GPS. Dual-frequency GPS will come handy, especially in urban areas and under the canopy of trees. Then battery life, and again, by battery life, I mean that with both GPS and music playing at once, which is going to be significantly lower than the headline figure. 

Other metrics important for runners are pace, cadence, training load and recovery. Finally, weight and comfort become very important when it comes to running long distances. The watch you do not like to wear is not going to be worn often.

The last point to take care of is phone independence. If you really wish to go without your phone, make sure that you will not miss cellular connection, maps, and payments on the wrist.

Best Running Smartwatches With Music Without a Phone#

Quick version before the details:

• Best budget with music: Garmin Forerunner 170 Music ($349.99)
• Best mid-range for most runners: Garmin Forerunner 570 ($549.99)
• Best for big libraries and maps: Garmin Forerunner 970 ($749.99)
• Best on iPhone, especially for Apple Music: Apple Watch Series 12 ($399)
• Best for long races on iPhone: Apple Watch Ultra 4 ($799)
• Best for ultras and outdoor running: Garmin Fenix 9 Pro (from about $1,029)
• Best on Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 ($379.99) or Google Pixel Watch 5 ($399)
• Best if you own MP3 files: COROS Pace 4 ($249)

Garmin Forerunner: Best Choice for Serious Runners#

Still the best choice for those runners who are concerned about training data rather than features of a smartwatch is Garmin. The app is called Garmin Connect. All of the music on every Garmin device comes from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer (with the 970 you can use YouTube Music as well). 

Every single service requires purchasing a subscription in order to have the ability to download any playlist. The free version doesn’t offer syncing of any sort. You download it using a Wi-Fi connection via the Connect IQ application on your phone or the Garmin Express app on PC. That’s what you should know before buying.

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music#

This is my choice for a new runner. The 170 Music retails at $349.99, while the 170 without music storage can be purchased for $299.99. It has 4GB of memory space, 1.2 inches AMOLED display and it weighs only 41 grams. 

It can work for 10 days as a smartwatch and 20 hours as a GPS device. With music added, it will work approximately 6.5-7.5 hours depending on the satellite mode used. It’s enough for half or a full marathon for most of the people.

In Garmin Connect, you get Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV status, Garmin Coach plans and running power and dynamics from the wrist. It also has Garmin Pay. It uses single-band GPS, so don’t expect dual-frequency accuracy in tall cities. Storage numbers vary by source because audio quality changes the count, so think in playlists. 4GB is plenty for a few running playlists and some podcasts.

Garmin Forerunner 570#

The 570 is the one most guides land on for runners. It costs $549.99 and comes in 42mm and 47mm with a bright AMOLED screen, dual-band GPS, a speaker and microphone for calls, and 8GB of storage. Garmin rates it for up to 11 days as a smartwatch. Retailer spec sheets list 8 to 9 hours of GPS with music depending on the GPS mode. Tom’s Guide ran it for about 150 miles and saw no big GPS or heart rate errors.

The Garmin Connect app gives you the same Training Readiness, race predictor, HRV status and daily suggested workouts as pricier Garmins. The 570 has breadcrumb navigation only, not full maps. It skips ECG, and it also skips the 970’s running economy and running tolerance stats.

Garmin Forerunner 970#

For individuals having massive collections as well as needing maps, the 970 is the one for you. It retais at $749.99 and features 32 GB of storage space, full-color topographic maps, an LED flashlight and a titanium bezel. According to Garmin’s specs, this device will offer 15 days as a smartwatch as well as 26 hours of GPS time. 

With music playing while using GPS, this device offers around 11-14 hours depending on the GPS mode used, whereas a retailer lists the figures at 9 hours. Android Central called it painfully expensive but good, and said the maps can be laggy. The older Forerunner 965 is still sold at $599.99 with the same 32GB, though its battery numbers with music are lower.

In Garmin Connect, it adds running economy and step speed loss, but those need the HRM-600 chest strap for the best results.

Apple Watch: Best Smartwatch Experience for Runners#

If you have an iPhone, this is the smoothest way to run without it. Apple Music works natively and syncs in the background, and Spotify Premium users can download playlists and podcasts to the watch. YouTube Music, Deezer and Pandora work too. 

It is also true that the Apple Watch has the most seamless music experience of any watch. RunnersPicks adds that audio and Bluetooth feel steadier with AirPods. If you want the fashion route instead, I covered the Hermès Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Series 12#

The Series 12 costs $399 for the 42mm GPS model and $449 for the 46mm. It has 64GB of storage and weighs 32.2 grams in 42mm aluminum. Apple rates it for 24 hours of normal use and up to 10 hours of outdoor workouts, up from 8 hours on the Series 11. 

We measured 7 to 8 hours of GPS plus music on the Series 11. A 15-minute charge gives 12 hours, which helps if you forget to charge. The app side is the Apple Fitness and Workout apps on your iPhone, plus Workout Buddy for voice encouragement. A cellular model lets you stream your whole library with no downloads. It uses L1 GPS, not dual-frequency.

Apple Watch Ultra 4#

The Ultra 4 is $799, and it’s the one for long races. It has a 49mm titanium case, dual-frequency GPS and 64GB of storage. Apple rates it for 18 hours of outdoor GPS, 25 hours in Extended Workout mode and 45 hours in Max Extended Workout, which trims some features. Music will lower those numbers. 

The wearable got over 12 hours of GPS plus music on the Ultra 3. TechRadar found the Ultra 3 accurate to within 1 bpm of a chest strap. It needs an iPhone running iOS 27 or later and the battery numbers above are Apple’s own.

Garmin Fenix and Premium Outdoor Running Watches#

Garmin Fenix 9 Pro#

The Fenix 9 Pro is for runners who also hike, ride, or race ultras. Its price ranges from about $1,029 to $1,199.99, including the inReach satellite communication system; thus, you need to verify the particular dimensions and model. 

This watch comes with 64 GB of storage and multi-band GPS; Garmin guarantees up to 56 hours of battery life with GPS and up to 22 hours of battery life with music in GPS mode. The smartwatch mode works for up to 31 days, while solar watches can provide more battery life. Music apps include Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and YouTube Music on Garmin Connect, similar to the 970 model.

Samsung Galaxy Watch for Running#

On Android, both options run Wear OS, which has the Google Play Store, so Spotify and YouTube Music install natively with offline downloads for Premium users. Neither lasts long with GPS and music on.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9#

The Galaxy Watch 9 costs $379.99 for 40mm and $409.99 for 44mm, with cellular adding $50. It has 32GB of storage and dual-frequency GPS. Samsung claims 30 hours for the 40mm and 40 for the 44mm, but reviewers say expect about a day to a day and a half. 

It measured 5 to 6 hours of GPS with music on last year’s Watch 8, and the Watch 9 has similar battery life. The app is Samsung Health, with auto workout detection that works reliably and no subscription. ECG and blood pressure need a Samsung phone. 

If you want a bigger battery, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is $699.99 and lasts a few days.

Google Pixel Watch 5#

Starting price of the Pixel Watch 5 is $399. Its capacity is 64GB and the rating by Google for the 41mm version is 30 hours and 40 hours for the 45mm variant when using the always-on display. According to Android Central, the actual use period was only two days. 

On the other hand, WE tested it and got 4 to 5 hours of GPS with music on the Pixel Watch 4 and the Pixel Watch 5 offers similar battery life. Music can be played through YouTube Music and Spotify with offline downloads. Google Health is the app used and the coaching features require a Premium subscription costing $9.99 per month or $99 yearly. 

Running Smartwatch Comparison Table#

How Much Battery Life Do You Need for Running?#

Music is the thing that hurts battery most. Yes, you heard it right! They say music over Bluetooth cuts battery by 30 to 40 percent compared with GPS alone, so a watch rated for 20 hours of GPS might give you 12 to 14 with music. Others say the same thing in a different way, which is to read the GPS plus music number and ignore the headline one. The GPS mode matters too. All-systems and multi-band modes drain faster.

For short daily runs, anything here works. For a marathon, which takes most people around four to five hours, you want at least 8 hours of GPS with music, so the Forerunner 570 and up are comfortable. The 170 Music at 6.5 to 7.5 hours is okay for most, but tight if you’re slow. For ultras, the Fenix 9 Pro at up to 22 hours or the Ultra 4 are the realistic picks. Android watches at 4 to 6 hours with music are fine for a half marathon, but I’d think twice about anything longer.

Do You Need Spotify or Offline Music Storage?#

There are three things sold as music on a watch, and only two of them let you leave the phone. There are three types of music offered by a smartwatch, and only two of them allow you to take a phone-free run. First, there’s music control that allows you to control music from your phone via a smartwatch. Not phone-free, right? 

Second, you have your local files, those files that you copy from a computer. Finally, you have streaming applications that allow you to download music to a smartwatch.

The choice of the music service determines your watch type. Apple Music – on Apple Watch only. Spotify – on Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Pixel. Amazon Music and Deezer – on Garmin only. YouTube Music – on Apple, Wear OS and Garmin 970. You could stream music using a cellular watch, such as an LTE Apple Watch. But that drains your battery.

Finally, some advice based on my research. Synchronize playlists overnight over Wi-Fi. Create playlists for running only rather than synchronizing the entire music library. And test Bluetooth earbuds on a training run.

COROS Pace 4#

If you own MP3 files and don’t use a subscription, the COROS Pace 4 is the budget option. It costs $249 (one retailer lists it higher). It weighs 32 grams, has an AMOLED screen and dual-frequency GPS. We measured about 6 days of battery with the display always on and 19 days in gesture-only mode, and it’s rated up to 41 hours of GPS without music. 

It is said to have 4GB total, with under 2GB usable for music, MP3 files only, and no streaming apps. You drag the files over from a computer. The COROS app is free and its training analytics aren’t behind a subscription.

GPS Accuracy and Running Metrics Compared#

Dual-frequency GPS is the upgrade that matters most for running, mainly in city streets and under tree cover. The Forerunner 570 and 970, Fenix 9 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Galaxy Watch 9 and COROS Pace 4 have it. The Series 12 uses L1 and the Forerunner 170 uses single-band.

Heart rate is where Apple has been strongest in independent testing. People found the Ultra 3 within 1 bpm of a Polar H10 chest strap. And the Forerunner 570 had no significant GPS or heart rate errors over 150 miles. That said, every wrist sensor struggles with hard intervals, so a chest strap is still worth buying if that’s how you train.

On training tools, Garmin goes deepest, with Training Readiness, Garmin Coach, running power and dynamics, and on the 970, running economy and running tolerance. Apple gives you the Workout app, and you can add a third-party app like Runna. Samsung Health and Google Health cover the basics. If you train for races, I’d put training accuracy ahead of smartwatch apps.

Which Running Smartwatch Should You Buy?#

Choose Garmin if running performance matters most. The Forerunner 170 Music at $349.99 is the cheap way in, the 570 at $549.99 is the one for most runners, and the 970 at $749.99 is for big libraries and maps. Just remember there’s no Apple Music on Garmin.

Choose Apple Watch if you have an iPhone and want the smoothest experience. The Series 12 at $399 is the easy pick, and it’s the only choice if your music lives in Apple Music. Step up to the Ultra 4 at $799 for long races.

Choose Samsung or Pixel if you’re on Android. The Galaxy Watch 9 at $379.99 suits Samsung phone owners, and the Pixel Watch 5 at $399 suits everyone else. Just know the battery is short with music on.

Choose the Fenix 9 Pro if you need outdoor endurance and don’t mind paying for it. For MP3 owners on a budget, the COROS Pace 4 gets the job done for $249.

Whichever you pick, test your headphones and a short playlist before race day.