Ever found yourself pounding the pavement, earbuds in, but wishing your watch could do more than just track your miles? Maybe you’ve felt that familiar frustration: fumbling with your phone mid-run just to change a song, or realizing your current watch doesn’t even have music storage. It’s a common problem for runners who want their workout to be a seamless, enjoyable experience.
Choosing the perfect running watch that also handles your music can feel like a marathon in itself. You want something that’s easy to use, holds your favorite playlists, and maybe even connects to your headphones without a hassle. This post is here to clear up the confusion and guide you towards a watch that makes your runs sing.
By the end of this, you’ll understand what features to look for, discover some great options, and finally find a running watch that keeps pace with both your steps and your soundtrack. Let’s dive into the world of running watches and music!
Our Top 5 Running Watches Music Recommendations at a Glance
| Image | Product | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
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Garmin Forerunner 165 Music | 8.5/10 | Check Price |
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Garmin Forerunner 55 | 9.2/10 | Check Price |
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Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music | 9.2/10 | Check Price |
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2025 Smart Watch for Men Women | 9.2/10 | Check Price |
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TRAUSI Smart Watches for Women Men | 9.4/10 | Check Price |
Top 5 Running Watches Music Detailed Reviews
1. Garmin Forerunner 165 Music
Rating: 8.7/10
The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music in Whitestone is a fantastic smartwatch for runners. It helps you reach your fitness goals with smart features and a bright display. You can even listen to music right from your wrist!
What We Like:
- Bright and colorful AMOLED touchscreen display makes it easy to see your stats.
- Built-in GPS accurately tracks your pace and distance while running.
- Personalized daily suggested workouts adapt to your performance and recovery.
- Download music and playlists from services like Spotify and Amazon Music for phone-free listening.
- Get helpful insights like morning reports on sleep, recovery, and training outlook.
- Training effect and recovery time features help you understand your workouts better.
- Safety features like incident detection and Assistance can send your location to contacts.
- Smart notifications keep you updated on calls and texts from your phone.
- Garmin Pay lets you make contactless payments.
- Long battery life means you won’t have to charge it often (up to 11 days in smartwatch mode).
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear, with traditional button controls.
- Over 25 activity profiles, including running, cycling, and HIIT.
What Could Be Improved:
- Music streaming services require a subscription.
- Safety features need a paired smartphone with network coverage.
This smartwatch offers a lot of value for runners looking for detailed training insights and convenient music playback. It’s a solid choice for anyone serious about improving their running performance.
2. Garmin Forerunner 55
Rating: 9.1/10
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a fantastic GPS running watch that makes training easier and more fun. It’s designed for runners of all levels, offering helpful tools to improve your performance. This watch tracks your runs accurately, monitors your heart rate, and even gives you daily workout suggestions. Plus, its long battery life means you won’t have to charge it too often.
What We Like:
- It accurately tracks how far, fast, and where you run with its built-in GPS.
- You get daily suggested workouts tailored to your fitness level and recovery.
- The PacePro feature helps you plan your race day strategy with pace guidance.
- It predicts your race times and finish times, so you know what to expect.
- You can track many activities like running, cycling, swimming, Pilates, and HIIT.
- It monitors your body’s wellness with features like intensity minutes and fitness age.
- You can customize the watch with different watch faces and apps from the Connect IQ Store.
- The battery lasts up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode.
- It connects to your phone via Bluetooth.
What Could Be Improved:
- The PacePro feature is not compatible with on-device courses.
- The heart rate monitor is for general fitness tracking and is not a medical device.
Overall, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is a great choice for anyone looking to improve their running and fitness. It offers a lot of helpful features in an easy-to-use package.
3. Garmin 010-02120-20 Forerunner 245 Music
Rating: 9.2/10
Ready to take your runs to the next level? The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music in black is a powerful GPS running smartwatch that puts your training and your music right on your wrist. It’s built tough with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens and a comfortable silicone strap, so it can handle all your workouts. Plus, you can leave your phone behind and still enjoy your favorite tunes thanks to built-in music storage that syncs with services like Spotify.
What We Like:
- It has GPS to track your runs accurately.
- You can store and play music directly from the watch.
- It offers advanced running stats like stride length and balance.
- Garmin Coach provides free training plans to help you improve.
- The battery lasts up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 6 hours with GPS and music.
- Safety features like incident detection help keep you safe.
- It tells you if you’re training too much or not enough.
What Could Be Improved:
- Advanced running dynamics require extra sensors that are sold separately.
- The battery life with GPS and music could be longer for very long runs.
This smartwatch is a fantastic tool for runners who want to train smarter and stay motivated with music. It offers a lot of useful features for a great running experience.
4. 2025 Smart Watch for Men Women
Rating: 8.9/10
The 2025 Smart Watch is a feature-packed wearable designed for both men and women. It boasts a large, clear display and connects seamlessly to your smartphone, allowing you to stay connected and track your fitness goals. With its durable and waterproof design, this smartwatch is ready for any adventure.
What We Like:
- You can easily answer and make calls directly from your wrist using the latest Bluetooth 5.3 connection.
- Get instant notifications for social media messages like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, so you never miss an important update.
- The 1.96-inch HD touch screen is bright and responsive, offering a great visual experience.
- Personalize your watch with over 200 DIY watch faces or use your own photos.
- It accurately monitors your heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep patterns 24/7.
- Choose from over 110 different sport modes to track your workouts, from running to swimming.
- The IP68 waterproof rating means you don’t have to worry about sweat or rain.
- Enjoy a long battery life of up to 7 days on a single charge.
- It comes with many useful extra features like a timer, stopwatch, and music control.
What Could Be Improved:
- The “2025” in the name might suggest it’s a future model, but it’s a current product.
- While it tracks many health metrics, some advanced users might want even more detailed data.
This smartwatch offers a fantastic blend of connectivity, fitness tracking, and personalization. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their wristwear.
5. TRAUSI Smart Watches for Women Men
Rating: 8.8/10
The TRAUSI Smart Watch is a stylish and feature-packed wearable for both men and women. Its large, bright screen and many sports modes make it a great tool for staying active and connected. This watch helps you keep track of your health and manage your day with ease.
What We Like:
- The 1.83″ HD display is big and clear, making it easy to see everything.
- You can change the watch face to match your style or mood.
- It has 120 different sports modes to track all your activities, from running to swimming.
- The heart rate and sleep monitors give you helpful information about your health.
- You can make calls and control music right from your wrist.
- It’s IP67 waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about rain or sweat.
- The battery lasts a long time, usually 5-7 days on one charge.
- It works with both iPhones and Android phones.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it has many sports modes, some users might find it overwhelming to choose from.
- The user interface could be a bit more intuitive for some advanced features.
This TRAUSI smartwatch offers a lot of value for its price, making it a solid choice for anyone looking for a versatile and affordable smartwatch.
Choosing Your Perfect Running Companion: A Guide to Music-Enabled Running Watches
Hitting the pavement or the trail is always better with a soundtrack. A running watch that plays music is like having a personal DJ and coach on your wrist! But with so many options, how do you pick the right one? This guide will help you find the best running watch with music for your needs.
1. Key Features to Look For
When you’re shopping for a running watch with music, keep these important features in mind:
- Music Storage: How much music can the watch hold? Some watches let you store hundreds of songs, while others connect to streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: This lets you connect your watch to wireless headphones or earbuds. Make sure it has a stable Bluetooth connection.
- GPS Tracking: A good GPS helps you track your distance, pace, and route accurately. This is super important for runners.
- Heart Rate Monitor: This tracks how fast your heart is beating. It helps you train smarter and stay in the right heart rate zone.
- Battery Life: You don’t want your music to stop mid-run! Check how long the battery lasts with GPS and music playing.
- Water Resistance: If you run in the rain or sweat a lot, you’ll need a watch that can handle moisture.
- Fitness Tracking: Beyond music, look for features like step counting, calorie tracking, and sleep monitoring.
2. Important Materials
The materials used in your running watch affect its comfort, durability, and how it feels on your wrist.
- Watch Case: Many running watches use strong, lightweight plastics like polycarbonate. Some higher-end models might use aluminum or stainless steel for a more premium feel.
- Watch Band: Silicone or rubber bands are very common. They are flexible, comfortable, and can get wet without a problem. Some watches also offer fabric or leather bands, but these are usually less ideal for intense workouts.
- Screen: A scratch-resistant screen, like Corning Gorilla Glass, is a big plus. It keeps your watch looking good even after bumps and scrapes.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Several things can make a running watch great or not so great.
- GPS Accuracy: A watch with a reliable GPS chip will give you accurate distance and pace readings. Cheaper or older GPS technology can sometimes be slow to find a signal or drift off course.
- Sound Quality: While the watch itself doesn’t produce sound, its ability to stream or play music clearly to your headphones is key. A good Bluetooth connection makes a difference here.
- User Interface: How easy is it to control your music, start a run, or find settings? A simple and intuitive interface makes the watch a joy to use. A cluttered or confusing menu can be frustrating.
- Durability: A well-built watch can withstand the rigors of running. Look for watches that feel solid and have good reviews about their toughness.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
How you use your watch will shape your experience.
- Everyday Wear: Many music-enabled running watches look good enough to wear all day. They can track your steps, monitor your heart rate, and alert you to calls and texts.
- Long Runs: For longer runs, battery life and comfortable music playback are essential. You want a watch that can keep up with you for hours.
- Interval Training: Some watches have features that help you time your high-intensity bursts and recovery periods, making your workouts more effective.
- Connecting with Apps: Most watches sync with smartphone apps. These apps let you see your running data, plan routes, and even join challenges with friends.
A running watch with music is a fantastic tool for any runner. By understanding these key features, materials, and quality factors, you can find the perfect device to power your runs with rhythm and data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Running Watches with Music
Q: What is the main advantage of a running watch with music?
A: The main advantage is that you can listen to your favorite songs or podcasts directly from your wrist, without needing to carry your phone. This makes running more enjoyable and convenient.
Q: Do I need a smartphone to use the music features?
A: It depends on the watch. Some watches store music directly on them, so you don’t need a phone. Others connect to music streaming apps on your phone, so you’ll need your phone with you.
Q: Can I use any Bluetooth headphones with these watches?
A: Generally, yes. Most running watches use standard Bluetooth, so they should work with most Bluetooth headphones or earbuds.
Q: How much music can I store on a running watch?
A: This varies greatly. Some watches can store a few hundred songs, while others can hold thousands. If you use streaming services, you can access a much larger library.
Q: Is GPS important if I only care about music?
A: While GPS isn’t directly related to music playback, it’s a core feature of most running watches. It helps you track your distance and pace, which is usually why runners buy these devices.
Q: How long does the battery usually last when playing music?
A: Battery life differs between models. Playing music and using GPS often uses more battery. Check the product specifications for specific details, but expect it to be less than when just using the watch for timekeeping.
Q: Are these watches waterproof?
A: Many are water-resistant, meaning they can handle sweat or a splash of rain. Some are fully waterproof and can be used for swimming. Always check the watch’s water resistance rating.
Q: Can I control the music from the watch?
A: Yes, most music-enabled running watches allow you to play, pause, skip songs, and adjust the volume directly from the watch face.
Q: What happens if my headphones run out of battery?
A: If your headphones run out of battery, you will no longer hear music. The watch will still function as a running watch, but you’ll need to charge your headphones to listen to music again.
Q: Are there running watches with music that don’t require a subscription?
A: Yes. Watches that store music directly on the device allow you to load your own MP3 files, which do not require a subscription. Watches that stream music usually require a subscription to services like Spotify or Apple Music.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.