Most smartwatches these days have built-in GPS, plus other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GLONASS and BeiDou, so you can get accurate workout tracking without needing your phone for connected GPS. But only a rare few fitness trackers support the technology, possibly because it makes them too heavy or bulky. So we'll help you find those rare few trackers that let you leave your phone behind.

Also, a rare few smartwatches support more accurate tracking like All-Systems GNSS, which accesses multiple satellite systems simultaneously for more accurate results. And the newest technology is dual-frequency GPS, which accesses L1 and L5 GPS data for multiple angles on your position that can help bypass major obstructions like mountains, buildings, or foliage.

So when it comes to the best GPS smartwatches & fitness trackers, we'll try to lay out all of the models that give you the best possible accuracy for your training; otherwise, we'll simply name some of the best fitness watches that happen to have GPS data.

These are the best GPS smartwatches for location accuracy and mapping

Garmin Fenix 7

Top-tier mapping tools

Most GPS smartwatches are for tracking your progress, while a few give you the option to look at topographical maps or guide you on trails. The Garmin Fenix 7 is the most hardcore option on our list. Aside from the usual dual-frequency/ all-systems data, the Fenix 7 has Nextfork map guides to keep you on your trail, ski resort maps, golf course maps, nearby hiking checkpoints, and other tools that help you know where you are at all times. 

Want a fitness tracker with built-in GPS? Try one of these!

• Back to the top ^

Deciding how much GPS accuracy you actually need

We've described all the different watches with All-Systems GNSS or dual-frequency/ multi-band GPS, but do you actually need those? Or is simple GPS data all you need? Well, it depends on where you typically work out. 

All-Systems mode employs two or more satellite systems at once, but the benefit of this depends on how well alternative systems like GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, or QDZZ actually perform in your area. COROS recommends you need this mode for working out in the following areas: "city near tall buildings, neighborhoods with significant tree canopies or mountainous/hilly terrain." Overall, this is a useful perk, but you're still liable to deal with reflecting location signals.

Dual-frequency mode offers the most accurate data you can get, because it tracks you across L1 and L5 satellite data coming from multiple directions, so if one signal is blocked, you can still count on the other to pick up the slack. In this case, COROS says it's for "rock/ice climbing sheer rock faces in narrow canyons, hiking deep within forests, in between mountain peaks, or near sheer cliff drop-offs such as the Grand Canyon." In other words, you may not need it outside of extreme conditions, but it's certainly nice to have.

As for trackers, most of our favorite fitness trackers rely on connected GPS, meaning you need your phone nearby to track your workouts. But at least most phones have pretty accurate location data on par with what you'd get with a smartwatch, so you only really need a fitness tracker with built-in GPS if you're someone that likes to run without a phone on hand. And you certainly won't get dual-frequency data on one anytime soon.