Looking for a smartwatch to track a run without needing a phone… any recommendations?

I want to get my girlfriend a smartwatch since she has started running again. I think it will help her track her runs better. I’m not familiar with how these watches connect to smartphones and what functions they can do on their own.

I’m hoping to get a watch that can track a Strava run (route, heart rate, pace, elevation) without her needing her phone. Do most smartwatches offer this? Also, being able to download music or podcasts and connect to Bluetooth headphones would be great.

I don’t want to spend too much if cheaper models can handle these tasks. It’d be nice if she could also check messages when her phone is nearby.

Sorry if this is a common question. Thanks for your help!

Good morning,

I recently bought an Amazfit GTS 4, got it at a good price (paid €154 after a €15 discount).

I’m really happy with it. It does everything you mentioned and more.

It’s not too thick, and I’d recommend checking out some tests and videos for more info.

@Jay
That’s great, thank you so much!

Any Garmin model should also work for what you need.