10 Best Triathlon Watches 2025 in the United States

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a strong contender for triathletes thanks to its rugged design and comprehensive features. Its titanium case and sapphire crystal display make it highly durable and able to withstand tough conditions, including water resistance up to 100 meters—ideal for swimming and water sports. Battery life is solid, offering up to 42 hours of regular use and up to 72 hours in a low power mode, which is beneficial for long training sessions or races. GPS accuracy is top-notch with dual-frequency support, helping athletes track routes precisely across running, cycling, swimming, and other multisport activities.

The watch also excels in heart rate monitoring, using advanced sensors to provide detailed insights and alerts for unusual heart rhythms or high blood pressure, which can be valuable for health-conscious triathletes. Its multisport mode covers a wide range of exercises, making it versatile for triathlon training and other workouts. Connectivity is excellent, with cellular capabilities allowing calls, music streaming, and emergency satellite messaging even without a phone nearby—great for safety during outdoor adventures.

The watch’s large 49mm size might feel bulky on smaller wrists, and its tight integration with the Apple ecosystem means it works best with an iPhone, which may limit usability for non-Apple users. While the battery life is good, it may still require daily charging for heavy users. This is a premium multisport watch offering robust features and durability, especially suited for athletes who want deep health tracking and reliable connectivity in demanding environments.

The Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm GPS) is a solid choice for those interested in a versatile multisport smartwatch, including triathletes who want a reliable fitness partner. It offers good battery life with about 18 hours of use and fast charging, which is convenient for daily tracking and quick turnarounds between workouts. Its GPS capabilities include support for multiple satellite systems (L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS), which helps with accurate location tracking during swims, bikes, and runs. The heart rate sensor is advanced, providing high and low heart rate alerts and irregular rhythm notifications, contributing to safety during intense training. While it tracks a variety of workouts and offers an always-on display for easy data viewing, it does not have a specialized multisport mode that automatically switches between activities, which some dedicated triathlon watches provide.

Water resistance is suitable for swimming, but it’s not designed for deep-water or prolonged submersion activities. Durability is enhanced with crack-resistant Ion-X glass and an aluminum case, making it fairly sturdy for everyday use. Its connectivity options (Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi) keep you connected with your iPhone for calls, messages, and music, but cellular connectivity requires a higher-tier model.

The Apple Watch SE 3 effectively combines fitness tracking with smart features, though triathletes seeking more specialized, rugged devices with longer battery life might find it somewhat limited.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a versatile smartwatch that offers solid features for fitness enthusiasts, including those interested in triathlon training. Its battery life supports about 18 hours of typical use, which should get you through a full day but may require daily charging if used heavily. The watch includes built-in GPS with support for multiple satellite systems (L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, QZSS), providing reliable location tracking for outdoor activities like running and cycling. Heart rate monitoring is well-covered with notifications for high, low, or irregular rhythms, and the second-generation optical sensor improves accuracy during workouts.

Multisport modes are available through the Workout app, which tracks various exercises and provides real-time metrics, although it’s more general than some specialized triathlon watches that automatically switch between swimming, cycling, and running segments. Water resistance is included, making it suitable for swimming, but Apple doesn’t specify a dive rating, so it’s best for surface swims rather than deep water. The watch is built with durable materials including crack-resistant glass and an aluminum case, good for active use but less rugged than some dedicated triathlon models designed for rough conditions.

Connectivity is excellent with fast Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and LTE options, allowing you to stay connected without your phone nearby. Features like the always-on display and fast charging add convenience for daily wear and quick power-ups. While the Apple Watch SE 3 excels at fitness tracking and smartwatch functions, triathletes looking for advanced multisport transitions and longer battery life during extended races might want to consider specialized triathlon watches. It remains a strong choice for those who want a capable, stylish smartwatch that supports a broad range of health and fitness tracking with seamless iPhone integration.