Best Smartwatches with Music Storage: Jam Out While Counting Your Steps

Wearing a smartwatch feels like strapping a tiny assistant to your wrist. It keeps us on time, tracks our steps, and—honestly, our favorite part—lets us listen to music even when our phones are nowhere nearby.

If you want to run phone-free, sing in the shower, or sneak in your grocery store playlist without anyone noticing, smartwatches with music storage are a real game changer.

Streaming is great, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it. Having music stored right on your wrist makes a huge difference.

No more worrying about sketchy Wi-Fi at the gym or burning through data for one more song. With a smartwatch that has built-in music storage, our favorite tunes are always right there—no internet needed, no tangled wires, and definitely no old-school cassette players.

Before we get distracted by shiny screens and endless features, it’s worth thinking about a few key things.

Battery life matters; nothing ruins the mood like your watch dying mid-song. Storage space decides how many songs you can actually fit—which might crush your dreams of carrying every “greatest hits” album ever.

Also, check that the watch works with your favorite streaming services or music files, and make sure it plays nice with your headphones and phone. We spent hours digging into specs and trying out smartwatches to find the best ones for listening to music, wherever we end up.

Best Smartwatches with Music Storage

Let’s be real—no one wants to run with their phone bouncing around just to hear a few tunes. We rounded up the best smartwatches that let us store our favorite music and leave our phones at home.

No more awkward phone bulges—just pure, portable playlists right on our wrists.

Garmin Forerunner 165 Music

If running without your phone but still jamming to music sounds like the dream, it’s hard to top this one.

Pros

• Keeps our music (and questionable taste) right on our wrist—no phone needed
• Battery lasts so long we wondered if it was solar powered
• Super comfy and light, so it doesn’t feel like a brick during a jog

Cons

• Touchscreen gets a bit too sensitive when we’re sweaty
• Music transfer takes its sweet time
• Only holds so many songs before making us choose what to delete

Training with the Forerunner 165 Music feels like having a running coach and a mini DJ glued to your arm.

Syncing playlists is straightforward, even if the transfer speed tests our patience. It’s kind of wild to hit the trails and leave our phones at home, all while enjoying our favorite tunes through Bluetooth.

The battery is a real win here. We took it on some long weeks and barely thought about charging.

That means fewer nights spent crawling around for a charger cable. During runs, the lightweight build kept our wrists happy—no weird tan lines or annoying bounce.

Notifications pop up nicely during the day, and tracking our stats gets weirdly addictive. Who doesn’t love a good chart?

The only real snag? The screen sometimes registers phantom touches when we’re sweating buckets.

Still, with the gorgeous display, music on the go, and health insights, the Forerunner 165 Music keeps us moving and grooving—without the extra pocket bulk.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

If you’re serious about ditching your phone and still want to jam out while running, this watch has your back.

Pros

• Music on our wrist actually works without a phone
• Tracks our running like it’s writing our personal fitness story
• Battery stays alive for days

Cons

• Design looks more “dad on a jog” than “secret agent”
• Music setup can be confusing if you hate instructions
• Not the cheapest—could buy shoes instead

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music acts like a workout buddy who refuses to let us slog through a quiet run.

We load up our favorite playlists, sync up Spotify, and leave our phones at home—finally, perfect freedom without silence. Skipping songs with sweaty fingers is weirdly satisfying.

Those training stats? They’re more number-happy than our old math teacher.

We love seeing every little measurement tracked, even if we have no idea what “vertical ratio” means. The battery doesn’t give up, and the incident detection is surprisingly helpful.

Let’s be honest—this watch won’t win any fashion awards. If you want something flashy, look elsewhere.

But with music storage and performance features packed in, it quietly becomes that friend who always brings snacks for the group.

Garmin Venu Sq Music Smartwatch

If you want a smartwatch that handles music storage without needing to recharge every night, this little Garmin is a solid pick.

Pros

• Stores music so we can leave our phones behind on a run
• Battery lasts longer than our attention span for cardio
• Tons of health features to make us feel like elite athletes

Cons

• Figuring out music services is a headache with all the subscriptions
• Screen isn’t as bright in full sunlight as we’d like
• Not the fanciest if we want to talk to our wrists

We appreciate a lot about the Venu Sq Music. Loading up Spotify playlists right to our wrist turns the treadmill into a solo concert.

The battery outlasted several of our workout streaks, which says something.

Navigating through workouts, sleep data, and all the fitness features is easy with the touchscreen. We liked zipping through the checkout lane with Garmin Pay—no more fumbling for change after a sweaty gym session.

Smart notifications are handy, though we’re not sold on typing messages from a tiny screen.

Syncing music takes patience, especially without premium streaming subscriptions. The display sometimes struggles under bright sunlight, but indoors or at the gym, it’s sharp.

If you want a straightforward smartwatch that’s durable, stores your favorite songs, and makes exercise more fun, the Venu Sq Music is a smart move.

Garmin Venu Sq Music (Renewed)

Looking for a smartwatch that won’t crack under pressure and lets us jam out on the go? Give this one a serious look.

Pros

• Music storage and streaming from big apps
• Excellent health tracking with tons of features
• Battery life lasts longer than our willpower at the gym

Cons

• Bluetooth for headphones can be moody
• Setup for music apps takes some patience
• Renewed, so it’s technically “gently loved” by someone else

The Garmin Venu Sq Music (Renewed) is like the used car of smartwatches—it’s not brand new, but it gets the job done.

We fired it up and stored our favorite playlists from Spotify right on our wrist, so we left the phone at home during runs. No more carrying bricks in our pockets.

The display surprised us. It’s bright and easy to see, even in sunlight, which makes checking stats or changing songs simple.

Loading music onto the watch takes some tinkering, and connecting wireless headphones wasn’t always smooth, but it worked after a few tries (and maybe some grumbling).

On the health side, this thing tracks enough stuff that we can’t make excuses for skipping a workout. Stress, sleep, heart rate—it knows more about us than our moms do.

If you want lots of features, music without a phone, and don’t mind a renewed device, this watch is a smart pick.

Aeac Alexa Smartwatch

If you want a smartwatch that actually lets us leave our phones behind while keeping our playlists close and pretending we’re more organized than we are, this Aeac watch hits the spot.

Pros

• Built-in Alexa saves us from yelling at the house when lights won’t turn off
• Music storage means more awkward dance moves on the go
• Long battery life, so we charge less and brag more

Cons

• Group messaging apps can be picky with notifications
• Limited onboard memory for music hoarders
• Touchscreen gets a little smudgy after snacking

Setting up this watch is easy—we didn’t need a computer science degree, just decent eyesight and a craving for top 40 hits on our wrist.

The built-in Alexa actually works, so we can set reminders for important things like “buy more ice cream” or “walk the dog.” It’s nice having voice commands that don’t ignore us.

We took it out for a run (well, more like a half-walk, half-run) and swapped tracks without digging out our phones. Having music storage built-in means we can power-walk in style, wire-free, even if our playlist is mostly ‘90s hits.

Charging is rare thanks to its solid battery life. After a week, we still had enough juice to pretend we’re tracking another workout.

It’s not perfect—the touchscreen can be picky with snack-covered fingers, and notifications for some social apps can miss the mark. Still, for the price and features, this little gadget brings the party (and productivity) right to our wrists.

Garmin Forerunner 255S Music

If you want to run farther, play your music, and not feel like you’re dragging a brick around your wrist, the Forerunner 255S Music just makes sense. It really feels like a smart choice.

Pros

• Slim and light—finally, something that fits skinny wrists and slides under sleeves.
• You can load up tons of songs for phone-free runs.
• Battery life is surprisingly long, unless you’re running marathons every single day.

Cons

• The display looks kind of “old school” compared to fancier watches.
• Syncing music takes patience—don’t expect instant uploads.
• There aren’t many apps, but maybe we’re just picky.

Let’s talk comfort. The Forerunner 255S Music is so light, sometimes you forget it’s even there.

Loading songs from your playlists takes a little while, but once you’re set up, heading out without the phone feels pretty freeing. Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer tracks land right on your wrist.

Training stats pop up fast, sometimes before you’ve even grabbed a snack. The watch suggests daily workouts and gives health insights every morning, which honestly feels like having a tiny coach who never slacks off (or steals your snacks).

Battery life is a real win. You won’t need to charge every day—the 255S Music sticks around long enough that you almost wonder if it’s solar-powered (it’s not, we checked).

Sure, we’d love a snazzier screen and a few more apps, but this watch is built for runners who love music and don’t care about fancy animations.

Amazfit Active 2 Smart Watch

If you want to blast your music while running from imaginary zombies—but still look like you know what style is—the Amazfit Active 2 checks all the boxes.

Pros

• Store your favorite songs right on the watch—no more phone armbands.
• Battery life actually lasts more than a lunch break, so you’re not stuck charging all the time.
• The bright display keeps you from squinting at your wrist, even in the sun.

Cons

• Voice controls are fun until you try talking to it at the gym and get weird looks.
• The Zepp app could use a little extra magic for syncing music.
• Some sport modes are so oddly specific you might have to Google them.

With the Amazfit Active 2, you can finally leave your phone behind. Downloading playlists means you can jog, hike, or even attempt yoga poses without worrying about tangled tech.

Music storage is super easy to use—honestly, it saves us from another phone-dropping disaster. The 10-day battery claim? Not just marketing. After a week of full use, ours still had juice left.

Heart and sleep tracking make us feel like data scientists every morning—well, with less math and more graphs. The only real complaint? Using voice commands in public makes us look like secret agents with questionable style.

If you’re new to the Zepp App, there’s a bit of a learning curve. But if you can figure out offline maps, you’ll figure out this watch. If you want to leave the house with just your tunes and your wits, this smartwatch is worth a look.

Garmin Venu Sq Music Edition

If you want to leave your phone (and wallet) at home but still groove out to your favorite songs, this is a practical pick—quirks and all.

Pros

• Listen to music without dragging your phone along (because pockets are overrated).
• Tracks so many health stats, you start feeling like your own personal trainer.
• It’s “fancy for less”—a renewed model, so your wallet can breathe easy.

Cons

• The pedometer sometimes counts imaginary steps.
• Notification sync can be moody.
• Tiny screen text will test your squinting skills.

The Garmin Venu Sq Music Edition makes workouts more fun—especially when you hit play on Spotify and leave your phone in a drawer. Downloading songs is easy after you connect your accounts, so you can enjoy playlists without worrying about missed calls (the watch doesn’t let you talk anyway).

The health features impress. You can check heart rate, stress, water intake—basically, it nags you like a fitness coach, but way more politely.

Setting it up might make you scratch your head, especially when notifications play hide and seek or text gets too tiny. For the price—especially on the renewed plan—it’s a solid way to try smart features and music storage without spending a fortune.

Fitpolo Alexa Smartwatch

If you want to keep jamming out to tunes without lugging your phone around and want extra smart features on your wrist, the Fitpolo smartwatch is worth a look.

Pros

• You can answer calls right from the watch—perfect for playing secret agent.
• Built-in Alexa lets you act way too busy at all times.
• Battery lasts longer than most of our jogging attempts.

Cons

• No way to send or reply to texts directly from the watch—sorry, silent texters.
• Music control only, so you’re still streaming from your phone.
• The silicone band collects more lint than a black hoodie.

We love how the Fitpolo Alexa Smartwatch lets you take calls right on your wrist. It’s perfect for those moments when your phone is buried in the couch, or when you want to feel like you’re starring in a spy movie.

The speaker is surprisingly clear, and nobody will know you’re multitasking on a video call. Alexa is built in, so barking orders for weather updates or reminders is about as close as we’ll get to a personal assistant.

Pairing the watch to your phone takes almost no effort—honestly, less than getting out of bed most days. Changing the watch face is easy, and we’ve tried everything from cat pics to questionable lunch photos.

Playlist control works great, but we wish we could actually load up music directly instead of just managing what’s on the phone. Still, for a budget smartwatch that tracks almost everything, lasts a week without charging, and has a screen you can see in daylight, we can live with a little extra pocket weight.

Just don’t expect it to replace your music player—unless your favorite playlist is the sound of incoming calls.

Amazfit GTR 3 Pro

If you want a watch that looks sharp and can stash a music library on your wrist, this one hits the mark—just don’t expect it to make your coffee.

Pros

• Store up to 470 songs on the watch, so you can leave your phone at home for walks.
• Battery life really lasts for days—no more “battery at 2%” panic.
• Health tracking gives you so many stats, you might start diagnosing yourself.

Cons

• No way to stream from music apps, just what you load onto it.
• Voice assistant has its quirks (sometimes Alexa just needs a minute).
• Some phone features are missing, like contactless payments.

Everyday wear feels easy with the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro. It’s lightweight, and honestly, we think it passes the “would I wear this to a wedding?” test without looking too techy.

Changing the watch face is so simple, you might spend more time picking one than actually using it. At the gym, it tracks almost everything except how much you sweat just thinking about the treadmill.

Music controls live on the watch—super handy when you want to skip that one song you always pretend to like. Loading your favorite tracks lets you jog hands-free, though syncing music takes a bit of patience.

We’re big fans of the battery—wish our phones lasted as long. Health data is thorough and just a couple taps away.

It would be nice if the voice assistant was a bit quicker and if we could tap to pay for lattes, but for the price, we think it earns a spot on your wrist.

Buying Guide

When we pick a smartwatch, we want it to do more than just remind us we’re late—again. Music storage is a must, but honestly, who wants a watch that digs into your wrist or dies halfway through the day?

Let’s keep a few things on our checklist:

• Storage Space: More gigabytes means more songs. Nobody wants to hear the same track on repeat, right?
• Battery Life: Our playlists should last through workouts, walks, and those long couch sessions.
• Water Resistance: Some of us dance in the rain or forget to take the watch off before a swim. This matters.
• Compatibility: The watch should work with our phones. No drama, please.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to consider:

Feature	Why It Matters
Music Storage	Lets you keep more songs for offline listening
Comfort	No wrist marks or itchy straps, please
Controls	Makes it easy to pause, skip, or repeat tracks
Connectivity	Syncs quickly with headphones or buds
Durability	Survives bumps, drops, and clumsy hands

Menus should be easy to use. If we can get to our favorite playlist with fewer taps, that’s a win—especially if our hands are full (probably snacks).

Voice controls? That’s a bonus for those of us who like to multitask.

Battery-saving features help us avoid charging the watch after every little dance party. And yes, bathroom concerts totally count as dance parties.

If style matters to you, check out the strap options. A smartwatch with music should at least match your favorite socks.