Best smartwatch deal for athletes: Save $500 on the Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition

SAVE $500: As of May 28, the Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire Edition smartwatch is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its usual list price of $999.99 and its best price ever.

I'm a bit of a Garmin fangirl. Now only have I been rocking a Garmin watch for six years, but I also bought one for both of my parents and my boyfriend. I'll always recommend them, but especially so when they're on sale. If you're in the market for a high-performance smartwatch built for fitness, one of Garmin's most impressive smartwatches is the cheapest it's ever been.

As of May 28, the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2, 47mm) is down to just $499.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its list price of $999.99 and, according to our favorite price-tracking tool, its best price on record. While it's not the first time we've seen the price drop this low, it is the first time this year.

Not all Garmin watches are created equal and the Epix Pro is at the higher end of the spectrum.

It features a shiny AMOLED display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and titanium bezel and it goes far beyond just tracking your heart rate and caloric burn. It's packed with advanced features that track everything you can imagine: pulse oxygen levels, stress, body battery, respiration, recovery time, real-time stamina, running pace, heart rate variability, running strength during ascents, endurance over time, and lots more.

You can also follow along with animated workouts or personalized training plans for your next race right from your wrist. There's even a built-in flashlight for late-night and early-morning training.

One thing about Garmin smartwatches that sets them above the rest is the battery life. The Epix Pro Sapphire Edition delivers up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to 30 hours in GPS mode — something Apple could only dream of.

If you want a smartwatch that can actually keep up with your fitness journey, the Garmin Epix Pro is for you. And I highly recommend grabbing it while it's half price.