Which Smartwatch Is Best For Health?

best smartwatches for health

• smartwatches are now extremely versatile and powerful tools. the best options can track exercise, deliver advanced health insights, and act as a handy second screen to your smartphone.
• as such, we grade withings scanwatch light as one of the best overall smartwatches available, with apple watch ultra 3 and series 11 slotting in as the best premium options for most iphone users.
• if you’re an android user in need of an alternative, we currently recommend google pixel watch 4, samsung galaxy watch 8, and samsung galaxy watch ultra.
• yet, if none of these sound appealing to you, we also cover the best smartwatch for sport—garmin venu x1—along with two more affordable options: huawei watch fit 4 and apple watch se 3.

how health smartwatches were tested

• trying to rank the top smartwatches is a complex task; no two devices are the same, nor are the people using them.
• ultimately, this buyer’s guide builds upon our full, in-depth reviews, which involve testing a device over several weeks (and often longer).
• we rigorously analyze the design, features, health monitoring, activity tracking, and manufacturer claims during this time.
• when it comes to measuring accuracy, we focus on steps, distance, and heart rate, as these are metrics that are both verifiable and can be uniformly tested.
• we don't test active minutes, calories burned, and stairs climbed for a few reasons.

samsung galaxy watch 8

• the samsung galaxy watch 8 has the most wellness features of any smartwatch we've tested.
• its galaxy ai can build a guided running program for you or coach you to sleep better.
• when you wear the watch to bed and place a compatible smartphone on your nightstand, the two can work together to detect snoring and even record it.
• the watch also tracks your sleep duration and stages (awake, light, deep, and rem), as well as overnight spo2.
• with cutting-edge fitness and health-tracking tools plus useful connectivity features, the samsung galaxy watch 8 is the best android-compatible smartwatch i've tested.
• like the rest of samsung’s current smartwatch lineup, the galaxy watch 8 works with android phones (running android 12 or newer with at least 1.5gb of ram), but some features, like snore detection, are only available when paired with a samsung handset.

apple watch series 11

• the apple watch series 11 offers a broad suite of built-in fitness, health, and safety tools, along with the best selection of third-party apps (such as alltrails, nike run club, peloton, and strava) of any smartwatch.
• it also includes 5g connectivity for streaming music while away from your phone, as well as hypertension notifications to help you catch signs of high blood pressure early.
• its activity, exercise, and stand rings can help motivate you to get moving, and its companion fitness+ workout streaming service ($9.99 per month or $79.99 per year after a three-month trial) offers a variety of studio-style classes with excellent music and instruction for the home or gym.
• it goes beyond the basics with a multisport tracking option for triathletes and advanced running metrics, including real-time power, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.
• the series 11 can even alert you if it detects a high or low heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, and loud sounds that can damage your hearing.
• it also supports emergency sos and international emergency calling, as well as automatic calls for help if it detects a hard fall.
• ios 26, so it's not an option if you use android.

apple watch ultra 3

• apple watch ultra 3 sets the benchmark for smartwatches with fitness credentials, and the new version now boasts an even wider screen than the already impressive ultra 2.
• pros wider screen to improve viewing in bright light more battery and faster charging speeds satellite connectivity for when you go fully off-grid
• cons fitness tracking not hugely different from ultra 2 still won’t last a full week without charging some new features coming to the ultra 2
• specifications apple watch ultra 3 display retina ltpo oled, 3000 nits (peak) 422 x 514 pixels
• display size 49 x 44mm
• connectivity bluetooth, wifi
• weight 2.2oz/61.6g
• waterproof wr100
• compatibility iphone / android
• battery life up to 72 hours with gps

garmin venu 4

• garmin venu 4 has a stealthy, understated design that doesn’t scream ‘fitness watch’ – making a great all-day, everyday wearer that looks as good in the office as in the gym.
• pros design doesn’t scream sports watch a good mix of fitness and non-fitness features now includes strength training plans
• cons big price jump from venu 3 garmin’s app isn’t particularly beginner friendly fewer physical buttons than other garrmin watches
• specifications garmin venu 4 display amoled 454 x 454 / 390 x 390 pixels
• display size 1.4 / 1.2 inches (diameter)
• connectivity bluetooth, wifi
• weight 1.3oz/38g (1.2oz/33g excluding strap)
• waterproof 5atm
• compatibility iphone / android
• battery life up to 15 hours with gps / 18 days without

garmin vivoactive 5

• the garmin vivoactive 5 strikes the right balance between a capable smartwatch and a detailed fitness tracker.
• it offers notifications, mobile payments, and apps, along with accurate exercise, sleep, and stress tracking.
• the vivoactive 5 considers all three of those health metrics when calculating your body battery energy level approximation.
• recent smartwatches from google and samsung offer a similar holistic health score, but garmin's is unique in that it updates dynamically throughout the day.
• it's the only garmin on this list with onboard music storage, so you can download songs and playlists to the watch and listen without your phone.
• garmin loyalists: the vivoactive 5 is the choice for you if you want the detailed fitness tracking and long battery life garmin is known for, combined with capable smarts.
• it works with both android and ios phones via the garmin connect app.

garmin lily 2

• designed specifically for women, the garmin lily 2 stands out for its classic, jewelry-like design.
• it features a beautiful, patterned face, an aluminum bezel and case, and a 14mm quick-release band that's much slimmer than most smartwatch straps, so you can wear it alongside other bracelets.
• more than just attractive, the lily 2 can track health stats such as your calories burned, energy level, heart rate, respiration, sleep, spo2, steps, stress, and workouts.
• it also offers smartwatch features such as phone notifications, music playback controls, and useful calendar and weather widgets.
• it's water-resistant to 164 feet and can last up to five days on a charge.
• android and ios users: the lily 2 works with both major smartphone platforms via the garmin connect app.

fitbit charge 6

• the charge 6 has a color touch screen, a 5atm water-resistance rating, multi-day battery life, a built-in gps, sensors to monitor key overnight health metrics like skin temperature and spo2, and support for on-demand ecg heart health and eda stress readings.
• though it's primarily for fitness and health tracking, the charge 6 features several google lifestyle apps, including google maps, google wallet (which replaces fitbit pay), and youtube music.
• its companion app clearly displays your data and can be customized to highlight metrics related to your goal.
• anyone interested in improving their health: with tons of tools for monitoring your activity and health, key lifestyle features, and a fantastic companion app, the charge 6 is the best standalone fitness tracker for most people.
• android and ios users: fitbit's latest tracker is compatible with most phones running at least android 11.0 or ios 16.4 via the google health app (formerly the fitbit app).

fitbit air

• the affordable fitbit air is the best fitness tracker for those who don't want a distracting screen.
• it's unobtrusive enough to stay out of the way at the gym or while sleeping, and stylish enough to fit in with a more elegant outfit.
• it proved highly accurate when measuring heart rate and sleep in my testing.
• the google health app shows most of your data for free, and offers access to workout classes and a responsive ai-based coach with a premium membership.
• the air can buzz if you want it to act as a morning alarm, but you can otherwise forget about it for about a week between battery charges while it monitors your health in the background.
• android and ios users: the air works with both smartphone platforms via the google health app.

oura ring 4

• comfort seekers: thanks to its unobtrusive design, the oura ring 4 is a more comfortable alternative to wrist-based trackers.
• with six days of battery life and an excellent companion app (available on android and ios), it's the best finger-based fitness tracker we've tested.
• stylish people: if you want a fitness tracker that doesn't look like one, the oura ring 4 is a top pick.
• it comes in a range of colors, including gold, silver, and stealth (dark gray), to suit different tastes.
• those looking to stress less and sleep better: the oura ring 4 offers many useful health insights and recommendations, making it a top choice if you need help reducing stress and improving your sleep.
• the oura ring 4 supports basic exercise tracking, but it's not as detailed as many wrist-based options.
• for holistic health monitoring, however, the oura ring 4 is tough to beat.

health smartwatch buying considerations

• smartwatches and fitness trackers offer an easy, on-the-go way to keep track of your digital life and health.
• most models can handle texts and phone calls, make touchless payments, and play music, all right from your wrist.
• and thanks to a variety of built-in sensors, these wearables also collect a wide range of insightful health and fitness data.
• they can monitor your sleep, track your heart rate, and even detect heart rhythm irregularities.
• when choosing a smartwatch or fitness tracker, it’s important to consider its compatibility with your smartphone, its battery life, and the fit and feel on your wrist.
• other factors to keep in mind range from how easy it is to recharge the device to its ability to respond quickly to user inputs, and the accuracy of step counts and heart rate monitoring.

compatibility and comfort

compatibility

above all, make sure the smartwatch or fitness tracker will be compatible with your existing smartphone.

for example, apple watches work only with iphones, whereas android smartwatches that run on google’s wear os can be used only with android phones.

other models, like fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers, can work with either iphones or android phones.

in general, buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker that matches your phone brand can ensure seamless compatibility.

comfort

your smartwatch should be comfortable to wear, so if the one you’re trying seems large and clunky, keep on shopping.

fit makes a difference when it comes to getting accurate heart rate readings.

a strap or band that’s too loose or tight can throw off the watch’s sensors.

battery life

this can range from one day to more than two weeks, depending not only on the watch’s battery but also on how you use the watch.

certain apps—gps, for example—are especially power-hungry.

activity tracking

• most smartwatches and fitness trackers can count your steps and monitor your heart rate, while others feature barometers and gps tracking to help track your outdoor workouts.
• many work with fitness apps that keep records of your workouts and daily movement and help you track your calorie intake and calories burned.
• some have sleep tracking functions that can tell you how long you slept at night, along with other detailed data about your slumber.
• the most basic trackers include a three-axis accelerometer, which measures steps and distance traveled.
• to measure heart rate, manufacturers generally opt for an optical sensor (the green flashing light you usually see on the other side of the display).
• some trackers may include barometers and altimeters to measure elevation, as well as gps.