Best smartwatch 2021: the top wearables you can buy today
If you want the best smartwatch, you're looking for a real jack of all trades. You need a watch that'll monitor your health, track your efforts when exercising, last for a long time between charges, have useful tools like flashlights and timers and, perhaps most importantly, come at a reasonably low price.
Here at TechRadar, we've tested all the best smartwatches on the market, including offerings from all the biggest companies as well as up-and-comers and smaller names, allowing us to rank them definitively so you know which to consider.
We've tried everything, from top-tier Apple Watches and Fitbits to Garmin watches and Tizen-sporting Samsung watches. There's also Wear OS, which is Google's own wearable operating system in the vein of Apple's watchOS and, spoiler alert, you’ll see it show up in a lot of these devices – including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which is a new addition to this list and sees Samsung switch from Tizen.
If you're buying the best smartwatch for you, it's worth looking into getting the best phone for you too, as there's sometimes added functionality depending on the handset you've got, though some smartwatches don't even need a phone to connect to.
You should note that certain smartwatches are limited in compatibility to certain phones. For example, you won't be able to use an Apple Watch with one of the best Android phones.
When we review each of the best smartwatches, we consider design, feature set, battery life, performance, fitness smarts, price and more, so whatever factor is important to a purchase, you can be sure we've considered it.
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Best smartwatches you can buy right now
The Apple Watch SE is the best smartwatch money can buy right now, but it's only the right choice for you if you own an iPhone. Scroll down for our second choice in this list if you've got an Android phone.
If you do have an iPhone, you may wonder why the Apple Watch 6 doesn't take our title of the very best smartwatch? That's because the Apple Watch SE does almost everything that smartwatch can, but for a much lower price.
The Apple Watch SE comes with some top-end specs, a high-end design and a great range of features that you can't get on every other smartwatch right now.
The battery life isn't the best on the market, and there isn't an always-on display, but if you're after a great value for money choice for your next wrist companion you should opt for the Apple Watch SE.
Read the full Apple Watch SE review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a wearable that had a lot of hype around it. This sees Samsung return to Wear OS, having used Tizen for recent models. But this isn’t Wear OS as you might know it – it’s a new take on the operating system, designed alongside Samsung, and with a very Tizen-like skin on the top.
That means you get the best of both worlds, with the functionality and apps of Wear OS, coupled with the look and feel of Tizen.
Add to that great performance, a comfortable fit, a lightweight build, and interesting new body composition measurement tools, and this makes for a top smartwatch, especially for those interested in tracking their health and fitness.
But with some of its features requiring a Samsung phone, and no support for iPhones, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 isn’t something we can recommend to everyone. It also arguably isn’t worth upgrading to if you already own a recent Galaxy Watch.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review
The Apple Watch 6 hasn't taken the top spot in our best smartwatch list, but this is absolute best device you can get if you own an iPhone. Why isn't it ranked above the Apple Watch SE? Because it's a lot more expensive than that option.
The Apple Watch 6 works seamlessly with Apple's phones, and it's well worth considering if you plan to stick with the iPhone range for at least a few years.
It isn't a huge upgrade over the Apple Watch 5 though. There are new features like blood oxygen monitoring and an upgraded chipset, but largely it's a similar device with the exact same screen and design.
All of that said, if you're after an Apple Watch this is the best from the company ever and it may be made specifically for you to strap around your wrist and pair with your iPhone.
Read the full Apple Watch 6 review
Don't want something from either Samsung or Apple? The Fitbit Versa 3 may be best for your wrist, and this latest smartwatch from the company is one of the best wrist companions for those who want to focus on fitness features.
There's built-in GPS, the design is comfortable to wear and the display is easy to view with a crisp image. Like previous Fitbit smartwatches, this is mostly focused on fitness and won't be for everyone.
But for general wearable fans, the Fitbit Versa 3 is a good option, and it's more affordable than some of the other options on this list too.
Read our full Fitbit Versa 3 review
The Galaxy Watch 3 from Samsung is one of the best smartwatches for Android owners. It also works with an iPhone though. It's a sequel to the Galaxy Watch from 2018, and it keeps a lot of that device's design elements but refines them.
The Galaxy Watch 3 features a unique rotating bezel that makes navigating around the smartwatch a joy. We find that a lot easier than trying to use the display, which is something you have to do on a lot of the other best smartwatches in this list.
Apps available on the watch are more limited than Wear OS or watchOS - two rival smartwatch operating systems - but it still offers the core basics and Samsung has provided a watch that's good at fitness as well as sporting a great design and lots more functionality too.
Features are more limited if you're using this with an iPhone, but it's still compatible with those devices. We'd recommend considering an Apple Watch though if that's your phone of choice. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the full package if you're looking for a smartwatch to track your fitness, look good on your wrist and a whole lot more.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review
The second best Fitbit on our list is the Fitbit Versa Lite, a more affordable version of the Fitbit Versa with a few of the features dropped.
The Versa Lite has a good range of fitness features, a battery that'll last you a good few days (and beat out lots of the other devices on this list), and a body that's quite small and light, and will fit on your wrist easily without you noticing it lots of the time.
Some of the features the Versa Lite misses over the Versa, or the Versa 2 and 3, include no Fitbit Pay, no on-board GPS and a slightly less impressive screen. If you're looking for a good smartwatch on a budget though, you might not mind some of these omissions.
Read the full Fitbit Versa Lite review
Samsung shrank the best parts of the the Galaxy Watch into this sportier smartwatch that's slimmer, lighter and, arguably, more comfortable - then released a second version months after the first that included a few coveted features, including a rotating digital bezel and LTE version.
Overall, not much has changed - which isn't a bad thing, as it's still a quality smartwatch at a decent price. Galaxy Watch Active 2 features a 1.2-inch 360 x 360 display that is bright and beautiful yet small enough to be strapped around your wrist than a lot of the other devices in this list.
It still comes sporting all of the top-end fitness features you'd expect from Samsung's Tizen watch range, with 39 workout modes, a heart rate and ECG sensor, and health app with stress and sleep monitoring. There's even a way to monitor your blood pressure, but that won't be activated for some time.
While it's still more affordable than the leading Apple Watch, the price was bumped up from the original Watch Active, shrinking its value compared to the competition. It's certainly not a cheap smartwatch, but when compared to the price of the Galaxy Watch 3 you may prefer to opt for this version that's remarkably similar.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review
If you're a fond exerciser but don't think a dedicated sports watch is for you, then the Honor Magic Watch 2 might be the right smartwatch for you thanks to its set of fitness features.
The Honor Magic Watch 2 tracks a range of sports which detailed information, and can even provide workout advice and feedback for certain activities. It's great for people looking to get fitter.
The watch also lasts for a long time without needing to be charged, up to a week or two weeks depending on which version you buy, and it looks pretty sleek too.
There are a few issues with the watch like its relative lack of non-fitness features, the fact its design can often get very dusty and need cleaning, and the fact lots of its fitness features aren't available on iOS, but even then we can still recommend it as a good smartwatch.
Read our full Honor Magic Watch 2 review
The TicWatch Pro 3 is one of the best Wear OS watches - you can use this with your iPhone or Android phone - and it offers some solid battery life as well as some intuitive functionality.
This uses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset with 1GB of RAM, and we found this smartwatch to be one of the most powerful devices of this list. Apps load quickly, and we didn't find any time where you'll be left waiting for something to boot up.
Battery life is where this smartwatch truly sings though with the smartwatch able to last for over a month in what the company calls 'Essential Mode'. Want to keep your smartwatch features running? You'll still get three days from a single charge of this smartwatch.
Plus, the price means it undercuts a lot of other top-end smartwatches as well so it's a touch cheaper than many other options on this list.
Read the full TicWatch Pro 3 review
Wait, what is a three year old Apple Watch doing on this list we hear you cry? The Apple Watch 3 may not be the best piece of wristwear from the iPhone company, but it is the cheapest you can buy right now.
Apple continues to sell the Apple Watch 3, and the renewed price at its lowest ever has encouraged us to include the smartwatch on our list of the ten best again albeit right at the end.
The design is looking a little dated when compared to the Apple Watch 6 above - or the Apple Watch 4 and Apple Watch 5 - but it's still a gorgeous piece of wristwear with a lot of the tech you'd want.
It's also able to upgrade to the latest watchOS 7 software as well, making this a great addition to your Apple collection of gadgets. It isn't for you if you don't have an iPhone, but if you're after a cheaper smartwatch this may be perfect.
Read the full Apple Watch 3 review
- On a budget? Our guide to the best cheap smartwatch for you
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Reviewed by mimisabreena
on
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
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