October 2021
Smartwatches: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Smartwatch rankings posted by key online experts, as of October 2021.
At a glance - October 2021 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartwatch |
TechRadar
|
Tom's Guide
|
Wareable
|
Android Authority
|
Ars Technica
|
Popular Science
|
10Beasts
|
Reviewed
|
Trusted Reviews
|
PCMag
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $330 |
Apple Watch Series 6
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
+1 | $349 |
Apple Watch SE
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
|
3
|
-1 | $295 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
7
|
2
|
-
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
|
4
|
+5 | $219 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
4
|
|
5
|
+1 | $222 |
Fitbit Versa 3
|
4
|
6
|
12
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
6
|
-2 | $286 |
Fitbit Sense
|
-
|
3
|
11
|
-
|
2
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
10
|
|
7
|
-2 | $220 |
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
|
7
|
7
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $180 |
Apple Watch 3
|
10
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
7
|
6
|
|
9
|
-2 | $300 |
TicWatch Pro 3
|
9
|
-
|
21
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
10
|
+1 | $399 |
Garmin Venu 2
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
11
|
New * | $279 |
Garmin Vivoactive 4
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
|
12
|
New * | $200 |
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
-1 | $234 |
Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
|
14
|
-1 | Check price |
Oppo Watch
|
-
|
-
|
16
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | $220 |
Skagen Falster 3
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
-1 | Check price |
Withings ScanWatch
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
|
17
|
New * | $199 |
Garmin Lily
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
18
|
-2 | $190 |
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
|
19
|
-2 | $176 |
Fitbit Versa 2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Apple Watch Series 6 #1 in October 2021 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 6 experts ranked Apple Watch Series 6 as #1.
TechRadar
The best premium Apple Watch
|
Pros
Great color additions
Always-on display
|
Cons
Lacks a headline upgrade
Battery life needs to be longer
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch overall
|
Pros
Blood oxygen (SpO2) app
New colorful casings
Brighter always-on display
Faster charging
|
Cons
Still just 18-hour battery life
|
Android Authority
The best smartwatch you can buy
|
Pros
Premium design and accessories
Big, bright screen with always-on display
Stellar heart rate monitoring
Accurate, reliable GPS
Unmatched app support
|
Cons
Sleep tracking is too basic
Battery life could be better
No third-party watch faces
|
Reviewed
Best Overall / Editor's Choice
|
Pros
Bright, always-on display
Great fitness tracking
Advanced sensors
Smooth, intuitive performance
|
Cons
Battery still average
No Android support
|
Trusted Reviews
Best Smartwatch
|
Pros
Great design
Excellent fitness and health tracking
Wide range of straps
|
Cons
Battery life remains basically a day
|
PCMag
Our Top Pick Overall
|
Pros
Measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) on demand
Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation tracking
Improved wrist-down screen brightness
WatchOS 7 adds a handwashing countdown timer and sleep tracking
Fast new processor
Best third-party app selection
Attractive new watch colors and band options
|
Cons
Expensive
Offers only a slight battery life improvement
|
We ranked Apple Watch SE #2 in October 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Apple Watch SE as #1.
TechRadar
The best smartwatch... but you'll need an iPhone
|
Pros
Premium design
Great price for Apple Watch
|
Cons
Lacks always on display
Battery could be better
|
Tom's Guide
The new mid-range Apple Watch
|
Pros
Classic design
Huge app library
Large screen
|
Cons
No always-on display
No ECG
|
Reviewed
Best Value / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Strong performance
Great fitness tracking
Loads of storage
|
Cons
No always-on display
Missing latest health features
|
Trusted Reviews
Best Apple Watch for most people
|
Pros
Excellent value
Huge range of tracking features
The best smartwatch OS around
Wide variety of straps available
|
Cons
No always-on display
Battery life still only really a day
|
PCMag
Apple's Midrange Smartwatch
|
Pros
Same screen size and resolution as the Series 6
Supports fall detection, heart health notifications, and Emergency SOS
Always-on altimeter for real-time elevation tracking
WatchOS 7 adds a handwashing countdown timer and sleep tracking
Best third-party smartwatch app selection
|
Cons
No always-on display mode
Lacks ECG and SpO2 sensors
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Smartwatches.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Smartwatches, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for October 2021 ranking
TechRadar
Tom's Guide
Wareable
Android Authority
Ars Technica
Popular Science
10Beasts
Reviewed
Trusted Reviews
PCMag
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 #3 in October 2021 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Tizen smartwatch
|
Pros
Great, premium design
Rotating bezel is useful
|
Cons
Battery could be better
Tizen apps are limited
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for Android users
|
Pros
Slimmer design than the original
Physical rotating bezel is back
FDA-approved ECG readings
|
Cons
Shorter battery life than original
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Vibrant display
Gorgeous design
Excellent fitness tracking
|
Cons
Limited apps
Expensive
|
Trusted Reviews
Best for Android
|
Pros
Super swish design
Solid fitness and health tracking
Decent smartwatch functionality
|
Cons
Battery life could be better
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 #4 in October 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Samsung smartwatch
|
Pros
Excellent performance
Interesting new software
|
Cons
Limited compatibility
Lacks rotating bezel
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for Android
|
Pros
Slim design and fun watch faces
Improved Wear OS software
Body composition analysis
|
Cons
Inconsistent battery life
|
Android Authority
The best Wear OS smartwatch
|
Pros
Classy, durable designs
Multiple size options
Wear OS 3 is all-around good
Large models have decent battery life
Improved heart rate sensor
Useful body composition metrics
|
Cons
No solid software update commitments from Google
No Google Assistant support
Slow, slow charging
Poor GPS performance
Sleep tracking needs tweaking
Small models have short battery life
|
Reviewed
Best for Android / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Bright, vibrant display
Tiles provide a lot of information
Solid fitness tracking
|
Cons
No iOS support
Bixby needs some work
Accessibility feels like an afterthought
|
PCMag
Our Top Pick for Android Users
|
Pros
Competitively priced
Bright, sharp display
Thinner than the Classic model
Fast processor
Wrist-based body fat and composition measurements
Tracks snoring
More third-party apps than previous Samsung watches
|
Cons
One-day battery life
Third-party app selection still trails Apple's watchOS
|
We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #5 in October 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Fitbit
|
Pros
Built-in GPS
Lightweight and comfortable
|
Cons
Poor side button
No offline Spotify
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for sleep tracking under $250
|
Pros
Good battery life
Custom training programs (with subscription)
Great sleep analysis
|
Cons
Can only use one voice assistant at once
|
Android Authority
The best Fitbit smartwatch
|
Pros
Decent battery life
Pretty accurate health tracking
Built-in GPS
Google Assistant and Alexa support
Speaker with phone call support
Good price
|
Cons
Very small app library
Onboard music limited to two services
The capacitive button isn’t ideal
Proprietary charging cable
|
PCMag
Longest Battery Life
|
Pros
Attractive design with large, always-on color display
Integrated GPS
Battery charges quickly and lasts for days
Measures blood oxygen level while sleeping
Supports Amazon Alexa, Fitbit Pay, and Spotify
|
Cons
Laggy touch screen
No stress tracking, skin temperature, or ECG sensors
Doesn't provide high and low heart rate notifications
|
We ranked Fitbit Sense #6 in October 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best Fitbit smartwatch
|
Pros
Attractive
Long battery life
Comprehensive fitness/health features
|
Cons
No Spotify storage
|
Trusted Reviews
Best for Alexa
|
Pros
New focus on health tracking
Great battery life
Fast GPS tracking
Informative running data
|
Cons
Offline playback limited to Pandora/Deezer
Overzealous step counter
Fitbit Premium required for best use
Back panel scratches easily
|
PCMag
Lots of COVID-19 Features
|
Pros
Attractive design with large, always-on color display
Excellent battery life
Measures blood oxygen level
Features an ECG app
Robust stress management and sleep tracking features
Supports Amazon Alexa, Fitbit Pay, Spotify
|
Cons
Expensive
Touch screen responsiveness could be better
Band release latch can be accidentally triggered
Small third-party app selection
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Active 2 #7 in October 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best fitness-focused Tizen watch
|
Pros
High-end design
Rotating digital bezel
|
Cons
Few features for price bump
Still limited functionality with iOS
|
Tom's Guide
A sleek fitness smartwatch for Android users
|
Pros
Offline Spotify storage
Gorgeous design
Works with iOS and Android
|
Cons
Sleep-tracking needs some work
|
10Beasts
Best for Fitness Accountability
|
Pros
Great haptic dial control on-screen
Great minimalist design
Battery life is decent
|
Cons
Very few third party apps
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Large display
Good battery life
In-depth fitness tracking
Advanced sensors
|
Cons
Limited third-party apps
Setup is tricky
|
We ranked Apple Watch 3 #8 in October 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best cheap Apple Watch
|
Pros
Cheapest Apple Watch
Clear, bright screen
|
Cons
Battery isn't amazing
Only for iPhone users
|
Tom's Guide
The most affordable smartwatch for iPhone users
|
Pros
Improved fitness-tracking
Faster Siri
Apple Music streaming (with LTE model)
|
Cons
No always-on displayNo fall detection
|
10Beasts
Best for iPhone Users on a Budget
|
Pros
Screen is bright and clear
Great fitness features
|
Cons
Somewhat overtaken by newer models
You have to pay more for cellular connectivity
|
Trusted Reviews
Best Apple Watch on a budget
|
Pros
Snappy performance
Super-bright and clear display
Decent battery life (when not reliant on LTE)
Apple Pay
|
Cons
LTE has a big impact on battery life
Needs more dedicated watch apps to make use of LTE
Siri doesn’t always work
No LTE roaming
|
PCMag
Most Affordable Apple Watch
|
Pros
Built-in cellular connectivity.
Improved heart rate monitoring.
Faster processor.
Clear call quality.
New band and case options.
|
Cons
Expensive.
LTE drains battery rapidly.
|
We ranked TicWatch Pro 3 #9 in October 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Wear OS watch for battery life
|
Pros
Big battery lasts 3 days
Fast chipset
|
Cons
Sometimes poor interface
Sleep tracking isn't the best
|
Trusted Reviews
Best for Google services
|
Pros
Fast performance, courtesy of Wear 4100
Long battery life for a Wear OS watch
Dual-display is still a winner
|
Cons
The design isn’t as bold this time around
Questionable heart rate tracking for weightlifting
No Google Play Music equals no offline listening
|
We ranked Garmin Venu 2 #10 in October 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
The best Garmin smartwatch
|
Pros
Now comes in two sizes
Crisp AMOLED display
Accurate fitness, sleep, and health tracking
Excellent GPS accuracy
Health Snapshot is useful
More music storage
|
Cons
Battery life can be finicky
Uneven heart rate sensor data
High price tag
|
PCMag
Most Fitness Focused
|
Pros
Attractive classic watch design in two sizes and multiple colors
Bright, responsive AMOLED touch screen
Measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration, stress, and energy levels
New HIIT and updated strength training apps
Preloaded workouts with animations
Onboard music storage
Supports Bluetooth accessories and contactless payments
|
Cons
Expensive
Limited third-party app selection
No voice assistant support
|
We ranked Garmin Vivoactive 4 #11 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for fitness
|
Pros
Comes in two sizes
Built-in music storage with Spotify support
Two-button navigation
|
Cons
Occasional syncing issues
Convoluted app installation process
|
PCMag
Easy to Read Outdoors
|
Pros
Respiration tracking
Pulse oximeter readings
On-screen workout animations
Onboard music storage and support for Bluetooth headphones
Underwater optical heart rate monitoring
Pilates support
|
Cons
Uses multiple smartphone apps
Excessive badges
|
We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch E3 #12 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
The best cheap Wear OS watch
|
Pros
Well-built hardware
Good display
Decent battery life
IP68 rated
NFC and Google Pay
|
Cons
Iffy automatic activity tracking
Inconsistent sleep tracking
Wear OS 2 is aging
Cheap strap
|
We ranked Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro #13 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
Best for battery life
|
Pros
Reasonable price
Good fitness tracking
Attractive design
Formidable battery life
|
Cons
A bit slow
|
We ranked Oppo Watch #14 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
Best for simplicity
|
Pros
Bright, clear screen
Solid performance
Great looking design
|
Cons
Wear OS needs more apps
Average at best battery life
|
We ranked Skagen Falster 3 #15 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Reviewed
|
Pros
Large display
Lots of apps
Google services integration
|
Cons
Wear OS can be flaky
Battery needs daily charging
Limited fitness tracking
|
We ranked Withings ScanWatch #16 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
The best hybrid smartwatch
|
Pros
Premium, classy design
Long-lasting battery
Health Mate app is well-designed and easy to use
Potentially lifesaving and easy-to-use ECG monitor
Clinically validated AFib and breathing disturbance notifications
Fantastic sleep tracking
|
Cons
Limited availability
Small display limits smart features
Few advanced fitness features or insights
|
Trusted Reviews
Best looking
|
Pros
Oozing in sophistication
Battery life champion
Simple to use interface
Great app design
|
Cons
Lagging in fitness tracking
No GPS or NFC
|
We ranked Garmin Lily #17 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
PCMag
A Jewelry-Inspired Design
|
Pros
Stylish classic watch design
Measures breathing, energy level, and stress
SpO2 sensor
Lots of useful widgets
Excellent companion app
|
Cons
No built-in GPS
Lacks a color display
|
We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE #18 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
10Beasts
Best Battery Life
|
Pros
Impressive battery life (in Essential mode)
Beautiful design
Great innovation on screen
|
Cons
No LTE connectivity
So-so performance
Poor battery life (in Smart mode)
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Good fitness tracking
Lots of apps
Integration with Google services
|
Cons
Chunky design
Mobvoi software lacks polish
|
We ranked Fitbit Versa 2 #19 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
10Beasts
Best for Sleep Tracking
|
Pros
Battery life is great
Always-On AMOLED display
Great sleep tracking features
|
Cons
No GPS
No Google Fit or Apple Health integration
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Comprehensive activity tracking
Long battery life
Built-in voice commands
|
Cons
Limited smartwatch features
No GPS
Fitbit OS needs work
|