September 2022
Smartwatches: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Smartwatch rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2022.
Summary
As of 8 Sep 2022, Apple Watch 7 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartwatch with 9 expert endorsements. 8 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 smartwatch' this month. It is followed by Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Fitbit Versa 3 , with 8 and 8 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - September 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartwatch |
10Beasts
|
Trusted Reviews
|
PCMag
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
Android Authority
|
Popular Science
|
Ars Technica
|
Reviewed
|
Wareable
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $329 |
Apple Watch 7
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $198 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
6
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
|
3
|
- | $155 |
Fitbit Versa 3
|
-
|
5
|
3
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
-
|
3
|
6
|
11
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
Apple Watch SE
|
-
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
|
5
|
- | $174 |
Fitbit Sense
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
3
|
6
|
-
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
10
|
|
6
|
- | $359 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $445 |
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | Check price |
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
New * | $280 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
-1 | $320 |
Apple Watch Series 6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
12
|
-1 | $350 |
Garmin Venu 2
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
13
|
-1 | Check price |
Apple Watch 3
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
-1 | $250 |
Garmin Lily
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | $299 |
Withings ScanWatch
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
We ranked Apple Watch 7 #1 in September 2022 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 8 experts ranked Apple Watch 7 as #1.
10Beasts
Best Smartwatch for iPhone
|
Pros
Connects seamlessly with iPhone
Acts as your phone when needed
Easy to read face
Waterproof
Many health and tracking features
Very few complaints
|
Cons
Expensive
Can be easy to crack the screen
|
Trusted Reviews
The best smartwatch
|
Pros
Much faster charging
BIgger screen is great
Wide range of easy-to-use fitness features
|
Cons
Battery life remains a day
No neutral black or silver aluminium colour options
|
PCMag
Best Overall / Editors'Choice
|
Pros
Larger display than previous models
Faster charging
Improved durability
New watch colors and faces
|
Cons
No major feature updates from last generation
One-day battery life remains the same
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch overall
|
Pros
Larger display
Brighter always-on mode
QWERTY keyboard
Comes with USB-C magnetic charger
|
Cons
Still just 18-hour battery life
|
TechRadar
The best smartwatch... but you'll need an iPhone
|
Pros
Brighter, larger screen
Faster charging
|
Cons
Workouts are varied, but basic
Battery life needs to be longer
|
Android Authority
The Best
|
Pros
Bigger Retina display
Durable, premium design
Accurate GPS tracking
Great software and app support
|
Cons
Battery life isn’t great
No third-party watch faces
Sleep tracking still feels like an afterthought
Battery life could be better
Finicky heart rate tracking
Check out our full review to learn more about the Apple Watch Series
|
Reviewed
Best Overall / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Bigger display
Quick charging
Solid fitness tracking
|
Cons
Limited watch faces
Battery life shorter than expected
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 #2 in September 2022 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 as #1.
10Beasts
Best Overall Smartwatch
|
Pros
Easy and sleek app
Customizable features with the app
Many features
Clean appearance
Great customer reviews
|
Cons
Slightly expensive
Short battery life
|
Trusted Reviews
The best WearOS smartwatch
|
Pros
Wear OS at its finest
The digital bezel works like a charm
Flat, minimalist design is stunning
Gorgeous collection of original watch faces
|
Cons
Still a lot of features yet to come
Doesn’t work with iPhone
Bixby is a mess
|
PCMag
Best for Android Users / Editors' Choice
|
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
|
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch with a traditional timepiece look
|
Pros
Slim design and fun watch faces
Improved Wear OS software
Body composition analysis
|
Cons
Inconsistent battery life
|
TechRadar
The best Samsung smartwatch
|
Pros
Excellent performance
Interesting new software
|
Cons
Limited compatibility
Lacks rotating bezel
|
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
|
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 September 2022 ranking
10Beasts
Trusted Reviews
PCMag
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
Android Authority
Popular Science
Ars Technica
Reviewed
Wareable
We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #3 in September 2022 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
The best affordable fitness tracker
|
Pros
Feature-packed for the price
GPS is finally here
Six-day battery with intensive use
|
Cons
Fitbit’s apps and app store still need work
The step count is just too eager
Still no support for offline Spotify
Fitbit Premium is essential for getting your money’s worth
|
PCMag
Best Battery Life / Editors' Choice
|
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
|
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
|
TechRadar
The best Fitbit
|
Pros
Built-in GPS
Lightweight and comfortable
|
Cons
Poor side button
No offline Spotify
|
Android Authority
Editors Choice
|
Pros
Decent battery life
Pretty accurate health tracking
Built-in GPS
Google Assistant and Alexa support
Speaker with phone call support
Good price
|
Cons
Tiny app library
Onboard music limited to two services
Proprietary charging cable
|
Reviewed
Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Automated fitness tracking
Always-on display
Battery life
|
Cons
Button design
Premium-feature paywall
Usability quirks
|
We ranked Apple Watch SE #4 in September 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
The best value Apple Watch
|
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
Best Midrange Apple Watch
|
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
|
Tom's Guide
The new mid-range Apple Watch
|
Pros
Classic design
Huge app library
Large screen
|
Cons
No always-on display
No ECG
|
TechRadar
The best affordable Apple Watch
|
Pros
Premium design
Great price for Apple Watch
|
Cons
Lacks always on display
Battery could be better
|
Reviewed
Best Value / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Strong performance
Great fitness tracking
Loads of storage
|
Cons
No always-on display
Missing latest health features
|
We ranked Fitbit Sense #5 in September 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
PCMag
Best 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
|
Tom's Guide
The best Fitbit smartwatch
|
Pros
Attractive
Long battery life
Comprehensive fitness/health features
|
Cons
No Spotify storage
|
TechRadar
The second best Fitbit
|
Pros
Built-in GPS
Lightweight and comfortable
|
Cons
Poor side button
No offline Spotify
|
Popular Science
Best fitness tracker
|
Pros
Offers a long-lasting battery life, so you can avoid charging for days at a time.
|
Cons
Screen response time can be slow when compared to other smartwatches.
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 #6 in September 2022 because:
- 3 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
|
Popular Science
Best android and iPhone-compatible smartwatch
|
Pros
Offers accurate health monitoring and convenient LTE connectivity.
|
Cons
This pick isn’t fully compatible with iPhones according to users.
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Vibrant display
Gorgeous design
Excellent fitness tracking
|
Cons
Limited apps
Expensive
|
We ranked Garmin Venu 2 Plus #7 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
10Beasts
Best Smartwatch for Music
|
Pros
Can download a lot of music
Many exercise tracking and built-in features
Connects to your hone and wireless earbuds
Attractive
|
Cons
Expensive
|
Tom's Guide
The best fitness-tracking smartwatch
|
Pros
Stunning AMOLED display
Reliable fitness tracking and Garmin Coach
Call quality is better than expected
|
Cons
Not enough third-party apps
|
Android Authority
Editors Choice
|
Pros
Excellent design and build quality
Rapid charging helps make up for battery woes
Clear call quality on the wrist
Slow but useful voice assistant support
Accurate fitness and health tracking
|
Cons
High price tag
Battery life is shorter than Garmin’s claims
Heart rate sensor still has issues
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Active 2 #8 in September 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 #9 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best smartwatch for Android
|
Pros
Sporty, yet versatile design
Stronger, scratch-resistant screen
Added skin temperature sensor
Longer-lasting battery life
|
Cons
Skin temperature sensor doesn't work at launch
|
Android Authority
Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Improved battery life and faster charging
New hiking and navigation features
Reliable heart rate monitoring
|
Cons
No skin temperature monitoring at launch
GPX file sharing not applicable to runs
No more rotating bezel
|
We ranked Apple Watch Series 6 #10 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best older Apple Watch
|
Pros
Great color additions
Always-on display
|
Cons
Lacks a headline upgrade
Battery life needs to be longer
|
Popular Science
Best smartwatch display
|
Pros
The durable and sleek design is large enough to use without being oversized or uncomfortable to wear.
|
Cons
Battery life depends on usage but is shorter when compared to others on the market. If used frequently, you may need to charge your watch daily.
|
We ranked Garmin Venu 2 #11 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
PCMag
Best Fitness-Focused Smartwatch
|
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 Apple Watch 3 #12 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
PCMag
Best 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.
|
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
|
We ranked Garmin Lily #13 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Small Wrists
|
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 Withings ScanWatch #14 in September 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Android Authority
|
Pros
Long-lasting battery
Easy to use ECG
Fantastic Sleep tracking
|
Cons
Small display limits smart features
Few advanced fitness features or insights
|