July 2021
Smartwatches: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Smartwatch rankings posted by key online experts, as of July 2021.
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 July 2021 ranking
TechRadar
Tom's Guide
Wareable
Android Authority
Ars Technica
Popular Science
ZD Net
Trusted Reviews
10Beasts
Reviewed
At a glance - July 2021 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartwatch |
TechRadar
|
Tom's Guide
|
Wareable
|
Android Authority
|
Ars Technica
|
Popular Science
|
ZD Net
|
Trusted Reviews
|
10Beasts
|
Reviewed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $349 |
Apple Watch Series 6
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $350 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
|
3
|
- | $249 |
Apple Watch SE
|
1
|
5
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
3
|
|
4
|
- | $287 |
Fitbit Sense
|
-
|
3
|
9
|
-
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $250 |
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
|
5
|
4
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
2
|
|
6
|
- | $229 |
Fitbit Versa 3
|
4
|
6
|
10
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $300 |
TicWatch Pro 3
|
9
|
-
|
19
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
+1 | $179 |
Apple Watch 3
|
10
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
10
|
-
|
|
9
|
+2 | $244 |
Fossil Gen 5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
|
10
|
+3 | $254 |
Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
+3 | $221 |
Skagen Falster 3
|
-
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
12
|
+3 | Check price |
Withings ScanWatch
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
New * | Check price |
Oppo Watch
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
+2 | $239 |
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
9
|
|
15
|
+2 | $168 |
Fitbit Versa 2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
8
|
|
16
|
New * | $400 |
Garmin Venu 2
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Apple Watch Series 6 #1 in July 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 top tier Apple Watch for those willing to spend
|
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
|
ZD Net
Best overall smartwatch
|
Pros
Gorgeous, refined hardware
Bright and useful always-on mode
Blood oxygen sensor
Excellent third-party application support
|
Cons
Expensive
Less than two-day battery life
Limited sleep details
|
Trusted Reviews
|
Pros
Great design
Excellent fitness and health tracking
Wide range of straps
|
Cons
Battery life remains basically a day
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 #2 in July 2021 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The best smartwatch for those on Android,and it works with iPhone too
|
Pros
Great, premium design
Rotating bezel is useful
|
Cons
Battery could be better
High price
|
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
|
Android Authority
The best smartwatch for Android
|
Pros
Fantastic display and rotating bezel
Thinner, lighter design
Two-day battery life
Advanced running metrics can be helpful
Useful sleep tracking and insights
|
Cons
GPS and HR sensors can be inaccurate
No MST payments with Samsung Pay
Big price increase over original Galaxy Watch
The setup process for non-Samsung phones is a pain
Third-party app support is lacking
|
ZD Net
Best smartwatch for Android phone owners
|
Pros
Slick rotating bezel design
High-quality stainless steel material
Broad support for health and fitness features
Solid battery life for provided features
|
Cons
Limited third-party applications
Large size not fit for small wrists
Blood pressure certification taking much longer than advertised
|
Trusted Reviews
|
Pros
Super swish design
Solid fitness and health tracking
Decent smartwatch functionality
|
Cons
Battery life could be better
|
Reviewed
|
Pros
Vibrant display
Gorgeous design
Excellent fitness tracking
|
Cons
Limited apps
Expensive
|
We ranked Apple Watch SE #3 in July 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
|
ZD Net
Best value Apple Watch
|
Pros
Gorgeous, refined hardware
Excellent price for a powerful smartwatch
Broad support for health and fitness features
Extensive third-party application support
|
Cons
Less than two-day battery life
Limited sleep details
|
Trusted Reviews
|
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
|
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 #4 in July 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
|
ZD Net
Best basic smartwatch
|
Pros
Bright and clear AMOLED display
Lightweight and comfortable for 24/7 wear
Google Assistant and phone call support
Smart alarm support
Extensive health and wellness support
|
Cons
Solid-state button is not as reliable as physical button
Limited third-party app support
|
Trusted Reviews
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Active 2 #5 in July 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
Adding in a digital rotating bezel for a nominal price bump
|
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
|
ZD Net
Best Samsung smartwatch without a rotating bezel
|
Pros
Sleek, minimalist design
Vibrant Super AMOLED display
Affordable
Digital rotating bezel
|
Cons
Limited third-party application support
Battery life not as long as expected
|
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
Best for Android / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Large display
Good battery life
In-depth fitness tracking
Advanced sensors
|
Cons
Limited third-party apps
Setup is tricky
|
We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #6 in July 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
Fitbit's best smartwatch is a great choice for fitness
|
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 for most people
|
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
|
We ranked TicWatch Pro 3 #7 in July 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The watch with two screens
|
Pros
Big battery lasts 3 days
Fast chipset
|
Cons
Sometimes poor interface
Sleep tracking isn't the best
|
Android Authority
The best Wear OS smartwatch
|
Pros
Great battery life
Zippy performance
Dual display is ace
Improved design
Accurate heart rate sensor
|
Cons
Dire companion app
Wear OS needs a refresh
Inaccurate sleep and fitness tracking
Cheap strap
Less durable than previous models
|
ZD Net
Best Google Wear OS smartwatch
|
Pros
Innovative dual-display design
Google Assistant and Google Pay on the wrist
Solid third-party app support
Lightweight and comfortable
Affordable price
|
Cons
Duplicated health apps
No offline music support
|
Trusted Reviews
|
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 Apple Watch 3 #8 in July 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
TechRadar
The cheapest Apple Watch right now
|
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
|
Trusted Reviews
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Fossil Gen 5 #9 in July 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
ZD Net
Second best Google Wear OS smartwatch
|
Pros
Vibrant display
Google Assistant and Google Pay on the wrist
Solid third-party app support
Affordable price
|
Cons
Average battery life
Heavy, big watch
|
10Beasts
Best for Android
|
Pros
Sleek minimalistic design
Pretty fast
Decent battery life
Battery modes feature
|
Cons
Poor speaker quality
|
We ranked Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro #10 in July 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
|
Pros
Reasonable price
Good fitness tracking
Attractive design
Formidable battery life
|
Cons
A bit slow
|
We ranked Skagen Falster 3 #11 in July 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 #12 in July 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
|
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 Oppo Watch #13 in July 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Trusted Reviews
|
Pros
Bright, clear screen
Solid performance
Great looking design
|
Cons
Wear OS needs more apps
Average at best battery life
|
We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE #14 in July 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 #15 in July 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
|
We ranked Garmin Venu 2 #16 in July 2021 because:
- 2 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
|