May 2023

Smartwatches: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Smartwatch rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 6 May 2023 and 9 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 82 Smartwatch endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

41 Smartwatches were endorsed in total, only 15 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 9 May 2023, Apple Watch Series 8 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartwatch with 7 expert endorsements. 6 experts out of 7 recommended it as the '#1 smartwatch' this month. It is followed by Fitbit Versa 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 , with 6 and 4 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking smartwatches start at $38.75 (Wyze Watch) and go up to $779.99 (Apple Watch Ultra). Median smartwatch costs $249.95 (Samsung Galaxy Watch 3).
$38.75
$779.99

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Smartwatch
Popular Science
Trusted Reviews
Reviewed
10Beasts
Tom's Guide
Ars Technica
Wareable
PCMag
Android Authority
TechRadar
1
- $359
Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 is a highly advanced smartwatch with a wide range of fitness tracking features, built-in GPS and smart assistant integration, advanced health features, and a durable construction, making it a versatile device for staying connected and on top of health and fitness goals.
-
1
1
-
1
-
1
1
1
4
2
- $136
Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a comprehensive fitness tracker and smartwatch that offers a wide range of features, including daily step tracking, heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, built-in GPS, blood oxygen monitoring, voice assistant technology, and a sleek and durable design.
-
4
5
-
11
3
-
-
5
8
3
- $229
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a comprehensive fitness tracker with advanced features and smart assistant integration, making it an excellent choice for individuals who want to improve their overall health and well-being.
-
-
3
-
2
-
-
2
-
1
4
- Check price
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is a comprehensive fitness tracking device with heart rate monitoring, fall detection, noise monitoring, steps and general activity tracking, and a wide range of workouts, making it a great option for those who prioritize fitness tracking and health monitoring.
-
2
2
-
4
-
3
4
-
-
5
- $780
Apple Watch Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra is a high-end smartwatch with advanced health and fitness tracking features, a durable and stylish design, and unique features like a redesigned Compass app and Fall Detection and Crash Detection.
-
6
-
-
7
-
5
5
-
3
6
- $344
Google Pixel Watch
The Google Pixel Watch is a premium smartwatch with advanced fitness tracking, stylish design, and strong connectivity, making it a great option for Android users.
-
-
4
-
3
-
6
8
-
6
7
- $399
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a durable and feature-packed smartwatch that is perfect for fitness enthusiasts and Android users.
-
5
-
-
-
-
2
-
6
5
8
+1 $400
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is a feature-packed smartwatch with accurate fitness tracking capabilities, a durable design, and seamless connectivity, but may have limited third-party app options and a less user-friendly phone app.
-
-
-
7
6
-
4
-
2
-
9
-1 $199
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a comprehensive smartwatch with advanced health tracking features, a sleek design, and seamless connectivity for Android users.
-
-
-
1
9
7
-
-
-
-
10
- $249
Apple Watch 7
The Apple Watch 7 is a highly capable smartwatch with excellent health and fitness tracking, a durable and stylish design, and seamless connectivity with iPhones, making it a great choice for iOS users who prioritize health and fitness tracking and app integration.
-
-
-
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
11
- Check price
Fitbit Sense
The Fitbit Sense is a comprehensive smartwatch and fitness tracker that offers a wide range of features for users interested in tracking their health and wellness, including heart rate monitoring, automatic exercise tracking, built-in GPS, swim-proofing, voice assistants, and sensors that measure stress levels, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and oxygen saturation levels.
4
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
9
13
+1 $200
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 is a versatile and affordable smartwatch with fitness tracking features, NFC payment support, Google Assistant integration, and Family Care, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality smartwatch.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
7
14
-1 Check price
Fitbit Sense 2
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a health-focused smartwatch with a wide range of fitness tracking features, including 24/7 heart rate monitoring, ECG sensor, blood oxygen and glucose level measurement, and built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration.
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
6
-
-
15
- $200
Fitbit Versa 4
The Fitbit Versa 4 is a comprehensive fitness tracker with built-in GPS, Amazon Alexa voice interactions, and a minimum battery life of 6+ days, making it ideal for fitness enthusiasts and those who want to stay connected while on the go.
-
-
-
-
8
-
7
-
-
-
16
- $250
Garmin Lily
The Garmin Lily is a stylish and feature-packed smartwatch designed specifically for women, offering a range of fitness tracking features, heart rate monitoring, stress monitoring, and smart assistant integration.
-
-
-
-
-
9
-
7
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Smartwatch
#2 $135.99 Fitbit Versa 3 [buy] [more info]
#9 $199 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 [buy] [more info]
#15 $199.95 Fitbit Versa 4 [buy] [more info]
#13 $199.99 Mobvoi TicWatch E3 [buy] [more info]
#3 $229 Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 [buy] [more info]
#10 $249 Apple Watch 7 [buy] [more info]
#16 $249.99 Garmin Lily [buy] [more info]
#6 $343.75 Google Pixel Watch [buy] [more info]
#1 $359 Apple Watch Series 8 [buy] [more info]
#7 $399 Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro [buy] [more info]
#8 $399.99 Garmin Venu 2 Plus [buy] [more info]
#5 $779.99 Apple Watch Ultra [buy] [more info]

We ranked Apple Watch Series 8 #1 in May 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 6 experts ranked Apple Watch Series 8 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Trusted Reviews

The best smartwatch

Pros
Excellent tracking features
Plenty of sensors, including clever use of temperature sensor
Charges quickly
Additional low power modes

Cons
No big battery upgrade
Minimal additions over the last model

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Best Overall / Editors' Choice

Pros
Same outstanding quality
Potentially life-saving crash detection
QWERTY keyboard

Cons
Incremental upgrade
Temperature sensor underutilized
Ovulation predictions retrospective

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch overall

Pros
Skin temperature reader for cycle + sleep tracking
Crash detection
New watchOS 9 workout interface
Low power mode

Cons
Similar to previous Apple Watch

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best overall smartwatch

Pros
Superb, unisex design
Incredible health tracking capabilities
Unmatched app store

Cons
Only works with iPhone
Some won't require advanced health and safety features
Not a huge leap forward from Apple Watch Series 7

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Overall / Editors' Choice

Pros
Overnight temperature sensing
Car crash detection
Improved battery life
More accurate period predictions

Cons
Same design as previous model
Limited usefulness for retrospective ovulation estimates

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Pros
Excellent Retina display
Premium design and build
Crash detection
Improved sleep tracking
Plenty of watchOS 9 upgrades

Cons
Battery life still has not improved
no third-party watch faces

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best mid-range Apple watch

Pros
Useful temperature sensor
Car crash detection

Cons
Average battery life
Almost the same as the Apple Watch 7

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Versa 3 #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Editors' Choice

Pros
Automated fitness tracking
Always-on display
Battery life

Cons
Button design
Premium-feature paywall
Usability quirks

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch from Fitbit under $200

Pros
Good battery life
Custom training programs (with subscription)
Great sleep analysis

Cons
Can only use one voice assistant at once

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

A slightly more affordable smartwatch we like

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Pros
Decent battery life
Pretty accurate health tracking
Built-in GPS

Cons
Tiny app library
Onboard music limited to two services
Proprietry charging cable

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Fitbit overall

Pros
Built-in GPS
Lightweight and comfortable

Cons
Poor side button
No offline Spotify

Go to ranking

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 May 2023 ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Reviewed

Best for Android / Editors' Choice

Pros
Great design
Improved accessibility features
Vibrant display

Cons
Bezel is still difficult to use
wearOS takes some getting used to
Tied to Samsung's ecosystem

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for Android Users / Editors' Choice

Pros
Competitive price
Sleek design
Bright, durable display
Good app selection
Slight battery life improvement over previous generation
Digital bezel for quick scrolling

Cons
Temperature data unavailable at launch
Lacks outdoor-specific features of Pro model
Questionable SpO2 measurements
No heart rate variability or respiration data

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Android smartwatch overall

Pros
Powerful fitness features
Durable and lightweight

Cons
One-day battery life
Optimized for Samsung phones

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch SE #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Reviewed

Best Value / Editors' Choice

Pros
More for less
Great iPhone integration
Crash detection

Cons
Still no always-on display
Inconsistent evercise detection

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch value for iPhone users

Pros
Lower price than previous Apple Watch SE
Color-matched bottom case
Same chipset as Apple Watch Series 8

Cons
No always-on display

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best affordable smartwatch for iPhone

Pros
Same S8 chip as Apple Watch Series 8
Superb value - and now an even lower price
Comprehensive features and tracking

Cons
Only works with iPhone
No Always-On display
Not a huge leap forward from the original Apple Watch SE

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Affordable Apple Watch

Pros
Upgraded processor from previous model
New motion sensor with support for Crash Detection
Improved real-world battery life
Lightweight
Excellent app selection and safety features
Lower price than first-generation model

Cons
No always-on display
Lacks sensors for ECG, SpO2, or body temperature
No rating for dust resistance

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch Ultra #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Trusted Reviews

Best rugged smartwatch

Pros
Improved battery on previous Apple Watches
Surprisingly light design
Good sports tracking performance
Bigger, brighter Retina display

Cons
It’s not cheap
Design could be sleeker
Some outdoor features are a work in progress
New straps are a mixed bag

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for safety and sports

Pros
Best battery life of any Apple Watch
Added Action Button
Emergency siren

Cons
Battery life doesn’t compare with competitors

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best outdoor smartwatch

Pros
Improved sports tracking over standard models
Display is a thing of beauty
Still a slick smartwatch experience

Cons
Needs some native software tweaks
Battery life still isn't amazing
Not the prettiest case design

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for Outdoor Adventures

Pros
Highly rugged and water resistant
Much better battery life than other Apple watches
Customizable Action button
Emergency siren
Cellular connectivity comes standard
Louder speaker than Series 8
Tactile buttons work with gloved hands
Dual-frequency GPS
Fantastic Depth app

Cons
Large
Expensive
Digital Crown may irritate skin

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best premium Apple Watch

Pros
Large display
Action button is very useful

Cons
Battery life could be better
Lack of navigation features

Go to ranking

We ranked Google Pixel Watch #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Reviewed

Editors' Choice

Pros
Great design
Good fitness features
Wear OS is maturing

Cons
So-so battery life
Some features require subscription
Already slightly slow

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for Pixel smartphones

Pros
Minimalistic design
Full collection of Google services on-board
Reliable Fitbit fitness tracking

Cons
Big bezel
Lackluster battery life

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best fitness tracker watch

Pros
Superb design and look
Fitbit integration is a hit
Excellent basic tracking accuracy

Cons
Battery life is very limited
Only one case size is available
Mild HR accuracy issues during high-intensity workouts

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Galaxy Watch Alternative

Pros
Attractive design with stainless steel case
Bright, responsive display
Good app selection
Secure band attachment system
Fitbit fitness tracking
ECG app

Cons
Some syncing difficulties in testing
Only comes in one size
No dust-resistance rating
Doesn't track skin temperature or SpO2
Lacks advanced running metrics

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Wear OS watch for style

Pros
Elegant, classic watch-like looks
Brilliant screen
Fitbit integration

Cons
One (small) size fits all
Band switch system takes practice
No blood oxygen sensing - yet

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Trusted Reviews

The best Wear OS smartwatch

Pros
Solid fitness tracking services
Rugged, sports-ready design
Wonderfully bright display

Cons
Route planning process feels clunky
Battery life doesn’t match rival fitness trackers

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best smartwatch for Android

Pros
Super battery life
Great smartwatch features
Solid health monitoring

Cons
Only works with Android
Some sports tracking inaccuracies
Health features require a Samsung phone

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Pros
Long-lasting battery
New adventures features
Reliable heart rate monitoring

Cons
No skin temperature monitoring at launch
GPX file sharing not applicable to runs
No more rotating bezel

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best premium Samsung smartwatch

Pros
Excellent performance
Interesting new software

Cons
Limited compatibility
Lacks rotating bezel

Go to ranking

We ranked Garmin Venu 2 Plus #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best Garmin smartwatch

Pros
Rich sports and fitness tracking
Great battery life
Comfortable to wear

Cons
Less case sizes than Venu 2
Relatively pricey
Some sleep tracking accuracy issues

Go to ranking

Android Authority

Pros
Excellent design and build quality
Features rapid charging technology
Accurate fitness and health tracking
Excellent phone call support

Cons
high price tag
Battery life is a bit below avearge
Inconsistent heart rate sensor

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

Best All-Around Wearable for Android Users

Go to ranking

We ranked Apple Watch 7 #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Apple Watch 7 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

The best smartwatch overall

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Sense #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Popular Science

Best health and fitness smartwatch

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.

Go to ranking

Ars Technica

Runner-up

Go to ranking

TechRadar

An excellent Android smartwatch with mental health tools

Pros
Detailed stress logging
On-board GPS

Cons
Many tools require Fitbit Premium
Step counting slightly inaccurate

Go to ranking

We ranked Mobvoi TicWatch E3 #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Android Authority

Pros
Well-built hardware
Good Display
Decent battery life

Cons
Iffy automatic activity tracking
Inconsistent sleep tracking
Wear OS is aging

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best cheap Android smartwatch powered by Wear OS

Pros
Large display
Fast performance

Cons
Looks simple
Casing feels cheap

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Sense 2 #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch from Fitbit

Pros
Proactive stress management with cEDA
Comfortable design
Robust fitness and health tracking with Fitbit Premiums

Cons
No third party apps

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best High-End Fitbit

Pros
Slim, lightweight, comfortable design
Improved touch-screen responsiveness
5-day battery life
Large, bright display
Excellent stress management features
Accurate body temperature data

Cons
Aesthetic downgrade from original model
No third-party app support
Some lifestyle apps from last generation removed
Band release latch can be accidentally triggered

Go to ranking

We ranked Fitbit Versa 4 #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best smartwatch for step counting

Pros
Great, slim-profile design
Accurate step counting
Good battery life

Cons
Trouble with heart rate accuracy
No third-party apps

Go to ranking

Wareable

Best Fitbit smartwatch

Pros
Improved design from Versa 3
UI is very friendly
Super sleep tracker

Cons
No third-party apps
No music features
Some heart rate accuracy issues

Go to ranking

We ranked Garmin Lily #15 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartwatches” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Ars Technica

Great Choice for Women or Those with Smaller Wrists

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking