The 9 Best Smartwatches for Women in 2021

Best Overall: Fitbit Versa 3

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The Fitbit Versa 3 is arguably one of the best, most feature-packed Fitbit devices on the market next to the feature-packed Fitbit Sense. It boasts built-in GPS, has an attractive design with an AMOLED display, and comes with a lightweight and comfortable strap. Our reviewer found it easy to wear for a whole day and had no problem sleeping with it on.

The nice looks aside, the Fitbit Versa 3 is heavily wellness-focused. The smartwatch can track your runs, monitor your heart rate, sleep schedule, and keep track of your workouts and activity tracking. It has support for smart voice assistants, can store music, and do playback. It doesn't have the more advanced sensors that track SPO2 and stress levels like the Fitbit Sense, but the six-day battery life is an excellent trade-off.

_{Size: 1.59 inches | Weight: 1.5oz | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: 6+ days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters}

Best Wellness: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

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The Galaxy Watch Active2 is the latest and greatest iteration of this fitness smartwatch from Samsung. This Android and iOS compatible wearable now has improved sensors, built-in GPS, and more size options than its predecessor. Our reviewer found the fit to be comfortable and ideal for all-day wear. The band is also replaceable for more formal styles.

While most wearables are content to stop at a step counter, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is capable of tracking up to 39 different fitness activities, ranging from cycling to rowing or swimming. As of February of this year, Samsung's health app now also offers menstrual cycle tracking, a noticeably absent feature from the original wearable.

This wearable also comes in a variety of colors for both its 40 and 44mm watch faces, as well as different bands available in either leather or sweat-friendly nylon. But there are a virtually limitless number of third-party wristbands for this wearable that allow it to suit nearly any style.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 can last several days on a single charge and can even be topped off from other Samsung devices through its convenient Wireless PowerShare feature.

_{Screen Size: 1.4 inches | Weight: 1.48oz |  Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE| Battery Life: 340mAh | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters}

Best for Apple Users: Apple Watch Series 6

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The new Apple Watch Series 6 builds on other models with a number of new improvements in both hardware and software. For starters, it comes with a wide range of new case and design options, along with some fancy new straps. There are now plenty of ways to customize the Apple Watch to suit your style and sense of fashion. Beyond that, it comes with a new 64-bit dual-core processor, making it 20% faster than the Series 5. This should allow you to more smoothly navigate settings, menus, and apps.

The display is still an always-on Retina display, but it's now 2.5 times brighter than the one you get on the Series 5, making for easier sunlight visibility. On the software end, there are lots of new features rolled in with watchOS 7. You get an oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels, sleep tracking which can detect sleep apnea, and an always-on altimeter for hiking and climbing to track elevation. An improved wireless chip (U1 Ultra Wideband) also offers improved tracking and accuracy for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

_{Screen Size: 1.78 inches | Weight: 1.1oz  | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE| Battery Life: All day | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters}

Best Fitness Tracking: Garmin Forerunner 745

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The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an advanced fitness tracker with serious runners and triathletes in mind. Like many performance-centric Garmin wearables, the Forerunner 745 is packed with sensor technology for wellness monitoring and training analysis. Onboard GPS, GLONASS-based navigation, and a gyroscope, altimeter, and wrist-based optical heart-rate sensor and pulse oximeter deliver important insights such as VO2 max, respiration rates, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep quality. The Forerunner 745 synthesizes this data as it gets to know you to deliver recommendations about how productively you’re training, complete with workout suggestions and recovery time predictions. 

These detailed metrics appear on the device and in more detail on the companion Garmin Connect app, which works in harmony with the device. The Forerunner 745 offers generous customization power with several watch faces, customizable widgets, and workout apps, as well as access to the Garmin IQ app store for other helpful integrations. This capable training tracker also adds a few helpful connected touches including smartphone notifications, onboard music storage of up to 500 songs, Garmin Pay, and an emergency alert system. 

While the Forerunner 745 lacks a touchscreen, five intuitive buttons, a light, and a sun-reflective color display provide easy visibility and control mid-workout and throughout the day. The body, though it’s solidly built, swimproof to 50 meters, and features substantial silicone, fiber-reinforced polymer, and Gorilla Corning glass, isn’t unnecessarily bulky for smaller wrists or daily wear. While the ecosystem and design are user-friendly and customizable, the premium price tag and training metrics situate this device as ideal for the goal-oriented user. 

_{Screen Size: 1.65 inches | Weight: 1.66oz  Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS | Battery Life: Up to 7 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters (3ATM)}

Best Sensors: Fitbit Sense

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The Fitbit Sense is the newest smartwatch model from the Fitbit brand and it’s also the most tech-forward. It’s designed with premium materials including high-end aluminum and stainless steel and a larger AMOLED display with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 finishing and an always-on option. The Sense band is also a new seamless and lightweight infinity-style strap, which comes in both small and large sizes. Another unique design aspect of this wearable is the low-profile button that’s virtually invisible but responds to both long and short presses. 

Aside from design innovations, the Fitbit Sense features a biosensor core that can provide clues about wellness changes. New sensors measure skin temperature, SPO2 (blood oxygen saturation), and provide even more accurate 24/7 heart rate tracking. The device-exclusive ECG app puts the Sense in company with the Apple Watch, and EDA monitoring, which tracks electrodermal responses, encourages stress management throughout the day by logging reflections and meditation sessions. 

Fitbit also emphasizes the addition of a slew of extra connectivity features, including the option of responding to texts and calls received on Android smartphones, music streaming and storage with premium Deezer and Pandora subscriptions, Fitbit Pay, and Amazon Alexa and forthcoming Google Assistant integration. That’s on top of onboard GPS and support for over 20 different exercises and the step and heart-rate tracking users have come to know and love from Fitbit wearables.

Our product reviewer found the brand’s battery life claim of over six days to be accurate and appreciated the consistently quick charging times. She was less impressed by GPS consistency, but was a fan of the Sense’s general wellness support and the opportunity to view long-term trends via the companion Fitbit mobile app. 

_{Screen Size: 1.58 inches | Weight: 1.6oz |  Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: Up to 6 days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters}

Best Design: Fossil Juliana Smartwatch Gen 5

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The rugged and stylish designers at Fossil pulled out all the stops with their Gen 5 Juliana Smartwatch. This WearOS powered smartwatch is a drastic improvement over Fossil's previous iterations, providing you with all the features you've come to expect from wearables and blending that seamlessly with a classic watch style that can be customized for a variety of users.

The Fossil Juliana now features built-in GPS tracking as well as heart rate and activity tracking powered by Google Fit making it a solid option for fitness in addition to being an effective accessory. While Google Fit doesn't natively support menstrual cycle tracking, it can still import data from third-party apps like Clue or Glow and the 8GB of onboard storage provides you with plenty of space for 3rd party apps as well as music.

While currently only available in a 44mm face format, the Fossil Juliana comes in a variety of finishes and bands to complete any look making it an excellent accessory despite its steep price.

_{Screen Size: 1.28 inches | Weight: 3.5oz | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC | Battery Life: Multi-day battery | Water Resistance: Up to 30 meters}

Best Value: Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch

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The Fitbit Versa 2 is a remarkably capable and full-featured smartwatch that costs a fraction of its Apple analog. The low-cost alternative to Apple’s watch is both a qualified fitness tracker and smartwatch, compatible with iOS as well as Android.

Pair it with your smartphone, and you’ll receive all your calls, messages, and notifications, plus it’ll track things such as your heart rate, sleep, menstrual cycle, and activity. The battery lasts about three days on a single charge, which is exceptional if you’re comparing it to the Apple Watch, but disappointing if you compare it to other Fitbit models. But if you didn’t have to charge it, you’d likely never take it off because it’s fully waterproof, meaning you can wear it in the shower (and even in the swimming pool), and also so comfortable you can sleep with it on.

_{Screen Size: 1.2 inches | Weight: 1.41 z  Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: 6+ days | Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters}

Best Accessory: Michael Kors Access Gen 5E MKGO

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The Michael Kors Access Gen 5E MKGO smartwatch combines glamour and practicality in a fashionable wearable. The statement feature is the pave studding around the solid aluminum 43-millimeter watch face. Other accents like the branded side button and push-stud rubber strap add to the sporty sophistication. It doesn’t hurt that this smartwatch is also safe for the shower and swimming. Plus, the availability of numerous stylish watch faces makes this smartwatch customizable to your mood or outfit.

This fashion-forward wearable also boasts several smart touches for staying in touch and active, thanks to the Wear OS platform. Take advantage of several battery modes that conserve the battery for 24-hour or multi-day use. Conveniences such as Theater Mode dim the display entirely, and Google Pay helps you leave your wallet at home if you please. You can also keep on top of all of your most important updates, whether from your favorite social media platforms, texts, emails, or scheduling reminders. 

This mic-enabled device also keeps Google Assistant assistant handy for setting reminders or checking in for a calendar update and provides a fast way to answer calls right from your wrist. The Google Fit suite of wellness tools is available to track indoor and outdoor workouts, though you will need your smartphone to find a tethered GPS connection for distance-based activities—and accuracy might vary. The Access Gen 5E can also monitor heart rate and sleep basics, which adds to the appeal for around-the-clock wear. When it comes down to it, this classy-looking wearable will transition from the workday to the gym in style.

_{Screen Size: 1.19 inches | Weight: 1.89 z  Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: Up to 24 hours | Water Resistance: Up to 30 meters (3ATM)}