Best Smartwatches For Women 2025

Any good smartwatch will track notifications and take calls, but the best smartwatches for women go a step further, offering robust health and cycle tracking features along with plenty of support for all the apps you use. They can help you manage your health to optimize your sleep, track exercise routines, check your vitals and more. In my quest to find the best smartwatches for women, I enlisted the help of my colleague, senior strategy editor and certified personal trainer Katie Simpson. Together, we put over a dozen smartwatches to the test, considering design, performance, smart features and more. Ultimately, we found that the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best smartwatch for women overall.

The best smartwatches for women are sleek while providing of fitness tracking, built-in apps and more

Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers

But if you’re team Android, you have a couple of options to choose from. While the best Android smartwatch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, fitness enthusiasts should consider the Garmin Venu 3, a smartwatch that also offers impressive post-workout stats tracking on top of a slew of health and exercise features. After extensive and rigorous testing, we’ve rounded up the best smartwatches for women below.

Best Overall

Forbes Vetted

Best for:

Creating a truly seamless experience within the Apple ecosystem
An impressive array of features, including FDA-approved AFib Detection and Sleep Apnea Detection

Skip if:

You don’t use an iPhone
You’re highly focused on sleep health

The Apple Watch Series 10 nabs the title of best smartwatch for women overall because it nails a good balance of price, performance and seamless smart integrations. The Watch offers two finishes—aluminum and titanium—and two sizes, 42mm and 46mm. You can get a rubber, textile, or stainless steel band. I tested the 42mm size with a textile band, and it was by far the most comfortable wearable of all I tested.

New Build Offers A Larger Display

The 1.6-inch OLED display can be seen from all angles, which I appreciated, and Apple brightened the display to 2,000 nits, so it’s easier to read, even in bright sunlight. I tested the 1.6-inch (what Apple describes as 42mm) option, but you can also get a larger display with the 1.8-inch, or 46mm model. Depending on which model you choose, you get an Ion-X front glass on the aluminum models and a sapphire front crystal on the titanium models. Despite my clumsiness, I didn’t notice any accidental scrapes or chips on the watch.

The display gets plenty bright, and the haptic rotating crown is useful.

Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes

On the side you’ll find a haptic rotating digital crown that takes you to the settings. It feels very smooth, such as when I flipped through Spotify playlists. Apple also improved the speakers; when I used it to blast Dua Lipa tracks, the audio quality was surprisingly good.

Life-Saving Health Tracking Features Including A-Fib Detection

But it’s not just about the Apple Watch hardware; the software pairs seamlessly with your iPhone, in part thanks to the intuitive WatchOS 11 operating system. Apple Health is fairly comprehensive, with ECG readings, Cycle Tracking and more. You can create custom workouts, and I really appreciated options like Mindfulness, a built-in app to help me practice relaxation techniques and log my state of mind. The watch can track an impressive array of health features, including atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea detection—and both of these are approved by the FDA. These life-saving features are exactly that: life-saving.

You get a slew of health tracking and other apps available right on the device.

Rebecca Isaacs

“My mom was diagnosed with AFib several years ago and has this watch,” shares one of our staffers whose mother uses the Apple Watch. “A few weeks ago, she got an alert from her Apple Watch Series 10 telling her that her heart rate was above normal which she did not realize on her own, and she ended up having to go immediately to the ER. The prompt on this watch saved her life.” While Samsung does offer this AFib detection, it’s FDA cleared, not FDA approved, and that more rigorous testing ultimately separates the Apple Watch from the pack.

That said, after testing both the Apple Watch and Samsung Watch lineups, Samsung is generally better for managing your sleep health. Samsung offers more features like Sleep Coach and Energy Score to help you improve your sleep habits, and the new models can recommend times to turn off your tech to wind down for sleep. That’s not to say Apple doesn’t do a good job—but Samsung is more focused on this area.

Battery Life Is Impressive

The battery life can last up to 18 hours of normal use, and up to 36 hours in power-saving mode. Based on my testing, I felt those numbers were somewhat off. Yes, you can get up to 18 hours of normal use, but I felt I was charging my watch every other day. If you’re not using it constantly, the battery does seem to last longer. However, Simpson noted that her testing showed that a full day of constant use and wear left her with around 50% battery life left, so mileage does vary here. Another reason why this model is the best pick is the charging: Apple’s claim of up to an 80% charge in 30 minutes held up. I could charge it for just 10 minutes at bedtime and get enough juice to track my sleep for the entire evening.

Forbes Vetted

Display size: 1.5 and 1.6 inches, depending on size | Weight: 0.9 or 1.1 ounces, depending on model | Battery life: 18 hours | Water resistance: 164 feet | Operating system: WatchOS 11 | Sensors: Heart rate, sleep, ambient light, accelerometer, altimeter

Best for:

All the perks of the Apple ecosystem without the high price of a flagship model
A good entry-level smartwatch

Skip if:

You want the latest health tracking features, including ECG and temperature sensing
You use an Android phone

If you want a smartwatch but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, the Apple Watch SE is a great, affordable option. It comes in two sizes—a 40mm (1.5-inch) display and a 44mm (1.6-inch) display—so you can find one that works best for your wrist size. Simpson noted that it’s a smartwatch that, “feels more substantial on my wrist,” than other models tested, including the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s easy to change watch bands, and Apple offers an expansive selection to find a style that suits your preferences. It also has a seamless setup and connection to iPhone. But it feels like the Goldilocks of smartwatches: It’s slimmer and lighter than the Garmin smartwatches we tested, but it’s large enough that it doesn’t sacrifice on the display size.

Because it uses the Apple iOS ecosystem, you still get access to most of the perks of health tracking. Simpson notes that there’s no access to features like, “ECG, blood oxygen monitoring and temperature sensing for cycle tracking and ovulation estimates.” While temperature sensing for cycle tracking is a big drawback, it’s not a complete dealbreaker. If you’re simply looking for a watch to track your steps and do the basic fitness tracking, it’s a good option.

Expect Some Drawbacks, But Not Dealbreakers

Because it’s a value option, there are a few minor drawbacks. Simpson noted that the battery life didn’t last as long as the Apple Watch Series 10, and it’s definitely shorter than the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Simpson recommends it for someone who’s looking for a first smartwatch and doesn’t want to commit to the higher price tag of, say the Apple Watch Series 10, a Garmin smartwatch, or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

Editor’s Pick

Forbes Vetted

Display size: 1.6 inches | Weight: 1 ounce | Battery life: Up to 40 hours | Water resistance: 164 feet | Operating system: Wear OS By Samsung | Sensors: Optical heart rate, electrical heart, ECG, infrared temperature, gyro sensor, altimeter, barometer, body composition

Best for:

Comprehensive fitness insights, thanks to Samsung Health
Improving sleep—Samsung’s focus on sleep data is stellar
Google Gemini integrations to help you accomplish more tasks

Skip if:

A sleek design is preferred—the cushion design is ugly as sin

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 looks odd. That’s not to say it’s not sleek, because it certainly looks sleek on my wrist, but Samsung opted for an odd cushion design to bring the Watch 8 series in line with the brand’s rugged Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. But the 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display doesn’t fully cover the cushion shape—Samsung opted for a circular display, and it looks downright goofy. The display also isn’t flush with the rest of the body, and to me, that’s a problem because I lose essential display real estate. Despite that odd design choice, it’s still the best Android smartwatch for women thanks to the technology Samsung packed underneath the hood.

Impressive Health Tracking

You can take calls from the watch, download a Spotify playlist or two and access your favorite apps. It can pair with any Android device, whether you’ve opted for a Pixel or a Samsung device, though if you opt for a Pixel, you’ll lose out on a handful of features like Energy Score (more on that in a minute). That wasn’t the end of the world, for me during testing, because I could still log my workouts, check weather at a glance, and most importantly, use my Samsung Watch to line up the videos I’m shooting from my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was my main carry during testing.

The Samsung Health app gives me at-a-glance information about my fitness and sleep stats.

Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes

For health tracking, Samsung uses Samsung Health, an expansive health app that offers body composition tracking, fitness tracking, cycle tracking and a slew of other useful features. You can log how much water you’re drinking and food choices. So long as you stay on top of your cycle logs, menstrual tracking is pretty accurate. For Android options, I found it to be the easiest health tracking ecosystem: It’s clear-cut, and I was a fan of the Energy Score and Vascular Load features.

New Additions Are Hit And Miss

Samsung added a few features with this latest watch. In prior editions, Samsung offered features like Energy Score, which used AI to read your health data, share how “energetic” you’ll feel any given day, and provide daily recommendations to exercise or rest. I found this had mixed results when I tested it in my Samsung Galaxy Ring review, but with a few updates, it has improved to more accurately read my energy levels. Now, Samsung added an Antioxidant Index feature and what it calls Vascular Load. The former can measure your body’s antioxidant levels at any given point, while the latter can tell you your heart health and “age.”

Start the Antioxidant Index test and press firmly on the back to receive your measurement score. I found it completely nonsensical, and you can have a great smartwatch experience without this health addition.

Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes

Some of this feels frivolous—and possibly anxiety-inducing. I don’t keep any sugary or salty snacks in the house because I rarely snack, and I make darn sure to balance my diet. Still, no matter how hard I tried to make adjustments over the three weeks I wore the watch, I couldn’t raise my antioxidant score higher than “low.” I then started focusing on antioxidant-heavy foods and drinks and guzzled green tea like it was its own food group, but that didn’t raise my score either. This was a frustrating experience for me since I do eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Because I had such a frustrating experience with this score, I also asked Dr. Nadkarni about anxiety-inducing notifications in smartwatches. He told me, “Think of your smartwatch like a smoke detector—it’s great for picking up changes, but it’s not always right.” That’s how I ultimately view this Antioxidant Index: It’s a smoke detector at best, not a full fire alarm. You can safely ignore this feature, use the rest of the apps and still have a great smartwatch experience.

Still, if you’re looking for a smartwatch that can track your daily walks and fitness routines, offers Google Gemini, and uses Galaxy AI to help you learn more and make data-driven choices, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 nails all of these features.

Forbes Vetted

Display size: 1.4 inches | Weight: 1.6 ounces with included band | Battery life: Up to 14 days | Water resistance: 164 feet | Operating system: Garmin OS | Sensors: ECG, blood oxygen, Garmin Elevate heart rate monitor, blood saturation monitor, compass, barometer altimeter, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light

Best for:

Detailed health insights, including recovery and sleep
Extremely accurate, specific readings
Built-in workouts, including accessible ones

Skip if:

You don’t want to constantly monitor your fitness—it doesn’t auto-sense the type of activity you’re doing
A slimmer profile is preferable

The Garmin Venu 3 is not only the best fitness option for women, but it’s also considered the best fitness tracker by Simpson, with good reason. While many smartwatches are smartwatches that offer complementing fitness tracking software, the Garmin Venu 3 was built with fitness tracking at its core. The design is admittedly bulky and less discreet than other smartwatches, but Simpson noted her surprise at how lightweight it felt.

Useful Fitness Training Down To Post-Workout Insights

Simpson spent four months training with the Garmin Venu 3 and noted that the recovery time predictions were useful and helped plan her day, from suggesting the number of walks she should take and encouraging her to head to bed at certain times. It comes packed with 30 preloaded sports apps and workouts and sleep coaching, which she found useful. Of all the smartwatches Simpson tested, she said this smartwatch was the one that helped her improve her personal fitness goals. Another useful feature? The Garmin Venu 3 offers cycle tracking, but keep in mind like other smartwatches on this list, expect to manually add this data into the Garmin App.

Simpson found the Garmin Venu 3 to be the best smartwatch for helping her improve her fitness goals.

katie simpson for forbes

While the app isn’t as intuitive as other options—navigating to the watch’s different features still confused Simpson, even after getting accustomed to the software—Simpson noticed that she could create workouts in the Garmin Connect app and load down to sets, reps and exact exercises. It, “takes a holistic approach to fitness without being intimidating to use—so much so that I ended up consistently gravitating toward the Venu 3 even on my off days from training,” Simpson shared.

Battery Life Is Impressive

While Simpson tested over 14 fitness trackers and ultimately named this smartwatch the best fitness tracker you can add to your routine, she also noted that its battery life was hands-down the best of all smartwatches she tested. During one workout, the watch notified her that it had hit 5% battery life left. By placing it in the power-saving mode, it not only lasted the rest of her workout but went on to last another three full hours.

Forbes Vetted

Display size: 1.9 inches | Weight: 2.1 ounces | Battery life: Up t0 36 hours normal use; up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode | Water resistance: Up to 328 feet, longer diving up to 131 feet | Operating system: WatchOS 11 | Sensors: Electrical heart sensor, third-generation optical heart sensor, blood oxygen sensor, temperature sensor, depth gauge, water temperature sensor, compass, always-on altimeter, high-g accelerometer, high dynamic range gyroscope, ambient light sensor

Best for:

Campers, hikers and other fitness enthusiasts who want to maximize their Apple features
Its battery life, which lasted the longest of all the options we tested

Skip if:

You’re not going on weeklong camping adventures—the Apple Watch Series 10 will suit you just fine
You don’t want to spend $700 on an Apple Watch

If you’re a fan of the iPhone but prefer a more rugged smartwatch that comes with all of the extra features you could possibly want, we found the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to be the best Apple smartwatch. While most Apple users can get away with the Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was built for not only fans of the brand, but also for those who want additional features and ruggedness. It’s built for women who live to head to the great outdoors. Simpson noted that the strap felt very heavy-duty, and was the most sturdy feeling on her wrist during workouts.

While the Apple Watch Series 10 has a 1.6-inch display, the Watch Ultra 2 enlarges it by 0.3 inches, so you get a massive 1.9-inch LTPO3 OLED Always‑On Retina display that can hit 3,000 nits. There’s also the rotating digital crown, and the side button which are easy to use even through the sorts of gloves you’d wear while hiking or skiing, for example. It’s also built to withstand dives of up to 100 meters (and works with a dive app from Oceanic). In short: If you’re looking for a rugged Apple Watch, this is the model to get.

Software Is Great—Battery Is Exceptional

You get all the usual features found in watchOS 11, but it also comes with some unique features that cement it as the best Apple Watch if you’re heading out to the great outdoors. The stainless steel model offers GPS and cellular as standard, which comes in handy for important features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS, two potentially life-saving features. Its heart rate tracking was the most accurate of all the Apple Watches, too, and during our testing, with few exceptions, the software is mostly the same.

But by far, outside of that large, lovely display, the biggest draw is battery life, which is what Simpson most noted during her testing. Of all the Apple Watches tested, she noted that it could get up to 36 hours of battery life, but when placed in power-saving mode, it could last up to 72 hours.

To be clear, while it is the best Apple Watch available for fans of the brand, it’s geared towards those who are practically living outdoors on their days off, based on our testing. “For women who love to camp, hike and participate in serious athletic events (like marathons and triathlons) and are interested in a fitness tracker that also has smartwatch capabilities, it’s a great option,” recommends Simpson. This was born and bred to keep Apple’s outdoor enthusiasts ready for the trails, slopes and even their next diving adventure. That said, for average Apple fans, the price for the features, at around $700, is pretty steep. Simpson recommends looking elsewhere, adding that it’s, “it’s likely too feature-heavy and bulky.”

Other Smartwatches For Women We Tested

In addition to the top picks above, our tech team tested over a dozen smartwatch options. Here are some of the other smartwatches for women we tested. These options are still very good—they just didn’t quite make the cut for one reason or another.

Apple Watch Series 9 (4.5/5 stars): The Apple Watch Series 9 may be the last-gen smartwatch, it’s still a stellar option for those in the iOS ecosystem. Simpson noted that its workout detection is stellar, saying, “[On other smartwatches], I had to manually select the type of exercise I was doing which wasn’t always convenient! The Apple Watch automatically picks up on less formal workouts like walks around the neighborhood and even volleyball with friends.” The 10% larger display does make a big difference on the Apple Watch Series 10, however.

Garmin Lily 2 (4.5/5 stars): The Garmin Lily 2 was easy to set up, and it’s durable and more lightweight compared to other options. It’s also easy to connect to your phone, and Simspon shared that it has a “super impressive battery life—it lasts five days.” Its heart rate tracking is extremely accurate and can track reps/sets with ease. This is a great smartwatch for women who want smart features but want to focus more on fitness tracking.

Google Pixel Watch 3 (4/5 stars): The Google Pixel Watch 3 has a lovely rounded design and its touchscreen looks sharp. App integrations, particularly Fitbit, are helpful for fitness tracking, and when you set up the watch, you can opt into weekly Fitbit fitness tracking emails so you can monitor your progress. That said, I noted that the battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lasts longer than the Pixel Watch 3.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (4/5 stars): The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has a circular shape that also uses the Samsung Health app to monitor all of your health tracking. I loved how easy it was to track my workouts, respond to messages and use my favorite apps. That said, this is the older generation of Samsung’s smartwatch offerings. If you’re looking for a balance of price and performance while remaining in the Samsung ecosystem, this is the smartwatch to get. But to get access to the full array of Samsung features, including Vascular Load, antioxidant tracking and Google Gemini, you’ll need the Watch 8.

OnePlus Watch 3 (4.5/5 stars): The OnePlus Watch 3 has a borderline insane battery life that lasts up to 16 days on a single charge. The watch itself is larger than other models I tested, and it looks pretty beefy on my wrist. That said, the smartwatch launched in other countries with an ECG monitor and a 60-second Health Check-in feature—but it didn’t launch in the United States with these offerings. That’s a disappointment. You can pack a ton of information onto the display, too. Otherwise, it kept in sync with my fitness tracking when I cross-tested it against the Oura Ring 4. You can read the full OnePlus Watch 3 review to learn more.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (4/5 stars): The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is about the same size as the OnePlus Watch 3, and it comes with a larger battery than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8—590mAh compared to the 325mAh/435mAh, depending on the dial size you choose. It’s also one of the few smartwatches on the market that automatically registered my husband’s rowing machine when I used it. I also liked the display: It lets you pack a lot of information on it without feeling cramped. During long-term testing, the battery life felt like it reduced dramatically and lasted a day at maximum, especially after a recent update. Previously, I could get up to two days of life. It also uses that odd cushion design with a circular Super AMOLED touchscreen, which I’m not a fan of.

Google Pixel Watch 4 (Coming soon) Just announced at Google’s Made By Google 2025 event, the new Google Pixel Watch 4 features a domed-shape which Google called the “Actua 360 display,” and plenty of software upgrades. As an example, you have access to easier Gemini integrations, including simply raising your wrist to speak to Google Gemini. You can also expect up to 40 hours of battery life, according to Google. It also offers the first SOS Satellite Communications feature for LTE models, a feature that helps provide emergency services even when you’re off the grid. That said, because shipping doesn’t begin until October 9, we can’t verify Google’s claims—yet. Once I’m able to test the Watch 4 for at least three weeks, I will update this story with my findings.

How We Tested The Best Smartwatches For Women

To test the best smartwatches for women, Simpson and I put over a dozen smartwatches to the test. This story was months in the making—we spent at least three weeks with each smartwatch. We wore each daily and considered the following features:

Health Tracking: We reviewed what health tracking features were offered, from ECGs to cycle tracking, and we cross-checked wearing two smartwatches and one smart ring for 24 hours at a time to note any tracking discrepancies. We also considered whether cycle/menstrual tracking was offered as well as how it was logged.
Fitness Tracking: A good smartwatch should also be able to double as a solid fitness tracker. We ran, walked, swam, rowed and more to log hours of exercise modes to track accuracy, from distances travelled to heart rates and more. Again, we cross-compared each smartwatch under the same exercise modes for the same distances, times and speeds and noted any inconsistencies.
Battery Life: We wore the watches from 100% all the way down to 0%, noting when (and if) power-saving modes enabled to increase battery life. We recharged each watch and logged how long it took to get back to a full battery. We also reviewed power-saving modes to consider how long the smartwatch could last if we forgot our chargers for a weekend getaway and what features would stay enabled.
AI integrations: We reviewed which smartwatches offered AI features like Gemini and Siri. We tested them to see how they performed, and we also considered other AI features like Samsung’s Galaxy AI and whether or not they’re worth the investment.
Design: We considered the design of each smartwatch. If it felt bulky, we noted it, and conversely, if we felt light, we made note. We also reviewed the size of the smartwatch and how it felt to wear on our wrists for the entirety of testing.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, our tech team has tested and reported on plenty of smart wearables, including the best smart rings and the best wireless earbuds. We’ve published plenty of guides to help you buy Samsung phones, wireless headphones and more.

Consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs has been involved in consumer tech journalism for over six years. When she’s not testing smartwatches, smart rings and wireless earbuds, she tests gaming TVs and recommends the best TVs for bright rooms.
Senior strategy editor Katie Simpson is an ACE-certified personal trainer for over two years. Throughout her own training and sessions with clients, she’s used countless fitness trackers, which has helped her learn the most useful features to look for. She’s also been active for as long as she can remember: She was a competitive swimmer for 13 years, and she’s been strength training for over six years.
We tapped unbiased experts to learn more about smartwatches for women, their health tracking features and more. In particular, we spoke with Caitlin Shure, M.A., PhD, head of product and content, NextSense, and Girish N. Nadkarni, MD, MPH, Chair of the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health and the Chief AI Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System. We also interviewed Aimee Simpson, director of product marketing at Huntress, a cybersecurity company founded by former NSA members, to learn more about the safety and security features built into these smartwatches.
We regularly evaluate this story to consider new product launches and ensure that we’ve tested all the latest smartwatch features for women. This story was last updated in August 2025 to test all of our contenders and interview unbiased experts to help you make an informed buying decision.

What To Consider When Looking For A Smartwatch For Women

Because wearables have exploded in popularity in recent years, it can feel a little daunting trying to find the best smartwatch for women that suits your needs. As a woman who happens to be an expert in consumer technology, and in addition to reviewing my own criteria for a great smartwatch, I also consulted with multiple experts to narrow down what you should consider. Here are the five most important features you should consider before you add a smartwatch to your cart.

Design And Aesthetics

While a smartwatch should be able to monitor your health stats and respond to your text messages, it should also look sleek and fashionable on your wrist. Look for a smartwatch that has a smooth design that compliments your personal style. I recommend looking for a smartwatch that also fits on your wrist nicely without looking too bulky.

Additionally, the design should offer all-day, comfortable wear: You shouldn’t have to worry about adjusting the watch band or any itching, as examples. A good rule of thumb is that the watch should fit and allow one finger to slide between your strap and your wrist.

Health Tracking Features

A smartwatch should offer the very basics of health tracking features, including ECGs, sleep data, and more. The optimal smartwatches add extras like AFib detection and sleep apnea detection insights to help you monitor and maintain your health.

Many times, according to Shure, smartwatches are, “are still built for men—male physiology, male leisure patterns, male preferences—and then superficially adapted for women. A first-line interpretation of inclusion is to add ovary-centric features,” she shares. In other words, you should consider With the rise of AI features in health tracking, Shure recommends finding a smartwatch with, “truly personalized health insights—moving beyond step counts to deliver context-aware recommendations or interventions.”

Dr. Nadkarni also recommends looking for a smartwatch that offers plenty of health tracking features, including, “heart rate and HRV for recovery, stress, and training load; sleep tracking for trends over time; continuous skin/wrist temperature monitoring for illness or cycle changes; and irregular rhythm alerts and ECG spot checks.” He also mentioned to me that while irregular heart rhythm alerts are, “good for AFib screening,” you can still, “expect false alarms.” Additionally, if you’re using this data to work with a doctor, you want to make sure your smartwatch has a, “simple data export so your clinical provider can see and use it,” according to Nadkarni.

Battery Life

Chances are you’re busy running around from the office to home and more, and you need a watch that lasts all day and more. The best smartwatches for women we tested have a minimum of 18 hours away from a charger with heavy use, but many can go longer when placed in power saving modes. Look for a watch that gets a minimum of 18 hours before it needs to be recharged, but the longer it can last, the better.

Operating System And Security

Your smartwatch’s operating system should sync with your phone’s operating system so you have a more seamless experience. If you’re team iPhone, you should plan to pick up an Apple Watch for its truly seamless smartwatch experience, but if you’re team Android, you have more leeway in your options, including Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy Watch and more. But it’s also not about the “walled garden,” according to Aimee Simpson, who shares, “In most cases, WatchOS tends to be more restrictive but that’s not ‘too keep users in the OS eco-system’ as many speculate. It’s for a good safety reason,” she explains, adding, “It’s a closed ecosystem that locks down sensitive health information with a more restrictive approach to third-party app access.”

The good news is that all the smartwatches we tested have a robust security system: Samsung uses Knox Manage security, which services over 150 million devices according to Samsung, and Google uses its in-house WearOS, which is owned and operated by the tech giant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Garmin Better Than Apple Watch?

It depends on your needs. If you’re a fitness enthusiast who wants to track post-workout stats and more, a Garmin smartwatch may be better suited to your lifestyle. For most, an Apple Watch is the better thanks to its seamless integration with the iPhone.

What Smartwatch Works Best With iPhone?

The Apple Watch lineup works best with an iPhone. If you’re looking for a general all-purpose watch, look at the Apple Watch Series 10. If you plan to go hiking in the wilderness for days, scuba diving or any other kind of heavy outdoors activity, look at the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which offers a more rugged build and much longer battery life.

What Is The Best Smartwatch For Women?

Based on our testing, we found the Apple Watch Series 10 was the best smartwatch for women. It has seamless software integration with an iPhone and features helpful tools like the FDA-approved AFib Detection, Cycle Tracking, Sleep Apnea Detection and more. I also appreciated the Mindfulness feature, which helped me focus on reflection and calming techniques and is useful if you need a moment to relax during your busy day. It also lasts up to 36 hours if you’re away from a charger, which is a must-have when investing in a smartwatch.

Best Smartwatches For Women 2025

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