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If you're looking for a way to boost your workout routine this spring, try giving your smartwatch an upgrade. With advanced activity tracking, workout guidance, exercise reminders and even customized training plans, the latest smartwatches can double as your own personal fitness coach.
When you add in robust health features like heart rate and body temperature tracking, sleep tracking and stress monitoring tools, the best smartwatches also help you stay aware of your health and spot early warning signs that it's time to talk to your doctor or make a lifestyle change.
On top of all that, our favorite smartwatches also serve as tiny on-wrist phones, allowing you to do things like check your email, answer calls and even respond to text messages without ever having to touch your actual phone.
To make sure you get one that does everything you want it to do, we've rounded up our favorite smartwatches so far in 2024 that will help you crush your fitness goals and answer your texts while you're at it.
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(Note: To get the most out of an Apple Watch, you'll need to be an Apple iPhone owner. If you're an Android user, we suggest the Pixel Watch 2, Garmin Venu 3 or one of the other smartwatch options listed below.)
The Apple Watch 9 no longer offers blood oxygen tracking, but there's still plenty to love about the latest smartwatch from Apple.
Siri Health may be the best new upgrade in the Apple Watch 9. It makes starting your workouts and getting status updates along the way a breeze. Instead of navigating the watch screen, just say "Siri, start an outdoor run workout" or "Siri, start a yoga workout." Your new watch will immediately start tracking the activity, even when you're not connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. You can also ask Siri for updates during a session like what your current heart rate is or how much distance you've covered so far.
This makes the Apple Watch 9 a great choice for people who need to interact with their watch during workouts to check stats or start and stop timers. The hands-free functionality will seriously improve your workout experience so you can accurately log your activity without fussing with your watch.
The smaller-sized 41mm version is on sale for as low as $329 at Walmart (reduced from $399). You can also find it on Amazon for $329. The larger, 45mm version starts at $359.
Top features of the Apple Watch 9:
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Because it doesn't have the blood oxygen tracking feature at the heart of the international trade violation case, the Apple Watch SE will remain on shelves even if other models disappear. This lower-cost Apple Watch offers the same quality and seamless iPhone pairing as other models without some of the more premium features you'd find in the Series 9 or Ultra 2.
That makes the Apple Watch SE the best alternative to the Apple Watch 9, especially for iPhone users. The design, user interface, and even many of the features are the same.
This version of the Apple Watch still boasts an accurate heart rate tracker, 18-hour battery life, and important safety features like emergency SOS and fall detection.
The only major things it's missing compared to the Apple Watch 9 are the new Double Tap gesture, the Siri Health functionality and, of course, the blood oxygen tracking feature.
The 40 mm size normally retails for $249, but right now, you can get it for just $189 at Walmart. The larger, 44 mm size starts at $219.
Top features of the Apple Watch SE:
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The Pixel Watch 2 is the latest model of Google's smartwatch. One of the biggest changes coming with the second generation watch is the improved heart rate sensor that's up to 40% more accurate than the first Pixel Watch even during intense workouts.
Borrowing tech from the now Google-owned Fitbit, the Pixel Watch also added a skin temperature sensor and a continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor. A feature not even the Apple Watch has, the cEDA sensor continuously measures changes in the electrical currents on the surface of your skin to help track your stress levels.
Those new sensors give the Pixel Watch 2 the ability to offer new health insights like a sleep score and daily readiness score. One of the most impressive additions is "Body Response," a measure of stress and excitement that can send you a notification when it detects heightened stress and take you through guided breathing or mindfulness exercises to help you find your calm.
Beyond stress management, the new Pixel Watch 2 packs tons of new fitness tools. You can now do heart rate zone training with real-time feedback and coaching during your workout when you go above or below your target zone. You can also do pace training, with similar real-time alerts when you go above or below your target pace.
Top features of the Pixel Watch 2:
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The Garmin Venu 3 boasts an upgraded touchscreen display compared with the previous generation. It's larger and more responsive, so you can easily check metrics and navigate through features mid-workout. The fitness-focused Garmin smartwatch can track heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen levels and more.
But what really sets it apart is its 14-day battery life. When you're out backpacking or camping, that two-week battery life can make a huge difference. But even during your everyday life, it's a nice perk to know you can go weeks in between charges.
Speaking of that workout, the watch comes preloaded with routines that target different muscle groups or performance goals. When you pick one and tap start, the watch not only starts a timer but shows an animated display of how to perform the exercise you're doing in each interval.
As you cycle through your intervals, the watch will show you which exercise you're on and alert you when your interval ends. So there's no need to look at your phone at all. Just tap start on your watch and focus on your workout.
If you don't want to use a preloaded routine, the Garmin app has a database of more than 1,400 exercises, categorized by which muscle groups they work. Build a custom routine in the app on your phone. Then download it to your watch and get moving.
The smartwatch has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. Get it for $450.
Top features of the Garmin Venu 3:
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The Fitbit Sense 2 is the smartwatch that does it all. Answer calls on your wrist. Pay with Fitbit Pay or Google Wallet using your watch. Track your routes with built-in GPS. And, of course, it comes with all your essentials like heart rate, blood oxygen and activity tracking.
On top of those features, the Sense 2 adds an EDA sensor so you can take an ECG to get a more accurate heart rate reading. But the standout feature that separates the Sense 2 from the pack is the all-day body response tracking.
Using the EDA sensor, skin temperature sensor and heart rate sensor, the Sense 2 constantly monitors for fluctuations in your stress level throughout the day. When it spikes, you'll get a notification so you can pause to reflect or use the built-in mindfulness and breathing exercises to relax.
At the end of the day, you'll get a report that shows when your physical stress levels spiked and dropped so you can better identify patterns around when, where and why you're feeling stressed.
Normally retailing for $300, it's the most expensive Fitbit in the lineup. But those advanced health and wellness features make it worth the price for anyone who's trying to improve their overall wellness alongside their workout performance. And right now, you have a chance to get it for 20% off.
Top features of the Fitbit Sense 2:
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If you're looking for the best smartwatch under $100, look no further than the 4.2-star-rated Amazfit Bip 5. An Amazon bestseller, this budget watch has a lot of the same features that pricier watches do. You can use it to answer calls (via Bluetooth), track your blood oxygen and stress levels, monitor your sleep quality, log all your workouts automatically with auto-detect and more. Amazon Alexa is built in for voice commands and smart home control.
You can get the surprisingly feature-rich smartwatch at Amazon for $80 right now, reduced from $90.
Top features of the Amazfit Bip 5:
Thanks to the advances in wearable technology, smartwatches with capable health monitoring features are more accessible than ever. More devices are packing specialized sensors to keep track of your heart, blood pressure, and more. But which are the best smartwatches for health monitoring and tracking your wellness? We detail our recommendations below.
Plenty of modern smartwatches pack almost every health monitoring feature imaginable, but not every device provides the specific focus some people need. For instance, while blood oxygen sensors are near ubiquitous, not every smartwatch packs a reliable medical-grade sensor, and some devices are better at tracking specific factors than others.
With this in mind, you’ll need to identify precisely what facet of your health you want to track. If you’re concerned about your heart health, consider a device with an ECG and a reliable heart rate monitor. What about stress and energy management? Consider a device that either has a dedicated stress sensor or takes heart rate variability into account.
Whatever you’re concerned or curious about, you’ll find a recommendation that fulfills your needs below.
The Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t the first Apple Watch to debut with a temperature sensor — that honor goes to its predecessor — but it is a more complete offering beyond its health tracking kit. Nevertheless, the skin temperature sensor informs wearers body temperature changes, and this data is used to generate improved period predictions and retrospective ovulation estimates. The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch you can buy if you want to track menstrual health.
In addition, the Apple Watch Series 9 retains an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, a reliable heart rate sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and sleep tracking. It’s also a great smartwatch, especially if you’re entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. The wearable gains onboard Siri processing, which allows you to query any health stats on the fly, and a new gesture that lets you control the smartwatch with a double tap of the thumb and index fingers.
Notably, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the current subject of a lawsuit, and as a result, new models come with their blood oxygen monitoring feature disabled. This shouldn’t affect its cycle tracking features, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.
The Apple Watch isn’t for everyone, though. Those running Android smartphones can’t benefit from the skin temperature sensor or improved menstrual tracking.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Fitbit Sense 2
Thin, light, and comfortable • Terrific battery life • Fantastic sleep and stress tracking
MSRP: $299.00
The Fitbit smartwatch for advanced health tracking
The Fitbit Sense 2 packs an EDA/cEDA sensor, ECG readings, heart rate, SpO2, and skin temperature monitoring and a fantastic sleep tracking suite. In addition to this extensive list of health-focused tools, the device also features built-in GPS, Fitbit Pay, and support for on-wrist phone calls.
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Speaking of Fitbit, the Sense 2 has plenty of tricks. In addition to the ECG sensor and skin temperature monitor, it now includes a continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor. This sensor records the changes in the skin’s electroconductivity due to the salts contained in sweat. These readings then inform Fitbit’s body response feature, which automatically gauges stress throughout the day. At the same time, the Stress Management Score provides a more understandable overview of a user’s stress levels. Finally, Fitbit bakes a mood tracker, making the Sense 2 a more intuitive reflection and relaxation smartwatch. When it’s time for bed, Fitbit’s detailed and useful sleep tracking steps up.
There are plenty of features (or lack thereof) to dislike about the Sense 2. It’s a dumber smartwatch than its predecessor, lacking Google Assistant, Wi-Fi, and third-party app support. Some features also remain locked behind the Fitbit Premium paywall.
Of course, if you want a proper smartwatch with the Sense 2’s health tracking kit and are willing to spend a little bit more, the Google Pixel Watch 2 ($349.99 at Amazon) is a worthy contender. It’s a very capable smartwatch, with accurate health tracking and more features beyond the Sense 2. That said, it costs a fair bit more.
Notably, if you’re specifically looking for a watch that detects potential sleep apnea symptoms, the Galaxy Watch series will gain that FDA-approved functionality later in 2024. Until this happens, I’ll continue recommending the Sense 2 to sleep-conscious users.
Kris Carlon / Android Authority
Fitbit Sense 2
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Bigger, brighter AMOLED display • Snappy Wear OS 4 software experience • Sporty yet tasteful aesthetic
MSRP: $299.99
Bigger and better.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 brings the best of Wear OS 4 and Samsung's smartwatch features to the table. A large display and full Samsung Wallet app make the Watch 6 a powerful standalone device, while integration with Samsung phones makes the Watch 6 a valuable part of your Galaxy ecosystem.
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The Galaxy Watch 6 is the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now, and it’s the only one on this list packing a bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) sensor. Like the Series 9, the Galaxy Watch 6 wasn’t the first in its line to pack the feature — both the Galaxy Watch 5 ($162.57 at Amazon) and Galaxy Watch 4 ($199.99 at Samsung) can lay claim to it. However, the Galaxy Watch 6 is a more polished version of both devices overall.
The BIA sensor can measure the body’s composition using electric microcurrents, gauging skeletal mass, muscle mass, water retention, and fat mass. These details are beneficial for those looking to build muscle or lose weight.
Samsung has also carried over blood pressure monitoring smarts to the Galaxy Watch 6; however, it’s not without issues. You’ll need a portable blood pressure cuff to calibrate the feature and recalibrate it regularly. The feature is also exclusive to Samsung smartphones.
The Galaxy Watch 6 is a great smartwatch with reliable sleep tracking, SpO2 monitoring, heart rate tracking, and an ECG. It also features several design improvements, from its larger display and smaller bezels to a slightly bigger battery.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Withings ScanWatch
Premium, classy design • Long-lasting battery • Clinically validated health sensors
MSRP: $299.00
The Withings ScanWatch is more than just a "specialty" smartwatch
A health-focused hybrid device, the Withings Scanwatch features the aesthetic of an analog watch but packs undercover smarts for tracking your health and fitness, including fantastic sleep tracking. It is even clinically validated to detect early signs of AFib and sleep apnea.
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The ScanWatch is a hybrid watch that packs far fewer smart features than the other devices on this list. However, it makes up for this with clinically validated sensors. This includes a medical-grade pulse oximeter to measure oxygen saturation levels in the blood. It also joins a medical-grade ECG sensor which can scan for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) or irregular heartbeats. ECG data can also be exported or printed to present to a medical professional if need be.
There’s also a nifty set of features for those who struggle to breathe. A Respiratory Scan feature considers heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen levels to help users understand if they experience potential breathing disturbances overnight. These details are also presented in graph form, informing users of any potential sleep apnea issues.
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Garmin Venu 3
Highly accurate GPS and heart rate sensors • Automatic nap detection and sleep coaching • Up to 14-day battery life
MSRP: $449.99
Accuracy and smarts.
The Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S focus on providing personalized data about your health and wellness with some of Garmin's most advanced body tracking features. The Body Battery function informs you of your activity levels, and new sleep tracking includes nap detection.
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See price at Garmin
Finally, the Garmin Venu 3 is worth a mention for those particularly interested in monitoring their energy reserves during the day and their recovery overnight. Garmin’s latest smartwatch packs the nifty Body Battery feature that combines heart rate variability, stress, and activity data to calculate the user’s energy reserves. A number between 1 and 100 is generated, with 100 being the maximum energy. It’s an excellent and surprisingly accurate measurement of energy levels.
It also brings new features to the series, from Nap detection for improved all-round sleep monitoring and Daily Summary, which provides an overview of your health each night. Morning Report is still available for you in the morning.
While the Garmin Venu 3 lacks the ECG features of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus ($449 at Amazon), I still think it’s Garmin’s best smartwatch. Nevertheless, if you can find the latter at a good price, it’ll also be an excellent energy monitoring companion.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
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Unfortunately, no. No big brand smartwatch can monitor blood sugar levels just yet.
Smartwatches are not medical devices and, therefore, should not be used for diagnosis. However, their data could be valuable for spotting potential problems. If you’re feeling unwell, contact a doctor.