Top 21 Smartwatches in 2021 – New and Upgraded

Introduction 

The top 21 smartwatches in 2021 – Something all decent smartwatches have in common is their ability to do tricks. They can search the web by voice command, use GPS to track your location and monitor your health and fitness using various clever built-in sensors.

The chances are you have a modern smartphone. You’ll need one to pair a smartwatch with, but some of the more advanced ones do have the ability to function without being connected. Which is nice for your own freedom.

We’ve listed the top 21 smartwatches out there. We’ve thought about the features, design, specification and price. 

So, let’s dive in.

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

When considering the top 21 smartwatches, we thought we’d start with the second most popular worldwide in 2020 (of course, the Apple Watch remains top).

This watch runs on Tizen OS and is compatible with both iOS and Android. The 3 comes with a 1.2 inch or 1.4 inch 360 x 360 pixel display, lit by AMOLED. 8GB of built-in storage, wireless charging and can go up to 3 days between charges. This new Galaxy watch also offers Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the brand’s biggest achievement to date. It follows from the 2018 Galaxy Watch and kept most of the original design features, with additional refinements.

The watch has a rotating bezel, making navigation easy. It’s much easier than a lot of alternatives that require you to tap the display. 

The apps you can use are fairly limited in comparison to iOS or WearOS devices. It has some decent Samsung basics, though. Fitness and sports tracking as well as a lot of functionality.

If you’re an iPhone user, the features are again fairly limited but it is nonetheless compatible. Keep reading and pay attention to the Apple Watch next in this selection of the top 21 smartwatches.

The Galaxy Watch 3, is, overall, a great all-rounder. If you need a smartwatch that will monitor your fitness as well as deliver smart features to your wrist, this is a great shout.

Check out our review of the best Samsung Galaxy apps to use on your watch.

2. Apple Watch Series 6

Of course, if we’re listing the top 21 smartwatches in the world, we’re going to put this close to the top spot. The Apple Watch runs on iOS, of course. It has 32GB built-in storage and the battery life can last up to 18 hours. The Apple Watch Series 6 charges wirelessly which is cool. 50ATM water-resistance rating which can be used for swimming and light diving. It has Wi-fi, Bluetooth, LTE and NFC connectivity as one might expect.

Apple reins number one on pretty much every list, ever. Especially if you’re already an iPhone user. It works perfectly with iPhones so if you love Apple devices, this is great. 

Being blunt, there’s not a huge jump in features from the Apple Watch 5. The biggest thing is the Always-On display. This is a first. It means you don’t need to tilt your wrist to be shown your stats. Rather, it’ll show the important data perpetually on a dimmed display.

It comes in either 44mm or a smaller 40mm.

Speaking of fitness features, it comes with everything you need. It also has an ECG, accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen levels, always-on altimeter and more. If you want the best on the market; the Apple Watch is it.

Read here where we compare the Series 6 to the new SE.
Read this guide if you want to focus on Apple Watch Alternatives.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

This watch runs on Tizen OS and is compatible with both iOS and Android. It has a 1.2inch 360 x 360 pixel AMOLED display. It carries 4GB storage inside and the battery lasts about 2 full days. You charge it wirelessly and connectivity is via Bluetooth and Wi-fi. It offers 50m of water-resistance.

Samsung shrunk down a lot of the coolest parts of the Galaxy Watch and made it sportier. It’s lighter, slimmer and more comfortable. It also has a digital rotating bezel.

Not a whole bunch of changes have been made. That’s not a criticism. It is a really great watch for the price. It’s got a 1.2 inch 360 x 360 pixel display that’s really bold and bright. It’s quite a beautiful device to have on your wrist. 

It offers you all the higher-end fitness features you’d want from a Samsung watch. It has 39 sports modes, ECG and heart rate monitor. You can use the accompanying app for sleep and stress monitoring, too. You can use it to look over your blood pressure, but Samsung are yet to release the key to how.

It’s more cost-effective than an Apple Watch and the price has gone up a little over time to keep up with the competition. It’s not cheap but if you compare it to the Galaxy 3 you might prefer this version.

Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 

4. Fitbit Versa 3

This runs on the Fitbit OS and is compatible with both iOS and Android.A 300 x 300 pixel AMOLED display. The Fitbit Versa 3 has 4GB onboard storage and a battery life of up to six or more days. It has a proprietary charger. This watch is water-resistant to 5m. It offers Wi-fi, Bluetooth connectivity as well as contactless payments. 

The Fitbit Versa 3 is the most recent offering from Fitbit. The brand itself is one of the most famous for fitness trackers. 

The Versa 3 has a lot of upgrades on the original release, including Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.

If you didn’t like the original version, then the Versa 3 might not please you either. It’s essentially the same device and doesn’t have the bells and whistles like offline Spotify or GPS.

If you’re into simple and sweet trackers, the Versa 3 will tickle your fancy. It’s certainly cost-effective for what you get.

Read our Fitbit Versa 2 and Fitbit Versa 3 comparison here

5. Fossil Sport

Running on WearOS and Android and iOS compatible. A 1.2 inch 390 x 390 pixel AMOLED display. 4GB of built-in storage. Two days between charges using a proprietary charger. GPS capability. Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Fossil has done a lot in the wearable world in the past few years. The Fossil Sport is the best offering they have made to date.

This is a great watch with an even better price tag. It’s lightweight, has GPS and feels premium in its design. It also offers around 2 days of battery life. 

Fossil has squeezed in a lot of functionality thanks to the Snapdragon chipset. This is the latest tech from Qualcomm that means you get a smooth user experience compared to more dated Wear OS devices.

Full discloser, it doesn’t offer anything unique. Overall, though, the Fossil Sport is a great watch. Especially so if you’re looking for something that will monitor your fitness but will fit in with most of your day-to-day clothes.

See more about what we think of the Fossil Sport

6. Fitbit Versa Lite

Another Fitbit OS, Android and iOS-compatible device. This watch has a 300 x 300 pixel LCD display. It doesn’t offer onboard memory but the battery life does go 4 days between charges. It has a water-resistance of 50m and will connect via Wi-fi and Bluetooth.

This is the second-best in the Fitbit range. Essentially a more price-accessible version of the Versa with a few features trimmed.

The Versa Lite has some decent fitness tracking and a battery that won’t drive you nuts. The case is lightweight and dainty. You can use it for working out and not worry about changing it; it’s subtle enough to fit in with most outfits.

The features you may miss if you’re comparing it to the Versa (or Versa 2) are a lack of Fitbit Pay, GPS and the screen isn’t quite as good. If you’re in the market for a budget fitness tracker with some handy smart features, these things might not bother you.

We love the Fitbit brand. Read our review of the devices you can get your hands on, here.

7. TicWatch E2

Here is a WearOS device compatible with iOS and Android. It boasts a 400 x 400 pixel OLED display. Inside is 4GB memory and the battery will last around 48 hours between charges. It offers Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The TicWatch E2 is one of the more affordable watches we’re discussing. It comes from Mobvoi; a relatively small brand. But, that doesn’t mean this watch hasn’t made ripples.

The E2 has a long battery life, is water-resistant and comes at a cost-effective price. You might not be besotted with the look, it doesn’t scream luxury. You have to consider what you get for what you pay.

Amazingly, it has GPS as well as sleep tracking and a heart rate monitor. The usual fitness features are there, too. You can’t make contactless payments.

Read more about what we think of the TicWatch E2

8. Honor Magic Watch 2

Runs on LiteOS and is compatible with both Android and iOS. Either 1.2 inch or 1.39 inch 454 by 454 pixel AMOLED display. 4GB of memory. An impressive 7 day battery life and water-resistance. Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

If you’re an avid fitness enthusiast but you don’t want a full-on sportswatch then the Honor Magic Watch 2 might be for you. It has a hybrid of fitness and smartwatch features.

It’ll give you detailed data and training advice for some activities. It’s perfect for beginners or those with a casual interest in fitness.

It lasts about a week or even two between charges depending on the version you pick. Some have reported disappointment with the lack of features. But it’s important to be realistic about the price and what you expect.

9. Apple Watch SE

Running on WatchOS with iOS only compatibility. It has a huge 1.78 inch OLED display. A minimum of 32GB onboard storage and the battery will last up to 18 hours. Wireless charging and water-resistantance to 50m. The Apple Watch 4SE connects via Wi-fi and Bluetooth and offers contactless payments.

There’s not a lot of difference between the SE and 6. The SE has a bigger display than most smartwatches and comes in either 44mm or a smaller 40mm. 

The SE doesn’t come with an ECG or Sp02 reading like the Series 6. It’ll keep an eye on your heart and tell you if there are any irregularities, though. This could be potentially life-saving in the long run.

There is a plethora of health and fitness feature and you can use most of your favourite apps. The only drawback is that it can’t be used with Android smartphones.

Check out our review of the Apple Watch SE here

10. TicWatch Pro 3

A final Wear OS offering. Compatible with Android iOS. It has a 1.4 inch 454 x 454 pixel display with LCD screen. There is 8GB built-in memory. The battery will last around 3 days. If you use it in Essential mode you’ll get 45 days out of it. It connects via Bluetooth and Wi-fi.

This is a favourite Wear OS offering. You can use it whether you’re on Android or iOS. It boasts a cool dual-screen feature.

The two displays are layered. The one on top has a transparent LCD display and that’ll show you the time, heart rate and when your battery is dying. 

Beneath that is a full-colour OLED screen. This bit gives you all the Wear OS coolness.

Feature-wise, there’s Google Pay and NFC.  You can use the Bluetooth connection to listen to music, too. The price is the best part, offering all these features for a very happy price.

See our full review of the Ticwatch Pro 3.

11. Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar

We couldn’t write a list of the best smartwatches on the market without talking about Garmin. The Fenix 6X Pro Solar has a huge 1.4-inch display, considerably bigger than any others in the Fenix range. This is to host small solar panels to get its power from the sun. 

Garmin means business when it comes to fitness tracking. You get advanced heart rate monitoring, altitude tracking, sleep tracking and advanced training support. On top of that, there is VO2 Max estimates, pace advice and over 200 sport modes.

12. Fitbit Sense

The Fitbit Sense is the latest offering from Fitbit, and it’s a whopper. It has all the latest tech packed inside so you’re able to track fitness like never before. The Sense comes with a temperature gauge (which is unique, even the Apple Watch 6 can’t do this), SP02 counter, heart rate monitor and stress management support.

The battery is a winner; you’ll get up to 6 days so unlike either the Apple or Samsung offerings, you don’t need to worry about charging it every day.

What’s generous is the 6 months of free Fitbit Premium that comes with the watch, so you can enjoy all the advanced features like guided meditations and more in-depth data for a while before you decide to pay for it. Fitbit is reportedly testing blood pressure monitoring with the Fitbit Sense.

13. Garmin Venu 2

The Garmin Venu 2 combines serious exercise features with a full suite of smartwatch features for everyday usage.

In comparison to the original, it has a similar design. In fact, it resembles the original Garmin Venu in appearance, but it’s designed for both workouts and everyday use, which is a tough balance to strike.

Its beautiful, high-resolution AMOLED display is the real star, allowing you to see a big amount of data at once and showing a wealth of information on your training and overall health directly on your wrist. With careful design and execution, the Venu 2 is easily one of the better Garmin smartwatch devices to date.

14. Breitling Exospace B55 Connected

Breitling has done amazing things in the premium watch industry by using technology. This black titanium beauty has all the characteristics that divers and aviation experts would appreciate.

Waterproof to 100 metres with full timer marks for added peace of mind during a dive or flight. A perpetual calendar, countdown and up timers, up to seven alarms, and two timezones are all included.

When coupled with either an iOS or Android smartphone, the ‘connected’ word refers to Bluetooth, which gives this watch access to a slew of new functionalities. Notifications are sent in an unobtrusive manner. Customisation is an option, too.

Read our full review of the B55 Connected.

15. Apple Watch Series 3

The Apple Watch 3 has been surpassed numerous times, currently by the latest Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch SE and likely soon to be Apple Watch 7.

However, the 3 is still available for purchase – which is more than we can say about the Apple Watch 4 or 5 – and has significantly reduced in price.

The Watch 3 comes in two versions: including one cellular connectivity and the other with only GPS. With built-in run and cycle tracking, a water-resistant case for swimming, and the same heart rate monitor on the underside as the Apple Watch 2, this device has been very highly regarded for it’s longevity in the market.

While newer versions have greater capabilities and faster chipsets, Apple has continued to support the Apple Watch 3 with software upgrades, the most current of which is watchOS 7, which includes sleep monitoring, new workouts, and much more.

16. Suunto 7

The Suunto 7 is one of the most popular models from the Finnish brand,  Suunto, but it’s also a big deviation from its predecessors — the Suunto 7 was the first to operate on Google’s Wear OS, whereas the Suunto’s previous devices were all specialist running watches.

While many sports watches shout their intentions from ten paces away, they do, in a practical sense, function as a regular watch. Suunto, on the other hand, has created a watch that you’d be glad to wear every day and maintain on your wrist when jogging, swimming, cycling, or even skiing or horse riding, while still managing your calendar and alerts.

You can see from the product images that it’s a nice piece of gear.  The touchscreen on this Wear OS watch is luxurious, huge, and bright, and though it was occasionally stubborn and sluggish, it wasn’t enough to be annoying. It does, however, put the battery to the test, so if you’re moderately active, using Google Pay, reading alerts, and going for a 10k, you’ll need to charge it every day and a half.

17. Suunto 9 Peak

Suunto has unveiled the Suunto 9 Peak, a new premium sports watch that is the brand’s smallest and lightest device yet.

Compact, lighter fitness watches have been increasingly popular in recent years (looking at the likes of Garmin and Polar).

The Suunto 9 Peak, which is over a third lighter and slimmer than its precursor, the Suunto 9 Baro, maintains this trend. Official dimensions have yet to be revealed, however, it should be around 10.6mm thick and weigh 51.8g, according to our calculations.

The improved materials used by Suunto, include more metal and less plastic than Polar’s watch, making it thinner but also heavier than the Ignite 2.

Here’s more on what we know about the Suunto 9 Peak so far.

18. Garmin Enduro

The Garmin Enduro and Fenix 6 are made similarly.  The screen on the Enduro  has a bigger screen (but only by 0.1 inch). The 51mm case and UltraFit 14.9mm nylon strap are new to the Enduro. It’s also waterproof up to 100 metres.

The Enduro looks much like other Garmin watches. In actuality, the Enduro isn’t striving to be anything other than an endurance timepiece so don’t expect bells and whistles like music streaming and third-party app integration (look at the Fenix range if that’s what you’d like).

As you might expect from the name, battery longevity is a big selling factor. While using continuous GPS, you can get between 70 and 80 hours, and when utilising adventure GPS, you can get up to 95 days. Because this is a solar-powered watch, it’s self-evident that you’ll need a lot of it and that it’ll take a lot of it

19. Montblanc Watch Summit 2+ Black Steel Smartwatch

The Summit 2+ is an eSIM-enabled smartwatch. Unfortunately, only Android smartphone users will be able to complete the necessary provisioning and to use LTE, you must be with a compatible cell provider. At launch, Vodafone is the sole supported network operator in the UK and Germany, while Verizon is the sole supported network provider in the US, Orange had exclusivity in France and Spain, and Montblanc has collaborated with Unicom in China.

If you meet the aforementioned requirements, you’ll be able to use the MontBlack Summit 2+ to make phone calls, answer messages, and even listen to music without having to carry your phone. The Summit 2+ offers all of the connection choices you’d expect from a wristwatch, including NFC, Bluetooth (4.2), and Wi-Fi, much like its precursor, the Summit 2.

It also has all of the required fitness monitoring equipment, including an optical heart rate monitor on the back and motion sensors and a compass on the inside.

It runs on Wear OS, which means it has all of the standard Wear OS features like Google Assistant and rich alerts, as well as a handful of unique Montblanc apps. Thanks to the new Qualcomm Wear 3100 chipset, they should all operate smoothly, and with 8GB of storage, you’ll have plenty of room for applications and playlists. To top it off, the Summit 2+ is IPX8 rated for water resistance, which means it can be immersed in water up to 1 metre deep, making it suitable for swimming.

20. Skagen Falster 3

The Skagen Falster 3 has the same exterior design as its predecessor. It’s nevertheless a stylish timepiece that avoids futuristic blob curves in favour of a more utilitarian design. This distinguishes it from other digital wearables as well as traditional watches, and the Falster 2’s underperformance is addressed with a more current processor.

It’s a minor tweak that distinguishes this follow-up to an already stunning wearable. This model also has a speaker that lets you take calls from your watch or hear Google Assistant replies – pleasant, but not really helpful.

As a result, the Skagen Falster 3 is best appreciated as an aesthetic accessory with smart connectivity instead of a sophisticated smartwatch. If you’re acquainted with Wear OS, that’s even better, because there’s no guidance beyond a brief lesson – and no handbook included in the package.

With its polished metal look and dependable Wear OS operation, the Falster 3 sticks out. You can just as easily wear it with a suit as gym wear.

21. Mi Band 6

The Oppo Band resembles a traditional fitness tracker in appearance, with a long, slim band attached to a fairly tiny display. It’s exclusively available in black and has a 5ATM water-resistant rating.

The touchscreen display itself is 1.1 inches wide and has a resolution of 126 × 294 pixels.

The Band, according to Oppo, boasts a 12-day battery life.

It offers 12 exercise modes, including outdoor running and cycling, swimming and even cricket! As well as health functions like heart rate monitoring, step counting, Sp02 monitoring and sleep tracking.

Some smart lifestyle elements, such as notification management, weather reporting, and camera controls, are also available.

The Oppo Band appears to be your standard budget fitness tracker so don’t expect bells and whistles, but do expect reliability.

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Last Updated on October 4, 2021