These days there are so many brands and types of smartwatches with different features that you’ll want to do your homework before taking your pick. Which smartwatches have the longest battery life? Undoubtedly one of the most important questions you’ll ask. So, if you’re wondering which smartwatch has the longest battery life, you’re in the right place.
Battery Life
The truth about smartwatches and battery life is straightforward. The more features your watch has and the more it looks and works like a smartphone, the more energy it uses.
Apple Watches have tried hard to function like smartphones, consequently, this has done their battery life no favors. Some watches are designed to deliver certain functions better than others. Fitness watches tend to have little to no music or smartphone features but are excellent for tracking your movement over long periods of time.
There are some things you can do to extend your Apple Watch battery life. Check out our article, here.
While some smart and fitness watchmakers are finding ways to make their watches run for longer without needing a recharge, others are not taking this seriously at all. We’ve listed the best smartwatches on the market for their battery life. We interrogate favorites like Apple to find out why, however popular, they aren’t always the best choice. So, here are our choice of smartwatches with the longest battery life
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar
It’s safe to say Garmin is number one for battery life. The Garmin Fenix 6 Solar lasts more than 120 days depending on how it’s used. In GPS mode it lasts up to 150 hours and in expedition mode, up to 56 days, depending on how sunny it is.
This is thanks to the introduction of solar charging and better power storage. This makes it a bulky watch that you’ll notice on your wrist. This muscly watch is an attractive option for hardcore adventurers.
(We explained a little more about solar charging in our article, here).
Garmin wanted to deliver a premium product for people with a specific need by trimming down other features. This model can store up to 2000 songs, a much-needed improvement on its predecessors. They also added Garmin Pay. Consequently, you can go for a run without your phone.
Read more about how solar watches work in our article, here.
Pros:
- best outdoor tracking function
- longest battery life
- pay function
- music
Cons:
- style is an acquired taste
- pricey
We did a full review and you can read it, here.
Mobvoi’s Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE
Secondly, the Ticwatch Pro 4G Lite. Although this smartwatch’s battery only lasts up to 30 days, compared to the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar’s 120 days, you get more functionality packed into its stylish display.
However, 30 days of battery life is much longer than most smartwatches. This is thanks to layered display technology, meaning it has two displays – OLED and LED. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, similar to TVs, and smartphones. As you can imagine, this display mode uses more battery power than the LED screen. The LED display is activated when you’re not using the OLED display.
This, of course, is optional and can be changed in your settings. If you do change the settings display to OLED only, you’ll have to charge your watch every two days. But this still isn’t as often as the Apple Watch Series 5, which struggles to make it past the 24-hour mark and has the flagship Always On Display. In OLED mode, the Ticwatch Pro has great fitness tracking apps and features like google assistant, power by Wear OS, Google’s smartwatch operating system.
Pros:
- Smarter than most fitness watches
- Longer battery life than most smartwatches
- Stylish design
Cons:
- 2 days battery life in OLED mode
Check out our in-depth review of the TicWatch Pro 4, here.
Amazfit GTR
Luxurious and stylish with none of the sporty design features emblematic of so many fitness and smartwatches. The Amazfit GTR consists of a touchscreen and two side buttons. Its battery lasts up to 24 days on a single charge. Although this is less than the Ticwatch’s 4 weeks, it’s still longer than most smartwatches.
It preserves battery without you having to make the choice between basic LED and smartwatch functionality. This is thanks to a built-in setting that turns the watch off when it faces away from you. You can change the setting, but a warning will pop up on the screen saying this will halve your battery life.
Amazfit uses its own light OS and limits apps on the watch to pre-installed native ones only. Not being able to install third-party apps might be an issue for some, but how many do you really want to use on your watch?
Amazfit’s pre-installed apps are based around fitness and health tracking making it a much more stylish fitness alternative to the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar, especially if you don’t plan on embarking on very long outdoor expeditions.
Pros:
- Balance between style and function
- Automatic battery saver
Cons:
- limited apps
Read our full review of the Amazfit GTR, here.
Garmin Fenix 6
This watch gets mentioned tentatively on this list have already featured the solar version. But, hear us out. The battery life is decent for an adventure watch, offering 36 hours in GPS mode, and a whopping 336 hours without using the bells and whistles. Those being a barometer, thermometer, accelerometer, pedometer, and gyroscope.
The Fenix 6 is Garmin’s latest release encompassing the most recent Elevate heart rate sensor. This is great for fitness tracking enthusiasts. Utilize the Body Battery, which monitors your energy levels. Advanced sleep and stress tracking are also incredibly useful. Use the constant heart rate monitor to get a great snapshot of your current fitness level.
Pros:
- Best brand name on the market
- Incredible fitness tracking accuracy
Cons:
- Exceptional battery life only when using the bear minimum features
Last but not least we want to mention the new Garmin Instinct Solar lineup with several models and looks to choose from. These watches last up to 56 days on a single charge. They look great and offer lots of functionality from a brand you can trust.
Read our full review of the Garmin Fenix 6, here.
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Last Updated on July 11, 2021
Emma is an experienced multifaceted writer and is our Copy and Visual Editor, Social Media Manager and regular Content Contributor. When not working, Emma enjoys life with her little girl, partner and Jack Russell Terrier in the lovely countryside of the South West UK.
Hi Emma, I was wondering if u can help. I have a android phone and after a smart watch with long battery life, minimum of 6days & NFC payment? I already have the Samsung watch 3 but battery life not that great so after another one between £100-£150..
Many thanks
Mr.T
Hi Emma, I was wondering if u can help. I have a android phone and after a smart watch with long battery life, minimum of 6days & NFC payment? I already have the Samsung watch 3 but battery life not that great so after another one between £100-£150..
Many thanks
Mr.T
Hi Shawn, thanks for your question. I have been doing some research and it’s quite difficult to find a watch to match the requirements you have within your budget. The Mobovoi TicWatch Pro is worth a further look at, although it is above budget.
Sorry I couldn’t find something more specific 🙂
The Amazfit Bip with battery last 30 days and under $60.00