The best smartwatches for women share a lot in common with our general roundup of the best smartwatches. Despite having features that are geared toward women, such as menstrual cycle tracking and small fit sizes, these are great devices for anyone. The smartwatches on this list act as companions to your smartphones, and they’re loaded with sensors letting you track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep tracking, stress, overall wellness, and more.
Smartwatch operating systems include Apple Watch OS, Samsung’s Tizen, Fitbit OS, and Google Wear. All of them offer a great set of features and can hit different price points, though if you’re more fitness-focused and want standalone LTE and GPS connectivity to track your runs, be sure to also take a look at our list of the best fitness trackers.
Without further ado, read on to see the best smartwatches for women.
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.
Best Overall
Fitbit Versa 3
Onboard GPS
Lightweight design
Voice assistant integration
Music storage with Deezer or Pandora
Music control only with Spotify
Message reply/call answering for Android only
SPO2 monitoring limited
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
“In true Fitbit brand fashion, the Fitbit Versa 3 supports wellness in a big-picture way.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester
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 Galaxy Watch Active2 reviewer found the fit to be comfortable and ideal for all-day wear. The band is also replaceable for more formal styles.
Best Wellness
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Excellent fitness tracking features
Resistant to sweat and water
Long battery life
GPS and improved sensors
No rotating bezel
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
“The Active2 offers a considerable edge over other smartwatches with built-in running gait analysis.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester
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.
Best for Apple Users
Apple Watch Series 6
Robust wellness/fitness tracking
Bright, always-on display
Appealing new color options
Speedy and responsive
Fun, diverse watch faces
Modest upgrade over Series 5
Still need to charge daily
No third-party faces
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
“Series 6 is the best Apple Watch to date, but also the one that provides the least incentive to upgrade if you already have last year’s model.” — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester
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.
Best Fitness Tracking
Garmin Forerunner 745
Detailed performance insights
Comfortable design
Large, light-reflective display
Stores up to 500 Spotify songs
Pricey
Battery underperforms
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)
“The tracking capabilities of the Forerunner 745 are nothing short of impressive.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester
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.
Best Sensors
Fitbit Sense
Stylish
Onboard GPS
ECG app for heart rhythm monitoring
6+ days of battery life
No on-device Spotify music storage
Side buttons awkward to use
Slightly heavy over time
Expensive
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.
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
“The Fitbit Sense shines brightest when it comes to health and wellness support.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester
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.
Best Design
Fossil Juliana Smartwatch Gen 5
Built-in GPS tracking
Heart rate and activity monitoring
Supports 3rd party apps
No native menstrual cycle tracking
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
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.
Best Value
Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch
Class-leading battery life
Great fitness-focused features
Premium build, customizable look
Short on smartwatch features
High end of the price range
Limited iOS integration
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
“With a massive battery capacity, excellent features for the fitness-minded, and the added benefit of a few extra smartwatch-style features, the Versa 2 is a truly impressive achievement by Fitbit.” — Jason Schneider, Product Tester
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.
Best Accessory
Michael Kors Access Gen 5E MKGO
Various battery modes
Theater mode allows fast display shut-off
Comfortable rubber band
Wide variety of watch faces
No onboard GPS
Heavy for exercising with
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)
“This feature-rich smartwatch doubles as a statement fashion accessory.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester
The Skagen Falster 3 is a capable Wear OS smartwatch that comes in a stylish package. Front and center, you have a circular 1.3-inch OLED display that has a 416x416 resolution, working out to a crisp 328 pixels per inch. Images and graphics are crisp and the watch gets bright enough to read easily. In terms of design, you get a metal case and clicky metal lugs that serve as buttons along with a rotating crown. The watchbands are replaceable and come in a variety of materials and types. Under the hood, the Falster 3 has a Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor which gets the job done for most apps and functionality.
Best Wear OS
Skagen Falster 3
Classic and stylish
Good customization options
Waterproof
USB-C charging and magnetic charging station
Supports GPS tracking
Finicky fitness tracking
Weak battery
Touch sensitive interface
You won’t find any features lacking either. The Falster 3 has heart-rate monitoring, GPS tracking, NFC to use for Google Pay, water-resistance up to 30 meters, integration with Google Fit, and various sensors like an altimeter and gyroscope. The only thing missing is an LTE model.
Screen Size: 1.3 inches | Weight: 1.44oz Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC | Battery Life: One day | Water Resistance: Up to 30 meters (3ATM)
“The Falster 3 can use any features that are in Google Fit by default and a number of third-party Android apps.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
About Our Trusted Experts
Jason Schneider has almost ten years’ experience writing and reviewing tech. He’s covered a wide range of products from audio equipment to laptops and wearables.
The best smartwatch to buy is the new Fitbit Versa 3. It comes with a nice, lightweight design, a beautiful AMOLED screen, and plenty of activity-tracking features. As a close second, we like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2. It has a sleek and stylish design, can track heart rate, sleep, and spO2, and boasts a long-lasting battery life with fast charging.
Yoona Wagener has been reviewing products for Lifewire since 2019. With a background in software and tech, she specializes in sporting and fitness tech.
Ajay Kumar is Tech Editor at Lifewire with almost a decade of experience in the industry. He’s reviewed thousands of products, from phones to smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Rebecca Isaacs has been writing for Lifewire since 2019, and she’s passionate about testing new gadgets.
What to Look for in Women’s Smartwatches
Style
You no longer have to sacrifice on aesthetics when it comes to choosing a smartwatch. These days, there’s a wide range of styles available, from sporty to techie to designer. Choose an option that you won’t mind showing off on a regular basis.
- What is the best smartwatch for Android?
- Google’s Wear OS is the main operating system for Android smartwatches, though Samsung’s Tizen OS is also compatible with all Android devices. We’re partial to Samsung’s latest release, the Galaxy Watch3. For a more Android-oriented smartwatch, we also like the Skagen Falster 3.
- What is the best Samsung smartwatch?
- The best Samsung smartwatch currently out is the Samsung Galaxy Watch3. It’s the latest in the Galaxy Watch series and offers a mix of fitness and wellness tracking features, along with activity tracking and newer features like a blood oxygen sensor. For a more fitness-focused device, we’re partial to the Galaxy Watch Active2. It doesn’t have the same stylish look, but it’s great for taking to the gym and working out.
- What is the best smartwatch for kids?
- The best wearable for kids is likely the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2. It’s designed for children and works as a fitness band, letting kids and parents keep an eye on activity levels. Aside from encouraging your child to keep moving, it also comes in a fun style and has a built-in adventure game.
Google’s Wear OS is the main operating system for Android smartwatches, though Samsung’s Tizen OS is also compatible with all Android devices. We’re partial to Samsung’s latest release, the Galaxy Watch3. For a more Android-oriented smartwatch, we also like the Skagen Falster 3.
The best Samsung smartwatch currently out is the Samsung Galaxy Watch3. It’s the latest in the Galaxy Watch series and offers a mix of fitness and wellness tracking features, along with activity tracking and newer features like a blood oxygen sensor. For a more fitness-focused device, we’re partial to the Galaxy Watch Active2. It doesn’t have the same stylish look, but it’s great for taking to the gym and working out.
The best wearable for kids is likely the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2. It’s designed for children and works as a fitness band, letting kids and parents keep an eye on activity levels. Aside from encouraging your child to keep moving, it also comes in a fun style and has a built-in adventure game.
Price
Early smartwatches were wildly expensive, but they’ve started to come down in price and are now more on par with traditional watches. Most hover in the $200 range, but you can find basic options for as little as $30.
Functionality
It may look cool, but does your smartwatch truly add value to your life? At their most basic, smartwatches can track your activity level and sleep patterns. However, more advanced models can also act as a smart assistant, working together with your phone to notify you of new messages and upcoming appointments. Some even have support for Apple Pay or Android Pay, so you never have to whip out your credit card again.
