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Buying guide

The Best Smartwatches

We compared 8 smartwatches on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs, finding the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 as the top pick for its advanced health tracking and lightweight design.

Updated

The bottom line

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (B0F7QD4HSD) is our top pick for its advanced health tracking, lightweight design, and long-lasting battery. It scored 8.8/10 from 1997 owner ratings and 8.5/10 from expert reviews. The Garmin vívoactive 5 (B0CG6NBJ61) is a close runner-up, with comprehensive health monitoring and up to 11 days of battery life, scoring 8.6/10 from 12092 owner ratings. For a budget option, the Amazfit Bip 6 (B0F9J1JR8G) offers extensive fitness tracking and health monitoring at a lower price, scoring 8.4/10 from 7027 owner ratings. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is best for those who prioritize advanced health features and a lightweight design, while the Garmin vívoactive 5 is best for users who need long battery life and comprehensive health monitoring.

Top pick
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 $299.00

Best overall for advanced health tracking

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 offers advanced health and sleep tracking, a lightweight design, and a personal AI assistant. It scored 8.8/10 from 1997 owner ratings and 8.5/10 from expert reviews. Priced at $299, it's a strong choice for those who want comprehensive health features. Tradeoff: Battery life could be better.

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Runner-up
Garmin vívoactive 5Garmin vívoactive 5 $181.97

Best for long battery life and health monitoring

The Garmin vívoactive 5 offers up to 11 days of battery life and comprehensive health monitoring features. It scored 8.6/10 from 12092 owner ratings. Priced at $181.97, it's a strong choice for users who need long battery life and extensive health tracking. Tradeoff: Sleep tracking may not be accurate for some users.

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Budget pick
Amazfit Bip 6 Smart WatchAmazfit Bip 6 Smart Watch $64.95

Best budget option for fitness tracking

The Amazfit Bip 6 offers extensive fitness tracking and health monitoring at a lower price. It scored 8.4/10 from 7027 owner ratings. Priced at $64.95, it's a good choice for budget-conscious users. Tradeoff: Concerns about GPS accuracy and heart rate monitor accuracy.

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The field, ranked

  1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Best for advanced health tracking and lightweight design 9.0/10 $299.00 Amazon
  2. Garmin vívoactive 5 Best for long battery life and comprehensive health monitoring 8.5/10 $181.97 Amazon
  3. Amazfit Bip 6 Smart Watch Best budget option for fitness tracking 8.0/10 $64.95 Amazon
  4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Bluetooth Smartwatch Good for timeless design and advanced health tracking 7.5/10 $349.99 Amazon
  5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch Good for lightweight design and improved user interface 7.0/10 $234.99 Amazon
  6. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 40mm LTE Smartwatch Good for advanced health tracking but with mediocre battery life 6.5/10 $269.99 Amazon
  7. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Good for durability and customization options 6.0/10 $349.00 Amazon
  8. Fitbit Versa 4 Good for comprehensive health and fitness tracking but with syncing issues 5.5/10 $124.13 Amazon

Where the differences show up in daily use

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is noted for its advanced health tracking features, including sleep coaching and a running coach. Users appreciate its lightweight design and long-lasting battery. The Garmin vívoactive 5 is praised for its long battery life and comprehensive health monitoring, though some users report issues with sleep tracking accuracy. The Amazfit Bip 6 offers extensive fitness tracking at a lower price, but users have raised concerns about GPS accuracy and heart rate monitor reliability.

What owners complain about after buying

Owners of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 have reported issues with battery life, with some users getting only one day and about 4 hours on a single charge. The Garmin vívoactive 5 has received mixed reviews on sleep tracking accuracy and app functionality. The Amazfit Bip 6 has faced concerns about GPS accuracy and heart rate monitor reliability, with some users questioning the ease of data transfer to other apps.

The also-rans

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (B0F7PS35R2) and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 40mm LTE (B0F7PX6RSB) did not make the top picks due to their higher prices and similar features to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. The Fitbit Versa 4 (B0B4MWCFV4) was not selected as a top pick due to reported syncing issues and lower overall scores from owners and experts.

How this was put together

This guide is based on 8 expert reviews, 45,862 owner ratings, and detailed specs comparisons. We did not test any products hands-on. The evidence was thinnest on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 40mm LTE, which were not ranked as top picks.