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The best smartwatches money can buy, tested by Notebookcheck

Ranking: Top 10 smartwatches reviewed by Notebookcheck

November 2024 update.

From messengers to health monitoring: The roles smartwatches play keep on changing. One of their most important tasks today is monitoring vitals. Almost all of the latest models measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, and many also measure breathing rate and skin temperature. However, the most expensive watches are not necessarily the best, as our comparison shows.
Benedikt Winkel (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy) Published 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 ...
Smartwatch Wearable Charts Deal

Smartwatches and high-performance fitness trackers have become indispensable for monitoring one's vitals, whether during exercizing or in everyday life. Most wearables can measure your pulse and oxygen saturation and count your steps. Higher-quality products also measure the surface temperature of your skin, can do an ECG or check blood pressure. There are also many less significant features on offer such as fall detection, gait analysis, breathing analysis, calorie counting, stress level and sleep tracking and much more. Algorithms and increasingly also AI analyze the values and give users recommendations.

Wearables are proving their worth as sports trackers, either with their own apps or via third-party options such as Strava; the trend towards self-weight workouts is increasingly being followed by time-based or repetition-based interval workouts among the sports modes supported. In our tests, we look at the options and take a look at the training analysis provided by the respective software. Some manufacturers are now starting to make premium functions available only for a fee.

Paying with a smartwatch has become more of a focus since coronavirus appeared, but is still not a mandatory feature. This is also due to the fact that watch makers are all doing their own thing: whether Apple-Pay, Samsung-Pay, Garmin-Pay or Google-Pay, they all require an agreement with the bank in question to work; you can only use them if your own bank supports the respective service.

The best smartwatches tested by Notebookcheck

Image
Model
Price
Size
Weight
Battery Capacity
Display
1.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2
S9
Amazon: $779.00
List Price: 899€
1.92"70 g564 mAh1.92"
502x410
326 PPI
OLED
2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 LTE 44mm
Exynos W1000, Mali-G68 MP2
List Price: 399€1.50"33.8 g425 mAh1.50"
480x480
453 PPI
Super AMOLED
3.
Huawei Watch D2
Huawei Watch D2
Amazon:
1. $138.13
HUAWEI Watch FIT 3,1.82" A...
2. $189.99
HUAWEI Watch FIT 4 smartwatc...
3. $681.95
HUAWEI Watch Ultimate Smartw...
List Price: 399€
1.82"83 g524 mAh1.82"
408x480
347 PPI
AMOLED
4.
Garmin Fenix 8 Solar
Garmin Fenix 8 Solar
Amazon: $999.99
List Price: 1299€
1.40"95 g1.40"
280x280
283 PPI
MIP colour display
5.
Huawei Watch 4 Pro
Huawei Watch 4 Pro
SD W5 Gen 1
Amazon:
1. $292.72
HUAWEI Watch FIT4 Pro Smartw...
2. $338.14
HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro 46 mm ...
3. $443.89
HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro 46 mm ...
List Price: 649€
1.50"110 g780 mAh1.50"
466x466
310 PPI
AMOLED
6.
Apple Watch Series 9 45mm
Apple Watch Series 9 45mm
S9
Amazon:
List Price: 479€
1.90"47 g308 mAh1.90"
484x352
329 PPI
OLED
7.
OnePlus Watch 2
OnePlus Watch 2
SD W5 Gen 1
Amazon: $245.34
List Price: 299 329
1.43"80 g500 mAh1.43"
466x466
326 PPI
AMOLED
8.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro
Amazon: $289.99
List Price: 499€
1.43"53 g524 mAh1.43"
466x466
326 PPI
AMOLED
9.
Amazfit Balance
Amazfit Balance
Amazon:
1. $149.99
Amazfit Balance Smart Watch ...
2. $299.99
Amazfit Balance 2 Smart Watc...
3. $7.99
Suttkue Compatible for Amazf...
List Price: 250€
1.50"35 g475 mAh1.50"
480x480
323 PPI
AMOLED
10.
Huawei Watch Fit 3
Huawei Watch Fit 3
Amazon: $145.46
List Price: 159€
1.82"49 g400 mAh1.82"
480x408
346 PPI
AMOLED

The table above shows an overview of the best smartwatches tested by Notebookcheck in the last 12 months and relevant products that are still available. If 2 products have the same rating, the more recent review will be ranked higher. The prices shown in the tables are automatically updated daily.

1st place - Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is quite possibly the best smartwatch money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an ultra-modern product perfectly integrated into the Apple ecosystem. It has a 1.92-inch OLED display, which can be extremely bright. It also has numerous certifications, is waterproof (up to 100 meters) and is suitable for scuba diving at depths of up to 40 meters. An LTE modem is on board no matter the model, as is an NFC chip for contactless payments.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is technically powerful, but also quite bulky.

In our review, the watch did very well in most areas and, in addition to comprehensive sports tracking, it also offers numerous health-related features and a modern sensor setup, although it does not have a BSI sensor. Unfortunately, the watch looks bulky on slim wrists and the charging times are quite long.

The Watch 2 Ultra is available from notebooksbilliger.de, Amazon Germany or directly from Apple.

2nd place - Samsung Galaxy Watch7 series

The Samsung Galaxy Watch7 is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Marcus Herbrich)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch7

Samsung keep refining the Galaxy Watches. Now in its seventh generation, the watch zeries boasts good performance and battery life thanks to the new Exynos W1000 SiP. A new BioActive sensor is designed to provide more accurate measurements of vitals. The Galaxy Watch7 is available in two sizes with diameters of 40 and 44 millimeters. Samsung also offers an LTE version.

More power and better runtimes for the Galaxy Watch7 thanks to its new processor

The range of functions of the smartwatch is enormous in no small part thanks to WearOS. The new processor ensures smooth operation and better runtimes than those of the predecessor model. Too bad: ECG and blood pressure measurement are still only possible if you're a Samsung smartphone owners. The Galaxy AI was of no added value on the smartwatch at the time of testing.

The Galaxy Watch7 Ultra offers even better battery life while the Galaxy Watch6 Classic has a more classic appearance with its rotating bezel. The Samsung Galaxy Watch7 can be had from Amazon Germany, Mediamarkt and the Samsung online store.

3rd place - Huawei Watch D2

The Huawei Watch D2 is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The Huawei Watch D2

The Huawei Watch D2 is significantly more stylish than its predecessor. However, its internals shines even brighter. To date, it is the only smartwatch to offer both ECG and calibration-free blood pressure measurement. The latter is achieved with a small integrated pump that inflates the wristband. It is certified as a medical device and take measurements automatically at intervals.

The Huawei Watch D2 is the only smartwatch with calibration-free blood pressure measurement.

In our testing, the Watch D impressed with accurate measurement results from all sensors and very long battery life. Now in the second generation, the Huawei watch not only comes with refined design and materials, but also has a speaker enabling one to make calls.

The Watch D2 is available directly from Huawei. Other retailers such as Galaxus and Amazon Germany also have the product on offer.

4th place - Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Marcus Herbrich)
The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

When it comes to watches for athletes, the name Garmin always comes up at some point. The manufacturer's watches tend to have great battery life, but were not particularly smart in the past. This changes with the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar. It still lasts forever - in our testing, the smartwatch remained functional for two weeks with all features enabled - but can do so much more than any of its predecessors.

Payment is possible thanks to NFZ, as is navigation with offline maps. A loudspeaker is on board, making calls possible, as well as using a voice assistant. Unfortunately, Garmin there is no eSIM support. The old-fashioned UI and the low pixel density of the display are also worth criticizing.

The Garmin Fenix 8 Solar is smart and works for two weeks one a single charge.

The Fenix 8 Solar has a very elegant finish and the materials used meet the highest standards. Thanks to its 5 buttons, the smartwatch can also be operated with gloves. However, it is not suitable for small wrists. Garmin offers the model in different versions, but the price is high no matter the model. It starts at 1,099 euros. Garmin sells the Fenix 8 Solar via its own online shop in Germany and the smartwatch is also listed at other retailers such as Amazon Germany or Galaxus.

5th place - Huawei Watch 4 Pro

The Huawei Watch 4 Pro is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The Huawei Watch 4 Pro

The Huawei Watch 4 Pro uses high-quality materials including a titanium alloy and sapphire crystal. It has several certifications and allows free diving at a depth of up to 30 meters, among other things. LTE and NFC are also on board. However, the latter cannot be used for payment due to the lack of partners in many Western countries.

The Huawei Watch 4 Pro is an elegant wearable for Android and iOS.

The watch's range of features is huge and it very much impressed us in the review with its accurate sensors and good endurance. If you can do without a few functions and diving is important to you, the Huawei Watch Ultimate which has a diving depth of up to 100 meter is an even better choice. With the Space Edition released not so long ago, another design option is now available.

The Watch 4 Pro can be purchased directly from Huawei, and is also available via Amazon Germany.

6th place - Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch 9 is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The Apple Watch 9 (45 mm)

The Apple Watch Series 9 is available in two sizes (41 and 45 mm) and two frame materials, aluminum and stainless steel. LTE is available as an option for the aluminum models, while the watches with stainless steel frames all have integrated mobile network support. The product can only be connected to iPhones and has a wide range of functions including ECG.

The Apple Watch 9 impresses with its wide range of functions and accurate sensors.

In contrast to the Ultra, the display is not quite as bright here, but it is still one of the brightest for a smartwatch. In addition, only single-band GNSS is implemented. The variety of apps is huge and the fast charging function allows Apple to make up for the short battery life quite well.

The Apple Watch 9 is available from Amazon Germany and MediaMarkt, among others, as well as directly from Apple.

7th place - OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2 is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The OnePlus Watch 2

The OnePlus Watch 2 is quite large with a case diameter of 46 millimetres and houses a 1.43-inch OLED display. The smartwatch is based on Google's Wear OS and is compatible with all Android smartphones. It is powered by a speedy Snapdragon W5 chip and with 32 GB of storage, it offers plenty of space for keeping one's music files.

The Watch 2 is a very well-rounded option that impressed us in the review. However, a few corners were cut here.

The battery life of the Watch 2 is really good and fast charging is also supported. However, it does not have ECG. The sensors that are present thankfully are reliable and many sports modes are supported.

The OnePlus Watch 2 is available directly from OnePlus Germany and from some retailers such as Galaxus.

8th place - Huawei Watch GT 5 series

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Marcus Schwarten)
The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro

Huawei's Watch GT 5 has a Pro brother, like some of the previous-gen models. It is available in two designs and sizes. The 46 mm version is more striking, but not st all thick despite its larger display. The 42 mm model will probably work better for women and is so much different from the larger one in terms of the looks. Both have a high-quality finish, feature high-quality materials such as titanium and ceramics and are characterized by their long battery life and accurate sensors.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro can be used with both Android and Apple smartphones.

The Pro model is ECG-capable. The bad part is, Huawei smartwatches do not offer contactless payment support. What they do offer is a wide range of health-related features and are impressive when it comes to excercize tracking.

The Watch GT 5 is available directly from Huawei as well as from Amazon Germany and MediaMarkt.

9th place - Amazfit Balance

The Amazfit Balance is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Marcus Schwarten)
The Amazfit Balance

With the Balance, Amazfit is fully committed to the topic of AI. The algorithms are designed to help record and analyze health data and an AI coach creates training plans based on that. The smartwatch also did great in our testing thanks to very precise GNSS positioning and accurate measurement of our vitals.

The range of features on offer is extensive, but ECG measurement is not supported. In order to exploit the full potential of the smartwatch, a paid subscription is required.

The Amazfit Balance offers many smart functions and a long battery life.

In addition to the smart features, the Amazfit Balance also offers navigation with offline maps, a voice assistant and an enormous battery. In the testing, the smartwatch managed 9 to 10 days of continuous use before it had to be recharged. Payment is also possible with the Amazfit Balance.

The watch currently has a significantly reduced price. Instead of the RRP of 249.90 euros, the Amazfit smartwatch costs 159.90 euros at the official online shop. This price is also found at other retailers like Amazon Germany.

10th place - Huawei Watch Fit 3

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is one of the best smartwatches money can buy (Image source: Benedikt Winkel)
The Huawei Watch Fit 3

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is a compact and stylish fitness tracker with a 1.82-inch OLED screen as the star of the show. It offers a variety of sensors, all of which worked very accurately in the testing, with only the pedometer showing differences compared to reference devices. The accuracy of positioning, on the other hand, is very good.

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is an appealing overall package - both visually and technically.

Despite the many health metrics that the smartwatch records, its battery life is really good. It also supports numerous training modes. NFC is only available on some versions and payment is not possible even if NFC is onboard.

The Watch Fit 3 can be purchased directly from Huawei, but is also available from retailers such as Amazon Germany or Saturn.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Ranking: Top 10 smartwatches reviewed by Notebookcheck
Benedikt Winkel, 2024-12-26 (Update: 2025-03- 9)