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CMF Watch Pro by Nothing review: A great value smartwatch, but not perfect
CMF Watch Pro: One minute review
The CMF Watch Pro is astonishingly cheap, retailing for just $69 / 69 / AU$142, but despite that it looks and feels premium throughout. Moving into this watch from my (comparatively expensive) Amazfit Balance, I was worried that the experience would be laden with frustrations and limitations, but on the contrary, Ive really enjoyed testing it.
The design, while clearly taking inspiration from Apple, is lovely. It looks great on the wrist, the materials and finish are top-notch, and Nothings signature design language is present across a large library of aesthetically pleasing and functional watch faces. Its a chunky watch, but extremely lightweight, and that makes it a pleasure to wear.
Of course, at such a low price, there are plenty of features missing that have become commonplace on more expensive smartwatches. Theres no onboard Wi-Fi, no payment system and the vast majority of features will require your smartphone to be connected in order to function, but I think the Watch Pro covers the basics well enough to satisfy most users.
The frustrations arise when you realise how much effort it takes to keep the watch connected to your phone. It just seems to disconnect itself all the time, and that means you wont be getting notifications and many functions will be unavailable until you open the smartphone app and reconnect your phone.
Hopefully, this is something that will be improved as the software matures, and in fairness, there have been multiple updates pushed over the few weeks Ive been wearing it. As it stands, its still a great-looking smartwatch at a bargain price, but there are definitely some refinements to be made.
CMF Watch Pro: Specifications
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| Component | CMF Watch Pro |
| Price | $69 / 69 / AU$131 |
| Dimensions | 46.9 x 39.87 x 12.89 (mm) |
| Weight | 47g (including strap) |
| Case | Aluminium alloy |
| Display | 410 x 502 px, AMOLED |
| GPS | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS/Beidou |
| Battery life | Up to 13 days |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Water resistant | IP68 |
CMF Watch Pro: Price and availability
- 69 in the UK
- $69 in the US
- AU$131 in Australia
The biggest draw of the CMF Watch Pro is its low asking price. While it may look a lot like an Apple Watch, its pricing puts it in closer competition with devices like the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, Fitbit Inspire 3 and the Amazfit Bip 5. All great watches in their own right, but none have quite the same premium allure as the CMF option.
It launched in September 2023 as a debut product for the CMF by Nothing brand, alongside some earbuds and a wall charger.
Its available to purchase now from Nothing directly and via various authorised resellers in the UK. In the US, it can be found on Amazon and in Australia its available via AliExpress.
CMF Watch Pro: Design and screen
- 1.96-inch AMOLED display
- Dark Grey and Metallic Grey options
- Replaceable 22mm silicon wrist strap
The CMF Watch Pro is quite a sizable watch, and while I think it looks great on my wrist, its worth noting that I am male and over 6 feet tall its likely to look more out of place on petite wrists.
This watch is only a few millimeters smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra, so its quite chunky, but it wears it well. Its also extremely lightweight, coming in under 50 grams including the silicon wrist strap, so youll barely feel it on your wrist but youll see it.
I was sent the Dark Grey variant for testing and I think its the better-looking of the two finishes. The Metallic Grey option has a polished, almost mirror finish on its frame, a bit like the Google Pixel Watch 2, and while it does look nice I know I would be concerned about scratches and blemishes. The Dark Grey option is anodized with a more rugged-looking matte finish, and comes paired with either an ash gray or dark gray sports strap, the flashier orange strap is only supplied with the metallic version.
On the right-hand side, theres a push button and a speaker, while all the other sides are blank and minimalistic. On the base, youll find an array of four optical sensors for fitness tracking and two pogo-pin pads that attach to the magnetic charging puck.
The screen is large, sharp and bright and its extremely responsive to touch input. There are large bezels on all sides, but for the most part, youd never know. The UI has a black background throughout, and the majority of watch faces are dark, too. This means you rarely see these chunky bezels unless youre really looking for them.
My biggest gripe with the screen isnt the fault of the screen itself, its just that the watch doesnt have an ambient light sensor. This means that on many occasions, the display is inappropriately bright or dim. Thankfully, it only takes a couple of taps to adjust the brightness, but its a hassle that you wont experience with the more expensive watches on the market.
CMF Watch Pro: Features
- 110 sport tracking modes
- CMF Watch companion app for Android and iOS
- Bluetooth calling with AI noise reduction
As you might expect with a watch at this price point, the functionality is quite limited compared to a Wear OS device or an Apple Watch. Theres no app store, everything that you can use comes preinstalled and ready to go out of the box. That said, the most commonly used smartwatch features are present here, and theres more than enough for most people's needs.
Theres also no Wi-Fi onboard, so for any feature that requires internet access, like weather info, youll need to be paired to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The CMF Watch app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store and it makes it as simple as can be to get up and running.
Most of the CMF Watch Pros features are accessed by tapping the button on the right-hand side. In the resulting menu, youll find everything from timers and alarms to music controls, phone calls and fitness tracking. When you open the Exercise app, youll find a comprehensive list of 110 different activities to choose between. I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of my more unusual hobbies, like inline skating and snowboarding, were represented here so theres a good chance that your sport of choice will be on the list.
Most of the tracking works similarly, measuring your heart rate, workout duration and location data (where applicable). Its enough information for the casual user, but it might be a little lacking for true fitness buffs. You cant use the watch to track your reps while strength training, for example.
The CMF Watch Pro can also check your stress level and blood oxygen levels, and it can monitor them 24/7 if you want it to, though that will cost you some battery life. Personally, I chose to keep the 24/7 heart rate monitoring active, which is the default, and activated the other sensors manually.
You can make and answer phone calls directly from the watch, so long as you are connected to your phone, and the function works quite well. My friends told me that my voice came through clean and clear, and the surprisingly loud built-in speaker meant that I could hear them well, too. The only frustration is that you have to manually add contacts to the watch, they wont appear by default, so youll need to do a bit of set-up before you can call people on a whim.
One feature that I found quite appealing was the camera remote, which allows you to trigger a photo or start a timer using your watch. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to work with my Vivo X100 Pro, and the literature says it won't work with an iPhone, either. Still, I've seen it demonstrated with other Android devices, and if yours happens to work, it could be handy.
CMF Watch Pro: Performance
- Up to 13 days of battery life
- Heart rate, sleep, stress and SpO2 monitoring
- Built-in multi-system GPS
The CMF Watch Pro is advertised as having up to 13 days of battery life on a charge, but of course, that all depends on how you use it. Personally, I used it with the always-on display active, 24/7 heart rate monitoring and notifications enabled for all of my most-used applications. With this configuration, you can expect to be charging it every five days or so.
When it's time to charge, you do so with the proprietary magnetic charging puck that comes included in the box. It's a bit of a flimsy connector and I think it could benefit from some stronger magnets or a ridge to lock into as it's very easy to accidentally disconnect it. That said, it gets the job done well enough, and it'll juice you back up to full battery in under 2 hours.
Nothing hasn't provided any information about the processor powering this watch, nor is there much information about its operating system, but what I can tell you is that it feels snappy and responsive in use and I haven't experienced any freeze-ups or stutters in my usage. In terms of fitness tracking, its hard to gauge exactly how accurate the measurements are, but my step count always came close to the figures Im used to seeing on my other devices, and my average and maximum heart rates were very similar to the readings I got with my Amazfit Balance, too. The only oddity was that sometimes it would think I was asleep when I was relaxing and watching TV, so the sleep data might not be the most reliable out there.
Otherwise, the only real performance issue I experienced was the connection between the CMF Watch Pro and my phone. Unless I had recently used the CMF Watch app, the Bluetooth connection would just randomly drop, and that means no more notifications until you reopen the app, which seems to bump start the connection.
This happened every day without fail, and no matter how many permissions I gave the CMF Watch app, it didnt seem to change. I tried pairing the watch with a couple of different phones, and the results were always the same, so its not an isolated problem, either. On the plus side, there has been at least one firmware update a week since I have been testing, so Nothing is actively working to make the experience better. Fingers crossed one of these updates brings with it better Bluetooth connection stability.
CMF Watch Pro: Scorecard
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| Category | Comment | Score |
| Price | The price is astonishingly cheap for the level of quality and the number of features offered here. | 5/5 |
| Design | Top-notch fit and finish, excellent design in both the hardware and software and a spacious, bright OLED display. | 4.5/5 |
| Features | A good amount of built-in features including comprehensive tracking options, but some features could use polish and refinement. | 3/5 |
| Performance | Superb battery life and snappy performance, but a spotty Bluetooth connection sours the deal. | 3/5 |
| Total | A great-looking smartwatch at a bargain price with plenty of features. Theres room for improvement, but its hard to complain too much at a price like this. | 4/5 |
CMF Watch Pro: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
CMF Watch Pro: Also consider
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| Component | CMF Watch Pro | Amazfit Bip 5 | Fitbit Inspire 3 |
| Price | $69 / 69 / AU$131 | $89 / 89 / AU$159 | 85 / $100 / AU$180 |
| Dimensions | 46.9 x 39.87 x 12.89 (mm) | 45.94 x 38.09 x 11.2 (mm) | 39.32 x 18.6 x 11.75 (mm) |
| Weight | 30.4 g | 26 g | 17.69 g |
| Case/bezel | Aluminum alloy | Plastic | Plastic |
| Display | 410 x 502 px AMOLED touchscreen | Plastic | Plastic |
| GPS | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS/Beidou | GNSS/GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo | No |
| Battery life | 340 mAh, up to 13 days | 300 mAh, up to 10 days | Up to 10 days |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2, BLE | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Water resistant | Yes, IP68 | Yes, IP68 | Yes, 50 meters |
CMF Watch Pro: How I tested
Our reviewer wore the CMF Watch Pro as his primary smartwatch for over two weeks, and it accompanied him in travelling, commuting and during regular workouts. It was paired to a Vivo X100 Pro for the majority of the testing period, but was also tried with an Honor smartphone and a Google Pixel to compare.
The tracking results were compared to historical results from the Amazfit Balance and TicWatch Pro 5, as well as the built-in step counter on the smartphone and the Strava app for GPS accuracy.
Best smartwatch 2024: Top picks for every budget
Best smartwatch: Quick menu
The best smartwatches we've tested are more advanced than ever. They're now everything in one: a comprehensive health and fitness tracker, digital wallet, and an extension of your smartphone, even if your smartphone is nowhere nearby.
Today's smartwatches can also measure your heart rate, detect elevations, and automatically connect you to emergency services if you have a fall. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood oxygen (SpO2) readings are perks of certain models, too.
That said, the best smartwatches go above and beyond, housing various features and apps while keeping up with your day-to-day needs. And of course, there's style: many smartwatches can be customized, from their straps to their faces, to fit your personality.
You can refer to our smartwatch buying guide for more tips on finding the ultimate wearable for you. And be sure to look at the best cheap smartwatches if you're on a mission to save some dollars.
Written byWritten byKate Kozuch
My name is Kate and I oversee our guides to the best smartwatches, best Android smartwatches, best Apple Watches, best Samsung watches and more. This means I usually walk around like a cyborg with multiple devices on my wrists. I've been testing wearable tech for Tom's Guide for more than 4 years, documenting my experience on the site, on our YouTube channel and on my Instagram.
The quick list
Here's a quick overview of the best smartwatches you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. In-depth analysis on each of the products can be found further down this page.
The best smartwatch overall
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the most well-rounded smartwatch we've tested. It has first-rate communication, fitness, health and safety features, making it the best smartwatch for most people.
Read more below
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The best Android smartwatch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the ultimate Android smartwatch, with excellent communication features, a full collection of health-tracking sensors and deep integration with other Galaxy devices.
Read more below
The best smartwatch for Pixel
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is the first dedicated smartwatch for Pixel smartphone users, offering Google apps and the most Fitbit fitness tracking features. We like this watch's minimalistic design, too.
Read more below
The best value smartwatch
The Apple Watch SE (2022) offers an excellent smartwatch value, with many of the best Apple Watch features at a fraction of the price. It even comes in an LTE option, making it a low-cost watch for safety and connectivity.
Read more below
The best Fitbit smartwatch
The Fitbit Sense 2 is one the most intuitive smartwatches you can buy thanks to a proactive stress-detection feature. It has robust fitness tracking and a handful of Google apps, even if it's not a true Wear OS watch.
Read more below
The best fitness-tracking smartwatch
The Garmin Venu 3 is a versatile Garmin watch with a bright AMOLED display, thorough fitness tracking and accurate GPS. It has a long-lasting battery Garmin Coach for custom training plans, too.
Read more below
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The best smartwatch for safety
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a safety-first smartwatch with dual-band GPS, backtracking, a built-in siren and Emergency SOS. It's also the Apple Watch with the longest-lasting battery, so it can keep up with adventures.
Read more below
The best smartwatch for runners
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best smartwatch for runners of all experience levels. It has a bright AMOLED screen, comes in two different screen sizes, has accurate GPS, and advanced training metrics.
Read more below
The best smartwatch for step-counting
The Fitbit Versa 4 is a well-priced Fitbit smartwatch that is decent for accomplishing the basics, but we'd say more than anything, it's a solid step-counter. Get this if you care most about getting your 10,000 steps per day.
Read more below
The best smartwatches you can buy today
The best smartwatch overall
The best smartwatch overall
Specifications
Sizes: 41mm, 45mm
Battery Life (Rated): 18 hours
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
LTE: Optional
Mobile Payments: Apple Pay
Compatibility: iOS
Reasons to buy
+Siri works offline
+Double-tap gesture is awesome
+New UWB chip helps find your phone
+First carbon-neutral Apple device
Reasons to avoid
-Find iPhone feature only works with iPhone 15
The Apple Watch 9 is the best Apple Watch yet. Its not a major upgrade over the Apple Watch Series 8 in terms of features, but it does introduce some useful updates. What's new is the S9 processor, which is 25% more efficient before, powering a brighter 2,000 nit display and neat new double-tap gesture. The double-tap gesture makes it possible to navigate the watch one-handed, while a next-gen ultra-wideband chip helps you track down a misplaced iPhone more easily.
Latest news
Due to a patent dispute between Apple and Masimo, the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are banned from sale with the blood oxygen feature. That said, you can purchase them nowand we'll update this story if that changes.
What's more, the Apple Watch Series 9 is one of Apple's first carbon-neutral certified devices. Using more recycled parts, less packaging, and coming with a 82% recycled yarn Sport Loop, the Series 9 takes a big step in an eco-conscious direction.
Otherwise, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a full-featured health tracker and communications tool. With watchOS 10, this smartwatch packs the latest and greatest of what the Apple Watch experience has to offer. Whether you want a smartwatch for working out, answering calls from your wrist, or using the best Apple Watch apps, this is the best smartwatch for you. As long as you have an iPhone, of course.
Read our full Apple Watch 9 review.
The best Android smartwatch
The best smartwatch for Android
Specifications
Sizes: 40mm, 44mm
Battery Life (Rated): 40 hours
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
LTE: Optional
Mobile Payments: Samsung Pay
Reasons to buy
+Slimmer display bezels
+Improved interchangeable band mechanism
+Satisfying physical bezel on Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Reasons to avoid
-Unimpressive battery life
The Galaxy Watch 6 is thebest smartwatch for Android users thanks to design improvements, refreshed built-in apps and added health features. While Samsung's smartwatch lineup has received mostly iterative updates in past years, the Galaxy Watch 6 presents some truly substantial upgrades.
Samsung continues to offer one of the most robust smartwatch collections on the market with not one, but two wearable devices. The Galaxy Watch 6 strikes a balance of sleek and sporty, while the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic elevates style with the fan-favorite physical rotating bezel. Larger displays and a new interchangeable band mechanism make for a more user-friendly design, too. Our comparison ofSamsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classiccan help you decide which is right for you.
Read our fullSamsung Galaxy Watch 6 review.
The best smartwatch for Pixel
The best smartwatch for Pixel smartphones
Specifications
Sizes: 41mm
Battery Life (Rated): 24 hours
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
LTE: Optional
Mobile Payments: Google Wallet
Reasons to buy
+Stress-detection sensor
+Safety Check feature
+Improved battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Big bezel
-No wireless charger
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is the best smartwatch for Pixel phone users. A full collection of Google apps and fitness tracking powered by Fitbits platform make for a compelling smartwatch. In many ways, the Pixel Watch is the best of both worlds, pairing a top-notch Wear OS experience with Fitbits holistic health-tracking (which is further enhanced with a Fitbit Premium membership.) There are plenty of tools on-board for staying connected and getting active.
But theres some room for improvement: the thick bezels and singular size option will still deter some users in terms of design. Luckily, an improved battery life compared to the original Pixel Watch makes up for it. Plus, we love the reassurance offered by the new Safety Check feature that shares your location with emergency contacts when you might need their help most.
Read our full Google Pixel Watch 2 review.
The best value smartwatch
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The best smartwatch value for iPhone users
Specifications
Sizes: 40mm, 44mm
Battery Life (Rated): 18 hours
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
LTE: Optional
Mobile Payments: Apple Pay
Compatibility: iOS
Reasons to buy
+Lower price than previous Apple Watch SE
+Color-matched bottom case
+Same chipset as Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch SE is kind of a hybrid device, pairing an older Apple Watch design with the Apple Watch Series 8's chipset. The $249 smartwatch doesn't have all the Series 8's features, but still stands out for its great fitness tracking and safety features. It also offers an LTE option, making it a good choice for those interested in trying out Family Setup.
When choosing between the Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Apple Watch SE (2022), your ultimate decision will be if you want to spend an extra $150 for a brighter display with an always-on option, an ECG monitor and skin-temperature, and a bigger display. If those tools aren't deal-breakers for you, the SE is a highly capable option for iPhone users. It even gets watchOS 9, the most up-to-date Apple Watch software with low power mode, fresh new watch faces, an upgraded workout interface, a redesigned compass tool and the new Medications app.
Read our full Apple Watch SE (2022) review.
The best Fitbit smartwatch
The best smartwatch from Fitbit
Specifications
Sizes: 40mm
Battery Life (Rated): 6 days
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
LTE: No
Mobile Payments: Fitbit Pay, Google Pay
Compatibility: iOS, Android
Reasons to buy
+Proactive stress management with cEDA
+Comfortable design
+Robust fitness and health tracking with Fitbit Premiums
Compared to the originalFitbit Sense, the Sense 2 features an upgraded design, interface and EDA sensor, making for Fitbit's most holistic smartwatch yet. Thanks to advanced health analysis and deep integration with Fitbit Premium, the $299 Sense 2 also sustains an edge in fitness-tracking over many of thebest smartwatches on this list.
An update to the stress-detecting EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor plays a large role in the devices success: now called cEDA ('c' for continuous,) the sensor monitors stress levels or heightened responses throughout the day, prompting the user to take action on mood monitoring with Body Response notifications. However, added support for Google Wallet and Google Maps, while useful upgrades, wont be available for the Fitbit Sense 2 at launch. Theres oddly no third-party app support, either. Still, for a smartwatch that helps you get in touch with how you feel, the Sense 2 succeeds.
Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review.
The best fitness-tracking smartwatch
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The best fitness-tracking smartwatch
Specifications
Sizes: 41mm, 45mm
Battery Life (Rated): 14 days
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
LTE: No
Mobile Payments: Garmin Pay
Compatibility: iOS, Android
Reasons to buy
+Intuitive sleep and workout advice
+Borrows features from high-end Garmin watches
+Up to 14 days of battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Not enough third-party apps
The Garmin Venu 3 is one of thebest Garmin watchesthats both a capable workout companion and stylish lifestyle device. The $449 Garmin Venu 3 maintains Garmins reputation for thorough fitness tracking and accurate GPS, while having the smarts of mirrored notifications and an on-wrist voice assistant.
Though Garmin still lacks a large third-party app store and continues to steer clear of LTE support, nap-tracking and a new sleep coach work on tracking your rest while daily summaries offer behavioral insights. An abundance of sport profiles, added Recovery Time suggestions, and on-watch interval creation keep you tuned into your activity, too. What's more with a 14-hour battery life, you rarely need to stress about keeping the Garmin Venu 3 charged.
Read our full Garmin Venu 3 review.
The best smartwatch for safety
The best smartwatch for safety and sports
Specifications
Sizes: 49mm
Heart Rate: Yes
GPS: Yes
LTE: Optional
Battery Life: 36 hours
Swim-Proof: Yes
Mobile Payments: Apple Pay
Reasons to buy
+Best battery life of any Apple Watch
+Action Button
+Emergency siren
Reasons to avoid
-Battery life doesnt compare with competitors
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best smartwatch to buy if you're a serious athlete or prioritize safety features on your wrist. In addition tonew watchOS running features, the Ultra has an extra third button the Action Button, which comes in handy for workouts but also serves as a quick way to access safety features, such as Emergency SOS and the Apple Watch Ultra's Siren.
Its 49mm screen is huge while the entire watch built for adventure. The bezel is made from titanium, with a lip around the screen to add more protection. The display is made from sapphire glass, and the watch has an increased water resistance of 100m. With up to 60 hours of battery life (in low power mode), it also has the stamina to keep up. It's still not the best battery life option compared to Garmin's sports watches, but it's better than any other Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Ultra is a serious smartwatch. We found it's not for everyone, but depending on your needs, it could strike the right balance.
Read our fullApple Watch Ultra 2 review.
The best smartwatch for runners
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The best smartwatch for runners
Specifications
Sizes: 42mm, 46mm
Heart Rate: Yes
GPS: Yes
LTE: No
Battery Life: 24 hours with GPS
Swim-Proof: Yes
Mobile Payments: Yes
Reasons to buy
+Two sizes available
+Bright, beautiful AMOLED screen
+Accurate GPS
Reasons to avoid
-Not a ton of "smart" features
Our pick for the best running watch is the Garmin Forerunner 265. This lightweight device gives you everything youd want in a running watch, from accurate tracking to music controls to the ability to create custom workouts, for the price of an Apple Watch. The device also offers access to Garmins wide range of training metrics, which help you not only plan workouts but also recovery time.
During testing, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265's beautiful AMOLED display to be bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. It also has a touchscreen, which makes it easy to navigate around the watch. The battery is long enough to last through a few workouts, even with music playing.
he Forerunner 265 has inherited some of the more advanced health features usually reserved for Garmins more expensive running watches.It also now has the ability to track multisport training sessions in the triathlon mode, and Garmin's Training Readiness Score. It's a fantastic improvement on an already fantastic watch, and a great buy for all levels of runner.
Read ourGarmin Forerunner 265 review
The best smartwatch for step counting
The best smartwatch for step counting
Specifications
Sizes: 40mm
Battery Life (Rated): 6 days
GPS: Yes
Swim-Proof: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
LTE: No
Mobile Payments: Fitbit Pay, Google Pay
Compatibility: iOS, Android
Reasons to buy
+Great, slim-profile design
+Accurate step counting
+Good battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Trouble with heart rate accuracy
-No third-party apps
The Fitbit Versa 4 is the best smartwatch for step tracking based on our testing. We will say it's not the best smartwatch for fitness tracking overall, as it struggles to provide accurate heart rate readings. But if you're looking for something that will get you moving with hourly step reminders and alerts when you've reached your daily goal, this smartwatch is a great choice.
Not only that, the Versa 4 a lovely-looking smartwatch with a slim profile and sleek metallic finishes. It looks very similar to the Fitbit Sense 2, yes, but this is the better choice if you're on a tighter budget or aren't as interested in stress-tracking. The Versa 4 still has reliable sleep-tracking and other perks available via Fitbit Premium.
Read our full Fitbit Versa 4 review.
How to pick the best smartwatch for you
When looking at the best smartwatches for you, you're somewhat limited by the smartphone you own. If you want an Apple Watch, for instance, you'll need to have an iPhone. And while Wear OS watches work with both Android and iPhones, you get far less functionality when not connected to an Android device.There are plenty of differences between Apple Watch vs. Fitbit and Apple Watch vs. Garmin as well.
Samsung's smartwatches offer the greatest in terms of cross-functionality, but even here, Android phone owners will get more in terms of replies to notifications and the ability to make and receive phone calls.
After that, when picking a smartwatch, you also want to get one that fits your wrist comfortably. Those with smaller wrists may find larger smartwatches ones with case sizes larger than 44mm to be too bulky and cumbersome to wear.If you need features like cycle or pregnancy tracking, you might find our list of the best smartwatches for women helpful, too.
Similarly, you want to find a smartwatch that fits your style. Although the Apple Watch is limited to one shape, you can purchase it in different finishes. Samsung's smartwatches offer a little more choice, while Wear OS watches, which are made by a number of companies including Fossil, Tag Heuer, Diesel, and others, give you many more options when it comes to their design. Does your smartwatch come with a metal strap? Here's how to remove a link from a watch.
And if you need smartwatches for certain fitness goals. see our guides to the best running watches and best GPS watches. You also might be better suited for one of the best fitness trackers instead.
How we test the best smartwatches
We test every new smartwatch to gauge its design and comfort. If its not stylish and comfortable enough to get you from an early morning workout to the office to a night out, you probably wont wear it every day. Most smartwatches are also fitness trackers, so we put all of its sensors to the test, from step counts to heart rate to GPS (when applicable).
We install apps and use them to see if the devices app store is robust enough to elevate it to smartwatch status. If the watch has built-in LTE, we test cellular connectivity and call quality to make sure the device can actually stand on its own without a smartphone nearby.
And we measure battery life using everyday scenarios including workouts, using apps, and getting notifications to make sure you can get through an entire day without needing to charge up.
For more smartwatch tips, see our smartwatch buying guide.
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