As of: February 19, 2024, 4:49 p.m
By: Patrick Hauser
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Smartwatches offer a wide variety of functions and a very wide price range.
In the Stiftung Warentest comparison, one manufacturer in particular performs strongly.
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Smartwatches have developed into true all-rounders.
Not only do they function as a heart rate and altitude monitor, but they also count steps, calculate the distance traveled and calories burned, and offer an analysis of sleep behavior.
Some models also allow you to play music, make phone calls or send and receive messages.
There are also devices that perform ECGs, monitor blood pressure or enable contactless payments.
However, some models are also picky when it comes to connecting to the smartphone.
You can only pair Apple smartwatches with iPhones, while Google's Pixel Watch requires a compatible Android phone.
Stiftung Warentest: The best smartwatches
Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 154 smartwatches and took a close look at expensive all-rounders as well as inexpensive insider tips.
The price range is between 29 and 890 euros.
One manufacturer in particular has prevailed among the best-rated watches: Apple offers high-priced devices, but they consistently impress with their high quality.
The top ten smartwatches in the test period from autumn 2019 to February 2024 almost exclusively included Apple products, with the Apple Watch being the test winner.
Although not a single smartwatch received a final grade of “very good”, most achieved “good” or “satisfactory” final results.
Only four watches scored “poor”.
We introduce you to the best devices from different manufacturers.
The best smartwatches at a glance:
The test winner:
Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum (GPS) 41 mm – grade 1.6
The cheaper alternative:
Apple Watch SE (2022, GPS) 40 mm – grade 1.7
Brand new:
Apple Watch Series 9 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 45 mm - Grade 1.7
Up to 9 days battery:
Garmin Venu 2 Plus – grade 1.7
With emergency call functions:
Google Pixel Watch – Grade 1.8
Longest battery life:
Huawei Watch 4 Active 46 mm – grade 1.9
90 training options:
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro – Grade 1.9
Price-performance winner:
Fitbit Charge 6 – grade 2.3
The following criteria were proportionally included in the final grade of the tests:
Fitness features: 35%
Communication and other functions: 25%
Handling: 20%
Battery: 10%
Stability and processing: 5%
Data protection and data security: 5%
This is how Stiftung Warentest tested
In order to determine the test winners, Stiftung Warentest checked the accuracy of the devices in terms of heart rate, number of steps, route length and altitude.
For this purpose, test subjects were equipped with a chest strap, the values of which were compared with the data displayed on the smartwatch.
The test team also checked additional functions, the operation of the device and the battery life.
Data protection functions and stability were also determined through drop, shock and scratch tests.
The test winner: Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum (GPS) 41 mm – grade 1.6
Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum (GPS) 41mm © Apple
With an overall grade of 1.6, the Apple Watch Series 8 took overall victory in the test.
Fitness functions, communication, handling and stability were each rated very good, only the battery and the issue of data security clouded the overall picture minimally with a rating of satisfactory.
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✔️ Spotify and Apple Music usable |
❌ Compatible with iPhones only |
✔️ NFC chip for contactless payment |
❌ Battery life in training mode with GPS 11 hours |
✔️ great color representation and clarity |
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✔️ useful health information: temperature, ECG, sleep app |
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✔️ Accident and fall detection as well as SOS emergency call |
The 45 mm version is technically almost the exact counterpart and only differs in the larger housing.
The larger version also received a slightly better rating for the battery (3.0 instead of 3.3).
The overall grade of 1.6 remains the same as the Apple Watch with 41 mm dimensions.
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The cheaper alternative: Apple Watch SE (2022, GPS) 40 mm – grade 1.7
Apple Watch SE 2022 © Apple
The Apple Watch SE performed slightly worse than the test winner, only 0.1 points short of victory.
With an overall grade of 1.7 and “very good” ratings in the areas of fitness functions, communication, handling and stability, you are also getting a top smartwatch that is also over 100 euros cheaper than Apple’s Series 8.
Only €249 instead of €279
✔️ Spotify and Apple Music usable |
❌ Compatible with iPhones only |
✔️ NFC chip for contactless payment |
❌ Battery life in training mode with GPS 9 hours |
✔️ Cycle protocol possible |
|
✔️ swim-proof design; Protected from water up to 50 meters |
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✔️ Accident and fall detection as well as SOS emergency call |
There is also a variant here that receives the same quality rating (1.7) as the Apple Watch with a 40 mm case size.
The “big brother” at 44 mm is slightly wider and gets a better rating in the battery rating (2.9 instead of 3.5), but is otherwise no different.
Only €279.99 instead of €309.00
The new Apple Watch: Series 9 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 45 mm – Grade 1.7
Apple Watch Series 9 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 45mm © Apple
Apple's new smartwatch, the Series 9, which has been available since September 2023, also receives a top rating of 1.7.
It has weaknesses in the battery (grade 3.7), but it impresses in the important criteria of fitness function, communication and handling (grade 1.4 each).
It is more expensive than the Series 8 and the Apple Watch SE, but has some new useful functions.
Buy for €544 instead of €599.00
✔️ Send messages and calls via smartwatch possible |
❌ Compatible with iPhones only |
✔️ New gesture: Interact with Apple Watch without touching the display |
❌ Battery life in training mode with GPS 9 hours |
✔️ Health features, e.g. B. Blood oxygen, ECG, heart rhythm, cycle and temperature |
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✔️ twice as bright display |
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✔️ Accident and fall detection as well as SOS emergency call |
The smaller version with a 41 mm case size performs slightly better when it comes to battery (grade 3.1 instead of 3.7), but otherwise differs little from the 45 mm model apart from the size.
However, the cellular function is no longer available, so you can't make calls or send messages without an iPhone nearby.
Only €399 instead of €449.00
Other Apple Watches at a glance:
Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 41 mm - Grade 1.7
Apple Watch Series 8 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 45 mm - Grade 1.7
Apple Watch Series 9 Aluminum (GPS) 45 mm - Grade 1.7
Apple Watch Ultra 2 – Grade 1.7
Apple Watch SE (2022, GPS + Cellular) 40 mm - Grade 1.8
Apple Watch SE (2022, GPS + Cellular) 44 mm - Grade 1.8
Apple Watch Series 9 Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) 41 mm - Grade 1.8
Apple Watch Ultra – Grade 1.8
The best Garmin smartwatch: Venu 2 Plus – grade 1.7
Garmin Venu 2 Plus © Garmin
Although Apple takes the top spots, other manufacturers also impress in the test.
Garmin, for example, delivers an excellent smartwatch with the Venu 2 Plus, which is also rated 1.7.
Stiftung Warentest particularly highlights the fitness functions, handling and stability as “very good”, but the battery also gets a good grade (2.1) in contrast to the Apple Watches.
Only €319.99 instead of €449.99
✔️ Send messages and calls via smartwatch possible |
❌ YouTube and Apple Music cannot be used |
✔️ Battery life up to 9 days, in training mode with GPS 21 hours |
❌ ECG and skin temperature measurement not possible |
✔️ enables contactless payment |
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✔️ 25 pre-installed sports apps |
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✔️ Health functions, including stress levels and sleep analysis |
Other Garmin smartwatches at a glance:
Garmin Fenix 7 Standard Edition – Grade 1.8
Garmin Forerunner 955 – grade 1.8
Garmin Venu 3 – grade 1.8
Garmin Forerunner 255 Music – Grade 1.9
Garmin Forerunner 265 – grade 1.9
Google Pixel Watch – Grade 1.8
Google Pixel Watch © Google
The Google Pixel Watch wins in the evaluation criteria of fitness functions and stability, receiving a rating of “very good”.
However, the battery is only “sufficient” (grade 3.8).
Only €199 instead of €379.00
✔️ scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass |
❌ Battery life in training mode with GPS 6 hours |
✔️ Making calls and replying to messages possible |
❌ Battery life without training mode 36 hours |
✔️ enables contactless payment thanks to Google Wallet |
❌ no skin temperature measurement possible |
✔️ Dial an emergency call and alert contacts in an emergency |
❌ Compatible only with Android smartphones |
✔️ Health functions, including heart rate, sleep, ECG |
The successor model, Google Pixel Watch 2, also received a final grade of 1.8.
Although it “only” performs well when it comes to fitness functions, it has advantages in terms of battery (grade 3.3) and communication (grade 1.4).
€342.98 on Amazon
Huawei Watch 4 Active 46 mm – Grade 1.9
Huawei Watch 4 Active 46mm © Huawei
With the Huawei smartwatch you get a powerful watch at an affordable price.
The fitness functions and stability received a “very good” rating, and apart from the “satisfactory” data protection, the Watch 4 Active did not fall short in any evaluation criteria.
On the contrary: the battery (grade 2.4) is better than the Apple Watches.
Only €224.69 at MediaMarkt
✔️ Compatible with Android and iOS systems |
❌ No pairing with music streaming services such as Spotify possible |
✔️ Battery life up to 336 hours (14 days) |
❌ no NFC function for cashless payments |
✔️ GPS module and barometric altimeter |
|
✔️ Fitness functions, including movement analysis and heart rate |
Other Huawei smartwatches at a glance:
Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Titanium – Grade 2.0
Huawei Watch Ultimate – Grade 2.0
Huawei Watch Fit 2 Active Edition – Grade 2.1
Huawei Watch Buds – Grade 2.2
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro – Grade 1.9
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro © Samsung
For Samsung, it was also enough for a device with a one before the decimal point in the final grade in the smartwatch test.
The test team from Stiftung Warentest particularly liked the communication functions, but there are better alternatives when it comes to fitness options (grade 2.2).
Only €249 instead of €469.00
✔️ Automatically recognizes and evaluates over 90 training activities |
❌ only compatible with Android smartphones |
✔️ Titanium case and sapphire crystal display |
|
✔️ Contactless payment thanks to NFC chip |
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✔️ Battery life up to 80 hours |
Other Samsung smartwatches at a glance:
Samsung Galaxy Watch6 40mm – Grade 1.9
Samsung Galaxy Watch6 44mm – Grade 1.9
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro LTE 45mm - Grade 2.0
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 40mm – Grade 2.1
Price-performance winner: Fitbit Charge 6 – grade 2.3
Fitbit Charge 6 © Fitbit
For relatively little money, with the Fitbit smartwatch you get a strong watch that scores “good” in most evaluation criteria.
Stiftung Warentest only gave a “satisfactory” rating for communication and data security.
Only €132.99 instead of €159.95
✔️ Compatible with Android and iOS devices |
❌ Battery life in training mode with GPS 7 hours |
✔️ more than 40 training modes |
❌ Spotfiy and music storage cannot be used |
✔️ Health functions including ECG, heart rate and sleep index |
❌ Users cannot install additional apps |
✔️ Pay contactless with Google Wallet |
|
✔️ up to 7 days battery life (without training mode) |
Smartwatches and fitness watches under 100 euros:
Huawei Band 7 fitness tracker, Note 2.6 for only €54.99
Huawei Band 8 Smartwatch, Note 2.6 for only €41.18
Fitbit Inspire 3 fitness tracker, grade 2.8 for only €82.99
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 fitness tracker, Grade 3.0 for only €29
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 Pro Smartwatch, Grade 3.0 for only €59
Fitness watches for beginners – 3 simple models
Conclusion: Which smartwatch is the best?
If you look at the smartwatch evaluation as a whole, Apple's dominance is noticeable.
The Apple Watches took the test win and the best overall grades, but the width at the top was noticeably large.
If the Apple devices are too expensive for you or are not compatible with your Android smartphone, there are plenty of alternatives with good grades.
In the end, the decision as to which smartwatch is the best is individual: weigh up for yourself whether you value the price, a good battery, useful fitness and health functions or a beautiful look - given the wide range of products with good ones You will definitely find what you are looking for in the test result.
You can find the complete test report from Stiftung Warentest here.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked.