Best Smartwatch for Women in 2022

Ah, smartwatches – some say they are the future of communication, while others believe that they are just a passing fad. There are even those who think that, in time, the watch will replace the smartphone entirely. Although I don’t really subscribe to that idea, I also think that smartwatches are here to stay and if you are reading this right now, I am going to assume that you or a special woman you know agrees – and maybe even has an eye on purchasing a smartwatch. This guide is here to help you choose the best of the best smartwatches for women.

Whatever the case, I have scoured the internet and tested countless devices all to provide you with the best smartwatches for women; ladies, this one’s for you. If you are by any chance a man reading this, though, don’t be discouraged. All the watches on this list make for a perfect gift, and you could also check out our best smartwatches for men list and maybe pick something for yourself.

Our list in this guide includes the top ten smartwatches we recommend for women, but if by the end we haven’t convinced you or covered a specific option you are looking for, I understand. Nowadays, there are so many options to choose from that we can’t possibly mention all the noteworthy smartwatches on the market in a single top 10 list. For further choices and reviews, I suggest you visit our list of the best smartwatches for iPhone and our list of the best smartwatches for Android.

But, let’s get to the business at hand: I have chosen the top ten smartwatches for women for both the style and technology they offer. Each device has its own charm, whether it’s minimalist, flamboyant, or packed with features to serve the modern woman. In no particular order, let’s take a look:

10 Best Smartwatches for Women 2020 At A Glance

1. Best for iPhone – Apple Watch 6
2. Most Fashionable – Kate Spade Scallop 2 
3. Best Combination of Specs and Style – Michael Kors Access Gen 5
4. Best for Fitness and Health – Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
5. Most Minimalistic – Skagen Falster 3
6. Best for Sport – Fitbit Versa 2 
7. Best Wear OS Device – Fossil Gen 5 Julianna 
8. Best All-Rounder – Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture
9. Best Basic Features in a Smartwatch – Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie
10. Best Hybrid Smartwatch – Garmin Vivomove 3

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1. Apple Watch 6 – Best for iPhone

Ah, yes, the Apple Watch Series 6. What can I say about this piece of technology that you have not already heard? It’s a high-quality smart device with a slick design, and I mean, come on – it’s Apple, and we wouldn’t expect any less.
Even if it’s a bit redundant, I will still say it: the Apple watch is the best women’s smartwatch for iPhone users. Its two different sizes mean it can fit both a small wrist and a big one.

While Apple has been known for its designs in the past, I am personally not a big fan of the Apple Watch Series 6 look. There are some smartwatches on this list with better style than this one, and while its smooth frame and body do look quite unique, it cannot compare with our following two entries (but we’ll get to those in a bit).

The Apple Watch Series 6 features a variety of case colors, including red, pink, and black, among others. They also come in a range of materials, titanium, steel, or 100% recycled aluminum material. Whatever your feelings about Apple as a company, especially after the recent feminist controversy, you cannot deny that they are at least trying to look like they care about the environment.

The smartwatch also has seamless bands available in various colors and materials, including what Apple calls the ‘solo loop’ and the braided ‘solo loop.’ There is also the ‘sport loop’ and a regular traditional fitness band.

Like the sport loop, the solo loop is crafted from silicon rubber, making it lightweight and comfortable to wear. The braided solo loop is made of silicon threads interwoven with recycled polyester yarn filaments. Lastly, the fitness band is just a typical fitness band, although it does have a pride edition, which is an instant plus in my book. But it’s not all rainbows and happy times; with Apple’s unique designs and state-of-the-art technology comes their terrible habit of overpricing everything by a lot, and I mean, A LOT.

While the watch can be pretty expensive, some of the leather bands are more expensive than most smartwatches, checking in at just over 500 bucks. In contrast, the cheapest ones are priced at around 50 dollars. Fun fact: it would actually be cheaper to buy two Apple Watch Series 6 smartwatches with a solo or sport loop than to buy a single Apple Watch with a leather band.

But, if you don’t care about fancy leather looks, the Apple Watch Series 6 is quite reasonably priced and has some incredible technology to boot. This includes its new always-on Retina display, which gets brighter when you go outdoors, making it easier to gaze at your watch without much trouble. Trust me on this, with the countless beautiful watch faces available, you will often find yourself just staring at the smartwatch, even when you don’t have to.
But a beautiful face is not the only thing this watch has going for it. Like most other smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 6 has all the fitness features and activity tracking you could wish for. This includes heart rate monitoring, a blood-oxygen sensor, and an ECG app.

In the mood for some exercise? The Apple Watch Series 6 has got you covered with its dance app, a hiking and cycling app, and of course, a running app. And guess what? This smartwatch also has onboard music, podcasts, and audiobooks to keep you motivated throughout your workout routine. With the activity sharing feature, you can brag about how healthy you are to your friends and family. The competition feature takes things a step further. It allows you to compare your own exercise workout with (or against?) your friends and family.

Beyond the scope of fitness features, the Apple Watch Series 6 also offers the ability to send and receive calls without the help of your iPhone. And with Apple’s contactless payment, you don’t even have to bring your wallet on errands. There is Siri, of course, which can act as your personal translator so you won’t get lost in a foreign country, and the built-in Apple Maps feature will help you explore with confidence when you get a chance to travel next.

However, the best feature, in my opinion, is the family setup. Suppose you are the only one in your family who has an iPhone. In that case, you can use it to pair up multiple smartwatches so your kids, parents, or grandparents can call you from their own Apple smartwatch, even if they don’t have an iPhone.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has quite the unique features, but it is lacking in some areas: for example, sleep tracking and blood oxygen data are not that reliable, and the battery life is really short. Not to mention that this watch and all other Apple Watch Series only work with an iPhone. So should you buy it? Well, I would say it’s pretty nice to have, of course, if you own an iPhone.

2. Kate Spade Scallop 2 – Most Fashionable

Ladies, this watch speaks for itself, and it’s screaming “style”! This is emphasized by its AMOLED display. With its almost flower-like bezel and fashionable metal band, the Kate Spade Scallop 2 can go with anything, no matter the season.

You can choose from the three colors of rose gold, silver, or black, and depending on your mood, switch the watch face as many times as you would like.

Kate Spade has quite the unique feature called ‘Choose My Look.’ The app asks you about the colors you are currently wearing and makes a unique watch face just for you. Remember that outfit you thought was missing something? Now it can finally be complete.

The Kate Spade Scallop 2 also comes in two bracelets, depending on your preference. Complement your style with the metal band, or if you would like to go for a run or simply prefer a smoother surface, then put on the letter band. With so many design options to choose from and an easy user interface, this is truly a designer smartwatch that can stand up to the aesthetic sensibilities of the modern woman. However, as they say, true beauty is on the inside. Beyond this elegant smartwatch’s exterior lie a variety of apps, including some high-quality fitness trackers. This watch was not designed to focus on exercise, so if you are looking for something more resembling a sports watch instead of a device for daily wear, maybe check out some of our other entries on this list.

With all that out of the way, let’s look at its fitness apps first. The Kate Spade Scallop 2 is powered by Wear OS, developed by Google. The main application for exercise is Google Fit, but that does not mean that this primarily Wear OS watch lacks original features. The heart rate monitor from Kate Spade themselves is pleasant to look at. Its minimalistic design shows you only the most necessary information so your eyes won’t be overwhelmed.

Although the heart rate sensor is one of a kind, the GPS tracker is not uniquely developed; yet, it’s just as good since it was developed by Google. Even if you aren’t carrying your phone, the untethered GPS will monitor your walks, runs, and rides via Google Maps, and you know you can rarely go wrong with Google Maps. Hell, you can even track your swimming with the watch’s 3ATM water resistance.

Besides fitness and activity tracking, the Kate Spade Scallop 2 has Google Pay, which means there’s no need to keep a wallet in your purse anymore. Not only can you pay with just your watch – if you need help with anything (and I really mean anything), you can use the built-in microphone to ask Google Assistant a question. About the weather forecast or the nearest Starbucks and everything in between.

The smartwatch’s built-in microphone also allows you to answer calls. You can stay connected with your friends by texting through the device, which will notify you of any notifications, whether for a new message or a calendar alert. I’ve got to say, missing a notification has gotten a lot more difficult with this watch, which is excellent, but then again, I don’t have as much of an excuse if I don’t want to respond to someone right away.

You might be saying to yourself that it can’t all be sunshine and rainbows, and well, that’s true. Although this watch is great, it does have some downsides. For example, not all features are available for every country. As far as I can tell, there is no way to find out what is and isn’t available with this particular watch before you purchase. Also, the Kate Spade Scallop 2 may not be the best watch for working out because of its limited fitness features and because it’s not the most comfortable wear for a workout.

So, is this watch for you? If you are more into style than fitness, this fashion smartwatch is a definite “Yes.”

3. Michael Kors Access Gen 5 – Best Combination of Specs and Style

If there was a rivalry in the smartwatch world, then the Kate Spade Scallop 2 and the Michael Kors Access Gen 5 would be going head to head. It may not seem like it on the surface, but trust me, these two fashion smartwatches compete for the best-looking device behind the scenes.

While the Kate Spade Scallop 2 focuses on fashion and a more feminine design, the Kors Access Gen 5 chooses to go a different route. This extremely wearable smartwatch was designed for a fast-paced lifestyle. Its bulky bezel and more traditional metal band give it a classical watch look and premium feel, which is only expanded upon with its AMOLED display.

Rather than focusing on a mainly feminine demographic, the Kors Acces Gen 5 chooses to go the unisex path. Although I said it was bulky, the watch can fit perfectly well, even on those with small wrists. Still, with this smart device, you get the feeling that you are paying more for brand recognition than anything else. Oh, and if you are willing to splurge 100 bucks more, you can get one with diamonds.

The Michael Kors Access Gen 5, like the Kate Spade Scallop 2, was not designed primarily with fitness in mind. But that does not mean they don’t have some pretty good fitness apps. Like the previous entry on this list, the smartwatch is powered by Wear OS and supports Google Fit.

Utilizing that untethered GPS, the Michael Kors Access Gen 5 has every standard fitness tracker you’d need, tracking your running, cycling, walking, and all that good stuff. It also has an amazingly accurate heart rate sensor and a pretty damn good GPS with the perfect app to go with it, Google Maps. And with its 30-meter water resistance, it can also track your swimming, but it might bog you down a bit due to its weight. Still, it’s nice to know that you can take a shower with the device or sit under a waterfall while you listen to smooth jazz.

All the amazing activity trackers are great, but this watch has so much more. For starters, it is pretty near the fastest Wear OS watch out there, and like most other watches that run on the same system, you get access to Google Play and Google Assistant. Being able to use Google Assistant means that the Michael Kors Access Gen 5 has a built-in microphone, which you can use to call back your grandma – she’s been ringing all day.

The watch also has Google Calendar and the ability to customize your watch faces. You can combine the two and create a unique watch face from your existing events. Every time you look at your watch, you will be reminded of that work meeting, party, or whatever you like.

However, one thing that’s a bit lacking is its battery life. If you use the watch actively, listen to music, and scroll through Instagram, you would have to charge it every night. But don’t be discouraged because the Michael Kors Access Gen 5 has some unique battery-saving options. These can extend the life of your smartwatch to a couple of days.

You can choose to switch between different modes from the settings menu, like the Daily Mode, which will keep most features enabled while still saving a bit of battery. The Extended Mode also will keep your watch going for a couple of days by disabling most apps, keeping only the essentials. Time-Only mode will allow you to, well, only tell the time with almost all of the features being disabled. However, the best mode has to be the Custom Mode, which will allow you to manage battery-saving options yourself. Want to keep an app active that all other modes disable? Not to worry, you can choose to keep that app going while you remove something that you don’t use that often.

So is this watch for you? Well, like everything else, it depends on your priorities and lifestyle. If you are looking for a smartwatch that would be comfortable to wear while you exercise, then keep scrolling. But if you want a watch with much to offer and high style to boot, then the Michael Kors Access Gen 5 is for you.

4. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Best for Fitness and Health

Now here is a smartwatch that has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you love fitness or just want to live your daily life smarter – the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has got you covered. Unlike our previous entries, this watch has extensive fitness features, evident from its sporty look and feel.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a round smartwatch that comes in two sizes and two versions, capable of fitting both small and large wrists. Each version has 3 available colors, a total of 6 colors to choose from, including Aqua Black, Pink Gold, and just simply Gold, if that’s more your style.

The two versions are differentiated by their connectivity. The cheaper version has the standard Bluetooth connection, while the more expensive one has the more advanced LTE connection. However, you can take solace that both versions feature a beautiful AMOLED display.

Both options have the same design with a widescreen and barely noticeable black borders, which should provide you with an uninterrupted view of your smartwatch. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has two buttons on the side and a bezel for quick access to apps and functions. 

Despite its sporty-looking exterior, this wearable smartwatch could be used for everything, not just working out. I can definitely see myself taking it to a fancy party or simply to work.

But since we were discussing fitness features earlier, let’s start with that. This is one of the best smartwatches by Samsung for both women and men. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 has all the necessary activity tracking features – and then some. You have your ECG monitor and your standard heart rate sensor and monitor, not to mention a breathing and running tracker. There are apps that track swimming and even rowing. Don’t worry about getting it wet; with its 50m water resistance, you can dive into the water as much as you like. 

Depending on how much you use the device, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2’s battery life can last up to 2 and a half days or 60 hours. This is better than many of the other batteries on this list.

Besides serving as an excellent fitness and health tool, this Samsung smartwatch can also act as your own personal assistant. It has a translator app installed that may come in handy someday and in-depth camera control. No, that doesn’t mean that the watch has a camera (although it would be a pretty cool addition) – it just means that you can control your smartphone’s camera from the smartwatch.

Of course, with a watch such as this that has everything, there are also mobile payments. You can send and receive calls without being near your phone, but that last part comes only with the more expensive LTE version.

Although everything so far has been pretty awesome, there are some problems. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has very few third-party apps available as of the writing of this article. And although each offered fitness tracker is quite admirable, if you are a fitness enthusiast, you may want to check some of our other entries for access to third-party apps better suited for your hard-core fitness needs.

So is this the smartwatch for you? If you are a lady who loves exercising, maybe scroll down a bit. But suppose you’re an everyday gal seeking a pretty decent smartwatch from a large and established brand that is also great for casual exercise – then yes, the Samsung Women’s Galaxy Watch is a great option. But consider checking our other entries; who knows, maybe you will find something else that you like. 

Or even look at our article on the best Samsung watch if you’re a Samsung fan, but this one doesn’t quite do it for you.

5. Skagen Falster 3 – Most Minimalistic

Going back to watches with interesting or unique designs, we have the Skagen Falster 3. Ladies, if you are not into the whole fancy-schmancy, traditionally ‘effeminate’ designs, this minimalistic watch is for you.

The stylish smartwatch feels sturdy without being too bulky. It has no unnecessary fashionable add-ons to its design but instead chooses to keep things simple. The round watch face takes up most of its main body, with only a slight bezel around the edge and three dials to the side.

It has two pipe-like struts that attach to the wristband, giving the whole smartwatch a slimmer look and feel than most other devices.

With so many design options to choose from, you can customize the look of your watch however you would like. The Skagen Falster 3 is available in a few color options. The black and rose tones are the best looking, in my opinion. The watch also has a few wristband options available, including leather, silicon, silicon mesh, metal mesh, and NATO Nylon. That last one needs to be bought separately.

The Skagen Falster 3 is another Wear OS smartwatch, so it has all the Google essentials, including Google Fit. However, unlike most smartwatches, it has little to no custom integration (no unique apps or software). This can be good or bad depending on your point of view.

With the Skagen Falster 3 fitness apps, you can choose from many exercises, from snowboarding to curling and, of course, your typical running and cycling. However, the fitness tracker menu provides a different experience than most Wear OS watches. An experience you might not necessarily enjoy if you are used to the more unique Google Fit integrations. For example, suppose you would like to switch from one workout to another. In that case, you will have to swipe backward, and if the exercise you want to pick is not one of your most recent three, you will need to go through the whole catalog of activities (which is in alphabetical order, mind you).

Additionally, even if you don’t mind spending a few more seconds looking for your exercise, this watch does not detect your motion. You will have to manually press start and stop on every workout.

The Skagen Falster 3 also has a 3ATM water resistance, so you can take it out in the rain or shower with it if you would like, but it’s not really suitable for diving. Even if it’s in the local pool.

With all that being said, the watch is actually quite comfortable when it comes to exercising and activity tracking, despite its metal body. So you won’t feel like you’re bringing a small metal brick whenever you decide to work out, unlike the first two Wear OS entries on this list.

With its Wear OS, the Skagen Falster 3 supports Google Pay and Google Assistant. It also has notifications, call receiving and sending, and even customizable dials. Not satisfied with the pre-installed apps? You can choose from a ton of other ones with both Google Play and the App Store.

The battery of this smartwatch is nothing unusual or groundbreaking, as it typically lasts for around a day. But it does have some battery-saving modes, like the Daily mode, which is the one that’s on by default. The Extended mode will also sacrifice some of the apps for an extra day. In contrast, the Time-Only mode will disable everything from connectivity to notifications and will supposedly last for more than a week. Then there is the Custom mode which you can use to toggle a dozen or so apps, including Wi-Fi and the always-on screen.

With this smartwatch, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to charge it, as the Skagen Falster 3 will remind you to switch to a lower battery mode when it reaches a certain threshold. Generally, you can keep this watch running for more than a day if you are willing to tinker with the battery settings.

So should you buy this watch? If you are looking for a stylish all-rounder that goes with everything, this is the one for you, as long as you are willing to fiddle with a few of the apps. But if you don’t have the time or patience to do that, keep scrolling. We have something for everyone on this list.

6. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best for Sport

I would like to make an apology, because so far this list has been a bit lacking when it comes to sports watches. But, there is no need to worry, fitness enthusiasts: the Fitbit Versa 2 with its amoled display is made specifically for you.

This version of the Fitbit Versa smartwatch has a rectangular face and a lightweight body, which I guess it needs if it’s going to be marketed as a fitness smartwatch

The Fitbit Versa 2 has quite the variety of bands to offer, including a woven, leather, classic, or a hybrid band, and of course a fitness band. Whichever band you prefer, the watch will always sit comfortably on your wrist. But if you ask me, this is a sports watch so I would go with the fitness band.

Speaking of which, the Fitbit Versa 2  has a lot of fitness apps and health trackers to offer. It features the usual suspects such as heart rate monitoring and even an SpO2 tracker. However, it does also have some more unique features that you should definitely check out.

I personally liked their in-depth REM sleep tracker. It will tell you how long you’ve spent in light, deep, and REM sleep in order to improve your sleep cycle. If you are stressed from work or for whatever reason you haven’t been getting enough shuteye recently, then this feature might help you with that.

Sleep is not the only thing this smartwatch can track; it also has all the typical steps, cycling, and swim tracking. If you don’t know how to do a push-up or other complex workout moves, then the watch’s on-screen exercise function will give you all the details and instructions during your workout.

Speaking of swimming the Fitbit Versa 2 is also waterproof for up to 50 meters that is, which means you can wear it in a bath or a pool – just don’t go diving in the Marianas Trench. 

In addition to some more great fitness features and activity trackers, which I will leave for you to discover on your own, the Fitbit Versa 2 has a wide selection of third-party apps, including Spotify for all your motivational musical needs. (Fun fact: I’m listening to Lindsey Stirling right now from my smartwatch.)

You can receive messages and notifications directly on your Fitbit Versa, but you can’t receive or send calls, despite the fact that the watch has a microphone. The microphone is primarily used for Alexa or Google Assistant, which are available in only a select few countries. But, when it comes to sending voice messages and setting up voice-activated alarms and alerts, it does not matter which country you are in. 

There is also mobile payment, which isn’t surprising for a high-end smartwatch like this, as well as a unique tracker that I did not mention before. That is the ‘track my phone tracker’, so you won’t lose it ever again.

So should you buy? If you are a fitness enthusiast that’s a certain ‘YES, Yes, yes’. If you are not, you can still get it, but I don’t think you would appreciate it as much.

7. Fossil Gen 5 Julianna – Best Wear OS Smartwatch

The Fossil Gen 5 Julianna is quite the fashionable piece of technology, and it actually has two different versions that go for the same price. Buyers can choose from a detailed and stylish look as well as a more minimalistic option, but not as minimalistic as the Skagen Falster 3 of course.

The design and casing on this smartwatch is a little bit unique as it feels and looks slimmer than most other watches on this list. The wristband is also quite interesting, as it utilises magnets to lock and release. I’ve got to tell ya, this is a lot easier to put on than most other straps; I will give them credit for that.

The one gaping issue with this feminine Wear OS smartwatch, however, is its size. This is a big watch, so big in fact that most women and even some men won’t be able to wear it comfortably throughout the day. It definitely does not fit on my wrist, I know that much.

Other than its ill fit for slim wrists, the watch itself is actually designed quite well. It has a slight curve on its screen and bezel, which becomes more apparent depending on the version you choose. The dials to the side are also pleasant and nice to look at. They have a spring feel to them when pressed, and the middle crown can be used as a scroller.

A fashionable, oversized design is not the only thing the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna has going for it. The smartwatch is also quite adept at tracking your work-outs. With a damn good untethered GPS and a decent heart rate sensor, you can rest assured that your exercise statistics are in safe hands. The watch also has more extensive features, like sleep tracking and water resistance of 3 ATM, means you can take it in the shower with you. 

If the pre-installed fitness features are not exactly your style, the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna has Google Play support, so you can download whatever the initial apps are lacking. Except water resistance, you can’t download more water resistance, sadly.

The Fossil Gen 5 Julianna also has a plethora of other apps and sensors, including some pretty decent activity trackers. If you go for a hike somewhere in the mountains you won’t have to worry about getting lost since the watch has a preinstalled compass, and if you are a nerd like me, there is also the option of a gyroscope. While we are on the topic of hiking, why not try the watch’s altimeter and if you are feeling frisky, check out the accelerometer.

Receiving phone calls and sending messages are also quite nice capabilities to have, but you can reply to texts with your voice or the touchscreen only if you are an Android user. Sorry iPhone users, you guys are limited to only viewing the messages. As for contactless payments? Well, there is Google Pay of course, for both Apple and Android. Not to mention Google Assistant for all your questions, no matter what they are.

The always on amoled display is also quite a nice addition. But what this watch has that others might lack is the ability to control your smart home devices. Say you’re coming home from work on one particularly cold winter night: well, before you arrive you can turn up the heating from your smartwatch and warm up as you enter your cozy little apartment.

But what is a smartwatch without its battery? Well the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna honestly has a pretty average one. The battery life will last for around a day, unless you use one of the main saving options, which a lot of watches seem to have nowadays. Not to worry, if that’s not your thing, this smartwatch charges pretty fast, reaching 80% in just 50 minutes with its magnetic charger.

Well, this is a pretty nice watch. What do you think? This watch has some pretty interesting and unique sensors. If you are really into hiking or even traveling, I would definitely recommend it.

8. Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture – Best All-Rounder

Here we have another watch with style. The Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture is, frankly speaking, an amazing watch and one of my personal favorites from this list. Its clean, fashionable look gives it the special ability to go with whatever is in your wardrobe, and it can fit on any small wrist.

The stylish smartwatch is a relatively small device compared to our other entries. The Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture comes in various styles including a simple clean cut design with either a leather or metal band, as well as a slightly more expensive version which comes with embroidered diamonds on the edge of the bezel and on the middle of the wristband itself.

Among the colors of the watch and bands, there are also nine more straps that you can buy separately, including a rainbow one, a vintage one, and a camo one.

There is a problem with the design or an advantage, depending on your personal preferences. The screen of the smartwatch might be a little too small for some people, and if that turns out to be the case for you, then maybe try out the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna (the entry before this one).

The design is great, that’s one box checked for an amazing watch. Now, what about the fitness features? Well, the Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture does fitness as well as it does design. 

It has a state-of-the-art heart rate monitor as well as a pretty damn good GPS. The smartwatch also has an accelerometer, an altimeter, and a gyroscope. I think we already established that I’m into those geeky things, so that’s a big plus for me.

The Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture is powered by Wear OS, so it has Google Fit and all the necessary features. It also has Move Minutes which measure your active time and Hear Points which measure the periods of high-intensity. 

When it comes to activity tracking, this Wear OS watch has a lot of options to choose from, including CrossFit, aerobics, and fencing, as well as some lesser known sports like handball. There is also an option to designate favorite workouts, so they might be more easily accessible next time you decide to play handball or go backcountry skiing.

Even though it has all this, the Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture is not marketed as a high-end fitness device. That’s because it may be lacking some of the more custom and unique fitness features, like those of the Fitbit Versa 2. Even, so I think it supports your workout really damn well.

You know what else it does really well? Performance. This watch is so fast that you won’t notice any delay when switching between applications. However, if you are an iPhone user you will have to reconnect with an app every time you close it, which admittedly is not particularly bad, but this problem does not exist with Android.

Other than fitness features, the Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture has all the apps you would expect from a device such as this, including Google Pay and Google Music. It also features Google Assistant, but you can’t really use the microphone to accept or send calls, which admittedly is a little disappointing. But you can respond to messages, either by typing on the watch face or with text to speech, not to mention the ever necessary feature of sending emojis. It should be noted that sending messages only works with Android; again, sorry iPhone users.

Time zones, an alarm clock, Google Calendar, and various alerts are also features this well-rounded watch offers. But admittedly the battery is not the best, as it lasts about a day. You can turn off certain notifications, which Fossil says you should do if you want to extend the life of your smartwatch. 

So with all that, you might be asking yourself why this watch is my favorite. Well, to be completely honest, there are smartwatches on this list that do certain things better than this one. But do not underestimate the Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture; it has a nice stylish design, and in fact I would go as far as to say that it is the best smartwatch for a small wrist. In addition to its damn good fitness features, it’s comfortable to wear and fits perfectly on my spaghetti arms. It has great performance, and the inability to receive calls is not a big issue for me. Honestly, I was never a big fan of talking into my watch anyways. But if you are and if you prefer sending calls from your smartwatch rather than your phone, then maybe skip this one. If this isn’t a dealbreaker for you though, then I would definitely recommend it.

9. Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie – Best Basic Features in a Smartwatch

The Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie does not try to do anything too extravagant, and that’s what I like about it. Don’t get me wrong, the watch is quite elegant and does have the option of embroidered diamonds on the rim of the bezel – after all, this is still Michael Kors..

This elegant Wear OS watch is also quite the reasonable size, not too small, not too big. It will fit on most wrists. With a slim frame topped with stainless steel, this smartwatch is suitable to wear no matter where you go, be it in the gym or the office. It will fit perfectly in every environment and with every outfit, due to its classic design, which resembles more a traditional watch than anything else.

The smartwatch has a variety of colors and a beautiful watch face. However, the one thing that truly makes this watch shine is actually the company behind it. On release, the Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie was missing quite a lot of features, but the company listened to all the criticisms and updated the smartwatch accordingly.

Although the Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie may not look like your typical sports watch, it does have some pretty good features. You can take advantage of Google Fit and Move Minutes, as well as Heart Points, which are easily accessible and can be adapted to meet your goals. 

With the built-in untethered GPS you can track your movement even if you leave your phone behind, and its extraordinary optical heart-rate monitor means you have even more workout statistics to analyze. But I will let you discover those on your own.

If for some reason you can’t get a GPS signal (which does happen at times), you can use the watch’s accelerometer to track your movement. The Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie also has a water resistance of up to 30 meters. So you can go for a quick swim, but again, I would still not recommend diving into the Marianas Trench.

With all that being said, this watch does activity tracking really well, but it is not meant for fitness enthusiasts. Instead, it caters to those who are seeking to simply stay in shape or to engage in more casual work-out routines. So keep that in mind when considering whether or not you should get this smartwatch.

Apart from fitness tracking, this watch also has Google Pay, Google Assistant, and Google Play, among all the other pre-installed apps that come with a Wear OS device.

The NFC payment system is easily accessible from the home screen and works seamlessly. Other apps, however, may not work as well. The watch is not the fastest out there, and if you get too many notifications at once the Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie has a tendency to freeze up a bit. But don’t let that discourage you since you can turn most notifications off if you prefer.

The smart watch also has Google Assistant and you can receive as well as send calls and texts. But where the Gen 4 Sofie really shines is with its custom features. This watch really has that Michael Kors flair to it after all.

There are numerous customizable watch faces, including animated ones. You can even set a photo from your Facebook or Instagram as a face. Not to mention that you can set the watch face to change with night and day, as well as set a countdown to a big event on the front, be it a birthday, Christmas (for which I personally can’t wait because yes, I am a Christmas fanatic) or even custom events of your choice. These may be little additions, but it’s the small things that make a device truly great.

So is the Michael Kors Access Gen 4 Sofie worth buying? Well, with all the customizable watch faces and Wear OS apps as well as above average fitness features like its heart rate monitor, I would say “Yes!” Although it might not have been worth it on release, since it was missing some key elements, it’s definitely worth it now if you are looking for a customizable style mixed in with good apps for the casual fitness enthusiast.

10. Garmin Vivomove 3 – Best Hybrid Smartwatch

Last but definitely not least, we have the Garmin Vivomove 3. This device has a unique design: it combines the classical look of its ancestors a.k.a. analog watches with the more modern and minimalistic feel of smartwatches. It comes in a few size options, from very small (smaller even than the Fossil Women’s Gen 4 Venture) to medium and large.

The feminine smartwatch also has a plethora of colors and color combinations to choose from. There are too many to list but my favorite ones are the monochromatic versions, where the body, straps, and face are all the same with maybe slight changes in shade for depth. 

What’s more, the watch has no additional dials on the side, which only adds to its slick and elegant look. The minimalist edge is further expanded upon with the ability to show and hide smart features on the home screen. You can have a more detail-oriented smart face if you would like, or you can simply hide those features so the device looks like an analog watch at first glance.

It’s worth mentioning, too, that the Garmin Vivomove 3 is really light and sits very comfortably, and best of all, it can fit a small wrist. Its fashionable and minimalistic design will go with anything, whether sweatpants or a lavish dress.

The light and comfortable design also means that the small smartwatch is also perfect for working out. It has a large variety of trackers including a heart rate sensor. All of which work perfectly fine and have a really slick design to them, really the best looking fitness features i have seen in a smartwatch. 

However, there is a slight issue despite all of these impressive characteristics, and it’s the fact that the Garmin Vivomove 3 does not have its own GPS, so you will need to bring your smartphone with you if you decide to go for a run.

Among all the fitness trackers, there are some useful ones like the hydration tracker, which I desperately need in my life. But the one feature that will most likely convince you to buy this watch is it’s unique women’s health tracker which gives you the ability to follow your menstrual cycle or pregnancy. Not only that – you will also receive nutritional advice for those periods (no pun intended) as well as the ability to log symptoms and view past details. The Garmin Vivomove 3 is really womankind’s best friend.

If you are still not convinced to get this watch, for whatever reason there is also Stress Tracking, so you can find out if you are having a calm or an emotionally exhausting day. I know you don’t need a smart device to know that, but it does help when your watch reminds you to take a break and a deep breath before returning to whatever you were doing.

While on the topic of stress and exhaustion, the Garmin Vivomove 3 will give you information on your energy levels throughout the day with its Body Battery application, so you will be able to find the perfect times to rest and exercise.

Tired of all the trackers? Well too bad. Because guess what, we have an advanced sleep monitor as well. The feature will give you an in-depth look at your sleep cycle, including the light, deep, and REM stages as well as Pulse Ox3.

Whoa, that’s a lot of features, but we are not done yet, because the Garmin Vivomove 3 still has more to offer.

While the smartwatch does not have the ability to send or receive calls, you can send and receive messages. You can also use Garmin Pay as your wallet. The watch also has a calendar of course, as well as a stopwatch and timer. All pretty standard, but what I did not mention before is that all of this is displayed on one screen, the analog screen. No swiping between apps and tabs; the Garmin Vivomove 3 is an all-in-one smartwatch.

If the question is where you should buy it or not, then it’s a strong ‘YES.’ It is one of the best smartwatches for small wrists, and for that matter, bigger wrists as well. The health features are so unique and necessary that you don’t know what you are missing until you actually try them, not to mention that I have not seen them on any other Android smartwatch for women.  If by any chance you are a man reading this, then trust me dudes, guys, bros. If you get this as a present for your woman, she will definitely be over the moon with all the unique features available.

Honorable Mentions

Have you decided what to get after learning about the best smart watches for women? Or are you still on the fence? Not to worry, because I have a few watches that I would like to talk about, which are just as good as the ones listed above but for one reason or another did not manage to make it on the top ten list of the best smartwatches for women.

Bellabeat Time

This classy, feminine smartwatch describes itself as a watch “designed by women for women.” And it shows, as the device is fashionably elegant and doubles as a wellness tracker. It has a heart rate monitor and it can track your sleep. Oh, did I also mention that it has a 6 month long battery life? No, you did not misread that. Yes, this watch will last you for six months.

Pebble Time Round

Here is a watch that decided to go in another direction when it comes to functionality. Instead of trying to make its screen bigger and its bezel and/or edges smaller, the Pebble Time Round instead decided to do the complete opposite by making the screen smaller. But that does not mean the bezel is large or bulky, quite the opposite actually: this small smartwatch is one of the slimmest and comfiest on the market.

Withings Move

If you thought the Bellabeat Time had a long battery life, the Withings Move can go without charging for 18 months. Yes, more than a year.  This smartwatch (or should I say, sports watch) does not seem to offer much more than fitness tracking and health features. But, as it fully focuses on exercise apps, it does them very well. Even the general stuff like a heart rate monitor is still top of the line in this particular watch.

Methodology

Smartwatches –  love them or hate them, you can’t deny that they make for an excellent gift. I have been following the smartwatch scene for a long time, and I gotta say, they always keep improving. In the past, there was no way you could have made a list of the best smartwatches for women, not only because most watches were pretty similar in their sole focus on exercise, but also because there was not really a focus on marketing smartwatches for women in the Now, however, I can write about the ten best smartwatches for women and still have a few that I wished I could include.

Most of these smartwatches I have tested myself, whether by buying them, borrowing them from my friends and colleagues, or getting the advanced review copy of a device. I fancy myself quite the nerd, so I spend a lot of time fiddling and trying to understand the device in front of me. However, we here at 10beasts like to be honest with our readers, so I have to admit that there was no way for a single person like me to get a hold of every watch on this list. While I did not try every device personally, I conducted extensive research on all of them. I read articles, guides, statements, and reviews, and even contacted people who had experience with a device and asked for their opinion.

When all was said and done, I gathered all I knew and wrote it down. It took a couple of drafts, but the final result is what you see here today.

Buyers Guide

There are many things to consider when looking for the perfect smartwatch. With this guide, I hope to tell you about some of the most important things that I considered when writing this article that I think buyers should know.

Style

I know, I know – looks are not as important as performance. However, even though style may not be as important as capability, it is still pretty important. After all, no one wants to wear an ugly watch on their wrist, especially one that stands out in a bad way. The best watches are those that can blend seamlessly with any outfit, have a good looking screen (which, in most cases, is an amoled display) and most importantly fit your personality.

Operating System

Much more than style, you should consider the smartwatch operating system, or OS for short. Here you should pay attention to three common categories: Wear OS, which is the operating system developed by Google and used by a large variety of watches; iOS, which is the one developed by Apple specifically for Apple products; and finally, other Proprietary OS’s, which do not use one of the before mentioned operating systems, instead opting out for something of their own. And yes, before you ask, technically iOS is a proprietary operating system, but given its popularity we are putting it in a league of its own.

Wear OS

Wear OS was designed and developed by Google. A version of Google’s Android operating system, Wear OS was designed specifically with smartwatches in mind. While ‘Developed by Google’ may give you the impression that this operating system is one of the best on the market, the truth is not so simple. While it is pretty decent, Google has let their OS stagger in the past, being overshadowed by Samsung and Apple. Google is working on improving the OS regularly and while it may not be the best of the bunch, there are notable advantages – mostly with notifications and app selection.

iOS

Does Apple’s operating system need any introduction? We all know it and we all know how slick it looks and feels. iOS is one of the best on the market, if not the best. It’s only downside? Like every other thing developed by Apple, it’s only available on their own products, in other words only on the Apple Watch.

Proprietary OS

A proprietary OS can be anything that is developed by a smartwatch manufacturer for their own products. As mentioned before Apple’s iOS would technically also fall under this category and so will Samsung’s Tizen OS, which may even be better than Wear OS. When it comes to lesser known proprietary operating systems, every individual case is different, so I recommend doing your own research on an OS to see if it would fit your needs.

Performance

There are a lot of things that determine how fast a watch is, but the core that makes it move is its processor. Now, if you have read the specs above each watch you will know that there are a few different processors out there, but right now we are fully going to focus on only one of them.

Snapdragon Wear

Currently the fastest processor in the world is the ‘Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+’ designed to deliver 85% higher performance compared to its predecessor the ‘Snapdragon Wear 3100’. Speed is not the only thing that a processor affects; apart from making the whole watch work, it also has an effect on the battery, and the ‘Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+’ is designed to reduce power consumption by 25%. Now on this list, you may have seen a few entries with Snapdragon processors including the 3100 version, but there was no 4100 version. Why is that? Well, the newest processor came out at the end of September of this year, and as of yet no smartwatches have been released with the 4100 version. All of what I just said comes from what Snapdragon themselves claim about their new technology. But seeing as how the ‘Snapdragon Wear 3100’ held the previous title of fastest processor for smartwatches, I am inclined to believe them on the new one.

Other Processors

While the Snapdragon may be the fastest processor for smartwatches, it is not the only one out there, and the others are not bad. Even on this list, there are some devices which use different processors or even their own custom processor. For example, Apple makes their own processors, while other watches may use third-party ones. 

Know Your Processor

When checking to see if a processor is good or bad, the main thing you should look for is its speed, which is determined by Gigahertz or GHz for short. In this case, the only thing you need to pay attention to is the amount of GHz; the higher the number, the better. Another thing that determines speed is how many cores the processor has. If you have a 1 GHz processor with dual cores, that means your actual Gigahertz are 1 multiplied times 2, which of course means you have 2 GHz instead of one. It’s a little complicated I know, and the further down the processor rabbit hole you go, the more complex it gets.

Features

Finally, the last thing I want to talk about is what features the watch has, which thankfully is not as complicated as the processor bit. Here, the more functionality a watch has, the better. This includes fitness features, a heart rate sensor, mobile payments, sending texts and calls, and so many others to consider. If a watch has all of this, it’s definitely a high-end device; if it has some more unique features that others lack, even better.

Final Verdict

Picking a smartwatch highly depends on your personality and what you are looking for, be it style, fitness, or maybe something else entirely, and with everything that you have to consider it may be a little difficult. That’s why this list exists, to summarize all the information in one neat package and help you, the buyers, find the best option.

We write this list after we compile all the information available, and there is a possibility that one or two of the watches on this list of the best smartwatches for women might have enough universal appeal to appear on other lists as well, even on the list of the best smartwatches for men. But most smartwatches made specifically for women are unique in both their design and functionality.

My personal favorite from this list and all other best smartwatches lists has to be the Garmin Vivomove 3, due to its unique design and even more unique health features. I would recommend that every woman have one of these on her wrist; trust me, it really does help when it comes to health.

Of course, you may not agree with me. You have your own opinion and I respect that; in fact, I would also like to know your opinion on the topic and if you found something that you liked from the women’s smartwatches list. If you are a man searching for a gift for a special woman in your life, then again I would recommend the Garmin Vivomove 3. But, you know your woman best, so I will leave it up to you. Good luck 😉

FAQ

Q: Can my little girl use these smartwatches?

A: Technically yes, it won’t be an issue. But I would also like to recommend you check out our best smartwatches for kids.

Q: I did not like any of the smart watches on this list but I found some on the best smartwatches for men that I liked. Can I wear those if I’m a woman?

A: Our list names are just general guides to lead you in the right direction. You are a strong individual and can wear whatever you like.

Q: If I buy the Apple Watch Series 6 will I be able to somehow connect it to my Android phone?

A: Sadly the Apple Watches only work with an iPhone, there is no way to use it with an Android.

Q: I have an iPhone but don’t want to buy an Apple Watch. Will any of the other smartwatches work with my device?

A: Yes most smartwatches are compatible with an iPhone. The ones on this list should work perfectly fine.

Top Rated Smartwatches for Women

Last update on 2023-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API