Looking for the best smart watches for women? Let our guide provide you with the knowledge you need to become a savvy shopper. Smartwatches that have dominated the market until recently have been by and large gender neutral affairs. The sleekly modernist design that Apple popularized with their first generation Apple Watches were the blueprint for most manufacturers, but as the market’s grown, so has the feasibility of more specialized watches.
We’re starting to see a rise of gendered smartwatches that replicate the style of more traditional watches made for women as well as providing specific features related to the health and needs of the fairer sex. But there’s a stark divide between the best smart watches for women and low-quality models designed to exploit the market. We’ve put together a list of 12 top smart watches for women along with a detailed guide for the shopping process.
- The 12 Best Smart Watches For Women
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Rose Gold
- Apple Watch Series 4 White Sport Band
- Huami Amazfit Bip Smartwatch
- Michael Kors Access Sofie Smartwatch
- TicWatch C2 Smart Watch
- Fossil Gen 4 Venture HR Smartwatch
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
- Fitbit Versa Smart Watch
- Garmin vívoactive 3 GPS Smartwatch
- Kate Spade New York Women’s Scallop 2
- Fossil Jacqueline Hybrid Smartwatch
- Skagen Connected Falster 2
- Best Smart Watches For Women Buyer’s Guide
- Operating System
- Compatibility
- Display
- Connectivity
- Battery Life
- IP Rating
The 12 Best Smart Watches For Women
| Design | Retailer | |
|---|---|---|
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
 | Check Price |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Rose Gold
The Samsung Galaxy has quickly become one of the chief rivals to Apple in the smartwatch market. Built off of Samsung’s proprietary Tizen operating system, it incorporates a robust app market that doesn’t quite match Apple in its versatility but is quickly catching up. But best of all, it can pair with both iOS and Android devices. The inclusion of Bixby means that you have a virtual assistant ready to respond to your voice commands.
This rose gold smartwatch is built with the sensibilities of women in mind specifically, and it replicates the look and feel of a traditional watch with its analog dial and elegant detail work. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a rich variety of health tracking features and easy to use Bluetooth connectivity for your smart phone.
| OS | Tizen |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Display | 1.2 Inch AMOLED 360x 360 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 3 days |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Processor | 1.15 GHz Dual-Core |
Pros
- Switch out your style with interchangeable bands
- Smartwatch features with the look of a traditional watch
- Voice activation in the form of Samsung Bixby
- Deep and varied health tracking features
Cons
Apple Watch Series 4 White Sport Band
The Apple Watch may not be built specifically with women in mind, but this touchscreen watch is too well designed and too prolific to not earn a spot on this list. It may be one of the more expensive models around, but it still sports a design and range of features that most other smartwatches aspire to match. watchOS is still the operating system to be beat. There’s no more intuitive navigation system anywhere.
In terms of design, it’s a slick and modern aesthetic that couldn’t be further from the Galaxy if it tried. The smooth lines are seamless, and the squared off design helps it stand apart from the competition while serving practical navigational purposes. If this fourth edition model has one standout feature, it’s the inclusion of the first ECG, but you’d be hard pressed to find a must have feature that’s not built in or available online.
| OS | watchOS |
| Compatibility | iOS |
| Display | 977 sq mm OLED retina |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 18 hours |
| IP Rating | n/a (50 meters) |
| Processor | 64-bit dual-core S4 |
Pros
- The gold standard for smartwatch functions
- Lean and minimalist streamlined design
- Unprecedented health monitoring features
- Multiple ways to connect with other devices
Cons
Huami Amazfit Bip Smartwatch
While the Samsung Galaxy and Apple Watch may occupy the top tier of ladies smart watches that don’t come with a designer name attached, the Amazfit Bip offers most of the essentials at a fraction of the cost. These are affordable women’s watches, but that doesn’t mean they skimp on features. Sleep monitoring is built right in, and you can rely on this watch to provide you with all day heart rate and activity tracking without having to do a thing.
If you’re looking for a fitness watch for women and you aren’t worried about having the latest and greatest thing, Huami’s smartwatch will serve your needs admirably. It offers a pretty deep bench of communication functions as well. Connectivity is available for most of the major social media platforms while also offering one way email notifications and prompts for SMS messages and phone calls.
| OS | proprietary |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 1.28 inch 176 x 176 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 45 days |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Processor | not disclosed |
Pros
- An affordable model that covers all the basics
- Backed by a 12 month replacement warranty
- Receive Messages, Call & APP Notifications
- Integrated GPS smartwatch features
Cons
Michael Kors Access Sofie Smartwatch
Smartwatches have become popular enough that the biggest luxury brands are starting to take notice. And while the Michael Kors Access Sofie isn’t as fully loaded as some of the more serious models, it’s one of the most fashionable designer smart watches for women and surprisingly affordable. Michael Kors is a brand that understands women’s watches, and everything from the smart stainless steel band to the perfectly round to the slimmer frame evoke conventional fashion. But they’ve boldly opted for a more modern digital face.
This is a watch built off of Google’s Wear OS for all the good and bad that entails. But that means that you can access your fitness tracking features using Google Assistant’s voice functionality. The typical social media and app notifications as well as text and voice alerts come standard.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 42 mm AMOLED |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 1 day |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 2100 |
Pros
- A traditionally classy watch with some seriously modern flair
- Offered in 9 different variations
- Interchangeable bands let you change your aesthetic with your mood
- In depth notification customization
Cons
TicWatch C2 Smart Watch
The TicWatch C2 may not offer much in the way of originality, but it offers a fundamentally strong smartwatch for women at a price lower than much of the competition. A great battery life is complemented by a decent range of features that will work well as a general purpose or workout watch. It’s resistant to both sweat and water and a substantial battery life that can rival the best watches around.
The C2 uses Google’s proprietary operating system, and that gives you access to some really cool features like the voice activated Google Assistant and the NFC-powered Google Pay. It’s also highly customizable with hundreds of interchangeable faces and women’s watch bands that you can swap out as the mood strikes you.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 1.3” AMOLED 360 x 360 |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 2 days |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Processor | Snapdragon W2100 |
Pros
- Swappable parts let you personalize a look that suits you
- Bluetooth-free GPS built right in
- Dynamic health and fitness companion
- Supported by a great range of Google services
Cons
Fossil Gen 4 Venture HR Smartwatch
If there’s one thing that the designer manufacturers on our list have proven, it’s that they know how to keep with the times. That’s due in part by the Wear OS operating system which allows them to minimize the heavy lifting in terms of design, but the Fossil Q Venture is a brilliant combination of high street design with sensible smart feature implementation, and the result is a stunningly beautiful smart watch for women.
A high resolution display has been paired with a beautifully jeweled band and bezel that oozes femininity while still being incredibly practical. This watch uses the latest version of Wear OS, and that constitutes a pretty major jump in quality from earlier editions. It also offers automated heart rate monitoring so you’re always cognizant of your health.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 40 mm AMOLED |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 2 days |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor |
Pros
- Watch faces can be customized to display social media photos
- Google Fit offers precise and modern exercise tracking
- Play music and use the GPS without phone tethering
- Bright and vivid high resolution touchscreen
Cons
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
The standard Samsung Galaxy is a pretty pricey ladies smart watch, and for many people, the features available will be overkill. If you’re just looking for quality sports watches for women, the Active model can be picked up for less than half the price. Sporting a similar rose gold design, it’s also the thinnest smartwatch Samsung offers. That makes it a great and unobtrusive choice for your daily jog or trip to the gym.
And if fitness is your aim, you won’t be losing a lot with the downgrade. It may be missing some of the standard Galaxy’s bells and whistles, but all of the health and exercise features available in its big sister are here as well. All you’re really missing out on is the rotating bezel that serves as a navigation device for the standard Galaxy.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 1.1 inch AMOLED 360 x 360 |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 2 days |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Processor | Exynos 9110 1.15 GHz |
Pros
- Offers most of the Galaxy’s features for half the price
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Tracks up to 39 different exercises
- Provides comprehensive sleep pattern analysis
Cons
Fitbit Versa Smart Watch
As far as the fitness tracker market is concerned, Fitbit is consistently running a lap ahead of everyone else. The Fitbit Versa offers a premium product at a midrange price, folding in all the features of the Versa Lite without necessitating a bulky design or an exorbitant price tag. Despite the slim profile, the Versa offers a beefy storage capacity that can hold up to 300 songs without even needing to be tethered to your phone.
But the biggest appeal here comes from the fitness tracking options. You get comprehensive sleep tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and automated bookkeeping for all of your daily activities. Pair that with one of the most high-endurance batteries available today and you’re left with a nimble little fitness tracker for women that doesn’t require much maintenance or oversight.
| OS | proprietary OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 1.34 inch AMOLED 300 x 300 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 4 days |
| IP Rating | n/a (50 meters) |
| Processor | not disclosed |
Pros
- Incredible value for the price
- Truly comprehensive sleep tracking
- Fitness tracking options specific to women
- Over 15 different exercise modes
Cons
Garmin vívoactive 3 GPS Smartwatch
Garmin has been moving aggressively into the wearables market recently, and their vivoactive 3 is a strong indicator of what they can accomplish when they put their mind towards making a great women’s smart watch. The fact that it’s another in a line of modern looking smart watches for women in white will invited obvious comparisons to the Apple Watch, but it manages to compete admirably with the elephant in the room despite using a proprietary operating system.
Garmin Pay offers a surprisingly successful alternative to other NFC-based instant pay services, and the inclusion of 15 different GPS and activity apps should cover most if not all of your fitness needs. The fiber-reinforced polymer and stainless steel it’s constructed of ensures that it’s a sturdy gadget that can withstand a lot of pressure without bending or breaking.
| OS | proprietary OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | 1.2 inch AMOLED 240 x 240 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 7 days |
| IP Rating | n/a (50 meters) |
| Processor | not disclosed |
Pros
- Packs in a ton of features for a reasonable price
- Includes a barometer, altimeter, accelerometer and more
- Compatible with Garmin’s Connect IQ store
- Thousands of free digital watch faces available
Cons
Kate Spade New York Women’s Scallop 2
Kate Spade’s Scallop 2 is a strong indication of how much the appeal of smart watches for women has broadened in the past few years. Where most wearables emphasize futuristic design sensibilities and front-facing fitness services, the Scallop 2 is a fashion forward approach to things. This women’s digital dress watch offers a slender stainless steel band and a playfully scalloped face, but it takes the focus on style a step further by helping you find a suitable watch face based off your answers to a questionnaire.
But beneath the animated dials and Cosmo-style quizzes is a gadget that gets all the basics right. NFC payments are built in as is the ability to control your watch by voice using Google Assistant. Nuanced activity tracking is handled through a simple and easy to read interface.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | OLED |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 1 day |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Processor | not disclosed |
Pros
- ‘Choose Your Look’ using a quiz-based app
- Call, message, and social media alerts are brightly animated
- Music can be stored locally
- Voice activated mic functionality
Cons
Fossil Jacqueline Hybrid Smartwatch
Cheap smart watches for women are often poorly crafted smart watches, but the Fossil Q manages to deliver a relatively inexpensive model that replicates the look of a traditional watch. This hybrid model is smart without being too smart for its own good, meeting all the quality standards that Fossil watches are known for while throwing some of the most essential smartwatch features into the mix. The big advantage here is that it requires no charging to work.
Of course, that means that you won’t get the full depth of features that more conventional Android smart watches for women offer. But you do get remote control activation, detailed sleep tracking, and an array of fitness monitoring options. Rather than make use of a traditional digital face, but all of the built in functions can be programmed easily using the three crown dials.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | Analog |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | n/a |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Processor | Intel Atom |
Pros
- Functions as a watch without any charging
- Evocative design traditional smartwatches can’t match
- Easy to use software interface
- Backed by a two year warranty
Cons
Skagen Connected Falster 2
The Falster 2 certainly isn’t the most powerful wearable available, but it can meet your needs if you’re seeking out a budget model with a traditional smartwatch design. The lightweight frame means it’s not going to wear heavy on your wrist, and it’s available in 8 different looks. As far as watches in the mold of the Apple Watch of Galaxy go, it’s one of the more attractive options you’re going to find.
This is a watch built for the gym and the track, and it shows. The straps are comfortable and easy to swap out, and the display reads nice and bright even in broad daylight. In terms of features, it’s everything you could expect from Wear OS. That means Google Assistant, Google Pay, and a host of fitness tracking options are available right at your fingertips.
| OS | Wear OS |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Display | OLED |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | 1 day |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 2100 |
Pros
- Real-time fitness tracking
- Robust filtering for your notifications
- Magnetic mesh closure is easy to adjust
- Music can be saved directly to the watch
Cons
Best Smart Watches For Women Buyer’s Guide
What distinguishes a smart watch for women from a traditional smart watch? Fundamentally, not a whole lot. While some models like the Fitbit Versa offer fitness tracking options specific to the needs of women and others sport stylistic flourishes that more closely resemble traditional women’s watches, the specs don’t differ that much. We’re going to walk you through the specifics so you know what to look for.
Operating System
The two big players in the game are Apple’s watchOS and Google’s Wear OS, but the Tizen operating system by Samsung and the proprietary Garmin OS are quickly catching up to them. There are two distinguishing factors between all of these operating systems: the interface and the available features.
While watchOS is the hard to dispute king of the market due to its incredibly streamlined interface and expansive app store, it’s limited by the fact that it’s only available on the expensive Apple Watch. From heart rate tracking and exercise oversight to voice commands and remote pay, most of the fundamentals are covered by all of these four operating systems.
Things become a bit spottier once you start looking at other proprietary operating systems, but you should be safe with any of the big players. And if you’re primarily looking for the option to play music, track your activities, and receive notifications, all of these watches will fit your demands well.
Compatibility
If you’re looking for smart watches for women iPhones will work with, you’re in luck. Every single watch on our list will work in the Apple ecosystem, and all but the Apple Watch will pair just fine with your Android device. Apple’s strict proprietary approach to hardware and software development ensures that the Apple Watch will only work in conjunction with other Apple devices.
Display
With the sole exception of the hybrid Skagen 2, all of the watches we’ve listed make use of an LED screen. The big things to keep in mind here are size and resolution. The advantages of a larger screen are obvious: they’re easy to navigate and can display more information. Resolution is measured in pixels. The higher the number, the clearer and crisper the display. Of course, given the meager size of smartwatches, this won’t matter nearly as much as it would on your big screen TV or even your phone.
Connectivity
Smartwatches need to be connected to your phone to access most of their features, and that’s what Bluetooth is for. It creates a direct tethered connection to your Android or iPhone that allows you to make payments, stream music, and receive notifications. But Bluetooth only works within a few dozen feet, and that doesn’t help much if you want to go out on a jog without your phone. GPS is independent of Bluetooth, and many smartwatches allow you to save music locally, but that still locks you out of a lot of features.
That’s where WiFi comes in. While it’s only available on a select number of smartwatches, With a good WiFi connection, you can access your phone even if you left it at home or in the office. Just keep in mind that you still need to be in range of a WiFi network you can connect to.
Battery Life
The battery life of some smartwatches are measured in days, others in weeks. Generally, the more powerful the smartwatch, the more often you’ll need to charge it. How much of an inconvenience that is will vary from person to person. The battery lives we have listed are based off an average and can fluctuate significantly depending on the features you use regularly.
IP Rating
If you’re looking specifically for waterproof smart watches for women, you’re in luck. All of the watches we’ve listed offer some level of water resistance. This is most often measured by an IP rating. Since all of our IP rated watches fall into the category of IP67 or IP68, we don’t need to outline the entire rating system.
An IP67 rating means your smartwatch can be submerged in a meter of water, while an IP68 rating means it can be submerged in over a meter and a half. IP68 ratings can cover a wide range of waterproofing. As such, we wouldn’t recommend swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving with any of these smartwatches unless they’re specifically listed as being capable of that.
Final Thoughts
There’s no such thing as the singularly best smart watch for women. While the Galaxy and Apple Watch are stunning pieces of equipment with a range of features, they’re also significantly more expensive than other options available. Consider what features matter to you and how much you’re willing to spend before deciding on a purchase. Ultimately, the perfect watch is going to be the one with features and capabilities that match your unique demands.
If you liked our article on smart watches for women, please share and comment below what your favorite product is.
