Best smartwatches and wearables for women

In the early years of wearables, women were an afterthought. We'd be stuck with large, oversized devices.

Fortunately, things have changed, and many brands now offer slimmed-down versions of their smartwatches and sports watches that don’t shortchange women when it comes to features.

There's been a rise of "unisex" options for smartwatches, with case sizes shrinking down to 38-42mm to suit thinner wrists.

We’ve also seen a welcome rise in female-specific features – things like proper menstrual cycle tracking, the ability to change training programs to allow for pregnancy, or safety measures when out and about.

Speaking of pink, though, we admit it is nice to have options other than black (or very very dark grey), especially for watches we want to wear all day, and all evening too. A bit of style or sparkle is always nice, as is the ability to switch out straps to match different outfits.

With those properties in mind, we’ve rounded up the very best smartwatches, sports watches, and fitness trackers for women. Read on to find out our top picks.

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Best smartwatches for women

Apple Watch Series 8 41mm

Wareable

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• 41mm/45mm options
• Menstrual cycle tracking
• Temperature sensor for ovulation detection
• GPS tracking
• Huge range of third-party straps

The Apple Watch Series 8 wasn't a huge upgrade from the Series 7 – except for one major feature aimed at women. A pair of new temperature sensors will now track ovulation, and look out for deviations in your cycle that can indicate underlying health conditions.

While most devices boast cycle tracking, very few use biometrics – making the Series 8 the best smartwatch for women. And it still uses the predictive calendar feature that can offer a helping hand for family planning.

Aesthetically, there are different metal case finishes and options for silicone or woven sport band, leather strap, or stainless steel band, all in a range of colors. There’s a big third-party market for Apple Watch straps too.

On-board ECG offers serious heart health monitoring and a blood oxygen sensor (both Series 7 only) gives additional insights into your fitness. There’s also an app for breathing exercises, one to monitor your hearing and another to track your menstrual cycle – plus the expansive app store means you can also easily plug into smartphone apps such as Clue.

Read our review: Apple Watch Series 8

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Wareable

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• Available in 40mm or 42mm cases
• Up to 40 hours of battery life
• Temperature-based cycle tracking with Natural Cycles
• Runs on Wear OS 3.5 with Samsung One UI Watch 3
• Samsung Pay or Google Pay support
• Download apps from Google Play Store
• ECG, PPG, and BIA sensors
• Built-in GPS/Glonass/Beidou
• LTE models for all sizes
• 5ATM water-resistant rating

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is hardly the best-looking and most feminine smartwatch out there, but with a 40mm option, at least it comes in a manageable size.

But Samsung has turned on the temperature sensor to offer biometric cycle tracking with the FDA-approved Natural Cycles. So while style might be lacking, there is substance here.

And the health angle is strong, with ECG and blood pressure tracking, although you need to validate via a cuff if you want to use the latter.

Battery life also remains an issue, and we got between 1-2 days in our testing – around the same as a Series 8 or the Pixel Watch.

One of the big selling points is the Google Play Store, and you can pick up apps such as Clue or Calm there, which will enhance the core experience.

It works well as a fitness tracker, but we found that accuracy issues and the app experience meant that as a fitness watch, there are better options elsewhere.

Read our review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Garmin Lily

Wareable

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• Menstrual and pregnancy features
• LiveTrack for security
• 34mm case

The Lily comes in two flavors, the Sport, with an aluminum case and silicone band, and the Classic, with a stainless steel case and leather band.

It’s one of the smallest smartwatches on the market, with a 34mm case, so is suitable for the slimmest of wrists and won’t look out of place with a smart dress or spaghetti strap top. The resolution hasn’t been published but doesn’t look to be particularly high, though there’s a patterned lens for extra style points when the display is off.

The Lily is pitched more towards wellness than fitness and offers step tracking, 27 heart rate monitoring, stress, hydration, and SpO2 plus Garmin’s Body Battery feature.

There are also pregnancy-focused features, menstrual tracking, and LiveTrack, so friends or family can get a real-time view of your location – ideal for women who like to go running alone, for example.

If running’s your thing, though, the lack of GPS does disappoint, as Lily will need a connected phone for location.

Read our review: Garmin Lily

Fitbit Versa 4 / Fitbit Sense 2

Wareable

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• 41mm case
• Menstrual tracking
• Vibrant display
• Fitbit OS 

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a small smartwatch with a 41mm casing that comes in black, silver, and rose gold options, as well as a range of strap colors. The Sense 2, meanwhile, is a more health-focused watch with a design closely modeled on the Versa.

Both models come with a vibrant 336 x 336-pixel resolution curved AMOLED display, with accurate fitness tracking that caters to a wide range of activities.

They also come with excellent sleep-tracking features, menstrual tracking from the screen, and breathing exercises on board.

The Sense also comes with a new continuous EDA sensor that monitors stress, and you can enter stressful feelings, to take a proactive approach to mental health. That's in addition to the Stress Score – and there are built-in mindfulness sessions and a guided breathing app.

Both use PurePulse optical heart rate sensor and an ECG sensor to offer medical grade-style heart rate measurements. A new temperature sensor is also on board to monitor body temperature during sleep.

Finally, battery life is the biggest selling point, with six days – as opposed to a single-day battery on the Pixel Watch, Apple Watch, and Samsung devices.

Read our full reviews: Fitbit Versa 4 and Fitbit Sense 2

Google Pixel Watch

Wareable

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• 41mm case
• 24-hour battery life
• Wear OS 3.5
• Full support of Google services
• Fitbit integration

The debut smartwatch from Google has the unusual distinction of being a much better fit for smaller wrists - and also that case size being the one and only option.

Currently, it's one of the very best-looking smartwatches on the market, not just one of the best options if you're a woman. Added to that, it's also a pretty powerful device, with full support for Google services like Maps, Calendar, Wallet and the Play Store, as well as the ability to take heart rate once per second as you wear it. 

With Fitbit integration at the heart of the experience, too, it becomes a decent health tracker, not just a fitness tracker. However, you'll need the Fitbit Premium subscription to make the most of the Pixel Watch's features and insights, the core experience is more than enough for most people - and you'll get the ability to track exercise, take ECG readings and view all of your workout history within the app.

It gives the Samsung Galaxy Watch a run for its money, but, unfortunately, battery life really lets down the experience. You'll only get the quoted 24 hours without the always-on display enabled, and, even then, you're going to need to charge once per day.

Read our review: Google Pixel Watch

Huawei Watch Fit 2

Wareable

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• 46mm case
• 10 days battery life
• Music controls

Huawei's Watch Fit 2 is a smartwatch and fitness tracker hybrid that brings in a lot of smartwatch features into a slimmer frame for a great price.

The 46mm case gives it the look of a squashed/stretched-out Apple Watch and comes with a sharp, bright AMOLED touchscreen display. It’s not the friendliest for a slim female wrist, we’d have to say, though we like the selection of cases and straps available.

Features-wise, you'll get built-in GPS plus Huawei's running plans if you’re not sure where to start. You’ll find core running metrics and also performance metrics like aerobic training effect, VO2 Max, and recovery time.

Away from running, you're getting 24/7 activity tracking including sleep monitoring, plus there's a SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen levels and you can continuously monitor your heart rate too.

Those core running features work well on the whole, and while Huawei's Health app is pretty decent, you can't share data with third-party apps like many devices.

Key smartwatch features include notification support, music controls, and the ability to change up watch faces. You’ll also find menstrual cycle tracking and estimated ovulation dates.

Read our review: Huawei Watch Fit 2

Amazfit GTS 4

Wareable

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• 42mm case
• Dual-band GPS
• 1.75-inch AMOLED color touchscreen
• 8-day battery life

It may look similar to the Apple Watch detailed above, but Amazfit's mid-range smartwatch is a much lighter proposition - both in weight and in overall depth. 

The singular 42mm case option may put it slightly on the larger side for a square watch, but, still, we think plenty will be able to pull this comfortable design off. The vibrant display also really belies the price tag; during testing, we found it to rival flagship watches across the industry. 

It's not the only area the GTS 4 punches above its weight, either, with tons of activity tracking profiles and post-workout metrics to dive into - particularly if you like running. 

Handily, it's also one you can leave off the charger for a while. We found it to offer around 4-5 days with the always-on display enabled, and that stretches out to 3-4 weeks with it disabled. 

We wouldn't necessarily recommend it to those who want a full smartwatch experience, as it lacks proper third-party app support and some other must-have features, but it's a great fitness tracker in a smartwatch body. 

Read our review: Amazfit GTS 4

Garmin Vivoactive 4S

Wareable

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• 40mm case
• Garmin Pay
• Pulse Ox sensor
• Menstrual and fertility tracking

The Vivoactive 4 is Garmin's sport-focused smartwatch, offering the benefits of notifications and smart features with a jack-of-all-trades sports tracking that supports up to 20 activities. The standard model is a pretty hefty 45mm, but there’s also a more female-friendly 4S model with a 40mm case.

Like its main rivals, this is a watch that aims to bring more than just fitness smarts to your wrist. It has a relatively low-resolution transflective display, but it's got a glossy screen that makes the whole package much more stylish than previous models.

In terms of sports tracking, it's pretty comprehensive – you get running (indoor, outdoor, treadmill), cycling (indoor and outdoor), swimming (pool only), golf, strength, cardio, elliptical, indoor rowing, yoga, and more. 5ATM water resistance is also on board.

You’ll get decent fitness tracking, and sleep is aided by the pulse ox sensor that will deliver advanced sleep stages and information on your respiration as you sleep. You can also track your menstrual cycle, symptoms, and fertility prediction via the Health Stats section of the Garmin Connect app.

Read our review: Garmin Vivoactive 4

Skagen Falster Gen 6

Wareable

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• 41mm case
• 20mm interchangeable straps
• Onboard GPS

Skagen's Falster smartwatches have remained faithful to the minimalist roots of the Scandi brand, and we're happy to say it's more of the same with the Gen 6.

If you're looking for a simple and elegant look, and one that's light to wear, you'll find plenty to like here.

It handles fitness and sports tracking well, and wellness features include workout tracking stats, sleep, cardio fitness, blood oxygen, and heart rate data.

It also has a 3ATM waterproof rating, which makes it suitable for swimming, and it’s light and comfortable to wear while exercising.

Even better, it's now also running Wear OS 3.

Read our review: Skagen Falster Gen 6

Michael Kors MKGO Gen 5E

Wareable

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• 43mm case
• Heart-rate monitor
• Built-in GPS

The Access MKGO Gen 5E is a more versatile and fitness-friendly offering from Michael Kors.

It’s worth noting it’s at the larger end of the scale, and there’s no smaller version than its 43mm case size, however, it sits flush against your skin and doesn’t look bulky on smaller wrists.

There are four case colors to choose from – black/gold, pink, and pink/grey – and depending on the strap you can get a sportier or classier look to suit. We do like this gold/white combo.

Read our full review: Michael Kors MKGO Gen 5e

Garmin Vivomove 3

Wareable

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The Vivomove 3 is one of the best-looking hybrid devices around, stylish and great for everyday wear while also being fantastic for fitness training.

The standard case is 44mm and 11.6mm thick, so it’s not super svelte but not too bulky for female wrists either. And there’s a huge range of style choices available, with black, silver, and rose gold cases plus leather and silicone bands in several colors.

Most of the time you’ll see a standard watch face with hands displaying the time, but the touchscreen allows you to swipe through screens to see your messages, heart rate, and other data.

There are also a few different versions of the basic watch to suit style and price points. The 3S offers a more female-friendly 39mm case, while the Vivomove Style and Luxe have color displays with more information above the watch hands and a wider range of materials, but for a significant additional cost.

Despite being a Garmin it’s very much a smart rather than sports watch, though it does, of course, offer the basics like step, calorie, fitness, and sleep tracking. You’ll also get all-day stress tracking thanks to the heart-rate monitor, and Garmin Connect can track menstrual cycle and pregnancy, allowing you to log details from your wrist.

Read our full review: Garmin Vivomove 3

Withings ScanWatch

Wareable

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• 38mm and 42mm case sizes
• 24/7 heart rate tracking
• 30-day battery life

The least smartwatch-looking smartwatch here, the Withings ScanWatch has a mostly analog face that hides a powerful health smartwatch, with ECG and a heart rate monitor dominating the feature sheet.

It comes in 38mm and 42mm case sizes, and the more female-friendly 38mm size is available in four color combinations: white and silver; black and silver; white and rose gold; and our favorite, blue and rose gold.

All the usual health metrics are also here and it’s a good activity monitor and step tracker too, and the interior dial on the watch face will show your progress towards your step goal. The associated Withings Health Mate app includes a pregnancy tracker as well as the ability to track and monitor a baby’s weight gain.

It’s also not completely analog. A small OLED screen sits on the dial, showing basic information like real-time HR, steps, and calories burned, and you can get some basic notifications there too.

Read our review: Withings ScanWatch

Best fitness trackers for women

Fitbit Luxe

Wareable

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• 0.76-inch display - 124 x 206 pixels
• Connected GPS (paired smartphone)
• 5ATM water resistant (50m)
• 5+ day battery life

The Fitbit Luxe puts the best parts of the Fitbit experience in a nicer, sleeker, and more stylish package. It's something you might want to wear.

It comes in white, black, and orchid (pink) options and there's a special edition with a gold link bracelet.

In terms of features, there's nothing exclusive to Luxe, but plenty of top features filter down the Fitbit range. It's not as advanced as the Charge 5 (there's no built-in GPS, for example) but trumps the Inspire range with its SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen.

• Fitbit Luxe vs Charge 4 – the key differences explained

The Luxe also has built-in sports tracking modes including yoga and running (pictured above), and you can get GPS tracking if you take your smartphone out too.

There's also a new drive towards mindfulness, and it will keep tabs on stress using a daily stress score. That feature is rolling out across Fitbit devices. That's on top of sleep, heart rate, and steps.

And cycle tracking is available on all Fitbit devices – but there are some caveats, as we explain in our full guide.

Read our full review: Fitbit Luxe

Fitbit Inspire 3

Wareable

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• 1.55-inch AMOLED display
• Connected GPS (paired smartphone)
• 5ATM water resistant (50m)
• 10+ day battery life

The aging Fitbit Luxe is an easy recommendation with its stainless steel case – but the Inspire 3 is the new kid on the block.

It's a little more fun and casual with plastic case options – but still pretty pleasing on the eye.

And it's pleasing on the wallet too, in these austere times, with a sub $100 price tag that still offers the best of Fitbit.

The Inspire 3 packs heart rate, SpO2, and temperature tracking (but crucially not for cycle tracking), which populates the full gamut of Health Metrics dashboard features.

There's no GPS, but it will track workouts – and use your smartphone's GPS if you take it out for a run.

Read our full Inspire 3 review.

Fitbit Charge 5

Wareable

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• ECG sensor
• Fitbit Pay
• 36.7 x 22.7 x 11.2mm

The best-looking Fitbit Charge yet, the Charge 5 comes with an AMOLED screen and is touchscreen controlled. There are three color options – gold, silver, and black – and there are plenty of options for swapping the straps, though it is a proprietary fitting.

A health and fitness powerhouse, the Charge 5 offers step and heart rate tracking, including resting HR, plus VO2 Max, a skin temperature sensor, and a SpO2 sensor.

There’s also an electrodermal activity sensor that reads your sweat to assess your stress level, plus menstrual tracking, complete with predictions for ovulation and your next period.

It’s also pretty functional as a smartwatch alternative, offering notifications that are easy to read on a clear screen.

Read the full review: Fitbit Charge 5

Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Wareable

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• 14-day battery life (7 days in testing)
• 1.62-inch AMOLED display
• Connected GPS
• 5ATM (50m)

The go-to budget fitness tracker – the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 isn't as slick as Fitbit offerings above – but is over half the price.

The look and feel of the Mi Band 7 have stayed in line with the classic Xiaomi Mi Band design – but the screen has grown, and the band features a 1.67-inch AMOLED display, up from the 1.56-inch on the previous generation.

A big change is that the screen can now be always-on, so it won't turn off when you're not interacting with it.

The amount of tracked workouts has also been increased from 30 to over 120 – with some tracking of movement (jumping etc) within activities.

Post-workout recovery advice includes Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption estimates, as well as VO2 Max, Training load, Recovery duration, and Training effect of each workout – which means Xiaomi is edging into Garmin territory.

Swimming tracking has also been boosted, and the Mi Band 7 will recognize 4 swimming styles, as well as tracking snorkeling.

Read our full review: Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7

Bellabeat Leaf Urban

Wareable

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• Menstrual and fertility tracking
• Stress level insights
• Goal motivations

One of the most genuinely female-focused designs here, the Leaf Urban eschews chunky wristbands entirely and offers instead a pretty leaf-shaped tracker combined with a stainless steel enclosure that can be worn as a clip or attached to a necklace or bracelet. Though the Urban isn’t quite as pretty as the original Leaf Nature, it’s water resistant so better equipped for daily life.

The Leaf Urban tracks steps, distance, and active time, as well as snorkeling sleep tracking, though it can’t monitor heart rate or GPS.

The app offers general lifestyle tracking and meditation goals, but also both menstrual cycle and fertility tracking, alerting you to fertile days depending on the dates of your period. And if those alerts are successful, there’s a pregnancy tracker too.

Read our review: Bellabeat Leaf Urban