Introduction
Finding the best smartwatch for women means finding one that fits comfortably on smaller wrists, offers helpful women’s health features like cycle tracking, prioritizes safety, has good battery life, and looks stylish. It’s about finding a watch that seamlessly integrates into your life and helps you stay connected, healthy, and safe.
This guide focuses exclusively on smartwatches that work with Android phones. Sorry, Apple Watch fans, this isn’t the article for you!
If you’re in a hurry, here are our quick picks: For the best overall experience, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. If safety is your top concern, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is a great choice. For style and smaller wrists, the Garmin Lily 2 is a winner. If you need long battery life, check out the OnePlus Watch 2 or 2R. And for those on a budget, the Amazfit Balance offers excellent value.
2) How to Choose (women-focused buying checklist)
When choosing a smartwatch, comfort and size are key, especially for smaller wrists. Look for watches with case sizes between 36mm and 41mm. Also, consider the weight; options under 30 grams will feel lighter and more comfortable to wear all day.
Women’s health features are another important consideration. Many smartwatches now offer menstrual cycle tracking. Some, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, use skin temperature sensors to provide more accurate predictions. Others, like Garmin watches, offer convenient menstrual tracking widgets that you can easily access on your watch face. Samsung’s advanced cycle tracking is a real game-changer, providing insights that can help you understand your body better.
Safety features can provide peace of mind. The Google Pixel Watch 3 stands out with its fall detection, Safety Check feature, and Loss-of-Pulse Detection (LoPD). LoPD is especially valuable; it can automatically call for help if your watch detects a sudden loss of pulse. Imagine the reassurance knowing your watch can alert emergency services if you’re unable to.
Battery life is crucial. Some smartwatches need to be charged every day, while others can last for several days or even weeks on a single charge. The OnePlus Watch 2 uses a dual-engine architecture to extend battery life, while Amazfit watches are known for their long-lasting batteries.
Consider the apps and operating system (OS). Wear OS offers a wide range of third-party apps, while proprietary operating systems like Amazfit’s Zepp OS and Garmin’s OS are more streamlined and focused on fitness and health tracking.
Style is a personal choice. Look for watches with interchangeable bands and a variety of color options. The Garmin Lily line is particularly known for its jewelry-like designs, making it a stylish accessory.
Finally, ensure the watch is durable and water-resistant. A rating of 5 ATM (atmospheres) or IP68+ is a good baseline, meaning the watch can withstand splashes, rain, and even swimming.
3) Best Overall for Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is our top pick for most Android users because it offers the best overall integration with Android phones, a robust suite of health and fitness features, and a strong app ecosystem. Plus, it’s packed with Galaxy AI features that make it even smarter.
Women will appreciate the Galaxy Watch 8’s stress monitoring and advanced cycle tracking features. The Samsung Health app provides detailed insights into your menstrual cycle, using skin temperature data (when paired and available in your country) to improve accuracy. Imagine the convenience of having all this information right on your wrist! The watch also offers personalized guidance and tips to help you manage your health and well-being.
The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in various sizes and style options to suit different preferences. Battery life is decent, but you’ll likely need to charge it every day or two, depending on your usage.
However, if you have very small wrists or need a smartwatch that lasts for 4-7 days on a single charge, you might want to consider other options.
4) Best for Safety & Coaching: Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 stands out for its safety features, particularly Loss-of-Pulse Detection (LoPD), which can automatically call emergency services if it detects a sudden loss of pulse. It also includes fall detection and a Safety Check feature, which allows you to share your location with trusted contacts and automatically notify them if you don’t check in within a specified time. The LTE option lets you stay connected even when you don’t have your phone with you, providing an extra layer of safety.
The Pixel Watch 3 also offers Fitbit-powered health and fitness tracking, providing detailed insights into your activity levels, sleep patterns, and heart rate. Its sleek design makes it a stylish accessory.
The main downsides of the Pixel Watch 3 are its relatively short battery life (around 1-2 days) and the fact that it only comes in one size.
The Pixel Watch 3 is ideal for runners and walkers who value safety features and want a smartwatch that can help them stay connected and protected. Imagine feeling confident on your solo runs, knowing that your watch can call for help if you need it.
5) Best for Small Wrists & Style-First Design: Garmin Lily 2 / Lily 2 Active
The Garmin Lily 2 and Lily 2 Active are designed with style in mind, featuring a jewelry-like look that’s perfect for women with smaller wrists. They offer women’s health tracking widgets, allowing you to easily track your menstrual cycle and other important health metrics. The Lily 2 Active adds built-in GPS, making it a great choice for runners and walkers who want to track their workouts without carrying their phone.
The battery life of the Garmin Lily 2 and Lily 2 Active is impressive, lasting up to 5-9 days depending on the model. This makes them a great choice for people who want a smartwatch that can keep up with their busy lives without needing to be charged every day. The Lily 2 is great for notifications and basic smart features.
The trade-offs are that they have fewer third-party apps and a smaller display compared to some other smartwatches.
The Garmin Lily 2 and Lily 2 Active are perfect for everyday wear, especially for people with petite wrists who want a stylish and functional smartwatch. Imagine the satisfaction of wearing a watch that looks great and helps you stay on top of your health and fitness goals.
6) Best Battery on Wear OS: OnePlus Watch 2 (and 2R)
The OnePlus Watch 2 (and 2R) stands out for its impressive battery life on Wear OS. Thanks to its dual-engine architecture (Wear OS + RTOS), it can last for 3-4 days in Smart Mode, which is significantly longer than most other Wear OS smartwatches.
The OnePlus Watch 2 also features a bright display, fast charging, and solid fitness basics.
However, some reviewers have noted that its health accuracy is less consistent than that of Samsung and Garmin watches. Also, the case size might be too large for people with very small wrists.
The OnePlus Watch 2 is a great choice for people who want the benefits of Wear OS apps but hate the idea of charging their watch every night. Imagine the freedom of being able to wear your smartwatch for several days without worrying about the battery running out.
7) Best Budget All-Rounder: Amazfit Balance
The Amazfit Balance is a great value pick, offering long battery life (often 1-2+ weeks), a good wellness suite in the Zepp app, and a stylish design, all at an affordable price.
With the Amazfit Balance, you get a comprehensive set of health and fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring. The Zepp app provides detailed insights into your health data, helping you understand your body better.
The trade-offs are that it doesn’t have Wear OS apps, and the accuracy of some advanced metrics may not be as precise as on more expensive smartwatches. Also, the availability of payments may vary depending on your region.
The Amazfit Balance is a great choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a smartwatch with long battery life and a good set of health and fitness features. It’s also a good option for travel and sleep tracking. Imagine the convenience of being able to wear your smartwatch on a long trip without needing to worry about finding a charger.
8) Power User / Adventure Alternative: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (optional section)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a bigger, more rugged smartwatch designed for power users and adventurers. It offers long endurance modes and a multisport focus, making it a great choice for hikers, triathletes, and other active individuals. It’s still Android-friendly, so you can enjoy seamless integration with your Android phone.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is built to withstand the elements, with a durable design and water resistance. It also offers advanced features like GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra suits hikers, tri-curious athletes who want a Samsung ecosystem.
9) At-a-Glance Comparison Table (columns you’ll fill)
| Model | Case sizes | Weight | Battery (rated) | OS | Women’s health features | Safety (fall/LoPD/SOS) | GPS | Payments | Notable cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 | 40mm, 44mm | 25.9g (40mm), 33.3g (44mm) | Up to 40 hours | Wear OS | Cycle tracking (skin temp), stress monitoring | Fall detection, SOS | Yes | Samsung Pay | Battery life could be better |
| Google Pixel Watch 3 | 41mm | ~36g | Up to 36 hours | Wear OS | Menstrual cycle tracking | Fall detection, LoPD, Safety Check, SOS | Yes | Google Pay | Single size, battery life |
| Garmin Lily 2 | 34.5mm | 24.4g | Up to 5 days | Garmin OS | Menstrual cycle tracking | SOS (connected to phone) | No (Lily 2), Yes (Lily 2 Active) | Garmin Pay (selected models) | Smaller display, fewer apps |
| OnePlus Watch 2 | 47mm | 49g | Up to 100 hours (Smart Mode) | Wear OS + RTOS | Menstrual cycle tracking | Fall detection, SOS | Yes | Google Pay | Large case, health accuracy |
| Amazfit Balance | 46mm | 35g | Up to 14 days | Zepp OS | Menstrual cycle tracking | Fall detection, SOS | Yes | Amazfit Pay (region dependent) | No Wear OS apps, payment availability |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra | 47mm | 61.5g | Up to 80 hours (normal use), up to 100 hours (low power mode) | Wear OS | Cycle tracking (skin temp), stress monitoring | Fall detection, SOS | Yes | Samsung Pay | Large size, premium price |
Note: Specs and features are based on information available as of October 2024 and are subject to change. Battery life varies depending on usage.
10) Which One Should You Buy? (decision guide)
If you want a small smartwatch with a jewelry-like look, the Garmin Lily 2 / Lily 2 Active is the perfect choice.
For the best Android integration and a wide range of features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the way to go.
If safety is your top priority, with features like Loss-of-Pulse Detection and fall detection, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is the best option.
For multi-day battery life on a Wear OS smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 2 / 2R is the winner.
If you’re on a tight budget and want the longest possible battery life, the Amazfit Balance is an excellent choice.
And if you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking for a rugged and durable smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the perfect companion.