Anyone who’s spent time searching for the best smart watches for men has probably noticed that the smart watch market has absolutely exploded over the past few years.
It wasn’t long ago that the Apple watch was pretty much the only game in town.
But today there are dozens (if not hundreds) of options on the market, offering everything from a basic fitness tracker and heart rate monitor to a full-on voice assistant and the ability to make phone calls.
For guys who want a watch that’s both smart and sharp, this presents something of a conundrum.
On the one hand, the metric sh*t ton of options means that it’s never been easier to find a smartwatch that suits your specific tastes, needs and budgets.
On the other hand, you could easily spend months pouring over all of the available options, weighing their various features against their respective prices and styles, and trying to determine which options provide the best blend of form and function.
How do I know? Because that’s exactly what I did.
I’ve scoured the internet searching for the best smartwatches that not only offer a ton of great features, but also look sharp enough that any style-conscious man would be happy to wear it on his wrist all day.
In this post I’ll share the results of my research, and explain the key features that make each option one of best smart watches for men.
A Quick Word on Our Top Picks:
The first thing you’ll probably notice about our Top Five is that it consists entirely of Apple and Samsung products, which shouldn’t be surprising.
Those two behemoths have dominated the mobile phone market for a long time now, and have devoted a lot of their substantial resources to their respective pursuits of smartwatch dominance.
As a result, their offerings are undeniably among the very best on the market, which has made it damn near impossible for other brands to muscle them out of the top spots.
But if you’re looking for something with fewer features, sharper style or a lower price tag, you’re in luck.
Our Best of the Rest list includes more than a dozen options that offer various combinations of good value, a premium look and useful (if not quite as many) features, making them great alternatives to the various Samsung and Apple watches at the top of the market.
The (Absolute) Best Men’s Smart Watches
For Guys Who Want a Timepiece That’s Both Sharp and Smart
The Top Five Smart Watches for Men
Overall Best Smartwatch for Men ↓
Apple Watch 8
Rating:
- 4.7 Stars
- 6,180 Reviews
Why We Like It:
- WatchOS9 software provides more advanced features than previous Apple watches
- Personalized watch faces allow you to customize the style
- Low power mode provides an extra 36 hours of battery life
Advantages:
As I alluded to above, smart watch wearers tend to be divided into three camps:
iPhone users in search of the best Apple watch; Google Android users who want something compatible with an Android smartphone; and brand-agnostic users, who really just want some smart features at a reasonable price point.
While the Apple Watch 8 obviously won’t appeal to Android fanatics (check out the Samsung Galaxy smartwatch below if you’re in that camp), it’s probably the best option for everyone else.
Like previous generations, it’s got all the features that users have come to expect from the full Apple watch series, including the ability to read text messages, contactless payment through Apple pay and access to Apple music, along with a ton of other apps in the app store.
But what sets it apart from both older models of the Apple watch and newer competitors are a host of new health features that allow you to both keep track of and enhance your active lifestyle.
In addition to the VO2 max monitoring that’s been around since the Series 3, the 8 also has a heart rate sensor that can monitor your intensity levels, blood oxygen monitoring that can measure your blood oxygen level and safety features like a fall detection sensor that can detect if you’ve taken a spill, and even send emergency services.
Apple has always been out in front on features like voice commands, music storage and good battery life.
But with the addition of new (and impressively innovative) health features, the 8 not only satisfies existing iOS users, but can also take on more health-specific watches like the Garmin Vivoactive, resulting in the overall best smartwatch on the market.
Promising Review
I switched from the s3 and quality of life is definitely better. my watch can last more than 2 days since i turn off the always on display most of the time.
– Andy Lin
Best Android Smart Watch for Men ↓
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Rating:
- 4.6 Stars
- 887 Reviews
Why We Like It:
- BioActive Sensor serves as a heart-rate monitor while also measuring electrical signals and blood pressure
- Biggest battery in the wearable series offers 40 hours of use on a single charge
- You can opt for the model without LTE connectivity if you want to keep the price down
Advantages:
If you’re looking for the best non Apple smartwatch on the market, this fifth edition of the Galaxy Samsung Smartwatch is your best bet.
While the Apple Watch 8 was our overall top pick, the full Samsung Galaxy watch experience gives Apple a serious run for its money, and will probably be more appealing if you’re not already ensconced in Apple’s ecosystem.
(Or if Tim Cook’s devious grin haunts your dreams, and you don’t want to pay him to continue fueling your nightmares.)
In terms of software, the Galaxy 5 Pro runs Google’s Wear OS, which is comparable to Apple’s (excellent) operating system and has a lot of similar features, including access to Google assistant and the ability to use contactless payment with Samsung pay.
The Pro edition also comes with onboard GPS features that aren’t available in the (otherwise quite good) Galaxy Watch 5 below, including Route workout and turn-by-turn navigation.
And in terms of hardware, the 5 Pro is impressively durable. It’s got a raised rim around the sapphire crystal glass screen, both of which offer protection from scrapes and cracks, and titanium construction that’s significantly stronger than the standard stainless steel case you’d find on a lot of other watches.
All in, it’s a great Apple watch alternative, and an excellent choice for any non-Apple user who wants a top-of-the-line smartwatch.
Promising Review
Samsung finally hit a home run with this model! I have tried several other models of galaxy watches, and all had terrible battery life.
Had this one for nearly a month. I run through almost all the features daily. After 3 days still at 40% or higher battery.
This really is best model samsung EVER!!!
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Rating:
- 4.6 Stars
- 4,162 Reviews
Why We Like It:
- Available in both 40 mm and 44 mm sizes
- Impressive battery life of up to 36 hours
- Available in 10 different color combos, providing a lot of style options
Advantages:
The standard (aka non-Pro) version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 doesn’t have quite as many bells and whistles as the Pro version above.
But on the flip side it’s lighter and comes in two different sizes (the Pro version only comes in 44 mm size), while still packing an impressive punch and giving you access to Google’s Wear OS platform.
It has a rotating bezel that makes navigation easy and boasts a 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor that measures heart rate, ECGs, and body composition analysis and other advanced fitness tracking tools, including a temperature sensor to monitor body variations.
If you prefer Wear OS watches but don’t want to shell out for all the features of the Galaxy Pro, this is a good option that’s both cost-effective and value-packed.
Promising Review
I have avoided a smart watch for years and finally decided to give up the fight and get one…
I wanted something that would give me the look of a traditional watch and after watching a ton of reviews on YouTube, I decided on the Galaxy Watch 5…
……it has every function available that you could ever want or need and it can be dressed up to give it almost any look you like.
– Thom M.
Apple Watch Ultra
Rating:
- 4.5 Stars
- 127 Reviews
Why We Like It:
- Combines the durability needed for extreme sports and endurance athletes with the features and tech Apple is known for
- 49mm corrosion-resistant titanium case
- 100 meters of water resistance
Advantages:
The Apple Watch Ultra is basically what happens if you take a standard Apple Watch and dial the adventure features up to 11.
Apple leaves no stone unturned – and no market untapped so it’s no surprise that they happen to make one of the most rugged and durable smart watches available.
And if you happen to be both an outdoor enthusiast and an Apple fan, that’s a very good thing.
Designed for high-impact water sports and diving, it’s made from titanium and offers a full 100 meters of water resistance, which should work well for all but the deepest of deep sea divers.
In addition to the titanium casing, it’s also got a customizable action button that gives you quick access to a wide variety of features, including the ability to hold the button down to activate an emergency siren that can be heard up to 600 feet away.
Promising Review
I was a little hesitant about buying this watch because of the price…but man oh man. I LOVE THIS THING. It pairs easily with my iphone, it’s a breeze to use, its super durable and it gets 2 full days of battery life for me.
I run and swim with it nearly every day and it tracks both activities VERY well. I have also knocked it a few times and the screen/casing show ZERO dings, scratches or dents. If you’re looking for a new smart watch, this is the ONLY choice.
– Cam West
Best Budget Smart Watch for Men ↓
Apple Watch SE 2
Rating:
- 4.7 Stars
- 5,411 Reviews
Why We Like It:
- Affordable Apple Watch with all the core features
- Two size options: 40 mm and 44 mm
- Three color/band options
Advantages:
As mentioned, Apple leaves no market untapped, including the more affordable entry-level smartwatch market.
The SE model is basically a stripped down Apple watch that comes with all the core features you’d expect from an Apple watch.
But lacks some of the more advanced features seen on newer (and more expensive) models, like ECG and fall detection.
The SE in the name stands for “Special Edition,” but in truth the SE is basically the same as the Apple Watch 3, which came out in 2017 and has since been upgraded many times.
It’s perfect for people who like Apple products and are already familiar with their ecosystem, but feel kind of intimidated by the gazillion features packed into the latest model.
As The Verge wrote in their full Apple Watch SE review, “If you’ve never had an Apple Watch and feel curious, skeptical, and wary at the same time — the SE is the right choice for you.”
Promising Review
So, I got myself the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), and I gotta say, it’s blowing my mind! This smartwatch is seriously on another level, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase…
…It’s fast, it’s stylish, and the health and fitness features are killer.
– Eddie
The Best of the Rest ↓
The five watches above represent our top picks for the absolute best smartwatches for men, but as I alluded to right up top, they’re far from the only options on the market.
None of the models below are made by Apple or Samsung, and none have quite as many features.
But they do offer a wide variety of styles, price points and advantages, and are all worth considering if you’re looking for something other than the big two.
Fitbit Sense
Rating:
- 4.2 Stars
- 3,170 Reviews
Promising Review
Bought this to replace my husband’s Charge 4 which broke. He has a-fib, so getting an ECG reading was important. So far this watch has been great and battery life is an improvement. The band took him awhile to get used to, but now he likes it.
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Smart Watch
Rating:
- 4.2 Stars
- 309 Reviews
Promising Review
Great watch for the money. You get the best of both worlds with a nice looking watch and smartwatch-like functionality that can do nearly everything a “real” smartwatch can do.
Additionally the battery life is phenomenal. Even when using it for sleep tracking, I easily exceed two weeks on a charge.
Google Pixel Watch
Rating:
- 4.3 Stars
- 1,240 Reviews
Promising Review
Having a smart-watch with LTE connection has made tracking my fitness activity wonderfully simple.
It’s a relief to just leave my cell-phone at home when going for a walk and still maintaining GPS and heart rate tracking.
The watch is very responsive with smooth surfaces that don’t catch while changing clothing.
Fitbit Charge 5
Rating:
- 4.3 Stars
- 8,566 Reviews
Promising Review
I have had a few other models of the FItbit over the last 12 yrs. This model Charge5 is the best one that I have owned. IT is very easy to read the face and very user friendly.
The size of the face is just a little wider than the Inspire2. I have a small wrist and this watch fits comfortably on my wrist.
Fitbit Versa 3
Rating:
- 4.4 Stars
- 50,754 Reviews
Promising Review
This is the 4th Versa 3 I have purchased—one for myself and 3 to give away as gifts. We all love them. Why?
Easy to set up, easy to pair with phone app, screen showing steps and heart rate as well as time, can answer my phone, and all for under $159.00
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Rating:
- 4.4 Stars
- 573 Reviews
Promising Review
Super happy with this watch. Think I have tried most on the market. This may be my most favorite yet. The screen is amazing. Love the size and features offered. Definitely a keeper.
Withings ScanWatch Horizon
Rating:
- 4.4 Stars
- 364 Reviews
Promising Review
I’ve tried so many “Smart” or digital tracking watches over the years and so far this has been my favorite by far. Every watch I’ve tried has ended with the same pitfalls, battery life and longevity…
So far this Withings watch has been top notch on everything. I can see messages from my phone at a glance, it tracks all of the health goals and statistics I need and more, and the battery lasts FOREVER.
If you are looking for a great health tracking watch, and you don’t need all of the touchscreen app functionality from other “smart” watches, this is truly the way to go.
Citizen CZ Smart Hybrid Smartwatch
Rating:
- 4.2 Stars
- 24 Reviews
Promising Review
Compared to other smartwatches on the market, this one truly shines in style and aesthetics. While many competitors focus solely on functionality, this smartwatch perfectly balances a fashionable timepiece and a technologically advanced gadget.
Its seamless integration with Android devices and its vast array of features make it a clear winner in its price range.
Diesel Griffed Gen 6
Rating:
- 4 Stars
- 3 Reviews
Promising Review
Upfront disclosure: I received this item through the Amazon Vine program for review… Overall I love the watch. It is beautiful, looks like a mechanical watch, charges quickly with the proprietary charger, is easy to use and customize, and does everything I want with one tradeoff.
The battery is going to need daily charging. If you don’t mind that, it is a wonderful watch.
TicWatch E3
Rating:
- 4.2 Stars
- 2,624 Reviews
Promising Review
At less than $200, the Ticwatch E3 should be the easiest purchasing decision you ever have to make when considering a smartwatch, especially if you have an Android phone.
One of the few watches guaranteed to receive Wear OS 3, the next generation of Google’s smartwatch operating system, the Ticwatch E3 beats most of the competition in nearly every category, and I’m not being hyperbolic.
– N. Tonk
TicWatch Pro 3
Rating:
- 4.2 Stars
- 1,511 Reviews
Promising Review
Overall, I love this watch. I’ve used Samsung and older Ticwatches as every day wears and have experience with the Apple watch. The Ticwatch 3 Ultra is by far my favorite thus far.
I wish it came with WearOS 3.x, but 2.x is not a deal breaker. The overall size is slightly larger, but even on small wrists, it was comfortable.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7
Rating:
- 4.4 Stars
- 6,728 Reviews
Promising Review
The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Activity Tracker is so so good. It works right out of the box, and unlike the top alternative products, you don’t even need to install the app to get started! You can just slap it on your wrist and go.
The fact that they have an app to expand options and monitoring beyond that is just a bonus! I absolutely love this fact, especially since many of the people I know have very old phones that don’t support the apps that usually go with fitness trackers like these.
– Jesse
Suunto 9 GPS Sports Smart Watch
Rating:
- 4.3 Stars
- 242 Reviews
Promising Review
I like the product quality and the Suunto design. For me the watch has almost everything that I need. Good battery management and many sport modes that can be customized is perfect for me.
– Jörgen Forsbacka
Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS Smartwatch
Rating:
- 4.5 Stars
- 338 Reviews
Promising Review
This watch is a nice and rugged option for light outdoor activities. Battery life is outstanding.
The Recap ↓
Summary
While the Apple Watch 8 obviously won’t appeal to Android fanatics, it’s probably the best option for everyone else.
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