The best smartwatches for men you can buy

Unlike smartphones, modern smartwatches aren’t essential pieces of tech, but they sure make getting through the day a lot easier. These wrist-worn companions not only display the time but double as personal fitness trainers and, in some cases, completely independent smart devices. If you’re a man, choosing a suitable smartwatch for your wrist is a tough decision. But we’re here to make your life a little easier. Below, you’ll find a list of the best smartwatches for men you can buy in 2021.

See also: The best smartwatches you can buy

Buying the right men’s smartwatch for your needs

Before we consider the individual options, it’s important to understand what features are essential to you. If you own an iPhone, you’ll naturally gravitate towards the Apple Watch. For Android users, it’s mostly open season.

Do you find yourself pegged to the boardroom or office? A comfortable, minimalist device that melds style and functionality is something you should seek out. The likes of Samsung and Withings are well versed in creating functional but beautiful watches.

Those leading more active lifestyles seeking gym companions or a general health tracker should consider smartwatches with GPS. A selection of specific smart tracking modes and a wide array of sensors are also useful to provide more intuitive insight.

If you’re budget-limited, don’t worry — you don’t need to break the band on a fitness tracker, either.

The best smartwatches for men

• The Apple Watch Series 7 is the best men’s smartwatch. Sure, only iPhone users can apply, but its feature set, build quality, and wealth of apps make it the best smartwatch on the market.
• The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the best Wear OS smartwatch for men, especially if you own a Samsung smartphone. As the only Wear OS 3 watch available right now, it’s probably an obvious choice. However, it also earns that title.
• The Garmin Venu 2 is the best Garmin smartwatch for men. It features everything you should need, whether you’re out on the trail or trekking the concrete jungle.
• The Fitbit Sense is the best Fitbit smartwatch for men you can buy. It’s perhaps not the best value Fitbit smartwatch, but it packs additional sensors for more detailed health tracking.
• The Withings ScanWatch is the best hybrid watch and the best health-focused watch for men. It’s arguably also the best smartwatch on this list for health tracking as it packs medical-grade SpO2 and ECG smarts.
• The Fitbit Charge 5 is the best fitness tracker for men. The new color screen makes the latest Charge more attractive than ever.
• The Xiaomi Mi Band 6 is the best cheap fitness tracker for men. It’s an affordable yet capable no-fuss fitness tracker.

After we dubbed the Apple Watch Series 6 the best smartwatch money can buy, the Series 7 has plenty to live up to. On the surface, it doesn’t deviate too much from its predecessor, offering no health tracking upgrades. However, the larger 45mm dial and more durable display are welcome upgrades.

This new Apple Watch tracks all the basics, including heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep. The built-in ECG makes a welcome return, especially for those with a history of heart problems. For smartwatch features, the App Store hosts a plethora of apps crafted for the watch screen.

While the Series 7 didn’t have to do much to keep the best smartwatch title, you’ll have to look elsewhere if you own an Android smartphone.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Apple Watch Series 7.

If you’re shopping for a Wear OS 3 smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is your only choice right now. By default, this makes it the best in its category. However, it makes a solid case for being the best Apple Watch alternative, too. While the standard Galaxy Watch 4 is much cheaper, the Classic variant is our pick for men’s wrists, packing a chunky rotating bezel and a large 46mm dial. There are several third-party band options, too, to further enhance the watch’s look.

Samsung and Google’s new wearable OS brings broader app support, a smarter UI layout, and more Android integration to the wrist. In terms of health smarts, Samsung brings a new body composition monitor to the table — the first to feature on a major modern smartwatch. It measures body fat, skeletal mass, and other metrics that inform a man’s overall health. A heart rate sensor, SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress tracking adds further context.

For all its pros, the Watch 4 does suffer from lackluster battery life. GPS performance is surprisingly dismal too, making this smartwatch less attractive for men seeking a running companion.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

The Garmin Venu 2 is the best all-around Garmin smartwatch the company has ever made. Aesthetically, it’s also one of the company’s best-looking products on its roster. A 45mm dial, a prominent stainless steel bezel, and a crisp AMOLED screen support the Venu 2’s sold health tracking features. You can track over 25 workout modes on the Venu 2, while it’s also the perfect smartwatch for HIIT enthusiasts. Garmin also supports a wealth of music services, so if taking your favorite music with you on a jog is important, this is the smartwatch for you.

However, compared to the likes of Wear OS devices and the Apple Watch, the Venu 2 lacks the app support to make it truly versatile. The heart rate sensor could also use some work, especially in terms of consistency.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Garmin Venu 2.

On paper, the Fitbit Sense is the best Fitbit smartwatch for men. It’s loaded with sensors, including a skin temperature monitor, an EDA sensor to measure stress, and an ECG for heart health. On top of this specialized tech, you’ll also find an SpO2 sensor, heart rate monitor, and Fitbit’s stellar sleep and daily activity tracking. It’s an impressive smartwatch for men intent on improving their overall fitness step-by-step.

However, the Sense’s biggest threat is arguably its cheaper sibling. It’s debatable if its fancy tech is worth the premium compared to the Versa 3. You might lament Fitbit’s half-baked smartwatch features compared to its peers, too.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Fitbit Sense.

The Withings ScanWatch isn’t a smartwatch in the true sense, but this list wouldn’t be complete without it. First off, it’s a gorgeous piece of technology melding classic analog watch aesthetics with modern technology. It’s thick with health tech, including medical-grade ECG and SpO2 sensors. These power the ScanWatch’s atrial fibrillation (AFib) and sleep apnea tracking — two features that some men might consider indispensable. As a hybrid smartwatch, the ScanWatch’s battery life is the best of all the devices on this list, lasting a month between charges.

While it’s a wholly polished experience, the ScanWatch lacks app support and large digital display of its actual smartwatches contemporaries.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Withings ScanWatch.

Want a pure fitness-first tracker with limited smartwatch features? Few devices can come close to Fitbit’s Charge series. While the older and cheaper Charge 4 is also a viable contender for this crown, the Charge 5 brings a larger, color AMOLED display and an EDA stress monitor to the table. You’ll also get an SpO2 sensor, heart rate monitor, and excellent sleep tracking consistent with other Fitbits. The Charge 5 doesn’t have a feature set to match its lofty price tag. It also sacrifices an altimeter and battery life over its predecessor — two factors that make it less attractive to men who regularly hike or run.

However, if you’re looking for something sleek that doesn’t occupy much space on the arm, the Charge 5 is the ticket.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Fitbit Charge 5.

Finally, what if you’re limited by a slim budget? The Xiaomi Mi Band series has long been the cheap fitness tracker of choice, and the sixth edition continues this tradition. It now includes an SpO2 sensor, an even larger display, and plenty of basic sport tracking modes.

Thanks in part to these upgrades, the Mi Band 6 doesn’t last as long between charges as its predecessor, while its sleep tracking credentials and Android app still leave plenty to be desired. That said, you’ll struggle to find a better fitness band at this price point.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Xiaomi Mi Band 6.

Honorable mentions

That’s it for our list of the best smartwatches for men, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. We also want to give an honorable mention to the following smartwatches:

• Apple Watch SE (Amazon): The entry-level Apple Watch trades some features, like the ECG and sleep tracking, for a lower price.
• Garmin Fenix 6 Pro (Amazon): This is arguably the most powerful outdoor watch money can buy. It’s pricey, but if you find yourself out on the trail more often than not, its functionality is invaluable.
• Garmin Forerunner 745 (Amazon): We believe this is the best running watch available on the market and makes a few sacrifices to the core experience to achieve a reasonable price tag.