The best smartwatches for women

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The Insider Pick:

  • We tested dozens of smartwatches to see which ones are best for women. We found that the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 is the most stylish, high-tech smartwatch for women with its simple interface and attractive looks.

The first smartwatches were bulky, ugly monstrosities that only the most ardent of tech addicts could stomach wearing every day, but over the past few years, smartwatches have become much more fashionable.

As more and more fashion-forward brands join the latest tech craze, smartwatches for women have started to arrive. Fossil, Michael Kors, and even Swarovski are getting into the wearable world. Of course, traditional tech companies are taking notice of the trend, too.

Apple was one of the first tech companies to make female-friendly Apple Watch styles, and it remains the only company to have successfully made a smartwatch that's small enough for women with dainty wrists. Meanwhile, Samsung, LG, Huawei, Motorola, and others have dabbled in making attractive versions of their smartwatches for women.

As a female tech reviewer for the past five years, I've tested nearly every smartwatch that has come out to date — no matter how big or manly — so I can confidently say that these are the best smartwatches for women. Our buying guide of the best smartwatches for women includes all kinds of watches to suit every style, so whether you like gold, silver, or a unique finish; whether you like chunky watches, slim ones, or futuristic styles, we've got you covered.

Updated on 10/04/2017 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Apple Watch Series 3 as the best smartwatch you can buy. Updated prices and checked availability.

Although the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Fossil Q Wander, the LG Watch Style, the Michael Kors Access Bradshaw, and the Samsung Gear S2 Classic.

The best smartwatch for women

Apple

Why you'll love it: The 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 is super stylish and smart, making it the perfect smartwatch for women — especially now that you can get it with LTE.

Apple has always been the most fashionable tech brand. From its brightly colored iPods to its sleek metallic iPhones, Apple sure knows how to create beautiful devices. In recent years, Apple has gotten more involved with the fashion industry, and the Apple Watch is its first foray into marketing a high-tech device as a luxurious, fashionable accessory. 

The Apple Watch is also the only smartwatch I've ever seen ordinary women wear outside of a tech convention. The Apple Watch is the most female-friendly smartwatch not just because it's the smallest one with its 38mm casing, but also because it comes in different finishes with a wide array of watch straps and watch faces — many of which are made with women in mind.

Although many Android Wear watches are getting more stylish now that fashion brands are involved, the alternatives are often bulkier and I always end up going back to the Apple Watch. If you're not a fan of big watches, the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 will be more up your alley. Women who like bigger watches may like the 42mm Apple Watch Series 3.

While other tech companies tend to focus on making smartwatches for men, Apple took a completely different route and marketed the Apple Watch to women.

Of course, the Apple Watch is a tech product first and foremost, so it boasts cutting-edge smartwatch tech including mobile payments with Apple Pay, stand-alone GPS, full waterproofing, and thousands of apps. The Series 3 lasts about a day on a charge, but you can get more out of it if you don't get notifications from every app on your iPhone.

It's also got an optional LTE connection for those of you who want more standalone functions so you can leave your phone behind when you go running or hiking. LTE costs about $10 a month at most carriers in the US. Even though Apple added LTE, the watch itself hasn't changed in size or thickness, which is a blessing. Often, Android Wear watches with LTE onboard are huge and bulky.

Tech reviewers across the board agree that the Apple Watch does it best, although many mention that the LTE version is a bit buggy. You probably don't need to spend the extra money on the LTE version, so it's best for most people to stick with the Wi-Fi only Series 3.

While other companies struggle to pack tons of tech into bulky smartwatches, Apple effortlessly offers all the tech you need in the most compact and attractive smartwatch you can buy.

Pros: Multiple finishes, lots of accessories and bands, small size, built-in GPS, waterproof, Apple Pay for mobile payments, lots of apps, and easy-to-use WatchOS

Cons: Pricey and only for iPhone users

Buy the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 (no LTE) from Target for $329.99

Buy the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE from Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, or AT&T for $329.99 (monthly payment plans vary)



The best chunky smartwatch for women

Fossil

Why you'll love it: The Fossil Q Wander takes all the smarts of Android Wear 2.0 and packs them into a stylish round smartwatch for women.

If you're an Android user who wants a female-friendly smartwatch, you're in luck. Over the past few years, fashion brands and watchmakers have started making great Android Wear smartwatches. Fossil's smartwatch line continues to grow each year, and the Q Wander is its first Android Wear watch for women.

Fossil offers several different finishes for the Q Wander's watch casing. I love the rose gold and tan leather strap option. Another fancy color option is the new wine-colored casing paired with a gorgeous leather strap.

Women who are less into trendy colors can obviously go for the more traditional silver finish. If you don't like any of the included straps, Fossil and other brands sell dozens of 22mm watch straps you can choose instead to really make the Q Wander your own.

It's a chunky watch, which is great for women who like bigger watches. It's not as flashy as the Michael Kors Access Bradshaw smartwatch we'll discuss later on in this article, though.

As for the tech inside, the Q Wander won't let you down. It's upgradeable to Android Wear 2.0 and works with thousands of apps on the Google Play Store. You can answer texts, interact with notifications, and choose your own watch face — just like you would on any other smartwatch. Fossil has lots of nice watch faces in feminine colors, too.

It'll work with both Android phones and the iPhone, but it's best with Android devices. When Android Wear watches are paired to the iPhone, a lot of functions no longer work, and you're left with a pretty watch that gives you notifications.

The only downside of the Q Wander is that it's missing built-in GPS and mobile payment support, which are two features that are included on the Apple Watch Series 3.

Pros: Classic watch design, stylish color options, lots of compatible watch straps, upgradeable to Android Wear 2.0, and it's compatible with iPhones and Android phones

Cons: No mobile payments or GPS and it's a bit chunky

Buy the rose gold Fossil Q Wander with a tan leather band on Amazon for $178.50 (originally $255.00)

Buy the wine Fossil Q Wander with a purple leather band on Amazon for $178.50 (originally $255.00)

Buy the silver Fossil Q Wander with a stainless steel band on Amazon for $192.50 (originally $275.00)



The best slim smartwatch for women

LG

Why you'll love it: The LG Watch Style looks modern and classic at the same time with its slim round casing and scrolling crown that's made for Android Wear 2.0.

The Watch Style is LG's first female-friendly smartwatch, and it's quite easy on the eyes. It's a modern take on the traditional round watch design, and it's quite slim for a smartwatch. A rotating crown on the side doubles as the power button for the watch.

The round watch face comes in a variety of colors, and you can pair many different MODE watch bands with it. The MODE watch bands were specially designed to make changing your watch strap easier. You don't have to struggle with the spring pin mechanism on the strap, you just pull back a switch on the band, pop it on the bar of the watch casing, and slide the switch back to close it in place.

Since there aren't too many MODE watch bands, you can also use any 18mm spring pin watch bands you find online. The Watch Style is also water-resistant, though you can't swim with it like you can with the Apple Watch Series 3.

LG launched the Watch Style along with the Watch Sport as the first two smartwatches designed for Android Wear 2.0, Google's latest smartwatch operating system. You can send texts or make calls, and the Google Assistant can answer any query you have. The LG Watch Style should last you through a full day before you need to charge it up.

It'll work with both Android phones and the iPhone, but it's best with Android devices. When Android Wear watches are paired to the iPhone, a lot of functions no longer work, and you're left with a pretty watch that gives you notifications.

The only downside of the Watch Style is that it's missing built-in GPS and mobile payment support, which are two features that are included on the Apple Watch Series 3.

Pros: Super slim design, rose gold and silver finishes, Android Wear 2.0, easy to change watch straps, and it's compatible with iPhones and Android phones

Cons: No mobile payments or GPS

Buy the silver LG Watch Style on Amazon for $169.99

Buy the titanium LG Watch Style on Amazon for $279.99

Buy any MODE watch band for your LG Watch Style on Amazon for $40.00 and up

Buy any 18mm watch band for your LG Watch Style on Amazon for $9.99 and up

 




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