Stiftung Warentest tested a whole range of current smartwatches – the winner shouldn’t surprise anyone.
With a number of new models, Stiftung Warentest has refreshed its comparison article for current smartwatches and fitness trackers. 21 new devices have been added – but two important models did not make it into the test. A total of 99 models were tested.
Apple smartwatch now alone at the top
In the previous edition, the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 were tied for first place with a test score of 2.0. Now the successor Series 8 (aluminum, 45 mm) with a grade of 1.6 takes this place. The Series 8 comes with the same dustproof body and larger screen that even has room for a keyboard. A new feature is accident detection, which can automatically detect a car accident and make an emergency call.
Second place for the best smartwatches is shared in the current “test” issue (12/2022) from Stiftung Warentest the Apple Watch SE 2 (44 mm) and Garmin Venu 2 Plus. Both models achieve an overall rating of 1.7. The Watch SE 2 comes with the same accident detection as the Series 8. The Venu 2 Plus, on the other hand, is particularly impressive with its excellent fitness tracking. Another advantage is that the watch works with both iPhone and Android smartphones. Apple Watches are notoriously only usable in connection with an iPhone.
A price-performance hit is the Huawei Watch Fit 2 Active Edition, which achieves an overall rating of 2.1 thanks to its “very good” fitness functions – despite its low price of less than 150 euros.
It should be noted that two important models are not found in the current “test” output. One is the Apple Watch Ultra, a larger and more expensive Apple Watch with even more fitness and tracking features than the Series 8. The other is the Google Pixel Watch — the company’s first proprietary smartwatch. The Pixel Watch also stands out by integrating the fitness expertise of Fitbit, which belongs to Google.
Looking for cheaper fitness trackers? Here you will find an overview of the best models.
What does Stiftung Warentest look for in smartwatches?
Stiftung Warentest primarily tests the fitness aspect of smartwatches and fitness trackers. It depends on how precisely the watches collect fitness data for certain workouts. But communication with the smartphone and operation are also important criteria. Data protection and possible harmful substances are also taken into account – things that can lead to the devaluation of a product.
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Stiftung Warentest: Apple, Garmin, Samsung: who will win the race (accessed November 16, 2022)