Unleashing the Latest Smartwatch Champions: These Phenomenal Wearables are Here to Impress
Elite smartwatches and fitness bands lead the market.
More Info Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link Hop on board as Stiftung Warentest tests a whopping 40 new smartwatches and fitness trackers, two of which have rocketed to the top of the device class. Budget-friendly watches and bands that don't compromise on quality are already available for less than €50, and the price-performance winners can be snapped up for around €170 and €45.
Looking for a fresh smartwatch? You're in luck! A multitude of top-notch devices have hit the market. Although the Apple Watch still holds the crown, there are equally impressive competitors, and plenty of affordable models are available.
In fact, some of these budget-friendly options are so reasonably priced that they present an attractive alternative to simpler, cheaper fitness trackers. Stiftung Warentest has put 40 new devices from both categories to the test, with many of them delivering impressive results. Two newcomers have even claimed the top spots.
Smartwatches
Six devices stand tall with the same grade of 1.6, including the Apple Watch 10 (GPS), available for around €460 online. This watch boasts stellar fitness functions such as heart rate monitoring, step counter, and distance measurement, and it excels in communication and additional features like music functions or sleep tracking. The device also showcases excellent handling, stability, and processing, although its battery life was deemed merely satisfactory.
Bargain Hunter's Delight Another top performer from Apple is the older Watch 8 (GPS), priced around €420 or €450 in two sizes (41/45 mm).
Joining the top-tier ranks is the Google Pixel Watch 3 (45 mm/Bluetooth/WLAN), retailing at around €400. This smartwatch received excellent ratings across categories, including fitness functions, communication, handling, stability, and processing, although its battery life, like many of its contemporaries, was only satisfactory.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, priced at around €440, has joined the top rank. It shares the exceptional qualities of the other top performers but was only deemed sufficient for its middling battery life.
Bargain Hunter's Delight The new price-performance champion of smartwatches is the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE. You can grab one for an average of around €175 while still enjoying a superb quality grade of 1.7, attained through consistently outstanding ratings in all other categories.
The least expensive top-notch smartwatch from Stiftung Warentest is the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite, available for under €50, sporting a total score of 2.3. Its battery life and stability and processing were exceptional, while fitness functions and handling were commendable, and communication capabilities were satisfactory.
For €70, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 Active Edition (2.1) offers very good fitness functions and still reasonable battery life.
Fitness Trackers
Bargain Hunter’s Delight The sole top performer among fitness trackers is the new Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro, available online for €70, with a quality score of 2.2. Stiftung Warentest ranks its battery and stability and processing as exceptional. Fitness functions just missed the mark, scoring a 1.6 (good), along with handling. However, its communication capabilities were deemed only sufficient.
Communication is Key? If you prioritize strong communication, the Samsung Galaxy Fit3 could be your answer. Priced around €45, boasting an overall quality score of 2.4, it presents only modest sacrifices in terms of communication capabilities while delivering at least satisfactory features in other categories. Handling, stability, and processing are exceptional, fitness functions and battery life are good.
Source: ntv.de, kwe
- Innovative Tech Findings
- Smartwatch Reviews
- Wearable Fitness Devices
- Apple Watch
- Google Pixel
- Samsung Galaxy
In the realm of budget-friendly smartwatches, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE emerges as the new price-performance champion, with a superb quality grade of 1.7 and impressive ratings across all categories, including fitness functions, communication, handling, stability, and processing, for an average price of around €175. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro, a fitness tracker priced at €70, excels in battery life, stability, and processing, earning a quality score of 2.2, making it a bargain for those prioritizing technology over gadgets.
