The Apple Watch remains number 1 at Stiftung Warentest, but there are alternatives with similarly strong ratings. The cheapest good smartwatch is available for around 120 euros, the best competitors cost at least 400 euros.
Some users only have notifications and the time displayed by a smartwatch, others wear it day and night, train and communicate with it and have the device monitor heart rate and sleep. Stiftung Warentest tested 15 current smartwatches. Two Apple watches are ahead, eight other candidates do well, also a very cheap device.
The test winner is the Apple Watch Series 8 (iOS/540 euros) with an overall rating of 1.6. It missed out on a very good rating mainly because its endurance was only satisfactory. As with all other candidates, the examiners did not rate data protection and data security any better. Otherwise, it consistently received very good marks for its fitness functions, communication and other functions, handling, and stability and workmanship.
The current Apple Watch SE (iOS/340 euros), which is almost as good as the test winner with a quality rating of 1.7, is significantly cheaper. It only performed slightly weaker than the Series 8 in terms of fitness functions and handling.
While the Apple duo is only compatible with iPhones, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus also works with Android smartphones. It also received an overall grade of 1.7 and is available online from around 360 euros. The smartwatch offers the best fitness functions among the test candidates and has good endurance. Its handling is very good, communication and other functions are good.
The cheapest well-rated device is the Huawei Watch Fit 2 Active Edition (iOS/Android) with a quality rating of 2.1. You can find them on the internet for around 120 euros. Nevertheless, it offers even better fitness functions than the Apple watches, is durable, easy to handle and very well made. Warentest only found communication and other functions satisfactory.
