In today’s era, smartwatches have transitioned from being a luxury to a necessity, catering to diverse needs such as aviation, athletics, fitness, and style. Despite continuous advancements in features like screens, processors, and storage, one significant aspect that demands improvement is battery life.
Battery life has emerged as a critical factor for smartwatch users, and its significance cannot be overstated. While renowned brands annually introduce new models with enhanced specifications, the quest for a smartwatch offering extended battery life remains a challenge.
The market is flooded with options, but not all devices claiming impressive battery life live up to expectations. Identifying a smartwatch that combines advanced features with prolonged battery performance is a task that requires careful consideration.
Top pick
Amazfit GTS 2
Health enthusiasts will appreciate the GTS 2’s array of features, including a blood oxygen monitor, sleep tracking, and heart rate monitoring.
Editor’s choice
Garmin Instinct
Whether worn during running or other activities, it delivers insights such as maximum and average speed, duration, distance, heart rate, and more.
Best value
Garmin Vivoactive 4
In-depth analyses of sports activities are available on the Garmin Connect app, enhancing performance insights.
To assist users in navigating this challenge, we have compiled a list of the top 5 smartwatches renowned for their commendable battery life. These devices not only meet the evolving needs of users but also prioritize sustained performance, making them a reliable choice in the competitive landscape of smartwatches.
1. Amazfit GTS 2
The inaugural contender on our list is the Huami Amazfit GTS 2, a Chinese smartwatch that bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch Series. While it may not outshine Apple in terms of features, it unquestionably claims the throne when it comes to battery life.
This smartwatch boasts a 1.65-inch AMOLED display with a luminance of 450 nits, ensuring readability in various environments. The watch’s aluminum case exudes elegance and a premium aesthetic, contributing to its overall appeal.
Health enthusiasts will appreciate the GTS 2’s array of features, including a blood oxygen monitor, sleep tracking, and heart rate monitoring. With dedicated profiles for over 80 sports activities such as indoor cycling, trail running, swimming, and elliptical workouts, it caters to diverse fitness regimes. The watch even supports music storage, allowing users to enjoy their favorite tunes without relying on a phone.
Equipped with a built-in microphone and speaker, the GTS 2 facilitates hands-free calls directly from the wrist. Additionally, it incorporates Amazon’s Alexa AI, enabling voice commands for setting reminders, checking the weather, and more.
In terms of battery life, the company claims an impressive 20 days under normal usage, 7 days with typical usage, and 3.5 days with heavy usage. Users on Amazon corroborate these claims, attesting to at least 7 days of battery life with most features enabled. Notably, activating GPS can expedite battery consumption.
The Good:
- Always-on display
- Built-in Alexa AI
- Hands-free calling capability
- MP3 music storage and playback
- Blood oxygen monitoring
- Compatible with both iOS and Android devices
The Bad:
- Basic sports tracking functionality
- GPS usage accelerates battery drainage
2. Garmin Instinct
For athletes and fitness enthusiasts seeking a rugged watch with robust build quality, comprehensive sports and fitness tracking, and exceptional battery life, the Garmin Instinct emerges as an ideal choice, all at a reasonable price point of around $200. Meeting US military standards for shock, water, and thermal resistance, this watch is built to withstand various challenges.
The Garmin Instinct excels in sports activity tracking, providing in-depth analyses for selected sports. Whether worn during running or other activities, it delivers insights such as maximum and average speed, duration, distance, heart rate, and more. This makes it a valuable tool for athletes keen on analyzing their training sessions.
Known for their superior battery life, Garmin watches shine with GPS functionality, and the Instinct lives up to this reputation. Offering 12-14 hours of continuous GPS usage, it becomes an excellent companion for hiking and outdoor adventures. In smartwatch mode, Garmin claims a battery life of 10-12 days, although user reviews suggest a slightly shorter duration of around 9 days.
The monochromatic display of the Instinct plays a pivotal role in its extended battery life, consuming less energy compared to LCD or super AMOLED displays while maintaining excellent visibility. Beyond sports, the watch includes health tracking features, monitoring sleep, heart rate, and stress levels, empowering users to manage their well-being effectively. Smart features like notification syncing enable users to read messages and alerts directly on the watch.
The Good:
- Ideal for outdoor activities
- Meets military standard 810G
- Water-resistant up to 100m
- Stress, heart, and sleep monitoring
- Notification sync
The Bad:
- Lack of touch screen
- Some users may prefer a color display
3. Garmin Vivoactive 4
Targeting users seeking a reasonably priced smartwatch with comprehensive sports and fitness tracking, the Garmin Vicoactive 4 proves to be an excellent choice. Preloaded with 20 sports profiles, including running, swimming, yoga, and more, it caters to athletes’ diverse needs.
In-depth analyses of sports activities are available on the Garmin Connect app, enhancing performance insights.
The body battery feature gauges users’ energy levels based on previous workout sessions, aiding athletes in planning rest and workout schedules. Health vitals like blood oxygen levels, hydration, menstrual cycles, and heart rate are monitored. Garmin encourages fitness activities by awarding users with badges, fostering community engagement and friendly challenges.
The Garmin Vicoactive 4 integrates Garmin Pay for convenient contactless payments. Users with premium Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer accounts can download music or podcasts directly to the watch. Bluetooth-enabled earphones can be connected for on-the-go music listening.
Boasting a solid battery life of 3-4 days under normal usage and 6 hours with continuous GPS usage, the watch can play music continuously for up to 6 hours on a single charge, according to Garmin’s claims.
The Good:
- Supports contactless payments
- Built-in tracking for 20 sports and fitness activities
- Music downloading and playback on the watch
- Body battery feature to monitor energy levels
The Bad:
- Music playback can drain 30% battery in 2 hours
- Sleep tracking accuracy may be questionable
4. Fitbit Versa 3
Entering the competition with a focus on sleep and wellness tracking, the Fitbit Versa 3 stands out in the market. The latest addition to the Versa lineup, it introduces built-in GPS, addressing a previous limitation. The watch efficiently tracks various fitness activities such as running, cycling, and hiking, providing distance and pace details without the need for a phone. With a commendable battery life of 3-4 days under typical usage, the introduction of built-in GPS reduces it to two days with 1 hour of daily tracking.
For further battery optimization, users can disable the always-on display feature. The Versa 3 is equipped with a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing users to answer calls directly from the watch. Smart features include notification syncing, Google Assistant or Alexa integration for reminders, alarms, sports updates, and more, enhancing user convenience.
The watch incorporates a blood oxygen monitor, enabling users to track saturation levels post workouts. Notably, it excels in sleep tracking without the need for a dedicated sleep tracker. Offering accurate measurements of REM, deep, and light sleep, the watch provides personalized suggestions for improvement.
The Good:
- Call answering capability
- Built-in Google Assistant and Alexa
- Blood oxygen level monitoring
- Spotify integration for music streaming
The Bad:
- Lack of support for local MP3 music playback like Versa 2
5. Garmin fenix 6
For those seeking a premium smartwatch with exceptional fitness and sports tracking capabilities, the Garmin Fenix 6 stands as an unrivaled choice. With built-in profiles for an extensive range of activities such as biking, hiking, swimming, and more, it caters to diverse sporting needs. The watch supports 3rd party ANT+ and Bluetooth accessories, enhancing tracking accuracy through additional sensors.
Garmin Fenix 6 introduces the Power Manager feature, offering Normal mode for day-to-day use, Max battery mode for low battery scenarios without activity tracking, and Jacket mode for non-wrist usage, disabling heart rate tracking. Users can create custom power profiles, choosing specific sensors for activation during the profile’s use. Remarkably, the watch boasts a 10-day battery life in smartwatch mode and can record 36 hours of continuous outdoor or sports activity with GPS enabled.
Advanced Sleep Monitoring keeps tabs on sleep cycles, respiration, and blood oxygen levels during rest. The recovery time function estimates the duration needed to recuperate energy for the next workout, and personalized workout recommendations align with energy levels and overall fitness.
The Good:
- Best-in-class sports and fitness tracking
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments
- Notification syncing
- Support for GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo navigation systems
- Turn-by-turn navigation on the watch face
The Bad:
- Absence of a built-in speaker and microphone for calls
Conclusion
In the realm of smartwatches, battery life is a crucial factor influencing the overall user experience. A longer-lasting battery ensures that the device remains functional and reliable throughout the day, reducing the need for frequent recharging. After exploring a diverse range of smartwatches, each excelling in its unique features and capabilities, it’s evident that users have compelling options that offer both impressive battery life and advanced functionalities.
For those seeking an affordable yet efficient option, the Huami Amazfit GTS 2 stands out with its commendable battery performance, delivering up to 20 days on normal usage. On the other hand, Garmin Instinct caters to outdoor enthusiasts with a robust build, military-standard durability, and a noteworthy 12-14 hours of continuous GPS usage.
The Fitbit Versa 3 strikes a balance between wellness tracking and battery longevity, making it an excellent choice for users prioritizing health insights alongside a respectable battery life of 3-4 days. The Garmin Fenix 6, while positioned as a premium offering, provides unparalleled sports and fitness tracking with an impressive 10-day battery life in smartwatch mode.
The quest for the best smartwatch battery life unveils a diverse array of options, ensuring that users can find a device aligning with their specific needs and preferences, be it extended outdoor adventures, comprehensive fitness tracking, or seamless integration into their daily routines.
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