Smartwatch Test 2020: Stiftung Warentest Winner And Recommendations

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

• Test winner Stiftung Warentest: Apple Watch 5
• For Android users: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
• For athletes: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
• Price-performance winner: Apple Watch 3
• So we tested and selected

• Buying a smartwatch: what you should know

  • The price
  • The right design

  • Technical characteristics and features

    • Use smartwatch without smartphone: LTE model or not?
    • Battery and storage
    • What is important for athletes

The best smartwatches 2020: All test winners at a glance

placement	product	price	offer
Test winner Stiftung Warentest:	Apple Watch 5	approx. 430 euros	To Amazon
For Android users:	Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2	approx. 250 euros	To Cyberport
For athletes:	Garmin Forerunner 245 Music	approx. 310 euros	To Amazon
Price-performance winner:	Apple Watch 3	approx. 230 euros	To MediaMarkt

Test winner Stiftung Warentest: Apple Watch 5

The test winner: Apple Watch 5 at Amazon

The Apple Watch 5 has taken the smartwatch throne since its release: all the highlights of the predecessor such as the spacious display, the extensive fitness functions, exact heart rate measurement as well as the ECG feature and the support of Siri and Apple Pay are also in the current Apple smartwatch contain. In addition, Apple has made improvements in some places: In contrast to its predecessor, the Apple Watch 5 has an always-on display, a compass app and two new housing variants made of ceramic and titanium. In addition, the memory was increased from 16 to 32 GB compared to the Apple Watch 4. However, a sleep tracker is not included in the Apple Watch 5 either. The Apple Watch 5 comes with the new smartwatch operating system watchOS 6 delivered, which brings some innovations.

Incidentally, the Apple Watch 5 also took first place at Stiftung Warentest: in the Smartwatch test (editions 12/2019 and 07/2020), the Watch 5 received the best grade of 1.8 from all devices tested. The Apple Watch 5 is available in the standard version with GPS, aluminum housing and silicone bracelet for around 425 euros, the "GPS + Cellular" version with LTE support is available from around 520 euros. For a surcharge, you can get a 44 mm instead of 40 mm display as well as bracelets and cases made of higher quality material.

Apple Watch 5

Now from € 419.90 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 01:08 a.m.

Advantages:

• High quality
• Always-on display
• Extensive fitness functions
• Exact pulse measurement
• Siri and Apple Pay support
• High comfort
• Compass app

Disadvantage:

• Short battery life
• No sleep tracking
• Compatible with iPhones only

For Android users: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

For Android users: Galaxy Watch Active 2 at Cyberport

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the successor model to the Galaxy Watch Active, which was only rated 2.9 in the Stiftung Warentest test. It is available in two sizes (40 mm and 44 mm). The resolution of the AMOLED display made of Gorilla Glass with always-on function is 360 x 360 pixels. The housing is available in stainless steel and aluminum, as well as with a leather and plastic strap. The smartwatch has 4 GB of RAM.

You can see the fitness functions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2: The automatic training detection works better than the predecessor and up to seven workouts are automatically recognized, up to 39 manually. The device provides you with extensive data on the workouts. Seven new training programs for runners are also available. The device has an improved battery life and integrated speakers. Music can also be played via Spotify without a smartphone. And the voice assistant Bixby can also be operated in German.

Unfortunately, the ECG recording and fall detection functions are not yet available. The blood pressure measurement was recently updated for the South Korean market. In the standard version with a 40 mm display, aluminum housing and leather strap, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 costs around 280 euros. The stainless steel version is available from around 360 euros, the LTE version of the Watch Active 2 from around 430 euros. In our GIGA test, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 was convincing: it received 88 percent from us.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Now from 209.00 € at Cyberport Similar offer at Mediamarkt Price comparison Price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 00:34 a.m.

Advantages:

• Comfortable and intuitive operation
• Good battery life
• Extensive fitness functions
• Integrated microphone and speaker

Disadvantage:

• Limited app selection
• Sensitive display

For athletes: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

For athletes: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music on Amazon

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is a smartwatch especially suitable for athletes with a wide range of corresponding functions. The device has a 30 mm non-touch display, the display of which remains clearly visible even in bright surroundings. The menu navigation and operation of the smartwatch is simple and intuitive. The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music enables extensive training evaluation. Profiles for common sports such as running, cycling, fitness and, thanks to the waterproof case of the smart watch, also for swimming are possible. Routes can be created online with the Forerunner 245 Music or via app. The device also offers a pulse sensor with oxygen measurement.

With the music player of the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music you can listen to music from Spotify and Deezer without a smartphone via Bluetooth. You have 3.5 GB available to store your music. You can also use the Garmin Pay payment system via NFC, and the smartwatch also has an emergency function. At Stiftung Warentest, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music took second place in the Smartwatches test with a grade of 2.2. GIGA also tested the model extensively, our rating is 85 percent. The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is available in the colors white, black and aqua for a price from around 300 euros.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

Now from € 320.00 on Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 00:04 a.m.

Advantages:

• Extensive fitness functions
• Good battery life
• Good usability
• Offline music player
• Waterproof

Disadvantage:

• Limited smart functions
• No touch display

The price-performance winner: Apple Watch 3

The Apple Watch 3 has been on the market since the end of 2017, but it is still an interesting option for iPhone users. Because the Watch 3 is much cheaper than its successors Watch 4 and Watch 5, it is still technically excellent. The Smartwatch is available with an OLED Retina display in two display sizes (38 mm and 42 mm), the resolution is 272 x 340 and 321 x 390 pixels.

The Apple Watch 3 has a waterproof case and sensors for heart rate, acceleration and altitude. Furthermore, the device provides extensive fitness functions with automatic training recognition. In contrast to the successor models, the Watch 3 does not have an ECG, motion sensors and a magnetic compass. Like the successor models, the Apple Watch 3 is also available in a GPS + Cellular version in addition to the GPS version, which also has LTE connectivity in addition to WLAN and Bluetooth. The LTE version also has 16 GB of memory instead of 8 GB for the GPS version.

The Apple Watch 3 also has Siri speech recognition and supports Apple Music, with the LTE version even without a smartphone. With the update to WatchOS 6 there is also a sound app on the Apple Watch 3 and a cycle tracker for women. The App Store can also be used directly on the Watch 3. That convinced us so much in the GIGA test in 2018 that the Apple Watch 3 finished with 88 percent.

Price-performance winner: Apple Watch 3 at MediaMarkt

Apple Watch 3

Now from € 218.00 at Cyberport Similar offer at Mediamarkt Price comparison Price can now be higher. Price from 26.07.2020 11:52 p.m.

Advantages:

• High quality
• Extensive fitness functions
• Exact measurements
• High comfort
• Supports WatchOS 6
• Waterproof

Disadvantage:

• Short battery life
• No sleep tracking
• No motion sensor
• Compatible with iPhones only

The best smartwatches 2020: This is how we tested and selected

The best smartwatches on the market right now come from Apple, but these are practically only suitable for iPhone users. That is why our buying advice also considers models that are suitable for Android users. In addition to smart functions, many users of smartwatches attach great importance to fitness features. Therefore, a smart watch that is specially designed for athletes is among our recommendations. Our selection of the best smartwatches is based on self-tests of the devices. In addition, evaluations of the Stiftung Warentest were also included in our selection. How the test institute has rated and which recommended devices are still recommended can be found on the test.de website.

Buying a smartwatch: what you should know

What you should know before buying a smartwatch!

The price

The prices of smartwatches differ depending on the model and features. Devices with LTE connectivity and / or with higher quality materials such as stainless steel are more expensive. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 costs around 280 euros in the basic version made of aluminum, 360 euros in stainless steel and 430 euros in the LTE version.

The right design

The display of a smartwatch should be large enough and high-resolution for easy recognition and usability. A bezel (this is the rotatable border of the dial) may be useful for scrolling as with the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Especially when reading a lot of messages. Furthermore, the watch should not be too bulky and the bracelet should fit the length of the wrist. There are models with a digital look or those that look more like classic watches. Which design you choose is ultimately a matter of taste.

In our photo gallery we present you the 21 most beautiful smartwatches, fitness trackers and wearables:

Start photo gallery (22 photos)

Technical characteristics and features

Use smartwatch without smartphone: LTE model or not?

In most cases, smartwatches are connected to the smartphone in order to access the Internet and the functions that can be used with it. It is important to make sure that the selected smartwatch can be connected to your own smartphone. Because not every smartwatch is compatible with all brands and models. For example, the Apple Watch only works with the iPhone, and newer smartwatches are not always compatible with old devices. Here it is worth taking a look at the manufacturer's website. If the smartwatch is to work without a smartphone, it must at least have a WLAN function. The device should also have GPS and NFC and voice control if you want to answer messages with your voice.

In order to stay connected without a smartphone on the go, a smart watch with an LTE module is recommended. The option is offered by almost every manufacturer, but it is slightly more expensive than the classic version, in which the smartwatch is synchronized with the smartphone via Bluetooth. An eSIM is required to start up a smartwatch with an LTE module. With such an “embedded” (built-in) eSIM, you can make calls, receive messages and stream music directly without a connected smartphone. In the advantages and disadvantages article, we explain what an eSIM is and how it differs from a conventional SIM card. A smartwatch with eSIM is available as part of a multi-SIM tariff,which costs around five euros more per month than a conventional mobile phone tariff and is available from Telekom, o2 and Vodafone.

Battery and storage

Depending on which features of a smartwatch you prefer to use and in what intensity, you should make sure that the battery of a smartwatch offers enough power. For optimal use, a smartwatch should last at least a day to buy, some models like those from Samsung and Fitbit even last up to a week. Of course, what functions you use also plays a role - pure fitness tracking is more energy-efficient than calling up and answering numerous WhatsApps. If you want to save and play music on the device, a sufficiently large memory is also useful.

What is important for athletes

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 Smart Band

Now from € 22.97 at Notebooksbilliger Similar offer at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 00:33 a.m.

If you mainly value sports and fitness functions, a fitness bracelet is a cheaper alternative to a smartwatch. The device should have a good heart rate monitor, pedometer, acceleration sensor and GPS. If the model is waterproof, the pulse can also be measured while showering, and you can also record swimming and diving training. It is also important that the measuring functions such as heart rate monitor and pedometer work exactly, which is actually only rarely the case with watches, as Stiftung Warentest proves. Therefore, you should read reviews before buying.