Best Smart Watch for button controls

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Best for button controls

Garmin Lily 2 Active

5.0 feature score

Highest scored product for this feature based on supporting review evidence.

Safest pick

Garmin Forerunner 165

4.9 feature score

Balances feature score, supporting reviews, and overall product strength.

Most evidence

OnePlus Watch 3

15 supporting reviews

Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.

Best overall product

Garmin Tactix 8

4.4 overall score

Strongest overall product among items with scored evidence for this feature.

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#1 Garmin Lily 2 Active
5.0
5 reviews

Button controls are a unanimous strength because they make workouts and navigation much easier than touch-only Lily models.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking

Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage

#2 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
5.0
3 reviews

Button controls were consistently praised for intuitive navigation, glove/rain usability and reliable interaction during activity.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#3 Garmin Forerunner 165
4.9
8 reviews

Button controls were a major strength, especially for workouts, gloves, sweat, rain, and avoiding touchscreen reliance.

Pros: smartphone notifications, watch face quality

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#4 Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2
4.8
2 reviews

Button controls were a highlight, with glove-friendly operation and tactile, easy-to-feel buttons.

Pros: display quality, brightness

Cons: onboard music storage, size options

#5 Garmin Enduro 3
4.8
2 reviews

Physical button controls were praised as reliable and satisfying, with the touchscreen-button blend described as the best of both worlds.

Pros: contactless payments, reliability

Cons: onboard music storage, watch face quality

#6 Huawei Watch Fit 4
4.7
2 reviews

The crown and button controls earned positive notes for haptics, precision, and practical control over functions like the flashlight.

Pros: step counting accuracy, menu navigation

Cons: voice assistant quality, contactless payments

#7 Amazfit Active 3 Premium
4.6
5 reviews

Button controls are a major strength, with reviewers praising four buttons, tactile feel, glove or sweat usability, and easier navigation without touch.

Pros: pairing reliability, brightness

Cons: Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity

#8 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.6
3 reviews

Button controls are a standout usability feature, especially for workouts, with praise for tactile clicks and mid-activity control.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#9 Garmin Forerunner 570
4.6
3 reviews

Button controls were strongly praised, especially for wet hands, sweaty workouts, swimming, and glove use.

Pros: charging speed, GPS accuracy

Cons: ECG functionality, smartphone notifications

#10 Fitbit Versa 4
4.6
9 reviews

The physical button was widely praised as a major usability improvement over the Versa 3's capacitive or squeeze-style controls.

Pros: pairing reliability, user interface

Cons: third-party app support, music controls

#11 OnePlus Watch 3
4.5
15 reviews

Button controls were a standout: the functional rotating crown, haptics, and shortcut controls earned broad praise.

Pros: blood oxygen tracking, step counting accuracy

Cons: LTE connectivity, calorie tracking usefulness

#12 TicWatch Pro 5
4.5
12 reviews

Button controls were a highlight, with the rotating crown, clicky buttons, and haptics repeatedly praised.

Pros: contactless payments, battery life

Cons: voice assistant quality, LTE connectivity

#13 Tag Heuer Connected Calibre E4
4.5
8 reviews

Button controls are mostly praised for mechanical feel and easier navigation, though one reviewer disliked accidental crown/button triggers.

Pros: contactless payments, pairing reliability

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#14 Garmin Forerunner 955
4.5
6 reviews

Button controls were a major strength, especially during workouts, gloves, movement, and wet conditions.

Pros: outdoor visibility, charging speed

Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling

#15 Apple Watch Ultra 3
4.5
4 reviews

Button and gesture controls were a strength, especially the Action button and touch-free gestures.

Pros: app ecosystem, watch face quality

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, size options

#16 Garmin Approach S44
4.5
2 reviews

Button controls were a clear upgrade over the S42, with reviewers calling the second button easier, more intuitive, and better for navigation.

Pros: user interface, brightness

Cons: wellness insights, charging convenience

#17 Xiaomi Redmi 5 Active
4.5
1 review

Button controls were praised for being genuinely useful on a watch this cheap.

Pros: wellness insights, Bluetooth connectivity

Cons: contactless payments, third-party app support

#18 Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro
4.5
8 reviews

Button controls were highly rated, especially the rotating crown, tactile buttons, shortcuts and haptic feedback.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, display quality

Cons: voice assistant quality, LTE connectivity

#19 Fitbit Sense 2
4.5
14 reviews

The physical button is one of the clearest upgrades, repeatedly described as easier, more reliable, and more functional than the previous haptic or capacitive control, with one reviewer finding it...

Pros: pairing reliability, durability

Cons: music controls, Wi-Fi connectivity

#20 Apple Watch SE 3
4.5
13 reviews

Button and gesture controls were widely praised, especially Double Tap, Wrist Flick, the Digital Crown, and side-button shortcuts.

Pros: app ecosystem, operating system experience

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, ECG functionality

#21 Polar Grit X Pro
4.4
4 reviews

Button controls were usually praised for tactile use in wet, cold, or active conditions, even though separate lag complaints affected software response.

Pros: water resistance, health tracking accuracy

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#22 Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
4.4
11 reviews

The larger rotating crown and buttons were usually praised for smoother, easier navigation, although one reviewer found input not fully precise.

Pros: menu navigation, battery life

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#23 Polar Grit X
4.4
7 reviews

Button controls were one of the clearest positives, with reviewers praising the sharper, textured, glove-friendly feel.

Pros: materials quality, recovery insights

Cons: contactless payments, music controls

#24 Polar Street X
4.4
1 review

Button controls were praised in hands-on review for their large, textured feel and good appearance.

Pros: workout tracking variety, flashlight usefulness

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, ECG functionality

#25 Amazfit T-Rex 3
4.4
9 reviews

Physical buttons were usually praised for workout control, though one reviewer found button integration imperfect in menus.

Pros: resume later function, brightness

Cons: safety features, activity auto-detection

#26 Garmin Vivoactive 6
4.4
5 reviews

Button controls are generally well-liked, with reviewers praising the raised button, simplicity, and tactile workout controls.

Pros: software smoothness, comfort

Cons: LTE connectivity, voice assistant quality

#27 Polar Pacer Pro
4.3
9 reviews

Button controls were mostly a strength because they were grippy, responsive, and useful during workouts, though a few reviewers needed adjustment or hit the wrong button.

Pros: workout tracking variety, activity auto-detection

Cons: onboard music storage, blood oxygen tracking

#28 Coros Apex 4
4.3
6 reviews

Button controls are generally praised, especially the action button and revised crown placement, with only minor control caveats.

Pros: reliability, battery life

Cons: LTE connectivity, flashlight usefulness

#29 Garmin MARQ Gen 2
4.3
8 reviews

Button controls were repeatedly praised as intuitive, sturdy, tactile, polished, and useful alongside the touchscreen.

Pros: pairing reliability, reliability

Cons: size options, call handling

#30 Garmin Tactix 8
4.3
7 reviews

Button controls were mostly praised for texture and feel, but dive-rated buttons created mixed feedback from users who preferred older tactile clicks.

Pros: wellness insights, build quality

Cons: LTE connectivity, band quality

#31 Withings ScanWatch 2
4.3
5 reviews

The crown controls were simple and sometimes satisfying, but the lack of touch input made some interactions slower or more menu-driven.

Pros: Bluetooth connectivity, pairing reliability

Cons: third-party app support, contactless payments

#32 Polar Vantage M2
4.3
6 reviews

Button controls were mostly praised as precise, dependable, and better for workouts than touch, despite occasional comments about mushiness.

Pros: running power support, fitness tracking accuracy

Cons: contactless payments, smartphone notifications

#33 Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro
4.3
5 reviews

Button controls were generally useful, with the rotating crown, shortcut button and customizable controls helping navigation.

Pros: software smoothness, durability

Cons: voice assistant quality, LTE connectivity

#34 Polar Vantage V2
4.3
5 reviews

Button controls were a strength overall, with reviewers liking the tactile layout, responsiveness, vibration feedback, and ride usability.

Pros: workout tracking variety, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, onboard music storage

#35 Google Pixel Watch 3
4.3
9 reviews

Button and crown controls were mostly praised for fluid scrolling, haptics, and quick navigation, though a few reviews wanted more mappable buttons or disliked side-button behavior.

Pros: outdoor visibility, pairing reliability

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, materials quality

#36 Garmin Forerunner 970
4.3
3 reviews

Button controls were useful and reliable, preserving full control when touch is unavailable, though one reviewer wanted a more tactile click.

Pros: stress tracking, customization options

Cons: menu navigation, companion app quality

#37 Garmin Forerunner 255
4.3
10 reviews

Button controls were polarizing but mostly positive: many liked reliability during workouts, while some found the buttons numerous or squishy.

Pros: durability, cross-platform compatibility

Cons: stress tracking, app ecosystem

#38 Garmin Forerunner 255S
4.3
4 reviews

Button controls were mostly praised for workouts, water use, and avoiding accidental touches, though the button-only approach may not suit touchscreen-first users.

Pros: step counting accuracy, fit

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, charging convenience

#39 Garmin fenix 8 Pro
4.3
2 reviews

Button controls were praised for premium haptics and easier, quicker operation than earlier Fenix buttons.

Pros: workout tracking variety, pairing reliability

Cons: size options, companion app quality

#40 Polar Grit X2 Pro
4.2
5 reviews

Buttons were widely liked for speed, texture, glove use, and firm clicks.

Pros: recovery insights, build quality

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#41 Suunto Run
4.2
9 reviews

Button controls were a strength overall, especially the crown and physical buttons for running, gloves, sweat, and menu movement, though one reviewer wanted more buttons.

Pros: comfort, value for money

Cons: contactless payments, Wi-Fi connectivity

#42 Garmin Forerunner 265
4.2
7 reviews

Button controls were widely praised for workout reliability, tactile feedback, and the larger Run button, though one reviewer disliked squishy secondary buttons.

Pros: step counting accuracy, third-party app support

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#43 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5
4.2
7 reviews

The rotating crown and button controls are generally liked for tactile feedback and navigation, though one reviewer wished for more button functionality.

Pros: step counting accuracy, display quality

Cons: voice assistant quality, contactless payments

#44 Garmin Approach S70
4.2
5 reviews

Button controls are generally useful and easy, though one reviewer still noted a learning curve.

Pros: recovery insights, GPS accuracy

Cons: software smoothness, fitness tracking accuracy

#45 Garmin Forerunner 965
4.2
6 reviews

Buttons were consistently praised as tactile, easy to use during workouts, and a dependable alternative to touch controls.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#46 Suunto Vertical 2
4.1
7 reviews

Button controls were broadly praised for glove use and tactile feedback, though some reviewers still preferred a crown or different interface logic.

Pros: operating system experience, materials quality

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#47 Suunto Vertical
4.1
5 reviews

Button controls were mostly praised for simplicity, glove usability, and feel, though one reviewer wanted a five-button layout.

Pros: battery life, durability

Cons: resume later function, ECG functionality

#48 Garmin Instinct 3
4.1
10 reviews

Button controls are mostly praised for predictable wet/glove use, though a few reviewers found the buttons harder to press or slower than touch controls.

Pros: customization options, charging speed

Cons: onboard music storage, voice assistant quality

#49 Coros Apex 2
4.1
9 reviews

Button controls were generally strong, with praise for buttons, haptics, lockout, and the larger dial, though one reviewer found the crown fiddly during runs.

Pros: resume later function, durability

Cons: watch face quality, call handling

#50 CMF Watch 3 Pro
4.1
7 reviews

The crown and button controls were often praised for tactility and haptics, though a few reviewers wanted better sizing or deeper integration in the interface.

Pros: workout tracking variety, user interface

Cons: Wi-Fi connectivity, onboard music storage