Best 2024 Smartwatches for button controls

#1 Garmin Lily 2 Active
5.0

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 Forerunner 165
4.9

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

#3 Garmin Enduro 3
4.8

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

#4 Xiaomi Redmi 5 Active
4.5

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

#5 Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
4.4

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

#6 Amazfit T-Rex 3
4.4

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

#7 Google Pixel Watch 3
4.3

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

#8 Polar Grit X2 Pro
4.2

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

Pros: recovery insights, build quality

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#9 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5
4.2

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

#10 Garmin Fenix 8
4.0

Button controls remain useful and reliable, but the new leakproof/inductive feel drew mixed reactions compared with older mechanical buttons.

Pros: workout tracking variety, onboard music storage

Cons: LTE connectivity, value for money

#11 Ticwatch Atlas
4.0

Button controls are mostly liked for the crown and haptics, though one reviewer found rotation missing and another found sensitivity uneven.

Pros: touchscreen responsiveness, software smoothness

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#12 Coros Pace Pro
3.9

Button controls were generally easy and improved, especially with gloves or workouts, but the crown/button layout caused some accidental pauses and a few reviewers preferred more conventional buttons.

Pros: outdoor visibility, display quality

Cons: contactless payments, flashlight usefulness

#13 Apple Watch Ultra 2
3.9

Button controls were mixed: the Action Button, crown, and Double Tap were often useful, but some reviewers forgot or underused them.

Pros: app ecosystem, smartwatch features

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, blood oxygen tracking

#14 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024)
3.8

Button feedback was mixed: reviewers liked the Quick Button and tactile controls, but several missed a rotating bezel or crown-like navigation.

Pros: build quality, software smoothness

Cons: stress tracking, blood oxygen tracking

#15 Xiaomi Watch 2
3.7

Button controls were generally usable and customizable, but reviewers missed the Pro model’s crown.

Pros: charging speed, Bluetooth connectivity

Cons: ECG functionality, recovery insights

#16 Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
3.6

Controls are mixed: buttons are clicky and gestures can be handy, but the gestures miss sometimes and reviewers still miss a physical rotating bezel or crown.

Pros: display quality, durability

Cons: cross-platform compatibility, antioxidant index

#17 OnePlus Watch 2R
3.6

Button controls were useful and responsive, but reviewers were split over the missing functional crown and some control limitations.

Pros: software smoothness, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, safety features

#18 Polar Vantage M3
3.5

Button controls are mixed: useful for gloves and wet conditions, but some reviewers find them small, mushy or less tactile.

Pros: brightness, display quality

Cons: call handling, voice assistant quality

#19 Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
3.5

Button controls were mixed: customization helped, but one reviewer said presses sometimes needed repeating.

Pros: materials quality, workout tracking variety

Cons: size options, cross-platform compatibility

#20 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite
3.0

Button controls were mixed: one reviewer liked the unobtrusive button, while another disliked the lack of customization and double-press support.

Pros: cross-platform compatibility, pairing reliability

Cons: third-party app support, contactless payments

#21 Suunto Race S
2.8

Button controls are mixed, with several reviewers finding the digital crown fiddly, delayed, awkward, or unpredictable despite useful physical input.

Pros: workout tracking variety, value for money

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, contactless payments

#22 Apple Watch Series 10
2.8

Physical control evidence was critical: runners wanted better button workflows for splits, starting workouts, and precision start.

Pros: reliability, comfort

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, mapping and navigation

#23 CMF Watch Pro 2
2.7

Button and crown controls were mixed: some liked the functional crown, while others found it stiff, flimsy, awkward, or cheap.

Pros: pairing reliability, materials quality

Cons: data privacy, health tracking accuracy

#24 Fitbit Ace LTE
2.5

Button controls drew a low score because one review specifically cited slow responses to some buttons.

Pros: operating system experience, watch face quality

Cons: app ecosystem, third-party app support

#25 Garmin Lily 2
2.2

The no-button design and pseudo-button are a recurring frustration, especially for pausing workouts or navigating during activity.

Pros: pairing reliability, wellness insights

Cons: ECG functionality, body temperature tracking