Best 2023 Smartwatches for companion app quality

#1 Amazfit GTR Mini
4.7

The companion app was widely praised for deep controls, digestible data, customization, and more developed health views.

Pros: pairing reliability, workout tracking variety

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#2 Suunto Vertical
4.6

The companion app was a major strength, especially route planning, map downloads, training data, and general usability.

Pros: battery life, durability

Cons: resume later function, ECG functionality

#3 Withings ScanWatch Nova
4.5

The companion app was repeatedly praised as clear, efficient, user-friendly, powerful, and good at presenting health and activity data.

Pros: battery life, heart rate accuracy

Cons: third-party app support, GPS accuracy

#4 Garmin vivomove Trend
4.5

Garmin Connect and companion-app data were broadly praised for depth, setup, and post-workout information.

Pros: activity auto-detection, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, Bluetooth connectivity

#5 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
4.5

Samsung Health and the companion experience were praised for clear data presentation, useful insights, and deep settings control, despite some complaints about old UI or limits.

Pros: voice assistant quality, music controls

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, cross-platform compatibility

#6 Garmin Venu 3
4.3

The companion app is generally strong, offering deep data, customizable dashboards, workout plans, and health insights, though one setup flow felt cumbersome.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, software smoothness

Cons: LTE connectivity, mapping and navigation

#7 Garmin Approach S70
4.0

The Garmin Golf app is praised as a strong all-in-one hub, but another reviewer said it could use an overhaul.

Pros: recovery insights, GPS accuracy

Cons: software smoothness, fitness tracking accuracy

#8 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
3.9

Companion app quality is mixed: Garmin Connect can be comprehensive and motivating, while app-based setup and education remain weak spots.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#9 Amazfit Bip 5
3.9

The Zepp companion app is usually considered mature, intuitive, and well-designed, although one owner found the phone app confusing and slow to sync.

Pros: comfort, touchscreen responsiveness

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, onboard music storage

#10 Garmin Forerunner 265
3.9

The companion app was powerful and fast, but reviewers also found Garmin Connect overwhelming or less intuitive than ideal.

Pros: step counting accuracy, third-party app support

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#11 Withings ScanWatch Light
3.8

The companion app divides reviewers: some found it easy, clean, and well-designed, while others called it busy, overwhelming, or annoying.

Pros: comfort, build quality

Cons: call handling, contactless payments

#12 Garmin Vivoactive 5
3.8

The Garmin Connect app earned mixed-to-positive feedback: data access and subscriptions were praised, but intuitiveness was criticized.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, wellness insights

Cons: software smoothness, ECG functionality

#13 Garmin Forerunner 965
3.7

Garmin Connect was viewed as powerful and data-rich, but some reviewers found its organization confusing or dated.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#14 Withings ScanWatch 2
3.6

The companion app drew mixed reactions: reviewers liked its health focus and integrations, but criticized glitches, clutter, paywalled insights, and uneven data presentation.

Pros: Bluetooth connectivity, pairing reliability

Cons: third-party app support, contactless payments

#15 TicWatch Pro 5
3.6

The companion app was usable and often clear, but reviewers also called it rough, ordinary, dated, slow, or not very polished.

Pros: contactless payments, battery life

Cons: voice assistant quality, LTE connectivity

#16 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
3.5

The companion app split reviewers, with praise for Garmin Connect’s experience and integration but criticism that the app feels dated, desktop tools lag and offline workflow is weak.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#17 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4
3.3

The companion app is functional and sometimes improving, but reviewers also call it dated, unattractive, or unslick.

Pros: battery life, software smoothness

Cons: contactless payments, recovery insights

#18 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
3.0

Companion app quality was mixed: some video reviews liked Mi Fitness simplicity, while written reviews criticized clutter, bugs, and weak presentation.

Pros: pairing reliability, outdoor visibility

Cons: ECG functionality, running power support

#19 Casio G-Shock GBD-H2000
2.5

The companion app is the largest usability complaint: it can work, but reviewers frequently called it clunky, confusing, ad-heavy, or poorly organized.

Pros: brightness, charging convenience

Cons: ECG functionality, stress tracking

#20 Casio G-Shock DW-H5600
2.4

The companion app is consistently criticized for clunkiness, learning curve, slow performance, ads, and weak data presentation.

Pros: durability, outdoor visibility

Cons: app ecosystem, third-party app support