Best 2023 Smartwatches for reliability

#1 Garmin fēnix 7X Pro
5.0

Reliability was praised across GPS, heart-rate and daily use, with reviewers saying the watch worked well and was hard to fault.

Pros: GPS accuracy, app ecosystem

Cons: ECG functionality, calorie tracking usefulness

#2 Garmin vivomove Trend
5.0

Reliability was praised in one review that found setup and iPhone-connected use completely reliable.

Pros: activity auto-detection, build quality

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, Bluetooth connectivity

#3 Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)
4.8

Reliability received limited but very positive evidence, with one reviewer saying the software was much more stable than a newer comparison model.

Pros: GPS accuracy, charging speed

Cons: ECG functionality, voice assistant quality

#4 Suunto Vertical
4.5

Reliability had limited positive evidence from one reviewer who described the watch as dependable.

Pros: battery life, durability

Cons: resume later function, ECG functionality

#5 Garmin Forerunner 965
4.3

Reliability was generally positive, with only minor bugs noted and one long-term reviewer saying it performed well in demanding use.

Pros: water resistance, workout tracking variety

Cons: LTE connectivity, ECG functionality

#6 Amazfit Bip 5
4.2

Reliability evidence is modestly positive, especially around GPS not cutting out and setup issues not persisting after configuration.

Pros: comfort, touchscreen responsiveness

Cons: calorie tracking usefulness, onboard music storage

#7 Garmin Venu 3
4.0

Reliability is mixed-positive: reviewers praised endurance and low lag, but one raised security concerns around smartwatch access and Garmin Pay behavior.

Pros: health tracking accuracy, software smoothness

Cons: LTE connectivity, mapping and navigation

#8 Amazfit GTR Mini
4.0

Reliability had limited direct evidence but one reviewer described the watch as suitable for users wanting reliable wearables.

Pros: pairing reliability, workout tracking variety

Cons: contactless payments, onboard music storage

#9 TicWatch Pro 5
3.8

Reliability was mixed: some reviewers saw stable everyday use, while others flagged kinks, bugs, updates, or syncing concerns.

Pros: contactless payments, battery life

Cons: voice assistant quality, LTE connectivity

#10 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
3.8

Reliability was positive overall but not perfect, with one reviewer calling it solid and another reporting an isolated overheating incident.

Pros: voice assistant quality, music controls

Cons: blood oxygen tracking, cross-platform compatibility

#11 Withings ScanWatch Light
3.4

Reliability is mixed: PCMag praised battery endurance and another reviewer had no shower issues, but one YouTube reviewer reported battery life missing expectations.

Pros: comfort, build quality

Cons: call handling, contactless payments

#12 Garmin Vivoactive 5
3.3

Reliability was split: several reviews called the watch solid, while one owner reported crashes and frequent issues.

Pros: fitness tracking accuracy, wellness insights

Cons: software smoothness, ECG functionality

#13 Casio G-Shock GBD-H2000
2.8

Reliability is uneven: ruggedness earns praise, but app bugs and missed workout starts hurt confidence.

Pros: brightness, charging convenience

Cons: ECG functionality, stress tracking

#14 Casio G-Shock DW-H5600
2.8

Reliability has some uncertainty because reviewers encountered delayed run data and hoped future updates would fix issues.

Pros: durability, outdoor visibility

Cons: app ecosystem, third-party app support

#15 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
2.5

Reliability was a concern in several reviews because of app unresponsiveness, loading-screen lockups, bugs, and odd behavior.

Pros: pairing reliability, outdoor visibility

Cons: ECG functionality, running power support

#16 Garmin Forerunner 265
2.5

Reliability concerns centered on LiveTrack/messages, which came through sporadically in one review.

Pros: step counting accuracy, third-party app support

Cons: ECG functionality, LTE connectivity

#17 Withings ScanWatch 2
2.1

Reliability concerns centered on inconsistent raise-to-wake, missed notifications, syncing glitches, and sleep-detection errors.

Pros: Bluetooth connectivity, pairing reliability

Cons: third-party app support, contactless payments

#18 Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4
2.0

Reliability has limited but negative evidence, centered on a persistent DND sync bug.

Pros: battery life, software smoothness

Cons: contactless payments, recovery insights