Best Small Smart Watches In 2025

Smartwatches come in various shapes and sizes, but you might be interested in something compact if you have a smaller wrist or don’t want bulky wristwear. What makes a smartwatch “small” compared to a regular-sized smartwatch is its reduced case thickness and width, which gives it a sleek profile and a lightweight feel.

Whether you want to track your fitness goals, stay connected without your phone, or streamline daily tasks, there are plenty of excellent small smartwatches to choose from. However, there are a few essential considerations to keep in mind before purchasing one.

Top 5 Key Considerations

Display Quality

If you’re looking into getting a small smartwatch, it’s crucial to consider the display quality, as it’ll determine how easy it is to see and read what’s on screen. A screen resolution of at least 300 pixels per inch (ppi) is necessary for sharper text and icons, and a brightness of 1,000 nits or more improves visibility under bright conditions.

Battery Performance

Small smartwatches have smaller batteries than more robust, rugged smartwatches, meaning battery life isn’t as long. However, they’re still efficient when you consider usage and processing power. On average, a small smartwatch lasts 1-3 days on a full charge, but some models can give you up to a week’s worth of battery life in lower-power or standby mode.

Fitness & Health Tracking

The great thing about a small smartwatch is that you can wear one while exercising without feeling like you’re wearing something bulky on your wrist. Most small smartwatches have sensors for tracking steps, calories, heart rate, and distance, but the best ones also offer preset activity modes to help you log sessions and stay on track with your goals.

Health tracking is also one of the primary benefits of a small smartwatch, as many mid-tier and high-end models provide insights into metrics such as blood oxygen, heart rhythm and stress levels. Also, because of their diminutive size, you can wear a small smartwatch 24/7, including to bed, to track your sleep habits.

Build Quality

Small smartwatches aren’t as durable as larger ones, but it’s still essential to ensure the model you get is made from high-quality materials. The screen should be made of scratch-resistant glass, and the case should be made of aluminum or stainless steel for improved shock and impact resistance.

If you want to wear your smartwatch while swimming or working out, it’s crucial to get one that’s at least water-resistant. Most smartwatches can withstand splashing, but higher-end models are better suited for full submersion. In any case, it’s best to carefully read the specs for any smartwatch you’re considering, as they’ll tell you its Ingress Protection (IP) rating or its atmospheres (ATM) rating, both of which indicate water resistance.

Operating System & App Performance

Because smaller smartwatches have limited battery and processing power compared to larger ones, an efficient operating system ensures that menus open quickly and interactions feel smooth. Smartwatches with efficient operating systems feature apps that load quickly, display information clearly, and don’t slow down performance.

The two most prevalent operating systems for smartwatches, Wear OS and watchOS, offer different experiences but are continually updated and allow small smartwatches to run smoothly. Wear OS works best when synced with Android smartphones, while watchOS is limited to only iPhones.

Preferences

Style & Comfort

Do you like sporty smartwatches that are better for working out? Or do you prefer a versatile aesthetic for casual everyday wear? Small smartwatches are available in almost every style, including sporty, classic, and luxury. The bezel, shape, material, and color vary from model to model. Ultimately, you should aim for a smartwatch that is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable enough for all-day wear.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what each style entails:

• Lifestyle/Classic: The classic smartwatch design is modern and rectangular, with cases made of steel or aluminum, as seen on models such as the Apple Watch. Best for all-day wear.

• Sporty: Sporty smartwatches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch, are usually round with lightweight cases and optimized for comfort and fitness. Best for resistance training, swimming, running, and outdoor activities.
• Luxury: Cases are often crafted from high-quality materials such as titanium and feature designs similar to those of traditional wristwatches. Best for business or formal attire.

User Interface

You’ll have less screen space to work with on a small smartwatch, so having a user interface that’s easy to navigate is non-negotiable. The user interface should feature clear icons and be highly responsive to swipes and taps. It should feel intuitive rather than complicated, even if you’re not the most tech-savvy person. Haptic feedback, along with visual and audio cues, can help you navigate menus more easily, even on a smaller screen.

Smart Features

In addition to fitness and health tracking, a small smartwatch can help make daily tasks more manageable. Many smartwatches have GPS for navigation and outdoor exercise tracking, and most let you make and receive phone calls and text messages thanks to built-in microphones and speakers. Beyond typical functions, many smartwatches offer premium features such as digital wallets, voice assistants, AI, and third-party app integration.

Top Small Smartwatches

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 weighs about 26g and is available in 40mm and 44mm case sizes. You’ll want to opt for the 40mm version as it has a sleeker depth and profile, fitting 140-245mm wrists comfortably.

Unlike its predecessor, the Apple Watch SE 3 boasts an Always-On OLED display with a brightness of up to 1,000 nits. The battery lasts up to 32 hours in Low Power mode, and the vitals app offers insights on heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration. It’s water-resistant up to 50m, making it suitable for swimming, and the digital crown provides haptic feedback for a fluid user experience.

With a lightweight build, slim profile, and advanced sensors, the Apple Watch SE 3 is a no-brainer for iPhone users. It’s excellent for logging fitness goals, health tracking, and staying connected with Apple Pay, Siri, Calls and Text, Instagram, and more.

Google Pixel Watch 3

There is no smartwatch with a sleeker design that delivers elite performance like the Google Pixel Watch 3. This smartwatch has a 41mm case and a round watch face, making it suitable for exercise or casual everyday wear.

The Acuta display is ultra-bright and responsive, making the smaller screen size easy to navigate. The battery can last up to 36 hours in Battery Saver mode, and Wear OS supports third-party app integration and screen customization, with helpful widgets for health metrics, sports scores, and weather updates. Plus, Advanced running features from Fitbit make it a popular choice among athletes and gym-goers.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers excellent performance and versatility for Android users, and unlike boxier smartwatches, its round design makes it comfortable enough for all-day wear. It also provides offline access to Google Maps and lets you see live feeds from synced Pixel cameras.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 has a round face, but its modern design makes it stand out as a high-tech smartwatch. Its 40mm case size and enhanced lightweight build make it ideal for all-day wear, including during activities such as jogging and resistance training.

This smartwatch boasts a sporty design and features Gemini, Google’s cutting-edge AI that makes it easier to navigate tasks. The armor-aluminum build makes it highly durable, and advanced exercise features provide detailed insights, helping wearers stay on top of their fitness goals. The battery can last for several days on a full charge, and the all-new Now Bar lets you see weather, sports and news updates at a glance.

Android users seeking a compact yet feature-rich watch should consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch8. It offers a snug fit and is loaded with smart features for improved phone and app integration.

Garmin Lily 2

This smartwatch combines an ultra-lightweight and compact design with the robust functionality of a high-end Garmin wearable. This trendy smartwatch boasts a hidden display and a stylish metal case, making it suitable for exercise, everyday wear, and the office.

It features a heart rate monitor, as well as sensors for Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep scores and women’s health. Wearers can track dance fitness activities such as Zumba and receive notifications for emails, texts, and alerts. Plus, you can choose from various 14mm quick-release band options, including silicone, nylon, or Italian leather.

The Garmin Lily 2 is hands-down one of the smallest yet full-featured smartwatches with elite performance. Its 35mm case size makes it feel like you’re not even wearing anything on your wrist, and its array of tracking features makes it excellent for prioritizing health goals.

Fitbit Sense 2

Those who want a smartwatch that’ll help them achieve their fitness goals will love the Fitbit 2. This smartwatch is optimized for fitness enthusiasts, with a 40mm case and over 40 preset workout modes.

All-day stress detection and an ECG app let wearers check in on health indicators, and Active Zone minutes show how active they are each day. The battery can last up to 6 days on a full charge, and it offers smart features such as on-wrist Bluetooth calls, texts and phone notifications, customizable clock faces, Fitbit Pay, Alexa, and even Google apps such as Wallet and Maps.

With a focus on fitness and health tracking over everything else, the Fitbit Sense 2 is a terrific smartwatch with a compact design that’s suitable for those with smaller wrists. Although it offers plenty of fitness features, it doesn’t feel bulky on the wrist, making it ideal for activities such as jogging, swimming, resistance training, and even dancing.

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