If you’re a busy bee who’s always getting texts, it might be a lot easier to deal with them if you get a smartwatch that you can text on.
This is especially true if your texts include important, work-related ones. If you’re looking for a way to quickly view, respond, and always stay connected, you’re going to enjoy this list I’ve made of the best smartwatches for texting.
List of The Best Smartwatches for Texting:
- Samsung Gear Sport – Best Android Smartwatch for Texting
- Apple Watch Series 3 – Best for iPhone Users
- Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 4G/LTE – Best Standalone Smartwatch for Texting
- Michael Kors Access Sofie – Best Women’s Smartwatch for Texting
- Fossil Gen 5 – Best Wear-OS Smartwatch for Texting
- Garmin Vivoactive 3 – Best Fitness Smartwatch for Texting
- Fitbit Versa 2 – Great for Fitness and Sleep Tracking Features
The 7 Best Smartwatches for Texting 2020
Without any further ado, here are the best smartwatches for texting that you can get today.
1. Samsung Gear Sport – Best Android Smartwatch for Texting
The Gear Sport may not look as stylish as other options on the list, I have to admit, but its uses are numerous, and it’s pretty convenient overall.
Upon receiving a message, the Gear Sport enables you to respond in three different ways.
Firstly, you could do it through an accurate voice control command without interacting with the screen at all. Thanks to the built-in microphone, you can use your Gear Sport to make phone calls if you have an active Wi-Fi connection.
Secondly, you could do it using the “Smart Suggestion” feature that displays a list of suitable replies and allows you to choose one with a simple touch.
Finally, you could use the keypad in the watch and type out your text reply. Each of the three options is quite easy to use and can be toggled by turning the dial.
I would have liked it a lot better, however, if the Sport had a stronger build quality. The dial just seems to move or loosen when you shake your wrist, and this results in malfunctioning.
In terms of fitness tracking, it’s quite impressive. It has a calorie-burning count, step count, and a heart rate monitor that all combine to show you information about how active you are and how healthy. Moreover, it has GPS tracking and is water-resistant up to 165 feet, so you can take it swimming or hop in the shower without having to take it off.
Not only that, but it also has performance measurement underwater, including strokes, splashes, and calories burned. However, this one isn’t the most accurate.
Finally, it does have onboard music, though, which is a huge plus as you can always feel connected throughout your day.
Pros:
- Offers up to three ways to reply to a text
- Ample fitness tracking features
- Accurate GPS
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Cons:
- The build isn’t the strongest
- Underwater tracking is inaccurate
Bottom Line
You can’t say a smartwatch for texting without mentioning the Gear Sport. Besides delivering many great features, it gives you three different ways to respond to a text, depending on your situation. That’s why it got to be on the top of our list.
2. Apple Watch Series 3 – Best for iPhone users
Apple keeps a consistent design with its watches, and I have to say that it doesn’t really need any change as the design is quite refined.
I could have suggested the Series 5, but I think that it’s a little too overpriced for a texting watch.
The Series 3 comes with four methods through which you can reply to a text. Firstly, you can record a voice note using the watch’s microphone to record the command, and the voice control automatically converts it to text.
Secondly, you can use the emoji feature that prompts you to send a GIF to express your reply. Thirdly, you can select a reply from a preset list that includes commands like “No Problem” or “In a short meeting, call you later.”
Finally, you can use the scribble feature. This one is pretty unique; it allows you to draw the alphabet with your hand on the screen and takes little to no time to convert it into textual letters. Although some characters might not easily be picked up by the system such as the number 1 and the letter “e.”
The Apple Watch Series 3 is quite reliable, but sometimes it faces some connectivity issues or malfunctioned buttons.
As for fitness-tracking features, the Series 3 has some great ones, including a pedometer, highly accurate heart rate sensor, and a calorie burn counter. It also has a three-ring display that encourages you to finish your three daily goals of standing, walking, and exercising, besides alerting you if you’re lagging behind any.
Furthermore, the modern GPS is very accurate and proves its helpfulness for cyclists, especially. It delivers perfect tracking throughout your runs, cycling, or even driving.
Pros:
- Great graphics with a 272 x 340-pixel resolution
- Unique scribble feature for a text message watch
- Good fitness tracking features
- Accurate and up-to-date GPS
- Waterproof to up to 5 ATM
Cons:
- Long wait time for music streaming
- Siri may not function properly
Bottom Line
With a vibrant touch screen, wrist rotation gesture, a battery that lasts around two days, 165-feet waterproofing, and four different ways to respond to a text message, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the best smartwatch for texting you can get if you’re going to pair it with an iPhone.
3. Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 4G/LTE – Best Standalone Smartwatch for Texting
The Ticwatch Pro definitely gives you great value for the price. Although it doesn’t have extensive replying tools like the previous two options, it does have a built-in mic that enables you to do voice dictations as well as make calls.
Unlike other options, the voice calls aren’t limited to apps as you can conduct a phone call the way you do through your smartphone, thanks to the LTE capability.
You can easily text on the Ticwatch Pro’s 400 x 400-pixel, 1.4″ OLED display. This display is also paired with an LCD screen to display your stats and info in the clearest way possible.
Moreover, you can use your smartwatch in Smart Mode or Essential Mode, according to what you want out of it and whether you want to extend battery life. In the former, it lasts around two days. On the latter, however, it can last up to five days.
Running on Snapdragon 2100 processor, the battery performance is definitely a plus.
Moreover, it has a premium design, a heart rate sensor, accurate GPS tracking, NFC to allow you to use Google Pay, and much more.
Pros:
- Innovative screen technology
- Built-in microphone
- High-quality design
- Essential Mode extends battery life considerably
Cons:
- Limited apps
- Smart Mode consumes battery rapidly
Bottom Line
There’s a lot of innovation going on with the Ticwatch Pro, and that’s why it makes it up the list. I particularly enjoyed its dual-screen technology that enables it to give you the best of both the world of a traditional watch and the benefits of a high-end Wear OS device at a reasonable price.
4. Michael Kors Access Sofie – Best Women’s Smartwatch for Texting
The Michael Kors Access Sofie’s sophisticated design is super appealing. The extra buckle allows you to use interchangeable straps, all of which look great.
On its 1.19-inch display, you’ll get all your smartphone notifications and be able to reply to text messages.
You can use the built-in microphone to make calls as the Access Sofie is a smartwatch that can text and call.
However, you shouldn’t be expecting much else from it. Its fitness tracking isn’t the most effective or extensive, despite having various activity-tracking features and custom goal tracking.
You’ll also have to take it off during showers as its water-resistance is limited to 1 ATM or around 33 feet.
The music control capability is a nice touch, by all means. However, its 24-hour battery life seems a little short-lived when you consider the features that it has to offer.
- Check out our list of the best overall women’s smartwatches
Pros:
- Fashionable look
- Built-in microphone
- Customizable watch faces
- Easily interchangeable straps
- Elegant design
Cons:
- A little pricey
- Short battery life
- Limited fitness features
Bottom Line
The Michael Kors Access Sofie evidently has a feminine design with stellar looks and adequate performance. Although it doesn’t pack many features, it enables you to text back easily. Thanks to its built-in mic, you can do voice dictations or conduct calls.
5. Fossil Gen 5 – Best Wear-OS Smartwatch for Texting
The Fossil Gen 5 is one of the best Wear-OS smartwatches currently on the market. Admittedly, it’s a little pricey, but the advanced technology it packs definitely makes it worth the money.
It comes with a 416 x 416-pixel, 1.28″ AMOLED screen that displays your stats clearly and makes interactions with notifications and responding to texts very engaging.
There’s a sunlight boost option that gives you enhanced visibility over the contents of the watch, especially in direct sunlight.
Moreover, the Gen 5 performs amazingly with an accurate heart sensor and GPS tracking that monitors your walks or runs.
It would have been much better if it wasn’t limited to an IP68 rating that makes it only dust-resistant. You can’t immerse it in water deeper than 5 feet.
Like the Ticwatch Pro, it runs on a Snapdragon processor, but this one’s the more advanced 3100 update. It manages battery life in a way that gives you continuous operation for two days or a day of heavy use.
The detachable straps enable you to customize the watch according to your personal style.
Pros:
- Sharp and stylish look
- Premium stainless steel frame
- Fast performance
- Sunlight boost makes it more convenient
- Built-in speakers
Cons:
- The battery system is a little complex
- Battery life isn’t the best
Bottom Line
Although the Fossil Gen 5 isn’t very cheap, its amazing design, durability, and performance make it worth the money. Its high-quality display also makes texting through it a breeze.
6. Garmin Vivoactive 3 – Best Fitness Smartwatch for Texting
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a very lightweight smartwatch that packs lots of heavy features. Although the Vivoactive 4 is more advanced, its price tag is too hefty for a texting smartwatch.
You can easily text through its round face design and a 1.2-inch display that’s easy to read even in direct sunlight. However, its resolution is a little subpar relative to the price and size of the watch.
You can navigate using the touchscreen and side button and access menus and different apps. Moreover, you can set alarms, change watch settings, view different stats, check the weather, or view recent notifications.
In general, its performance is quite smooth, except for some lag in the interface every now and then. To get the best out of your Garmin Vivoactive 3, you should pair it with the companion Garmin Connect app, available for both iOS and Android. From there, you can sync all your workout data as well as install new watch faces.
The best thing about this watch is its extremely long battery life that can last up to seven days on a single charge –heaven compared to the 18-hour battery life of Apple watches.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Accurate distance tracking
- Good GPS and heart rate monitor
- Easy to read display
Cons:
- Inaccurate sleep tracking
- No music storage onboard
- Garmin Pay isn’t commonly available
Bottom Line
If you want a fully-fledged fitness smartwatch besides the ease of texting through it, the Vivoactive 3 is an amazing candidate. It comes with smart notifications, all-day heart rate tracking, and GPS –all in a lightweight package.
7. Fitbit Versa 2 – Great for Fitness and Sleep Tracking Features
The Fitbit Versa 2 seems like a more affordable alternative to the Ionic and only lacks the built-in GPS feature. On the other hand, it does have an always-on display and Amazon Alexa.
In terms of replies, the Versa 2 allows you to make voice replies besides the quick replies feature that enables you to send fast responses through your watch. However, this feature is only available if you pair your device with an Android smartphone.
Besides the replying capabilities, this watch comes with plenty of activity-tracking features, including step-counting, calories burned, floors climbed, a heart rate monitor, Multisport tracking besides the SmartTrack feature.
Additionally, it comes with sleep tracking capabilities measuring the duration and quality of your sleep by indicating the amount of time you spent in each stage, and finally showing you a sleep score.
It also has swim-tracking features as it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters.
On top of that, the Versa 2 comes with onboard music storage as well as an NFC chip that gives you the ability to make online payments.
Pros:
- Great always-on AMOLED display
- 5-day battery life
- Sleep tracking with smart wake
- Affordable price
Cons:
- No built-in GPS
- Fitbit OS is a little hard to adapt for some users
Bottom Line
If you’re not concerned with an LTE version or Google Assistant, then you should opt for the Versa 2 (over the Versa or Ionic) and enjoy its numerous features at an affordable price.
How to Pick a Smartwatch for Texting
When you buy a smartwatch with mainly texting in mind, you won’t have to worry about a bunch of things. Your main concerns should be the size of the display, how responsive it is, and the general smoothness of operation of the watch.
1. Device Compatibility
Compatibility is, naturally, the first thing that you want to consider when buying a smartwatch. Although many Android Wear updates add support for iOS, they’re still quite Android-centric. On the other hand, Apple Watches almost don’t work with Android phones. Some smartwatches are neutral and use other operating systems.
Fitbit devices, for example, pair well with both Android and iOS phones. However, in the particular aspect of texting, they give Android phones an advantage where they allow a “Quick Replies” feature that enables you to respond in the fastest ways to text messages.
2. Display
You should definitely consider the size of your display as it will dictate how easy it is to type out your text when you want to send one. Around 1.2 or 1.3 inches is a good enough size, and of course, anything larger.
Also, display resolution makes a bit of a difference as the higher the quality is, the clearer the texts will be, and consequently, the easier the texting.
3. Fitness
Just because your main focus is texting doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also look for some of the added benefits that come with smartwatches, namely fitness-tracking.
Some smartwatches give you only basic tracking as step=tracking and calories burned. On the other hand, some watches have multiple activity tracking and built-in GPS that enables you to track runs without needing a companion device.
Moreover, a built-in heart rate sensor goes a long way in terms of showing you stats regarding your overall health.
4. Battery Life
Whatever you buy your smartwatch for, the last thing you want to do is have to charge it so often that you don’t get to wear it.
Most smartwatches nowadays will give you a day or two of continuous operation on a single charge. But you could go for options that last four and five days like the Versa 2.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can You Text on an Android Smartwatch?
Not all Android Smartwatches allow you to write texts, but the ones listed above all do as well as some other options on the market like the rest of the Apple Watches, Samsung Gear S3, other Fitbit devices like the Ionic, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Which Smartwatches Allow You to Answer Calls?
This feature is a little harder to find as few options come with built-in speakers. These include –but not limited to- the Michael Kors Access Sofie.
Can You Text from a Fitbit?
The Fitbit devices that do have texting and a Quick Replies feature allow you to text through them. However, this particular feature is only available if you pair the Fitbit device with an Android smartphone, not one that runs on iOS.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, all the options I’ve listed are the best smartwatches for texting you’ll find on the market. However, that doesn’t mean that some of them won’t give you more advantages than others.
For example, the Gear Sport doubles as a fitness tracker, it has built-in GPS and many great features at a very affordable price. It also allows you to respond to your texts in three different ways, according to which you find more convenient.
However, if you have an iPhone, you might want to go for the Apple Watch Series 3 for the higher compatibility and its superior four-method replying capability.
If you want to leave your phone behind completely, you can go for the LTE version of the Ticwatch Pro.
And finally, if you want to conduct phone calls using your smartwatch, you should opt for the Michael Kors Access Sofie.
