10 Best Smartwatches For Spotify in 2021 [Streaming + Downloading]

Not every smartwatch is compatible with Spotify and even if it’s compatible, different watches offer different functionality. For instance, you can stream music and play without your smartphone, but you can’t download it for offline listening on Apple, Fitbit, WearOS-based watches. You didn’t know that, did you?

That said, you surely can use an Apple Watch, Fitbit, or any other WearOS-based smartwatch to control playback, set volume, stream music, and even save your favorite songs (save, not download), browse playlists, etc.

Your choice of watch totally depends on the choice of features. For instance, if you want a watch that allows you to download music on Spotify for offline listening, then you should consider getting a smartwatch from Samsung or Garmin. Note: Music downloading is only allowed for Spotify premium subscribers.

Based on my research, 55% of the people who purchase a smartwatch use them to control music playback, adjust volume, etc. The rest 45% people listen to music straight from their watch. If you belong to the latter group, then you’ll also want a smartwatch that comes with a speaker and mic.

Since you’re here, you’re looking for smartwatch options that can take care of your Spotify needs, but I’m sure you’ll be using these intelligent timepieces for different tasks such as fitness tracking, replying to notifications, etc. So make sure that the device you’ve picked offers all the functions you’ll need.

You were here for a list and I’ve bored you with details about what to get and what not to, don’t worry, because just below this small paragraph, you shall find a list of the 10 best-rated watches for Spotify use.

10 Best Smartwatches for Spotify in 2021

Alongside listening to music, we also use these smartwatches for everything including health & fitness tracking, interacting with our phones, taking calls, checking/replying to notifications on our phones, and much more.

I’ve evaluated a bunch of devices before making a commitment and finally these are the options that made it to the final list. The main things I kept in mind include things like if there is integrated or third-party support for Spotify if there are basic health and fitness options, and if it is usable as a good daily smartwatch.

1. Best Overall: Garmin Venu

The Garmin Venu would be my first choice in the Premium Smartwatch department. Unlike other watches like the Apple Watch Series 6, Fitbit Versa 3, etc, this watch also is capable of downloading music on Spotify (provided you’re a Spotify premium subscriber)

The Venu is not their top of the line Fenix stuff but it has a better display than the rest of the line-up, and it is great for Spotify. For users looking into a good fitness smartwatch with all Spotify features, the Venu is a good choice.

Compatibility & Connectivity

First, let’s talk about compatibility, and reasonably enough, Garmin does support both iOS and Android-powered smartphones including OnePlus, Motorola, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones. That means your current smartphone should be compatible.

The connectivity options are also pretty solid. There is Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for the internet and all other wireless needs, alongside GPS, GLONASS & Galileo for tracking, maps, and navigation. You can also answer voice calls, directly on your watch using a Bluetooth connection from your phone.

How’s the Music Streaming?

For music streaming and playback, Garmin supports Spotify and Amazon Music. In both cases, you can stream or download the music directly through the apps and play them using wireless headphones.

For Spotify, you do get all the features baked into the ecosystem like simultaneous device switching, suggested playlists, Media controls, and the Spotify premium features like download play music offline, play music on the highest quality available, etc.

Design and Build Quality

Coming to the design, the Venu has been designed with the signature Garmin look in mind. The circular case has two buttons on the right side and the monitoring sensors at the bottom. The frame is made out of Carbon-reinforced polymer with stainless steel bezel on the top. It does look premium with a hint of ruggedness.

The device also comes with a 5 ATM water resistance rating. That means you can take it for swimming or surfing but, please don’t take it for diving under the ocean. It can last up to 50 meters underwater and that’s not gonna work for ocean depths.

Display and Hardware

The Venu is one of the only Garmin devices to use an OLED panel. The 1.2-inch panel is bright, vibrant, and has an infinite contrast ratio. The visuals look good, the Spotify interface is great and the outdoor visibility is pretty great as well.

The internals are pretty decent as well but, the performance won’t really go toe-to-toe with something like an Apple Watch. Anyway, the UI feels smooth, menus & apps open quickly, and Spotify operates without any hiccups as well. There is 8GB of internal storage and that should be enough if you want to keep one or two Spotify playlists offline.

Sensors

On the health and fitness side of things, there is Blood Oxygen Monitoring, Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, Distance Tracking, and various Sports Tracking modes. This includes Garmin’s Pace Pro for guided running and exclusive features for Golf, Biking, and more.

Battery Life

Coming to the battery life, this device can do about 5 days on a single charge with mixed usage. That’s not the best compared to most other Garmins but it’s still pretty good. Now, you need to keep in mind that steaming music on Spotify will drain the battery way faster.

What do I think?

Overall, the Garmin Venu is the perfect sweet spot if you want a Garmin smartwatch to stream Spotify and do not want to spend a lot of money. It has all that good health and fitness stuff with exclusive features and it provides modern Bluetooth hardware for calls and music streaming. The display also makes it one of the only Garmin smartwatches to use OLED technology.

2. Best Runner Up: Apple Watch Series 6

The Apple Watch Series 6 is the latest wearable that Apple currently makes. When it comes to music streaming, Apple does both Spotify and Apple Music. Of course, all the Spotify ecosystem features and transferring songs via. Airplay 2 to a compatible TV or speaker also works.

How’s the Spotify Experience?

Circling back to music and most importantly Spotify, the Apple Watch does that really well. You need to note that Apple Music shall feel better because of the ecosystem integration but unless you have Apple Carplay or a lot of Siri enabled smart speakers at your home, Spotify offers better sound quality.

You can get all your playlists, stream via. Bluetooth, and even easily switch devices using Spotify Connect. It also has a built-in speaker but, most likely you won’t be listening to music on it. However, you can’t download any songs for offline playback like you can do in the Apple Music.

Compatibility & Connectivity

All the Apple Watches require an iPhone. So, in case you’re an Android user, you won’t be able to use the Apple Watch Series 6 or any Apple Watch for that matter. Now, as far as connectivity goes, the Series 6 is one of the only devices to do both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands on 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. There is also Bluetooth 5.0 and 4G LTE support in case you got a cellular model.

Design and Build Quality

The design hasn’t really changed much compared to the Series 5 from last year or the Series 4 from the year before that. The base model still comes with an Aluminum case with a glass top and the digital crown is located on the side and you do get a red ring on top of it in case you have the cellular model.

Note: There are also a couple of premium models available with either Stainless Steel or Titanium option with a Sapphire top.

Apple also includes a 5ATM water resistance rating which is standard in all variants. This allows the device to track all those swimming sessions without getting damaged and if you want, you can also wear the device while you’re surfing. However, don’t take it to skin diving as it can’t handle it.

Display and Brightness

The display on the Apple Watch Series 6 (1.78-inch on the 44mm and 1.57-inch on the 40mm) is brighter and more energy-efficient compared to its predecessor.

The LTPO OLED panel has gotten better over-time and although the peak brightness still tops at 1000 nits, it is now twice as bright in the always-on display mode compared to the Series 5.

The quality of the panel is top-notch as well with great visuals, infinite contrast and you can create your own custom watch faces to go with it.

Storage and RAM

The internals are pretty great with the latest S6 SOC from Apple, handling all the heavy-lifting and there is around 1GB of RAM to back it up. This allows a fast & smooth performance with faster app opening times compared to the Series 5 and 32GB of internal storage is more than enough to store all the third-party apps and offline songs you may need.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Coming to the health and fitness stuff, the Series 6 is definitely one of the best health and fitness tracking smartwatches out there. It can take ECG readings using the sensor located at the bottom and the digital crown on the side.

Alongside that, it also does Blood Oxygen Monitoring, all-day Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Step Counting, Distance Tracking, Swim Tracking, Workout Tracking, and much more. Besides, it’s also compatible with CGMs like Dexcom G6.

Battery Life

The Apple Watch Series 6 can do up to 18 hours of mixed usage on a single charge. If you’re listening to music on Spotify, you’ll be getting around 7 hours of music streaming or around 10 hours if you’ve downloaded the songs beforehand. Thankfully there is Fast Charging to top it up from 0% to 80% just within an hour.

Why should you get it?

So overall, if you are looking for the best of the best in the Apple world, the Series 6 is currently the best option you can get. It works really well with Spotify and has one of the best health and fitness monitoring options in the entire wearable industry. If you have the budget and you use an iPhone, you can’t go wrong with the Apple Watch Series 6.

3. Best from Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

In case you’re looking for something in the Samsung wearable line-up, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best all-rounder you can find right now. It has Spotify integrated right into the software and an amazing overall feature set.

Compatibility and Connectivity

Starting off with compatibility, the device does support both iOS and Android powered smartphones. However, in case you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you’ll have better ecosystem integration and access to cellular connectivity in case you have opted-in for the cellular variant.

That brings us to the connectivity section and with Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and optional 4G LTE connectivity, the Active 2 is definitely a great package.

The Spotify Experience

As mentioned earlier, Spotify is integrated right into the software of the device. That means it can be activated with voice commands, so you can ask the device to play any song and it’ll play it on Spotify by default. Besides, it’s one of the few watches where you can download music on Spotify for offline playback.

You do get easy switching between devices and access to all your playlists. If you want to stream on your Bluetooth headphones, that works like a charm as well.

Design and Build Quality

The design is subtle while being sturdy and looking premium. While the circular case design has been retained, it has a top filling display with a couple of buttons on the side. Depending on if you’re getting the non-LTE or the LTE variant, you either get an Aluminum or a Stainless Steel case.

The rotating bezel is no longer there like it was in the old-gen Galaxy Active but you can achieve the same functionality by doing a similar gesture on the black side bezels around the display.

As far as water-resistance is concerned, Samsung claims that they’ve achieved both 5 ATM and IP68 certifications. That means alongside great water resistance, you also get protection from everyday dust. Again, it can stand swimming, surfing & rain without any issues.

Display Quality

Samsung makes the best AMOLED displays in the industry so, of course, the 1.4-inch panel on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is amazing. It is bright, vibrant, and energy-efficient. The visuals look great, texts are sharp and the app interfaces look pretty great as well. Now, the brightness does go up to 1000 nits and there is also an always-on display mode.

Performance and Hardware

The performance is actually really good. The Exynos 9110 is a great SOC for wearables and combined with up to 1.5GB of RAM, the device just flies through tasks, and app opening times are fast as well.

Do remember that in case you’re getting the non-LTE you’ll get 768MB of RAM and you may notice that if you’re pushing the device hard. The 4GB internal storage is a little low if you want to install a lot of apps or keep your music playlists offline so, keep that in mind as well.

Health and Fitness Sensors

In the health & fitness department, Samsung has done a lot of things right with the Galaxy Watch Active 2. The device recently got ECG approval in the US so, if you live in the US, you should now be able to take ECG measurements. Other than that, there is Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Stress Tracking, Guided Breathing Sessions, Step Counting, Distance Tracking, Workout Tracking, and more.

The Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, the Active 2 can go for an entire day or maybe slightly more on a single charge, with mixed usage. Now, in case you’re doing a lot of music streaming on Spotify, the battery life will be shorter but you do have fast charging, so topping it up quickly isn’t going to be an issue.

Should you get it?

Overall, if you’re looking for a Galaxy Smartwatch and you don’t like the rough and more nerdy look of the Galaxy Watch 3, then you’ll be best off with the Galaxy Watch Active 2. It has a lot of features, great performance, and most importantly, it has Spotify integrated right into the software.

4. Best Fitbit: Fitbit Sense

If you prefer the Fitbit ecosystem over Apple and Samsung’s offerings but, you need access to all the top-end features alongside access to Spotify, then the Fitbit Sense is a better option than other Fibit watches such as Versa, as this one comes with a speaker.

Compatibility and Connectivity

You can pair the Fitbit Sense with both Android and iOS powered smartphones, so your current smartphone should be compatible. Connectivity is also great with Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and GPS/GLONASS for tracking & navigation. So, there aren’t any trade-offs in this section.

Spotify Experience

You can download the Spotify app from Fitbit’s app store and it has all those features you might expect. The app is a full-fledged wearable version with access to libraries, playlists, Spotify Connect, music controls, and more.

If you’re looking forward to playing music offline, then you’ll need to use other services like Deezer and Pandora, as Spotify offline isn’t supported on Fitbits as of now. However, unlike other Fitbit watches, the Fitbit sense comes with a speaker, which allows you to play music directly your smartwatch rather than just controlling the music playback.

Design and Build Quality

The case is designed in mainstream Fitbit fashion with a squircle shape with the top glass wrapping around the sides. The side button has been replaced with a haptic sensor and it can perform the same functionalities but you may need some time to get used to it. There is a Stainless Steel bezel on top of the Aluminum frame and you do also get some black bezel around the display.

The device is certified for 5 ATM of water resistance. That means the device can survive under up to 50 meters of water. So, if you’re wearing it during swimming or surfing or in the rain, it should hold up fine.

Display Quality

The 1.59-inch OLED panel is pretty great with a peak brightness of 1000 nits. So, the outdoor visibility is great, you get the infinite contrast ratio with pitch blacks & vivid colors, and the texts appear sharp as well. There is also an always-on display mode in case you want to check the time without waking up the display every time.

Performance & Internals

Perhaps the biggest complaint about Fitbit devices would be their performance and sadly this device is no exception. Now, it isn’t necessarily slow or anything and it has decent app opening times and a nice UI experience.

When compared to what Apple & Samsung watches, Fitbits can definitely use more powerful internals to improve the performance.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Health and Fitness are the segments where the Sense shines. It has all the latest features like ECG, Blood Oxygen Monitoring & even an on-skin temperature sensor which is useful for seniors.

Other than these, it also has Heart Rate Monitoring, Stress Tracking, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Activity tracking, and you can also use the community features to connect with your local Fitbit users.

Battery Life

Battery life is long and turns out to be a strong-suit as the device can do up to 6 days on a single charge with mixed usage. Streaming a lot of Spotify will definitely drain the battery quicker but, the company has provided fast charging and they do claim that 12 minutes of charge is enough for a day, so that is also convenient.

Should you purchase it?

So, if you are looking for every single health & fitness feature you can find without going into Samsung or Apple’s ecosystem and you also want to have a great experience on Spotify then, the Fitbit Sense is a great option for you.

5. Best Wear OS Watch: Fossil Gen 5

When it comes to Fossil, they’ve been doing some really great work with their smartwatch line-up and the Fossil gen 5 is the latest option that they have to offer. Using Google’s Wear OS ecosystem, the device gets access to Spotify from the Play Store and it works pretty well.

Compatibility and Connectivity

Compatibility on the Gen 5 is universal so it will indeed work with both iOS and Android ecosystems. For connectivity, the situation is a bit more tricky as Fossil did recently add a 4G LTE variant in partnership with Verizon.

So, now you can choose between a regular and a cellular model. But, even in the newer variant, they are still using the old Bluetooth 4.2 module which is quite old at this point and there is 2.4GHz, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi which is pretty standard.

Spotify and Music Experience

Spotify is a delight on the Gen 5. As mentioned earlier, you can download the app directly from the Google Play Store. Steaming works via. Bluetooth and you do get access to your personal playlist, and although casting doesn’t work for WearOS, you can get the same functionality using device switching on the app itself. If you have the cellular variant, you won’t be able to stream on 4G as of now.

Design and Build Quality

The design is actually pretty nice with a circular frame, one main button, two additional configurable buttons, and a selection of style choices with slightly different designs on top.

The case is made out of Aluminum and it does feel sturdy. You can also choose from a number of different strap options to match your needs.

Unlike some other options on the list, the Gen 5 has a slightly lower 3 ATM rating which means it’ll survive up to 30 meters instead of the more standard 50 meters which is more than enough for beginning swimmers.

Display and Brightness

The display is definitely one of the strong-suits for Gen 5. The 1.28-inch OLED panel is one of the coolest ones available on the market and it does have a higher pixel count to keep up.

The brightness peaks at 1000 nits it’s fairly visible outside and thanks to the OLED technology, it has an infinite contrast ratio. If big displays are your jam, this one is definitely going to be one of the top choices for you.

Performance and Hardware

The performance is also pretty good as far as Wear OS powered devices are considered. The Snapdragon 3100 is capable of handling tasks pretty well and the 1GB RAM is also really important in this case as Wear OS is a RAM-hungry operating system. The 8GB storage is enough to install a few apps and perhaps keep one or two playlists offline.

Sensors For Fitness and Health Tracking

In the health & fitness department, the device have all the basic features like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Cardio Fitness Tracking, Swim Tracking, Step Counting, Activity Tracking, and more.

You do not get some of the premium stuff like Blood Oxygen Monitoring or ECG so, consider that before making a purchase decision.

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, the Fossil Gen 5 can go up to 24 hours on a single charge with mixed usage. Now, in case you’re using one of their low-power modes with limited functionality, you’ll get better battery life but, if you’re streaming music on Spotify, the battery life will be significantly shorter.

Conclusion

In the end, if you’re looking for a Wear OS powered device and you want something fancy, the Fossil Gen 5 devices are going to be great for you. There is enough memory to store your favorite Spotify playlist and you can choose from a variety of case styles.

6. Best Battery Life: TicWatch Pro 2020

In case you’d like to consider something else but, still want to use Wear OS, the TicWatch Pro 2020 is a good alternative. You do get Spotify through the Play Store and the device also has a pretty similar feature set to the Fossil Gen 5.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Thanks to Wear OS, the Ticwatch Pro 2020 does support both Android and iOS powered smartphones. On the connectivity front, there is Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and for maps and navigation, there is GPS, GLONASS, Beidou & Galileo. For some reason, some companies are still using the old Bluetooth 4.2 standard and that does need to change.

The Spotify Experience

As you may expect, the Ticwatch Pro does Spotify really well. All the features I previously talked about in the Fossil Gen 5, do exist in this one as it’s basically the same app. But, it does have half the storage, so storing those playlists offline might become an issue over time. The rest of the stuff will work flawlessly.

Design and Hardware

The device looks good with a modern circular design and two customizable buttons on the side. The Aluminum case is sturdy and the glass top also holds up well against day-to-day scratches. The construction almost falls into the semi-rugged category, so those who are going to be abusing their smartwatch a lot may prefer this one over the Fossil Gen 5.

The Ticwatch Pro doesn’t really come with an ATM rating but a regular IP68 rating instead. In some circumstances that can be problematic but, the company does claim that they’ve made the device swim-proof. Make of that what you will but, the border-line is, do not push this device when it comes to water resistance.

Display and Performance

The 1.39-inch OLED panel is pretty good with great visuals, perfect blacks, sharp texts, and good outdoor visibility. There is also a low-res translucent LCD panel on top of the OLED panel and if you’re using your device as a regular watch in the lowest power setting, the device will automatically switch to the LCD panel.

The performance is slightly compromised by the older Snapdragon Wear 2100 but, thanks to the gigabyte worth of RAM (1GB) the device is pretty consistent while swiping through menus and switching between apps. The app opening times may be slightly slower depending on the app itself.

Health & Fitness Tracking

As far as health & fitness goes,  the Ticwatch Pro also does all the basic stuff like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, Step Counting,  Activity Tracking, Workout Tracking, and more. Again there are no premium features like Blood Oxygen Monitoring or ECG so, in case you need those, you should consider something else.

Battery Life

The battery life, on the other hand, is slightly better than the Fossil Gen 5. The device can do up to 2 days on a single charge with mixed usage. Now, in case you’re using the device for music streaming, you may need to charge the device way more frequently.

Final Thoughts!

All things considered, you should choose the TicWatch Pro 2020 only if you prefer a slightly tougher smartwatch and a longer battery life. Other than that it is also for those who do not like fancy wearables on their wrist. If you fall in one of these categories then, sure, get this one instead.

7. Best for Sports: Moto 360 3rd Gen

Coming back to thin and premium looking smartwatch, the Moto 360 3rd Gen has one of the best build quality in the entire line-up of Wear OS powered devices and it does give all the premium brands on the same operating system a run for their money. So, in case you want something a bit different and also from a mainstream tech company, you may like the Moto 360 3rd Gen, better.

Connectivity & Compatibility

Now, as always, connectivity is not really an issue on Wear OS so, regardless of if you’re using iOS or Android, the Moto 360 should be fully compatible. For connectivity, there is GPS, GLONASS, Beidou & Galileo for maps & navigation with Bluetooth 4.2 and 801.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. Again, the Bluetooth can really use an upgrade but the rest is fine.

The Spotify Experience

Just like any other Wear OS powered smartwatch, you can download Spotify from the Google Play Store. All the essential features like wireless playback, music & podcast downloads, playlist shuffle play, easy device switching, etc. are all available so you won’t be compromising on that front.

Design and Hardware

Design and build quality are areas where the Moto 360 3rd Gen, shines over its competitors. The case is made entirely out of Stainless Steel, there is a PVD coating to protect the case from scratching, the screws are made out of Titanium & the display is protected by Gorilla Glass. No other brand is providing this kind of build quality anywhere near this price point, so for Motorola, this is really impressive.

Coming to water resistance, the device has been rated for 3 ATM which measures up to 30 meters underwater. So, swimming and surfing should be fine with this device. However, this is still lower than 5 ATM which is kinda standard for most smartwatches these days.

Display Panel

The circular 1.2-inch OLED display is pretty great as well. It peaks at around 1000 nits, has an always-on mode with good outdoor visibility. You also get all the advantages of an OLED panel including an infinite contrast ratio, perfect blacks, better energy efficiency & vibrant colors. Overall, this is a pretty good display for the money.

How’s the Performance?

The Snapdragon Wear 3100 combined with 1GB RAM provides really good performance with fast app opening times & smooth transitions. But, as the product is coming from a mainstream tech company like Motorola, it would have been nice if they used the latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 instead. The 8GB internal storage is enough to store a couple of playlists and a few third-party applications.

Health-Centric Features

In the health & fitness department, Motorola does cover all the essential features like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Workout Tracking, Step Counting, Distance Tracking, Swim Tracking, and more. Again, at least a Blood Oxygen Sensor would have been nice considering how mainstream tech bands are including those in their budget fitness bands.

Battery Backup

Battery life is kinda average with up to 1 day of mixed-use on a single charge. It will surely last a lot less if you’re streaming Spotify over Bluetooth but, quick listening sessions here and then won’t necessarily hurt. Thankfully, the device can charge up to 100% within an hour so, topping it quickly ain’t gonna be an issue.

So, How’s the Overall Package?

The Moto 360 3rd Gen is a great smartwatch for the money. It has an excellent build quality, all the essential health & fitness features, Spotify support, and it charges pretty quickly. So, in case these features do appeal to you and you prefer something from a more mainstream tech company, you can’t go wrong with Motorola.

8. Best for Streaming Music: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

In case you want to have a Garmin smartwatch but the Venu isn’t really your speed and you want something a bit different, you may like the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. It is a more mainstream smartwatch from the company with access to music streaming on the go and all the Garmin exclusive features.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Just like every other Garmin smartwatch, the Forerunner 245 Music is compatible with iOS and Android-powered smartphones. The connectivity front is pretty strong with 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and there is even ANT+ which we’ve been seeing a lot in Garmin’s wearables. For maps & navigation, there is GPS, GLONASS & Galileo. So, you won’t really be missing out if you’re going with this one instead.

Spotify & Music Streaming

Garmin lets you download a large number of third-party apps from their Connect IQ store. For music, you can get Spotify, Amazon Music & Deezer. Now, the Spotify app is a full-fledged wearable version. That means you can access your playlists, stream via. Bluetooth, switch between multiple devices, and all the other Spotify stuff that you generally do on your phone.

The Design

Now, the design is quite different from the Venu with a CRP (Carbon Reinforced Polymer) made circular case, with a total of 5 buttons on the sides, and the monitoring sensors at the bottom. The top is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 and this device isn’t really trying to look rugged or anything like that.

The Display

The 1.2-inch display is using a Transflective MIP (Memory-In-Pixel) panel which uses a more traditional LED backlighting technology. That means the colors aren’t nearly as vibrant as an OLED panel and the contrast ratio is way off. The brightness is also a bit lower, so the outdoor visibility will be worse than most of the other options on the list.  The display does its job just fine but, it’s up to you if you can live with the compromises or not.

Internals & Performance

The performance is also pretty compelling. There are no noticeable lags or stutters while swiping through menus and the app opening times are fairly quick. Combined with the well-optimized Garmin OS, the internals hold up just fine. There is about 8GB of internal storage which should be enough to keep one or two playlists offline and install a few third-party apps.

Health & Fitness

In the health and fitness department, we have almost the exact same feature set as the Venu. There is a Pulse Oximeter to measure Blood Oxygen but no ECG. You also get access to Pace Pro (Garmin’s guided running features) and all the exclusive Golf and Biking features from Garmin. Other than that, all the basic features like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep tracking Workout Tracking, Swm Tracking, VO2 Max, and more are all available.

Battery Life

Battery life on the Forerunner is pretty great with up to 7 days of mixed usage. Now, music streaming on Spotify or any other third party app will drain the battery way faster. If you’re running in the GPS mode with music streaming through your Bluetooth headphones, the device can last up to 6 hours in that situation.

Should You Get?

So, in case you needed something a bit different than the Venu while staying inside the Garmin Ecosystem, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is an excellent alternative. It has a similar set of features as well as a similar price tag while differing in a few key areas. If those are the things you value more, then this one would be a better fit for you.

9. Best for Durability: Fitbit Versa 2

If you want to get something in the Fitbit ecosystem but, the Sense is out of your budget, you can definitely consider the Fitbit Versa 2 instead. It still has access to Spotify, all the basic health & fitness stuff & it also has the good old tactile button instead of the haptic sensor in case you prefer that.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Fitbits do not have any compatibility issues, so your current Android device or iPhone should be compatible. It has Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless communications & connectivity alongside, GPS/GLONASS for tracking & navigation. That is acceptable considering this product is a generation old.

Playing Music with Spotify

To use Spotify, you do need to download it from Fitbit’s app store and the app is of-course a full-fledged wearable version, so you won’t be missing out on features. You can stream your favorite songs and podcasts over Bluetooth, get access to Spotify recommended or your own playlists, switch between multiple devices using Spotify Connect, download & listen offline, and much more.

Design & Structure

The design is again oriented around the signature Fitbit fashion with a squircle case with the glass top wrapped around the sides. As mentioned earlier this one still has the access button on the side which was replaced by a haptic sensor in the newer models. The black bezels are a bit more prominent compared to the sense but, that’s something you have to deal with if you want the lower price.

What Else it Can Do?

If you want to take the device swimming, it is capable of up to 5 ATM of water resistance. So, it won’t be an issue to use the device in the pool or under the rain. This is pretty standard in most smartwatches these days, so it’s nice that Fitbit didn’t skip on that.

The Display

The 1.34-inch OLED panel is as good as you’d expect around this price segment. It has perfect blacks, it’s fairly bright outdoors, the visuals and texts look good, and it’s less power-hungry. As far as the viewing area is concerned, the square display inside the squircle bezel may look odd at times but, you won’t really notice that once you get used to it.

How’s the Peformance?

Just like its new and more expensive sibling, the Versa 2 also has an okay-ish performance. Moving across menus and apps doesn’t feel slow but it’s still not as fast as some of the competitors. App opening times can also improve so, maybe it’s time for Fitbit to work on the processing power of their wearables. However, you won’t notice a lot of these things unless you’re coming from one of Apple or Samsung’s recent devices.

Tracking Health

As a specialty of Fitbits, no major health & fitness features are missing on the Versa 2. The device can measure your Blood Oxygen Levels using the inbuilt Pulse Oximeter alongside all the essential stuff like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Swim Tracking, Real-time Pace & Distance Tracking, Goal-based Exercises and, more. You do miss out on the ECG feature but, you need to go for the Sense if you need that.

Battery Life

The battery life is great with up to 6 days of mixed usage on a single charge. As it might have been obvious by now, streaming music on Spotify will drain the battery faster and if you are listening to a lot of music, you may need to charge it every day. But, overall it’s great battery life.

Who Should Get it?

So, in case you are okay with not having ECG and you need that tactile button feedback to access your menus and stuff, go for the Fitbit Versa 2. You won’t miss out on much compared to the newer Fitbit Versa 3 and you’ll save some money in the process.

10. Cheapest Option: Samsung Gear Sport

Samsung has been making some great smartwatches over the years and in case you have one of their smartphones and need a smartwatch that gives you access to Spotify, measures all your basic stats, and yet doesn’t cost a lot, you may get away with the Samsung Gear Sport. It’s a couple of years old at this point, so it’s often available for a way lower price.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Compatibility hasn’t ever been an issue with Samsung’s wearables and the Gear Sport does support iPhones alongside Samsung and non-Samsung Android smartphones. For connectivity the device is still using the older Bluetooth 4.2 but, considering how many brands are using that in their latest devices, I can’t really give Samsung a hard time. Other than that there are 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and GPS/GLONASS for navigation & tracking.

Spotify & Music Playback

Spotify can be downloaded from Samsung’s app store and once you’re in, you get access to the entire library with all Spotify customized playlists and your personal playlists. You can also switch between devices using Spotify Connect. Some new features may not be available but it does the job just fine.

Design and Build

Design & build quality might be one of the biggest reasons to still consider this device over the others. The circular frame is made out of Aluminum and although it’s not a muted look similar to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, this device has a mechanical rotating bezel that you can use to switch between apps and menus. Many users actually prefer that over the newer touch-sensitive strip and if you’re one of them, this one is definitely for you.

Is it Swim-Proof?

Coming to water resistance, the device has been rated for survival up to 50 meters (5 ATM) underwater. That ensures complete protection during swimming and surfing. You can wear it in the ocean but, it won’t survive skin diving.

The Display

The 1.2-inch OLED panel is as good as on any other device in the segment. It doesn’t match-up against the latest Samsung offering but it is still bright & fairly visible outdoors, has that infinite contrast ratio producing those pitch blacks, and has way better energy efficiency compared to a LED-backlit display.

The Performance

The performance is pretty good with the dual-core Exynos 3250 running the system alongside about 768MB of RAM. There are no significant lags in the UI but, the app opening times are a bit longer compared to the newer models running on the Exynos 9110. There is about 4GB of internal storage but that’s not really a lot for storing a couple of playlists offline, so streaming is your best bet here.

Health & Fitness Tracking

When it comes to health and fitness tracking, the Gear Sport does provide all the essential monitoring features. You get Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep tracking, Swim Tracking, Distance Tracking, Step Counting, Workout Tracking, and more. That’s almost the same as most mid-range smartwatches right now, so you’re not missing out either.

Battery Life

Samsung claims that the Gear Sport can last up to 2 days on a single charge with mixed usage. Streaming a lot of Spotify will shorten that to a few hours, so you may need to charge it up every day in that case. Otherwise, the battery life is fine.

Our Opinion!

So, in case you want to use a Samsung smartwatch that does Spotify really well, has all the basic health and fitness features, and costs comparatively less, the Samsung Gear Sport is going to be a great fit for you. The only thing that you need to consider is the fact that it is now out of Software support so it won’t receive any new software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

There is a wide variety of smartwatches that support music streaming via. Spotify and other music platforms. If you want to use something capable of that, then you’re definitely ahead of the curve. Now, if you made it this far, you probably know what device fits you the best. But, in case you’re still confused, let me make this easy for you.

• If you want the most advanced smartwatch that has all the modern features and can do Spotify well, get the Apple Watch Series 6 or the Fitbit Sense in case you aren’t an iOS user.
• In case you want something more muted with great features and premium aesthetics, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 or the Garmin Venu.
• In case you need a SpO2 checking option but, you don’t want to spend a lot, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a great value.
• If you’re looking for something less fancy, you can have a look at the Garmin 245 Music or the Ticwatch Pro 2020.
• If you would like to rotate the bezel around the display to navigate the menus, get the Samsung Gear Sport, or in case you’re okay with a touch-sensitive strip, get the Galaxy Watch Active 2 instead.

Once you’ve figured out which of the above categories you fall in, you already found the devices that suit your needs, the best. I hope this would be enough to get your doubts cleared about the products and the available functionality of Spotify in them.