8 Best Smartwatches For Sleep Tracking in 2021 [High Accuracy]

If you’re looking for a reliable smartwatch to track your sleep, you’re either someone who really cares about your health and wants to keep a close track of it, or are not getting proper sleep. Whatever the reason might be, as a possible solution, here are some of the most accurate sleep tracking smartwatches in 2021.

A smartwatch can detect when you fell asleep and woke up, by analyzing your movements. However, it is only possible if you’re wearing the device while you go to bed. Although there are many smartphone apps that can track your sleep, they’re not accurate and require your smartphone to be near you while sleeping.

Coming to the features, they can vary from one watch to another but, there are some basic things that a good sleep monitoring smartwatch should have. For starters, it should be able to track your sleeping quality, durations and give you proper tools to improve that and slowly perfect it in the long-run.

Alongside the essentials, extras like reminders (very helpful for elderly who forget to take their medications), personalized suggestions, access to third-party health apps, and daily alarms are a nice bonus.

Now, necessities vary from user to user and it is not easy to choose the smartwatch that is best suited for your personal needs. If you pick up the wrong device, it may not serve your sleeping needs at all. So, to make this confusion go away, I’ve made this list of best-rated smartwatches.

8 Best Smartwatches For Sleep Tracking in 2021

I’ve evaluated a huge number of devices and finally landed on these options. The devices in the list below belong to a wide variety of price points and alongside sleep tracking, they also do regular health & fitness tracking really well.

So, you can rest assured that whatever your preferred budget is, you’re going to get an overall good smartwatch with all the necessary features included.

1. Best Overall: Apple Watch Series 6

If you are an iPhone user, then it cannot get any better than the Apple Watch Series 6. It is the best smartwatch that Apple currently makes and alongside tracking your sleep really well, it has a ton of health & fitness-focused features to help maintain your personal health on a daily basis.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Now, keep in mind that Apple Watches only work with iPhones so, in case you have an Android smartphone or even an iPad, it’s not going to work for you. On the connectivity side, it has Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Dual-band Wi-Fi, and GPS/GNSS. You can also get a cellular variant with support for 4G LTE.

How’s the Sleep Tracking?

Apple lets you customize everything including scheduling the perfect amount of sleeping time, setting a silent haptic alarm to wake you up gently in the morning, creating a sleep goal, setting up reminders, turning on do-not-disturb when sleep mode is activated, and more.

The device will monitor your sleep patterns, collect other sleep-related information. You can track this data on iPhone’s Health app that stores daily sleep information for up to 14 days.

Comfort, Design & Build

The Watch Series 6 is sleek and feels comfortable on the wrist. The rectangular case with rounded edges comes in three builds, and a bunch of band options to choose from. The Silicone, Braided Woven & Leather bands are more comfortable to sleep in, compared to the Titanium and Stainless Steel options.

As mentioned earlier, you can get three build options to choose from. The base variant will come with an Aluminum construction but, you can also get it in a shiny Stainless Steel variant or a super-premium Titanium variant. These are significantly more expensive though.

Display & Watch Faces

Apple uses an LTPO OLED panel for the display and it comes in a bigger 1.78-inch (44mm) or a slightly smaller 1.57-inch (40mm) size. It has an always-on display option, and it can go super-dim in the night.

If you’ve used WatchOS watches, then you must have loved the limitless watch faces available. The good thing is, with the Apple Watch Series 6 you can even create your own watch faces (isn’t it amazing?)

Performance & Battery Life

WatchOS 7 is feature-rich and easy to use and to power it up, it has the latest S6 chip with 1GB RAM & 32GB Internal storage. The device runs fast & smooth with no noticeable lags or stutters, and app opening times are quick.

The device can go up to 18 hours of mixed-use on a single charge. Once you start using sleep tracking, the watch will notify you to charge 60 minutes before bedtime, in case you have less than 30% battery left.

What do I think?

If you use an iPhone, the Watch Series 6 is the best sleep tracking experience you’re gonna get. The device will do everything related to sleep tracking, automatically. In case you are a bit low on budget, you can also go for the Apple Watch SE.

Suggested read: Apple Watch SE versus Apple Watch 6.

2. Best Runner Up: Garmin Vivoactive 4

For the non-Apple crowd, Garmin is a perfectly viable alternative. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is an excellent device for sleep tracking, has most of the general features, and it is also a lot cheaper compared to some of the premium flagship offerings from the company.

Compatibility & Connectivity

The Vivoactive 4 is compatible with both iOS and Android powered smartphones. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS, GLONASS & Galileo which is pretty good for the money.

Sleep Tracking Features

Garmin uses a technology called Advanced Sleep Monitoring that combines data like sleep patterns, sleep stages, and heart rate but, because the Vivoactive 4 has a Pulse Oximeter, it also adds data for Blood Oxygen levels. So, when you go to sleep, it analyzes what is happening to your body and shows that information.

Comfort, Design & Build

The thin circular profile makes the device easy to wear in bed, and the overall comfort levels are really good. The Fiber-reinforced Polymer build feels sturdy and sustainable in the long run and the silicone straps are also ideal for wearing the device for long time periods in a row.

Display

The 1.3-inch Display is using a Transflective MIP panel is using a backlight which means it can’t produce pitch blacks like OLED. Also, the color reproduction is okay-ish. Anyway, it does the job just fine and if you don’t care about a super-vivid display on your watch, you won’t really notice it.

Performance

Garmin’s operating system is simple and really focused on keeping you hooked to your health goals. The performance seems fine with no micro stutters but, it still isn’t as fast as the Apple Watch. The 8GB Internal Storage is also kinda enough.

Battery Life

Battery life is a huge plus on the Vivoactive 4 with up to 8 days of mixed-use on a single charge. That means you’ll probably need to charge your device once a week. If you are using GPS a lot though, you may need to look for the charger sooner than that.

What do I think?

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a smartwatch for sports & fitness enthusiasts who also want excellent sleep tracking. Even if you don’t belong to the first category, you can still get this one and you won’t regret it.

3. Best Fitbit For Sleep Tracking: Fitbit Versa 3

Fitbit is one of the leading companies to do health & fitness really well so, of course, the Fitbit Versa 3 does great sleep tracking. It can track sleep durations and stages extremely accurately and gives you access to detailed stats in their app.

Compatibility & Connectivity

The smart wearables from Fitbit offer a comprehensive selection of compatible devices. You can pair it with your Android Phone or iPhone but, they also make a dedicated app for Windows 10 & one for iPad OS as well. For connectivity, you get Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside, GPS, GLONASS & Galileo.

Sleep Tracking Features

When it comes to Sleep Tracking, Fitbit has some excellent features on board. The device determines if you’re sleeping depending on if you have shown any significant movements in the last hour or not.

It can also analyze sleep stages (light & deep sleep) and show information for your sleep patterns including Awake, Restless (moving while sleeping) & Asleep. In the app, you’ll be able to see information like hours slept, average sleep duration for the week, sleeping stages & patterns, and more.

Comfort, Design & Build

Comfort is also a major factor for the Versa 3. The squircle-shaped Aluminum frame has a thin profile & it doesn’t feel heavy on the wrist. The bands are super comfortable but, make sure that you have the perfect fit. With that, your sleep tracking will be precise and you won’t feel the watch in your hand while sleeping.

Display

The 1.59-inch OLED display can go up to 1000 nits but it also goes really dim in the night and has an always-on display mode. The black bezels around the display are a bit thick compared to some of the other options out there but, that shouldn’t really bother you much.

Performance

Fitbit’s software is pretty much on the minimalist side. There are no major issues while swiping through menus or opening apps but, Fitbit can definitely use faster &  more powerful internals in the next iteration. The sensors tracking movement & sleep, work just fine though.

Battery Life

The company claims around 6 days of mixed-use and even with active sleep tracking, you should be getting very similar. Now, in case you’re using GPS a lot or streaming online music, the battery life will go down significantly.

What do I think?

If you’re looking for a great fitness smartwatch with all the bells & whistles, and excellent sleep tracking capabilities, the Fitbit Versa 3 is an excellent choice. In case you want something similar at a lower price, you can also get the last-gen Versa 2.

4. Best from Samsung: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

If you like the Samsung ecosystem and you can’t or don’t want to get an Apple Watch or Fitbit, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is literally one of the most comprehensive smartwatches that you can buy for Sleep tracking in Samsung’s entire line-up.

Compatibility & Connectivity

From a compatibility standpoint, the device works with iOS and Android, but the ecosystem integration is better with Samsung devices, and you also can’t use LTE with non-Galaxy smartphones. For connectivity you get 4G LTE (optional), Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside GPS, GLONASS & Galileo.

Sleep Tracking Features

Sleep Tracking on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is pretty accurate. Samsung uses sleep patterns & stages including  Awake, REM, Deep, and Light. It also combines your sleep data, with your heart rate info & movement info to create a personalized sleep score that can be compared with other users in the same age group.

Comfort, Design & Build

When it comes to comfort, the Active 2  feels great on the wrist. The thin Aluminum or Stainless Steel cases with a flat & muted profile and Silicone & Leather straps to go with, blend perfectly on the wrist and are super comfortable to sleep in.

Display

The 1.4 inch AMOLED display (44 mm) is one of the best in the market. It’s bright, vibrant, sharp, and energy-efficient. It can go pretty dim at night and it also has an always-on display. The smaller 40 mm variant comes with a smaller 1.2-inch display but there are no differences in quality.

Performance

Samsung’s Tizen OS is user-friendly and feature-rich and to power it up the company has used their Exynos 9110 with 1.5GB of RAM (768MB in the non-LTE variant) and the device flies through day-to-day tasks with no noticeable slowdowns. The 4GB Internal Storage is a bit too low though.

Battery Life

Battery life is pretty standard at around 1 day of mixed-use with a single charge. So, it’s better to plug it in every day at least an hour or two before your bedtime. If you’re taking calls on LTE or streaming on Spotify, you’ll lose battery 3-4 times as fast.

What do I think?

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a delight & it is even better compared to its more expensive sibling in terms of comfort. So, in case you wanted a non-Apple top-end smartwatch and you like Samsung’s ecosystem, then the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best choice for you.

5. Best Wear OS Watch: Moto 360 3rd Gen

If you like the connected approach of Google’s ecosystem, you may like the Wear OS powered Moto 360 3rd Gen. It is my top preference when it comes to Google-powered smartwatches, it’s one of the most premiumly built devices in its segment, and it does sleep tracking really well.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Unlike Apple, Google does not lock you out on compatibility and supports both Android & iOS ecosystems. For connectivity, you get Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi alongside GPS, GLONASS & Galileo.

Sleep Tracking Features

When it comes to Sleep Tracking, the Moto 360 has a bunch of features onboard.  It can detect when you go to sleep and wake up, analyze your sleep patterns, detect different stages of sleep, create personalized suggestions, and more to help you out with your sleep goals.

Comfort, Design & Build

The thin, circular case feels super comfortable in hand with excellent weight distribution and a great size. The build material is Stainless Steel with Titanium screws and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top, so it also has a super-premium look & feel.

Display

Motorola has gone with a 1.2-inch OLED panel and it is pretty great. It goes up to 1000 nits, has an always-on display mode, can go extremely dim at night, and has excellent colors & sharpness.

Performance

Wear OS works extremely well on the 3rd generation Moto 360 with the Snapdragon 3100 powering the experience with 1GB of RAM. Swiping through menus & app opening times are quick with no noticeable hiccups.

Battery Life

The device can last up to a single day with mixed-use, on a single charge. This is pretty standard for devices running heavy & feature-rich operating systems. There is fast charging support, so you can top it up in just an hour.

What do I think?

So, if you are looking for a Wear OS powered smartwatch that integrates seamlessly with Google-powered devices & services and can do really good sleep tracking, then the Moto 360 3rd Gen is the one you should get.

6. Best for Sporty Look: Huawei Watch GT 2e

Huawei is also making some great smartwatches and the Huawei Watch GT 2e is the best middle ground between value & great sleep tracking. It lets you choose between the company’s TrueSleep technology or tracking using regular sleep parameters.

Compatibility & Connectivity

The GT 2e does support both Android & iOS powered smartphones, so compatibility isn’t an issue. The connectivity side however is a mixed bag with the latest Bluetooth 5.1 & GPS support but, no Wi-Fi. They should have included WI-FI at this price.

Sleep Tracking Features

There is a lot of emphasis on Sleep Tracking in this device as it comes with the company’s TrueSleep 2.0 technology. This is an optional feature where the device takes a sleep time stage from 8 PM to 7:59 PM the next day and analyzes your sleep based on multiple factors.

Those include timings for falling asleep & waking up, sleep stages (light, deep, etc.) calculated based on the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) method, and more. When it comes to accuracy, Huawei’s software seems to be doing a really good job.

Comfort, Design & Build

As far as comfort goes, the thin & light form factor of the hard plastic case feels great, and the Stainless Steel Bezel around the display makes it look premium. The silicone band isn’t as elegant as some of the premium players but it’s not uncomfortable for that matter.

Display

The 1.39-inch OLED display is fairly bright & vibrant but, not as much as the premium players. It still does the job way better compared to an LCD display and it can go pretty dim at its lower brightness level.

Performance

As far as software & performance goes, the in-house Kirin A1 performs really well resulting in quick app opening times and fast navigation for menus & pages. There is around 4GB of internal storage which is enough considering there is no third-party app support.

Battery Life

The device has a claimed 14-days of battery life and with typical mixed usage, it gets that. Now, if you are pushing the device a bit too hard, you’ll need to charge in a week. Even using TrueSleep may drain slightly more battery compared to when it is turned off.

What do I think?

Huawei’s Watch GT 2e is what I’d call a great mid-range smartwatch. It has a lot of bells & whistles from the more premium segments, has decent build quality & has a great sleep tracking system. If you find these set of features compelling enough, get this one.

7. Best Under Budget: Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

Now, if your budget is under $100 but you want to buy something that looks good and does sleep tracking fairly well, I’d recommend the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini. It looks pricier than it actually is, has a lot of good features & it does accurate sleep tracking.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Although it costs comparatively less, the GTS 2 Mini does support both iOS and Android ecosystems. As far as connectivity goes you get Bluetooth 5.0 & GPS. There is no Wi-Fi but that’s kinda the case with a lot of devices at this price point.

Sleep Tracking Features

Amazfit has provided some great sleep tracking features including, tracking and analysis of sleep stages, detecting when you go to sleep/wake up, detect daytime naps, check breathing rate during sleep, and more. The GTS 2 Mini doesn’t compromise on the sleep tracking features regardless of being a budget device.

Comfort, Design & Build

As far as comfort goes, the 8.95mm thin profile and a weight of just 19.5 grams makes it comfy to sleep with. The frame is made out of Aluminum with a plastic bottom covering and the top glass wrapping around the side in a 2.5D fashion. That makes the device one of the most premium-looking devices in its segment.

Display

It’s rocking a gorgeous 1.55-inch AMOLED panel and it’s great for the money. It has an always-on mode, has a peak brightness of 450-nits, and has great colors. This is something we do see a lot in the budget segment and of course, it is also pretty power efficient.

Performance

The UI on Amazfit devices is easy to get used to and the GTS 2 Mini has no day-to-day performance issues. Swiping through menus and opening apps is fairly fast and micro stutters are rare. This is a comparatively decent performance considering the lower price.

Battery Life

Amazfit claims around 14 days of mixed-use and about 7 days of heavy use. If you are primarily using the device for things like Sleep Tracking or Heart Rate Monitoring, you should hit the 2-week mark but, if you use GPS a lot, it may not last one full week.

What do I think?

In the budget category, the Amazfit GTS 2 is an excellent value. It has a semi-premium feel and it does accurate sleep tracking. So, in case you are a bit tight on cash, get this one and it should do the job just fine.

8. Cheapest Sleep Tracking Watch: Amazfit Bip U Pro

If you are even lower on budget and you want something that doesn’t break the bank and does basic sleep tracking, the Amazfit Bip U Pro is the device for you. It has excellent sleep tracking features and they are pretty accurate for a budget smartwatch.

Compatibility & Connectivity

Just like on the GTS 2 Mini, the company hasn’t compromised much on the compatibility segment with support for both iOS and Android. On the connectivity side, there is Bluetooth & GPS which is not bad for a budget smartwatch.

Sleep Tracking Features

The Bip U Pro has a lot of useful sleep tracking features on board. It can track the exact patterns like light & deep sleep and it is really good at detecting when you wake up and go to sleep. You do need to sync the device to your phone in the morning in case you want to access all of the sleep data from the Zepp app.

Comfort, Design & Build

When it comes to comfort, the Bip U Pro is extremely comfortable to wear during sleep. The frame is made out of plastic and weighs just 31 grams. It is easy to just put on and forget about it, and the Silicone band is also pretty convenient. Build quality-wise, it’s not premium but, okay for the price.

Display

The slightly smaller 1.45-inch display is using an LCD panel and that’s a compromise you have to make in the budget segment. Anyway, it is a good display with nice colors, sharp visuals & texts, and the protective glass is slightly curved around the sides.

Performance

Amazfit’s UI & apps work well with no significant performance issues on board. However, you may occasionally notice micro-stutters while trying to open an app. Also, in case you also wanted to use heart rate monitoring, it can be somewhat inaccurate at times.

Battery Life

The device can go up to 9 days with mixed-use or up to 5 days with heavy use. Now, this can differ a lot depending on your personal usage habit but, I’ve found the actual battery life to be pretty close to its claimed duration.

What do I think?

The Amazfit Bip U Pro does sleep tracking pretty well, has an insane 5 ATM water resistance, and is great value for the money. So, even if you’re a bit low on budget, go for this one & it should track your sleep just fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Having the right amount of sleep matters for both physical & mental health so, if you’re looking for an accessory for monitoring it, you’re definitely on the right path. I hope you already found your favorite one, considering you made it this far. But, in case you still can’t make up your mind, let me make this easier for you.

• If you’re looking for some exceptional sleep monitoring features, I recommend the Garmin Vivoactive 4 or the Fitbit Versa 3.
• For iPhone users, the Apple Watch Series 6 is the better choice.
• If you want a premium smartwatch experience, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
• In case you are heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, get the Moto 360 3rd Gen.
• If you want something cheaper, the Amazfit Bip U Pro would be great.
• For iOS users who don’t want an Apple Watch, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 or the Fitbit Versa 3 are the best options.

Now, all that is left for you to do is figure out which one of these categories you fall in. Once done, you’d know which is the best smartwatch for tracking your sleep. If you found this helpful, there are a ton of articles on the website exploring a huge variety of aspects in the wearable world, so maybe check those out as well.