9 Best Smartwatch For Texting in 2023

Typically, texting is done on the phone, but if you have a smartwatch with texting features, you can read and send texts directly from your wrist.

Smartwatches with texting capabilities are convenient for people with busy schedules but still need to stay connected at all times. In addition, these smartwatches allow you to respond to messages without using your phone, thus reducing your need to check your phone constantly.

When looking for the best smartwatches for texting, you’ll find various options in the market. As a result, it becomes challenging to pick the best one.

To help you out, we’ve reviewed the top 9 smartwatches for texting so you can pick the one that works best for you!

So, without any further delay, let’s get into it!

Top 9 Best Smartwatches for Texting in 2023

Here are the top 9 smartwatches for texting that we consider the best for you. All of these watches have the capability to send and receive text messages.

1. Apple Watch Series 8 – Best Overall

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Apple
• Screen Size: 45 Millimeters
• Display: 1.9 inches
• Compatibility: Only with iOS
• Internal Storage: 32 GB
• Water-Resistance Rating: 50 Meters
• Battery Life: 18 Hours

If you are an iPhone user and want the best smartwatch for texting, look no further than Apple Watch Series 8. This smartwatch has all the bells and whistles of a high-end device, making it ideal for texting in 2023.

The Apple Watch Series 8 has two variants: cellular and Bluetooth. The Bluetooth version of the watch requires a connection to your iPhone to send messages, while the cellular version can function without an iPhone.

In terms of texting, the watch includes voice-to-text functionality for better convenience. You can use pre-set one-line responses as an alternative to typing out a whole message every time. Furthermore, the on-screen QWERTY keyboard makes it simple to enter text, which is a big plus!

In addition, it has a feature called Scribble that lets you write by hand on the screen and have the words automatically typed out for you. It’s perfect for instant messaging and lets you write emojis by hand, making it a versatile tool.

Along with text support, one of the impressive features is the always-on retina display with a 1.9-inch screen. Also, the watch is equipped with a crash-detection feature. This feature tracks accidents automatically and notifies your emergency contacts.

Further, you will be able to track your sleep, heart rate, oxygen levels in your blood, and ECG data in greater detail.

One major drawback of this texting smartwatch is its poor battery life. The manufacturer claims the battery will last 18 hours. Still, your results may differ depending on how often you use various smart features (e.g., making or receiving calls, sending and receiving texts, and watching online videos).

Related Post: Best Smartwatches For Calls

2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 – Best for Android Users

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Samsung
• Compatibility: Both iOS and Android
• Display: 1.36 Inches Super AMOLED
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Internal Storage: 16 GB
• Water Resistance Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery Life: Up to 50 Hours

For Android users, the latest android smartwatch for texting is Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Similar to the Apple Watch, this watch comes in both Bluetooth and LTE variants.

Design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a sleek and sophisticated appearance that will look great on your wrist. The watch comes with a 1.36-inch Super AMOLED display that is bright and stylish.

In terms of texting, the Galaxy Watch 5 offers three methods of replying: typing, swipe-to-type keyboard, and speech. Voice-to-text is the most practical method because it eliminates the need to touch the smartwatch. Simply say the words, and your watch will deliver the message.

Besides texting, this watch offers insane fitness tracking capabilities. The sensors can monitor your progress in various popular sports, including running, cycling, and mountain biking. In addition, the watch comes with a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, making it suitable for swimming.

Furthermore, this texting smartwatch has an in-built storage of 16 GB, which is good enough to download music and other third-party apps.

The thing which disappoints us about this smartwatch is its average battery life. The watch will last up to 50 hours on a single charge. However, the watch supports fast charging, which defends this drawback.

3. Apple Watch Series 5 – Best for iPhone Users

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Apple
• Screen Size: 40 Millimeters
• Display: Always-on Retina Display
• Compatibility: Only iOS
• Internal Storage: 32 GB
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Battery Life: Up to 18 Hours

The Apple Watch Series 5 is yet another Apple smartwatch you can use to send and receive text messages. The watch is available in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, with various bands that you can select based on your preferences.

The Apple Watch Series 5 is the best messaging smartwatch because it has an always-on retina display that provides clear text readability. It’s also great for texting because the touch screen is responsive and easy to use.

There are three ways to send messages using the Apple Watch’s messaging feature: by writing letters on the screen, speaking aloud, or sending pre-programmed default replies. In addition, you can easily send emojis or stickers on the Apple Watch Series 5.

The Apple Watch Series 5 isn’t just about smart features; it also includes a heart rate monitor, a barometer, an accelerometer, and a compass to help you track your fitness regularly.

Additionally, the GPS functionality allows you to monitor your pace, distance, and direction while hiking or doing other outdoor activities.

Unfortunately, the battery life of the Series 5 is no better than that of other Apple Watches. It has an 18-hour battery life, which the manufacturer should improve.

In addition, the watch is only compatible with iPhones, which is a major limitation. That’s why this watch is only worthwhile if you already own an iPhone.

4. Garmin Venu 2 Plus – Best Quality

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Garmin
• Display: 1.3 Inches, AMOLED
• Compatibility: Android and iOS
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Internal Storage: 4 GB
• Water Resistance Rating: 50 Meters
• Battery Life: 9 Days

Garmin Venu 2 Plus is a fitness-focused smartwatch with texting capabilities. This watch shows a perfect balance of class and functionality.

This best smartwatch for texting comes with a bright and vibrant AMOLED display of 1.3 inches to read the screen in bright lighting conditions. 

Venu 2 Plus is unparalleled in its durability compared to its predecessors. The watch is protected from scratches and dust by Gorilla Glass 3, while the stainless steel bezel ensures a long life for the timepiece.

When paired with a compatible smartphone, you can quickly receive and send text messages on the Garmin smartwatch. This smartwatch allows you to communicate via text message or voice message. In addition to texting, this smartwatch lets you make calls easily, thanks to its built-in mic and speaker.

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is also popular among fitness enthusiasts as it has more than 25 preloaded fitness apps with a wide variety of workouts, from cycling to strength training.

Aside from that, Venu 2 Plus includes valuable features for outdoor lovers. It has an excellent GPS that tracks your routes during cycling, running, or hiking.

The Venu 2 has built-in music storage that can store more than 650 songs. There is also the option to connect your watch with music streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and more.

It also has a 5 ATM water resistance rating, so you can wear it while bathing or swimming without fear of damaging it.

Lastly, the Venu 2 Plus has a battery life of 9 days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours in GPS mode. Although the watch is pricey, it is worth the money.

5. Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle – Premium Look

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Fossil
• Display: 1.19 inches, AMOLED
• Compatibility: Both Android and iOS
• Internal Storage: 4GB
• Water Resistance Rating: 30 Meters
• Battery life: 12 to 14 Hours

The Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle is a fashionable and feature-rich smartwatch for those looking for the best texting smartwatch.

This smartwatch has a sleek round face and delicate bezels and buttons. Its stainless steel construction ensures that it will last a long time. Although it is water resistant up to 30 meters, it is not suitable for swimming.

Additionally, the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle offers a wide selection of watch faces from which to choose, so you’ll never get tired of the way the screen looks.

Furthermore, this texting smartwatch has made two-way communication a breeze. The smartwatch can be easily synced with your phone, allowing you to receive alerts from your smartphone right on your wrist.

Fossil Gen 5 does more than just display notifications; it also allows you to read and respond to text messages and answer incoming phone calls.

Regarding texting, the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle has the added benefit of a full keyboard. You can either use speech-to-text technology or type the text manually on a tiny keyboard.

In addition to this smart feature, the Fossil Gen 5 watch is an excellent tool for keeping tabs on your wellness routine. It automatically monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and SpO2. It keeps track of your stress levels and sleeps patterns, too.

One of the best features of the Fossil watch we noticed is fast charging, which claims to fill the battery up to 80% in less than an hour.

Lastly, it has an impressive 8 GB of built-in storage, more than enough to install and store your favorite apps and music.

6. Samsung Gear S3 – Best Budget-Pick

Product Specifications:

• Brad: Samsung
• Screen Size: 46 Millimeters
• Compatibility: Android and iOS
• Display Type: AMOLED
• Internal Storage: 4 GB
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Water Resistance Rating: 1.5 meters

The Samsung Gear S3 is an excellent option if you’re looking for a reasonably priced smartwatch for texting. Not only is it easy on the wallet, but it’s also the epitome of sophistication and beauty.

The Samsung Gear 3 Frontier has a Super AMOLED display with a 360 by 360 pixels’ resolution, so you can easily read messages and explore its many features.

For texting, there are two ways to respond. If you’d prefer not to type out your text messages, the device supports speech-to-text functionality for convenience. However, a keyboard is also available for those who like to type. Although the keyboard is smaller than expected, it still serves its purpose when required.

Additionally, you can make calls right from your watch thanks to the microphone and HD audio speakers that come with this low-cost texting smartwatch.

Moreover, it has a built-in GPS that makes monitoring your movements and whereabouts a breeze. Besides this, you can store various songs and podcasts on the 8 GB onboard music storage and listen to songs offline.

The one major drawback we found in this smartwatch is that its water resistance rating is 1.5 meters, which means it’s not suitable for anything other than hand washing. It’s not advised to use it in the bathroom, either.

7. TicWatch Pro 3 – Long Battery Life

Product Specifications:

• Brand: TicWatch
• Compatibility: Both iOS and Android
• Screen Size: 1.4 inches
• Display: AMOLED/FSTN
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Internal Storage: 8GB
• Battery Life: 3 to 45 Days

The Ticwatch Pro 3 is yet another high-functioning Wear OS smartwatch, but its all-day comfortability truly sets it apart. When combined with its texting capabilities, this makes it a fantastic smartwatch for daily use!

The TicWatch Pro 3 receives notifications and allows you to respond to SMS messages using your voice or the on-screen keyboard. Additionally, this stylish smartwatch has a microphone and speaker for taking and making calls.

The display on this smartwatch is a dual-screen arrangement. It features a 1.4-inch AMOLED/FSTN LCD that appears brighter and makes the dial easy to read in bright sunlight.

In terms of fitness trackers, the TicWatch Pro 3 is unrivaled. This smartwatch comes with a 24/7 health monitor, a blood oxygen saturation sensor, a stress monitor, etc.

With Google Pay, you can use your TicWatch Pro 3 to make contactless purchases wherever you go. Additionally, a 5 ATM water resistance mechanism is built into this smartwatch. As a result, you can wash your hands, take a bath, or go swimming without worrying about water damaging your smartwatch.

Besides that, this smartwatch’s battery life is exceptional, lasting as long as 45 days in primary mode and 72 hours in smart mode.

8. Garmin Vivoactive 3 – Best Outdoor Watch

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Garmin
• Screen Size: 1.2 Inches
• Display type: 240 x 240 Pixels
• Compatibility: Android and iOS
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Water Resistance Rating: 5 ATM
• Battery Life: Up to 7 Days in smartwatch mode

If you want a smartwatch for texting but also value fitness tracking, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other! The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a top-tier smartwatch because it can serve dual purposes.

The watch only offers pre-set custom messages for texting, but that’s fine since you’re more interested in the fitness features. Similarly, no microphones or speakers are available for making or answering phone calls.

With over 15 preloaded apps, you can track outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and swimming. Similarly, many health monitoring sensors keep track of your daily activities, calories, heart rate, sleep, and much more.

Vivoactive 3 has a larger and more significant display, which makes it easier to use. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED display that allows it to read the screen in direct sunlight.

Moreover, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 includes a premium feature called Garmin pay that enables you to make contactless payments.

Finally, the Vivoactive 3 has an impressive 7-hour battery life. With GPS on, you can use it for up to six hours which is outstanding!

9. Fitbit Versa 3 – Affordable Option

Product Specifications:

• Brand: Fitbit
• Compatibility: Android
• Built-in GPS: Yes
• Display: 1.58 inches AMOLED
• Water-Resistance Rating: 50 Meters
• Internal Storage: 4 GB
• Battery Life: 6+ Days

Last but not least, Fitbit Versa 3 is another mid-range smartwatch that supports texting. It has a variety of valuable features at a reasonable price.

Although the watch is compatible with Android smartphones, voice-to-text responses to text messages are currently only available on those devices. The device does not have a full keyboard, but users can still respond quickly to messages with scripted responses and emojis.

This smartwatch lets you send and receive texts and has a microphone and speaker so you can answer calls without pulling your phone out of your pocket.

Regarding design, the watch features a large 1.58-inch AMOLED screen. Its square case is made of aluminum, which makes it highly durable. In addition, the band is made from a durable and flexible elastomer material, making it extremely comfortable to wear.

This smartwatch has all the bases covered in health and fitness tracking, with a built-in heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitor, sleep tracker, step counter, etc.

Versa 3 also uses GPS to monitor your running distance, pace, and speed. With more than 20 Goal-Based exercises, you can monitor your sports in real-time.

This smartwatch also has a 50-meter water resistance certification, making it perfect for swimming.

Regarding battery life, the watch lasts 6+ days on a single charge. Additionally, it can charge quickly, which is a significant plus.

Best Texting Smartwatches – Buyer’s Guide

The following are some of the key factors to take into account when purchasing the best smartwatch for messaging:

1- Display & Comfort

For the best texting experience, choose a smartwatch with a screen size of at least 1.3 inches; anything larger is a bonus. Additionally, its keypad needs to be sleek, user-friendly, and not so tiny that you can’t see what you’re typing.

Also, the watch needs to be lightweight and comfortable so you can wear it for extended periods without feeling like you’re wearing extra weight.

2- Compatibility

Another essential factor you need to consider while purchasing a texting smartwatch is the compatibility of your smartwatch with your phone.

Don’t purchase an Apple watch if you have an Android phone because it only works with iOS devices. Similarly, avoid buying Galaxy watches because they are incompatible with iOS. So, before you buy a smartwatch, check to see if it works with your phone.

3- Text Support

If you’re on the hunt for the top smartwatch for texting, you must list the functions you need. Many smartwatches claim to support text messaging, but in reality, they only support pre-set responses, which are okay but aren’t the best you can get.

Many modern smartwatches have built-in speech-to-text translators, so you can speak into the watch and have your message accurately converted into text.

You can also send default replies, short generic responses, and, on some watches, emojis to spice up your text messages.

4- Other Features

The best smartwatch for texting should also have a built-in GPS, a barometer, and an accelerometer to keep your journeys safe. In addition, the watch should provide excellent fitness and health tracking capabilities to monitor your health.

Some essential sensors for health tracking include blood pressure, heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring.

The watch should also support other smart features such as music storage, smart notifications from different third-party apps, and NFC to keep your life as simple as possible.

5- Water Resistance

If you intend to use your smartwatch for texting, you will likely wear it frequently, and you may even forget that it’s on your wrist. Therefore, you should choose an at least splash-resistant wearable in case your watch ever gets splashed with water.

6- Battery Life

The battery life of a smartwatch determines its effectiveness. Battery life is crucial, as without it, you won’t be able to use any of the features in your smartwatch. So, shopping for a watch with a long-lasting battery would be best.

It is recommended to purchase a smartwatch with a battery life of at least 24 to 48 hours.

Final Words

We hope that this post has helped you choose the best smartwatch for texting. But if you’re still confused, we’re here to help.

If you have an iPhone, the best choice is the Apple Watch Series 8. It will be the best option due to its always-on screen, ability to convert speech to text, and smart responses to texts.

For Android users, there are plenty of options. One of the best options is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which includes many other valuable features besides quick texting.

Alternatively, the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle is your best bet if you’re in the market for a texting smartwatch with long battery life. Its bright screen makes it possible to read messages even in direct sunlight. In addition, if you want a complete keyboard on your wrist, this watch is an excellent option.

Thank you for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)