Consumer Reports Tests Apple Watch for Readability, Water Resistance, Fitness Tracking and More - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Consumer Reports Tests Apple Watch for Readability, Water Resistance, Fitness Tracking and More

by

Consumer Reports has crowned the Apple Watch as its top-rated smartwatch in its test of 11 smartwatch models from eight manufacturers, including the Asus ZenWatch, LG G Watch R, Moto 360, Pebble Steel, Samsung Gear S and Sony SmartWatch 3. The not-for-profit organization tested the Apple Watch and competing devices for step count accuracy, screen readability, ease of use, scratch resistance, water resistance, heart rate tracking and more.


In particular, the stainless steel Apple Watch scored the highest among the smartwatches tested because of its high readability in bright and low light, ease of use, ease of pairing with an iPhone, durable scratch resistance, IPX7 water resistance rating and accurate heart rate and step count tracking. Meanwhile, the Sony SmartWatch 3 finished at the bottom of the rankings, primarily because it failed the 24-hour water immersion test.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tag: Consumer Reports
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Rethink Could See Debut of Round Model, Screenless Fitness Tracker, and More

Sunday August 9, 2026 8:37 am PDT by
Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering a host of radical new designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. In today's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman compared plans for the Apple Watch's evolution to the "revolutionary design change" that the foldable iPhone represents. It will be "something that...
Read Full Article • 132 comments
Apple Watch series 2 ceramic

Ceramic Case Could Return With Apple Watch Series 12

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:21 am PDT by
Apple is planning to reintroduce its striking ceramic Apple Watch casing as soon as this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Writing in his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the ceramic case option is expected to return either this year or in 2027. Apple first introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2...
Read Full Article • 78 comments
TMRS 206 Apple Watch Redesign Thumb

The MacRumors Show: Where Does the Apple Watch Go Next?

Friday August 14, 2026 9:35 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss how the Apple Watch is seemingly heading into one of its least eventful new generations, yet the rumors stacking up behind it describe the most radical rethink in the product's history coming later. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The most eye-catching change potentially coming this year is not a new...
Read Full Article • 62 comments

Top Rated Comments

W
wigby
148 months ago
Meh maybe not.
Just looked up my wife's Garmin, https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-910xt/prod90671.html
waterresistant to 50m

Maybe that's Garmin's over engineering or Apple's lack thereof.

The first feature listed on the Garmin's product page is "Designed for open water and pool swimming". It also tracks swimming strokes. Two completely different products for two completely different markets.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
djgamble
148 months ago
Meh maybe not.
Just looked up my wife's Garmin, https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-910xt/prod90671.html
waterresistant to 50m

Maybe that's Garmin's over engineering or Apple's lack thereof.

It's not a smart watch and it's a sports watch rather than a dress watch. To be expected IMO.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
Joe Rossignol
148 months ago
IPX7 is for immersion upto 1m.

Where does Apple claim this?
There is fine print on the Apple Watch website:

"Apple Watch is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. You can, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but submerging Apple Watch is not recommended. Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The leather bands are not water resistant."
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
Gasu E.
148 months ago
IPX7 is for immersion upto 1m.

Where does Apple claim this? I thought they only supported brief spray from shower/hand washing?

X7 should be enough for say a tri swimmer doing laps.

The recommend use should be more conservative than the maximum rating.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bigsk8r Avatar
Bigsk8r
148 months ago
Finally, an article about an organization doing some real world tests.

I might forget and swim with it (if I buy one), or I might inadvertently hit a doorknob or other surface. But I am not going to take a cheese grater, knife, peanut butter, soy sauce, or boiling water to it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
rickdollar
148 months ago
I've been very happy with the battery life (38mm) and utilize almost every feature of the watch but THE standout feature to me is the Taptic Engine.
Neither my phone or my watch has made one audible sound since my watch arrived.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments