Smartwatches with calling

Almost all watches in this list make calls via Bluetooth. The watch then acts as a kind of hands-free kit on your wrist: the call runs through your smartphone, and the watch only provides the microphone and speaker. That works as long as your phone is within range – usually no problem at home or in your jacket pocket, but not when you go jogging without it.

Only models with LTE and an eSIM offer real independence, such as certain versions of the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or Huawei Watch. For these you usually need an add-on plan from your mobile provider (MultiSIM/eSIM for wearables), and the battery drains faster when using mobile data. With unbranded watches that have a SIM slot, check carefully which networks are supported – 2G-only devices are becoming increasingly useless in Germany.

Call quality depends mainly on the microphone and noise suppression. In a quiet room most watches sound decent; next to a busy road the differences become obvious. A loud, clearly tuned speaker matters more than a large display. Also handy: a dial pad, synced contacts and a call log right on the watch.

Many watches with calling come from the entry-level segment and promise, on paper, more than a hundred sports modes, blood pressure measurement and huge displays. For notifications, steps and short calls they are often perfectly adequate. However, the sports modes usually only record time and heart rate, without real GPS. And readings such as blood pressure or blood oxygen are estimates, not medical values.

Look for an app with good reviews, a German-language interface (if you need one) and the water resistance rating. A calling smartwatch rated IP67 survives rain and hand-washing, but doesn't belong in the swimming pool.