Best smartwatches for nurses

For nurses working long shifts, the Garmin Venu 4 is the best all-round smartwatch because its battery is far less likely to make charging another job. Choose the Apple Watch Series 12 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 when wrist-based calls and texts matter more, or the Withings ScanWatch 2 for discreet health tracking with fewer screen distractions.

On this page

• The best smartwatches for nurses at a glance
• Best for iPhone users - Apple Watch Series 12
• Best for Android users - Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
• Best all-round choice - Garmin Venu 4
• Best for fewer screen distractions - Withings ScanWatch 2
• Which watch-and-strap setup will suit your shift?
• Frequently asked questions

The best smartwatches for nurses at a glance

Battery margin is the main separator: Apple and Samsung cover phone-first convenience, Garmin balances smartwatch functions with much longer endurance, and Withings stretches furthest between charges.

The published figures are maximums rather than guarantees from a controlled nursing shift, so your settings and use will affect the result. What they establish is useful headroom: the Garmin Venu 4 and Withings ScanWatch 2 leave much more room for sleep tracking after work than watches rated in hours.

• Apple Watch Series 12: requires iOS 27 or later and supports call and text controls.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: requires Android 13 or above and supports call and text controls.
• Garmin Venu 4: works with iPhone or Android and supports call and text controls.

The deciding factor is whether your watch can cover your longest shift and remain ready for sleep and recovery tracking afterwards.

Best for iPhone users - Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 is the best fit when you use an iPhone and want calling, messages and reminders close to hand outside restricted clinical duties.

Its up to 24-hour battery is the compromise. It can cover a working day on paper, but it leaves less margin than Garmin or Withings when a shift runs late and you still want overnight sleep and Recovery HRV data. Charging has to become part of your routine rather than something you can forget for several days.

The 42mm and 46mm cases let you choose between a less obtrusive fit and a larger display that is easier to glance at quickly. Both have an Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display, so timekeeping remains visible without waking the screen for every check.

At the time of writing, the Apple Watch Series 12 was priced at £369. Its real reason to earn a place here is the iPhone experience, not battery value: if wrist-based communication matters more than charging frequency, it makes sense.

Strap choice is broad. Apple Watch 12 straps are available in silicone, nylon, leather, Milanese and metal. Where wristwear is permitted, silicone is the practical shift option because it can be rinsed and dried easily; save absorbent nylon and leather for commuting or days off. Ofcourse when you are working a Apple Watch Nurse Fob might be a good choice. Available in several colours. 

Best for Android users - Samsung Galaxy Watch 9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the strongest phone-first choice for nurses using Android 13 or above.

Call and text controls let you deal with useful communication from your wrist when workplace policy permits it. The up to 30-hour battery gives slightly more published headroom than the Apple Watch Series 12, though it remains a watch you will charge regularly if sleep tracking and Energy Score matter to you.

The 40mm case is the neater choice under fitted sleeves, while the 44mm version gives you a larger AMOLED display for quick reading. At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 cost £349 in the 40mm size and £379 in the 44mm size.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 straps include silicone, nylon, leather, Milanese, metal and titanium options. For a permitted work setting, silicone is the straightforward choice; the dressier materials make more sense when the watch is being worn away from clinical duties. Ofcourse you can also choose a Galaxy Watch 9 nurse fob, fitting both sizes. 

Best all-round choice - Garmin Venu 4

The Garmin Venu 4 is the best all-round smartwatch for long nursing shifts because it combines phone support and useful recovery insight with up to 10 days or up to 12 days of battery life.

That margin changes how the watch fits into a demanding week. You are less likely to finish a late shift, notice a low battery and have to choose between charging it or recording sleep. Sleep score and Training Readiness are also useful if you run, cycle or train around changing rotas, turning overnight data into a clearer indication of whether to push or recover.

It works with iPhone or Android and includes call and text controls, so choosing Garmin does not mean giving up the core wrist-based communication covered here. Apple and Samsung remain the more natural options when their respective phone ecosystems are your first priority; Garmin wins when endurance and training insight carry more weight.

The 41mm Garmin Venu 4 was £439 at the time of writing, while the 45mm Garmin Venu 4 was £439. The smaller case will usually feel less intrusive through a long day, while the larger case is easier to read during exercise.

Both sizes use quick-release straps, which makes a damp or dirty band easy to remove and swap. Silicone, nylon, leather, Milanese and metal are available for the watch; browse Garmin Venu 4 41mm straps or Garmin Venu 4 45mm straps according to your case size.

Best for fewer screen distractions - Withings ScanWatch 2

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is best for nurses who want a traditional-looking watch, understated health tracking and the least pressure to keep checking a bright smartwatch screen.

Its up to 35-day battery life is the longest published figure in this shortlist. That makes continuous overnight use much easier to maintain across changing shifts, while sleep cycles and the Readiness Indicator provide a useful recovery picture without making the watch feel like a phone on your wrist.

The trade-off is emphasis. Choose this for quiet health tracking and battery life rather than the phone-first call and messaging experience that defines the Apple Watch Series 12 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.

The 38mm case is particularly appealing if you want a compact watch, while the 42mm option is more glanceable. At the time of writing, the Withings ScanWatch 2 was £319.

The watch takes 20mm quick-release straps. Silicone, nylon, leather, Milanese and metal options are available, so you can keep a washable band for permitted work use and a less clinical-looking one for elsewhere. Match the case before ordering: see Withings ScanWatch 2 38mm straps or Withings ScanWatch 2 42mm straps. 

Which watch-and-strap setup will suit your shift?

Choose by starting with workplace policy, then battery margin, phone compatibility and how easily the permitted strap can be cleaned.

• If you work in direct patient care: a bare-below-elbows policy means removing wristwatches for hand hygiene and clinical duties. Local rules can also restrict wristwear throughout a clinical area, so check your employer’s policy before relying on any smartwatch at work.
• If charging is already easy to forget: choose the Garmin Venu 4 for the best balance of smartwatch functions and multi-day endurance, or the Withings ScanWatch 2 for the longest interval between charges.
• If your iPhone is central to your day: choose the Apple Watch Series 12 when calls, texts and Apple’s reminder tools matter more than battery margin.
• If you use Android: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 gives you the clearest phone-first fit, provided regular charging suits your routine.
• If you train around shifts: Garmin’s Training Readiness makes it the most useful option for deciding whether today suits a harder session or recovery.
• If screens become another distraction: the Withings ScanWatch 2 offers a conventional watch shape with discreet sleep and readiness tracking.
• If wristwear is permitted away from direct care: use silicone for the easiest rinse-and-dry routine. A quick-release fitting is especially useful when you want to swap out a damp strap after work.

For most nurses who want sleep and recovery data as well as everyday smartwatch functions, the Garmin Venu 4 offers the safest battery margin. Apple and Samsung are better when your phone ecosystem leads the decision; Withings is the quieter, longer-lasting alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Should a nursing watch show a continuous seconds hand?

Yes. If you use a watch for timing pulse or respiratory observations, it needs clearly visible seconds, whether shown by a physical hand or digitally; direct patient care may still require a suitable fob watch instead.

Can I use a smartwatch for medication and turning reminders?

Yes. Apple Watch Series 12 supports medication and timed reminders, while Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 can receive medication alerts and run named, repeating alarms for scheduled turning prompts.

Will hand sanitiser damage a smartwatch strap?

It can, so do not leave sanitiser sitting on the strap. Apple permits alcohol wiping on compatible silicone and metal bands but not nylon or leather, while Samsung advises avoiding exposure to hand cleaner and sanitiser.

Can a smartwatch replace a fob watch for taking observations?

No for direct patient care. A wrist smartwatch must be removed where bare-below-elbows rules apply, whereas a suitable fob watch can provide the visible seconds display needed for observations.