Which Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Have Fall Detection?

Key Takeaways

• All popular smartwatches from Apple, Google, Samsung, and others now come with fall detection.
• You must enable and set up fall detection on your smartwatch to ensure it works properly.
• If you have a watch without cellular support, you need to connect it to the paired phone for fall detection to contact emergency services.

Fall detection is a must-have feature on a smartwatch, as it can potentially save your life by calling the emergency services or emergency contacts if you ever encounter a crash or accident. Below are some popular wearables worth buying with fall detection.

1. Apple Watch

All Apple Watch models, starting with the Apple Watch Series 4 and Watch SE, feature fall detection. They have audible and tactile alarms and display an alert to check if you are okay. But if you don’t respond before the 30-second countdown ends, the wearable will call your emergency contacts and services and play an audio message along with your location.

Below are all the Apple Watch models with fall-detection capabilities:

• Apple Watch SE
• Apple Watch SE 2
• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

Remember to enable fall detection on your Apple Watch to ensure it automatically calls emergency contacts or services when necessary.

2. Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung makes some of the best Wear OS watches for Android. Besides top-notch hardware, its Galaxy wearables pack all the health and emergency features you’ll ever need, including fall detection.

Like the Apple Watch, Samsung’s smartwatches can detect a fall and automatically start a countdown. If you don’t respond before the timer expires, the watch will send a text alert to your emergency contacts along with your location.

The following Samsung Galaxy Watch models support fall detection:

• Samsung Active 2
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
• Galaxy Fit 3

For fall detection to work on your Galaxy Watch, you must set up the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone and select your emergency contacts first.

Remember that on watches without a cellular connection, the wearable must be connected to the paired phone over Bluetooth for fall detection to contact emergency contacts or services.

3. Garmin Smartwatches

For fitness enthusiasts, there’s no better wearable than Garmin. The company’s watches provide multi-day battery life and can easily track all your workouts. They also feature incident detection, ensuring your loved ones won’t have to worry about your safety when you’re out on a hike or run.

Below are all the Garmin wearables with fall detection:

• Garmin Forerunner 45S
• Garmin Forerunner 55
• Garmin Forerunner 245
• Garmin Forerunner 745
• Garmin Forerunner 965
• Garmin Forerunner 945
• Garmin Approach S70
• Garmin Fenix 5 Plus
• Garmin Fenix 6
• Garmin Fenix 7
• Garmin Fenix 7 Pro
• Garmin epix Pro
• Garmin Instinct 2X Solar Pro
• Garmin Instinct 2 Series
• Garmin Instinct Crossover
• Garmin Venu
• Garmin Venu 2
• Garmin Venu 3
• Garmin Venu Sq 2
• Garmin Lily
• Garmin Vivoactive 3
• Garmin Vivoactive 4
• Garmin Vivoactive 5
• Garmin Vivosmart 5

An important thing to note here is that incident detection on some Garmin wearables does not work 24/7. Instead, it is only active during workouts. And unlike the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, your Garmin will only send a text with your location to your emergency contacts when it detects a fall or incident. It won’t contact emergency services automatically.

4. Huawei Wearables

Some Huawei wearables also feature fall detection and emergency SOS functionality. To activate the automatic emergency SOS feature, navigate to the Security settings on your watch and enable Emergency SOS.

Once enabled, the watch will automatically trigger the feature when it detects that you have experienced a fall and are unable to seek assistance. The following Huawei watches support fall detection:

• Huawei Watch GT2 Pro
• Huawei Watch 3
• Huawei Watch 3 Pro
• Huawei Watch 4
• Huawei Watch 4 Pro

The video below demonstrates how the fall detection feature works on Huawei wearables.

You can configure emergency contacts on your device. In the event of a fall, your smartwatch will call your designated contacts with your updated location. If you haven’t added an emergency contact, you’ll have the option to choose the public assistance numbers in your location.

5. Google Pixel Watch

Google’s smartwatch lineup also features fall detection. When it detects a fall, the watch notifies you and allows you to contact emergency numbers. If you don’t respond within 30 seconds, your Pixel Watch will vibrate and play a loud sound.

If you don’t dismiss within 60 seconds, it will call the emergency services and play an automated voice message to let them know about the fall. Your location is also shared provided you have granted the Personal Safety app the required permission.

The following Pixel Watch models support fall detection:

• Google Pixel Watch
• Google Pixel Watch 2

If you own a Google Pixel Watch with LTE support, you don’t need a connection with your Pixel phone to make an assisted emergency call. However, if it only supports Wi-Fi, ensure it is connected to your paired phone via Bluetooth for the emergency call to go through.

One major issue with fall detection on the Pixel Watch is that it only works in select countries. These are regions where Google officially sells its watch. If you travel to an unsupported region, fall detection won’t work on your Pixel Watch.

Fall detection has become a common feature on modern smartwatches. Even if you don’t think you need the feature, you should enable and set it up properly, as it can potentially save your life in an emergency.