The limit of the silly trend of oversized watches obviously is relative to the size of the arm
(2025-09-26 lists updated, ???? U17 of unknown origin)
(2025-07-26 lists updated, Zhilian G34, and NX31 of unknown origin)
***If you are here for the lists only, just scroll down.***
Proportions of a watch
In my book a well-proportioned watch would have a thickness around 15-20% of the width, and it should be less than 15% longer then the width.
Current smartwatches are mostly in the range of 30-40% thick, and that is why I call them two watches thick….
In my book a band of half the case width also seems suitable, much less makes it seem fragile, and much more dominates the watch, but that is of course very subjective, and especially females tend to like a narrow band as fragile is not always seen as a negative.
Watches suitable for an arm
The primary factor here is the overall length compared to the size of the wrist, but to what degree the band-attachments points downwards matter too.
First the same images used in the collage above with links to reviews (click images to enlarge)
It really sounds as a tautology, but a watch fitting on an arm will be ON the arm, that is including the ends, not hoovering over, (or even worse extending beyond it)…
My arm is about 180-185mm (depending on temperature and time of day), the width is about 68mm.
And it is quite clear from the image above, that the 53mm long TN88 with the ends hovering in mid air is grossly oversized for my arm.
The 52.5mm long E400 is also grossly oversized (not just ugly because of the extreme thickness).
The 48mm long, ø43mm watch (T8) is if not too big for my arm, certainly near the limit….
The 46mm long ø40mm watch T8 Mini is a better fit to my arm, though not by much.
Note that there really is not a huge difference in the diameter of the two middle ones, E400 and T8 with ø44.6mm vs ø43.0mm, so that is not the right thing to go for looking for a fitting watch. It is clearly the length of the case as well as the thickness that are the limiting factors here AND whether the band-arms points downwards following the shape of a human arm or not.
BTW the original 2022 T8 had LONGER arms, but as the they pointed downwards following the arm, it worked the same on my arm as the newer 2023 T8, just with a larger (IMHO ugly) gap between the end of the watch and the case it self.
(Though for minor arms than mine, the 2022 version looked (even) more oversized)
Unfortunately the manufacturers rarely show a clear watch profile and how the band can follow human arms of various sizes. The fewest even give the overall length! And many CLAIMS that it ‘suits’ MUCH smaller arms than it actually do, just telling the limits of how close/far the accompanying band can go, not in any way related to whether it suits that arm-size!
Here TN88 side by side with the T8 Mini, both with their bands set for the my arm-size. The problem with the TN88 is quite clear here, it might fit a much larger arm around 25-30cm though.
Personally I would have preferred if the T8 Mini had used 20mm and not 18mm bands. Half the diameter seems suitable, less make the watch look more disproportional/oversized
An arm profile can be idealised as two half circles and two straight lines (It is closer to reality than an ellipsoid). Here a sketch
As a simplified shape for
Image taken from here.
So for my arm, anything much beyond 30-35mm, really should point more or less downwards… The T8 start pointing downwards at about 38mm, and the T8 Mini at 34mm…
Actually the 48mm length of the T8 is one of the smaller smart watches you can get today….
Decent thickness smartwatches
It is not at all easy to find watches less than about 10mm thick, almost all are ‘two watches thick’…
I included some watch-like “smartbands” as well.
I tried to make and maintain a list in a reddit post, copied in here. Some I’ve reviewed here.
| Thickness | Diameter ø or width | Total length | Stamina weeks | Name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5mm / 6.8mm / 4mm | ø41.6mm | 47.7mm | 2.5 weeks | Kushang DW01 | 2024 |
| 7.8mm / 6.9mm / 4.0mm | ø43.0mm | 48.2mm | 6 weeks | Sovogue T8 or ST08 | 2022 |
| 8.7mm / 6.9mm / 4.6mm | ø41.0mm | 46.5mm | 3 weeks | ?Vanssa? H06 (flat) | 2024 |
| 8.05mm / 6.95mm / 4.0mm | ø43.0mm | 48.2mm | 2 weeks | Sovogue T8 Pro | 2024 |
| 8.05mm / 6.95mm / 4.0mm | ø40.0mm | 46.0mm | 1½ weeks | Sovogue T8 Mini | 2024 |
| 8.50mm / 7.2mm / 4.0mm | ø40.0mm | 46.0mm | 2.3 weeks | Sovogue T8 Ultra | 2025 |
| 9.1mm / 7.3mm / 5.0mm | ø41.0mm | 46.5mm | 3 weeks | ?Vanssa? H06 (curved) | 2024 |
| 9.1mm / 7.3mm / 5.0mm | ø51.4mm | 54.4mm | ~4 weeks | ?Aoke? GX03 | 2024 |
| — / 7.5mm / 7.5mm | ø38.5mm | ~42.1mm | ~0.3 week | Pebble Time Round | 2015 |
| 8.5mm / 7.5mm / ??? | ø46.5mm | 53mm | ~2 weeks ?? | Funost TN88 | 2023 |
| 8.9mm / 7.7mm / ??? | ø41.4mm | 45.9mm | ?? weeks | Zhilian G34 | 2025 |
| — / 7.75mm / 5mm | ø43.1mm | 48.8mm | 2 weeks | ?????? DA09/N89. | 2024 |
| 10.3mm / 7.9mm / 7.9mm | 41mm | ~51.6mm | ~1.1 week | Garmin Venu X1 | 2025 |
| 8.7mm / 8.1mm / 8.1mm | ø42.2mm | 47.6mm | ~2 weeks ?? | Sovogue R18 or SR18 | 2021 |
| 9.4mm / 8.2mm / 7.4mm | 35.1mm | 40.55mm | 1 week | ??? U17 | 2025 |
| — / 8.3mm / 7mm | ø46.2mm | 50.5mm | ~2 weeks | NpuOne NWZ01 / MT55 | 2024 |
| 10.0mm / 8.3mm / 7.5mm | 39.6mm | 50.3mm | ~2 weeks | ?????? MT61 | 2024 |
| — / 8.4mm / 7mm | ø46.2mm | 52.2mm | ~2 weeks? | ???????? MT56 | 2024 |
| 10.5mm / 8.5mm / ??? | ø41.1mm | 47.75mm | ?? weeks | ????? NX31 | 2025 |
| ??? / ??? / 8.99mm | 24.54mm | 43.45mm | ~2 weeks | Huawei Band 8 | 2023 |
| ??? / ??? / 8.99mm | 24.86mm | 43.45mm | ~2 weeks | Huawei Band 9 | 2024 |
| 9.9mm / 9.0mm / ??? | 38.0mm | 50.8mm | ~2 weeks ?? | ???????? Q9 PRO GT2 | ? |
| ~10.8mm / 9.1mm / ??? | 36.7mm | ~48mm | ~2 weeks | Amazfit GTS4 mini | 2022 |
| ~10-8mm / 9.25mm / ??? | ø42.83mm | ~45.6mm | ~2 weeks | Amazfit GTR mini | 2023 |
| ~11.2mm / 9.3mm / ??? | 40mm | 44.5mm | ~1.4 week | Huawei Watch Fit 4 pro | 2025 |
| ??? / 9.5mm / ??? | ø43mm | ~43mm | ~0.6 weeks | Polar Ignite 3 | 2023 |
| ??? / 9.5mm / ??? | ø41.3mm | ~48mm | ~1 week | Huawei GT5 41 | 2024 |
| ~11.6mm / 9.5mm / ??? | 38mm | 43mm | ~1.4 week | Huawei Watch Fit 4 | 2025 |
| ~12mm / 9.9mm / ??? | 36.3mm | ~50mm | ~1.4 week | Huawei Watch Fit 3 | 2024 |
| 11.7mm / 9.8mm / 6.5mm | 40.4mm | 42.7mm | ~0.2 week | Samsung Watch 8 40mm | 2025 |
| 11.7mm / 9.8mm / 6.5mm | 43.7mm | 47mm | ~0.2 week | Samsung Watch 8 44mm | 2025 |
| 10.5mm / 9.99mm / ??? | 26.2mm | 43.4mm | 2 weeks | Huawei Band 7 | 2022 |
| ??? / 10.0mm / ??? | 25.5mm | 48.0mm | ~2 weeks ?? | ?????? ZX19 | 2022 |
| ~12mm / 10.1mm / ??? | ø35.4mm | ~43.6mm | ~0.7 week | Garmin Lily 2 | 2024 |
| – / 10.3mm / 10.3mm | ø35.9mm | 35.9mm | ~0.6 week | ???? DM75 | 2024 |
Decent length smartwatches
It is not at all easy to find the few watches less 45-46mm long, suitable for minor wrists…
I included some watch-like “smartbands” as well.
I tried to make and maintain a list in a reddit post, copied in here. Some I’ve reviewed here.
| Thickness | Diam./width | Total length | Stamina weeks | Brand & Model | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – / 10.3mm / 10.3mm | ø35.9mm | 35.9mm | ~0.6 week | ???? DM75 | 2024 |
| 9.4mm / 8.2mm / 7.4mm | 35.1mm | 40.55mm | 1 week | ??? U17 | 2025 |
| ??? / ~13mm / ??? | ø37mm | ~41mm | ~4 weeks | Withing Scanwatch2 light 37 | 2023 |
| ??? / 13.4mm / ??? | ø38mm | ~42mm | ~4 weeks | Withing Scanwatch2 38 | 2023 |
| – / 7.5mm / 7.5mm | ø38.5mm | ~42.1mm | ~0.3 weeks | Pebble Time Round | 2015 |
| ??? / 12mm / ??? | ø38mm | ~42.6mm | ? weeks | RA03-2044 | ? |
| 11.7mm / 9.8mm / 6.5mm | 40.4mm | 42.7mm | ~0.2 week | Samsung Watch 8 40mm | 2025 |
| ~11.6mm / 9.5mm / ??? | 38mm | 43mm | ~1.4 week | Huawei Watch Fit 4 | 2025 |
| ??? / 9.5mm / ??? | ø43mm | ~43mm | ~0.6 week | Polar Ignite 3 | 2023 |
| 10.5mm/9.99mm/? | 26.2mm | 43.4mm | 2 weeks | Huawei Band 7 | 2022 |
| ??? / ??? / 8.99mm | 24.54mm | 43.45mm | 2 weeks | Huawei Band 8 | 2023 |
| ??? / ??? / 8.99mm | 24.86mm | 43.45mm | 2 weeks | Huawei Band 9 | 2024 |
| ~12mm / 10.1mm / ??? | ø35.4mm | ~43.6mm | 0.7 week | Garmin Lily 2 | 2024 |
| ??? / 12mm / ??? | ø35.2mm | ~44mm | 0.7 Week | Unknown Chinese | ? |
| ~11.2mm / 9.3mm / ??? | 40mm | 44.5mm | ~1.4 week | Huawei Watch Fit 4 pro | 2025 |
| ~10.8mm / 9.25mm / ??? | ø42.83mm | ~45.6mm | ~2 weeks | Amazfit GTR mini | 2023 |
| 8.9mm / 7.7mm / ??? | ø41.4mm | 45.9mm | ?? weeks | Zhilian G34 | 2025 |
| 8.05 / 6.95mm / 4.0 | ø40.0mm | 46.0mm | 1½ Weeks | Sovogue T8 Mini | 2024 |
| 8.50mm / 7.2mm / 4.0 | ø40.0mm | 46.0mm | 2.3 Weeks | Sovogue T8 Ultra | 2025 |
| ??? / ??? / 9.0mm | ø40.4mm | ~46mm | ~¼ week | Samsung Watch 6 40mm | 2023 |
| ??? / ??? / 9.7mm? | ø40.4mm | ~46mm | ~¼ week | Samsung Watch 7 40mm | 2024 |
| ~13mm / 11mm / ??? | ø38mm | ~46mm | ~1¼ week | Garmin Lily 2 Active | 2024 |
| 8.7mm / 6.9mm / 4.6mm | ø41.0mm | 46.5mm | 3 weeks | ?Vanssa? H06 (flat) | 2024 |
| 9.1mm / 7.3mm / 5.0mm | ø41.0mm | 46.5mm | 3 weeks | ?Vanssa? H06 (curved) | 2024 |
| ??? / 11.9mm / ??? | ø40.4mm | ~46.8mm | ~½ week | Garmin Vívomove Trend | 2023 |
Decent thickness AND length smartwatches
20-09-26 The list finally got an entry properly belonging to both lists, the U17!
Unfortunately NONE really are on both lists.
There are a few more that comes close when expanding in the grey areas…..
The H06 and G34 can not pass the 45mm limit I have set up, but I included them as the least bad …. (the G34 is slightly longer in real life than the rendering indicates)
And similar the Garmin Lily2 is a tiny bit too thick for the 1cm limit.
Options from “known” brands
Garmin Lilly 2
It is a shame that the only real smart watch from a known band with a decent size, though a bit thick, the Garmin Lilly 2, has these clumsy (and IMHO ugly) band-attachments, otherwise it (despite the 12mm thickness) would have suited many minor arms, And could have been fairly lady-like.
Polar Ignite 3
From an at the least somewhat known brand is the Polar Ignite 3, and the numbers look fine. But it has a really strange profile with the band attached under the watch, so it looks like a watch with a display-disc glued on top, coin-on-watch design. certainly not a a very wearable form, that will catch any sleeve, and generally just sticks out oddly… Too bad, an in many ways otherwise interesting watch (despite an over 5mm wide bezel-ring… display covers a mere 57% of the ‘coin’).
Amazfit GTR Mini
The Amazfit GTR Mini have a similar odd coin-on-watch design as the Polar Ignite 3, and also a mere 57.6% of the ‘coin’ covered by the display …
Of the two I would certainly prefer the Polar.
Garmin Venu X1, 2025
Garmin have with this new watch finally made one less 1cm, ignoring the rather large protrusion, (and only 3% over including)
Unfortunately it has a similar horrible band attachment-‘design’ as the above two were it looks like a plastic ‘coin’ on top of a titanium band attachment.
Ignoring the roughly ø22mm large protrusion (20% of the area) it is 7,9 mm thin, including it is about 10.3mm (30% thicker)
The arms sticks out quite a bit, so though they point somewhat downwards, it is a long watch with a whooping 51.6mm! So not for small wrists!
So dimensions are 41 x 46-51.6 x 7,9-10.3 mm
The display diagonal is 51.2mm and 448 x 486 pixels, so 34.7mm x 37.6mm, that is ~69.3% display coverage, and though over 3mm is quite large bezels in 2025, it is not horrible.
The battery life is a complex thing, but at the least they try to tell, for different use cases:
Smartwatch mode: Up to 8 days (2 days display always-on)
Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days
GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 16 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours
All-Systems GNSS mode with music: Up to 7 hours
And it is clear that the GPS should be used with care, and NOT for a long hike, other than occasionally check of the position..
It seems like a very capable watch, with a truckload of features, especially impressive for the thickness, but the price reflects this, as it is really pricey on release at £680!!
I wonder why the whole case is not titanium at that price-point? Not that fibre-enforced plastic is bad, but it does not reflect the exclusivity of the price-tag…
Whether it is worth it, is a personal taste. I’m too stingy, and am not a fan of the design. Had it been round and with a more integrated band-mount, I might have considered shelling out though…
Samsung Watch 8 40mm, 2025
Samsung Galaxy have with the wath8, finally reached a wearable size.
Below I added some actual measurements to an advertise rendering from here.
The squircle design is not to everyone’s taste, To me it seems to take the worst from the square and the circle, as they stick to a round screen, and it is the screen shape that is the (in my opinion only) place where the square wins over the circle, as it is better when listing stuff on the screen, e.g. displaying an sms.
But sure the rounded case is less bad than a square one for wearing.
My GUESS is that the reason for the squircle design is to allow for a less tiny battery.
Had they made the display squircle too, the squircle form factor would have made a lot more sense, and looked as if was thought trough, and not a crazy whim of a designer.
It exists in two sizes
40mm: 40.4mm x 42.7mm x 9.8-11.7mm, 325mAh battery, ø1.34″ display, ~55% display coverage.
44mm: 43.7mm x 46mm x 9.8-11.7mm, 435mAh battery, ø1.47″ display, ~57% display coverage.
So 3.2mm bezels where they are the thinnest at the sides – a bit high in 2025.
[doing some more pixelpeeping the squircle they use are ~16% larger than the circle with the same width: (312×326-246²(1-π/4))*4 / (312²*π)= 1.161]
So had it only had a better OS so it could offer more than the mere 30h(!!) of stamina (surprisingly claimed the same for both sizes??), it could have been quite interesting (despite the squircle and low display coverage), but I would clearly prefer the Garmin Venu X1 above, though twice as expensive. and the watch8 isn’t cheap either….