5 Best Smart Water Bottles of 2023

When the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute test water bottles, they're dropped, shaken and knocked over to see if they leak. They're weighed when full to see how heavy they are and how comfortable they are to tote around. They're opened and closed to evaluate the ease of use.

We have testers drink out of them when sitting down and while walking around. We note if they're dishwasher safe and how thoroughly they can be washed by hand.

When we test smart home devices, like smartwatches and robot vacuums, we assess how easy they are to set up and whether the app is intuitive. We note the novel features of each product: Does it have another functionality, like audio or charging capabilities? We also note the battery life.

For these bottles, our testers used them in daily life to check the helpfulness of the apps and the function of any reminders or tracking capabilities.

Every smart water bottle has different functions and settings, all with the aim of getting you to drink more water. If you're looking for one to remind you to drink or want to keep track of your water intake over time, make sure to choose a bottle with the features that will help you meet your hydration goals. Here are some of the common things a smart water bottle can do:

• Reminds you to drink up. Some bottles have built-in batteries (either standalone or rechargeable via a USB cord) and can nudge you to hydrate by glowing or sending notifications to your smartphone.
• Logs your intake. Smart water bottles may also tally the volume of liquid you're drinking via an app that syncs to your smartphone. You can use that data to set and meet a hydration goal.
• Reports the temperature of your beverage. Some are designed with tech that can monitor the temperature of your beverage so you'll know whether to add more ice to your water or freshen up your coffee.
• Provides other functions. There are also bottles with built-in Bluetooth speakers or power banks for charging devices. Some may also make self-cleaning claims, but our experts need to further review that technology before we can recommend it. We did confirm data from the Larq bottle on our list regarding specific claims about removing E. coli and Salmonella.

When shopping for a smart water bottle, you need to consider both the bottle and the tech.

✔️ Size: The smartest bottle won't help if it doesn't fit your needs. Do you want a smaller bottle that fits in a certain bag? Do you want a larger bottle that you'll need to refill less often? Check the capacity of the bottle before buying.

✔️ Insulation: Some bottles are insulated and will keep liquids hot or cold for several hours or up to a full day. But take note that some bottles don't allow ice (it can interfere with the monitoring of the water level), so if you want cold water, it needs to be added already cold. Others are not compatible with hot liquids.

✔️ Cleanup: Generally speaking, the tech portion of a smart water bottle is not going to be dishwasher safe. But is the rest of it, or is it hand-wash only? Decide what's important to the way you'll use the bottle.

✔️ Compatibility: Consider the operating system and/or app for any smart tech: Does it work with the operating system of your devices and/or fitness trackers? Is it customizable? Does the battery's longevity fit your lifestyle?

Sarah Wharton is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She led the testing for these smart water bottles, and she has also conducted testing for travel mugs and heated mugs.

She consulted with Health and Sustainability Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., for her opinion on brands’ data regarding the efficacy of UV-light bottles and Chief Technologist Rachel Rothman for feedback on the sound quality of those with speakers.