I've had all 3 gens of FitBit and never had hardware issues. My gripes have all been on software (refusing to integrate with Apple Health, I don't like the new "sleep score", and I don't want a "premium" monthly payment). I did upgrade when the previous ones were no longer functional, but I had used them constantly for a few years each time.

However, I used to leave the charger plugged in my bathroom because I would charge it when I showered. I noticed the charging posts got crud on them and got smaller over time until my FitBit would no longer charge. Eventually, I started unplugging it except for when I was charging and that fixed my issue.

I had the same experience with multiple FitBit devices. Every single one of them had to be replaced, after only a few months, within the warranty period. The only device I ever owned that didn't need a warranty replacement was a FitBit Aria scale and that was a return/replace with the store after the first one was DOA.

Try a Garmin Forerunner or Fenix.

My wife and I have had the same bad luck with most wearables. I went through 3 MS bands, she went through 2 fitbits and all of them physically broke.

I had a Motorola Android Wear and Polar M600, both of which degraded to less than 24 hours of battery life after less than a year of ownership of each.

I have a Garmin 645M, which I've had since launch, and it still works fine and has days of battery life, even when doing morning runs listening to spotify from the watch. I finally convinced my wife to try a Garmin 245, and she hasn't destroyed it yet.

Garmin or Suunto provide much better quality than Fitbit, Fitbit is a cheap quality. Garmin, Apple and Suunto aren't. Just check what the pros are using :)

I could certainly live with charging every 4 weeks. But isn't that more a "fitness tracker watch", rather than a "smartwatch"? When I think of smartwatches, I'm more thinking of ones running an Android or Apple OS, with apps available etc.

Have you tried the new Withings with ECG? I'm curious about that, this winter I'm going to switch to something new and it's basically between the Withings and the Apple Series 5

If you need a watch that can make phone calls then the Fitbit is not a good watch choice. I personally don't like making any phone calls and if I have to, my phone is usually near by. But that's a very personal choice.