Are you in the market for the best smartwatches? You’re in luck. Take a look at these top picks, featuring everything from the most affordable to our number one choice.
Listen up! Smartwatches are constantly improving. It’s up to you to keep up and stay ahead of the game.
With improved battery life and tons of advanced capabilities to consider, shopping for one can be overwhelming. Here’s a list of my favorite smartwatches and what they offer the modern health-conscious collector.
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The Best Smartwatch Options: Seven Splurge Selections
Cellular connection, smooth, crisp touchscreens, and a high-tech ecosystem all separate the smartwatch from a traditional timepiece. But which one offers the best in all these areas?
Let’s take a look at the smartwatches you should invest in.
The Best Smartwatch for iPhone: The Apple Watch
To kickstart this guide, I’ve chosen no other than the Apple Watch. It’s the most premium smartwatch experience currently available. But that also means it comes at a premium price. Especially if you have your sights set on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you’re considering any of the series watches from Apple you’ll want to make sure you’ll use it enough.
Before you spend your hard-earned cash, you should determine if the Apple Watch is worth it based on your needs.
It would take a while to run through all the specifics of what an Apple watch does. Luckily, I already covered all the key points not so long ago. But here’s a quick overview of a few key features.
First, you can use the phone tracking feature to locate your lost device. Enough said, if you’re anything like me, you lose your phone, watch, keys, etc. all the time. The Find My… feature helps you locate all your lost devices.
Next, the iPhone’s Apple Pay feature lets you pay for things on the go. Of course, leaving your phone at home to take the Apple Watch out with you sounds counterintuitive. But it’s one of the device’s best features. Plus, you already wear a watch, right?
Last, the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch for iPhone users due to its compatibility. All your Apple products link together, so if you need something from your iMac, you’ll find it on your phone. Need a contact on your phone? You can access it from your watch.
However, the Apple Watch is not compatible with Android-based devices.
As we previously mentioned, the Apple Watch is expensive. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, check out the Apple Watch SE.
Apple Watch Health and Fitness Features
For most health and fitness fanatics, the Apple Watch is the most feature-packed smartwatch you could ever need.
The watch’s Activity Rings feature is a great tool whether you’re an athlete or want to get fit. The Stand Ring alerts you to be stationary for too long, prompting you to get up and move.
Then there’s the Move Ring that shows calories burned. You can also track your sleep, listen to meditation apps to calm your mind, and test your blood oxygen levels.
More recently, the watch also features a fall detector and can detect irregular heart rates to alert you of concerns.
The Best Android Smartwatch: The Samsung Galaxy Watch
If an Apple Watch doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry. The Samsung Galaxy Watch is the best Android smartwatch and Apple Watch competitor.
There are many manufacturers out there making their own wearable Android watch options. (Side note: The Google Pixel watch is another great choice for Android users.) As with anything, not one size fits all. However, Samsung is a reputable name with quality to match.
Like the Apple Watch, the Samsung Galaxy offers an abundance of health and fitness features.
These include a fall detector, sleep cycle tracker, and irregular heart rate detector. It also boasts impressive battery life that can last up to 40 hours on one charge.
Samsung offers the Galaxy in a variety of sizes and colors, so there’s one for just about everybody.
So, if you’re looking for a watch that pairs seamlessly with your Android phone, has health features and long battery life, check out the Samsung Galaxy.
The Best Fitness Watch: The Garmin Fenix 7
If you’re in the market for a smartwatch, you’re probably pretty active. If you’re looking for a fitness watch, take a look at the Garmin Fenix 7. It’s great for athletes and promises a really tough and durable design.
Garmin is one of the key leaders in smartwatch technology. Some Garmin watches enable you to pre-set routes before you hike or bike. Other models track stress levels and tell your body when to take a rest.
The Garmin Fenix 7 has a sharp and crisp display that’s great for reading at night or during the day. Here, you can keep track of all your fitness metrics.
With the Garmin Fenix 7, you can set and achieve fitness goals. You can also enjoy advanced tracking and training tools and excellent GPS features.
This smartwatch focuses on the needs of sporty, active wearers. It can design balance and recovery plans for workouts and help users realistically achieve their desired milestones.
The Smartwatch That Looks Like a Wrist Watch: The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is great if you like the look of a conventional wristwatch. You can also customize the screen to mimic the look of some of the brand’s most popular models.
It also wears really comfortably with a slim stainless steel body and a curved sapphire crystal screen.
You can also choose different straps for the Connect Calibre E4 model. Leather, rubber, and steel bracelets are some examples.
Since TAG Heuer is an expert in manufacturing sports watches, its specialist sport-oriented smartwatches are a huge hit. (Take, for example, the Connected Calibre E4 Golf.)
The manufacturer has also implemented some improved features, such as a longer battery life and improved Bluetooth. In addition, you can do all the usual smartwatch-related things, like tracking steps, heart rate, and calories.
The Best Luxury Smartwatch: The Breitling Exospace B55
One of the more expensive smartwatches on the luxury watch market is the Exospace B55 from Breitling. Its lightweight titanium case grants a comfortable feel on the wrist for all manner of outdoor and indoor pursuits.
This model has a classic black dial that pairs with a titanium bracelet to match the case. Alternatively, you can opt for a sportier rubber band.
Either way, this is a great option for pilots, racing drivers, or yachters.
The Breitling Exospace B55 has a practical electronic tachymeter scale, which is useful for tracking speed based on distance.
You can record flights or measure regatta times, too, plus it comes with even more features. An alarm, Bluetooth support, extensive battery life, and 100-meter water resistance are just some examples.
The Best Minimalist Smartwatch: The Montblanc Summit 3
The Summit 3 smartwatch by Montblanc has a contemporary and minimalist aesthetic. It’s a very well-rounded tool that runs on Google Wear OS 3. Although Google’s since released the Wear OS 4 platform it’s still impressive.
If you spend plenty of time exploring the great outdoors, this or the Garmin Fenix 7 is the one for you.
The Montblanc Summit 3 smartwatch has built-in GPS functionality. Thanks to a built-in sensor, it can also simultaneously track your heart rate.
On top of that, you can make use of a SpO2 monitor and track all your outdoor activities.
Lastly, you can make contactless payments anywhere you go with its NFC support.
Third-party apps are also a breeze to get hold of. The device supports Google Play Store but, unfortunately, goes without the Google Assistant functionality.
Different configurations from Montblanc enable you to enjoy this smartwatch on a range of straps and colorways.
The Best Value Smartwatch: Garmin Marq Aviator
Of all the smartwatches we’ve featured in this article, the Garmin Marq Aviator is probably the best value for money. It boasts so many aviation-specific features that it would be rude not to own this watch if you’re a pilot.
This model isn’t just about tracking and reaching your fitness goals. It’s a tool for the sky.
You do get the health and fitness suite, but it comes alongside a whole host of other features.
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You can also measure SpO2 levels, utilize the Heart Rate Sensor, and perform contactless payments with its Garmin pay feature. But on top of all this, you can receive weather reports, log flights, and use its many cool navigational tools.
If the Garmin Marq Aviator is too pilot-specific, check out the rest of the brand’s Garmin Marq series.
The Best Smartwatch for the Fashion Foward: The Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon
The Sister brand to TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, makes a decent high-end smartwatch. Unlike many other wearable devices on the market, it does not have a heart rate sensor.
It comes on a leather band, offering a premium feel and finish.
Although it’s probably not the best strap option for sessions at the gym, its Tambour case does look pretty cool.
The sandblasted steel case is water resistant to 30 meters, so this is definitely not a watch for all pursuits.
However, as far as luxury smartwatches go, its unique dial face makes the model feel coherent. A plethora of travel-oriented apps for those on the go will appeal to adventurers.
This model also operates on Google Wear OS and has a diameter of 42mm.
The Best Budget Smartwatch Options
If you don’t plan to wear your device all the time, you may need a cheaper alternative. Likewise, you may need to shop on a budget.
These are some of the best budget smartwatch options. They feature a few features of some of the big-name brand smartwatches without the hefty price tag.
Huawei Watch Fit 2
The Huawei is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. It’s a hybrid smartwatch that focuses primarily on fitness tracking. Its massive 46mm-sized case houses a crisp and bright 1.74-inch AMOLED touchscreen.
Within the device’s intuitive menu are over 100 workout profiles that you can use at the gym.
The Huawei Fit 2 also tracks sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and menstrual cycles.
The Healthy Living clover on the menu reminds you to do the little things in life—to drink more water and smile! Improved outdoor tracking combines with a five-system GPS feature and an added dual band for improved navigation.
All this for a week’s worth of battery, too! Not bad for a budget smartwatch.
Casio G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000-1A4ER
The Casio brand is famous for its affordability but also for its cutting-edge technology. The G-Squad Pro is the Japanese brand’s smartwatch.
It offers an itinerary that appeals to hikers, bikers, swimmers, and those who enjoy extreme pursuits like snowboarding and surfing. To do all this, it includes an accelerometer, gyrometer, GPS, heart rate sensor, digital compass, and air pressure sensor.
This affordable smartwatch from Casio displays metrics and useful information via a three-tier interface. It means you can set your pace to go harder and stronger than you’ve ever done before.
Its dual-layer monochrome and color display enables you to capture data on distance, pace, and speed easily.
You can also customize what you see on the screen and manage your training logs however you want. Additionally, you can send layered photos and videos of your stats to others, keeping them in on all the action.
The Best Smartwatch For Kids: The Gizmo Watch 3
Smartwatches aren’t just for adults. As your kids get older, you may want to be able to reach them without giving them full smartphone access. That’s where the Gizmo Watch 3 comes in to save the day.
Personally, I love this watch for kids and have owned the original Gizmo watch and the Gizmo Watch 2. It has safety features like precise GPS tracking and parental controls.
You can decide who your child calls and who can call them. You can also set downtime hours so the watch doesn’t ring during school hours or at night.
This smartwatch is rugged yet stylish for kids. Additionally, with the most recent release, kids can text using a full QWERTY keyboard. The previous models only allowed for preset texts, which parents and kids did not like.
The only downside to the Gizmo watch is that it is only available through Verizon mobile. However, functionality and ease of use make this the best smartwatch for kids, hands down!
Frequently Asked Questions About Smartwatches
Whether you are buying a classic wristwatch or a smartwatch, you probably have questions. Here are your most common queries surrounding smartwatches. We cover them to ensure your bases are covered as you decide which smartwatch is best for you.
What is a Smartwatch?
By definition, a smartwatch is a mobile device with a touchscreen display you wear on your wrist like a watch. Think of a smartwatch as a compact, wearable version of your smartphone. Additionally, a smartwatch can operate connected to or in conjunction with your phone. Or, it can have cellular connectivity, so you can leave your phone at home and just wear your watch.
How To Charge a Smartwatch?
The way you charge your smartwatch varies depending on the manufacturer. Some charge via a charging cable, while others charge via a magnetic connector or charging pad device.
How Much is a Smartwatch?
Smartwatch prices vary. ranging from $20 to $6,500. As with most wristwatches, the price varies based on brand, features, and rarity.
Are Smartwatches Worth It?
Smartwatches are worth having, depending on your lifestyle and needs. They are ideal for people who want to monitor their health and fitness or for connectivity needs.
Conclusion: The Best Smartwatches for Everyone
And there you have it — my list of the best smartwatches for everyone. Whether you need a device for hardcore fitness training or aspire to become more health-focused, this guide provides it all.
Realistically, as capabilities continually advance, so do smartwatches. Sadly, you can’t always own the latest offerings from the smartwatch world, but you can certainly try.
This list features some of the latest and most advanced examples of wearable technology. Who knows what possibilities the next exciting smartwatch will bring?
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