A watch with a phone connection is called a smartwatch. Smartwatches can typically track your heart rate, steps, and other metrics, and they frequently (but not always) feature an integrated display. A lot of smartwatches also let you talk to your favorite digital assistant and display notifications from your wrist. You may then be able to access information from the internet and manage your smart home appliances.
Some smartwatches are limited to specific phone models, while others adopt a little more conventional design with a conventional watch face and intelligent fitness monitoring capabilities. We spoke with smartwatch specialists and considered the characteristics that the majority of customers want or desire from a smartwatch when compiling our list of the top models.
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1. Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 maintains the Apple Watch’s position as the preferred wristwatch for iPhone owners. The Apple Watch is by far the greatest smartwatch experience available thanks to Apple’s ten-year development process. With an always-on display that can reach an amazing 2000 nits and a wide range of health-tracking sensors that can be used for a variety of workouts, the Apple Watch Series 9 comes in two sizes. Many of these sensors will activate in the background to track fitness throughout the day. These consist of devices such as an altimeter, gyroscope, accelerometer, and heart rate monitor. You may use the device to track your swimming workouts because it is waterproof up to 50 meters.
Although a bit more costly than some other watches, the Apple Watch Series 9 is still competitively priced. Additionally, the device is incompatible with Android phones and other non-Apple devices. Its extensive integration within the Apple ecosystem, however, is one of its advantages; it supports iMessage and connects to gadgets like the AirPods instantly. You can’t use the Apple Watch if you don’t have an iPhone, but if you have, getting an Apple Watch of some sort (Series 9 or otherwise) is definitely the best option.
Specs
| Price: | $399 |
| Display Technology: | OLED display |
| Dimensions: | 41 x 35 x 10.7 mm (41mm model), 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (45mm model) |
| Rated Battery Life: | 18 hours |
| Sensors: | Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, VO2max, temperature, EKG |
| Operating System: | iOS only |
| App Ecosystem: | Huge app ecosystem of thousands of apps |
| Water Resistance: | WR50 (up to 50 meters) |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular (on cellular models) |
| Build: | Stainless steel frame, glass front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back |
| Smart Features: | Fitness-tracking, Siri, tap-to-pay, major Apple services |
PROS:
- Excellent integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Sleek overall design
- The software works very well
- Great fitness-tracking
CONS:
- Low battery life
- Apple users only
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
When it comes to smartwatches, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is the best option for Android users. The Wear OS 4 operating system, the most recent and best operating system partnership between Google and Samsung, is available on this watch. This implies that you can use it to operate Google Home smart home devices, access Google Assistant, and more. Although the Galaxy Watch 6 has some Samsung-specific features, it can be used with any Android mobile. You must pair the watch with a Samsung phone in order to access capabilities like the ECG, which can cause notifications about abnormal heart rhythm.
Additionally, even though the device has a respectable amount of computing power, users may occasionally experience software slowness (which an Apple Watch Although the Galaxy Watch 6 has some Samsung-specific features, it can be used with any Android mobile. You must pair the watch with a Samsung phone in order to access capabilities like the ECG, which can cause notifications about abnormal heart rhythm. Additionally, even while the device has a respectable amount of computing power, users may occasionally experience software lag—something that the Apple Watch doesn’t have nearly as much of. Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a great gadget for Android fans given its fashionable appearance and extensive feature set.
Specs
| Price: | $203.00 |
| Display Technology: | 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 480 x 480 resolution |
| Dimensions: | 38.8 x 40.4 x 9 mm (40mm model), 42.8 x 44.4 x 9 mm (44mm model) |
| Rated Battery Life: | 30 hours (with always-on display) |
| Health and Fitness Tracking: | Accelerometer, gyro, compass, heart rate, barometer, thermometer |
| Operating System: | Android |
| App Ecosystem: | Huge app ecosystem of thousands of apps |
| Water Resistance: | 50m |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular (on cellular models) |
| Build: | Aluminum frame, glass front |
| Smart Features: | Google Assistant, tap-to-pay, supports Google and Samsung services |
PROS:
- Beautiful big screen
- Works with Android devices
- Smooth software experience
CONS:
- Some Samsung-only features
- The software can occasionally lag
3. Garmin Fenix 7
The Garmin Fenix 7 is the smartwatch to buy if you want a tough one that you can use for outdoor activities and fitness tracking. The device has a longer battery life than the competitors, but it is larger than the other devices on this list. Additionally, it has great fitness tracking capabilities that work with the popular Garmin ecosystem. Notably, it has excellent hiking features together with cutting-edge features like points of interest and waypoints.
Although the Garmin Fenix 7 has many positive aspects, it is not flawless. The device’s contrast isn’t as good as some of Garmin’s other devices because it still uses a memory-in-pixel display. In addition, it costs a bit more than most of the competition. However, the Garmin Fenix 7 is well worth the money if you’re looking for a watch that’s durable enough for frequent sports use.
Specs
| Price: | $697.97 |
| Display Technology: | 1.3-inch MIP display, 260 x 260 resolution |
| Dimensions: | 47 x 47 x 14.5 mm |
| Rated Battery Life: | Up to 18 days (smartwatch mode) |
| Health and Fitness Tracking: | GPS, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor |
| Operating System: | Android and iOS. |
| App Ecosystem: | Integration with a large selection of services through Garmin Connect, including MyFitnessPal, Nike+, Noom, Strava, and more. |
| Water Resistance: | 10ATM |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Build: | Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover |
| Smart Features: | Voice assistants, tap-to-pay |
PROS:
- Rugged design
- Excellent navigation features
- Long battery life
CONS:
- A little pricey
- No built-in microphone
4. Mobvoi TicWatch 5 Pro Enduro
The greatest Android smartwatch for someone who values battery life is the TicWatch 5 Pro Enduro. In order to prolong the battery life, the watch uses a clever dual-display technology that illuminates the OLED display while you’re actively using the watch and screen and keeps the ultra-low-power display on in the background most of the time. With a massive 95-hour battery in “smart mode” or an amazing 45 days in “Essential Mode,” which disables many of the sensors and restricts background processes, this is more than just cool, though; it enables the gadget to significantly extend its battery life.
The watch has many useful features in addition to a great battery life. Although the update to WearOS 4.0 isn’t currently available for the watch, it does come with Google’s WearOS 3.5, which is comparatively powerful. It is a little perplexing that the wristwatch, which is based on Android, does not have access to Google Assistant. However, the Mobvoi TicWatch 5 Pro Enduro is unquestionably the best watch in terms of battery life if you don’t require Google Assistant and don’t mind not immediately receiving the newest and greatest software updates.
Specs
| Price: | $349.99 |
| Display Technology: | 1.43 Inch dual AMOLED + ultra low power display, 466 x 466 resolution |
| Dimensions: | 50.1 x 48 x 11.95 mm |
| Rated Battery Life: | 95 hours (Smart Mode), 45 days (Essential Mode) |
| Health and Fitness Tracking: | Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, HD PPG Heart Rate Sensor, SpO2 Sensor, Skin Temperature Sensor, Low Latency Off-Body Sensor, Barometer, Compass |
| Operating System: | Android |
| App Ecosystem: | Availability of apps and third-party integrations. |
| Water Resistance: | 5ATM |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Build: | Stainless steel, aluminum, high-strength nylon |
| Smart Features: | Tap-to-pay, Google ecosystem support |
PROS:
- Great battery life
- Full selection of smart features
- Dual display tech
CONS:
- No Google Assistant
- No cellular option
5. Withings ScanWatch 2
Withings has a reputation for creating intelligent, aesthetically pleasing electronics, and the ScanWatch 2 is no exception. With clever fitness-tracking functions and a discreet front display that can show notifications, fitness data, and more, the ScanWatch 2 is designed to seem like a conventional watch.
However, the device’s primary purpose is to track daily fitness, and it excels at it. As a result, the ScanWatch 2 has capabilities including blood oxygen monitoring, heart rate monitoring, ECG measuring, sleep tracking, and general workout tracking. The Withings app provides direct access to all of this data, as well as data from Withings smart scales and other Withings devices. There should be a ScanWatch 2 for everyone because it is all housed in a well-designed body that is available in two sizes and a variety of colors.
Specs
| Price: | $349.95 |
| Display Technology: | 0.63-inch Grayscale OLED display with 282 ppi resolution |
| Dimensions: | 38 and 42 mm dial sizes |
| Rated Battery Life: | 30 days |
| Health and Fitness Tracking: | Heart monitor, ECG sensor, body temperature sensor, blood oxygen monitor |
| Operating System: | Android and iOS |
| App Ecosystem: | Integrations in the Withings app, including MyFitnessPal, Nest, and more. |
| Water Resistance: | 5ATM. |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Build: | Stainless steel, sapphire glass |
| Smart Features: | Fitness-tracking, app integrations |
PROS:
- Sleek and stylish design
- Unassuming hybrid approach
- Excellent fitness-tracking
CONS:
- No advanced smart features
- Notifications can be tricky to read
