Best Smartwatches Buying Guide

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Smartwatches keep you connected without the need to constantly drag your phone out. The best smartwatches need to combine useful features with a stylish design and comfortable bands that make using them a pleasure. The devices in this buying guide meet that criteria.

Content

Our Criteria

The best smartwatches do more than just tell time and show you notifications. They’re becoming more and more essential to keeping track of your day, managing your health, and even helping you stay safer. While there are numerous features to look for, we had several things in mind when choosing the best smartwatches for this list.

Compatibility

Obviously, smartwatches must be compatible with either iOS or Android. If you’re fully committed to one OS over the other, then your choice becomes much easier. However, smartwatches that support both systems are preferable.

Comfort

No one wants a smartwatch that chafes or feels uncomfortable after just a few hours of wear. Silicone bands are increasingly popular, though the perfect watch has a variety of bands to ensure that you can choose the right one for your needs.

Battery Life

Just like your phone, your smartwatch needs to last. Naturally, battery life varies based on usage. However, it should last at least 12 hours to ensure that it gets you through the better part of your day. Choosing a fast-charging watch is a good idea if you’re a heavy user so that you can quickly charge it when you get a chance.

Features

Features vary between smartwatches, but some of the most important ones to look for include:

Seamless syncing of notifications and contacts
Health monitoring, such as heart rate
Basic fitness tracking, such as a step counter
Water resistance
Control of music
Variety of apps
Scratch-proof glass
GPS
Easy-to-use app

Customization

While not as important as some of the other criteria, having the option to choose different bands and watch faces is a great bonus. After all, if you’re wearing something on your wrist all the time, it should fit with your personality.

The very first smartwatch wasn’t really that smart at all. The Plus Four Wristlet Route Indicator, released in 1927, let users insert a scroll map to help them get from Point A to Point B. It was innovative for the time, though. By the 1980s, watches started getting a bit smarter.

Seiko released the TV Watch, with a tiny TV screen, in 1982. They quickly followed up with the Data-2000 a year later that featured a detachable keyboard. Seiko continued paving the way in 1995 with the MessageWatch, that displayed caller ID, sports scores, weather, and even stock updates.

By 1998, a much smarter watch was introduced. The Linux Wristwatch let you read emails and connect wirelessly to computers. While several other notable watches were released after, it wasn’t until the Sony SmartWatch in 2012, that the first major Android smartwatch appeared. Flash forward to 2014, for the release of the first Apple Watch.

1. Best Overall: Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 edged out similar Android models, mainly due to its built-in safety features and carbon neutral design. Of course, it’s easily one of the best smartwatches, thanks to its numerous features and seamless integration with other Apple devices.

The ultrabright display makes it ideal for outside use. Plus, it tracks fitness, health, and sleep data, giving you a clear overview of your progress. It can even let you know if you have an irregular heart rhythm. Other benefits include is a wide choice of bands (as an Apple product) and fully customizable watch faces.

Pros

Easy to customize
Pairs easily with iOS devices
Clear, bright display
Variety of Apple apps available
Up to 18 hours battery life

Cons

Not compatible with Android
Battery won’t last a full day

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2. Best Overall Value: Amazfit GTR 4 Limited Edition

The Amazfit GTR 4 Limited Edition is the perfect blend of price and features and is the premium edition of the GTR 4. It also offers impressive battery life of up to 14 days. You don’t have to choose between iOS and Android, as this smartwatch is compatible with both, including older iOS devices.

While Amazon Alexa is built in, you can also use other voice assistants. Surprisingly, this watch doesn’t skimp on features. Enjoy GPS, sports/fitness tracking, health monitoring and stream or store music on the watch itself. Check out how a cheap smartwatch can change your life.

Pros

Stainless steel design
Dual band GPS
Lasts up to 14 days with light usage
Battery saving health monitoring app
Over 200 watch faces

Cons

Not as many available watch bands
No NFC

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3. Best for Calls: CMF By Nothing Watch Pro Smartwatch

If making calls on your watch is important to you, give the CMF By Nothing Watch Pro Smartwatch a try. It has Bluetooth calling and active noise cancellation, a unique feature for a smartwatch. And for far less than $100, it’s also one of the best budget smartwatches.

It’s compatible with both iOS and Android and offers health monitoring, fitness tracking (only a few activities), and multi-system GPS. Naturally, it comes with its own app to help you manage everything. However, there are not as many options for customization.

Pros

Battery life up to 13 days
Dual OS compatibility
Clearer call quality with AI
Large AMOLED display

Cons

Few watch bands and faces
Issues with syncing notifications

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4. Most Rugged: Garmin Instinct 2

If you love the outdoors and hiking, you need a much more rugged smartwatch. The Garmin Instinct 2 is designed with for the outdoor life and can withstand extreme temperatures, shock, and of course, water (up to 100 meters). It even uses Corning Gorilla glass to prevent scratches.

While you can get notifications and make calls, Garmin focuses mainly on outdoor activities. Monitor heart rate, stress, and activity, for several preloaded activity profiles. However, the standout feature is the GPS, with three global GPS systems. It even has TracBack to help you retrace your steps while hiking.

Pros

Advanced GPS
Retrace steps easily
Monitor health
Rugged design
Up to 14 days battery life (16 hours in GPS mode)
Compatible with iOS and Android

Cons

Few apps
Not many customization options

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5. Best Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

For Android users, the best smartwatch is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. It’s essentially an Apple Watch, but for Android users. The thin bezel design gives you more watch face to view notifications, check your stats, and much more. Plus, the one-click band switching makes it easy to change bands every day if you want.

Advanced fitness tracking for over 90 exercises, sleep monitoring, health monitoring, irregular heartbeat detection, and much more let you keep track of your goals and overall health. It also connects seamlessly with other Galaxy devices and works well with non-Samsung Android devices. Or, if you’re looking for other options, try these other Android smartwatches.

Pros

Variety of bands and watch faces available
Up to 40 hours battery life
Compatible with Android and iOS
NFC with Samsung Pay
Stylish design

Cons

Not compatible with all Android and iOS devices
NFC only works with Samsung Pay
Battery drains quickly with sleep tracking

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a smartwatch and fitness tracker?

There’s a lot of overlap between the two. Many smartwatches offer fitness and health tracking. Many fitness trackers let you get notifications from your phone. However, fitness trackers often have even more advanced fitness and health tracking than smartwatches.

If you’re interested in apps, NFC, and more connectivity with your phone, smartwatches are typically better.

Can I buy any watch band for my smartwatch?

While you can buy third-party watch bands for some smartwatches, check the type of band connection first. Some smartwatches only work with a specific type of band. For instance, many brands offer compatible Apple Watch bands.

Will smartwatches work with any smartphone?

No. Every smartwatch has different requirements. Some only work with iOS, while others only work with Android. Plus, you must have at least a specific version of the OS for the watch to work. Before you buy anything, check the specifications to ensure it works with your phone’s system.

Image source: Unsplash

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Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer

Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.

Apple Watch Series 9

Amazfit GTR 4 Limited Edition

CMF BY NOTHING Watch Pro Smartwatch

Garmin Instinct 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Our Criteria

Compatibility

Comfort

Battery Life

Features

Customization