The Best Smart Watches
The future is here, and it starts with smartwatches. These little devices use computers that are 120 million times faster than the computers used in the early missions to the moon. Needless to say, they're quite handy. They keep track of our vitals, events, reminders, and even double as phones and mini-tablets. You can even scroll through certain social media pages. In looking for the best smartwatches, we asked ourselves a few important questions. What's the price point of the watch against its features? What kind of phone connectivity and features does it have? How is the battery life? For the best of the best, you can't go wrong with an Apple Watch Series 7, especially if you use an iPhone. If you're mostly going to be using a smartwatch for fitness tracking, Fitbit's Versa 2 and Garmin's Vivoactive 4 are the way to go. We use a smartwatch daily and could not imagine living without it. If you're ready to take the plunge, keep reading for the best of the best smartwatches on the market.
Apple Watch Series 7
The people pleaser
If you’re an iPhone user and are looking for the best device to pair with your phone, look no further. The Apple Watch does it all, with a stunning, highly responsive touchscreen that will take your breath away. You can take calls on it using the included speaker, even without the cellular option (requires a Bluetooth connection to your phone). There’s a bevy of apps for it, so you can check on the tides, predict the cloud cover for stargazing, listen to music, and even browse Reddit. It’s like a mini-iPhone on your wrist, and we’re all for it.
Pros:
- The Series 7 includes a larger screen due to smaller bevels. It’s highly resistant to cracks and scratches.
- It includes Siri, so you can use voice commands to do anything from sending texts, starting a timer, setting a reminder, turning on smart devices, the list is practically endless.
- We love all the fitness tracking features, which are amazingly accurate and help us stay on top of our fitness goals.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, there is no USB-C charger included, just the older USB-A model.
Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch
Not your average fitness tracker
When the original Fitbit came out, it sparked a wave of step-trackers and health monitoring devices. Now, it’s been upgraded to full smartwatch status. Still, it reigns supreme as the top fitness device on the market. You can even use Alexa for voice commands, which prove super useful when training, running, or keeping your hands preoccupied. Fitbit’s dedication to fitness tracking is apparent, and its Fitbit app makes that clear. Its user-friendly design and features make it easier than ever to get the most out of your exercise routines.
Pros:
- The alarm feature tracks your sleep and wakes you up at the right time so you’re not groggy, instead of being woken up during deep or REM sleep.
- With the Fitbit app’s visually appealing graphs, you might find yourself more vested in progressing your health goals.
- We were surprised by how lightweight the design is. It doesn’t feel cumbersome, even during an intense workout.
Cons:
- For iPhone users that use Apple fitness, unfortunately, this does not pair with Apple’s app.
Fossil Men’s Gen 5E 44mm Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch
Smart features meets macho style
There’s nothing quite as sophisticated as a classic timepiece. But what if you could have that class and style as well as modern smart features? Enter the Fossil Gen 5E. It has the same type of look as a traditional watch, with an all stainless steel wristband and metal watch face, but with a touchscreen, speaker, and wireless connectivity. Using Google’s Wear OS, you can use this watch just like your smartphone. That means checking emails, texting, calling, or browsing social media can all be done on your wrist.
Pros:
- For fitness buffs, this smartwatch pairs seamlessly with apps like Google Fit to track your health in real-time. Seeing your progress visually graphed and constantly trackable can really help to reach your fitness goals.
- We like how easy it is to link to a smartphone. Once paired up, you can use features like “find your phone”, which send a signal to your phone to beep in case it’s lost.
- You can use “Okay, Google” and Alexa voice commands with this smartwatch.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, the battery could be better. It lasts about a day with full features used.
Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS Smartwatch
Ultimate gains
Getting the most out of your workouts has never been easier with the Vivactive 4 smartwatch. We loved that it can track movement and exercise activity without the need for a paired phone. Of course, if you want to pair it with your iPhone or Android device, that’s an excellent option as well. It has Garmin’s special sensor, Pulse Ox, which measures your pulse and oxygen levels. For the ultimate fitness statistics, this is the watch to use.
Pros:
- The Vivoactive 4 provides accurate readings that you can count on. Even during a sweaty workout, the readings will stay true.
- We were impressed by the visibility of the screen. It works well outdoors, and the screen is easily visible even in direct sunlight.
Cons:
- We found the battery life to suffer when listening to music over Bluetooth.
Garmin Venu GPS Smartwatch
Bring the music with you
We love to go for a run, swim, or hike while listening to music. Unfortunately, with phones being so large these days, it can be cumbersome to lug your smartphone around. That’s why we love the Garmin Venu smartwatch. It frees us from that burden so we can run unencumbered and disconnected. The Spotify integration works seamlessly, and we chose this watch specifically for its high storage capacity: you can save up to 500 songs on this watch through Spotify to play offline, anytime.
Pros:
- The Venu smartwatch has a great battery life, lasting for up to five days with basic tracking functions.
- The virtual coach helps you through exercises, guiding you to reach your goals sooner.
- It feels lightweight on the wrist and doesn’t cause skin irritation. Garmin made their Venu watch comfortable for everyday use.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, you will need a Spotify Premium account to save songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of smartwatch should I buy?
Higher-end models usually have the most features, so if you want to feel like you have your smartphone on your wrist, we recommend those. On the other hand, if you’re just using a smartwatch for something like fitness, timing, or text messages, a more inexpensive option will do just as well.
How long do smartwatch batteries usually last?
Each device is different, of course, but you can generally count on most smartwatches lasting a whole day with full features, and around a week as a regular watch.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.