There are only a few smartwatches that are worth your money. Find the one that’s just for you right here.
The smartwatch is the ultimate smartphone accessory. It can tell the time, of course, but it can also beam important notifications straight to your wrist, and run native apps.
What’s more impressive is that many of today’s best models can also perform a ton of novel tricks, such as enabling you to search the internet with your voice, tracking your exercise over GPS, and letting you check-out at the grocery store without reaching for your wallet.
Oh yeah – and they look absolutely stunning to boot.
For some time, jumping into the world of smartwatches was a risky move. But now, with competent efforts put forward from Google with Android Wear, Apple with watchOS, and more, there’s never been a better time to strap up with wearable technology.
Choosing the smartwatch that’s right for you isn’t easy, but we hope to make the exciting process of getting paired up with your next (or first!) smartwatch as simple as possible.
Fitness takes over the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch 2 is the best smartwatch you can buy right now. It’s water-resistant, which means it’s more durable than most of the other devices on this list and you won’t have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you’re out for a jog.
There’s GPS onboard to make running that little bit easier plus it comes running the newest watchOS 3 software. Design wise it’s looking very similar to the original Apple Watch. Be warned though, the Apple Watch 2 is expensive.
If you already own an Apple Watch, the Apple Watch 2 may not be worth the upgrade, but there are a few solid improvements that mean it’s worth spending that bit extra if this is your first wearable from Apple.
Samsung’s latest goes big against Apple – literally
Despite a serious lack of original apps, the Samsung Gear S3 is one of the best smartwatch options on the market.
The intuitive controls and Super AMOLED screen from the Samsung Gear S2 are back in full form here. Plus, GPS makes its debut on the Gear S3.
While its look is more executive than the Gear S2, it rocks a IP68-protected build and can last up to 3 days of use before needing a charge.
Samsung recently made the Gear S3 (and Gear S2, for that matter) compatible on iOS. So, if you’re looking for a more traditional-looking alternative to the Apple Watch, you may have found your match.
The thinnest Android Wear smartwatch yet
Roll that all up and you’re left with an extremely alluring presentation that makes a mighty strong argument for Google’s wearable platform. But there are some familiar wrinkles here.
Battery life is still a low point, and, as independent as Android Wear 2.0 claims to be, Google is still in the early days of filling the new Play Store with compatible apps that are enticing enough to bother with aside from its own. The Style’s appeal lies more in what it will be soon, rather than what it is at launch.
That said, it’s easy to express why the Style is the only smartwatch we want to put on our wrists. For $249 (£249 / AU$325, but not confirmed for AU) , it offers just as much utility as prior smartwatch attempts, but ups the ante with a slim, dashing design and several welcome features, like the voice-activated Google Assistant and a refreshed user interface that’s full of clever tweaks.
Google’s Android phone on your wrist
LG Watch Sport is the smartwatch to beat right now simply because it’s a full-featured fitness tracker wrapped in a smartwatch running Android Wear 2.0. While other smartwatches can do “fitness tracking” that just amounts to logging runs and calories burned, this watch tracks your all-important strength training, too.
It’s also one of the few smartwatches that supports an LTE connection, meaning, if you pop a SIM card into the back of the watch, it can make and receive calls and data – without your smartwatch nearby.
It doesn’t have the best battery life, despite its bigger-than-normal size, and apps are still being announced for Google’s newly refreshed platform. But it’s a proper step up for Android Wear and smartwatches in general.
ZenWatch grows up with its third iteration
If you’ re in the market for an Android Wear smartwatch, the Asus ZenWatch 3 should be near the top of your list. It has a great display, useful hardware buttons and good battery life. And although it has been slow to adopt Android Wear 2.0, the long-awaited update is finally available.
It’s styling might not be for everyone, and it’s lacking in a few sensors, but Asus did a commendable job designing a watch that looks more like a premium watch than a piece of lifeless technology.
A well-equipped smartwatch with too many features
Not quite the successor that we imagined that it would be, the Huawei Watch 2 appeals to a sporty crowd that values function over form. And in terms of functions, this smartwatch is filled with them. GPS, NFC, even 4G connectivity is available in some regions.
For all its perks, we wish that the Huawei Watch 2 stuck with a premium design. The bulky, mostly plastic build doesn’t fare well against the tougher competition. Also a downside is that its screen is smaller in this iteration, but on the plus side, it has gained the spiffy Android Wear 2.0 software.
Read the full review: Huawei Watch 2
Moto’s smartwatch is a thing of beauty
The second generation oto 360 certainly gets our vote as the best smartwatch when it comes to look. Plus, it’s also one of the most comfortable wearables around.
The new size options give the Moto 360 the extra reach it needed the first time around. That, and the new-found comfortable fit (along with the added customization to the design) , brings it all together as one of the best smartwatches of 2016, and still a strong option in 2017.
The iPhone-tailored smartwatch is expensive, but convenient
Once you get past the high price, this is a genuinely useful thing to have around at times. Being able to check when you’ve got a message, or see who’s calling and be able to make snap decisions, feels like the future, especially when you’re exercising or in another situation where grabbing your phone isn’t practical.
The new enhancements from Apple’s watchOS 3 really do help this smartwatch leap forward, even if the hardware is over a year old. It’s now faster, more usable and comes with watch faces that make it feel more personal.
