Smartwatches have a bad rep for being ugly and bulky, but the tech world is getting more fashion-forward by the day.
Slimmer, more stylish wrist gadgets are entering the market, equipped with cool features that help make daily life less stressful. But what exactly can the best smartwatch do?
Smartwatches connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. They ping you alerts about WhatsApp messages, emails and more. Most have built-in speakers that let you answer calls, use the voice assistant and play music.
Many smartwatches are also fitness trackers, counting the steps you take and the calories you burn while exercising. They’re waterproof and sweat-proof, and some have built-in GPS for running without your smartphone.
Other key specs to look out for include waterproofness, sleep tracking and contactless payment ability. Battery life varies, but some smartwatches will last for five days before needing a charge.
How we test
We put 24 different models to the test to find the best smartwatch, reviewing their design, performance and how easy they are to set up and use. The biggest question put to our testers was: 'would you wear this yourself?'.
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1
Best smartwatch for iPhone
Watch Series 5
Apple
£399.00
You’ll find the biggest choice of straps for this leading smartwatch, either through Apple or a tech accessories brand like Casetify. What’s more, every year Apple teams up with luxury leather brand Hermès to launch new custom straps. But this ‘it’ gadget isn’t all style and no substance. It scored the highest marks on test, proving simple to use and tracking 76 different workouts accurately, including swimming. It’s easy to set up Apple Pay and the battery lasts for 18 hours. The one glaring downside is that it only pairs with iPhones.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.57 inch or 1.73 inch Works with: iPhone Strap material: Silicone Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 32GB GPS: Yes Number of exercises tracked: 76 Contactless payments: Apple Pay Voice assistant: Siri Battery life: Up to 18 hours
2
Runner-up smartwatch for iPhone
Watch Series 3
Apple
£199.00
Though two years older than its winning successor, the Apple Watch Series 3 has all its major features. You can take calls, dictate texts and emails to Siri, and download music to listen to with Bluetooth headphones. The silicone straps are still interchangeable, so you can match it to your outfit. It even has the same automatic exercise logger. The screen is a little smaller and it has half the storage space, but at £200 cheaper, we think it’s a steal.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.49 inch or 1.65 inch Works with: iPhone Strap material: Silicone Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 16GB GPS: Yes Number of exercises tracked: 76 Contactless payments: Apple Pay Voice assistant: Siri Battery life: Up to 18 hours
3
Best smartwatch for Android
Galaxy Watch 3
Samsung
£385.99
This sought-after smartwatch works with iPhones and Android smartphones, but you’ll need the latter to use WhatsApp, check emails, make and take calls and use the Bixby voice assistant. Unlike Apple’s offering, it looks like a traditional timepiece, with a round bezel that rotates to open apps. It comes in three colours but our favourite is the 'mystic bronze' shown here. It accurately tracks seven exercises automatically, including walking and aerobics, and has a reliable built-in heart rate monitor and sleep tracker. It's compatible with Samsung Pay and Spotify, and the battery lasts two days.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.6 inch or 1.8 inch Works with: Android and iPhone Strap material: Leather Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 8GB GPS: Yes Number of exercises tracked: 40 Contactless payments: Samsung Pay Voice assistant: Bixby Battery life: 43 hours
4
Best for the office
Gen 5
Fossil
£279.00
This slick, professional-looking smartwatch with interchangeable straps is another top choice if you lean towards a classic style. It’s packed with useful features, including a speaker, fitness tracking, Google Pay and smartphone notifications. It pairs with both iPhone and Android operating systems but is better suited to the latter, as you can’t take calls on the former. The battery will only see you through 24 hours, but it’s quick to recharge, recovering 80% of its juice in just one hour.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.3 inch Works with: iPhone and Android Strap material: Stainless steel Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 7GB GPS: No Number of exercises tracked: 10 Contactless payments: Google Pay Voice assistant: Google Assistant Battery life: Up to 24 hours
5
Best for looks
Gen 5 Bradshaw
Michael Kors
£339.00
Fossil releases smartwatches under licence for a number of big-name fashion brands, including Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Armani and Diesel. Tech and feature-wise, these watches are the same as their Fossil-branded counterparts (see above). They just look better, with digital faces that are in keeping with the designer’s trademark style and colour palette. This rose gold beauty exudes MK chic and we enjoy the nod to Sex and the City’s glam Carrie Bradshaw in its name.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.3 inch Works with: iPhone and Android Strap material: Stainless steel Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 7GB GPS: No Number of exercises tracked: 10 Contactless payments: Google Pay Voice assistant: Google Assistant Battery life: Up to 24 hours
6
Best for fitness
Venu
Garmin
£305.58
Fitness fanatics, this sporty smartwatch is for you. It’s brilliant fitness features include PacePro, which offers dynamic pacing guidance, and on-screen demonstrations of body conditioning and Pilates moves. It tracks 20 different workouts, some automatically, and you can download up to 500 songs to listen to with Bluetooth headphones. Looks-wise, it’s minimalist with a round bezel (the light sand and rose gold option is our favourite). It has an excellent five-day battery life, but you can’t take calls or reply to messages, and there’s no voice assistant.
Key specifications Screen size: 1.19 inch Works with: iPhone and Android Strap material: Elastomer Interchangeable straps: Yes Storage space: 4GB GPS: Yes Number of exercises tracked: 20 Contactless payments: Garmin Pay Voice assistant: No Battery life: Up to five days
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