What is the best smartwatch?
A smartwatch provides a host of benefits, including fitness tracking, communications tracking and access to apps. A smartwatch won’t give users all of the same benefits as a smartphone, but the ability to wear a watch on the wrist is perfect for certain use cases where a smartphone doesn’t work.
Our favorite smartwatch is the Apple Watch SE, which has an excellent price point without sacrificing features. However, for those who use an Android smartphone instead of an Apple iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy Watch may be a better choice.
What to know before you buy a smartwatch
When seeking a smartwatch to meet your needs, consider these shopping tips.
Find a compatible smartphone
These watches often rely on a connection with a compatible smartphone to gain the maximum number of features. Users may want to pick a smartwatch that can pair with the smartphone they already own.
If selecting a smartwatch that doesn’t offer full compatibility with your smartphone, you can still use the smartwatch. You’ll just have limited connectivity features available.
Charging options
Smartwatches have a wide range of options for charging them, depending on the model in use. Some watches use a USB cable with a charging clip or connector, while others rest on a docking station.
Some people will dislike the idea of a charging station because it takes up a lot of real estate on a nightstand or desk. If the smartwatch requires a USB cable, however, it can be frustrating to plug into the tiny watch or to align the charging clip properly, so no charging system is perfect.
You probably shouldn’t base your decision on buying a smartwatch completely on the type of charging system it uses. But if you have a few models you’re considering, the charging system could become a tie-breaking option.
Style and appearance
If you’re going to be wearing the smartwatch constantly, its design and appearance will be an important consideration.
Smartwatches are available with a square-, rectangular- or round-shaped watch face. Some units are slightly larger than others.
If you’re looking for a small, thin watch face, a smartwatch may be tough to find. You may have to stick with a fitness tracker, which has fewer connectivity features than a smartwatch.
Smartwatch features
When comparing the performance level of smartwatches, pay attention to these features.
Display screen
Although the majority of smartwatches offer some sort of touchscreen, there are a few key differences.
Some smartwatches run everything through the touchscreen, while some have a button on the side for controlling some features. With the small screen of the watch, some people prefer the button option, as it can be difficult to make a precise selection using the touchscreen alone.
If you prefer a smartwatch that operates using the touchscreen alone, look for one with a bigger screen (around 45 mm in diameter). Smaller touchscreens usually measure 38 mm to 40 mm in diameter.
Battery longevity
With a device like a smartwatch, you want to be able to wear it the majority of the time. You don’t want to have to leave it on a charger frequently.
Watches with larger display screens and that offer more processing power to provide greater speeds when running apps will need more power. You may have to charge these watches every day or two.
Watches with smaller screens will not require as much battery power to operate. They may only need charging once or twice a week, so you can spend more time wearing them.
Fitness tracking
A smartwatch can perform many of the same functions as a fitness tracker, but it offers more features, including connectivity features.
For maximum fitness tracking benefits, such as monitoring distance on a run or when cycling, having a smartwatch with a GPS tracker is important. The GPS ensures accurate distance measurements that you can later send to a smartphone or computer for storage.
Smartwatches also will count steps or monitor heart rate, just like a fitness tracker. Some can even measure oxygenation levels.
Smartwatch cost
Generally, the more features a smartwatch offers, the higher price point it will carry. Low-priced smartwatches with good features will cost around $100 to $150, while the most expensive units cost $250 to $500.
Smartwatch FAQ
Why is it called a smartwatch?
A. A smartwatch has the ability to run apps and perform some features similar to a smartphone, hence the "smart" in the name.
How do I properly care for a smartwatch?
A. Use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the watch face, the band, and the bezel. Don't use a smartwatch in the water while swimming unless the model you're wearing is specifically made for underwater use.
Which smartwatch should I get?
Best of the best smartwatch
Apple Watch SE: available at Amazon
Our take: Those who love Apple products already will want the high-quality SE model, but it's also a sharp-looking smartwatch option for those who don't use other Apple devices.
What we like: It offers a high-quality display screen. The SE model is available at a lower price point than some other Apple Watch models without sacrificing too much.
What we dislike: Those who don't use the iPhone from Apple won't receive the maximum features and benefits from this watch.
Best bang for your buck smartwatch
Our take: For those who have more interest in the fitness-tracking features of a smartwatch, this Fitbit model will deliver good performance at a low price.
What we like: An extremely easy piece of hardware to learn to use. Lightweight, so it feels comfortable to wear for all kinds of activities.
What we dislike: It doesn't have the connectivity features of some other smartwatches. The side button is smaller than we'd like to see.
Honorable mention smartwatch
Our take: Popular smartwatch that delivers an excellent level of performance, especially for those who already have Android smartphones.
What we like: Has a nice mixture of features for tracking fitness and for running apps. It will work with Apple smartphones if desired, but with limited features.
What we dislike: We'd like to see a greater battery performance level and a lower price point.
Kyle Schurman is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
June 14, 2021 at 08:32PM
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