There are so many different smartwatches out there, and all of them are very different. Some are great for battery life, some are great for fitness, some can track your sleep, but which one is the best smartwatch you can buy?
In this article, We’re breaking down the top five smartwatches by category because everyone honestly has different needs for a smartwatch. One of the most common questions we’ve heard is, “What is the best smartwatch to buy right now?”
Let’s get started with the choices you have.
1. Garmin Vivomove Style (Best Hybrid Watch)
This watch has an analog clock with hands on the face of it. Watches that have an analog clock are usually a bit smaller and lightweight; this one is no exception. Though it is lighter than the rest, it packs a lot of great benefits.
At first glance, it looks like a regular watch until you lift your wrist, and it showcases its true capabilities. If you double-tap the screen, behind the analog pins, you have a digital display that shows you everything you want from the basics of a smartwatch.
You have health tracking, sleep tracking, and you can see your heart rate. You even have connected GPS when you are going on a run. You can see notifications, phone calls, and you can reply to notifications. On top of that, you also have Garmin pay, so you can buy whatever you want and use the watch to pay, after typing in a pin.
| What we Like (Pros) | What we don’t Like (Cons) |
| Multiple colors to choose from | Doesn’t count naps towards the recorded sleep time |
| Compatible with smartphone’s GPS | |
| Lightweight | |
| Battery saver (last 5-12 days) |
Value: Check on Amazon price here
Verdict: The Garmin Vivomove is an excellent smartwatch overall. If you want to reap the benefits of longer battery life with a sleek minimalistic designed hybrid smartwatch, this is the choice for you!
2. Suunto 7 (Best Fitness Watch)
This watch has one of the leading smartwatch operating systems out there which means you’re going to have all the Google apps you need. It is water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wet in the rain, for instance.
It works very well as an everyday watch; you can receive notifications, reply to texts, and do basically everything you would want to do in a smartwatch.
It is also very accurate when tracking things like hiking, surfing, paragliding, or really anything you can imagine in the realm of fitness. This watch is one of the more expensive ones, being in the high $400 range but given all it’s capabilities, it’s worth it.
| What we Like (Pros) | What we don’t Like (Cons) |
| Versatile GPS | Pricey |
| High-resolution touch screen | |
| Has a battery life of up to 48 hours | |
Value: Check on Amazon price here
Verdict: If you’re looking to go outside and you want something that’s water-proof, durable, has excellent heart rate tracking, and has a good battery life, then this is the smartwatch for you.
3. Casio G Shock GBD H1000 (Best “Green” Watch)
This Watch charges with solar power so as long as you’re outside for at least two hours per week, the battery will last a pretty long time. You can also charge by USB if you feel necessary. Surprisingly it doesn’t consume a lot of energy with it’s tracking capabilities such as fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS, and Bluetooth notifications.
While the longevity of the watch’s battery life is one of its most exceptional features, it is also almost indestructible with shocks and a water-proof casing; you can take it just about anywhere and do about anything without worry of it breaking. It also features a compass and world time (38 time zones), so you won’t get lost, no matter how far and wide you explore.
| What we Like (Pros) | What we don’t Like (Cons) |
| Shock Resistant | Doesn’t track your sleep |
| GPS | |
| Training Function displayed | |
Value: Check on Amazon price here
Verdict: If you are looking for a watch that not only comes with long battery life but one that powers itself on or off the grid, making hiking and exploring that much easier, this is the watch for you.
4. Fitbit Charge (Best Fitness Band)
The Fitbit watches are typically a lot cheaper than the other options out there; this one is no exception. With tracking of your health and heart rate, it’s more of a premium fitness band. With Fitbit Pay, you have the freedom to use your watch to pay anywhere you see contact-less payment as an option.
On top of all of that, you have about 5-7 days in battery life before having to charge it again. This fitness smartwatch with its small and sleek design packs a GPS as well as a sleep monitor.
All bases are covered with this smartwatch, including a more reasonable price option for those on a budget. That’s why I list that as the close runner up for the best fitness.
| What we Like (Pros) | What we don’t Like (Cons) |
| Built-in GPS | Vibration during notifications can get annoying |
| Track workouts in real-time | |
| Battery life of 5-7 days | |
Value: Check on Amazon price here
Verdict: If you are looking for a smartwatch that allows you to keep track of just about everything from the control of your wrist, this is the one for you.
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 1 (Best All-around Smartwatch)
The Samsung Galaxy watch active 1 is a solid watch that does everything you need it to. It’s great for everyday use as it has a microphone and a speaker so you can take phone calls on it.
This watch, at first glance, does not look like a fitness watch. This is good if you want to reap the benefits of fitness tracking in a smartwatch but not have to publicize your conquest to better your life.
You can monitor the tracking right from your wrist or use the Samsung Health app. The sleep monitor can track not only how long you are sleeping but also the type of sleep you are getting, such as REM sleep.
This is an excellent option for those with androids but those with apple, the second-best option for you is going to be the Apple Watch Series 5.
| What we Like (Pros) | What we don’t Like (Cons) |
| Detailed sleep tracking | The screen size makes it annoying to reply to notifications |
| Water-resistant | |
| Built-in GPS | |
| Interchangeable bands. |
Value: Check on Amazon price here
Verdict: If you’re looking for a smartwatch that helps you analyze your sleep patterns and encourages you to reach your fitness goals, this is the best choice for you.
6. APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 (Best Overall)
Even though apple watch series 3 itself was quite satisfactory, Apple opted for a change and redesigned its smartwatch to a seemingly flawless product.
Its large screen makes is more convenient and its sleek design is something you can never set your eyes off. Speakers are better than ever and the fall detection feature is quite impressive.
If you own an Iphone and are willing to spend the money, the apple watch series 4 is the best choice for you.
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7. SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH (Best Battery Life)
It is undoubtedly Samsung’s best smartwatch. Its “real watch-like” design stands out. It has a metallic body and a circular face. It runs on an Operating called Tizen OS (Samsung owned).
The most impressive part is the battery that can last up to Four DAYS even after heavy use. It can definitely be considered one of the best smartwatches for android.
Samsung has expanded to new health features such as stress management and breathing features along with 21 indoor exercises and 39 tracked workouts.
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8. FITBIT VERSA (Best for Fitness)
Fitbit comes with a design that is similar to Apple smartwatch but it is much more affordable. It is sleek, it is lightweight and it is cheap.
The Battery can last for around 3-4 days while most of the smartwatches don’t last more than a day or two. It comes with Fitbit pay which helps you workouts and connects you to the Fitbit Universe.
The Fitbit Versa is a great budget-friendly smartwatch.
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9. GARMIN VIVOACTIVE 3 (The “Greyman”)
Garmin is known for making smartwatches with a range of fitness trackers for athletes of all types.
They have smartwatches for runners, swimmers, golfers etc to match their requirements according to their activities.
Through Garmin Vivoactive 3, Garmin has entered into the market of more versatile watches that can work as a Mini-smartphone with features like notifications, apps etc.
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10. MISFIT VAPOR 2 (Best for Budget)
With the addition of various features that were missing in Misfit Vapor and highly affordable pricing, Misfit Vapor 2 can come under the list of top 10 smartwatches.
It has a sleek design and looks more minimalistic than most smartwatches. GPS and NFC have been added (which were missing in the first version).
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11. KATE SPADE SCALLOP 2 (Best for Women)
Kate Spade Scallop 2 is a smartwatch designed specifically for women. It has a stainless steel case.
And of course, it has a heart rate sensor, NFC, GPS etc and is water-resistant. It works smoothly even though it uses the older Qualcomm processor.
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12. HUAWEI WATCH GT (Most Unique OS)
Huawei ditched the Google Wear OS for their Huawei Watch GT and opted for their own operating system. This watch has a commendable battery life and comes in two styles, one being classic (as seen in the image) and the other being sporty.
Huawei Watch GT is comfortable and its display is impressive and has easy interaction with the touch screen.
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13. FOSSIL SPORT (Most Durable)
Fossil Sports smartwatch includes a Qualcomm snapdragon 3100 chip and it was one of first ones to use it.
It is sleek, lightweight, comfortable and budget-friendly. It is also available in six different colors.
The top is made of aluminum and the bottom is made of nylon which is the reason that it is so lightweight.
AMOLED display gives a sharper and crisper screen. It has GPS sensors, heart rate monitor, altimeter etc sports.
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Bonus: Mi Ban 4/5 (Best When You’re On A Budget)
This smartwatch can track your heart rate and sleep along with a Bluetooth function. You can track exercises such as running, cycling and even swimming.
You can answer calls right from the watch as well as receive text notifications. The only downside to this is that the quality of the voices on the phone call are not the best.
Along with all of this, you also can play music remotely from the watch. A single charge on this watch can give you up to 20 days of battery life, depending on how much you use it.
Conclusion
Each of these smartwatches has their own pros and cons, some excelling in design, some excelling in performance some excelling in the user interface. It really all comes down to what you want.
There are so many types of fitness trackers or smartwatches available in the market, and this creates confusion among buyers, which one to pick and why? We found an amazing article, of Best Fitness Trackers for Biking, you can check it out if you are also searching for Fitness Trackers.
*This came from a Guest Post submitted by Rohit K. and edited by Johnathan
Editor’s Note:
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As always, to your success,
Thanks.
