Choose a Watch That Is Compatible With Your Phone

Naturally, compatibility is the first factor to consider when purchasing a smartwatch. All Apple Watch models run watchOS, Apple’s smartwatch operating system, and are only compatible with iOS-powered devices, which means they’re iPhone-exclusive. Apple’s newest flagship model, the Series 7, requires an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 15 or later.

Samsung’s new smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic, run on the new Wear OS platform and are only compatible with Android. They require an Android 6.0 or newer smartphone with 1.5GB of RAM, as opposed to 2020’s Watch3, which worked with iPhones as well. The rest of the models on this list are compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

This Week’s Best Smartwatch Deals*

*Our commerce team chooses the deals.

$329.00 (List Price $399) for Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 41mm).

$229.99 (List Price $279.99) Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (44mm, Bluetooth, Black)

$199.00 (List Price $249) Fossil Gen 5E 44mm Stainless Steel Smartwatch

Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch With GPS – $189.99 (Retail $249.99).

Series 7 Apple Watch (Angela Moscaritolo photo)

Apple is your best bet if you’re seeking apps. By far, the Apple Watch has the most high-quality apps and big-name developers. Wear OS has its fair share as well, although third-party developers appear to prefer developing for Apple wearables. Wear OS may attract greater developer attention now that it is available on Samsung’s latest smartwatches.

Any.do, AccuWeather, Citymapper, Google Fit, Google Keep, Google Pay, Google Slides, IFTTT, iHeartRadio, Lifesum, Nike Run Club, Kamoot, Pandora, Shazam, Telegram, and Todoist are already available in the Google Play Store for the Galaxy Watch4 series. Additionally, Samsung and Google have announced that updated versions of Spotify, Calm, Strava, adidas Running, Swim.com, and Flo Period Tracker will be coming to their unified Wear OS platform. Audible, CNN, Facebook Messenger, ESPN, Runkeeper, Starbucks, The Weather Channel, and Uber are among the popular Apple Watch apps that are not accessible on Wear OS.

Fitness Trackers vs. Smartwatches

You’ll want a wristwatch that can double as a fitness tracker unless you want a gadget on both wrists (not the best look). Most smartwatches can track basic activity, such as steps, but any additional functionality should be carefully considered.

All of the smartwatches on our list, with the exception of the Garmin Lily, have GPS, allowing them to track your runs without the use of a companion smartphone. Most smartwatches now have an optical heart rate sensor, which allows both continuous and on-demand heart rate monitoring The Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch4 both include advanced health-tracking capabilities, including the ability to take an electrocardiogram (ECG) and measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. They are, of course, among the most expensive items on the list. The Fitbit Versa 3 is less expensive and records more fitness and sleep metrics, but it offers fewer third-party apps, so there is a trade-off. Look for a watch that can track the activities and health data you wish to keep track of.

Is Cellular Connectivity Required for Your Smartwatch?

You can use a cellular connection to make calls, send texts, listen to music, download apps, and do anything else that requires an internet connection without having to use your phone. The cellular Apple Watch Series 7 costs $100 more than the normal model, plus you’ll have to pay extra to add it to your phone plan—most carriers charge an extra $10 per month. Whether or not this convenience is worthwhile depends on how you intend to use your watch. A cellular connection can come in handy if you want to listen to music while exercising but don’t want to leave your phone in the locker room or at home. You can certainly save money and skip it if you always have your phone with you.

Smartwatches: How Long Do They Last?

Isn’t it true that you don’t desire a smartwatch with a long battery life? You’re not going to get it, so that’s good. The Apple Watch and Wear OS watches, which have full-color, smartphone-like displays, only last roughly a day on a single battery. While features like an always-on display and GPS monitoring are convenient, they quickly deplete battery life.

The Series 7 has a battery life of roughly 18 hours, so if you want to use the sleep tracking feature, you’ll need to charge it during the day. This may need some activity tracking during the day.In general, one of the Fitbit watches will provide the longest battery life. They usually last six days before needing to recharged. This means you can wear them to bed to track your sleep, which you couldn’t do with a watch that requires charging every night.

What Should You Pay for a Smartwatch?

Smartwatches can be costly, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of cash to acquire a nice one. Yes, the $1,229 Apple Watch Hermès will get a lot of attention, but you could get five Fitbits for that amount. If you’re buying a smartwatch for the first time, you might want to consider going with a less expensive option in case you don’t use it very often. The $20 Wyze Watch and the $159 OnePlus Watch are two affordable options, but before you invest your money on them, read our reviews to understand their limits.

The Most Effective Android Watch

With the exception of the Apple Watch, all of the models on this list are Android-compatible. Because of its sleek design, outstanding health and safety features, and helpful calling and texting features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 is our current pick. Standard watch straps are supported by the Galaxy Watch4 and many other Android-compatible watches, giving you nearly endless aesthetic alternatives.

Another good option is the Fitbit Versa 3. The Versa 3 is one of the most feature-rich Android-compatible smartwatches in its price range, with support for smartphone notifications, Amazon Alexa, Fitbit Pay mobile payments, Deezer and Pandora music and podcast storage, and Spotify audio controls.

Buy it for the looks, not the longevity.

Don’t forget that you’ll be wearing this as well. And, unlike your Timex, it is unlikely to be fashionable for many years. The design of smartwatches is rapidly evolving, so wait until you find one that you genuinely like to wear. Remember that smartwatches are still electronic devices. New iterations of almost every watch on this list, as well as many completely new ones, are expected in the coming year.The competition for wrist real estate is heating up. This is wonderful news for consumers because it means better—and better-looking—devices are on the way. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next time you see this list, it looks completely different. However, if you’re searching for the best smartwatch on the market right now, the selections presented below are the best we’ve seen. For more related articles please visit sp.com.pk.