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15 Best Smartwatches for a Connected Life
By Nick Hall - Guide Published: , Last Updated:
Watchmaking is an industry steeped in rich heritage. Tradition, character and personality have dictated the centuries-old practice, but towards the turn of the millennia, things began to change. The rapidly evolving technology market met the horological sector head-on, fusing digital efficiency with more innovation, birthing the smartwatch. While many heritage watchmakers were quick to dismiss the update as a gimmick, others began looking at ways to introduce the new additions into their lineups. As the industry has swirled and adapted to constant change, one thing has become apparent, the best smartwatches are here to stay.
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What is a Smartwatch?
Wearable technology has come a long way since the early days and smartwatches shoulder much of the load. Put simply, the best smartwatches can do a lot of things. From tricks and features that may improve your life, such as health tracking and location monitoring, to more simple communication aspects like talk and text, smartwatches now do many of things you formerly had to purchase a specialised device for. The wearable computer looks like a standard watch, however, it bridges the gap between smartphone and fashion accessory, and they’ve been doing so for some time.
Back in the 1970s, Hamilton Watch Company released the first digital watch ever; the Pulsar. The brand was quickly acquired by Seiko, with the 1982 variation offering 24-digit storage. This innovation is widely regarded as the birth of the modern smartwatch, signalling the first watch to cop user-programmable memory. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see the best smartwatches boasting 8GB worth of memory, making that original 24 digits look minuscule in the process.
But more than just punching numbers and equations, smartwatches have evolved to be an everyday item designed to drastically improve their wearers’ lives. The addition of health and fitness tracking, sleep data collection and communication has streamlined a number of previously unattainable practices. In fact, a doctor in the US recently noted that his first-generation Apple Watch picked up a critical heart condition that had, until that point, gone unnoticed. Dr Donald W. Milne from Antelope Valley Hospital believes without the smartwatch, he would have succumbed to the health condition without even knowing he had it. Turns out those smartwatches might actually be worth the price.
What to Consider When Buying a Smartwatch
When it comes to buying the best smartwatch you can find, there are a few considerations you need to be aware of. While regular watches and timepieces are characterised by their calibre and movement, smartwatches have different stipulations. Here is what to consider when looking for the best smartwatch;
- Price – With smartwatches, you can find a solid piece for far less than you would a luxury chronograph or automatic. While on the entry-level spectrum, you can find affordable smartwatches from around $100, the luxury price tag associated with others, such as Tag Heuer’s Connected will be in the thousands. As expected, the cheaper the price tag, generally the less smartwatch features it will have.
- Size – like all good timepieces, it pays to find a smartwatch that suits your wrist size. Check the case size and weight before purchasing.
- Water-resistance – While most modern watches will be water-resistant to some degree, your smartwatch should definitely have some significant waterproofing. As most smartwatches are used in conjunction with fitness activities, you want to make sure you won’t destroy it with sweat.
- Features – This really comes down to what you plan on using your smartwatch for. The best smartwatches for fitness offer data analytics around your step count, heart rate, sleep tracking and mobility. Similarly, if the workflow is a major concern, seek out a smartphone with communication capabilities and memory.
- Style – Like any good watch, your smartwatch style says a lot about you. Be sure to temper your features with an aesthetic that mirrors your personal and professional pursuits.
Best Smartwatches You Can Buy
Once you’ve got your goals down pat, it’s time to dive into the best smartwatches on the market. We’ve put together a handy guide to selecting the pieces that fit your lifestyle.
Here is a list of the 15 best smartwatches you can buy.
1. Apple Watch 5
The fifth incarnation of Apple’s hit wearable tech, the Apple Watch 5 is a handy piece of gear. Obviously, through streamlined connectivity with other Apple products, this is one of the best smartwatches for iPhone users. With features such as text, heart rate monitoring, health tracking and in-house downloads, you can’t really go wrong with this watch.
Case: 40mm/44mm
Compatibility: iOS
Display: 1.7″
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Price: AUD$649 – $2,159
2. Garmin Vivoactive 4
Another great all-rounder, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 offers a range of features tailor-made for everyday life. Fitness fans will score full workouts with animations on their wrist, along with over 20 pre-loaded sports apps. You can also go phone-free during your workout, thanks to the crafted workout playlists loaded into the watch. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is designed for an active life.
Case: 40mm/45mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.3″
Battery Life: Up to 196 hours
Price: AUD$579
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch
With a round face, watch hand shadowing and even a ticking sound, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is just about as close to the traditional timepiece as you can get. This smartwatch also cops a 1.3″ super AMOLED display with 360 x 360-pixel resolution. For fans of the great outdoors, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is water-resistant and will even track your strokes as you swim, along with a built-in altimeter and barometer for when you want to get off the beaten track. A true all-rounder, this is one of the best smartwatches you can buy.
Case: 46mm
Compatibility: Android
Display: 1.3″
Battery Life: Up to 168 hours
Price: AUD$549
4. Polar Unite
With a focus on beginner health and fitness, the Polar Unite is an entry-level smartwatch that packs a punch. This new edition was only released in July and offers a range of workouts with simulations, alongside the new FitSpark feature. The only real downside with this one is the lack of storage.
Case: 43mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Battery Life: Up to 96 hours
Price: AUD$249
5. AmazFit Bip
Boasting up to 45 days of battery life, the AmazFit Bip isn’t just one of the best smartwatches on the market, it’s also one of the longest-lasting. Powered by a Sony 28mm low-power GPS chip, this piece of wearable tech offers some interesting fitness features, whether you’ve got your phone on you or not. Check your heart-rate, steps or speed all day long, whilst also answering calls, setting alarms and receiving notifications. This affordable smartwatch for fitness fans is a major winner.
Case: 43mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.28″
Battery Life: Up to 45 days
Price: AUD$99
6. Suunto 7
The latest release from Suunto, the 7 is not only one of the best smartwatches 2020 has proved, it’s also one of the most versatile. You can track exercise accurately wih easy one-button access to 70+ sports modes, along with GPS tracking and a heart rate sensor. From here, you can also connect services like Strava and TrainingPeaks to share your stats. Powered by Wear OS, this Google-enabled smartwatch is a great fit.
Case: 50mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Storage: 8GB
Battery life: Up to 2 days
Price: AUD$799
7. Tag Heuer Connected 3
Built for precision, in keeping with the history that Tag Heuer has built over years, the Connected smartwatch is a marvel of modern wearable tech. This third-generation watch features the iconic lines of Tag’s chronographs, with push buttons and a crown for sporty elegance. Tag Heuer has also added the ability to change the watch-face depending on your style, so you can stay cool while connected.
Case: 45mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.39″
Battery Life: Up to 1 days
Price: USD$1,800 – $2,150
8. Fossil Gen 5
With features including an alarm clock, app alerts, calendar and email, the Fossil Gen 5 is a great addition to the working man’s arsenal. Into health? This smartwatch also boasts an activity tracker, heart rate tracking, a GPS and the ability to personalise your dial, making it one of the best smartwatches for fitness. Another great all-rounder in this list of the best smartwatches on the market.
Case: 44mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Battery Life: Over 24 hours
Storage: 8GB
Price: AUD$499
9. Skagen Falster 3
Skagen’s most popular smartwatch, the Falster 3 is a swim-proof, touchscreen beast. The smart features are powered by Google Wear OS, meaning you’ll score the power of Google Assistant on your wrist. The battery-efficient dial design also provides up to 24 hours of use on a single charge, with the interchangeable heavy gauge stainless steel-mesh strap customisable to your style.
Case: 42mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
Storage: 8GB
Price: USD$199
10. Huawei Watch GT 2
Copping an impressive two weeks of battery life, it’s safe to say the Huawei Watch GT 2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market. It is powered by Huawei’s self-developed wearable chip Kirin A1, along with intelligent power-saving technology. For everyday improvements, look firward to SMS capabilities, email, calendar and social media additions, along with standard updates to weather, alarm, stopwatch, flashlight and find my phone.
Case: 42mm/46mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.39″
Battery Life: Up to 14 days
Storage: 4GB
Price: AUD$329
11. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
With a large display and touch bezel for easy navigation, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is one of the best smartwatches for work, sport and everyday life. You can automatically customise your watch face to match your style, while also controlling your phone camera for your wrist. For fitness fans, you can also manually track 40+ activities, auto-track seven activities, with real-time pace coaching for runners, with lap time recording for cyclists.
Case: 40mm/44mm
Compatibility: Android
Display: 1.2″/1.4″
Storage: 4GB
Price: AUD$599
12. TicWatch E2
Powered by Wear OS by Google, the TicWatch E2 offers in-watch downloads through the Google Play store. You can receive notifications, access the Google Assistant and even take a swim with the 50-metre water-resistance.
Case: 46mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.39″
Price: USD$159.99
13. Fitbit Versa Lite
It’s no surprise that Fitbit makes some of the best fitness smartwatches, but the Versa Lite has some extra features that make it a terrific all-rounder. Aside from being exceptionally affordable, this smartwatch can be used to track your steps and distance covered, while also receiving calls, texts and other notifications. Above all else, fitness and health reign supreme with this addition. There are more than 15 built-in exercise modes, making it easy to track your workouts in real-time.
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.34″
Battery life: Over 4 days
Price: AUD$248
14. Honor MagicWatch 2
A personalised smartwatch that offers a wealth of features, the MagicWatch 2 from Honor is a must-have addition to your accessory list. Made from refined 316L stainless steel, the smartwatch boasts high strength to weight ratio, making it less susceptible to nicks and scratches. The always-on AMOLED display is crystal clear making it easy to read in any light. Additionally, this innovative timepiece sports a SpO2 monitor that measures oxygen saturation levels in the bloodstream so that you can assess how your body is adapting during a workout or a high-altitude.
Case: 46mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.39″
Battery life: Up to 14 days
Price: USD$210
15. TicWatch Pro
The premium release from Mobvoi, the TicWatch Pro offers military standard durability and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Whether you are a fan of AMOLED or LCD, you’re in luck; this smartwatch has both. With two screens and two modes, you take control of the battery life and performance. Additionally, the watch offers app purchases through the Google Play store, including Spotify and Maps.
Case: 45mm
Compatibility: Android/iOS
Display: 1.39″
Storage: 4GB
Battery life: Up to 30 days
Price: AUD$435.99
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Are Smartwatches worth the investment?
While Smartwatches have proven to be a bit of a fad trend, the technology is the undeniable evolution of wearable technology. If you suffer from medical issues such as an irregular heartbeat, smartwatches can be pivotal in charting your overall health without the need for invasion additions.
Is the Oshen Watch good?
The Oshen Watch has all the hallmarks of a good fitness tracker. The long-lasting battery is also a plus, so, by and large, the smartwatch is a value for money addition.
What is the best Android Smartwatch?
By all accounts, the Samung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best overall Android Smartwatch, however, other competitors such as the Mobvoi TicWatch E2 and the Skagen Falster 3 are strong competition.
