The best smartwatches offer a great experience for daily wear as well as for tracking fitness and other things. What is great about a smartwatch is its versatility in terms of style, with the ability to change faces and straps to mix things up.
There's always new models being released, and so we've taken the challenge out of sifting through them all, and delivered to you the best of the best in one article.
We've included some of the top players recent models such as the Apple Watch, as well as some of the best competitors in the space such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch, and we've thrown in both some budget and premium watches such as the TAG Heuer Connected that those who want something a little bit different will love.
So, check out the below round-up to help you decide which smartwatch is worth your investment.
Best smartwatch 2022
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The Apple Watch Series 8 builds on this and further refines what makes the Apple Watch the best smartwatch. We thoroughly enjoyed using this wearable – it's as sleek as it's always been and more keenly priced than the Apple Watch Ultra (which, let's admit, will be used by suckers more than adventurers).
What we appreciate the most of all the upgrades are the improved health and fitness features. The Apple Watch Series 8 can be used for tracking sleep just as well as 'proper' sleep trackers, and the new-and-improved workout metrics and views bring the watch ever so close to being used for running training. It even has Track Running and Triathlon workout modes now!
Should you buy the Apple Watch Series 8? If you have any other Apple Watch than the predecessor of this wearable (the still ever-so-amazing Apple Watch Series 7) or any other wearable in general, we'd recommend at least entertaining the idea of investing in Apple's latest non-rugged wearable. It's a premium smartwatch experience like no other.
Read our full Apple Watch Series 8 review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a modern, stylish take on a smartwatch - it’s slim, and we found it very comfortable. It's made from tough armour aluminium, so it’ll be able to withstand knocks and bumps, oh, and it’s waterproof too.
The latest generation of Samsung's smartwatch impressed us with its new 'BioActive Sensor', which is able to track everything from your heart rate to blood pressure and ECG, you can use it to measure your rough body composition. It takes a matter of seconds, and you’ll be able to see data about your skeletal muscle, BMI, body water and fat percentage.
The only downside here is battery life, which we found at 40 hours, it’s not the longest-lasting on this list, and that goes down a fair amount when you’re using the GPS or workout tracking features. It’s still good enough for most people, though. Find out more in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review but long story short, this is one of the best smartwatches if you're an Android user.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review
Be sure to check our Samsung discount codes to get a great deal.
"This is the most luxurious Android Wear smartwatch on the market. It features an unmistakable TAG Heuer case design, well-designed software, and advanced sports tracking. There could be more watch faces available, and the battery life could be better, but if you're looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the one for you." – T3's TAG Heuer Connected review
TAG's latest attempt at a smartwatch, the TAG Heuer Connected, is a gorgeous looking wearable, mimicking a traditional mechanical watch, with its fully circular display and sporty-looking case. The new model improves on previous generations with enhanced sports tracking, thanks to its GPS and a built-in heart-rate sensor.
The Connected is undeniably a class above its Android Wear siblings, and aesthetically preferable to the most expensive Apple Watch variants, which are the only rivals in the 'luxe smartwatch' market. It feels more 'watch-like' than any other smartwatch we've tested, too.
If you're looking for the most premium smartwatch look no further than the Tag Connected. If you really like watches and you really like tech, it's the only game in town outside of the Apple Watch.
"The Apple Watch SE is as slick as the higher-priced Watch Series 6, and delivers all the essential features and then some. But when it comes to more advanced health sensors, it's not as well equipped as competitors." – T3's Apple Watch SE review
If you've got an iPhone and don't want to spend lots of money on the Apple Watch Series 6, then the Apple Watch SE is a great alternative. Despite being 'the affordable' smartwatch from Apple, the SE is a truly excellent smartwatch.
You won't notice where Apple has made cutbacks in general use, making it feel like a full Apple Watch experience, with all the advantages that brings in, like convenience, fitness tracking, and health and safety features.
For those who can spend the extra over the cost of the Apple Watch Series 3, you'll be very glad you did – it's better in every way. From screen to design to sensors to being more future-proofed thanks to its faster processor. It's also important to note that these translate into better health features, including more accurate heart sensing (important for detecting irregularities) and fall detection.
"As one of the market’s best alternatives to an Apple Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is an excellent choice for Android users, or anyone looking for a feature-rich, fitness-focused smartwatch bursting with great health features." – T3's Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review
Okay, so the Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch for iPhone, but if you have an Android phone then the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is a very worthy competitor too. This is the best smartwatch if you're an Android user, with a sleek design and powerful hardware.
Let's start with the circular screen, which is certainly on par with the Apple Watch. So too is the gorgeous, streamlined design. It comes packing some neat abilities as well, such as blood pressure monitoring, the ability to take ECG readings and water resistance.
A collection of new, information-filled watch faces give it a modern edge, and while it lacks quality third party apps we think you'll find the built-in apps sufficient. Overall, it's a very compelling package, and one we would definitely recommend.
"The Venu is Garmin’s answer to the Apple Watch impresses with a striking AMOLED screen and the firm’s usual top-end fitness-tracking tech. The overall design is not anything to rave about but the Garmin Venu is certainly comfortable to wear and workout in." – T3's Garmin Venu review
As a stylish lifestyle smartwatch, the Garmin Venu can't really compete with the market's more established smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, but it excels where these devices don’t – through some impressively detailed fitness and health tracking features, performance and battery life. This, coupled with a brilliant and vibrant display that no other Garmin watches have, makes it one of the best smartwatches you can get your hands on right now, especially if you're tracking multiple sports. In our Garmin Venu 2 review, we called it a 'stunning fitness watch with amazing battery life and a beautiful AMOLED screen'.
"The Huawei Watch GT 3 is a brilliant wearable. It successfully bridges the gap between smart and fitness watches and does it seemingly effortlessly. Better still, it offers impressive battery life despite having such a sizeable AMOLED display. Highly recommended." – T3's Huawei Watch GT 3 review
The Watch GT 3 is a brilliant update over the Watch GT 2, and considering the modest retail price, you would be a fool not getting one today.
The Huawei Watch GT 3 has robust fitness features and it's simply mind-blowing how long the battery lasts, considering a watch with such a huge and bright AMOLED display.
We thoroughly enjoyed testing the Huawei Watch GT 3 and we can wholeheartedly recommend it to people who aren't keen on getting a diehard running watch but would like to have the option to track their physical activities accurately nevertheless.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is an excellent health smartwatch, even better than its predecessor. It has a better stress tracking system, a more user-friendly interface, a physical button, and the same handsome design we all admire. Better still, the watch didn’t change the features that worked well, including passive activity tracking, sleep tracking, etc.
Sadly, some of the changes aren’t as welcome as others. The exclusion of WiFi support is a big no-no, not just because it makes music listening on the watch impossible, but because it also takes longer to update the watch. The fact that the WiFi integration is in the watch but cannot be turned on is nothing short of infuriating.
That said, it’s hard not to recommend the Fitbit Sense 2 as it’s just so pretty and user-friendly. Sure, it might be slower than the most cutting-edge wearables nowadays, and it certainly won’t replace the Garmin Forerunner 255 as anyone’s go-to training partner, but as a health-forward smartwatch, it’d be hard to find a better and more handsome option as the Fitbit Sense 2.
Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review
Best smartwatch buying advice
If you're struggling to choose a smartwatch, here are a few things to consider:
- Compatibility: Apple Watches only work with iPhones. Smartwatches running Wear OS, Garmin and Fitbit are compatible with both Android and iPhone.
- Price: Smartwatch prices can range from very affordable to pretty expensive. Paying more will get you enhanced health and fitness tracking and build quality. Anything more expensive than an Apple Watch and you're paying for prestige branding and exclusivity.
- Battery life: Most smartwatches last around two days, if that's not enough for you, then opt for Huawei, Fitbit or Garmin, which offer slightly impaired functionality for vastly improved battery life.
- Fitness tracking: All smartwatches will do basic tracking, but if you're training for a marathon or triathlon then you'll want a more serious running watch from Garmin or Polar.
- Communication: All smartwatches have Bluetooth – that's how they connect to your smartphone. Some have a 4G/Cellular connection as well, which means you can stream music, receive messages and calls, even if you've left your phone at home. It costs extra, and probably isn't worth it for most.
- Size: Size is important. If you've got slender wrists you're going to want a smaller smartwatch, this is not due to looks, but due to comfort.
If you're after a rundown of the best smartwatches for iPhone users, then we'd suggest you read T3's guide to the best Apple Watch. While Samsung and Wear OS smartwatches do work with iPhones, the Apple Watch is much better integrated with iOS.
However, you can’t go wrong with any of the alternatives on this list, especially if you need something that works with an Android phone or the best cheap smartwatches. If battery life is your highest priority when you should read T3's guide to the best hybrid smartwatches, which blend on-wrist notifications and fitness tracking of a smartwatch with the traditional design of a mechanical watch. These have battery life measured in days and weeks rather than hours.
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