The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. I’ve tested models from Tag Heuer, Citizen, Montblanc, and many other fashion brands, but most of them are simply too expensive for what you get. Here are a few options I like.
Samsung Galaxy Watch6 and Watch6 Classic for $200 and $280: Why not save some cash and buy last year’s smartwatches from Samsung? The Galaxy Watch6 series came in multiple flavors (7/10, WIRED Recommends), as in you could choose from two sizes in the standard version and two sizes in the Classic model, which featured a mechanical rotating bezel to scroll through the interface. Just remember that while these work with any Android phone, only Samsung phone owners can enjoy electrocardiograms and irregular heart rate alerts. The larger size Classic lasted two full days for me, and a day and a half with the always-on display.
Google Pixel Watch 2 for $250: The original Pixel Watch was missing a lot of features when it launched, but Google slowly added them over a year. That means the Pixel Watch 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has nearly everything you’d want. There’s auto-start and auto-stop workout detection, fall detection, SpO2 measurements, and even a redesigned Fitbit app that looks much more modern. Google has even added Safety Check, allowing you to share your location with emergency contacts if you don’t respond after a certain time. And newer updates since have added features like Car Crash Detection and Bicycle Fall Detection. It’s a pretty watch and comfy on the wrist. It also nails its health and fitness features, from reliable heart rate and sleep-tracking data to an improved workout screen that shows you the most important information at a glance, including heart rate zones. The battery life is unfortunately just OK—it’ll last about a day.
Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro for $350: A smartwatch’s design is important. You have to enjoy wearing it! Unfortunately, I feel absolutely nothing with Mobvoi’s latest watch; the Enduro is just plain boring. That’s a shame because it’s a solid Wear OS watch that’s snappy and can deliver a whopping four days of battery life on a single charge thanks to the company’s clever dual-display technology (it uses a low-power panel for the always-on screen, and an OLED for when you start interacting with it). The other problem? This watch runs Wear OS 3.5, whereas the latest version is Wear OS 4. Mobvoi has a spotty track record in issuing updates to its devices in a timely fashion, and I don’t expect that to change here.
Apple Watch Series 9 for $399: The Series 9 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smartwatch but avoid buying it at its MSRP. Try to spend less than $300 on it. It has all the usual health and fitness features, and extras like Double Tap. (You can tap two fingers together on your watch hand to accept or reject calls, reply to messages, start or end timers, and more. It’s super handy.)
