Other Smartwatches to Consider
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 cash and buy the 2023 model of Samsung’s Galaxy smartwatch? 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.
Withings ScanWatch 2 for $350: The ScanWatch 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) can pass for an analog watch. Its health-tracking feature set is comprehensive—you get heart rate monitoring, an electrocardiogram, blood oxygen measurements, and sleep tracking. Battery life is stellar too, as it can live up to 30 days with light use. (Heavier usage will see roughly 22 days before needing a charge.) The main problem is the tiny display on this watch, which is too small to read some notifications. The GPS is also connected, meaning it requires your phone to be tethered and nearby. There’s an optional Health+ subscription, but we’d advise against it, as it doesn’t offer much utility. The ScanWatch 2 comes in a 42-mm or 38-mm case size, and like the Garmin Vivomove Trend, doesn’t have the rich features and apps you’ll find on the likes of an Apple Watch, but if you just want to monitor your health data—and you don’t want your watch to look too techy—this will do the job.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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.
Huawei Watch D2 for £350: At first glance, this smartwatch looks like a chunky Apple Watch knock-off. It’s not sold in the US, but the reason to buy it if it is available in your area is the reasonably well-hidden, inflatable blood pressure cuff in the strap. Huawei’s Watch D2 is the only smartwatch to offer Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), which can take measurements over 24 hours, something that is vital to gain an accurate picture of your health because blood pressure changes throughout the day. This smartwatch is also reasonably good at fitness and sleep tracking, but there’s no voice assistant unless you have a Huawei phone, and the app lacks polish and is light on insight (you get data, but very little explanation of what it means). The Watch D2 did nothing to dispel my first impression and failed to match our other picks here on most fronts, but if you’ve been advised to keep a close eye on your blood pressure, it could be worth a look. —Simon Hill
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 wait for a sale and 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 on your watch hand to accept or reject calls, reply to messages, start or end timers, and more. It’s super handy.)
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE for $200: The Galaxy Watch FE is a fine budget Wear OS smartwatch, but I think it’s more sensible to buy the Galaxy Watch6 series if you’re trying not to spend much because you can find them on sale for roughly the same price. The 40-mm Galaxy Watch FE has a smaller screen that doesn’t get as bright, and sports a slower processor and a smaller battery, so you’ll have a richer experience by spending just a little more. The health sensors are almost the same, and I got accurate results with heart rate and sleep tracking. The battery also lasts just about a day if not a little less.
Avoid These Smartwatches
Not every smartwatch is a winner. Here are a few ones we’ve tried that aren’t worth the dough.
Montblanc Summit 3 for $1,270: This is a beautiful (and large) smartwatch, and it runs Wear OS 3, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth the high price. There’s no speaker, no Google Assistant, and the fitness features feel half-baked. It just doesn’t offer all that much other than a pretty face.