The best smartwatches for 2023
Our guide to choosing the right smartwatch (and no, the Apple Watch isn't your only option).
Just a few years ago, the case for buying a smartwatch was unclear. The market was not as saturated as it is today and the features were more limited. Today, the wearable world is full of high-quality options, and a few key players, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit Versa, have carved their way to the front of the pack with their smart features. . If you're reading this guide, chances are you've already decided it's time to upgrade whatever gadget is on your wrist, whether it's a standard watch or a aging smart watch. No matter which category you fall into, there's a long list of specs to consider before deciding which is the best smartwatch to buy, and we'll help you figure it out.
Quick view
What to look for in a smartwatch
Bas Cherlynn
Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices work well with iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but you'll need to install a companion app on your smartphone.
The smartwatch's operating system will also determine the type and number of third-party apps you'll have access to. However, many of them aren't useful, which makes this a fairly minor factor in the grand scheme of things.
PriceThe best smartwatches usually cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these more expensive devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music, and fitness features. They also often include perks like built-in GPS tracking, music storage, and NFC technology that budget devices don't usually offer.
Some companies make specialized fitness watches: these can easily cost upwards of $500, and we only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also fetch sky-high prices, but we won't endorse any of them. These devices can cost upwards of $1,000, and you're usually only paying a little more than a brand name and an unnecessarily exotic selection of build materials.
Battery lifeBattery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but there is hope lately. You can expect two full days with Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on one charge - if you're willing to turn off most features outside of, you know, the display Of time. Snapdragon's next-gen Wear 4100 and 4100+ processors were announced in 2020, but only a handful of devices — some of which aren't even available yet — use them so far. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower quality screens. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last for weeks on a single charge.
Some smartwatches now also support faster charging. For example, Apple promises the Series 7 can go from zero to 80% power in just 45 minutes and fully recharge in 75 minutes. The OnePlus Watch is even faster, going from zero to 43% in just 10 minutes. (Note that this turned out to be one of the only good things about this device.)
CommunicationAny smartwatch worth considering sends call, text, and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self-explanatory, but if that means a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. They're more expensive than their Wi-Fi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As for app alerts, getting them to your wrist will let you peek at the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now.
fitness trackingActivity tracking is a big...
Our guide to choosing the right smartwatch (and no, the Apple Watch isn't your only option).
Just a few years ago, the case for buying a smartwatch was unclear. The market was not as saturated as it is today and the features were more limited. Today, the wearable world is full of high-quality options, and a few key players, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit Versa, have carved their way to the front of the pack with their smart features. . If you're reading this guide, chances are you've already decided it's time to upgrade whatever gadget is on your wrist, whether it's a standard watch or a aging smart watch. No matter which category you fall into, there's a long list of specs to consider before deciding which is the best smartwatch to buy, and we'll help you figure it out.
Quick view
What to look for in a smartwatchBas Cherlynn
Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices work well with iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but you'll need to install a companion app on your smartphone.
The smartwatch's operating system will also determine the type and number of third-party apps you'll have access to. However, many of them aren't useful, which makes this a fairly minor factor in the grand scheme of things.
PriceThe best smartwatches usually cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these more expensive devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music, and fitness features. They also often include perks like built-in GPS tracking, music storage, and NFC technology that budget devices don't usually offer.
Some companies make specialized fitness watches: these can easily cost upwards of $500, and we only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also fetch sky-high prices, but we won't endorse any of them. These devices can cost upwards of $1,000, and you're usually only paying a little more than a brand name and an unnecessarily exotic selection of build materials.
Battery lifeBattery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but there is hope lately. You can expect two full days with Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on one charge - if you're willing to turn off most features outside of, you know, the display Of time. Snapdragon's next-gen Wear 4100 and 4100+ processors were announced in 2020, but only a handful of devices — some of which aren't even available yet — use them so far. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower quality screens. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last for weeks on a single charge.
Some smartwatches now also support faster charging. For example, Apple promises the Series 7 can go from zero to 80% power in just 45 minutes and fully recharge in 75 minutes. The OnePlus Watch is even faster, going from zero to 43% in just 10 minutes. (Note that this turned out to be one of the only good things about this device.)
CommunicationAny smartwatch worth considering sends call, text, and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self-explanatory, but if that means a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. They're more expensive than their Wi-Fi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As for app alerts, getting them to your wrist will let you peek at the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now.
fitness trackingActivity tracking is a big...
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