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It’s safe to say that in a world where the technology we use changes in what seems like minutes, the best piece of technology to come around is the smartwatch. These little pieces of technology are the ultimate accessory to your smartphone. Not only can they tell time, of course, but they can also keep you connected to your colleagues through text or phone and track the number of steps you take every day, plus in some cases, they can pay for that morning cup of java you so desperately need.
As they have become more prevalent in society, one can’t help think what the best smartwatches for business owners are. After all, when you’re busy, looking at your wrist is much simpler than trying to locate your phone under a stack of papers.
While we never recommend just buying the first product you see, we were wondering just what you should consider before you buy a smartwatch. So join us and we’ll learn a bit more together.
When someone used to go to the mall or online to buy a watch, there weren’t so many different variables to consider. These days, before you even consider buying a smartwatch, you need to know so much more so that you get the device that works best for you. In our opinion, these, are the things you should consider before buying a smartwatch.
As many smartwatches are designed to be an accessory to a smartphone, making sure that your smartwatch is compatible is very important. While some devices can work with both an Android smartphone or iPhone, many times, they will work better with one over the other. The most common operating systems you will see are Wear OS from Google or watchOS from Apple.
It’s important to note that while some smartwatches can connect to both types of phones, the Apple Watch will only connect to iPhones.
Just about every smartwatch available today uses either a colorful LCD screen or AMOLED display, which allow you to use apps, view photos as well as other content on a brighter display with richer color. These tend to have a shorter battery life, although it is improving. The colors on these displays use so much power that while they are asleep, many watches will turn the screen off altogether, meaning you have to wake the device to see the time. LCDs tend to be thicker than their OLED counterparts.
When you look at many of the smartwatches available, you will primarily see touch screens which are great but can be hard to navigate on especially if you have bigger hands trying to select a certain app on the device that can be frustrating. This is why many smartwatches will still have some physical button or some other types of manual interaction for you to access apps, zoom in on content or scroll, or even get back to the home screen on the watch.
This is where you can truly make your smartwatch your own. Many of the brands offering smartwatches will also offer plenty of options when it comes to customization from the color of the band or material that’s used, as well as the face color, finish, and size of the watch. Comfort is a major part of having a smartwatch and choosing a clasp that is not too hard to open and close and fits correctly so it doesn’t feel like its sliding on your wrist all day.
A good smartwatch will alert you to incoming texts, calls, and emails with a quick buzz on your wrist so you can get important messages right away when looking at your phone might not be the most appropriate thing to do.
A Sporty Watch with some serious style
OS: Tizen OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.2″ or 1.3″ 360 x 360 Super AMOLED | Processor: Dual-core 1.15GHz | Band sizes: 22mm or 20mm | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: 4 days on 46mm / less on 42mm | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE (for extra)
While previous iterations of a smartwatch from Samsung were known as the Geat S series, the manufacturer decided to switch things up a bit, naming their newest watch the Galaxy. With 4-day battery life, that by itself is impressive when many others on our list last a day or two tops from a single charge. The major highlight with the Galaxy Watch is the rotating bezel which helps you navigate the screens on the watch while the interface is one of the easiest out there to use.
The Best Apple Watch Available
OS: watchOS 6 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.78″ OLED | Processor: Apple S5 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 1 day to 36 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
If you own an iPhone, you cannot go wrong choosing an Apple Watch to pair with it. They work together seamlessly so if you’ve had an iPhone and see yourself sticking with the, you should take a look at the Watch as well. Compared to Watch 4, there aren’t too many upgrades, but the biggest change is its always-on display. This means that instead of having to raise the watch to see information, it will display it on a dimmed screen. The newest version of the watch comes with some exciting health and fitness features including an ECG monitor, GPS tracking and a pretty impressive heart rate monitor. If you’re looking for the best Apple watch you can find, then look no further.
A Strong Alternative to the Apple Watch
OS: Tizen OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.2″ 360 x 360 Super AMOLED | Processor: Dual-core 1.15GHz | Band sizes: 20mm | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Around 2 days | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Designed to take the best parts from their Galaxy Watch, the Active 2 from Samsung is a sportier, slimmer, lighter smartwatch that by all accounts is more comfortable and now also includes the rotating digital bezel the Galaxy comes with. Other than that, not much has changed from the original Active Watch. It still has many top-end fitness features including a heart rate and ECG sensor, a health app with stress and sleep monitoring as well as 39 workout modes. While not a cheap watch, it is remarkably similar to the Galaxy Watch at a better price.
The Most Fashionable Smartwatch
Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.2-inch 390 x 390 AMOLED | Processor: Quad-core 1.2GHz | Band sizes: 22mm straps | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Two days | Charging method: Proprietary | IP rating: IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
For those who may not be familiar with the brand, Fossil is a maker of high-end watches and has built-up their expertise in the wearable tech area over the last few years which has culminated in their best smartwatch yet.
With its affordable price, the Sport from Fossil is a high-end watch that has a lot of the features that you would find on many of the choices on our list with a beautiful design and battery life lasting up to two days on a single charge. While the Sport doesn’t have any unique features that make it stand out from the competition, if you’re looking for a smartwatch that is capable and won’t stand out on your wrist, it may be the smartwatch for you.
A Great Smartwatch From a Company You’ve Never Heard Of
OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.3+, iOS 8+ | Display: 1.39″ 400 x 400 OLED | Processor: Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Around 48h | Charging method: Magnetic connecting pin | IP rating: IP67 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
One of the most budget-friendly options on our list, the TicWatch E2 is manufactured by a little known company, Mobovi. The waterproof E2 comes with great battery life for a watch of its price and has the features that health-conscious owners may be looking for such as an accurate heart rate sensor, sleep tracking as well as a built-in GPS. While the overall design may keep some from giving it a chance, the affordable price makes the E2 worth considering.
The Smartwatch With Two Screens
OS: Wear OS | Compatibility: Android 4.3+, iOS 8+ | Display: 1.4″ 400 x 400 OLED paired with LCD screen | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: Up to 48h, 5 extra days in Essential mode | Charging method: Magnetic connecting pin | IP rating: IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NF
While many of you may not have heard of TicWatch before the last entry on our list, it is the TicWatch Pro that should make them a big name in wearable technology. The watch features two displays – one layered on top of the other. The first screen is a transparent LCD that shows the time, heart rate and more when the battery is low. The second display is a full-color OLED screen that provides you with all of the features that come with its operating system, Wear OS. Essentially, this means you have two watches in one. Packed with the usual features found in many smartwatches, the TicWatch Pro is a steal when you consider it’s price. If you like having the newest tech before it becomes mainstream, this watch is for you.
The Best Budget-Friendly Smartwatch
OS: Fitbit OS | Compatibility: Android 7+, iOS 11+ | Display: 300 x 300 AMOLED | Onboard storage: 2.5GB | Battery duration: Up to 5 days | Charging method: Magnetic connecting pin | IP rating: Water-resistant | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
It seems like a lot of the wearable technology craze started with FitBit, giving people a way to track their steps, their heart rate and many other ways to track their health. With the Versa 2, the latest release from FitBit has been upgraded in some ways, but can still be lacking in others. New improvements include an always-on display, slightly smaller body, and integration with Alexa. Other than that though, there isn’t much difference between Versa 2 and the original Versa smartwatch. It doesn’t have GPS functionality or Spotify offline capabilities. If you’re in the market for a new fitness tracker that even with its shortcomings, still has a lot to offer users, Versa 2 from FitBit can be a good choice.
An Already Great Smartwatch at a Better Price
OS: watchOS 5 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.78″ OLED | Processor: Apple S4 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 16GB | Battery: 1 to 2 days | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
While the tech world swoons over the newest Apple smartwatch, it can be easy to forget just how good of an option the Watch 4 is for creatives looking for a great smartwatch. With a larger display than its predecessors, the innovations added to this series have become staples such as the ECG feature that is built into the heart rate tracker. This feature can test your heart to determine if you’re in danger of atrial fibrillation, letting you know right away so you can see a doctor if your health is in danger. While it may be outshined right now by the new kid on the block, the Apple Watch 4 is still a watch worth owning.
The Best Smartwatch For Your Health
OS: Fitbit OS | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: TBC, 1000 nits | Processor: Dual-core 1.0GHz | Band sizes: Large | Onboard storage: 2.5GB | Battery duration: 2-3 days | Charging method: Proprietary charger | IP rating: 50M water resistant | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
When Fitbit decided to enter into the smartwatch brand after the success they have had as a fitness tracker company, it was always going to be a tough move, especially for their first entry, the Ionic. If you’re a fitness nut, this watch may be right up your alley. From a fitness standpoint, the Ionic does a great job with applications that can track anything from running to weight lifting to swimming. Plus, dedicated bodyweight coaching sessions are included and paying for things on the go is easy with Fitbit Pay. While during its original release, the price was way too high for some but it has recently come down in price making it a great fitness smartwatch option.
When the idea of a smartwatch was first introduced, some balked at the idea. That a watch was for simply telling time and that was it. Well, these aren’t your grandfather’s pocket watches anymore. With the amazing amount of technology packed into these small packages, you owe it to your self to consider owning one. We hope our list of the Best Smartwatches has given you some food for thought and a good place to start.
