Tool Reviews

Many will agree that smartwatches have not yet reached their full potential, but no one can argue with the fact that they attract a lot of attention.

Most manufacturers strive to combine the functions of communication and fitness trackers together, so they complement their devices with such characteristics as water resistance, GPS, heart rate sensor, etc. But there are, of course, those who prefer to repeat the design of classic watches, thus choosing the path of creating luxury devices.

The basic principle of a smartwatch remains the same — it connects to your smartphone, gives you access to information through notifications, and keeps you in the loop. Well, let’s see which watch is right for you.

1. Apple Watch Series 3 with 4G

Perhaps, it was Apple that went the furthest in the production of smart watches. The third generation watches have become the quintessence of everything the company has developed recently. Perhaps this was not a mistake, because the result is really one of the best devices available on the market today.

First of all, the Apple Watch is a smart watch, it is able to receive and send mail and messages, and now it also has its own 4G and mobile antennas. This means that you no longer need to carry your iPhone with you all the time. You can even make calls using the watch.

Of course, the watch is equipped with its own operating system, fully compatible with iOS. The system supports many applications and, importantly, can stream music on the go. Combine this with AirPods and you will truly discover the possibilities of this watch.

But that’s not all, because Apple Watch puts a serious emphasis on the fitness characteristics of the device. They are considered one of the best activity tracking devices for a reason. Watch OS tracks performance while running, swimming and any sports activities. A lot of features are aimed at tracking health indicators, and the heart rate sensor is considered one of the best available.

Perhaps, it is worth watching closely only for one moment – the battery charge. The more features you use, the faster it sits down. So just in case, you should have a charger with you.

2. Samsung Gear Sport

Of course, where Apple has succeeded, Samsung should at least try its hand. And in this case, the company is more than successful. The Gear Sport is one of the more recent attempts to carve out the fitness smartwatch niche. This means that the watch is, of course, water-resistant, so it is suitable for swimming.

In terms of design, Samsung sticks to the classic round shape, so the watch looks neat on the wrist. The watch is available in black and blue designs.

Where Samsung really wins is in terms of interface – in order to access applications, just turn the clock, and everything from instant messengers to music will be available to you.

The Gear Sport can also be used to pay for goods with Samsung Pay, although it’s not as easy as on the Apple Watch.

For smartphones, there is also a special Samsung Gear App, which takes a bit of getting used to, but in the end, it’s worth it.

In terms of price, the Samsung Gear Sport compares favorably with its predecessors such as the Gear S3. The latest model is more expensive but supports 4G LTE calls. So, if this function is fundamentally important for you, it is worth looking at them.

In general, watches from Samsung definitely deserve attention.

3. Huawei Watch 2

Huawei is trying to keep up with the market leaders, so it offers its fans a new Android device – smart watch Huawei Watch 2. The settings of this watch are reduced to a smartphone application, after synchronization with which the watch will get more features.

It should be noted that Huawei Watch 2 is equipped with a heart rate sensor that takes readings very accurately, a large selection of visual settings and compatibility with various applications. So, for example, you can sync your watch with Facebook Messenger or Uber. Calling a taxi using the watch is a very good and convenient feature.

Outwardly, the watch resembles rather a sports device, large in design, with a large round, but color, display. As for the controls, if you compare it with Watch OS, it is not so intuitive. But otherwise, especially through the application, the watch is easy and comfortable to manage.

Huawei Watch 2 allows you to track sports achievements and activity. In addition, they are compatible with Google Assistant, which is quite convenient for many users.

4. Apple Watch Series 1

Even though the second generation watches have been discontinued, anyone who wants to buy smartwatches from Apple still has the opportunity to choose the first watch model. Let them be released in 2016, but over time they have not completely lost their relevance or positive characteristics. WatchOS is also lightweight and straightforward, you can chat with Siri and use Apple Pay.

It should be noted that the Apple Watch remains one of the most successful and accurate watches for fitness tracking. Convenient and understandable applications, an accurate heart rate sensor – all this is more relevant than ever.

Standard battery life, according to the manufacturer, comes down to 18 hours of activity. But practice shows that the watch can last up to 2 days with regular use.

Of course, you can’t ignore the nice design and design options for the watch, because it is also one of the most spectacular devices that easily fits any style.

5. Fitbit Ionic

We’re most familiar with Fitbit thanks to their success with fitness trackers, but with the Ionic, the company is turning its attention to smartwatch features. Thus, the watch supports payment, calls and messages, instant messengers and much more.

The benefits don’t stop there, especially when you consider the battery life of 4 days. This alone allows Fitbit to rise above many competitors.

Of course, the fitness tracking features have not gone away. The simple FitBit app will still be your trainer, tracking activity and heart rate, speed and steps taken. All this will also be fun, because the company has thought through the possibilities of storing music in hours. Via Bluetooth, the watch is compatible with headphones such as the Fitbit Flyer, thus providing the ability to use the full functionality of the watch.

The Fitbit-Ionic is the company’s most impressive device so far, with a large, bright screen and a minimalist design. To some, the watch may seem large, but in general, they look very aesthetically pleasing.

6. Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro

This watch confidently stands on the border between smartwatch and fitness tracker. Equipped with certain characteristics from the first and the last, they combine convenience and functionality. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is compatible with some apps from the Samsung app store, such as allowing you to download up to 500 tracks on Spotify.

Like other watches, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro requires a connection to a smartphone to expand its functionality. Thus, you can quickly answer (or reject) calls and messages. But the main characteristics of these watches are still aimed specifically at fitness. Therefore, the device is equipped with a heart rate sensor, GPS, water resistance, etc.

In terms of appearance, you get a device with a 1.5-inch screen, which is available in red and black designs. Otherwise, the settings suggest backgrounds and widgets.

The watch battery easily withstands up to 3 days of intensive use.

7. Fitbit Blaze

If anything this watch and the Fitbit Ionic have in common, it’s the fact that both models are an attempt at a smartwatch with fitness features from a fitness tracker company.

Well, the attempt was very successful. Of course, the Fitbit Blaze isn’t exactly a smartwatch – it lacks some of the key features to do so. But in addition to a large color screen and a specific design, which, it should be noted, looks very impressive, the watch is equipped with options for indicators of activity during the day, training, heart rate sensor and GPS (but only when synchronized with a smartphone). The advantage is a battery life of up to five days. For smartwatches, this is a rare and very positive indicator.

If this watch still lacks something, it is real applications that do not depend on a smartphone. If this is not important for you, the device is perfect for you.

If you choose a smart watch and want to get the most out of it, then you should pay attention to each of these models, compare your goals and capabilities, and make a choice!