Smartwatches are in fashion. This is, in part, due to the large number of functions that they offer you, such as access to your favorite applications from your wrist or the possibility of listening to music or answering calls even if you do not have your smartphone with you.
The biggest advantage that smart watches have over other types of wearables is that you don’t have to get used to wearing a new device , but a multitude of features have been added to a complement that you are already used to using.
You will be able to find some very basic ones with which you can only access your phone’s notifications, without the possibility of a response, and others that are almost like wearing your smartphone on your wrist.
But before deciding on one, you will have to carefully assess what your needs are and what functionalities can cover them . You certainly don’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t meet your expectations or, even worse, buy the most expensive smartwatch and end up not using half of its options.
In this guide you will find the 10 best smartwatches according to our expert analysts and user opinions. At the end we have also left you a practical comparative table and a complete buying guide so that you do not have any doubts before making your choice.
The 10 best smartwatches of 2022
The following smartwatches have been selected as the best of the moment for their excellent value for money and the evaluations of their users.
10. Fitbit Sense
Autonomy: 6 days
Screen: 1.58″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See price Fitbit is a health-focused brand with extensive experience in wrist wearables . After three generations of the Versa, it has decided to go a step further with the Fitbit Sense, which, more than a sports smartwatch, stands out in health care .
It shows off a very versatile aesthetic thanks to its square dial with a polycarbonate casing and silicone strap, a combo that resists the challenges of day-to-day very well. This is a comfortable, light and manageable watch. The good thing about its dimensions is that it is suitable for all types of dolls .
What we like the most about this watch is how careful its interface is : clear, with colors and graphics and very easy to use to view our daily statistics. This task is helped by its large integrated AMOLED screen occupying practically the entire front.
The brand calls it a smartwatch for health and with good reason, since it is not limited to giving us information about our steps, calories, heart rate and sleep, but also offers metrics for:
- blood oxygen saturation
- stress, thanks to its electrodermal activity sensor
- effort made, useful for training
- the temperature of our skin, very interesting
Of course, you can also view notifications from your phone , although you can only respond to them if your phone is Android. With an iPhone the configuration is more tedious and works worse.
A great ally for sport and health
You can take it with you to play sports, since it also has GPS for geolocation, an altimeter to measure altitude and allows us to record up to 20 different sports, perhaps a somewhat limited number compared to other options. Of course, the amount of data it provides after training is surprising for good .
It also makes the grade for different usage scenarios: health, sports and even for our day-to-day life in the city. And it is that it has NFC to make payments simply by bringing it closer to the reader, we can invoke the voice assistants Alexa and Google Assistant or answer calls , but not make them, because there is no version with LTE.
The proposal ends with its autonomy of almost 6 days with normal use , much more than other models. And the good thing is that it has a new magnetic charger that is very comfortable to use and moderately fast.
In any case, this is a true all-terrain smartwatch for versatile users at a very competitive price.
- Great autonomy
- versatile design
- With NFC for payments
- Works worse with an iPhone
- you can’t make calls
- few sports
9. Fitbit Versa 4
Autonomy: 6 days
Screen: 1.6″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See priceIf you are interested in health and sports but not go crazy studying the manual to get the most out of your future watch, then this Fitbit Versa 4 interests you.
It maintains the hallmark neutral and functional design of the house and is suitable for all dolls and different styles . Of course, if you are looking for a model with a sporty aesthetic, it is better to opt for another watch because this is a thin and light smartwatch, perfect for thinner arms, for example.
From its appearance we like the quality of the materials used for its manufacture and that it has a physical button that will allow you to operate it even if your hands are wet, which is great for water sports.
In this sense, keep in mind that it is resistant to water and that, in addition, it monitors swimming. Because although on the outside it is not the most sporty thing in the world, on the inside it is a magnificent tool for active people:
- With 40 different sports modes , including dancing or strength exercises.
- Geopositioning using GPS and Glonass for more precision in outdoor sports.
- Integrated altimeter for those who practice mountain sports.
If we also take into account that it measures sleep, stress, heart rate, glucose, blood oxygen and even menstruation, we are looking at a fairly complete watch for health and sports .
complete but simple
The best thing about this watch is its balance between metrics and ease of use . And it is that its screen looks good and its interface is so intuitive that it is easy to navigate between its menus, although you may miss more advanced metrics if you are a demanding athlete who optimizes your training.
The Fitbit Versa 4 also makes the grade on a day-to-day basis thanks to the fact that it integrates NFC for payments at the wrist , a microphone to consult calls and the possibility of downloading applications as useful as Google Maps .
Unfortunately you can only install a few Google apps , as Fitbit’s interface is still not as complete as Wear OS’s, but the reality is that most users don’t need many more either.
Another point that has pleasantly surprised us is that its battery lasts almost 6 days and that, when it is running out, in a very short time you will be able to have it full again thanks to its fast charge.
- Easy to use
- neutral design
- for small wrists
- Fast charge
- Few apps can be downloaded
- Limited for demanding athletes
8. Amazfit Bip S Lite Xiaomi
Autonomy: 30 days
Screen: 1.28″
Payments: No
Answer calls: No
The Amazfit Bip S Lite is the heir to one of the house’s bestsellers, the popular Amazfit Bip Lite, a smartwatch that stands out for its low price and high autonomy . This new generation follows these steps and polishes some of its defects to achieve a watch with a high cost-performance ratio.
It is a basic smartwatch with satisfactory performance for users who want a simple device to monitor their daily activity. Essentially it is like a bracelet, with the advantage of integrating a larger screen.
Simple and functional design
Its design is simple, balanced and customizable with spheres and straps. It uses basic but resistant materials, ideal to withstand day to day. But we believe that one aspect to improve are the edges of the screen, somewhat thick and not fully used.
Although the panel of this smartwatch has gained in brightness, we are left with a bittersweet feeling: although it looks good outdoors, its resolution and sensitivity are lower than in other models and some letters are too small.
We found the interface and app set to be intuitive and easy to use , though it’s pretty limited in terms of features and there are no apps to install. Come on, it is a smartwatch for those who do not want to complicate and with the “spirit” of an activity bracelet.
In this sense we can monitor:
- The steps we take throughout the day
- our heart rate
- The calories that we have consumed in an estimated way
- The distance traveled (Be careful because, since it does not have GPS, we will need to carry the mobile with us so that it can register it outdoors)
- Our hours of sleep and its quality
- A few sports, although it includes the most common ones such as running, treadmill, cycling and walking
With the phone nearby we can receive notifications when they call us and messages from apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and social networks. But, since it does not have a microphone or speaker, we will not be able to answer calls. Likewise, we will not be able to make payments as we do not have NFC.
One of its strong points is the battery , which lasts around a month even with active users, and which charges in less than 3 hours (figures much higher than the most popular models).
- A scandalous autonomy
- Ease of use
- Good value for money
- no gps
- Little variety of sports
- Can’t answer calls
7. Xiaomi Mi Watch
Autonomy: 14 days
Screen: 1.39″
Payments: No
Answer calls: No
See priceAlthough we are used to seeing Xiaomi in the world of smartwatches through Amazfit, with the Xiaomi Mi Watch the almighty Chinese firm “dares” to put its name. And that is a guarantee of a high value for money , we already anticipate it.
The Xiaomi Mi Watch has a design that combines simplicity and sobriety thanks to its lines and materials (polyamide for the casing and TPU for the strap). Its sphere has a diameter that is close to 5 cm (specifically 46 mm), and despite this it is a light watch.
In any case, it’s a visually large device that squeaks on narrow wrists—although that’s a matter of taste.
It seems to us that it is quite complete for its price in terms of measuring instruments, with:
- Heart rate sensor to monitor our pulsations
- SpO2 measurement for blood oxygen saturation
- Measurement of quality and sleep time
- stress estimation
- Estimation of our energy
- Geolocation using GPS and GLONASS
With this combination you will be able to see what your day-to-day activity is like, but also record your training. Surely your favorite sport is not lacking in its 117 sports modes to offer parameters adjusted to each discipline.
Although visually it is a “battle” model, its screen shines in terms of image quality and experience . This is helped by both the dimensions and the type of panel, high-resolution AMOLED. As it also has an ambient light sensor, adjust its parameters so that you always see it well. Of course, the edges could be smaller.
Fluid handling and quite customizable
Its interface supports certain customization options, but less than in other models, since apps cannot be installed or the available spheres can be adapted. The ones that come work correctly, they allow us to see our notifications but not respond to them. What we have used and liked the most is the option to control the music .
Two absences from its operating system that we have missed is the possibility of answering calls and paying with the device. All in all, the fluidity and the included applications are more than enough for a basic user who does not want to complicate even charging it, because its autonomy is around two weeks.
- Very complete in terms of measurements
- Great autonomy
- Track many sports
- Good value for money
- You can’t install apps
- big sphere
- you can’t answer calls
- you can’t pay with it
6. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Autonomy: 1.5 days
Screen: 1.19″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See price With the fourth installment for Samsung’s wrist, the Korean firm has set out to reach all audiences with a watch that stands out for its versatility both inside and out.
Thus, its appearance is that of a traditional watch , with a round dial and a 1.19-inch screen, 3 hands and even that characteristic ticking . It also offers the possibility of changing the dial, the strap and the lighting effects to your liking.
The AMOLED screen is the best we’ve seen in a watch in terms of brightness, colors and sharpness, and it also responds very well to the touch of our fingers. In this sense, you will be able to see it even on those days so bright that the sun dazzles you.
Versatile inside and out
Despite its classic appearance, it withstands the challenge of the most athletic users , even extreme ones, since it is submersible up to 50 meters and has high-resistance military certification. The least good thing is that, whichever version you choose, they are heavy and large watches.
Be careful because it is capable of doing everything you could expect in a smartwatch:
- With NFC and Google Pay to pay at the wrist .
- With LTE connectivity option to make calls without using your phone .
- With GPS to more accurately measure your outdoor activities
- Pulse oximeter and heart rate meter so you can monitor the cane you put into your training.
- You can even listen to music by connecting your headphones via Bluetooth.
Samsung is a veteran firm in the world of smartwatches and it shows, striking a balance between functionalities with ease of use thanks to its interface and the touch screen with bezel. One of its advantages is how refined and fluid the Wear OS operating system is, compatible with both iOS and Android.
If on the outside it is a day-to-day watch, the combination of integrated instruments, performance and its application make it a perfect ally for athletes . We highlight his proposal for different types of running, offering parameters as exhaustive and detailed as the quality of footsteps and strides.
Despite its thickness and size, the battery of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 lasts a little less than 2 days of use , a figure within the standard of the most ambitious models like this, but well below other simpler ones.
This careful design, good response and wide range of functions has a considerable cost in the market. If you are clear that you are going to take advantage of all its advantages, then your purchase is a guaranteed success.
- Suitable for iOS and Android
- Versatile and elegant design
- You can pay
- You can make and answer calls
- not a cheap watch
- Adjusted autonomy
- It’s big and heavy
5. Apple Watch SE
Autonomy: 18 hours
Screen: 1.3″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See price Until a few months ago, anyone who wanted an Apple smartwatch without spending a lot had to go to previous generations. But this has changed and Apple has presented its proposal to compete in the mid-range with its “cheap” watch: the Apple Watch SE. And we put quotes because it’s not that cheap either.
The good news is that no design or materials have been spared : the Apple Watch SE looks the same as the previous generation (the Apple Watch 5), which in practice means that it is practically impossible to tell if you have bought the model. cheap or not
And it also has all its advantages on an aesthetic level, that is, a versatile design suitable for all wrists , a huge number of spheres to customize it and compatible straps. It’s hard not to come up with a combination to make Apple Watch SE look just the way you like it.
Inside it also houses the Apple Watch 5 processor (which is a very powerful chip compared to the competition), and the same interface. In summary, that the user experience is practically the same . Nor has its autonomy changed, usually quite stingy, just for a day of use.
It is also quite complete for sports and activity monitoring:
- Monitor our hours of sleep
- heart rate measurement
- With GPS and compass for outdoor sports activities
- Fall detection, super useful if we practice sports of a certain risk
It does not neglect very useful details for day to day such as NFC to pay with the watch or the possibility of answering calls or even making them , if we buy the LTE version.
Although there are cuts in terms of functions compared to the Apple Watch 6. The most important are:
- No always-on display feature
- No ECG sensor for electrocardiograms
- Does not measure blood oxygen
- Without barometric altimeter for extra precision in outdoor sports
They are extras for health and that provide a plus, but are hardly noticeable to the average user.
This watch is one of the most complete you will find on the market, standing out for its great value for money. You can use it with Android too, but if you have an iPhone, it’s a smart budget-friendly purchase .
- Good value for money for Apple
- versatile design
- Allows you to make payments
- Allows you to make and receive calls
- little autonomy
- It’s not a cheap smartwatch
4. Amazfit GTS 3
Autonomy: 12 days
Screen: 1.75″
Payments: No
Answer calls: Yes
See Apple Watch price it seems, from Amazfit it is . No, it’s not a riddle, it’s the Amazfit GTS 3, the third generation of a watch that aesthetically looks quite similar to the Apple watch. But here are the similarities, because this model is considerably cheaper and with more autonomy .
Thus, it has a rectangular aluminum case with a silicone strap, a set that, without being premium, achieves a rather striking appearance . It is beautiful, very wearable and light, valid for all types of wrists, with a large number of spheres and compatible with a multitude of 20-millimeter straps.
We especially like its AMOLED panel, capable of displaying vivid colors, good brightness level, quality, and looks great even on the sunniest days. In fact, it looks better than other higher-priced smartwatches . Of course, with this third generation it has grown and perhaps it feels great for the finest wrists.
The interface is intuitive and moderately fluid , and on its screen we will see the same notifications as on the phone —but we will have to take it out of our pocket to respond.
Control your training
Although you can’t install applications, you can answer calls and control music , two very useful tasks that you can perform whenever the phone is nearby.
And for the most technological, you can invoke Alexa from your wrist. An important detail: it has NFC, but in Spain it is not possible to pay with it.
This is a very interesting smartwatch for athletes :
- With GPS to geolocate your position even if you don’t have your mobile.
- Heart rate and blood oxygen meter to control your performance in training.
- It resists in water up to 5 ATM of pressure, so, in addition to in the shower, you can use it for water activities.
- More than 150 different sports modes so that whatever you practice, you can record it with your watch.
One of the most surprising features of this watch is that, despite being lightweight, its autonomy is close to 2 weeks of use , much more than most popular smartwatches. In fact, it takes the colors out of the Apple Watch.
In conclusion, the Amazfit GTS 3 is a smartwatch with a high quality-price ratio for those looking for a versatile, simple and easy-to-use design, and that does not require daily monitoring of the charger.
- resulton design
- Great autonomy
- The fluid experience is intuitive
- board quality
- You can’t install apps
- you can’t pay
3. TicWatch Pro 3
Autonomy: 3 days
Screen: 1.4″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See price Just as there are alternatives in Android to the height of the iPhone in the smartphone sector, you will also find watches capable of looking at Apple’s smartwatch from you to you. One of them is the TicWatch Pro 3, a premium watch both in terms of features and price .
How beautiful is the TicWatch Pro 3 . In fact, at first glance it looks like a jewelery sports watch thanks to its stainless steel and plastic casing with a silicone strap that emulates leather. Of course, despite being moderately light, it feels bulky for a thin wrist.
Three characteristics that we have loved about its handling:
- Its good performance is striking . For this agile experience, we must thank both Google and Mobvoi, who have equipped their clock with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and the muscle of the Snapdragn 4100 chip, the most powerful at the moment.
- Managing it with its touch panel and buttons is a delight because of how fluid and agile it is.
- You have plenty of applications , both from the manufacturer and from Wear OS or those that you can download yourself. In fact, you will discover that there are some duplicates.
To get the most out of it and take advantage of all its functions and how well it is understood with the mobile, our recommendation is that you have an Android phone .
For health and sports it is well stocked, so that you do not miss a single detail of your training sessions:
- With heart rate sensor to know the status of your heart
- Gyroscope to help determine our activity
- Barometer to provide precision in geolocation
- GPS to know where we are at all times without having to carry the mobile
- 13 different sport profiles, including running and swimming in the pool
And for day to day you will appreciate the NFC to make payments from the wrist, the possibility of controlling music playback on Spotify, the possibility of answering calls or even making them if you buy the LTE version.
We have been pleasantly surprised by the battery life, thanks to an original double screen made up of an external monochrome screen for when we only want to see basic data and the AMOLED in color and with automatic brightness. Giving it cane, the autonomy is two days , but in saving mode it exceeds the month of use.
- A smooth experience
- premium design
- You can pay and make calls
- duplicate apps
- Bulky for small wrists
2. Huawei Watch 3
Autonomy: 14 days
Screen: 1.43″
Payments: No
Answer calls: Yes
See priceHuawei continues to fight for its piece of the pie in the smartwatch sector with this Huawei Watch 3, which maintains all the good things of its predecessor and goes a step further in terms of independence from the phone and customization .
There are two important changes in this generation with which the Huawei Watch 3 begins to compete face to face with the best :
- You can download applications that you like, although there are still few
- You can make calls without a phone if you buy the LTE version
In addition, with this watch you will not miss your message notifications and social networks and, the big difference with other more basic models, you will be able to answer them.
What did you have and what do you keep from the Huawei Watch GT2? A forceful but very beautiful design reminiscent of the best sports watches. It is not a watch that goes unnoticed , neither for its good finishes nor for its size. If you have a good wrist then this is for you, if not it almost looks like a frying pan.
It also shines for its screen , with a spherical form factor and AMOLED type that looks incredibly good even if there is a lot of outside light. And the best (and this is new): with the Harmony OS operating system, it offers the most agile performance without losing ease of use .
If there is something in which Huawei watches stand out, it is in their autonomy. We are intensive users and, even so, we have stayed close to 2 weeks of use , well above its main rivals.
Another strong point of the Huawei Watch 3 is its sporty proposal, very complete within the smartwatch for general use:
- With GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou to accurately record your location
- 100 sports modes among which your favorite sport is sure to be
- Measurement of blood oxygen saturation, very useful in COVID times
- Monitoring your heart rate
The novelties of this smart watch position it as one of the most complete, although they carry with them a price increase that also puts it on a par with the proposals from Apple or Samsung.
- An autonomy above normal
- very careful design
- You can make and receive calls
- still few applications
- High price
- Big size
1. Apple Watch Series 7
Autonomy: 18 hours
Screen: 1.61″
Payments: yes
Answer calls: Yes
See price We close the classification with the latest edition of Apple’s smart watch, the Watch Series 7 that combines design, innovation and a wide assortment of applications to customize it to your liking .
This smartwatch has a 448 x 368 pixel OLED retina screen, one of the best on the market in terms of sharpness and brightness . In addition, in this generation it has grown without the watch doing so at the cost of reducing the edges, making better use of its dimensions.
This watch will become your best friend in your sports , outdoor and indoor training:
- It comes with a complete assortment of instruments to thoroughly measure your activity , such as GPS, compass and barometric altimeter for mountaineers.
- It allows you to do guided sports sessions in different disciplines — and it increasingly incorporates more sports, such as Tai Chi or Pilates.
- Because it’s water resistant to 50 meters , it can withstand swimming (not diving) sessions.
Almost a doctor on your wrist
But that’s not all, because it includes advanced health control functions . This Apple Watch notifies you when your heart rate is too high or low, it even allows you to take an electrocardiogram by putting your thumb on the side wheel and it measures your blood oxygen level, very useful if you have respiratory problems.
As a curiosity, it notifies you if the decibels of the environment soar , something interesting in very noisy cities, so you can move away or protect your ears.
It also has fall detection to automatically notify family members and medical services, a function that we have found important for people with reduced mobility or the elderly, but also for the more adventurous.
Advanced features for everyday
And if you’re not an athlete, don’t worry because you’ll also take advantage of it in your day to day with functions such as NFC for payments and the option to answer calls. If you opt for the Cellular version , you’ll be able to make calls even if you don’t have your phone nearby.
The Achilles heel of the Apple Watch Series 7 is still the battery life: it depends on how you use it, but get used to the idea that you will have to charge your smartwatch daily . The good thing is that this version has accelerated its load, so that with 8 minutes it lasts a whole night.
As always, customization is not a problem with Apple . You can choose the material of the case in stainless steel, recycled aluminum, ceramic or titanium. And there are plenty of straps in different styles, easy to interchange. Even if you have previous generations, you will be able to reuse the straps.
In short: Apple Watch Series 7 is a very independent watch with advanced functions that you can customize in detail . Of course, having the best on your wrist is not going to be cheap.
- Advanced functions for health and sport
- Lots of customization
- very fast charging
- you can pay with it
- You will carry it every day
- not a cheap watch
The best smartwatch for iPhone: Apple Watch Series 7
See price It is the best smartwatch on the market, but if you want to get the most out of Apple’s full potential , we recommend that you combine it with an iPhone since, in that case, the understanding is complete.
From the Apple Watch Series 7 you can expect everything you can demand from a smartwatch today: pay with your wrist, control the music you listen to, install your favorite applications, make and answer calls and, be careful, because its sports proposal and for health is most complete.
This new generation not only includes a ton of sports modes, but also implements advanced tools to take care of yourself , whether you’re an ambitious athlete or you’re in poor health:
- Blood oxygen measurement , very interesting for people with respiratory problems.
- Perform electrocardiograms to know the health of your heart.
- Fall detection , in case you have an accident the least expected day.
- External noise measurement to take care of your hearing health.
One of its strengths is that it adapts to your style , and it is available in two sizes and different finishes. Whichever you choose, you can change both the face and the strap, with plenty of official and compatible options.
The big “but” of the Apple watch is its battery , a classic for generations: you will have to charge it daily. And, like the rest of their products, they are not exactly cheap, but with their frequency of updates, they will surely last you for several years.
The best smartwatch if you have an Android phone: TicWatch Pro 3
See priceBlessed are those who use Android, because they will have a wide range of options at all prices and surprises as pleasant as this TicWatch Pro 3, one of the best smartwatches on the market and, in our opinion, the best for the Google ecosystem.
Two features that will catch your eye at first glance:
- A very careful sports design that will confuse locals and strangers. And it looks like a classic premium watch from top brands like Montblanc or Hublot (but don’t worry, because it costs much less). It has the potential to leave you speechless thank you
- One of the most original aspects of the TicWatch is that it has two screens : one in color with great detail to squeeze it and another simpler one to see basic data. So you always have what you need without spending extra battery.
The manufacturer squeezes the best of Google’s interface, achieving a custom watch for your day to day : make calls, download applications that you like the most, pay, control the music on your mobile or directly save it on the device itself and pay.
Are you an athlete? You’re in luck because this watch competes face to face with models from specialized firms thanks to its precise GPS, its sport profiles, water resistance or a barometer for mountaineers.
It depends on how much you use it, you can go a month without charging it . Although if you are one of those who live glued to social networks and WhatsApp, then you will have to go through the plug every two or three days.
The TicWatch Pro 3 is a high-end smartwatch in terms of functions and has an extra that makes it very attractive: without being cheap, it is much more affordable than its competition from Apple, Huawei or Samsung .
The best cheap smartwatch: Xiaomi Mi Watch
See price Taking into account its features, and which is normally around 100 euros, the Xiaomi Mi Watch is not only the best cheap smartwatch, it also stands out as the best value for money .
Without using premium materials, Xiaomi has achieved a smart watch that catches the eye due to its simple but well-cared lines , with a large sphere that houses a category screen. Come on, you’re going to see it and drive well either at night or in broad daylight, under a sun of justice.
We like your complete proposal for health and sport :
- It will leave you satisfied whether the only sport you practice is lowering the dog or going to the gym every day.
- If you just want to monitor your daily activity, with this watch you won’t lose sight of how you sleep, your heart rate, how stressed you are, your effort and energy, and even your blood oxygen saturation. What is the latter for? Among other things, its decline is related to respiratory conditions such as COVID-19.
- Athletes will find in it a great battle partner , with more than 100 different disciplines to record and GPS and GLONASS to gain precision in outdoor sports.
And if you train with music, you’re in luck: skip the track and turn up the volume from the watch itself.
The experience and interaction it offers is inferior to high-end models, such as paying or answering calls, but thanks to it you won’t lose sight of everything that comes to your mobile .
The Xiaomi Mi Watch shines in autonomy , reaching up to two weeks of uninterrupted use. If you are one of those people who forget to charge their devices until it is too late, it is a perfect watch for you.
Guide to buy the best smartwatch
The first step to be fully successful in buying a smartwatch is to be very clear about what you want and what criteria you should focus on to meet those needs. There are some items that at first glance may seem trivial, but end up being critical for your daily use.
That is why we have created this buying guide, to help you on the way to choosing your new smart watch and so that you can find the one that best suits your tastes and needs.
Difference between smartwatch and activity bracelet
Differentiating between a smartwatch and an activity bracelet may seem simple at first glance, but the advancement of technology means that they share more and more functions, which sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish. In fact, even the online stores themselves sometimes show these bracelets within their smartwatches category .
Smartwatches
The main feature of smart watches is that, in addition to showing you the time, they offer you the option of synchronizing them with your smartphone . In this way you can have on your wrist any notification that reaches your mobile phone.
Many of them even already offer the option of responding with a simple touch on the screen or with your own voice, although it is still common to find others that allow you to view notifications but not respond to them, which you must do from your phone.
These devices usually also have some features to listen to music or monitor aspects of your life such as your physical activity or sleep routines. If you are a very active and demanding person in your workouts, you may have to opt for a sports watch, but in case you have moderate physical activity, a smartwatch will be enough to have control over it.
Activity wristbands
For their part, activity bracelets or smartbands are more compact, which makes them especially comfortable when practicing some type of exercise. They may or may not have a screen, since they are designed with less functionality than smart watches on many occasions it is not necessary. They also have a series of sensors that monitor your daily activity and, by synchronizing them with your smartphone , you can see your results on it.
In short, the clearest differences between a smartwatch and an activity bracelet are the design and the features that allow it to be synchronized with your smartphone . If you are only looking to know the time and some basic parameters of your daily activity, you should opt for a smartband , but if you are looking for a complement or even an alternative to using your mobile phone, what you are looking for is a smartwatch .
Drums
The battery life of these watches is one of the key elements before deciding on one or the other. Perhaps you have found the perfect smartwatch , with the features you need, an attractive design and an affordable price, but if its battery does not last even for the time you spend away from home every day, it will only serve as a decorative bracelet.
It is worth stopping for a moment to investigate the battery life of the device that you are going to buy. The usual thing is that, at least, they last between one and two days. This is not a problem if you get used to charging it every night, as you probably do with your mobile phone.
If you configure it so that, instead of always showing the time, it stays off and is activated with a twist of the wrist, the autonomy will be greater. You will also achieve this goal by adjusting the brightness of the screen and disabling applications or notifications that you do not need. Finally, remember that having Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or 4G activated will cause the battery to drain more quickly.
Fortunately, technology has evolved a lot in a very short time, so you can already find smart watches with autonomy of up to five days or even a week.
Functionalities
The ones that have the most functionalities are not necessarily the best devices, but you should ask yourself which ones you need and choose the one that best suits them.
It is useless to have a smart watch that has all the existing functions on the market if you are only going to use it to check your email and answer calls, for example.
Some of the functionalities that you should pay attention to are the following:
Activity monitoring and physical exercise
If you play sports frequently, you will probably be interested in being able to measure your times, distances covered, calories burned or your heart rate. And if you are an athlete, you may even be interested in opting for a watch that, in addition to this, has different sports modes for specific activities.
On the other hand, if what you like is training outdoors, it will be a good option to opt for a device that has GPS or that allows you to listen to music without having to take your phone with you.
These are some options that are highly relevant for an athlete, but that you can do without in case exercise is not your thing.
Notifications and ability to respond to them
Almost any smartwatch on the market will offer you the option to access your notifications, but not all of them will give you the possibility to answer them.
Once again, it will depend on your needs, since there are those who only want to be aware in real time of any notification they may receive, to be able to answer with their own mobile phone, and those who want to be able to do it from their wrist. And even among the latter there are different profiles: those who seek to respond by typing and those who prefer to do it by voice.
Any watch that allows you to answer messages will offer you the keyboard option, but to use your voice you must opt for one with a virtual assistant, such as the Ticwatch or Apple Watch.
Does it have a built-in speaker and microphone?
The speaker and microphone are important elements if you want to answer calls and even use your voice to control your smartwatch, thus taking advantage of it independently of your phone.
To do this, you just need to activate your assistant just like you do with your smartphone : saying out loud “OK Google” for the Google assistant and “Hey Siri” for the Apple one.
On the other hand, if using the speakerphone makes you feel like you’re losing privacy, many of the smartwatches allow you to connect headphones via Bluetooth. So you can continue to enjoy the freedom that the watch brings you and the privacy of your conversations.
LTE connectivity
It is common for a smart watch to have WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity to synchronize it with your smartphone . But it is increasingly common to see devices that allow you to add a SIM card, facilitating 4G connectivity and data use even if you don’t have your phone nearby.
If you are looking for a device that you can use instead of your mobile phone, instead of as a complement to it, you should make sure that it has this type of connectivity and that you can add your own SIM card or that it has a built-in eSIM card.
With this last type of card you can associate several devices to the same number and even different numbers in the same eSIM. Also, by not needing that extra space to insert it, it will not increase its thickness.
GPS connectivity
GPS connectivity has become essential if you do outdoor sports on a regular basis.
Monitoring your routes and even being able to map them is a very attractive functionality, as is the security that stays connected at all times, even if you don’t have your mobile phone with you.
NFC connectivity
We leave for the last place the type of connectivity that has appeared more recently: the NFC chip, which allows you to make mobile payments through your smartwatch .
Have you tried the advantages of paying directly with your phone without the need for cash or cards? Well, imagine that comfort on your wrist. The NFC allows you to pay simply by bringing your watch closer to the POS of any store, which will give you the possibility of leaving home without cash, without cards and also without a mobile phone.
It is a function that is beginning to appear on some smartphones and that is setting a clear trend. Although you should check that this type of payment is compatible with your bank, as it is not always.
Compatibility
If there is a fundamental element that you should check when buying a smart watch, it is, without a doubt, its compatibility. Keep in mind that not all of them can be used with any type of smartphone . Some are only compatible with the Android operating system (for example, OnePlus, whose apps only work with it) and others only get the most out of it if you have iOS (like Apple Watch). In addition, the compatibility will also depend on the version of said systems.
Smart watches from the Samsung brand, for example, usually have Tizen as their own operating system. In this case, you should know that it is compatible with both Android and iOS.
The fact that there is compatibility between both devices will guarantee communication between them and that you will be able to use all the features they offer, since many of them are linked to the telephone.
Price
It is probably not worth buying the cheapest smartwatch on the market if it has hardly any features and its battery does not last even a full day. In the same way, it is not a good idea to acquire the most expensive one, if for a cheaper price you can get one that only has the ones you need and which you are going to use.
In any case, it is currently easy to find smart watches with acceptable functionalities at very affordable prices. A division can be made, roughly, into three price ranges.
From 0 to 50 €
In this range you can find some decent watches, always keeping in mind that they probably do not have as many features or their appearance does not look as good as those of higher priced ones.
From 50 to 100 €
In this price range, it is common to find watches from lesser-known brands that seek to compete with the big ones in the market. We can also mention those that have lowered their price due to launching new versions or new models.
More than €100
Here you will find smart watches from big brands that combine numerous functionalities and, almost always, a very elegant design.
Design
Valuing the design is also essential in the case of smart watches. In fact, the usual thing is that, with the same characteristics, you opt for the one that visually seems more attractive to you.
Currently the brands take this very much into account, which is why they have created different watches depending on the gender of the user, the smallest ones being specially designed for women .
Also pay attention to whether the watch you want to buy offers you the possibility of changing the strap. Sometimes from the same brand they will offer you different types, but they can even be compatible with any other of the same width.
Their size and weight are also characteristics that you should look at. Perhaps the design seems very attractive to you but later you cannot get used to wearing it on your wrist due to any of these peculiarities.
Another important aspect of the design is the appearance of the dial . The square ones are used especially for sports watches, as they offer a more casual image. However, round dials – especially if made from materials like steel – make the watch look more traditional and elegant.