Best 5 smartwatch 2017: The top smartwatches available now
Buying the best smartwatch is no easy task, with a market that's changed dramatically since the bad old days of clunky wrist computers. Now, better designs are challenging classic watches, not to mention the ever-expanding range of features.
There are important considerations to be made about your choice of operating system, battery life and fitness options, but wearing a smartwatch is about expressing your personality too. So we've put together the below guide to make the job a bit easier, followed by our current picks for the best smartwatches you can buy right now - and the ones still to come.
Wareable's best smartwatch 2017
Apple Watch Series 2
OS: watchOS 3 | Display: OLED | Size: 38mm/42mm | Battery: 2 days | Water resistance: 50m | Heart rate: Yes | Connectivity: GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Water resistance and GPS in a sleeker body than similarly-specced rivals, as well as an eye-popping screen, mean that the Apple Watch Series 2 pips the competition to our coveted best smartwatch spot.
It's still far from perfect and Android Wear 2.0 has caught up in terms of features, technology and style, but watchOS 4 is on its ways before the end of the year and there are plenty of new features to look forward to.
Read this: Apple Watch Series 3 investigation
The Apple Watch app selection is still way too small and developers aren't making enough use of the GPS and sensors for untethered experiences. Apple's own fitness services are a tad hit-and-miss and the screen isn't always-on.
But aside from those negatives, it's still a great smartwatch experience, which doesn't feel clunky and has more than one genuine killer app. Apple Pay is a triumph, sports tracking works, it wins in the pool and there's a genuine feeling that the best is still to come.
Feature check: GPS, swimming friendly, Apple Pay, two-day battery, heart rate monitor.
Wareable's Apple Watch Series 2 review verdict:
"Is the Apple Watch Series 2 the perfect smartwatch? No. But it makes a much more compelling argument than the original that you should own one."
Highly commended
Samsung Gear S3
OS: Tizen | Display: Super AMOLED (360 x 360) | Size: 46mm | Battery: 380mAh, 1.5 days | Water resistance: IP68 | Heart rate: Yes | Connectivity: GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Now compatible with Android and iOS, the Samsung Gear S3 is surprisingly open-minded with its selection of supported smartphones. Sadly, the size increased slightly from the excellent Gear S2, but that larger body delivers better battery life, GPS and a screen where Tizen can really shine.
Head-to-head: Samsung Gear S3 v Apple Watch Series 2
It's not quite the ultimate fitness all-in-one thanks to a lack of water-resistance, which makes swimming out of the question. And the crappy app selection puts it behind the Apple Watch and Android Wear 2.0 in terms of versatility, although new apps from Under Armour along with the only Spotify smartwatch app to provide offline playback make it a much more compelling proposition.
However, strong individual style, the intuitive rotating bezel and great battery life mean it's a strong contender. What's more, Samsung's impressive platforms – such as its own Samsung Health – means strong third party apps aren't essential for a fulfilling experience, as they are on the Apple Watch.
Feature check: GPS, Samsung Pay, Tizen, heart rate monitor.
Wareable's Samsung Gear S3 review verdict:
"The Gear S3 is destined to divide. After delivering us its best-ever smartwatch with the Gear S2, it has sacrificed that sleek design to cram in more features."
From $349, samsung.com | Amazon
Best Android Wear smartwatch
LG Watch Sport
OS: Android Wear 2.0 | Display: OLED (480 x 480) | Size: 46mm | Battery: 430mAh, 1.5 days | Water resistance: IP68 | Heart rate: Yes | Connectivity: GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The flagship model for Android Wear 2.0, the LG Watch Sport guns straight for the Apple Watch. With GPS, LTE and NFC for Android Pay on board, the LG Watch Sport comes with a revamped Google Fit and rejuvenated third party Android Wear 2.0 apps such as Strava.
The screen really impresses, and the 1.38-inch, 480 x 480 OLED display uses its 348ppi to best the Apple Watch Series 2's tech. And beyond outdoor workouts, it can keep track of reps in the gym, which is a surprising and welcome addition.
However, it's only water resistant to 1.5 metres for 30 mins, which makes it unsuitable for swimming. It's bulky too. For those looking for a sleeker watch, the LG Watch Style is worth a look, but the pay-off in size means that most of the great features of the Watch Sport have been discarded.
Feature check: GPS, LTE, NFC, Android Pay, heart rate monitor.
Wareable's LG Watch Sport review verdict:
"The LG Watch Sport is a perfect showcase for Android Wear 2.0. It's big, but it's also clever, with some solid fitness chops and other standalone features that make it feel truly independent from your phone."
Best smartwatch for sports
Garmin Vivoactive HR
OS: Garmin | Display: 16 colour MIP (205 x 148) | Size: 28mm | Battery: 8 days | Water resistance: 5AM | Heart rate: Yes | Connectivity: GPS, Bluetooth
While the Apple Watch and the LG Watch Sport are great smartwatches that are capable of sport tracking, the Garmin Vivoactive HR is a seriously amazing sports watch that's more than capable as a smartwatch. Let us explain.
With dedicated GPS modes for running, cycling, swimming, golf and indoor gym work (although count out strength training), the Vivoactive HR reports detailed metrics into Garmin Connect and works with services such as Strava and Runkeeper. However, it also handles and displays smartwatch notifications, plus reliably offers weather and calendar details.
It's not a looker, with a low-res screen and chunky plastic body. It's pure function over form but that's not all bad. You get a battery life that measures around a week, even with all-day use and a few workouts thrown in. But if you're eyeing the Apple Watch or LG Watch Sport for tracking your next triathlon, do yourself a favour and opt for a proper sports watch instead.
Feature check: GPS, heart rate monitor, Garmin Connect compatibility, dedicated sports modes.
Wareable's Garmin Vivoactive HR review verdict:
"If, like us, you're a sports enthusiast who isn't obsessive over the details of just one type of activity, it's truly the watch for you. Great notifications and rich data from the HR sensor complete a top performance, and the daily activity tracking is top notch too."
$249.99, garmin.com | Amazon
Best smartwatch for runners
Polar M600
OS: Android Wear 2.0 | Display: TFT (240 x 240) | Size: 1.3-inch | Battery: 500mAh, 2 days | Water resistance: IPX8 | Heart rate: Yes | Connectivity: GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
While the Garmin Vivoactive HR is the perfect choice for those who flit between a host of sports, the Polar M600 is just for pavement-pounding runners.
Built by running giant Polar, and backed up with Android Wear, powerful running smarts are placed front and centre, with GPS and advanced metrics such as Training Benefit, Running Program, Running Index and Sport Profiles available alongside bog standard speed, pace and time.
But as an Android Wear device it's capable of running apps, offering notifications, accessing Google Voice commands and all-day activity monitoring. In many ways it's the best of both worlds for runners, and it makes no compromises when you're pushing the limits of your training.
Feature check: Heart rate monitor, GPS, Android Wear 2.0, Polar Flow syncing, water resistant to 10m.
Wareable's Polar M600 review verdict:
"It's easy to forget that you're using an Android Wear smartwatch when you've got the Polar M600 strapped on. It's an outright running watch (with decent activity tracking on board too) as far as we're concerned, with Android Wear simply there in the background in case you need it."
Source : WareAble
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