The best smartwatch for fitness, apps and beyond
Ditch the Rolex in favour of one of our favourite smartwatches you can buy (which do plenty more than simply tell the time)
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The best smartwatches of the last few years blur that weir line between super-powered smartphone alternatives and fitness-tracking coaches all from your timepiece. How? it's not just about telling the time and delivering a few notifications, it's about ordering Ubers and taking phone calls using voice control and getting that much-needed January motivation to get out and train with actionable advice and pro-grade metric tracking. This last year has been a bumper 12 months of top-quality wearables, and you're pretty much spoiled for choice for which kind of watch to go for, and your decision will largely be dictated by where your allegiances lie with your smartphone.
Take a quick glance across the internet and you’ll notice upgrades to Samsung’s offerings with the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro series, Apple graced our wrists with two new models, the Series 8 and the Watch Ultra models, and more fitness-centric options from Garmin and Fitbit balance your workout goals with your Deliveroo delivery status all from your arm.
With all that said, it's a big decision to find the right one for you, be that a jack-of-all-trades type from Apple for iPhone users or more of a workout companion with a few extra features like Garmin's Marq series, so you've got a lot to think about to figure out if you'd prefer a top-spec military-grade smart companion or a new timepiece to accompany you to the gym.
Sure, a Patek Phillippe on your wrist might impress some people, but can it call you an Uber, fire off a text, or catch you up on the latest footy scores? Don’t lie, it can’t. Smartwatches are the next level in convenient wristwear, becoming your assistant, organiser and personal trainer.
The best smartwatches are so much more than glorified fitness trackers as well, no matter what your mates tell you. Sure, they are stuffed full of health-related features like heart-rate sensors, GPS, running statistics, and step counting, and that’s great if you need a kick out the door to get moving, but what we’re all interested in is enjoying using your smartphone from your wrist.
What's the best smartwatch for 2024?
The Apple Watch has never truly been dethroned from the top spot over all these years, and its latest incarnation is no exception. If you've got an iPhone, this is the best smartwatch by far, with enhanced safety and health features (including crash detection) and all the smarts you need to pretty much run your life from your wrist.
You know you're getting quality when tech companies put “Pro” at the end of a device name. Samsung's latest premium edition of the Galaxy Watch is right at the apex of what Android is capable of. It's lost some weight on the older models but is smarter, more versatile and lasts longer –exactly what you need from your new favourite wearable.
Not to be outdone by the likes of Samsung, Garmin and Fitbit, Apple has unveiled the ultimate watch in the popular wearable series. Solid titanium chassis? Check. Water resistance to 100m for deep-sea divers? You betcha. The ability to detect if you've been in a car crash and notify authorities? Ready and waiting in case the worst happens. This is the tip top of Apple's offering, with the price tag to boot.
For something a little different, Google's minimalist circular piece is winning over fans for the gorgeous design and impressive features that just about keep up with the big boys of Apple and Samsung. Perfect if you're working with a Google Pixel phone, you get instant, steady connectivity, a wealth of fitness features and sync up with your handset, all from a rather handsome device.
- Best smartwatch overall: Apple Watch Series 8, £449 at johnlewis.com
- Best smartwatch for long battery life: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, £329 at samsung.com
- Best smartwatch for athletes and extreme sports: Apple Watch Ultra, £819 at ee.co.uk
- Best Android smartwatch for most people: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, £329 at samsung.com
- Best Google-powered smartwatch: Google Pixel Watch, £369 at ee.co.uk
- Best small, affordable smartwatch: Apple Watch SE, £249 at currys.co.uk
What’s the difference between a smartwatch and a sports watch or fitness tracker?
Smartwatches straddle that extremely thin line between a dedicated fitness tracker and a tiny smartphone on your wrist, which can confuse the uninitiated. Basic fitness trackers will limit themselves to just managing your heart rate, step count, or calorie intake, and will struggle to do much more than that. These are great for measuring your movements throughout the day, but if you want notifications, texts on the go, and wearable gaming, then you’ll want a proper smartwatch.
Because of all their extra brains inside, smartwatches are significantly more expensive overall but include all the good stuff like wireless music streaming, instant alerts, and the ability to make phone calls without your phone.
They’ll have more connectivity options beyond just Bluetooth (like NFC and Wi-Fi), while retaining all the fitness features and sleep tracking smarts you'd expect. They also tend to pack in fancier features, like rotating bezels and wireless payment options like Google Pay.
They’re what we’ve tested below, whereas the best running watches, best fitness trackers and best heart rate monitors are more bothered about improving your PBs via more detailed health features. If that sounds more like your bag, then go for a Garmin Forerunner or Fēnix 7 instead. Expecting Samsung's Galaxy Watch to do this stuff is akin to bringing a shotgun to an archery contest; the finesse just isn’t there.
That's not to say these smartwatches aren't also comfortable in the gym, it's just not where the focus lies, and if you're taking your training more seriously, you're better off hunting for the properly dedicated devices.
Does it matter what phone I have?
Even the most essential smartwatches we’ve tested here are best thought of as an extension to your phone, so mixing your smartphone and watch brands is like using a square peg in a round hole. For example, you’ll struggle to get the most out of an Apple Watch if you’re using an Android-powered phone such as a Samsung, Huawei or Google Pixel.
And if you have an iPhone but want to strap on a Samsung Galaxy Watch? Then you’ll lose a chunk of functionality including the ability to reply to messages and use Samsung Pay. So, yeah, the phone you own and its compatibility with the operating system it runs will dictate what your smartwatch can do; it's worth bearing in mind if you're an iPhone user, or firmly in the Google Assistant-toting Android camp.
Can you make phone calls on a smartwatch?
Both the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch are available with or without a 4G SIM LTE connection that allows them to make calls, send texts and use data independently of your phone. As you can probably guess, this option ranks more as a nice-to-have than an essential upgrade. If you do have the necessary funds, then having a dedicated data plan for your smartwatch is legitimately useful, as you can head out for a run without taking your phone with you and keep your playlist going with just your watch.
Some watches are better than others for calling up mates without your phone, but we do still think it’s worth pulling out your blower to chat instead of using a gadget on your wrist. If not for your sake then everyone else surrounding you, at least.
How we test smartwatches
We tested these smartwatches by putting them through the rigours of modern life, checking how long they last on a single charge, and how easy it is to pay contactless or use smart features like voice assistant. We tested third-party apps like Uber and Sky Sports to see how easy it is to sync up accounts and we wore them during various workouts from indoor swims, long-distance cycle sessions and 5K runs to see the quality of the GPS tracking and fitness tracking.
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