The infamous calculator watch has been around since the 1970s, but watches have finally reached the point that they're, well, smart. With everything from app support to smartphone notification mirroring to heart rate monitoring, the latest smartwatches do a lot more than just tell time. But which one should you buy?

UK The Best Smartwatches for 2023 - PCMag UK

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is our current favorite for its streamlined design, excellent health and safety features, and useful calling and texting capabilities. Outdoor adventurers might prefer the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which offers a more durable titanium case, an even stronger sapphire crystal glass display, longer battery life, and a few outdoor-specific navigation features. The Apple Watch still has the largest number of high-quality apps and big-name developers, but Google's Wear OS platform is catching up. Google Pixel Watch 2 Safety features include Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and irregular heart rate and rhythm notifications. Cellular SE models also now support international emergency calling, so you can reach emergency services in more than 120 countries and regions without your phone while traveling. On the health front, we especially like the automatic 20-second handwashing timer. Who It's For For activation and setup, Fitbit devices require the Fitbit app, which is compatible with smartphones running at least Android 9 or iOS 15. Fitbit is in the process of migrating its app to Google's authentication platform. At this point, all new users will need a Google account to log into the Fitbit app. Legacy Fitbit users will soon need to migrate their account over to Google's platform to log in, a fairly painless process we detail in our Versa 4 review. The watch only has one button on the right side, used as both the “on/off” and “home” buttons. The rear side has nothing too fanciful either, just the heart rate sensor and charging port. StrapsThe Galaxy Watch 6 is the best Apple Watch alternative for most Android users. It comes in small (40mm) or large (44mm) sizes, three different aluminum case colors (graphite, gold, or silver), and two connectivity options (with or without LTE), thus accommodating a wide range of buyers. Outdoor adventurers might prefer the still-available Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which offers longer battery life, a more durable titanium case, an even stronger sapphire crystal glass display, and a few outdoor-specific navigation features. The Samsung Watch 6 Classic is an excellent option for those in search of a lifestyle-focused Android-compatible smartwatch. Choose this over the standard Watch 6 if you want a bit of bling and the improved functionality of its rotating bezel. The Lily is an excellent choice for those in search of a fitness-focused smartwatch that doesn't look like one. Its attractive, female-focused design is its biggest selling point, but it also offers an impressive set of health-related features and decent battery life for its small size. The Lily works with both iOS and Android smartphones via the Garmin Connect app. A box! It’s not much, but at least there’s some form of protection for the watch itself. Nothing exciting here though, just a piece of foam inside to prevent the watch from being crushed during transport. Otherwise, nice and minimalistic design. What is inside? The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is best for endurance athletes, ocean enthusiasts, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors. With a WR100 water-resistance rating, the Ultra 2 is the only Apple Watch suitable for high-speed water sports and recreational diving. It works for recreational dives at depths of up to 40 meters and can function as a dive computer with the Oceanic+ app. It's pricey, though, and people with smaller wrists might not like its bulky design.

Lige Smartwatch Review | Smartwatch for Less Lige Smartwatch Review | Smartwatch for Less

The Pixel Watch 2 works with most phones running Android 9.0 or newer via the Google Pixel Watch app, which requires a Google Account to log in. It is not compatible with iPhones. Samsung's latest smartwatches feature popular Google apps like Assistant, Maps, and the Play Store, alongside Samsung's Bixby, Buds Controller, Pay, and more. The Pixel Watch features all the Google standbys, including Assistant, Gmail, Home, Maps, the Play Store, and Wallet. Now, LIGE offers a few variations to the straps. I chose the silicon straps because I jog very often, mesh and bracelet are going to be destroyed in no time from the sweat. Nothing to complain about the quality, it’s soft and has no sharp edges. Either way, the straps are fully replaceable. You can use any 20mm strap and it will fit, so feel free to change it whenever you want. Accuracy

The Ultra comes with cellular connectivity by default and offers noticeably improved call quality thanks to a dual-speaker system and three-microphone array. Other upgrades include a brighter display, improved water resistance, a dual-frequency GPS for greater accuracy in cities and the woods, and a built-in 86dB emergency siren that is audible from up to 600 feet away. For underwater treks, the watch has an EN13319 certification and a depth gauge with a water temperature sensor. Who It's For

All three Apple smartwatches on this list require an iPhone Xs or later with iOS 17 or later and do not work with Android handsets. Most of the smartwatches on our list feature GPS connectivity, which means they can record your runs without the help of a companion device (the Garmin Lily is an exception). Most modern smartwatches also have an optical heart rate sensor that can take continuous and on-demand heart rate measurements.A smartwatch nowadays comes with a touchscreen interface. The gadget comes with the option to connect it with your smartphone through an app for better management. Among the successful smartwatches available in the market, the LIGE smartwatch meets the quality benchmark within a low budget. First impressions