1. Apple Watch 2
- Aluminum Chassis with Ion-X Glass, 1.5" 312 x 390 1000-Nit Display
- Integrated GPS, Activity and Heart Rate Monitoring, Water Resistant to 164 ft
- Changeable Faces with Widgets, Siri Integration
- Displays Notifications and Runs Apps, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Up to 18 Hours Battery Life, Apple watchOS 3
The Apple Watch 2 is the best smartwatch you can buy right now. It's water-resistant, which means it's more durable than most of the other devices on this list and you won't have to worry about getting it wet in the rain when you're out for a jog.
There's GPS onboard to make running that little bit easier plus it comes running the newest watchOS 3 software. Design wise it's looking very similar to the original Apple Watch. Be warned though, the Apple Watch 2 is expensive.
If you already own an Apple Watch, the Apple Watch 2 may not be worth the upgrade, but there are a few solid improvements that mean it's worth spending that bit extra if this is your first wearable from Apple.
Read the full review: Apple Watch 2
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2. Samsung Gear S3
- This item is Bluetooth model & International Version. (**IT DOES NOT SUPPORT 2G, 3G, 4G LTE MOBILE NETWORKS**)
- Compatible with Android 4.4 (KitKat) and later with 1.5GB RAM. Some features may not be available. For best compatibility, connect with Samsung Galaxy phones. (It does NOT support Samsung Tablet & iOS)
- The Gear S3 has a built-in speaker that lets you make or take calls right away without ever having to remove your phone from your pocket. (*Bluetooth model requires Wi-Fi connection and a voice call app for phone-free calls.)
- Battery : 380mAh (up to three days) (*Battery life may vary depending on usage and settings.) / Sensor : Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, HR Sensor, Light Sensor / Connectivity : Bluetooth v4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass
- Memory : 768MB (RAM) + 4GB (ROM) / Chipset : Exynos 7270, Dual 1.0GHz / OS : Tizen OS 2.3.2 / Etc : Mic, Speaker, Water and dust resistant IP68
Despite a serious lack of original apps, the Samsung Gear S3 is one of the best smartwatch options on the market.
The intuitive controls and Super AMOLED screen from the Samsung Gear S2 are back in full form here. Plus, GPS makes its debut on the Gear S3.
While its look is more executive than the Gear S2, it rocks a IP68-protected build and can last up to 3 days of use before needing a charge.
Samsung recently made the Gear S3 (and Gear S2, for that matter) compatible on iOS. So, if you're looking for a more traditional-looking alternative to the Apple Watch, you may have found your match.
Read the full review: Samsung Gear S3
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3. LG Watch Style
- This item is Bluetooth model & International Version. (**IT DOES NOT SUPPORT 2G, 3G, 4G LTE MOBILE NETWORKS**)
- Compatible smartphone : iOS 8.2 or Android 4.3 and above
- Storage : 4GB / RAM : 512 MB / OS : Android Wear 2.0 / Network : Wi-Fi & Bluetooth v4.2 LE
- Chipset : 1.1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 Processor / Battery : 240 mAh (Embedded) Battery
- Protection : IP67 Water & Dust Resistant / Sensors : Gyroscope, Accelerometer, ALS
The LG Watch Style (built in collaboration with Google) offers everything that's to love from the best Android Wear smartwatches, ditches the dreaded flat tire, then fills in the gap with cool, useful features and a whole lot of… style.
Roll that all up and you're left with an extremely alluring presentation that makes a mighty strong argument for Google's wearable platform. But there are some familiar wrinkles here.
Battery life is still a low point, and, as independent as Android Wear 2.0 claims to be, Google is still in the early days of filling the new Play Store with compatible apps that are enticing enough to bother with aside from its own. The Style's appeal lies more in what it will be soon, rather than what it is at launch.
That said, it’s easy to express why the Style is the only smartwatch we want to put on our wrists. For $249 (£249 / AU$325, but not confirmed for AU), it offers just as much utility as prior smartwatch attempts, but ups the ante with a slim, dashing design and several welcome features, like the voice-activated Google Assistant and a refreshed user interface that's full of clever tweaks.
Read the full review: LG Watch Style
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4. LG Watch Sport
Google's Android phone on your wrist
- LG W280A unlocked GSM. 4G-LTE Bands 2, 4, and 5 3G - UMTS 850/1900MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900MHz
- 430mAh battery. Android wear 2.0.
- Qualcomm® Snapdragon® Wear 2100
- Display size (inches) 1.38-inch POLED with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3. Resolution (pixels) 480 x 480.
LG Watch Sport is the smartwatch to beat right now simply because it's a full-featured fitness tracker wrapped in a smartwatch running Android Wear 2.0. While other smartwatches can do "fitness tracking" that just amounts to logging runs and calories burned, this watch tracks your all-important strength training, too.
It's also one of the few smartwatches that supports an LTE connection, meaning, if you pop a SIM card into the back of the watch, it can make and receive calls and data – without your smartwatch nearby.
It doesn't have the best battery life, despite its bigger-than-normal size, and apps are still being announced for Google's newly refreshed platform. But it's a proper step up for Android Wear and smartwatches in general.
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5. Asus ZenWatch 3
- 1.39" AMOLED Display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with stainless steel and diamond-cut bezel
- Customizable multiple button design to increase productivity. Built-in Wi-Fi extends the range and connectivity with your phone
- IP67 Water Resistance protects against water immersion up to 1 meter
- ASUS-exclusive HyperCharge technology that provides industry-leading charge times - just 15 minutes to a 60% charge
- Latest Android OS-Smart Gesture control to scroll through apps, pages and built-in Speaker to conduct calls, hear voice messages, notifications
If you’re in the market for an Android Wear smartwatch, the Asus ZenWatch 3 should be near the top of your list. It has a great display, useful hardware buttons and good battery life. And although it has been slow to adopt Android Wear 2.0, the long-awaited update is finally available.
It’s styling might not be for everyone, and it's lacking in a few sensors, but Asus did a commendable job designing a watch that looks more like a premium watch than a piece of lifeless technology.
Read the full review: Asus ZenWatch 3
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6. Huawei Watch 2
- Built-in GPS and continuous heart rate: monitor your heart rate and track your workout routes without your phone. Your watch can only be paired using the Android Wear app. It cannot be paired using your phone's Bluetooth settings. You can download the Android Wear app from Google Play or App Store.
- Workout Coach: get real-time guidance and workout data such as recovery time and Vo2 Max. Note: Ensure that the SIM card is clean and dry, and that it is properly inserted. Otherwise, the watch performance may be affected.Your watch only supports standard nano-SIM cards.
- Music without phone: download and listen to music offline during workout and free Google play music 10-week subscription
- NFC and Google assistant: make payments and have a personal voice assistant from your wrist
- Long battery life: optimized power consumption settings to get the most out of your Device
Not quite the successor that we imagined that it would be, the Huawei Watch 2 appeals to a sporty crowd that values function over form. And in terms of functions, this smartwatch is filled with them. GPS, NFC, even 4G connectivity is available in some regions.
For all its perks, we wish that the Huawei Watch 2 stuck with a premium design. The bulky, mostly plastic build doesn't fare well against the tougher competition. Also a downside is that its screen is smaller in this iteration, but on the plus side, it has gained the spiffy Android Wear 2.0 software.
Read the full review: Huawei Watch 2
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7. Moto 360 (2nd Gen)
- All healthy relationships need space. Including the one with your phone. That’s why there’s the new Moto 360. It streamlines your mobile life by delivering the information that matters to you, giving you more time to do the things you love. With designs made specifically for men or women, it’s easy to find the color, size, and style that fits you best. Because you deserve choice when it comes to what you wear on your wrist.
- Updates, not interruptions: Stay connected and up to date by getting messages, news, weather, and more without constantly having to check your phone.
- Men’s and women’s collections: Choose from modern designs made specifically for men or women, each one precision-crafted and built to last.
- Classic round design: With edge-to-edge glass and an exceptionally thin bezel, you see more all the way around.
- Quick-release bands for Moto 360 (2nd Gen) are designed to be swapped in seconds
- Moto Body fitness tracker: Keep fit by tracking your steps, calories, and heart rate right from your wrist.
The second generation Moto 360 certainly gets our vote as the best smartwatch when it comes to look. Plus, it's also one of the most comfortable wearables around.
The new size options give the Moto 360 the extra reach it needed the first time around. That, and the new-found comfortable fit (along with the added customization to the design), brings it all together as one of the best smartwatches of 2016, and still a strong option in 2017.
Read the full review: Moto 360
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8. Apple Watch
- Activity and Heart Rate Monitoring Changeable Faces with Widgets
- Siri Integration Displays Notifications and Runs Apps
- Taptic Alerts Apple Pay; S1P dual-core processor; Splash resistant
- Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Apple watchOS 3; up to 18 hours battery time
- Work with iPhone 5 or later, not compatible with Android phone
Once you get past the high price, this is a genuinely useful thing to have around at times. Being able to check when you've got a message, or see who's calling and be able to make snap decisions, feels like the future, especially when you're exercising or in another situation where grabbing your phone isn't practical.
The new enhancements from Apple's watchOS 3 really do help this smartwatch leap forward, even if the hardware is over a year old. It's now faster, more usable and comes with watch faces that make it feel more personal.
And as more app developers use the new tools, there will be loads more to come too.
Plus, with the Apple Watch 2 now out it's not quite as expensive as it once was.
Read the full review: Apple Watch
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9. Huawei Watch
- 1.4" full circle AMOLED display with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal and stainless steel body
- Compatible with most devices with an iOS 8.2 or Android 4.3 or later operating system
- Get notifications and alerts for calls, texts, and apps with over 4000 Android Wear apps to choose from
- A variety of pre-installed watch faces and easily swappable bands for your own unique style
- Accurate fitness tracking with enhanced heart rate monitor and sensors to track running, walking, and more
The Huawei Watch is not perfect, with iffy battery life watering down the gorgeous presentation. The impending update to Android Wear 2.0 should hopefully help to improve that.
But that shouldn't stop you, as its once-high price is rapidly dropping and overall, it's a near seamless blend of fashion and technology that edges closer to earning the 'smartwatch I'd actually wear' title.
Read the full review: Huawei Watch
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10. Samsung Gear S2
- Function meets style with elegant curves and premium finishes
- Intuitive circular interface and rotating bezel for easy navigation
- Connectivity - Wi-Fi : 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHZ, Bluetooth : Bluetooth v4.1, Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP
- Access to important notifications, texts, and updates at a glance
- Compatible with most Android Devices, Wireless charging dock included. It doesn't have speakers, hence use Level U bluetooth headphones to hear music
Although it's outpaced by the Samsung Gear S3, the S2 is still a solid choice for those looking to enter the world of smartwatches on the cheap.
From a value perspective, there's a lot to love here, with only the lousy app selection being forgettable.
From a value perspective, there's a lot to love here, with only the lousy app selection being forgettable.
For a smartwatch that's compatible on both Android and iOS, you can't do much better for the price than Samsung's last-gen model.
The best smartwatches of 2017
