The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. I’ve tested models from Tag Heuer, Citizen, Montblanc, and many other fashion brands, but most of them are simply too expensive for what you get. Here are a few options I like.
Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro for $350: A smartwatch’s design is important. You have to enjoy wearing it! Unfortunately, I feel absolutely nothing with Mobvoi’s latest watch; the Enduro is just plain boring. That’s a shame, because it’s a solid Wear OS watch that’s snappy and can deliver a whopping four days of battery life on a single charge thanks to the company’s clever dual-display technology (it uses a low-power panel for the always-on screen, and an OLED for when you start interacting with it). The other problem? This watch runs Wear OS 3.5, whereas the latest version is Wear OS 4. Mobvoi has a spotty track record in issuing updates to its devices in a timely fashion, and I don’t expect that to change here.
Apple Watch Series 8 for $352: If you can find the 2022 Apple Watch Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for a good deal less than the Series 9 (under $300), you should snag it. It’s nearly identical to the latest model, especially the health features. Save your cash!
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 for $270 and Watch5 Pro for $264: The 2022 Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are still great, just make sure you pay less than the price of the new Galaxy Watch6 models. They match the Apple Watch’s accuracy in several health and fitness metrics, from SpO2, sleep, and heart-rate tracking to electrocardiogram measurements (though the latter is exclusive to Samsung phones). The Watch5 Pro is larger and has a battery that lasts roughly two full days, whereas the Watch5 lasts around a day and a morning. The Pro also adds GPX, meaning you can download hiking routes to the watch. They have sapphire crystals protecting the screen, but the Watch5 Pro’s crystal is even more durable, and it has a stronger titanium case versus the standard Watch5’s aluminum.
Casio G-Shock Move DW-H5600 for $299: Want a G-Shock with a heart rate monitor? The DW-H5600’s measurements lined up well with the Apple Watch, but if you’re serious about tracking your health, I think you’re better off buying something from our Best Fitness Trackers guide. The DW-H5600’s buttons are a bit tough to press, and there aren’t a ton of workouts you can track (running, walking, gym workouts). You can sift through a good amount of data in the app, though I was left wanting more, and battery life lasted me roughly three days with continuous monitoring. It can recharge via solar, but you will need to use the bulky charging clip every few days. I still enjoyed wearing it, even if I didn’t find it as useful as our above picks. You can use it to track different time zones, your movements via the GPS during a workout, and even sleep.
