Best SmartWatch for 2016
Apple Watch, Android Wear smartwatches and Pebble top the list
The smartwatch is the mother of all smartphone accessories. It can tell the time, of course, but it can also beam important notifications straight to your wrist, and run native apps. What's more impressive is that many of today's best models can also perform a ton of novel tricks, such as enabling you to search the internet with your voice, tracking your exercise over GPS, and letting you check-out at the grocery store without reaching for your wallet.
Oh yeah – and lots of them look absolutely stunning to boot.
- Feeling active? Check out our Best Fitness Trackers
For some time, jumping into the world of smartwatches was a risky move. But now, with competent efforts put forward from Google with Android Wear, Apple with watchOS, and more, there's never been a better time to strap up with wearable technology.
Recently the smartwatch market has been pretty quiet when it comes to new releases. Manufacturers have dialed back the pace of production, but that's not to say there's nothing on the horizon. Samsung is hotly tipped to launch the Gear S3 at IFA 2016 at the start of September, so we could have a new contender for our top list very soon.
Choosing the smartwatch that's right for you isn't easy, but we hope to make the exciting process of getting paired up with your next (or first!) smartwatch as simple as possible.
- Looking for something running Google's OS? Here's our best Android Wear smartwatch round-up
1. Samsung Gear S2
Samsung is finally a real smartwatch contender
OS: Tizen OS | Compatibility: Android | Display: 1.2" 360 x 360 Super AMOLED |Processor: Dual-core 1.0GHz | Band sizes: S (105 x 65mm) L (130 x 70mm) |Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery duration: 1.5 days | Charging method:Wireless | IP rating: IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
The Samsung Gear S2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market. It really feels like a step forward in smartwatch design. Plus, its rotating bezel and Tizen OS are genuinely useful innovations.
The Super AMOLED screen on the Samsung Gear S2 is also a real standout feature, it's incredibly sharp, vibrant, and fully circular. It's the sharpest screen available on a smartwatch, equal to the Apple Watch's 302ppi.
This is definitely worth considering over similarly priced Android Wear devices.
Read the full review: Samsung Gear S2
2. Apple Watch
The iPhone-tailored smartwatch is expensive, but convenient
OS: watchOS 2 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.53" OLED | Processor: S1 System-in-Package (SiP) | Band sizes: Varies drastically per style | Onboard storage: 8GB (only 2GB and 75MB allowed for music and photos, respectively) |Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IPX7 | Connectivity:Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
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 watchOS 2 really do help this smartwatch leap forward. It's 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.
Read the full review: Apple Watch
3. Moto 360
Moto's latest smartwatch is a thing of beauty
OS: Android Wear | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.37" or 1.56" LCD |Processor: Quad-core 1.2GHz | Case dimensions: 42mm or 46mm diameter, each 11.4mm thick | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery: 1.5-2 days depending on size | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: IP67 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The new Moto 360 certainly gets our vote as the best-looking smartwatch that came out in 2015. 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.
Read the full review: Moto 360
4. Sony SmartWatch 3
A powerful, affordable and well-equipped wearable
OS: Android Wear | Compatibility: Android | Display: 1.6" LCD | Processor:Quad-core 1.2GHz | Case dimensions: 36mm diameter, 10mm thick | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery: 2 days | Charging method: via microUSB | IP rating:IP68 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS
The Sony SmartWatch 3 stands out from much of the competition with its impressive performance, a good screen and solid battery life, not to mention the inclusion of GPS, which makes it a better fitness accessory than most smartwatches, despite an imperfect implementation.
This wearable just about nails the tricky blend of being a smartwatch with competent fitness tracking capabilities.
Read the full review: Sony Smartwatch 3
5. Huawei Watch
Huawei's wearable debut makes a striking entrance
OS: Android Wear | Compatibility: Android, iOS | Display: 1.4" AMOLED |Processor: Quad-core 1.2GHz | Case dimensions: 42mm diameter, 11.3mm thick | Onboard storage: 4GB | Battery: 2 days | Charging method: Wireless |IP rating: IP67 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The Huawei Watch is not perfect, with iffy battery life and a high price tag watering down the gorgeous presentation. But it's a near seamless blend of fashion and technology, and edges closer to earning the 'smartwatch I'd actually wear' title.
Read the full review: Huawei Watch
