Introduction
The top 21 smartwatches in 2022 – Something all decent smartwatches have in common is their ability to do tricks. They can search the web by voice command, use GPS to track your location and monitor your health and fitness using various clever built-in sensors.
The chances are you have a modern smartphone. You’ll need one to pair a smartwatch with, but some of the more advanced ones do have the ability to function without being connected. Which is nice for your own freedom.
We’ve listed the top 21 smartwatches out there. We’ve thought about the features, design, specifications and price.
So, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
- 2. Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra
- 3. Fitbit Versa 4
- 4. Garmin Fenix 7
- 5. Mi Band 7 and Smart Band 7 Pro
- 6. Apple Watch SE 2
- 7. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- 8. Fitbit Sense 2
- 9. Garmin Venu 2 and 2 Plus
- 10. TicWatch E3
- 11. Honor Magic Watch 2
- 12. TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE
- 13. Breitling Exospace B55 Connected
- 14. Suunto 7
- 15. Suunto 9 Peak
- 16. Garmin Enduro 2
- 17. Montblanc Watch Summit 2+ Black Steel Smartwatch
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
When considering the top 21 smartwatches, we thought we’d start with the second most popular worldwide in 2022 (of course, the Apple Watch remains top).
This watch runs on Wear OS and is compatible with Android only at the moment. The 4 comes with a 1.2 inch or 1.4 inch 450 x 450 pixel display (like the previous gen 4), lit by AMOLED. 16GB of built-in storage, wireless charging and can go up 2-4 days between charges depending on the model. This new Galaxy watch also offers Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the brand’s biggest achievement to date. It follows from the 2021 Galaxy Watch 4 but split into two different variations – the new refined Watch 4 and the Classic which kept most of the original design features, with additional refinements.
The classic model watch has a rotating bezel, making navigation easy. It’s much easier than a lot of alternatives that require you to tap the display.
The apps you can use are more advanced because of the use of WearOS. It has some decent software features. Fitness and sports tracking work well among other things. Some very nice health features such as blood pressure are a plus.
If you’re an iPhone user, the watch is not compatible. Keep reading and pay attention to the Apple Watch next in this selection of the top 21 smartwatches.
The Galaxy Watch 4, is, overall, a great all-rounder. If you need a smartwatch that will monitor your health and fitness as well as deliver smart features to your wrist, this is a great shout.
Check out our review of the best Samsung Galaxy apps to use on your watch.
| Product | Supplier | |
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Amazon | Check Price |
| Galaxy Watch 5 | eBay | Check Price |
| Watch 4 Classic | eBay | Check Price |
| Galaxy Watch 4 | Target | Check Price |
2. Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra
The Apple Watch Series 8 is a direct competitor with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. In 2021 the Apple Watch Series 7 got some serious upgrades that users have really loved. For starters, it’s offering 33% faster charging making it more convenient than ever. The Apple Watch 8 is strong, faster and better, specifically because it also features car crash detection and a skin temperature sensor which is really helpful for monitoring female health.
And with a beautiful AMOLED screen, Apple watch wearers can enjoy a screen that is over 50% larger than the Apple Watch Series 3-6. This is because the borders were redesigned to be 40% less. This isn’t the only display feature that was changed. The Always-On display with a brighter screen makes for easy viewing at any time.
Built with their strongest crystal ever this watch is crack resistant, dust resistant (IPX6 Certification), and water resistant (WR50). And with five brand new aluminum colors, it is stylish for everyone.
Added health features are really what everyone is raving about. Being able to take an ECG at any time and measure your blood oxygen levels are just a few of the benefits. And with tons of fitness workouts and tracking tools, motivation comes easier than ever.
The Apple Watch Ultra adds that extra ruggedness (at 49mm
) and titanium quality. It also features a fast action button and a couple more sensors for water temperatures and diving depth.
3. Fitbit Versa 4
This runs on the Fitbit OS and is compatible with both iOS and Android. A 336 x 336 pixel AMOLED display. The Fitbit Versa 4 has 4GB onboard storage and a battery life of up to six or more days. It has a proprietary charger. This watch is water-resistant to 5m. It offers Wi-fi, Bluetooth connectivity as well as contactless payments.
The Fitbit Versa 4 is the most recent offering from Fitbit. The brand itself is one of the most famous for fitness trackers. This is a great watch. For those interested more in health features – it’s worth also taking a look at the Fitbit Sense 2.
The Versa 4 has a lot of upgrades on the original release, including Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.
Read more: Fitbit Versa 4 vs Versa 3
Read our Fitbit Versa 2 and Fitbit Versa 3 comparison here
4. Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin has made some super releases in 2022 and one of the most talked about smartwatches out there is the Garmin Fenix 7. The watch itself starts at $699 and you can see that price jump close to $1000 if you choose to get the Sapphire edition of the watch.
Their claim to fame is definitely their serious navigation benefits. With multi-GNSS support you will find yourself with the most accurate GPS location. And of course whether you are a skier, a golfer, or hiker, maps from these trails and courses can be pulled up right on your wrist.
Something users also loved was that it was touchscreen compatible and that it was tested for military use. This means that you don’t need to worry about the crystal glass breaking anytime soon or think about dings and scratches. The watch was built for those who are active.
There is also a crazy amount of health metrics like the Pulse OX Monitor, body battery energy monitoring, women’s health tracking, and so much more!
This watch was made for anyone that loves to be active and have a go hard or go home style.
5. Mi Band 7 and Smart Band 7 Pro
The Mi Band is probably the most popular smartwatch available. It comes in two variations – the Band style and Smartwatch style. Both are indeed very good watches with lots of features only found on much more expensive models.
The Mi Band 7 touchscreen display itself a 1.62inch AMOLED display and a resolution of 192 by 490 pixels. The Pro has a 1.64″ AMOLED display and a resolution of 280 by 456 pixels.
The Mi Band boasts a 9-14-day battery life.
It offers 120 exercise modes, including outdoor running and cycling, swimming and even cricket! As well as health functions like heart rate monitoring, step counting, Sp02 monitoring and sleep tracking.
Some smart lifestyle elements, such as notification management, weather reporting, and camera controls, are also available.
The Mi Band 7 is the standard budget fitness tracker and is one of the most popular bands. Don’t expect all the bells and whistles of the Apple Watch 8, but do expect usefulness and reliability.
| Product | Supplier |
| Mi Band 7 | AliExpress |
| Mi Band 7 | eBay |
| Mi Band 7 Pro | Amazon |
| Mi Band 7 | Amazon |
6. Apple Watch SE 2
Running on WatchOS with iOS only compatibility. It comes in both 40mm and 44mm variations with a bright OLED display. A minimum of 32GB onboard storage and the battery will last up to 18 hours. Wireless charging and water-resistance to 50m. The Apple Watch SE 2 connects via Wi-fi and Bluetooth and offers contactless payments.
The SE 2 doesn’t come with an ECG or Sp02 reading like the Series 6,7,8. It’ll keep an eye on your heart and tell you if there are any irregularities, though. This could be potentially life-saving in the long run.
There is a plethora of health and fitness features and you can use most of your favorite apps. The only drawback is that it can’t be used with Android smartphones.
Check out our review of the Apple Watch SE here
| Product 40/44mm | Supplier | |
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Amazon | View offer |
| Apple Watch SE | eBay | View offer |
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Apple | View offer |
| Apple Watch SE | Target | View offer |
7. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
This watch runs on Tizen OS and is compatible with both iOS and Android. It has a 1.2inch 360 x 360 pixel AMOLED display. It carries 4GB storage inside and the battery lasts about 2 full days. You charge it wirelessly and connectivity is via Bluetooth and Wi-fi. It offers 50m of water resistance.
Samsung shrunk down a lot of the coolest parts of the Galaxy Watch and made it sportier. It’s lighter, slimmer, and more comfortable. It also has a digital rotating bezel.
Not a whole bunch of changes have been made. That’s not a criticism. It is a really great watch for the price. It’s got a 1.2 inch 360 x 360-pixel display that’s really bold and bright. It’s quite a beautiful device to have on your wrist.
It offers you all the higher-end fitness features you’d want from a Samsung watch. It has 39 sports modes, ECG and heart rate monitor. You can use the accompanying app for sleep and stress monitoring, too. You can use it to look over your blood pressure, but Samsung are yet to release the key to how.
It’s more cost-effective than an Apple Watch and the price has gone up a little over time to keep up with the competition. It’s not cheap but if you compare it to the Galaxy 3 you might prefer this version.
Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
8. Fitbit Sense 2
The Fitbit Sense is the latest offering from Fitbit, and it’s a whopper. It has all the latest tech packed inside so you’re able to track fitness like never before. The Sense comes with a temperature gauge (which is unique, even the Apple Watch 6 can’t do this), SP02 counter, heart rate monitor and stress management support.
Compare prices and choose your favorite supplier from this list:
| Product | Supplier | |||
| Fitbit Sense 2 | Amazon | View offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense 2 | eBay | View offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense 2 | Fitbit | View offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense | Target | View offer |
The battery is a winner; you’ll get up to 6 days so unlike either the Apple or Samsung offerings, you don’t need to worry about charging it every day.
What’s generous is the 6 months of free Fitbit Premium that comes with the watch, so you can enjoy all the advanced features like guided meditations and more in-depth data for a while before you decide to pay for it. Fitbit is reportedly testing blood pressure monitoring with the Fitbit Sense.
9. Garmin Venu 2 and 2 Plus
The Garmin Venu 2 combines serious exercise features with a full suite of smartwatch features for everyday usage.
In comparison to the original, it has a similar design. In fact, it resembles the original Garmin Venu in appearance, but it’s designed for both workouts and everyday use, which is a tough balance to strike.
Its beautiful, high-resolution AMOLED display is the real star, allowing you to see a big amount of data at once and showing a wealth of information on your training and overall health directly on your wrist. With careful design and execution, the Venu 2 is easily one of the better Garmin smartwatch devices to date.
10. TicWatch E3
With an upgraded system called the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100 things run smoother and faster than ever! The best part of it all is that it made have a better working system, but it’s conversing battery life now more than ever! In fact it has increased it’s battery life by 25% while also improving its memory storage by 85%.
It’s a sleek watch that offers a very stylish look. And because it was designed with the idea move it only weighs 32 grams making it feel as lightweight as it looks. And since everyone likes to express themselves differently you can choose from a variety of faces.
It’s sensors allow for advanced health tracking like keeping a close eye on your heart rate while working out with it’s 20-plus workout modes. It’s also going to monitor you while you are resting also.
It’s also going to keep constant track of the SP02 levels or your blood oxygen absorption. If you want to share this kind of data you can do so with your family so they know you’re doing alright.
This is a great affordable watch with a lot of benefits.
11. Honor Magic Watch 2
Runs on LiteOS and is compatible with both Android and iOS. Either 1.2 inch or 1.39 inch 454 by 454 pixel AMOLED display. 4GB of memory. An impressive 7-day battery life and water resistance. Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
If you’re an avid fitness enthusiast but you don’t want a full-on sports watch then the Honor Magic Watch 2 might be for you. It has a hybrid of fitness and smartwatch features.
It’ll give you detailed data and training advice for some activities. It’s perfect for beginners or those with a casual interest in fitness.
It lasts about a week or even two between charges depending on the version you pick. Some have reported disappointment with the lack of features. But it’s important to be realistic about the price and what you expect.
12. TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE
This Wear OS by Google Smartwatch has a claim to fame as one of the first Google watches with a real great connection to cellular. Getting full access to your texts, calls, or anything needed on the internet was a top priority when developing this watch.
It has 16gb of RAM processing and was meant to really offer a stylish and sleek look. And nothing says sleek then being able to pay with your watch and Google Pay anywhere you go.
It also has great benefits like Google Assistant which is a direct competitor to Apple’s Siri. Combine this with health metrics including an autostart when motion is detected and you get a topnotch option for a smartwatch. Of course, it has also retained it’s incredible 30-day battery life which is one of the most beloved features.
This watch is great for those who love Google and their system!
13. Breitling Exospace B55 Connected
Breitling has done amazing things in the premium watch industry by using technology. This black titanium beauty has all the characteristics that divers and aviation experts would appreciate.
Waterproof to 100 meters with full-timer marks for added peace of mind during a dive or flight. A perpetual calendar, countdown and up timers, up to seven alarms, and two timezones are all included.
When coupled with either an iOS or Android smartphone, the ‘connected’ word refers to Bluetooth, which gives this watch access to a slew of new functionalities. Notifications are sent in an unobtrusive manner. Customization is an option, too.
Read our full review of the B55 Connected.
14. Suunto 7
The Suunto 7 is one of the most popular models from the Finnish brand, Suunto, but it’s also a big deviation from its predecessors — the Suunto 7 was the first to operate on Google’s Wear OS, whereas the Suunto’s previous devices were all specialist running watches.
While many sports watches shout their intentions from ten paces away, they do, in a practical sense, function as a regular watch. Suunto, on the other hand, has created a watch that you’d be glad to wear every day and maintain on your wrist when jogging, swimming, cycling, or even skiing or horse riding, while still managing your calendar and alerts.
You can see from the product images that it’s a nice piece of gear. The touchscreen on this Wear OS watch is luxurious, huge, and bright, and though it was occasionally stubborn and sluggish, it wasn’t enough to be annoying. It does, however, put the battery to the test, so if you’re moderately active, using Google Pay, reading alerts, and going for a 10k, you’ll need to charge it every day and a half.
15. Suunto 9 Peak
Suunto has unveiled the Suunto 9 Peak, a new premium sports watch that is the brand’s smallest and lightest device yet.
Compact, lighter fitness watches have been increasingly popular in recent years (looking at the likes of Garmin and Polar).
The Suunto 9 Peak, which is over a third lighter and slimmer than its precursor, the Suunto 9 Baro, maintains this trend. Official dimensions have yet to be revealed, however, it should be around 10.6mm thick and weigh 51.8g, according to our calculations.
The improved materials used by Suunto, include more metal and less plastic than Polar’s watch, making it thinner but also heavier than the Ignite 2.
Here’s more on what we know about the Suunto 9 Peak so far.
16. Garmin Enduro 2
The Garmin Enduro 2 is potentially the best marathon companion out there. The screen on the Enduro 2 has a bigger screen than most other watches at 1.4″. The 51mm case and UltraFit nylon strap are unique to the Enduro. It’s also waterproof up to 100 meters.
The Enduro looks much like other Garmin watches. In actuality, the Enduro isn’t striving to be anything other than an endurance timepiece – it’s got everything you need for long-distance running (and then some). The screen is a convenient touchscreen display with transflective MIP display which for better visibility and long battery life.
As you might expect from the name, battery longevity is a big selling factor. While using continuous GPS, you can get between 70 and 80 hours, and with the solar model you can get up to 46 days. Because this is a solar-powered watch, it’s self-evident that you’ll need a lot of it and that it’ll take a lot of it
17. Montblanc Watch Summit 2+ Black Steel Smartwatch
The Summit 2+ is an eSIM-enabled smartwatch. Unfortunately, only Android smartphone users will be able to complete the necessary provisioning and to use LTE, you must be with a compatible cell provider. At launch, Vodafone is the sole supported network operator in the UK and Germany, while Verizon is the sole supported network provider in the US, Orange had exclusivity in France and Spain, and Montblanc has collaborated with Unicom in China.
If you meet the aforementioned requirements, you’ll be able to use the MontBlack Summit 2+ to make phone calls, answer messages, and even listen to music without having to carry your phone. The Summit 2+ offers all of the connection choices you’d expect from a wristwatch, including NFC, Bluetooth (4.2), and Wi-Fi, much like its precursor, the Summit 2.
It also has all of the required fitness monitoring equipment, including an optical heart rate monitor on the back and motion sensors and a compass on the inside.
It runs on Wear OS, which means it has all of the standard Wear OS features like Google Assistant and rich alerts, as well as a handful of unique Montblanc apps. Thanks to the new Qualcomm Wear 3100 chipset, they should all operate smoothly, and with 8GB of storage, you’ll have plenty of room for applications and playlists. To top it off, the Summit 2+ is IPX8 rated for water resistance, which means it can be immersed in water up to 1 meter deep, making it suitable for swimming.
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Last Updated on January 7, 2023
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