Once upon a time, watches were merely timekeepers, faithful to their role as chronometers. But today, in the era of smart technology, the best smartwatches have evolved to become much more than just accessories. They have become our health companions, personal assistants, and windows into a constantly evolving digital world. Here’s our comparison of trendy smartwatches available on the market. So, strap on your bracelet and dive into the fascinating world of smartwatches! 🕰️🌟
Comparison and Best Smartwatches of the Moment
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: The Best Smartwatch Right Now
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic stands out as the ultimate reference in smartwatches. With Bluetooth and 4G connectivity, it offers exceptional versatility. Its easy setup with non-Samsung Android phones is a true advantage, highlighting its universal compatibility.
Customizing the watch face and changing the strap are simple and quick. With the Samsung Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health apps, the user experience is complete and intuitive. This watch embodies the perfect balance between advanced features and ease of use.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is the ideal choice for those seeking a smartwatch that is both high-performing and user-friendly. Its optimized integration with Samsung smartphones and versatility make it an essential accessory for modern users.
2. Garmin Venu 3: The Watch for Tracking Fitness and Health
The Garmin Venu 3 is a smartwatch designed to track your fitness and health. Available in two sizes, 45 mm and 41 mm, it offers an elegant design with high-quality materials, including stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer. With a 1.4-inch AMOLED display and Always-On Display function, it integrates health technologies such as heart rate and SpO2 monitoring.
In terms of smart features, the Garmin Venu 3 offers intuitive navigation with customizable widgets and shortcuts for daily convenience. You can receive and view notifications, manage brightness, and even respond to messages using the integrated voice assistant. Additionally, you can customize the watch faces and menus to your preferences.
The watch also provides comprehensive health tracking, including daily activity, sleep, and stress monitoring. The sleep coach provides personalized recommendations to improve your rest. Moreover, you can access advanced features such as continuous heart rate monitoring and respiratory health tracking.
In conclusion, the Garmin Venu 3 is a versatile watch that perfectly combines smart features, health tracking, and sports performance. Although its price might be a drawback for some, its build quality, elegant design, and wide range of features make it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-end smartwatch for daily fitness and health tracking.
3. Apple Watch Ultra: A Watch for Adventure and Everyday Use
The Apple Watch Ultra offers a revolutionary new design, breaking away from previous models since 2015. Presented in a unique box, this watch features a titanium case and an alpine orange strap, offering a distinctive aesthetic. The user manual highlights the three available straps and emphasizes the robust digital crown, while the flat and bright display reveals a sleek and modern design.
With a braided cable charging puck and a 36-hour battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra offers an optimal user experience. Its new orange action button, configurable for different functions, showcases its functional and innovative aspect. The Track Back feature, using dual-frequency GPS, allows you to easily find your way back, enhancing its utility for sports and adventure activities.
Despite its higher price compared to previous models, the Apple Watch Ultra offers excellent value for money with its advanced features and refined design. With a durable battery and increased resistance, it positions itself as an ideal choice for adventure and technology enthusiasts. Combining style and performance, the Apple Watch Ultra is a must-have for those seeking a versatile watch for everyday use and extreme activities.
4. Garmin Venu 2: The Most Lifestyle Sport Watch
The Garmin Venu 2, Garmin’s new lifestyle sport watch, is a true innovation for connected athletes. With its two versions, the Venu 2 and the Venu 2S, this watch offers a multitude of interesting features. With an AMOLED display, it offers a sleek and bright look, perfect for indoor sports sessions. The size differences between the two versions affect the screen and battery life, but the rest of the features remain identical.
The Venu 2 features a responsive and customizable touch screen, accompanied by buttons for intuitive navigation. With its high resolution and AMOLED technology, the display of graphs is clear and crisp. Additionally, its advanced sensors, including GPS, optical heart rate monitor, and pulse oximeter, provide remarkable accuracy for daily and sports activity tracking. The quick charge is also an advantage for those who forget to charge their watch.
In terms of sports features, the Venu 2 offers a variety of sports profiles, including new ones like high-intensity interval training. Users can customize their screens and program workouts, with animations guiding strength or yoga exercises. The GPS accuracy is comparable to high-end watches, while the optical heart rate monitor stands out for its exceptional accuracy.
In conclusion, the Garmin Venu 2 offers the perfect balance between a smartwatch and a sports watch. With its sleek design, advanced features, and accuracy, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities, appealing to casual athletes seeking to combine style and performance.
5. Apple Watch Series 9: The Best Apple Watch Right Now
The Apple Watch Series 9 is now available alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 2, offering a few small innovations that do not revolutionize the experience. With a new faster processor, an improved double-tap function, and a screen twice as bright, this watch remains true to the lineage of its predecessors. The Series 9 is also carbon-neutral, in line with Apple’s efforts for more eco-friendly production.
The S9 chip of the Apple Watch Series 9 offers a significant performance increase, allowing for smoother navigation and faster interactions. The double-tap function now allows you to confirm or cancel actions, offering greater versatility in using the watch. Additionally, the Series 9’s carbon neutrality reflects Apple’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
While the Series 9 brings appreciable improvements, particularly in terms of performance and ecological impact, it does not necessarily justify an upgrade for owners of previous-generation Apple Watches. With the Apple Watch X potentially scheduled for next year, those who can wait might benefit from a more significant revolution in design and features. In the meantime, the Apple Watch Series 9 remains a solid option for those seeking a reliable and environmentally responsible smartwatch.
Best Value for Money Smartwatches
1. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: Best Smartwatch with Great Value for Money
The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro offers an imposing and elegant design, with a choice of leather or silicone straps. Its brushed aluminum metal bezel gives it a sophisticated look, while its 1.43-inch AMOLED display provides a brilliant 600-nit brightness and near-HD resolution of 466 by 466 pixels.
With a Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage, the Watch 2 Pro offers a smooth experience under Google Wear OS. With features like call handling, sleep analysis, heart rate monitoring, and over 150 sports modes, this smartwatch meets the varied needs of users.
With a battery life of up to 65 hours in Bluetooth mode and fast charging in 40 to 45 minutes, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro offers great value for money with advanced features and a premium design, making it an attractive choice in the smartwatch market.
2. Garmin Venu SQ 2: A Lightweight, Square Design
The Garmin Venu SQ 2 features a lightweight, square design, ideal for fitness enthusiasts and daily tracking. With a slim case measuring 37 mm wide and 40 mm high, it offers appreciable freedom of movement while remaining discreet on the wrist. Its 320 by 360-pixel AMOLED touchscreen allows for smooth and intuitive navigation, with customizable widgets and shortcuts for quick access to features.
With Garmin’s latest sensors, the Venu SQ 2 ensures precise tracking of daily and sports activities. Thanks to its built-in GPS chip, it measures speed, pace, and distance during outdoor activities, while its daily activity tracking provides detailed metrics on steps, sleep quality, and recovery.
With a battery life of 26 hours in GPS mode and up to 10 days in smartwatch mode, the Garmin Venu SQ 2 is a reliable companion for athletes and health enthusiasts. Its integration with Garmin Connect offers access to a wide range of features and statistics to maximize performance and well-being daily.
3. Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Titanium: Luxury and Sports Activities at Your Fingertips
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Titanium offers a luxurious and practical experience for sports enthusiasts. With noble materials and high-end finishes, this smartwatch is both elegant and robust. Available in two versions, ceramic and titanium, it perfectly combines sporty and urban elements, offering an attractive and functional design. With a smooth touchscreen and intuitive dial, it provides numerous features for health and physical activity tracking.
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Titanium stands out for its sophisticated design and remarkable build quality. Featuring a plethora of sports features, it ensures accurate health tracking thanks to its advanced sensors and dedicated app. Furthermore, its compatibility with both iOS and Android smartphones makes it a versatile and practical accessory for all users. With an impressive battery life and extensive customization options, it caters to the needs of the most demanding smartwatch users.
The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Titanium provides a premium experience, blending style and functionality. With its elegant design, high-quality materials, and numerous advanced features, it is an ideal choice for those seeking a luxurious and high-performing watch. Whether for sports or daily life, this smartwatch will satisfy the most discerning users by offering a complete and refined experience.
4. Garmin Venu SQ 2 Music: A Health and Fitness Smartwatch
The Garmin Venu SQ 2 Music is a smartwatch focused on health and fitness. Featuring a 1.4-inch AMOLED color display with Gorilla Glass 3, it offers a clear and durable display. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and built-in GPS connectivity, it allows you to receive notifications, respond to messages and calls, and accurately track physical activities. Available in Peach Gold with an Ivory band, it offers an elegant and comfortable design for everyday use.
For health tracking, the Garmin Venu SQ 2 provides comprehensive features, including menstrual cycle tracking for women, with the ability to monitor flow intensity, symptoms, and mood. The battery life is also a strong point, with up to 11 days of use depending on the features utilized. Sleep tracking is precise and detailed, allowing you to monitor different sleep phases and nightly habits, offering a complete overview of sleep quality.
Despite its numerous advantages, the Garmin Venu SQ 2 has some drawbacks, such as a curved screen that makes applying screen protectors difficult and a weak vibration that can make notifications less noticeable. However, with its affordable price, build quality, and overall performance, it deserves a rating of 8.4 out of 10. In conclusion, the Garmin Venu SQ 2 Music is a versatile and high-performing smartwatch, ideal for those seeking a reliable companion for daily health and fitness tracking.
5. Garmin Venu 2S: The Most Compact Garmin Venu
The Garmin Venu 2S is presented as the most compact version of the Venu series, a smartwatch we previously reviewed. This test aims to clarify the differences between the Venu 2 and the Venu 2S models, despite their similarities, ensuring the same precision and functionality. Priced at 399 euros, this watch targets sports enthusiasts looking for a versatile option.
Regarding design, the Garmin Venu 2S adopts a smaller format with a 40 mm diameter, perfect for slimmer wrists. Its 1.1-inch AMOLED display offers a 360 by 360-pixel resolution, and its technical features are similar to those of the Venu 2, including 5 ATM water resistance and a precise optical heart rate monitor.
Smart features are also present, with customizable watch faces and widgets. Notifications, including SMS and calls, are supported, though the quick reply function for SMS is limited to Android phones. Additionally, the watch allows you to store and play music via apps like Spotify, offering a battery life of about a week with normal use.
Useful Smartwatches of the Hour
1. Huawei Watch Fit 2: Slim, Chic, Sporty, and Versatile
The Huawei Watch Fit 2 presents itself as a slim, chic, sporty, and versatile smartwatch, ideal for those looking for a stylish design under 150 euros. With its rectangular format and various editions, it adapts to different styles and wrist sizes. Featuring a 1.74-inch AMOLED display and an aluminum case, it offers an elegant and modern design, available with silicone, leather, or metal straps according to preferences.
In terms of technical features, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 offers classic functionalities such as 5 ATM water resistance, Android and iOS compatibility, a heart rate sensor with SpO2 measurement, a microphone, a speaker for answering calls, and built-in GPS. Its interface is intuitive, allowing easy navigation and customization of watch faces and notifications through the dedicated app.
For health and sports, the watch provides comprehensive tracking with features such as physical activity monitoring, sleep, stress, heart rate, and even workout programs. Although accuracy can sometimes be improved, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 remains an interesting option for those looking for a versatile smartwatch at an affordable price, offering good value for money in its category.
2. Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4: Versatile and Waterproof Smartwatch
Launched in early 2024, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4 offers a versatile and waterproof experience for users immersed in the new connected world. With a larger screen, a stainless steel rotating crown for easier navigation, and a case available in two colors, the watch offers an attractive and durable design. Featuring a simplified attachment system and water resistance up to 5 ATM, it combines style and practicality for daily use.
The 1.97-inch AMOLED display provides a maximum brightness of 600 nits, sufficient for most uses. With an ambient light sensor and always-on display mode, visibility automatically adjusts to the environment. Although impact and scratch resistance is not explicitly mentioned, the watch offers a satisfactory visual experience for users.
Powered by Xiaomi’s HyperOS interface, the Redmi Watch 4 offers smooth navigation and extensive customization through a wide selection of downloadable watch faces. With improved health tracking features, extended battery life up to 15 days, and compatibility with over 150 sports activities, the watch positions itself as an attractive compromise between connected bracelets and high-end watches, offering an affordable option for those seeking precise health and activity tracking.
3. Huawei Watch Fit: The Ambitious Smartwatch
The Huawei Watch Fit is an affordable smartwatch offering excellent value for money. With its large touch screen, long battery life, and numerous features dedicated to sports tracking, it rivals much more expensive watches. Its lightweight and comfortable design makes it an ideal companion for daily and sports activities.
The design of the Huawei Watch Fit is modern and interchangeable with straps available in different colors. While its plastic case may seem less premium than metal, it contributes to its lightness and comfort. Its large 1.4-inch touch screen offers ample space to display various functions, and its navigation interface is intuitive.
The Huawei Watch Fit provides comprehensive health tracking, including heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen level monitoring. It also offers a wide range of sports modes and exercises, as well as personalized training programs. With a battery life of about a week, it suits both casual users and regular athletes.
4. Huami Amazfit GTR 3: The Most Autonomous Smartwatch
The Huami Amazfit GTR 3 presents itself as the most autonomous smartwatch on the market. With its elegant design and advanced features, this watch offers a complete experience. Featuring Alexa functionality, it allows convenient control of various devices, adding a touch of modernity to your daily life. Additionally, its refined finish and numerous health tracking features make it an ideal companion for an active life.
The 1.39-inch AMOLED touch screen offers excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, while the optimized operating system ensures a smooth and responsive experience. With over 150 built-in sports modes, including automatic activity detection, this watch is perfectly suited to the needs of sports enthusiasts. Moreover, its precise GPS and advanced sensors guarantee accurate performance tracking.
Despite its many qualities, the GTR 3 has some shortcomings. Notably, the inability to answer calls or view notifications with app logos can be frustrating for some users. Additionally, at a price of 159 euros, some might find these limitations disappointing. Nevertheless, with an exceptional battery life of up to six days, the GTR 3 remains an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and autonomous smartwatch.
5. Honor Watch 4: The Sports Watch with Bluetooth Call
The Honor Watch 4 is a sports watch with Bluetooth call functionality, offering a complete experience for users. Despite its similarity to the Redmi Watch 4 in terms of design and features, the Watch 4 offers unique characteristics such as internal memory for music storage and the ability to connect headphones to the watch.
With a compact 1.75-inch AMOLED display and a resolution of 450 x 390 pixels, the Watch 4 offers exceptional display quality. Its Magic OS 7.2 operating system ensures a smooth and fast interface, allowing users to easily navigate through various features.
However, despite its advantages, the Watch 4 has some issues, including difficulties connecting headphones for music listening and occasionally unreliable heart rate readings. Additionally, its built-in GPS seems inaccurate, recording distances even when the watch is stationary. Despite these challenges, the Watch 4 offers a compact design, high-quality display, advanced features, and extended battery life, making it an interesting option for sports enthusiasts.
Expert Opinion
Most modern smartwatches are compatible with both operating systems (Android or iOS). However, be sure to check the specific compatibility of the watch you plan to buy.
The choice depends on your personal needs. If you’re looking for advanced features like ECG or fall detection, opt for an Apple Watch. If you prefer longer battery life, Garmin and Amazfit watches are excellent options.