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We recommend 5 amazing military smartwatches that are built for adventure. Tough, resilient, and packed full of tactical features, they won't let you down!

When you want to feel confident that your watch will be able to manage no matter what life throws at it, then choosing a military style smartwatch may be the answer.

We’ve made it an easy choice with our top five best tactical smartwatch recommendations in 2021.

There's also an in-depth buyer's guide so you can be sure you know what you're getting.

Table of Contents

1

Our Recommended Tactical GPS Watches

OUR TOP PICK

Awesome Alternative

Budget Choice

Suunto Traverse Alpha

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro

2

Buyer's Guide: What You Need to Know

Military Standard 810

Gorilla Glass

Waterproof Rating

Global Satellite Navigation Systems

Stealth Mode

Night Vision Capabilities

Mapping

Waypoint Marking

Jumpmaster Mode

ABC Sensors

Kill Switch

Ballistics Software

Display

Screen Resolution

Activity Tracking

Battery Life

Contactless Payments

Our Recommended Tactical GPS Watches

In our opinion, these are the best tactical GPS watch choices of the bunch. There's our overall favorite, a great alternative, and the one that offers the best value for money.

You can read about all the details and our other recommendations too, in the following section.

OUR TOP PICK

Garmin Tactix Delta Solar with Ballistics

Built to military standards and enhanced with essential tactical features. Advanced mapping, ballistics software, and solar charging are just a few of the highlights here.

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Great Alternative

Garmin Instinct Solar Tactical

An incredibly tough tactical smartwatch that'll withstand whatever you throw at it. Complete with specialized tactical features like 'Stealth Mode', night vision compatibility, and waypoint markers

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Budget Choice

Amazfit T-Rex Pro Military

Another hard as nails smartwatch that's built to military standards of toughness. With health/wellness monitoring, powerful battery life, and amazing value at its core.

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OUR TOP PICK

Garmin Tactix Delta Solar with Ballistics

Featuring a solar charging lens, specialized tactical features and AB Elite software for long range shooting in the field, it's hard to look past the Tactix Delta.

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This tactical smartwatch really does means business and comes packed full of great features, including AB Elite software to help you calculate your long-range shooting and Applied Ballistics Synapse that will let you send ballistic profiles direct to your wrist so that you have all the information and support you need when you are out in the field. This military smartwatch covers all bases with its night vision compatibility, stealth mode, and a kill switch (wipes the watch of all memory), allowing you to be confident that your watch won’t cause any commotion when you are out on ops.

It also comes with a Jumpmaster mode to support you as you jump and guide you to your landing point. It calculates release points at high altitude (according to military guidelines) to navigate you to your landing point once you've left a vehicle.

Navigational support is an essential feature in any military-style smartwatch, and this device will help you set a number of geo positions before you head out to provide you with projected waypoints as you move.

It also houses topographic maps and dual-format GPS so that you won’t get lost getting from one waypoint to another.

Other navigational features include multi-GNSS, Expedition Mode, ABC sensors, ski maps, public land maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and round-trip routing.

The multiple global navigation systems (GNSS) come in the form of GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. This gives you fallbacks in more challenging environments when GPS alone is struggling for accuracy.

The ABC sensors are specifically:

Altimeter - gives elevation data so that ascents and descents can be accurately tracked.

Barometer - predicts changes in the weather by displaying recent trends in the air pressure.

Compass - can be used when moving at low speeds and at a standstill to provide the direction of travel.

Besides the ABC sensors there is also a thermometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, and blood oxygen saturation monitor. The blood oxygen monitor is a great tool for showing how your body is acclimating to altitude.

Expedition Mode may not be obvious to anyone that's not used a Garmin GPS device before. It's basically an energy conservation mode that turns off non-essential features so that a smartwatch can last as long as possible. All sensors and accessories are switched off but GPS is still enabled. The GPS tracks points just once per hour to maximize battery life.

Battery Life

Battery life is outstanding with this military style smartwatch and it offers some of the best numbers we've seen.

Here's a run through of the battery life you can expect in the different watch modes:

Expedition Mode - 56 days

Regular GPS Mode - 66 hours

Battery Saver Mode - 120 days

Regular Smartwatch Mode - 24 days

These figures represent the battery life you can expect with the 'Solar Edition', though the figures are still outstanding with the regular edition. Using a solar charging panel the battery life can be extended if the optimal conditions are available.

Optimal conditions meaning 50,000 lux of light for at least 3 hours each day. For reference, 2,000 lux of light would be an overcast day and 110,000 would be bright sunlight.

Health Monitoring This watch is also packed full of health monitoring features to keep your body in check, including an Sp02 monitor, heart rate monitor, and respiration tracking.

You can keep an eye on when it is a good time to move by using the body battery monitor that will help you to optimize your performance throughout the day.

You can enjoy advanced sleep monitoring too and get access to details on your sleep stages, your Sp02 levels during the night, and accurate respiration data, all viewable from your wrist. Finally, there is also robust lifestyle support so that you can pay on the go, get notifications, listen to music, and even alert emergency contacts if an incident occurs.

Pros

Packed with tactical features

Military standard build

Excellent battery life

Solar backup

Ballistics software

Cons

Expensive

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

Yes, it's expensive but the fact is it's the best military GPS watch on the market. If you need ballistics software then there's just no competition. If you don't then the "basic" edition is a mightily impressive smartwatch too.

Key  Features:

Solar charging lens

Applied Ballistics Elite software

Preloaded TOPO maps

Built to military standards

Night vision compatible

Multiple tactical modes

overall

5/5

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Awesome Alternative

Garmin Instinct Solar Tactical

A durable GPS smartwatch that boasts solar charging, tactical features, and a U.S. military standard build.

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If you need a dependable military smartwatch but don’t want to pay exorbitant amounts to get it, then the Garmin Instinct Solar Tactical is a great choice and comes with a range of excellent features.

Durability Its durable design is great in all climates. Designed to meet military standard MIL-STD-810 it is built to withstand a range of temperatures, knocks, and impacts. You can read more about the specifics of this military standard in our buyer's guide below, but basically military field equipment must adhere to certain levels of durability.

A Power Glass reinforced, scratch resistant lens is cased by fiber-reinforced polymer. Besides being tough, these are also lightweight materials. The Garmin Instinct Solar Tactical can be considered reasonably bulky on the wrist at 45 x 45 x 15.3 mm but remains very light at just 53 grams.

Besides being pretty darn strong, the Garmin Instinct is also waterproof to 100 meters. That means it's completely swim-proof and weatherproof.

Tactical Features

The best military watches feature tactical modes that can be a huge help when out in the field. The Instinct Tactical comes packed with some of these great features.

Night vision compatibility - daytime view and nighttime view are easily switched between. Nighttime view can be easily read by night vision googles.

Stealth mode - enables you to "go dark". Stealth Mode stops storing and sharing GPS information and disables wireless connections and communications.

Jumpmaster mode - according to military guidelines you can calculate high-altitude release points. This helps you navigate to your objective.

Dual grid coordinates - Sync your location with others using both military grid reference system (MGRS) and universal mercator (UTM) together with latitude and longitude references. All on screen at the same time.

Waypoint projection - create location markers on maps to log places of interest.

Health & Fitness Monitoring Monitoring health and fitness has become a staple feature of smartwatches in 2021 and this watch is ready to help with a number of ways to monitor and measure your efforts over time.

As well as measuring your active minutes, the heart rate monitor will show you how hard your heart is working, and the blood oxygen saturation (Sp02) monitor will give you insights into how you are acclimatizing to altitude.

The body battery function will also allow you to keep track of your relative effort level and keep you aware of times when you could do with a rest. A stress monitor helps to promote wellness too.

The Instinct is also very capable when it comes to exercise and activity tracking. It's able to give very detailed statistics and analysis of your routines. Everything from running to swimming is profiled in typical Garmin fashion.

Navigation

The Garmin Instinct Tactical offers some great navigation tools to ensure you're always aware of your location and also your destination.

Besides the dual grid coordinate system we discussed in the 'Tactical Features' section, there's support for multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), waypoint markers, ABC sensors (altimeter for elevation, barometer for weather, and a compass), and trackback routing (where the same route to your starting point is saved) . 

The big omission here and the main difference between this model and the previously recommended Garmin Tactix Delta model, is topographic maps. So using GPS you can still plot and view your route but you won't be able to see the detail that topographic mapping provides.

Battery Life

The battery life is outstanding with the Instinct Solar Tactical. The base model is already excellent but with the addition of solar charging even greater numbers can be achieved.

However, to get the true battery boost from the solar panel certain conditions must be met. Namely, 50,000 lux of light for 3 hours each day. It sounds a lot but it's actually just an average day with clouds in the sky. You'll be pushing your luck on overcast rainy days though.

Here's what it can do:

Smartwatch mode (regular): 24 days or 54 days with solar

Battery saving mode: 56 days or unlimited with solar

GPS mode: 30 hours or 38 hours with solar

Using maximum battery: 70 hours or 145 hours with solar

Expedition mode: 28 days or 68 days with solar

Expedition mode is actually another neat feature that's useful when out adventuring. It turns off all non-essential features and pings the GPS just once per hour to conserve energy.

Pros

Extensive tactical features

Solar charging

Solid activity tracking

Built to military standards

Amazing battery life

Cons

No topographic maps

No contactless payment

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

The Garmin Instinct is an excellent alternative to the Tactix Delta. It's less than half the price and retains many of the same great features. The only big omission is the topographic mapping. 

Key  Features:

Extended battery life with solar charging

Water-resistant to 100 meters

Built-in 3-axis compass & barometric altimeter

Multiple GNSS

overall

4/5

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Budget Choice

Amazfit T-Rex Pro

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is as tough as they come. It won't let you down when you need it most.

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Finding a military watch that is reliable and budget-friendly has always been a tough ask, so thankfully Amazfit entered the scene recently with the T-Rex Pro. It retains many of the essential features of watches twice its price.

Military Toughness

Durability is where it really shines and the T-Rex Pro meets 12 military-grade tests for endurance in extreme conditions. These are some of the more relevant tests:

70 degree heat resistance

-40 degree cold resistance

Humidity resistance

Salt spray resistance

Ice resistance

Shock resistance

In order to be this durable it must have reasonable bulk and the T-Rex Pro is certainly not a small smartwatch by any means (47.7 X 47.7 X 13.5mm). However, at just 60 grams in weight the polycarbonate body is not exactly heavy.

At 10 ATM (100 meter) water resistance it's totally weatherproof and can be used when swimming. Just remember these water resistance ratings don't cover saltwater (you'll need a diving watch) so be careful where you swim.

Battery Life and Display

With a 1.3" HD AMOLED screen that gives 360 x 360 resolution, the display quality is actually really impressive for a watch of this type. Military type smartwatches that need to be durable and with excellent battery life tend to have quite dull displays that don't sap unnecessary energy. But, that's not the case with the T-Rex Pro at all. 

With battery life reaching 18 days, it's really impressive in this area. Now, 18 days isn't much in comparison to the previous two Garmin watches we've recommended but in the grand scheme of things it's excellent. It charges in just 1.5 hours to full capacity too.

Here's what battery life you can expect in the different modes:

Heavy Use: 18 days

Typical Use: 9 days

Continuous GPS Use: 40 hours

Satellite Navigation

Another, peculiarity with this smartwatch is the inclusion of 4 global satellite navigation systems (GNSS). The standard is usually 3, even with the most expensive tactical GPS watches 

The T-Rex Pro includes:

GPS (US satellites)

Galileo (European)

GLONASS (Russian)

Beidou (Chinese)

The extra GNSS in question here is Beidou, a recently completed project (finished mid 2020) from the Chinese government. With Amazfit being a Chinese company it makes sense for them to get first access to the new positioning system and I wonder if we'll see it included with Garmin watches in the near future.

Essentially, what this means is that you have an extra backup satellite combination if you're struggling for accuracy with GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS. The T-Rex Pro allows the following combinations:

GPS+GLONASS

GPS+BeiDou

GPS+Galileo

Using the GNSS in combination with each other offers superb accuracy as basically the more satellites in the sky the better. However, it does drain the battery more quickly. A nice touch with Garmin's tactical GPS smartwatches is the ability to use solely GPS (as well as in combination with others) which conserves battery life.

Fitness and Activity Tracking

With over 100 sports modes, the T-Rex Pro has got you covered when it comes to health monitoring.

A health assessment system combined with extensive sleep tracking keep on top of your day to day wellness and are guided by a built-in heart rate monitor.

When you want to evaluate your performance, you can simply head to the companion app to get the detailed insights you need, but this may take a bit of getting used to, as navigating the app can be confusing at first.

Pros

18-day battery life

Detailed companion app

Great sports tracking

Built for extreme conditions

Uses 4 satellite navigation systems

Cons

No built-in maps

Lacking in tactical features

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

If you need a tactical watch without the hefty price tag, then this is a great choice. It's really hard wearing and offers some really accurate satellite positioning.

Key  Features:

Meets 12 military certificates for toughness

Excellent range of GNSS

18 hours battery on 1.5 hour charge

1.3” AMOLED screen with an always-on display

overall

4/5

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Suunto Traverse Alpha

A GPS watch built for the outdoors. Features dedicated tools for fishing, hunting and hiking, including a moon phase calendar and shot detection.

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If you need a strong tactical GPS watch that has been tested to military standards, then the Suunto Traverse Alpha is a strong contender.

It offers excellent GPS navigation to ensure coverage in every location you find yourself in. The battery life can last up to 14 days, but if you need to use the GPS function, then this will drop significantly, requiring you to plug in and charge up every few days. This watch is not just a good military companion, but it has also been built with fishing in mind for times when you are unwinding on your own or with friends.

You can learn what the barometric pressure trend looks like (for weather predictions), as well as accessing sunrise, sunset, and moon phases so you can plan your days or nights with confidence.

You can also keep up to date on your health and fitness with five sports modes, a step counter, and tools like the heart rate monitor, training load, and speed and distance timer.

There is also a built-in compass to help you when you need to navigate your way back to basecamp.

There is a Suunto companion app that you can download to get access to your phone notifications on your wrist, and you can transfer any required data via a USB cable or wirelessly, depending on what works best for you.

If you want to share your data with other apps, then this is possible too, allowing you to update your fitness to get a broader picture of your efforts over time.

Pros

Great fishing companion

Shares data with other apps

Good quality GPS

Cons

Only five sports modes

GPS significantly reduces battery life

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

A solid smartwatch that's built for life in the great outdoors. It's not got the most extensive set of tactical features but GPS coverage is strong.

Key  Features:

Water resistant to 100m

Military standard build

Multiple GNSS

14 day battery life

overall

3.5/5

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Garmin Fenix 6X Pro

A GPS watch with solid mapping. It offers extensive health monitoring, long battery life and a durable case.

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If you love getting fit and want a watch that can support you and double up as a tactical watch, then the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is well worth a closer look.

It has a 21-day battery life and has been designed to meet your outdoor needs with ease.

The rugged design and chunky casing are not heavy on the wrist, and the screen is readable in all different weathers. When it comes to navigating your way, the multi-GNSS support system is robust enough to help you track your local even in the most remote and challenging places.

You can use the ABC sensors to understand the trail you are on, and there is a Climbpro feature that will give you the right support when you are heading for an ascent.

If you want to keep tabs on your health, then this is easy too, with the Sp02 monitor checking your oxygen saturation levels and the heart rate monitor sharing when your heart is working hard and when it is at rest.

There is a body battery and recovery time app, both aimed at giving you better insights into how you are coping with the pressure you are under and allowing you to better understand your body's response to exertion.

When it comes to everyday life, there are a number of tools that can help with this too!

From contactless payments to golf maps and turn-by-turn navigation to notifications and music playback, you will always have everything you need to enjoy a fun life.

Pros

Range of lifestyle features

Excellent battery life

In-built maps

Cons

Pricey

No dedicated tactical features

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

It's not a dedicated tactical smartwatch but it offers plenty that will still appeal. Long battery, solid mapping, and accurate navigational tools are highlights here.

Key  Features:

Solar charging lens

ABC sensors

Preloaded TOPO maps

Multi-GNSS support

overall

4/5

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Buyer's Guide: What You Need to Know

The very best tactical GPS watches have certain features that make navigation easier. They're also really strong and full of battery saving features.

In this section, learn about the essential tactical features that you shouldn't be without.

Military Standard 810

If you have heard of Military Standard 810 or found a watch that offers it, then understanding what it means can help you purchase with more confidence.

Put simply, MIL-STD-810 covers how well a device will cope depending on different environmental pressures.

More precisely, the testing methods are designed to work out:

How long a device can withstand specific stress sequences

How long a device should last

The way in which a device copes when exposed to environmental stress

Whether there are any specific deficiencies in the device

If any specific advice needs to be given around the way the device is packed or maintained

If the device is compliant with the military requirements.

A watch that is designed to meet these rigorous demands will be built to last whatever you throw at it. It will be shockproof, waterproof (to a certain degree), and able to withstand extreme temperatures and humid conditions.

You can read about it in detail here.

Related: Read about the toughest smartwatches on the market next.

Gorilla Glass

Watches that are made with Gorilla Glass offer protection from damage even in the harshest locations.

It has been made using a chemical strengthening system and is lightweight and easy to see through. The chemicals uses are hit potassium salt in an ion-exchange bath. 

It is made in Kentucky, Korea, and Taiwan and is commonly found on mobile devices because it is so safe.

There are many competitors to this product, but none yet have the same reach as Gorilla Glass.

Waterproof Rating

Another important aspect to consider when you are buying a new smartwatch is whether you will need it to be waterproof or not.

When your job takes you to new places, and you have to find your way, then there is a real possibility that water may make an appearance.

Take the time to work out what level of waterproofing you need before you buy. 

Check out the following classifications to help you choose:

3 ATM = this means it is only splash-proof and rainproof

5 ATM = offers water-resistance down to 50m

10 ATM = offers water-resistance down to 100m

20 ATM = offers water-resistance down to 200m

Global Satellite Navigation Systems

When you have a smartwatch with GNSS, you have access to satellite navigation.

GNSS stands for global navigation satellite system and is an umbrella term for any system that provides satellite navigation.

The most common systems are GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.

GPS, GLONASS & Galileo

When you choose a watch with a satellite navigation system, then this will be powered by either GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or a combination of them.

There is a range of differences in the systems, but they all work to provide navigation.

GPS is an American-owned system with approximately thirty satellites in orbit.

Each satellite in this system circles the earth twice per day and offers a positional accuracy of up to five meters.

GLONASS is a Russian-owned system that is remarkably similar to GPS and circles earth just over twice a day.

They are slightly faster than GPS, but this is because they are slightly closer to earth. Their positional accuracy is between 4.5 meters to 7 meters.

Galileo is an EU-owned system and is new to the satellite navigation team and sits higher in space than GPS or GLONASS, meaning that it can only circle earth 1.7 times per day. This system offers positional accuracy of just 1 meter!

Most smartwatches offer these 3 systems in combination with each other. For example, the default standard Garmin set-up is GPS+GLONASS. You can change this in the menu but it works pretty well. A reason to change would be to save battery life. Using solely GPS would be less accurate but would use less battery.

Note: Chinese owned Beidou is now operational. It's China's new rival to GPS and is only available on some Amazfit smartwatches at the time of writing.

Related: We recommend our favorite smartwatches for hunting.

Stealth Mode

Stealth mode is a tool that allows you the ability to turn off tacking, logging, and wireless communication so that you are untraceable by anyone that may be looking for you.

You can still use the features to monitor your timing, pace, location, and elevation, but this info will not be saved to the watch in case it ends up in the wrong hands. 

It's only available on the more premium tactical devices.

Night Vision Capabilities

Finding a watch with night vision modes might be an essential feature for you if you find yourself working in the dark.

Night vision mode not only stops your watch from emitting any light that can be picked up on by the enemy, but it also allows you to see your smartwatch clearly through your night vision goggles. Toggling between day and night modes is usually a quick and simple adjustment to make.

Mapping

Any great tactical smartwatch will come with topographical maps to help you navigate your way in any country.

Topographical maps contain detailed information about the landscape. Contour lines represent elevation and terrain shape and symbols give more detail about the geography of a location.

Maps are usually preloaded onto the watch but can be updated when new edits are made. 

Topo mapping is a feature that only the more expensive smartwatches have. 

Waypoint Marking

Using waypoint markers is a great way to familiarize yourself with a location. By setting markers you can remind yourself or notify others of points of interest. They're also great for navigational purposes, allowing you to find your way back on a familiar route.

Jumpmaster Mode

Jumpmaster mode helps you calculate your high altitude release point and then automatically detects when you have jumped so that it can help to guide you to your desired impact point.

It does this by using the compass and the barometer for total accuracy, allowing you to have total confidence when you are ready to release.

This is a feature only a select few smartwatches will have. Again, it's a feature you'll pay a lot of money for.

ABC Sensors

ABC sensors are your altimeter, barometer, and compass on your smartwatch. They work together to provide you with the information you need when you are moving outdoors.

The altimeter will give you information on the elevation level you are taking for both ascents and descents.

The barometer provides information on local weather by assessing air pressure, and the compass works to help you know which direction you are heading.

These are staple features of any good smartwatch that's designed for military use.

Kill Switch

If you are in a situation where you need to stop all communication and get rid of data, then the kill switch option is a useful tool.

It will wipe your watch quickly and allow you to keep your previous and future movements a secret from anyone that tries to find them out.

This feature is particularly useful for anyone that finds themselves behind enemy lines and can be the difference between giving away top-secret mission information and remaining as elusive as possible.

Ballistics Software

If you work with ballistics, then getting a watch like the Garmin Tactix Delta Solar (with Ballistics) will give you the support you need.

It comes with an applied ballistics calculator that will support you to aim precisely even with long-range shooting.

You can use the calculator in daylight or with night vision goggles to help you remain undetected when you are in the midst of an operation.

You simply input data like the weight of the bullet, distance to the target, elevation, muzzle velocity, and more to get the adjustments you need to be calculated in MIL, MOA, or inches.

It will even calculate the length of time that your bullet will be in the air before it reaches the target.

Display

Tactical or military designed smartwatches typically have small displays that use few colors. There are a few good reasons for this:

Small screens are tougher

Lower resolutions use less battery life

Touchscreens (that require big screens) are inconvenient as they aren't good when dirty or wet

But don't worry the displays are still crisp and sharp. They're just practical instead of flashy. 

They're also designed to be clear to read in difficult conditions of low light or extreme brightness.

Screen Resolution

The higher your screen resolution, the more pixels there are per inch of screen. More pixels equals better image quality and allows you to interact with a crisp display that easy to read.

When the screen resolution is low, the pixels can become visible, making the display harder to read and less attractive.

When you have narrowed down your smartwatch shortlist, take a look at the screen resolution for each model and try to pick one with the highest score for the best user experience.

Remember that as smartwatch screens are very small the resolutions are small too. So something like 128 x 128 which would be unreadable on a computer screen can be really good on a smartwatch.

Activity Tracking

Keeping an eye on your fitness efforts is much easier with robust activity tracking as you can assess each activity you have taken part in and see how well you performed during the session, especially if you have tools such as heart rate tracking.

The other great thing about activity tracking is that you are able to see your progress over time, giving you the low down on how well you have progressed and giving you the right information to help with goal setting for the future.

Activity tracking is a staple feature on pretty much every smartwatch these days, no matter what its design focus is.

Battery Life

No one wants a device that runs out of charge too quickly, but there are so many different battery options now that finding the right one takes some time and consideration.

Thankfully, most smartwatches that are built for the outdoors have pretty good battery life these days.

If you want something that can be taken with you on a mission, then finding a long battery life with something like Garmin's Expedition Mode (an energy conserving GPS mode) will help you to get all the features you need without having to plug in.

It is also worth considering looking for a solar watch or solar backup, as seen on some of our recommendations.

This feature will not just keep you topped up but can extend the battery life by a week or more when used properly.

Just be aware that to see the full benefits of solar charging you'll need to meet daily thresholds of solar energy harnessing. Garmin watches typically require 3 hours per day at 50,000 lux.

Contactless Payments

With more places than ever before accepting contactless payments, having a device that supports this can really help to reduce the stresses of popping into the shop or grabbing something on the go.

Simply set up your account via the watch’s companion app and add the cards that you want to be able to use from your wrist. 

When everything is up and running, all you need to do is activate the contactless on the watch when you are at the payment point for the transaction to be completed.

This feature is particularly popular with people when they are out training and need to stop on the way home but don’t want to have to take their card or wallet with them.

The post 5 Best Tactical Smartwatches 2021 appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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[fysmartwatch]

A dependable GPS smartwatch can make navigating your next hunt easier than ever before. See which models we think deserve your attention down below.

When you’re ready to head out hunting, you’ll want the right type of smartwatch on your wrist.

By choosing the best GPS watch for hunting, you’ll have the benefit of a plethora of features that are designed to help make your hunt a success.

But there are lots of different models of GPS hunting watches on the market, so which one should you buy? Here’s a rundown of the ones that we think are the best, plus a buyer’s guide so you know what to look for.

Table of Contents

1

Our Recommended GPS Hunting Watches

OUR TOP PICK

Great Alternative

Amazing Value

Unbeatable Battery

2

Buyer's Guide: What You Need to Know

Display

Interface Differences

GPS

Mapping

Battery

Solar Charging

Durability

Water Resistance Ratings

Shooting Features

Navigation Tools

Weather Tools

Night Vision View

Our Recommended GPS Hunting Watches

If you’re already familiar with the different features to look for, here’s our no-nonsense list of the top GPS watches for hunting available.

OUR TOP PICK

Garmin Tactix Delta Solar

A tactical GPS smartwatch built to military standards. With solar charging and advanced mapping, it's built to withstand everything you throw at it!

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Great Alternative

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar

A durable smartwatch with fitness tracking at its core. Awesome navigational features and solid battery life mean it's perfect for long outings in the great outdoors.

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Amazing Value

Garmin Instinct Solar

A feature rich GPS watch that's incredibly good value for money. Excellent battery life, a military standard build, and navigational tools are highlights.

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OUR TOP PICK

Garmin Tactix Delta Solar

The Garmin Tactix Delta Solar GPS watch gives you the ability to track your fitness, navigate the trails and go covert in the field.

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If there was ever a smartwatch that was made as the perfect hunting companion the Garmin Tactix Delta Solar might just be it. 

Is it the best smartwatch for hunting in 2021? We think so, and this is why.

Crammed full of tactical functions, navigational tools and constructed of seriously tough components, the Tactix Delta is actually aimed at servicemen and woman.

With a military grade exterior (built to military standard MIL-STD 810) and nylon or silicon strap, this watch has the toughness to withstand whatever comes its way.  As is pretty much standard with smartwatches these days, an 'always-on display' means it only takes a quick glance to check the data from one of its many functions and tools. However, this may be turned off to save from marginal battery drain. At 1.4", the screen is generous in size. It's actually 36% larger than the previous Tactix model. However, the display can be considered functional rather than beautiful. Designed to save on battery, the resolution is lower than you'll find on a day to day smartwatch. The color palette too is less substantial.  However, what you will find is that that information is presented very well and is easily digested at a glance in harsh conditions. The viewing angle is wide and glare and low light don't pose much of an issue. By stripping down the display so that it does only the necessities well, amazing battery life figures can be achieved...

The battery is long lasting, I mean really long lasting. In smart watch mode you’ll get up to 21 days of battery power. Using your satellite navigation will drain it more quickly, but you’ll still have 60 hours of usage available. 

These figures are amazing but the Tactix Delta also comes with solar charging. If you can get your watch out in the sunlight for three hours or more per day, you’ll help to extend the battery even further. 

Solar charging extends the regular battery life to 24 days and to 66 hours with constant GPS use. There's actually a really neat feature called 'Expedition Mode' that puts the watch in a low energy consumption state but with GPS still enabled and recording data. Battery life can reach 46 days in this mode!

As a hunting smartwatch, satellite navigation is bound to be used regularly, and on this watch you’ll have the benefit of all three main positioning systems: GLONASS, GPS and Galileo. This helps to provide the most accurate tracking, even in challenging locations. You can easily synchronize your location with others using the dual positioning formats (UTM and MGRS) and set waypoints (geographical positions) to be used for navigation at a later time. Satellite navigation is assisted by topographical mapping and multiple sensors. Elevation is calculated using an altimeter, a 3-axis compass assists with direction, and a barometer even provides weather reports. There are thousands of preloaded topographical maps and more can be added and updated at an extra cost. You can even receive turn by turn navigation commands as you proceed on your course.

This watch has contactless payments, performance monitoring and multiple sports modes too, but at its heart it feels like a watch that’s been designed for the wild. 

It has night vision capability which can be read while wearing night vision goggles, a stealth mode that hides your location and a kill switch which enables the memory to be wiped at the press of a button.

There's also the option to include Applied Ballistics software to help you line up those long-range shots to perfection. You can synch the software with laser rangefinders and even thermometers for feedback and adjustments to make.

It must be said the price tag is on the large side, which will put most off. However, if you spend a lot of time hunting or in the wilderness for days at a time then this could appeal to you. It's an incredible smartwatch built for a very specific type of person.

Pros

Military-grade build

Night vision mode

Amazing battery life

Preloaded maps

Optional ballistics software

Tactical features

10 ATM waterproof

Cons

Expensive

Basic display

A lot of functions to learn

No touchscreen

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

This the best Garmin GPS hunting watch, and in our opinion the leading GPS hunting smartwatch overall. Precise and accurate navigational functions with dedicated hunting features make this watch a clear standout.

Key  Features:

24-day battery

Preloaded TOPO maps

Multiple satellite navigation systems

Waypoint markers

Multiple coordinate markers

overall

4.5/5

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Great Alternative

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar

A tough, solar powered smartwatch built for the outdoors.

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Well equipped for a wide range of sports and outdoor activities, the Fenix 6X Pro Solar is another great Garmin smartwatch that delivers sterling performance under demanding conditions. 

With solar charging to give an extra boost, the battery power on the Fenix 6X is impressive. The battery can last up to 24 days in regular smartwatch mode and 148 hours in maximum battery GPS mode.  The clear LCD screen provides bright graphics without being energy intensive. You won't find anything as bright and beautiful as the retina screen on an Apple Watch Series 6 but what the Fenix 6X Pro has is clear and functional. The massive upside here is 24 day battery life as opposed to 1 or 2 on the Apple Watch. A nice touch is the ability to pick and choose features to enable or disable at any time. This essentially allows you to manage your battery usage and use the watch at its most energy efficient. Turn off what you don't need get the most out of each battery charge. It’s worth mentioning that there's no touchscreen on this smartwatch so you’ll need to use the bezels to flick through the functions. This is by choice and it just makes sense for a smartwatch built for hunting and the great outdoors. Touchscreens are useless when they're wet or dirty and they use more power too. Interfaces are definitely easier to navigate using a touchscreen but Garmin have done a good job making the button system intuitive on the Fenix 6X Pro.

This watch is built to take the knocks it will inevitably receive in the wild. Waterproof to 10ATM (or 100m) it can be fully submerged and be used when swimming. Titanium and diamond-like titanium (DLC) coated bezels crown a fiber reinforced polymer case and metal backing. The lens comes in a choice of Gorilla Glass or sapphire crystal which are both incredibly strong and resistant to scratching.

With triple satellite navigation capacity in the form of GPS, Galileo and GLONASS you have sufficient navigational backup on expeditions. Preloaded topographical maps and outdoor sensors are further tools essential for the outdoors. 

A 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and gyroscope are all at your disposal at the press of a button.

Aside from hunting based features, there are multiple sports functions including skiing, weight training, hiking, cycling and golf.

There are golf courses and skiing trails available on the map function on the watch.

Health tracking supports the sports modes and monitors a range of indicators including oxygen levels, heart rate and sleep.

I'd describe this smartwatch best as a sports/fitness focused watch that is built for the outdoors and therefore suits hunting really well. It's less of a dedicated hunting/tactical smartwatch than the previously recommended Tactix Delta.

Pros

GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite navigation

Waterproof to 10 ATM

24 day battery

Multiple sports & health tracking

Cons

Expensive

No touchscreen

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

Garmin rarely puts a foot wrong and the Fenix 6x Pro Solar is another smartwatch which delivers on durability, navigational features, and functionality.

Key  Features:

Solar-power

Wrist heart rate & pulse ox

Training features include PacePro

Preloaded TOPO maps

overall

4/5

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Amazing Value

Garmin Instinct Solar

A GPS smartwatch well suited to hunting. Excellent battery life and a durable build mean it's more than ready for the great outdoors.

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An update to the Garmin Instinct from 2018, the Instinct Solar is a no-frills smartwatch that manages to cram in plenty of features which outdoor enthusiasts will find useful. 

With a military-grade construction (MIL-STD-810) there are no concerns about toughness or durability. 

The glass is scratchproof and strong, being equipped with the trademark Power Glass that Garmin frequently use in their outdoor smartwatches.

This protects the display from any dings or damage, while also soaking up the sun’s rays to absorb solar power. 

And it’s this solar power which contributes to the overall battery life of 54 days when used in smartwatch mode. When using the inbuilt GPS, usage drops to 145 hours, providing that it’s being used in sunlight for at least three hours per day.

The solar power on this watch is impressive, with larger solar panels than you might have seen on watches before.

This larger solar area allows the battery power to be doubled by exposure to sunlight rather than just adding the usual 10%.

There aren’t any specific features or functions that are for hunting or fishing but there’s still plenty that will be useful in a more generic way. There is a full complement of satellite navigation with GPS, Galileo and GLONASS all included in the no-frills package. This comes along with a 3-axis compass, barometer and altimeter.

There are many sports modes which are offered plus the watch is waterproof to 10 ATM. That means it can be submerged and be worn while swimming. For a keen hunter and outdoor enthusiast, having a waterproof watch is certainly a key feature. 

Although it’s marketed as a fairly low spec entry, there’s a surprising amount of features included in this phone. The only big grumble is that the screen is black and white, with no color. This doesn’t matter so much for many features but it does mean the detail in maps isn't as clear as the more expensive options. However, as we mentioned earlier on in this guide, having a limited display allows for excellent battery life, which is certainly on show here.

Pros

Strong battery life

Military-grade construction

Water-resistant to 100 meters (10 ATM)

Easily visible in bright sunlight

Triple satellite system

Cons

Monochrome display

No hunting-specific functions

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

The Instinct offers fantastic value just when you thought GPS hunting watches were all overpriced! Garmin bring you a smartwatch that is tough, resilient, and with solid GPS functions.

Key  Features:

Solar charging

Waterproof to 100 meters

Built-in 3-axis compass & barometric altimeter

Activity tracking

Multiple global navigation satellite systems

overall

4/5

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Unbeatable Battery

Garmin Enduro

With customizable power management modes and a Power Glass solar charging lens, this watch just doesn't know when to stop!

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There's a reason that so many Garmin watches feature on this list and that’s because they’re the undisputed experts of outdoor pursuit specific smartwatches. If you're looking for a solid GPS smartwatch for hunting then Garmin should be your first port of call. 

With their focus on developing rugged tech, the Garmin Enduro is the result of many years of experience. 

What this means is that they’ve produced a smartwatch which has an outstanding battery capacity, with up to 65 days of use before needing to recharge! 

Whatever type of hunting expedition you’re on, you’ll have lots of spare battery power left to enjoy your trip! 

The impressive battery life is achieved through a combination of regular rechargeable battery power and solar charging. Without solar charging, the battery will last for 50 days but with regular exposure to sunlight, a further 15 days can be added.

As always, the GPS will drain the battery much more quickly than other functions. With solar charging you’ll get 80 hours of GPS use, or 70 hours without solar charging.

There are additional battery-saving modes you can switch to; these reduce the number of “pings” that are sent to the satellites without cutting contact completely.

There are no hunting-specific functions on this watch; the big bonus is undoubtedly the battery power. However, Garmin are excellent at producing smartwatches and other tech that perform well outdoors and this watch ticks those boxes too. 

ClimbPro is included to provide in-depth information about ascents and descents, plus there’s a compass, altimeter and a barometer to help with weather and location.

The satellite navigation is as good as it gets with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo all included. 

If you’re interested in sports metrics and wellness tracking, the Garmin Connect app will give you everything you need. With everything from sleep monitoring to hydration and blood oxygen levels, it’s an all-round wellbeing tracker. 

Pros

Phenomenal battery life

Satellite navigation with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo

Lightweight but rugged

Complementary app with health tracking

Cons

Altimeter not always precise

Expensive

Features

Battery

Ease of Use

Value

Summary:

Although it’s not technically a Garmin GPS hunting watch, it’s got lots of compatible functions and with unbeatable battery power it’s great for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Key  Features:

Power glass solar charging

Power management

Rugged, lightweight design

VO2 max tracks your cardiovascular fitness level

overall

4/5

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Suunto 9 Peak

The Suunto 9 combines strong, Finnish quality with a full set of outdoor features.

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Manufactured in Finland and tested to meet military standards, this new smartwatch from legendary Finnish brand Suunto is tough and strong. 

The display is made with sapphire glass, giving the ultimate resistance against scratches and damage, while the bezel is made from stainless steel for superior strength. It's waterproof to 100 meters for the swimmers out there too.

A clever battery management system ensures battery power is preserved, and in Tour mode you’ll be able to get about 170 hours between charges (about a week).

The inbuilt GPS drains the power more quickly, but you’ll still be able to squeeze 25 hours out in GPS mode. It makes use of the FusedTrack algorithm which increases tracking and distance accuracy by combining GPS and motion sensor data. This in theory lowers GPS power consumption without reducing accuracy.

You can actually customize the power usage of the watch so that it's always running at its most energy efficient. If there are functions that you don't need then you can easily stop them from running in the background. This means energy isn't wasted and the actual functions that you need will run for longer.

As well as capturing metrics of fitness performance, the watch also carries out health tracking such as heart rate monitoring and training load. There's blood oxygen level tracking for altitude acclimation too.

It's primarily a sports smartwatch with extensive fitness tracking modes included. However, it's aimed at being used in extreme conditions and it will certainly stand up to everything you throw at it.

The Suunto 9 has multiple weather functions that allow you to make educated decisions while out on hunting expeditions. These include:

Sunrise and sunset times

Storm alarm

Sea level pressure

Altimeter

Barometer

Air temperature

The mapping is also really well done. The display on this watch is a bit nicer than the Garmins and routes are shown using a clear, bright interface.

Points of interest are easily plotted and routes can be planned using the Suunto app on your smartphone.

Summary: The Suunto 9 Peak is built to last and won't let you down when you need it most. Light, strong, and reliable it's a great option for those that need solid fitness tracking too.

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Buyer's Guide: What You Need to Know

A GPS hunting watch will share many common features with other smartwatches, such as battery life and quality of display.

However, there are some functions which are specific to hunting activities that you’ll find helpful while enjoying your outdoor activities.

Here’s a look at the things to consider:

Display

Being able to read your watch quickly and easily is desirable for all watch-wearers, but it’s particularly important if you’re out hunting.

If you have to spend too long squinting at your watch or flicking through fiddly controls, you could miss what’s going on.

For this reason, you’ll normally find that hunting watches have larger displays - especially as there’s a lot of information to include.

Just like with a TV or monitor you would normally look for a display with a high resolution when looking for a new smartwatch. However, with smartwatches built for hunting and the great outdoors priorities are different.

Firstly, bright, detailed, high resolution screens may be great to look at but they are a huge drain on battery life. Watches built for the outdoors need long battery life, therefore a trade-off needs to be made.

What you will find with dedicated hunting smartwatches is large, clear screens that use minimal colors. Information is displayed in a concise manner that is easy to see at a glance.

The most detailed information you will be needing from a smartwatch like this is to look at maps. Therefore a small color palette and resolution of something like 300 x 300 pixels (remember it's on a something like a 1.4" screen)  is perfectly fine.

Aside from energy efficiency, the other big positive in using LCD type screens instead of OLEDs or AMOLEDs is visibility. They can offer a wider viewing angle and are easier to see in difficult conditions like when there is low light or glare.

Some of these smartwatches can even be seen clearly when wearing night vision goggles. This just isn't possible on a bright OLED screen.

Recommended: There’s nothing worse than your smartwatch running out of juice while you’re out and about. Don't miss our guide to the smartwatches with the longest battery life.

Interface Differences

Another design choice with hunting smartwatches that may make them seem dated is the lack of touchscreens.

There are a few very sensible reasons for this.

Touchscreens do not perform well when wet or dirty.

Touchscreens hate gloves!

Touchscreens need a relatively thin lens surface. This makes them more fragile.

This means smartwatches used for hunting will almost always use a button interface instead. Yes, it seems dated these days but it's simply the best method in this situation. Buttons are more reliable, durable, and dependable.

GPS

Satellite navigation systems are becoming increasingly common on all smartwatches but they’re a vital component for hunting watches.

They work by using satellites in the sky, sending “pings” which enable the tech to calculate your position to within just a few feet.

Satellite navigation is often referred to as GPS but that’s a misnomer. The correct name for it is GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System. GPS is a type of GNSS but it’s not the only one. 

GPS is the satellite system owned by the USA, and it’s the one that’s been used most commonly in smart devices.

However, increasingly additional satellite mapping is being included. This helps to minimize any loss of signal and heightens accuracy. 

GLONASS is the satellite navigation system owned by Russia, and Galileo is the system owned by Europe.

The best GPS watch for hunting would ideally have GPS, Galileo and GLONASS enabled. That means if one is struggling for signal then you have reliable backups.

In theory, as long as you have a direct line of site to the sky then you should be able to receive a signal. Be aware that tall obstacles like mountains and buildings can affect the accuracy of GPS signals. They cause reflections to arrive at the smartwatch receiver instead of the direct satellite signal. This can cause the watch to report slightly inaccurate locations.

Mapping

Mapping on a smartwatch for hunting is much more than just Google Maps and it needs to be!

Google Maps is great for navigating urban areas, especially in a car. However, if you're on a hunt I'm guessing you're not anywhere near civilization.

The mapping you require contains more detail of the landscape. These maps are called topographical maps and they contain detailed information about elevation, hydrography (the physical features of bodies of water), and geographical place names.

Smartwatches that have advanced mapping will come with maps preloaded but you're able to download further maps of your choice (at an extra cost usually) and update your map library to include more recent results. Garmin's library of topographical maps are comparable to 1: 24,000 scale USGS maps.

Mapping works in combination with other navigational features on your smartwatch such as satellite navigation, a compass and an altimeter.

Battery

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why battery life is so vital for a hunting watch. If you’re relying on your watch to navigate, running out of battery could be not just inconvenient, but potentially dangerous. 

Battery life on smartwatches can be very variable, with some lasting less than a day before they need to be recharged.

In contrast, there are some models which have the potential to last for many months before needing to be recharged. 

Smartwatches built for life outdoors thankfully have really good battery life. Each of the watches we've recommended in today's guide will last for days between charges. Some can even replenish themselves using solar energy.

The length of time your battery lasts will depend on the functions you’re using, and how savvy you are about preserving battery life.

GPS usage sucks power out of the battery so it’s a good idea to turn this off when you’re not actively using it.

There are also power-saving modes which will automatically disable non-essential functions to help your battery to last longer. 

When you’re buying a smartwatch, check the amount of hours you’ll get before it needs to be recharged. However, make sure you understand what level of usage this figure is based on. Wherever possible, look for details about varying levels of use and the impact on battery power before making a decision. Recommended: Don't miss our guide to waterproof smartwatches next.

Solar Charging

When you’re looking at the battery life of smartwatches, you may notice that some offer solar charging.

This is an excellent feature and could help to extend the battery power while you’re on the move. 

Solar charging is typically designed to support a regular rechargeable battery; very few people would be able to get sufficient light to keep their watched charged on solar power alone.

However, if you do have exposure to strong enough light for at least three hours per day, you could very significantly extend the length of time your watch could last between recharges. 

The minimum "level" of sunlight required to get the maximum boost from solar charging in most smartwatches is 50,000 lux of light intensity. For reference, around 100,000 lux is considered to be a very bright sunny day. 

Some watches which include solar charging can last a couple of months before they need to be recharged. This means if you’re going on a long trek or hunting expedition, you can trust your watch to retain enough power until you’re comfortably back at home. Of course, it’s worth noting that you may need to reduce non-essential usage to achieve this.

Durability

A hunting watch will need to be rugged, able to withstand the toughest terrain and at times, difficult climatic conditions.

Smartwatches which are designed to be used for outdoor pursuits, including hunting, typically have a robust design so they can handle whatever terrain you find yourself in. 

For the strongest casing and overall design, look for smartwatches built to military standard MIL-STD-810. This standard ensures military equipment is reliable under extreme conditions and when applied to watch design means they are incredibly tough too!

It covers the following criteria (as well as other things that didn't seem as relevant):

Shock/impact

Altitude

Low pressure

Extreme high and low temperatures

Water exposure

Humidity

Salt

Sand and dust exposure

Vibration

The strength of the strap will also be important; there’s no point having a sturdy watch face only for the strap to disintegrate when faced with damp or rough conditions!

A water-resistant nylon or silicon strap is one of the best options as it won’t degrade if it gets wet. 

And speaking of wetness, look for proper water resistance on your smartwatch. We discuss this next.

Water Resistance Ratings

Water ratings cause a whole lot of confusion so we'll set them out in the clearest way possible down below.

These are only the water ratings you'll find for smartwatches. Lots more exist for other products.

Rating

Definition

Withstands

IPX7

Withstands exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes

Splashes, rain, showers

1 ATM

Can tolerate pressure equivalent to a depth of 10 meters

Splashes, rain, showering

3 ATM

Can tolerate pressure equivalent to a depth of 30 meters

Splashes, rain, showering, jumping into water

5 ATM (Swim-proof)

Can tolerate pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters

Splashes, rain, showering, swimming, diving into water (not Scuba), snorkeling

10 ATM

Can tolerate pressure equivalent to a depth of 100 meters

Splashes, rain, showering, swimming, diving into water (not Scuba), snorkeling, high-speed water sports

We'd recommend getting something that has at least a 3 ATM rating. It'll handle dunks in the water no problem and also any weather conditions. But, if you see yourself swimming with your smartwatch on then you'll need to got to 5 ATM.

Shooting Features

There are many outdoor pursuits watches which offer functions which suit hunting, but to get shooting features you’ll need a watch which has been specifically designed with fishing and hunting.

The Garmin Tactix Delta Solar is an example of a smartwatch which has specific functions dedicated to hunting.

Their Applied Ballistics Software has an automatic ballistics calculator which enables you to more accurately hit the target with long-range shooting. 

You can also create and save custom ballistic profiles, plus there’s access to the Garmin Applied Ballistics Bullet library which contains over 1200 custom measured bullets. 

The Suunto Traverse also has hunting features in the form of Automatic Shot Detection.

Using the accelerometer on the watch, this function analyses your patterns of movement and the recoil of the gun.

You will get the most accurate results when you wear it on your trigger hand, but it can be worn on either.

Navigation Tools

Having satellite navigation means that you can find your way around using waypoints rather than just compass points.

A waypoint is a series of coordinates which accurately pinpoint a location using the satellites and triangulation.

Enter a waypoint into your smartwatch and use the GPS technology to navigate to the location.

However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect the significance of a compass. When following GPS waypoints, a compass is often overlaid so you can see which direction you’re heading.

This can help you to follow progress on a map, avoiding any hazards or restricted areas. 

If you're on a mountainside or near a ridge, another imperative tool is an altimeter.

This measures ascent and descent, enabling you to accurately stay at the right elevation rather than wandering off course.

Some altimeters measure your current elevation only, while others measure how much you have descended or ascended too.

For hunts or activities where there are hazardous drops, an altimeter is one of the tools - together with a GPS and a compass - which can help you to stay safe even in unfamiliar territory.

Weather Tools

It’s always a good idea to check the weather report before you head out for the day as a general guide for what to expect.

However, even if the weather report is good, climatic conditions can quickly change and it’s helpful to have advance warning.

A barometer is an essential function on a smartwatch for hunters as it provides notice about changes in the pressure of the air.

This often heralds a change in the weather; as clouds start to form from moisture rising in the air, pressure at ground level starts to drop.

If you see the barometer start to head rapidly downwards, you’ll have enough notice to either head back to camp or to take cover. 

Some watches have an alert system which works in tandem with the barometer.

This has an alarm when there’s an impending storm so you won’t need to be constantly checking pressure levels in the barometer.

The Suunto 9 is one of the top GPS watches for hunting that includes a storm alert function.

Night Vision View

Night vision view is a premium function that you’ll only find on the top hunting GPS watch models.

If you expect to be hunting at night, this is a feature that will give you an extra advantage.

Hunting watches with night vision have two modes: regular and night vision. The regular mode emits a light and could give away your position by glowing in the dark. Night vision mode can only be seen if you’re wearing night vision goggles, enabling you to read your watch without radiating a light source to your target. Do you have any questions about anything we've covered here? Drop us a message down below and we'll get back to you real soon!

The post 5 Best GPS Watches for Hunting 2021 appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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Spotify on smartwatches has been a complete game changer for us!

Simply, stream or transfer your favourite music onto your watch for wireless playback any time, even when offline.

It’s another huge step towards true smartwatch independence from cellphones.

In today’s guide, we recommend the best smartwatch for Spotify currently on the market. We also recommend some awesome alternatives.

How Does Spotify Connect to Your Smartwatch?

Using Spotify on a smartwatch doesn’t yet offer all the features it does on a cellphone. It’s a very different experience, but using a smartwatch is all about making concessions right?

In this section, we take a look at how it all works and what kind of experience you can expect.

A Brief Introduction to Spotify

For those that have been living under a rock for the past few years, Spotify is a streaming service that supplies music and podcasts to its subscribers. 

There are millions of songs available on Spotify, and they cover a range of genres and time periods so that you can be certain of finding something that interests you, no matter how obscure your musical tastes. 

Spotify is commonly available on your computer, phone, and tablet, but more recently, smartwatches with Spotify have made it to market.

The great thing about Spotify is that it is free to sign up for, and you can start listening as soon as you have shared your email address. 

There is a premium service that you can pay for which has 3 key benefits (among others):

It removes advertisements from the listening experience.

It allows a higher standard of music quality (up to 320kbit/s bit rate).

Plays music without an internet connection.

Spotify is hugely popular across the world and has over 248 million active users, with over 110 million subscriber (nearly double that of Apple Music subscribers). 

How Spotify Works on a Smartwatch

A smartwatch with Spotify is not the same experience you are used to on a cellphone or computer.

Yes, you can the play music you love but you need to synchronize your watch with a computer or phone app. It’s not a standalone experience.

In this section, we explain how to set it up and also the limitations you need to prepare yourself for.

Step 1: Download the App

When it comes to accessing Spotify on your smartwatch, you will first need to download the Spotify app to your watch.

With Samsung wearables, this is a really simple process. Select ‘Apps’ from the home screen. Select ‘Galaxy Apps’. Find Spotify and install.

The process is easy with Garmin smartwatches too. This time you’ll need to find the Spotify app using the Connect IQ app on your cellphone.

Step 2: Sign Up

The sign-up process is straightforward, you just connect your Facebook account or use your email.

Important Note: Just remember not all smartwatches are able to use Spotify, so make sure you check out our list of recommended models.

Spotify will ask you to set a password and share your date of birth so that they know your age and can make music suggestions based upon that.

It’s an incredibly simple process made to make accessing music easy. There are lots of ways to customize your account when you have logged in so that you enjoy the music that you want to hear.

Step 3: Connect your Accounts

This step isn’t necessary with Samsung watches as you can sign in to the Spotify app on your smartwatch. However, Garmin users now need to sign into their Spotify account in the Connect IQ app. They will then be prompted to connect their accounts.

Step 4: Download Music (or stream on selected Samsung devices)

Now you can access the following folders in your Spotify account:

Playlists

Recently Played

Made for You

Workout

Podcasts

You may be wondering how to do this on a Garmin watch? (I know I was!). You need to hold the ‘Down’ button. This will take you to your library. You’ll see an ‘Add music and Podcasts’ option at the bottom.

Browse through what’s on offer and download your favorite playlists (you’ll need a WiFi connection).

Important Note: You can’t edit playlists or search for new music from your watch. This needs to be done using the full Spotify app on your cell phone or computer.

The Limitations of Spotify on a Smartwatch

Unfortunately, smartwatches with Spotify don’t get the full music streaming experience. It’s a little bit annoying having to download all of your music and podcasts, but in my opinion this is a small price to pay to have music on your wrist!

Here’s the lowdown on the drawbacks you can expect with Spotify smartwatches.

1. You need a premium account.

This is no big deal for those of you that already pay the monthly subscription but for those of you new to the streaming service or that currently use a free account then this could be a dealbreaker.

In order to put music on your smartwatch, you need a paid Spotify Premium subscription. At the time of writing (8/2020), this is currently priced at $9.99. In my opinion, if you listen to a lot of music then this is really good value for money but I’ll let you decide.

2. You can’t stream music (in most cases).

Spotify is by definition a music streaming service but its integration with smartwatches (at this time) isn’t quite the same. You must download music and podcasts to your watch. That means adding and deleting new playlists every time you want to “freshen” things up.

This is a very simple process but it takes time. Especially if you are adding substantial amounts of new material.

However, as you’ll see with the next couple of points too, there are a couple of exceptions.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung Gear S3 Frontier are both available with data plans which enable them to stream music.

3. The amount of music at your disposal is limited to your watches’ memory.

Since you must download music onto your smartwatch (with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy and S3 Frontier, which can stream), the listening material available to you at any one time is limited to the memory capacity of your watch.

Generally speaking, this is around 500 songs but it really depends on the watch and also the file sizes of your songs (higher quality music will take up more space).

Personally, I’ve never found an issue with this limitation. I use my Garmin 245 Music to listen to playlists while running. A five hundred song library is more than enough. I tend to change things up every month once some songs start to get a bit familiar.

4. You can only listen using a Bluetooth connection to external speakers or headphones.

Most of the watches with Spotify that are worth having can only playback your music with some external help. This means you need to connect to headphones or a speaker using a Bluetooth connection.

I pair my Garmin 245 Music with Bose SoundSport wireless headphones for a seamless experience when running.

The exceptions to this are the previously mentioned Samsung pair. They both contain built-in speakers that can play music without needing and external connection. Just be warned, the volume is pretty low and the sound quality isn’t great.

Spotify Alternatives to Consider

There are other music streaming alternatives that are worth considering before you sign up for a subscription. Here’s a quick look at three of the best music streaming platforms for smartwatch use.

Amazon Music – At $9.99 for non-Prime members ($7.99 with Prime membership) and with a library of 50 million songs this is a true Spotify contender. Available on Garmin.

Deezer -3 tiers that range from free up to high definition streaming at $14.99 per month. It has a library of around 60 million songs. Available on Garmin.

Pandora Music – A premium account with access to around 40 million songs costs $9.99 a month. Available on Samsung.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a watch that plays music, then picking a Spotify enabled smartwatch is a great choice.

As a runner, my kit is as lightweight as ever. Previously, in order to listen to music while running, I had my bulky smartphone strapped to my arm. Now, all I need is my smartwatch and wireless headphones.

Just don’t expect the full Spotify experience on smartwatch because it doesn’t yet exist. Smartwatches have a few hurdles to jump before we get that kind of app integration.

Right now, this is as good as it gets when it comes to Spotify on smartwatch. And if you ask us, it’s still amazing!

The Best Smartwatch for Spotify

In our opinion, these are the only three smartwatches with Spotify worth knowing about.

There’s one clear winner in our eyes but the others are worthy alternatives.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music – Our Top Pick

Garmin is incredibly well known and typically considered to be the smartwatch choice of people who love to get outside and exercise.

This smartwatch not only offers an excellent music experience but has GPS to track your every move.

Music Library Size

The Forerunner 245 has 3.5 GB of internal memory which Garmin state should hold around 500 songs. However, I currently have 750 songs and 2-hour long podcast episodes on my watch so this isn’t actually accurate (but in a good way!). I typically freshen the library up every month or so with new podcast episodes and playlists.

How it Works

This Spotify smartwatch requires a premium Spotify account as you need to download the music to your watch. This means that it can’t stream music. You need to synchronize your watch with your smartphone app after selecting the music you want. The synchronization process can take a while if you plan on downloading a lot of music, so it’s best getting this out of the way with plenty of time before your next run.

Another key point to note here is that the watch itself has no audio output ability. It can store the music and play it but there are no built-in speakers. This means it needs to be paired with speakers or headphones via a Bluetooth connection.

I pair mine with Bose wireless headphones for a completely wireless listening experience while running. The connection process takes a few button presses and the connection is always solid.

Interface

The Spotify music controls are reached by holding down the ‘Back’ button for a couple of seconds. This takes you to your music library where you can browse what’s available.

This same procedure takes you to the skip, volume, shuffle, stop, and play controls while you’re listening.

It’s not exactly the smoothest user experience but it’s simple and easy to navigate. Depending on the headphones or speakers that you have paired with the watch, you might be able to control the music player externally through them.

What Else is There?

The Forerunner 245 Music actually does a heck of a lot more than just play music. As this is a Spotify watch guide we won’t go into too much detail but here’s a brief summary of the key features:

Works with iOS and Android

5 ATM waterproof

GPS (and GLONASS mapping)

Heart rate monitor

Pulse Ox sensor

Fitness notifications that can help you understand whether you need to work harder or slow down.

Garmin Coach that will work with you to get fitter and faster

Detailed feedback from all your workouts so you know where you need to put your efforts

Fall and safety detection services that will help you if you find yourself in trouble; this smartwatch will even alert emergency services to come and help you.

Up to 7 days of battery life when in smartwatch mode (up to 24 hours if GPS is in constant use)

Bottom Line: I’ve owned this watch for about 6 months and absolutely love it! If you’re an active person that enjoys listening to music then I highly recommend it. Besides playing music, it’s an awesome fitness tracker that actually encourages you to get out more. It’s the Spotify smartwatch that I’d choose over all others.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung is a household name and well known for its phones, TVs, and other tech. The Galaxy Watch is the perfect choice for fitness activities as well as listening to your music throughout the day. Spotify on a Galaxy watch can be easily downloaded and is simple to access so that you don’t have to fuss around to find it.

The great thing here is that if you have the SIM card enabled version of this watch then you are able to stream music using Spotify. While this sounds really cool, it does significantly drain the battery when you are using 3G and 4G data. I also prefer playing the music through external speakers as the in-built speakers are tiny and don’t sound great.

Until smartwatch battery life improves, I prefer the Garmin Spotify implementation where you pre-download the music. The battery life doesn’t take a huge hit when listening in this way. That being said, I don’t expect everybody to agree with me.

This beautiful watch has a round face and comes in two sizes to fit all wrist types. You can expect to enjoy a full-color display, and the straps are interchangeable so that you can suit your mood to your watch look.

The fitness tracking is really good, and you will be able to swim with the watch on, meaning that you never miss an opportunity to track your progress.

Some other key features include:

Light and thin design so you never notice it on your wrist

Always on display to make it easy to check what is going on in the world

A fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor to keep you up to speed on your progress

A health coach that will work with you to improve your general fitness

A fully customizable screen so that you can get the look you want

Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Watch is the smartwatch to choose if you want to stream music. It’s an awesome watch in general and much more than just a fitness tracker that plays music (which could be said about the Garmin Forerunner).

Apple Watch Series 5

The latest Apple Watch hit the shelves last year and offers a huge range of features that will appeal to anyone that wants to get a new smartwatch.

The Apple Watch is synonymous with Apple Music, but the company does not bar Spotify. Just be prepared for a seriously limited experience.

Apple being Apple currently don’t permit 3rd party apps (ie. non Apple products) to use a cellular or WiFi connection to stream. As you can imagine, this seriously limits what 3rd party apps can achieve on the Apple Watch.

In the case of Spotify, the app is available but it can only act as a controller to control Spotify playback on another connected device. This means no streaming and not even any downloading!

I can understand why they’ve done it. It’ll push more people to use their very own Apple Music streaming service (which has full streaming capabilities with a premium subscription). However, it’s a pretty annoying tactic that we’ve come to expect from Apple.

Third-party apps may well receive more support in the future but for now, Apple Music is the only streaming service worth using on the Apple Watch.

Otherwise, it’s a seriously awesome watch that’s got the best user interface we’ve seen on a smartwatch so far. A couple of other criticisms can be aimed at the price and battery life, but all in this is a really cool piece of tech.

Some of the most sought-after features of the Apple Watch Series 5 include:

An in-built GPS system to track wherever you go

An Always-On screen, so there is no more pushing buttons to check the time

An ECG app to check your heart health whenever it takes your fancy

An in-built compass

A bigger screen than ever before

Bottom Line: There’s a big compromise to make here if you simply must use Spotify. But, if you’re willing to make the switch to Apple Music you get the full streaming ability and a real quality wrist-piece.

Conclusion

If you want music on your watch there are few decent choices right now, but smartwatches with Spotify are leading the way.

However, there are a few different implementations of Spotify on smartwatches that you need to be aware of.

There are those that can stream, those that can only download to internal memory, and those that simply work as an extended remote control.

It depends what you’re personally looking for but for me, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music does a brilliant job. It’s a smartwatch with offline Spotify access that relies on downloading and storing the music internally via a smartphone. This might not be for everyone (try the Samsung Galaxy or Apple Watch if so) but for a runner like myself, it’s now an essential piece of tech.

Remember, other very good music streaming services exist too. If you’re an Apple fan then switching over to Apple Music and streaming with an Apple Watch Series 5 is a great way to get music on your smartwatch too.

Recommended: Which smartwatch is best for music playback?

The post The Best Smartwatch for Spotify [Plus 2 Awesome Alternatives] appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

via Find Your Smartwatch

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Smartwatches have rocketed from a fringe piece of technology with limited uses back in the early 2010s to a very important component of any discerning technophile’s arsenal.

A recent development has seen the rise in popularity of standalone smartwatches.

A standalone smartwatch with SIM can make and receive calls without a phone being at hand. This offers complete independence from bulky smartphones that sometimes just get in the way. 

In today’s guide, we uncover the top 5 smartwatches that function as standalone devices.

We’ll be including the top android smartphone watches as well as iOS based devices.

They’re each equipped to work with their own SIM card (or eSIM) and don’t need to be tethered to a phone to work.

Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means at no additional cost to you, we may make a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Comparison Table

Check out our top 3 compared in this table. Read on to find out about each watch in more detail below.

Model

Key Features

Price

Our Top Pick

Apple Watch Series 5

5/5

Cellular connection

GPS

Swimproof

Heart sensor

Awesome Apple OS

Samsung Galaxy S3

4/5

Cellular connection

Classic style

Auto activity tracking

Samsung Apps

Ticwatch Pro

3.5/5

Cellular connection

GPS

Very Durable

5 Recommended Standalone Smartwatches (With SIM)

In our opinion, these are the only smartwatches with SIM capability that are worth knowing about.

Read on to see why we think they’re worth taking a close look at.

Apple Watch Series 5 – Our Top Pick

The Apple Watch Series 5 isn’t just one model but covers a few different options with different casings and sizes.

Some models are smaller 40mm watches and two are larger at 44mm, but both can feature GPS and 4G connectivity.

Here, we’ll be checking out the Apple Watch 5 Series models that are cellular-enabled.

There is also an LTE-enabled (4G) version. These are available on all major US carriers: 

AT&T

Appalachian

C Spire

Sprint Wireless

T-Mobile USA

US Cellular

Verizon Wireless

Xfinity4

These Apple watches are cellular-enabled, though you must own an iPhone which shares a plan with the smartwatch. Your carrier will offer a plan which supports this.

Cellular-enabled smartwatches like this allow you to make calls, texts, receive data, e.g. social media and weather updates, access maps, and use Apple Music, all without your phone.  

This is commonly rated as the best LTE smartwatch around for many reasons. Let’s find out why.

Design 

This watch just looks great! It’s not exactly quintessentially Apple – it’s hard to brand a smartwatch in many ways – but the round-edged screen and smooth case are a giveaway.

It’s not large, heavy, or cumbersome, but it has a good weight to it and feels good on the wrist like a solid piece of technology should. 

The watch is dustproof and waterproof to a depth of 50m, which every good watch should be, to be honest. You can wear it while swimming with no issues at all.

The metal wrist strap is solid and feels comfortable. The build quality is overall exceptional, even for the entry-level cellular-enabled Apple Watch 5 Series watches. By paying more, you can even get your hands on titanium versions or ceramic versions from fashion houses like Hermes. 

Battery Life

The big issue with Apple Watches in the past has been battery life. Advanced features like 4G connectivity and GPS tracking just drain energy like nothing else.

So how does the 5 Series do?

Well, its better but it’s not the huge improvement many were looking for. The battery life is about a day and a half tops.

Turning off the new always-on display gets a bit more life out of it, but the difference isn’t huge.

Features

The Series 5 is a smartwatch with SIM card that comes with shed loads of apps. Most of these revolve around practical day-to-day problems, e.g. calculating bills, payments of even tips using the calculator app as well as Apple Pay, a quality compass, and maps. 

The health diagnostics tools are advanced including an ECG function, heart rate, and exercise tracker.

The 16m HD display is crystal clear and you can always see the time, even in bright sunlight. It features an ‘always on’ display that makes it feel more like a traditional watch. This can be toggled on and off should you wish to save a bit of extra battery life though.

The Apple Watch 5 has access to compatible iOS apps which gives users quite the choice when it comes to third-party apps, though this is perhaps still limited compared to Google Wear apps.

In many ways, the Apple Watch 5 does what it needs to do with perfection, though, and there is no need to go flicking through 3rd party apps to get the most of the watch.

It has everything you need to track health and fitness in excellent detail and some very useful extras, like ‘fall detection’ which has saved people’s lives. 

Headline Features

4G and LTE cellular-enabled

Heart rate monitor and ECG

Waterproof to 50m 

16m color 448 x 368 pixels OLED screen

‘Always On’ display

Pros 

Awesome build quality 

4G LTE-enabled

Health apps are highly useful 

Apple user interface is amazing

Cons

Amongst the pricier smartwatches

Need an iPhone to share a cellular plan with

Battery

Bottom Line The Apple Watch Series 5 is the best standalone smartwatch around for a number of reasons. For a start, there’s the tremendous screen fidelity, well-designed apps, exceptional build quality, and Apple style. For iPhone users, they’re a no-brainer. For Android users, well, you might just be tempted over if you can test one of these for a few days! There’s nothing not to like and Apple has managed to build a wearable device that only Apple can trump with the Apple Watch 6 Series (whenever that appears).

Samsung Gear S3

The original Samsung Gear S2 was initially only available as a tethered smartwatch that couldn’t function independently of a paired Samsung smartphone.

In 2016, it was reintroduced as an Android cellular watch that is 3G/4G enabled and can indeed be used independently from a tethered phone.

It was initially a smartwatch with SIM card slot but it now uses an eSIM like all other smartwatches in this review.

It’s worth mentioning that this version also features GPS which was sorely missed from the original. 

The Samsung Gear S3 is available for the following US carriers as a supported standalone device:

AT&T

Sprint

T-Mobile USA

Verizon 

Like other cellular-enabled smartwatches, the Samsung Gear S3 can function independently of a paired Samsung phone.

This allows you to access maps, travel info, weather and social media, etc, as well as calls and messages, all without your phone.

It is only compatible with Samsung devices released after the Galaxy 6 as well as other Android devices of sufficient spec. 

Design

The Samsung Gear S3 is a sport-style watch with a distinctly circular dial. It’s worth noting that there is a classic version available too which is also cellular-enabled.

The classic version of the watch adds a different style bezel and leather straps giving it a far more traditional look. 

The Samsung Gear is fairly chunky but not overly so. It’s comfy and snug – vital for its purpose as a fitness and sports watch.

Overall, it has a futuristic look with its circular design and this also provides a rotating bezel feature that allows you to navigate the watch very easily, allowing you to scroll apps using a rotational movement.

This reminds me of the old iPod scrolling system sometimes and works really well as an additional form of input.

Features

The AMOLED screen itself looks great and is exceptionally easy to view at all angles even in high sunlight.

The always-on style screen allows it to display a dimmed but still easily viewable version of the time – much like a classic LCD Casio watch. This keeps the watch inconspicuous and inoffensive when it isn’t in use. 

The watch will then detect when you’re looking at it, increasing the screen brightness. This saves battery and means your watch isn’t always running in an overly brightened state. 

One of the key feature-sets of this watch is its pairing with the S-Health apps, allowing you to track exercise, heart rates, HRV, etc.

S-Health offers an impressive array of diagnostic tools and coaching plans. It’s safe to say that health and fitness tracking have become some of the primary benefits of owning a smartwatch and the Samsung Gear S3 doesn’t disappoint in this area.

Headline Features

3G/4G cellular-enabled

Bezel navigation feature

Extensive sports tracking

Always-on screen

Modern styling

AMOLED screen

Pros

Rotating bezel for quality navigation 

S-Health integration 

GPS and 3G/4G 

Cons

The operating system Tizen is slightly limited by available apps

The modern look isn’t for everyone

Bottom Line For Android users, this is an awesome active watch with some great functionality and an impressive bezel navigation feature. It’s modern and stylish and will appeal to many types of users. The S-Health service gives plenty of options for users to get their teeth into.   

Ticwatch Pro

The Ticwatch Pro is an awesome high-spec smartwatch built by Chinese company Mobvoi.

Formerly just a tethered smartwatch for Android devices that didn’t work independently, this watch now functions as a standalone piece of tech and can be used as a phone and communications device without a paired smartphone nearby. 

This smartwatch uses the Google Wear OS and so it’s compatible with a wider range of apps than most smartwatches. It is available in 4G LTE versions too.

The Ticwatch Pro is available only on Verizon in the US.

Design

This smartwatch looks great with a top-mounted bezel available in silver or black. It’s fairly sporty overall but will please traditionalists also with a faux-leather strap with soft silicone underside.

There are 23 preloaded clock faces that give users a huge choice from digital to analog-style displays with or without extra info (e.g. weather, emails). 

Overall, it’s pretty mature and inconspicuous and looks neither too boring and corporate or too sporty.

You would have to say that it is more masculine and less unisex than some other smartwatches, though. 

Features

This smartwatch is feature-packed and benefits from the strengths of Google’s own wearables OS named Google Wear.

That means users can access many more apps than they would through Samsung’s own OS Tizen. This smartwatch is integrated with Google Maps and works wonderfully for navigation. 

The Ticwatch Pro has its own fitness app, though you can use Google Fit. The custom fitness app named Fitness Pro is very detailed with automated workout detection, heart rate, and HRV calculators and route mapping. 

Like other standalone smartwatches, health functionality is often the main selling point and the Ticwatch Pro excels in this area.

Another area this watch excels is in its battery life which can extend up to 30 days when running in ‘essential mode’. It can withstand up to 5 days with moderate use, much better than most other smartwatches.

A Snapdragon processor generally keeps things quick, though the watch does suffer from some lag when using its particularly complex or strenuous features. 

Headline Features

1.39 inch OLED screen – 400 x 400 pixels 

4G and LTE connectivity 

Runs Google Wear OS for flexibility and choice

Up to 30 days battery life

Quality metal design 

Waterproof to 1.5m for 30 minutes

Pros

Cheap for spec

Exceptional battery life 

Runs Google Wear OS – big choice of apps

Cons

Somewhat laggy on occasion 

Thicker built than some smartwatches

Bottom Line Powerful, cheap, and flexible, this smartwatch will appeal to many Google purists who like to access 3rd party apps. It’s a bit clunky and thick but it’s powerful and offers a lot for the money. The only other gripe is that its processor can’t always grasp modern 3rd party apps available for Google Wear. At the end of the day, though, this watch sets a high standard for Android smartwatches. At a pretty fair price too.

Recommended: Need a modern wrist-piece that plays music? Don’t miss our guide to the best smartwatch with Spotify!

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

Samsung’s second major recent entrant into the smartwatch market, the Galaxy Watch Active2 builds upon the original Galaxy Watch to add a sophisticated and refined feature-set that is fully cellular-enabled.

A powerful smartwatch with extensive fitness and health features, this is the biggest challenger to the Apple Series 5 smartwatch. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is currently available with the following US carriers:

AT&T

T-Mobile USA

US Cellular

Verizon 

As a cellular-enabled device that runs 4G and LTE, this smartwatch can be used independently of a connected Samsung phone.

It uses an updated version of Samsung’s wearables OS named Tizen and this runs precisely and smoothly. 

Design 

Key to Samsung branding, this smartwatch features a round display available in 40mm or 44mm sizes. It’s minimalist, sleek, and far more unisex in design than the Samsung Gear S2.

The fluoroelastomer band is very comfortable, chafe-free, and easily sized to any wrist. It’s perfect for wearing during intense physical activity. 

Overall, this watch does look sporty and sleek but it’s quite mature in looks and as mentioned, it will appeal to both men and women, which is crucial compared to the overly masculine Samsung Gear S2 and potentially feminine Apple Watch Series 5.

The rotary bezel navigation feature is superb and allows users to browse the watch’s apps and menus with fluidity. 

Features

First and foremost, this lightning-fast dual-core smartwatch is impressively fast and breezes through any task.

This couples with a Super-AMOLED screen that is near unparalleled in viewability. The colors are deep and rich, the interface precise and even intricate apps are easily controllable using its superbly responsive touchscreen. 

Like other smartwatches, many of the headline features of the Samsung Galaxy Active2 are health-related. The Samsung S-Health app is well integrated and allows for automated workout tracking.

It has an ECG function and advanced heart rate tracking including HRV tracking. Battery life is also superb, lasting for 2 days with moderate to heavy use. 

Headline Features

4G and LTE enabled 

Excellent Tizen OS

Powerful processor and RAM

340 x 340 pixel AMOLED screen 

2 to 3-day battery life

Digital navigation bezel

Pros

Unisex design 

Good selection of apps

Superb battery life

Cons

3rd party apps limited by Tizen 

Pricey 

Bottom Line Very well designed and with a flagship-level spec, this smartwatch is hard to beat for Android users. It’s powerful and features impressive features for fitness and health. The digital bezel makes navigation fluid and overall functionality is impressive. Some may be disappointed to learn this watch isn’t sufficiently waterproof for swimming. 

Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music

Garmin has been through a process of reassessing their products since smartphones took over satnavs and other navigation devices.

Naturally then, they’ve entered the smartwatch market with some impressive contenders that are angled towards health, fitness, and outdoor activity. The newer Vivoactive 3 Music is 4G and LTE enabled. 

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music is available on Verizon in the US.

As a 4G-enabled cellular device, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music can function independently of a phone. It uses Garmin Connect to connect with apps installed on either iOS or Android devices.

This is great as it helps users relay health and fitness data to their phone or even their PC for more detailed analysis. 

Design 

This smartwatch is stylish but quite utilitarian. It isn’t designed for high-street fashionistas but outdoorsy types. It’s fairly unisex despite being quite bulky with a metal bezel.

The strap is comfortable and overall, you can certainly say this watch seems a great companion for physical exercise. 

Instead of the bezel acting as a nav system like with Samsung smartwatches, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music features a side-swipe nav function where users can brush the sides of the watch to flick through menus. It works well and allows for fluid navigation.

Features

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music is geared up well for fitness and health usage. A great quality optical heart sensor helps give accurate measurements on HRV as well as VO2 max and other fitness readings.

It can detect stress throughout the day and features a de-stress function to help users calm down when it detects high stress. 

The screen is slightly larger than others at 1.2 inches but it’s 240 x 240 pixels which is lower definition than other smartwatches here. Nevertheless, it offers great colors and is viewable in high sunlight.

Battery life is impressive at upwards of 5 days. It’s also waterproof to 50m which is great news for outdoorsy types and swimmers. It tops it all off with an impressive fall detection software named ‘incident detection’. 

Headline Features

4G and GPS 

Waterproof to 50m 

Excellent battery life

Garmin Sports and fitness coaching features

Side-swipe navigation

Incident detection

Pros

Exceptional as a fitness device

Pairs with iOS and Android

Higher-than-average battery life

Cons

Limited apps

Display resolution

Bottom Line This acts primarily as a fitness and sports smartwatch and Garmin offers some excellent tracking software to give a detailed picture of your fitness progress. This coupled with excellent battery life creates a smartwatch fit for the adventurer. Advanced incident detection further augments this smartwatch’s appeal to a certain demographic. 

Conclusion

There are 5 awesome standalone smartwatches on display here. It’s hard to split them in many ways and each will likely appeal to a different type of user. 

Overall, the Apple Series 5 is very hard to beat, and at the moment, it’s in Apple’s hands and Apple’s hands only to better it. 

Of the Android devices, Samsung, as ever, has a strong hand. The Ticwatch Pro will appeal to value hunters who don’t like the idea of using Samsung’s own wearables OS, though. 

The Garmin Vivoactive no doubt boasts very strong credentials for those primarily interested in the practical use of a smartwatch as an exercise and adventure companion. 

Whichever way you go, you won’t be disappointed! 

Recommended: We recommend the toughest smartwatches in our latest guide.

Buyer’s Guide

Smartwatches are still pretty new on the technology scene but are starting to build a solid user base as new models bring more and more useful features to our wrists.

The watch has always been a natural area of innovation and as screen sizes and batteries shrunk, manufacturers and brands have been able to create powerful gadgets that fit in the same space as a traditional watch. 

Today, smartwatches are powerful devices in their own right, some with dual-core processors and over 1GB of RAM. They can run increasingly technical tasks and are faster than ever. 

Standalone or Tethered?

Smartwatches that offer the core functions of smartphones can be divided into two broad types:

Tethered smartwatches

Standalone smartwatches

Tethered smartwatches work only as a smartphone accessory and rely on Bluetooth to connect to a phone and share functions.

This is sufficient for those looking to receive messaging alerts and calls but ultimately, it means you have to keep your smartwatch within Bluetooth range of your phone to get any decent level of functionality. 

Standalone watches instead use their own SIM card or eSIM to function independently of a phone.

You used to be able to buy a standalone watch with a SIM card slot but eSIMs have taken over. A standalone watch with a SIM card is the same as one with an eSIM, it just doesn’t feature a physical SIM. 

Standalone eSIM technology allows the cellular smartwatch to receive messages and calls when you don’t have your phone to hand and they can connect to wireless services like maps and music. 

Essentially, you get a 4G LTE smartwatch that can make calls without a phone.

Standalone watch phones have become excellent tools for life on the go, helping us keep in touch with others whilst reducing our reliance on smartphones. 

Another term for these types of smartwatches is ‘cellular-enabled’. You still tether them to a phone in order to share information but they feature WiFi and/or wireless 3G, 4G, or LTE technology so they can connect to wireless networks. 

The LTE smartwatch is quite a recent thing so check any models you’re interested in if you need this feature. For some smartwatches, like the Apple Watch Series 5, you may need to pay more for a model that supports LTE technology.

The best LTE smartwatch available right now is probably the Apple Series 5 watch but there are many more coming onto the market for Android. 

What can a Cellular Smartwatch Do?

A cellular smartwatch is best described as a smartwatch that functions also as its own phone and wireless device. 

You can leave the house without your phone and remain in contact with wireless services like maps, calls, and messaging.

Smartwatches have really come into their own as health and fitness devices that enabled users to run, swim, cycle, and go to the gym without worrying about having their phone in their pocket or locker. 

Cellular smartwatches usually integrate with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or equivalent services and are perfect for life on the go.

Many feature extra apps that allow users to track everything from spending to routes and journeys, calories, sleep, and steps.

They can connect to Bluetooth headsets for handsfree calling when driving and are compatible with Bluetooth head and earphones for music and audio playback. 

Do you need to switch your SIM card over?

Some smartwatches accept their own physical SIM card, allowing you to add your smartwatch to an existing carrier plan or run it off its own plan but increasingly, smartwatches use eSIM cards, or embedded SIMs, which mean you don’t need to add another physical SIM card to your smartwatch.

eSIMs can be registered to the same carrier as your phone, thus combining your calls, texts and data plans and limits. Your smartwatch essentially ‘bolts on’ to your plan and shares its features. 

What about Fees?

Fees do depend on the carrier but for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, the free structure is similar.

A compatible smartwatch available on that carrier must be synced to the number of the phone in an existing plan.

This means the smartwatch and phone will share the same number, even when used independently of each other. 

There is generally an additional monthly cost of at least $10 (for AT&T and Verizon), depending on the plan, and also a one-off activation fee of around $30.

Your smartwatch may have a data use limit of its own depending on how it’s added to the plan, but usually, your watch and the phone will share the same plan. 

Battery Life

Standard watches last on the same batteries for years, so how do smartwatches compare?

As you might expect, smartwatches need to be charged regularly – they are powerful devices with processors and screens after all.

Smartwatches can be expected to last for around 2 days without a recharge. Some watches, like the Ticwatch Pro, can last for 30 days in power-saving mode.

It just depends on how often you’re using your watch and what features you use.

A light user may only need to recharge once a week whereas someone who goes for 1 – 2 hour runs daily with their watch monitoring their heart rate whilst playing music and making phone calls will need daily charges. 

Are They Easy to Use?

Smartwatches haven’t always been easy to use largely due to their small screens.

However, they’ve now become user-friendly with bright, hi-def screens that are highly responsive to touch and gestures.

Some smartwatches, like the Samsung Gear S2 and S3, feature a rotary bezel that can be used to easily browse menus. 

Others like the Garmin Vivoactive 3 feature a side-swipe feature that allows you to flick through menus with ease. 

There is a fiddly element to smartwatches but they’re gadgets after all. With a bit of practice, there’s no reason why anyone wouldn’t be able to get used to one. 

Ease of use also depends on what operating system you enjoy. An Android cellular watch will use Google software whereas an Apple watch will use an iOS-based system.

If you’ve used an Apple device before you’ll be aware of how good they are at making intuitive user interfaces.

Are they Built to Last?

Normal watches usually feature IP ratings that measure whether they are dustproof and waterproof and smartwatches are the same.

At least, most modern smartwatches are dustproof and splashproof. Some, like the Garmin Vivoactive 3 and Apple Watch Series 5 are waterproof to depths of 50m. 

Scratch-proof screens made from Gorilla Glass or equivalents help make smartwatches durable despite their fragile electrical contents.

The answer is to buy a smartwatch that suits your lifestyle and expected uses. If you want to go hiking, swimming and climbing then invest in a smartwatch that is sufficiently waterproof and features a metal casing with a strong IP rating. 

Summary

Smartwatches are becoming an increasingly popular member of our tech and gadget arsenals and with good reason.

They’re useful, convenient, cool, and help motivate us to make positive changes with our health.

It’s fair to say this has become a chief selling point of the smartwatch. They help us keep track of our lifestyle and can help coach us to exercise more and eat better.

Health diagnostic tools further help us keep in touch with ourselves and some models even extend this to sleep tracking and mental health, which is awesome. 

If you have any questions about any of the watches we’ve covered today then make sure and leave us a message down below!

The post 5 Best Standalone Smartwatches with SIM Cards appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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There are some serious benefits that come with owning a smartwatch but they aren’t without their flaws either.

In this article, we’ve put together a balanced argument for and against owning smartwatches in 2020.

Our honest guide is aimed at helping you make the right purchasing decision.

Smartwatches aren’t for everyone and we’ll find out which type of person they benefit in this article.

The Benefits of a Smartwatch

Take a look through our selection of the top reasons to get a smartwatch:

Healthy Living Sorted

When you purchase a smartwatch, you are getting full access to a huge range of fitness tracking software that will help you reach your goals as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Each smartwatch offers slightly different features, but you can be pretty certain that you will be able to track many different types of exercise as well as utilize in-built wellbeing features.

The fitness features will also track your steps and heart rate so that you can be fully aware of how healthy your heart is at all times and know when you reach that all-important fat burn zone.

If you are working on getting fitter, then a smartwatch is an excellent choice every time.

Notifications on Your Wrist

For many people, it is important to be in touch with the world at all times; whether it’s waiting for that important email, getting news updates, or knowing when to stand up and move, we all want to be kept informed.

One of the best smartwatch benefits is that they can be personalized to notify you of the way you want and when you want.

You don’t have to accept all notifications and can select app by app, so you know when the notification comes through that, it is something that really matters.

Some smartwatches also let you personalize the way you are notified, and let you choose between vibration, on-screen notice, or both.

This is great if you want your notifications to be totally discreet, especially when you don’t want them to disrupt others.

Keeping in Touch with the World

While smartwatches will never replace phones, we can now expect them to help us out when it comes to calls and text messages.

All smartphones will notify you of incoming calls and texts so that you don’t miss that important call you’ve been waiting for.

More modern smartwatches will even let you answer calls and reply to texts so that you don’t have to hunt for your phone every time it goes off.

This is a particularly useful option if you want to go out for a run and have either left your phone at home or sealed it away in an arm strap.

You can even answer your call on your phone and transfer it if it turns out to be longer than first expected.

These standalone smartwatches are great for those that hate the extra bulk that smartphones add to your pockets these days.

Entertainment Central

The next on our list of reasons to get a smartwatch is the entertainment facilities that come preinstalled.

You can connect your headphones and play your favorite tunes with no hassle. You are not restricted to one music provider either as each smartwatch has apps ready to download, leaving you free to keep your options open until you find the one that works best for you.

Not only can you access music streaming services on your smartwatch, but you can listen to the radio, fitness workouts, and podcasts, meaning that your entertainment choices can be wholly unique to you.

On Trend

It may sound superficial, but being on trend is hugely important to most of us, and whilst we may not admit it, we all want to fit in with the latest trends.

Owning a smartwatch allows you access to the exclusive world of wearables, and you can take your time to choose the right timepiece for your personality.

There are so many manufacturers and so many choices that you can get the perfect smartwatch for you with ease.

If you really want to be bang on trend, then it is worth surfing social media to check out what your favorite celebs are wearing on their wrists and then getting the same or similar smartwatch. Before you know it, you will be the envy of your friends.

Read Next: Find out how a smartwatch works.

Waterproof – Mostly

Being able to jump in the shower, swim, or run in the rain are all realistic options when you own a smartwatch.

The majority of mainstream smartwatches offer water-resistance protection so that you won’t find that your smartwatch is spoiled by the weather.

If you are wondering ‘is a smartwatch worth it?’ then the fact that you can also swim with it may sway your decision.

You can take it to the pool and monitor your lengths and stroke choices, or you can relax in the sea, bobbing around until your heart is content.

Either way, be certain to check the resistance depth offered, as not all watches will stand up to the same levels of pressure.

There’s a big difference between ‘waterproof’ and ‘water resistant’ too. Manufacturers are often careful to avoid using the term ‘waterproof’. If you do watersports or swim then just ‘water resistant’ simply won’t do.

Most smartwatches including the new Applewatches are built with swimming in mind and don’t mind being submerged under water.

Pay Your Way

One of the greatest assets give to us with a smartwatch is the ability to pay from the device.

All smartwatch providers have committed to offering this service, and it makes life a whole lot easier at the drive-thru or when you want to go and grab a coffee with all the hassle of digging around for your wallet.

Smartwatches need you to be signed into the screen, and all you need to do is hold the watch up to the payment reader in order to get your transaction processed.

Emergency Support

Many of us enjoy going out for a walk or run to clear our heads but often forget about the dangers of doing this alone.

With the latest smartwatches, you can expect them to recognize when you have taken a fall and notify emergency services if you are unresponsive.

This ability will share details of your location so that you can get help as soon as it is needed, making you safer when you are next enjoying a jog.

If you are left wondering what are the benefits of smartwatches, then you need to know that most models tend to offer an emergency call feature so that if you find yourself in a situation that has turned bad, you can alert the emergency services to allow you to get help.

This feature has been incredibly popular with parents of teenagers, and it’s also been well received as an asset for women when out alone.

The Drawbacks of a Smartwatch

With every positive comes a negative, and whilst smartwatches are hugely popular, they also come with some serious negatives.

Here are our smartwatch drawbacks to consider:

Cost

Although smartwatches are a great accessory to have when you see the price tag, you need to consider are smartwatches worth it and how will you afford to purchase one.

The most popular ones sell for a lot of money, and to get all the features that you want, you will need to be willing to part with some serious cash.

Furthermore, if you plan on getting a smartwatch with built-in SIM card for taking and recieving calls then you’ll be paying a monthly subscription too.

Many people find the cost prohibitive but also feel it is excessive. Luxury watches have long been known for costing inordinate amounts of money, but when you compare the finesse of a Rolex to a modern smartwatch, the latter can pale into insignificance.

Battery Life

Being able to wear a watch for more than a day is purely aspirational when it comes to smartwatches. Many boast fays of wear but neglect to tell you that this is only accurate if you aren’t using all the smart features installed.

Most smartwatches will get you through the day, and some will even take you through the night, but the reality is they are going to need to be charged within twenty-four hours.

This necessity can be a difficult path to traverse, as we all want to access all the fantastic insights that come with sleep tracking, step counting, and fitness mapping.

When you take your smartwatch off, you cease to track anything until you put it back on, leaving you in a quandary of when the best time is to get it recharged and ready to go.

If you’re looking for a smartwatch with significant battery life then don’t miss our guide to hybrid watches.

Interface

One huge drawback for me with smartwatches is the user interface. With current technology, it just seems like an impossible task to create a truly fluid interface that doesn’t get on your nerves at some point.

Smartwatch touchscreens are decent but limited by their size, and who wants to be pressing buttons in 2020?

Apple and Samsung have made decent strides with gesture and voice controls but these are still in their infancy and won’t be fully developed for a few years.

I guess this is just the trade off (for now) that you have to make when buying a smartwatch. They’re amazing for certain things but truly limited in others. If we hadn’t been spoiled by the slick interfaces on modern smartphones then we wouldn’t be even mentioning this but it’s a fact and it’s probably my biggest pet hate with smartwatches.

Constantly Updated

It’s also important to question is a smartwatch worth it when you find yourself out of date a week after you have purchased one.

The sad reality is that tech is moving so fast, and new developments are launched almost on a daily basis.

As such, you can expect to need to install numerous updates on a regular basis and then find yourself longing for the latest device on the market.

Before you jump into buying yourself a shiny new smartwatch, it is well worth taking the time to consider if the model is precisely what you want and how you will cope if an upgraded version hits the shops next week.

One way around this is to look into all freshly announced tech, you may find your perfect smartwatch is a month away from being released, and so it is better to wait for that then it is to settle for second best and end up with regrets.

Conclusion

In our opinion, smartwatches are more worth it than ever.

It’s true that they can be expensive if you go with the more popular brands like Apple, Garmin, or Samsung. But, value can be found too. Watches like the Xiaomi Amazfit Bip buck the trend and provide real quality without the price tag.

Battery life is no longer the huge problem it once was either. The first Apple watch for example, was dogged by poor battery life that put many consumers off smartwatches altogether.

Solid watches released in the last 12 months should last 24 hours at a minimum. I recently purchased a Garmin Forerunner 245 Music and I charge it every 3 or 4 days and that’s with using GPS and Bluetooth regularly.

What do you think? We’d love to hear from you down in the comments section!

The post Are Smartwatches Really Worth it in 2021? appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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Always assumed a quality smartwatch was out of your budget? Think again!

There’s now an enormous choice of budget smartwatches that are less than $50 – and in some cases, you’ll have dollars to spare.

This doesn’t mean settling for something substandard; if you know what to look for it’s possible to pick up an absolute bargain that delivers outstanding performance.

We’re going to run through five of the best smartwatches on the market that are under $50, with hints and tips about what to look for.

Recommended Smartwatches Under $50

These are the essential smartwatches for under 50 dollars. We’ll start with our favorite.

Top Pick – TicWatch GTX

A smartwatch under $50 doesn’t have to mean compromises, as the TicWatch GTX proves. An all-round excellent performer, the TicWatch comes loaded with features that you’d expect to see on a more expensive model.

The TicWatch won’t bust your bank balance but you can have the best of both worlds. It’s made by Mobvoi, a manufacturer renowned for quality items that also offer a sense of style. This budget smartwatch looks appealing, and offers the ability to change watch faces, should you want a different look.

Battery power is always a good place to start and the TicWatch will give you a full 10 days if you’re in power saving mode. In regular mode, you’ll still get seven days of use before a recharge is needed.

Is this the longest battery life in the market? No. But it’s also better than some others, and long enough not to be irritating.

For those interesting in tracking fitness, a TicHealth app with 14 integrated exercise modes is an excellent feature. All the usual modes are included as well as some of the less common forms of exercise so you can measure your activity very accurately.

The heart monitor can track your heart rate while you’re working out, but also while you’re asleep. Wear your watch while you’re napping and it can identify light and deep sleep cycles, giving you unparalleled information about the quality of zzz’s you’re getting.

With so many other features, it’s easy to forget about the basics but TicWatch can also handle call and messaging notifications. It’s a one-way system so you’ll need to get your phone out if you want to respond. You can also receive alerts for other applications that you set up, such as calendar, weather and social media.

Key features:

Uses Realtime OS

Battery life: 10 days

Certified as waterproof to IP68

TicHealth app with 14 exercise modes

Sleep tracking and heart monitor

One-way notifications for calls, SMS and social media applications

Our conclusion: If you didn’t see the price tag, you’d think this watch was much more expensive. Its feature-packed design competes with smartwatches which are several times more expensive! Offering far more than just the basics, the TicWatch GTX is our pick for combining affordability and smart function.

Wildcard – Amazfit Bip

Stylishly simple, the Amazfit Bip has the same modern appearance as an Apple Watch but costs just a fraction of the price. It’s also crammed full of handy functions which you wouldn’t expect to see on a watch for under $50.

The blank screen of a smartwatch is a controversial design feature for many. The Bip sidesteps that with the always-on face, meaning you won’t have to tap or touch your watch and wait for it to wake up.

You might think that the always-on feature would drain the battery but that’s not the case. The Bip has a market-leading 45-day battery life which means you could go on vacation for six weeks and not have to worry.

One of the reasons that this smartwatch has such a phenomenal battery is because it draws on outdoor light to reduce battery use. The brighter the natural light, the lower the drain on the battery. This reflective color display ensures that the display remains clear while preserving battery power.

If you like spending time outdoors exercising, the Bip offers a myriad of sports and fitness trackers. There are reminders to get moving if you’ve been stationary for too long, plus detailed feedback and sports modes which measure heart rate, duration, distance and speed.

Consolidating its reputation as a smartwatch that is well-suited to adventuring, the Amazfit Bip includes an integrated GPS. This only uses a third of the usual power, thanks to the advanced Sony GPS chip.

Messaging and call notifications don’t get overlooked with the one-way alert system. Set it up for your social media, calendar and other features, but as a budget model, you’ll need to get your phone out if you want to respond.

Key features:

Available in a range of colors

Stylish

Fitness and multi-sport tracker

Battery life: 45 days

Integrated GPS

Heart rate monitoring

Lightweight for comfortable wear

One way alerts for phone calls, emails and SMS messages

Notifications for social media, WhatsApp, Slack and other compatible mobile apps

Our conclusion: The Amazfit Bip ticks all the boxes you need, and many more that you don’t with comprehensive features at a ridiculously tiny price. Phenomenal battery life is the standout feature but there are many reasons to pick this smartwatch over ones which are several times its price. 

Best for Fitness – Amazfit Band 5

If you like all the features on the Amazfit Bip but want to focus on your fitness even more, the Amazfit Band 5 might be a good alternative. Loaded with many of the same functions as the Bip, the Band 5 has some useful extras not readily found elsewhere.

There are 11 sports modes to track your performance which includes running, cycling, rowing and also swimming. It’s water-resistant to 5ATM so you can wear your watch in the pool without any problem.

It can be difficult to collate all of the data from your exercise but the Huami-PAI health assessment system makes it easy. It converts data from your activities and heart rate into a single score to enable you to understand your health more easily.

There’s an extra function specifically designed for women: the menstrual cycle tracker. This helps you to keep track of your ovulation and menstrual cycle and receive alerts and notifications.

Staying healthy isn’t just about physical exercise, it’s also about your mental wellbeing. A stress monitoring feature checks your stress levels and guides you through breathing exercises when needed. 

The heart rate tracker is essential for exercise, to make sure you’re in the right zone. But this heart tracker works 24/7 so you’ll get feedback about your heart rate whenever you want. The BopTracker 2 PPG is a precise tool and includes automatic warnings about high heart rate when detected.

There’s also a blood oxygen saturation tracker, a premium tool not often found on budget smartwatches. It can be useful when you’re at altitude or in a low-oxygen environment but it’s also handy when you’re carrying out hard physical work or feeling below par.

The Band 5 has a huge focus on health, fitness and wellbeing but it has all the functions of a regular smartwatch too. Alexa is automatically integrated so you can benefit from all the usual features – on your wrist!

Key features:

Battery life: 15 days

Integrated Alexa

Customizable watch faces

Blood oxygen saturation monitor

24/7 Heart rate monitor and sleep tracker

Health assessment system

11 sports modes

Female health tracking

Water-resistant to 5 ATM

Our conclusion: We’ve checked the price on this smartwatch more than once as it’s hard to believe it’s less than $50! For fitness freaks and anyone who just wants to be more active, this smartwatch has everything you need – and more.

Best of the Rest – Yamay Smartwatch

For an all-round smartwatch that’s compatible with both Android and Apple, the Yamay hits the sweet spot while still costing substantially less than $50. Incredibly good value, it’s packed with a whole host of features which wouldn’t look out of place on a more expensive model.

Whether you’re an Apple-lover or an Android fan, you can pair up with the Yamay. It’s compatible with iOS 9.0 and above as well as Android 5.0 and higher. This includes smartphones, iPads and tablets.

By pairing your smartwatch with your phone, you can receive notifications of calls, SMS messages and other social media alerts. Like many other budget watches, this is a one-way system so you won’t be able to respond without pulling your phone out.

The fitness tracker is excellent, with 13 different sports modes. As well as the usual suspects like walking, running and cycling, there are also modes such as ping pong, rugby and alpinism. If you need a hand to get going, the sedentary reminder will let you know when you’ve been stationary for too long.

A heart rate monitor is included in the package which provides valuable feedback on your exercise performance. It monitors your heart rate 24/7 so you can check your resting heart rate throughout the day.

Keep your Yamay on your wrist while you’re snoozing and the sleep tracker will do its thing. This means analyzing your sleep cycle and providing feedback about how much light and deep sleep you had. When it’s time to wake up, you can take advantage of the gently vibrating alarm – there’s no need to disturb anyone else!

There are also handy extra features on this smartwatch, including remote controllers for your music and camera. If you want to remotely flick on the camera or change your music, it’s just a tap on your wrist. 

If all of that wasn’t quite enough, you might be convinced by the customization available. As well as picking from the available watch face designs, you can also upload your own images to use.

Key features:

Battery life: 7-10 days

Customizable watch faces (including uploading your own images)

Waterproof to IP68

A fitness tracker with 13 sports modes

24/7 heart rate monitor

Sleep tracker

Remote camera and music controller

One-way notification for calls, SMS and social media

Our conclusion: A great all-round smartwatch that doesn’t leave anything out. Water-resistant and with multiple sports modes, it’s great whether you want to get active or just chill at home.

Best of the Rest – Tinwoo Smartwatch

The Tinwoo Smartwatch is a big and bold design, ideal if you’re looking for a model which has a larger screen. The watch face is 1.3” and can be customized with 14 different images.

The big benefit of the Tinwoo is that it’s compatible with both Android and Apple, but only smartphones, not tablets or iPads. Connecting your phone will allow you to receive notification of calls, messages and other alerts from all the social media platforms. You’ll need Bluetooth 4.2 or higher.

Similar to other budget smartwatches, you won’t be able to reply using your Tinwoo watch. However, you can hang up on any unwanted calls, useful if you want to stop your phone from being a disruption.

The battery life on this smartwatch is pretty good for a budget model. On a single charge you’ll get 10-15 days of regular use and 20 days standby. It only takes two hours to charge and it’s compatible with wireless charging (although this will need to be purchased separately).

The GPS and fitness tracker provide in-depth feedback on your activity and exercise, with nine sports modes. It’s also certified as IP68 water-resistant which means you can go swimming or take a shower without removing your watch.

A sleep tracker and heart rate monitor complete the package, giving you complete data about your physical wellbeing even while you are snoozing.

Key features:

Large 1.3’ watch face

Choose from 4 colors

14 interchangeable watch face designs

Battery life: 15 days

Charging time: 2 hours

Compatible with wireless charging

All-day activity tracking

Certified as waterproof to IP68

Remote controls for camera and music

Sleep tracker

Nine exercise modes

Find my phone function

Can be used with iOS 9.0 or higher and Android 5.0 or higher

One-way notification for calls, SMS messages and other social media alerts

Terminate incoming calls from your watch

Our conclusion: Great value doesn’t mean sacrificing the necessary features, and the Tinwoo has everything you need, plus a few extras. And as a bonus, if you switch between an Android and iOS phone you won’t need to worry, as it’s compatible with both.

Buyer’s Guide

Smartwatches are available at all price points and your budget doesn’t need to be a barrier if you do your homework. It’s perfectly possible to pick up a smartwatch at a very reasonable price, including plenty under $50.

Of course, even though there are many topnotch smartwatches available for $50 or less, you won’t get the same range of features that you’d expect on a model valued at $500 or more. It’s therefore essential to be realistic about what you will get.

Plumping for quality rather than quantity of features is the best approach. Consider what you think is essential and what you will use. When you’re on a budget, it’s important not to be distracted by extras.

There are some components which are worth checking for everyone, regardless of how you plan on using your smartwatch. Here’s an overview of a few things you should consider.

Recommended: Check out our guide to the 5 best smartwatches under $100 next

Compatibility

Most people plan on tethering their smartwatch to their phone. This is even more likely if you’re buying a budget watch as the phone will provide the necessary tech. You’ll therefore need to ensure that your smartwatch and phone are compatible.

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to have the same brand of phone and watch. Many pair beautifully together, even if they come from different manufacturers.

However, that’s not the case universally. Having the same operating system helps. In other words, even if your phone and watch are different brands, if they both use Android you’ll find life easier.

Cross-compatibility between different operating systems has improved over the years but it’s still not perfect. So if you’ve got an iPhone you could find it difficult to pair it with an Android smartwatch. It is possible and there are some workarounds, but you’ll never get full functionality.

This doesn’t mean that you only need to buy Apple watches if you have an iPhone. Or that you need to stick rigidly to Android if that’s the operating system your phone runs on. There are some third party systems compatible with either Android or Apple, but just make sure you check before you buy.

Battery

Having to constantly recharge your smartwatch is a nuisance and ultimately means that you’ll probably end up not wearing it so frequently. Running out of battery power just when you need it is a major inconvenience.

Unlike traditional watches, a smartwatch runs on rechargeable batteries which will need to be regularly topped up. The length of time the watch can run between charges varies hugely and is something to look out for when making a purchase.

Some smartwatches may need to be recharged every few days while others can last for weeks between charges. This offers a huge difference in terms of practical function. For example, going on vacation and not having to take along a charger would make life much easier.

Battery life is one area where having a cheaper smartwatch can be an asset. With fewer features to drain the battery, you might find more models with a long battery life. The more features there are, the more likely it is that your battery power will run out quickly.

The other aspect to consider is how long the watch takes to recharge. A watch that takes several hours to recharge each time might be less practical than one that needs to be recharged more often, but charges quickly. This is a matter of personal preference and depends on how you plan on recharging your watch battery.

Calls and messaging

This is one of the most basic functions of a smartwatch and one of the main reasons why many people want one. The ability to receive notifications about calls and messaging means you don’t need to constantly have your phone at hand.

However, if you are hoping to be able to use your watch as a surrogate phone you might be disappointed. At the budget end of the market, the notifications tend to be one-way. This means that although you can receive notifications about messages, calls and social media, you won’t be able to respond.

To take your call or send a message in return, you’ll need to get out your phone. This isn’t always the case and watches with a higher spec can operate independently. At the lower end of the price bracket, it’s more likely that the notifications will be one-way only.

Durability

You will want your smartwatch to stay looking its best for as long as possible so durability is something to consider. Wearing a watch every day means it will be exposed to wear and tear, so a model which is tough is preferable.

Scratch-proof or reinforced glass are features that get the thumbs up. They will help to protect your watch and keep it looking good and working well.

It’s not just about bumps and scrapes; water is another big threat to the lifespan of your watch. A smartwatch may be exposed to the rain and if you’re a bit forgetful, it may even be plunged into the water occasionally!

You don’t need to buy an expensive watch to benefit from water resistance. Different models have varying degrees of water resistance. The best will be certified to IP67 or IP68 and are fine to be submerged in deep water.

If your watch appears to be water-resistant, make sure you understand the certification. Some may be only splash-proof while others are suitable for swimming.

Fitness Tracking

Not everyone buys a smartwatch because they’re a superfit athlete, but most people have at least a passing interest in their activity levels. And if you didn’t before, you probably will have after you’ve been wearing your watch for a while as it’s addictive tracking your steps!

Nearly every smartwatch has some degree of fitness tracking. There are specific modes for tracking movements in certain sports which can be very useful. As well as simple activities such as running and rowing, you also find sports modes which include yoga, skipping and swimming.

A heart rate monitor is the other component of fitness tracking. A smartwatch can provide accurate heart monitoring, helping you to plan, track and assess your activity levels and fitness more accurately.

The post Best Smartwatches Under $50 appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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The ultimate electronic aid that gives you everything strapped on your wrist, the smartwatch is the modern device that everyone needs. From activity trackers to messaging, calls and notifications, it’s never been simpler to have everything at your fingertips.

Of course, it’s possible to spend hundreds of dollars on top of the range smartwatches but you don’t necessarily need to splash out. We’ve got the best smartwatches under $100 with a guide to the top features to look out for.

Our Top Pick – Amazfit Bip

Beautiful to look at, the Amazfit Bip offers a simple interface which is deceptive. Behind the minimalist design, this bargain watch packs plenty of features which are a real surprise for the price.

The always-on display is popular with customers, saving you the hassle of having to tap your watch and wait for it to wake up. Despite the constant state of wakefulness, this watch has phenomenal battery power. A single charge will last up to 45 days, so you won’t need to worry about taking your charger on vacation.

Part of the reason the battery is so durable is due to its smart use of outdoor light. The brighter the natural light source is, the less power the watch uses. It achieves this through a reflective color display which is semi-transparent, allowing the screen to become clearer in natural light.

It hooks up to your cell phone to alert you to anything you might be missing, such as SMS messages or phone calls. You’ll also receive social media notifications, and alerts for any other apps you set up, such as WhatsApp or the weather.

The only downside is the notifications are one-way, which means you’ll need to get your phone out to answer. However, for such a low price, it’s not a huge surprise that it doesn’t have full functionality.

There’s a myriad of other features available too, with multi-sport trackers and reminders if you have been sitting down for too long. The watch supports four sports modes and provides detailed data in areas such as speed, distance, heart rate and duration.

The integrated GPS is useful for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, but you won’t pay the price with your battery. The Sony GPS chip uses a third of the power compared to other GPS chips so you can have the best of both worlds.

Key features:

Stylish and available in a range of colors

Fitness and multi-sport tracker

45 days of battery life

Built-in GPS

Optical heart rate monitoring

Lightweight for comfortable wear

One way alerts for phone calls, emails and SMS messages

Notifications for social media, WhatsApp, Slack and other compatible mobile apps

What we think: If you’re looking for an Apple Watch without the hefty price tag, the Amazfit Bip is it. Incredibly stylish and comfortable to wear, it packs in functionality at a bargain price. It would be better if the calls and messaging were two-way but at such a low cost, we’re not going to complain.

Amazing Value – TicWatch GTX

The TicWatch GTX is undoubtedly one of the best smartwatches under $100 – and you’ll have change to spare, too. One of the cheapest smartwatches around, it’s loaded with features that make it a competitor to watches which are double its price.

With such a reasonable price tag, you would be forgiven for expecting nothing more than the basics with the TicWatch GTX – but it’s got an impressive spec.

This starts with the battery life, giving you enough power to last 10 days. This is only if you activate the power-saving mode, but even in regular mode, you’ll still be able to go for 7 full days before needing to recharge. That’s a decent amount of time, and far longer than some others.

If you’re investing in a smartwatch to improve your fitness, there are lots of features included in the TicWatch to help you out. There are 14 different exercise modes, which include all the usuals such as running, walking and cycling, along with less common activities including gymnastics, yoga and rope skipping.

After all that exercise you might feel ready for a snooze and the TicWatch has you covered here too. Its intuitive sleep tracking function can identify the difference between light and deep sleep, as well as measuring your overall sleep time.

You won’t need to constantly check your phone, as this smartwatch can receive all the notifications you need, including calendar alerts, SMS messages and phone calls. It’s only a one-way system, so you won’t be able to pick up a call or reply. It’s also compatible with social media sites and other mobile applications that you might find useful.

Manufacturer Mobvoi is renowned for making quality, cut-price items which look as smart as their more expensive peers. This watch has a unique style which appears more like a hybrid design with the choice of changing the face to a different look if you prefer.

Key features:

10 days of battery life

IP68 waterproof

TicHealth app with 14 exercise modes

Realtime OS

Heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking

One-way notifications for calls, SMS and social media applications

What we think: The TicWatch GTX is full of features that you might expect to see on a more expensive smartwatch, such as the IP68 water resistance. At a very low price, there are no other smartwatches that can offer the same combination of budget and intelligent function.

Best for Fitness – Fitbit Inspire 2

The Fitbit is one of the most recognizable names in the smartwatch market, and the Inspire is their budget product. For consumers who are focussed on health, wellbeing and exercise, Fitbit is one of the first names on the list.

The Inspire 2 isn’t vastly different to its predecessor, and visually they’re not easy to tell apart. The Inspire 2 is a little slimmer but it’s barely noticeable. The styling and face are the same, with a modicum of better clarity to set them apart.

However, that’s not to say that the Inspire 2 isn’t an upgrade on the original. It has a plethora of new features including extras which weren’t available on the first Inspire.

The heart rate monitor is an excellent addition, measuring the heart rate 24/7. It provides detailed feedback including resting heart trends, your heart rate during sleep and your heart rate when you are active.

In this last area, the Fitbit impresses as it includes an innovative feature known as Active Zone Minutes. This personalized heart rate tracking is more detailed than on the original Inspire and provides more accurate feedback on your level of activity and exercise.

You can get creative with your exercise as there are 20 different modes supported by the Inspire 2. You can even include swimming in your schedule as the watch is water-resistant to 50 meters and is approved for use in the pool.

Although fitness may be the focus here, the Fitbit also offers typical connectivity with a smartphone. This means you can receive notifications of calls, SMS messages and emails, plus social media alerts and more. Like many other smartwatches under $100, these are one-way only.

Key features:

Slimline design

Interchangeable bands

10 days of battery life

24/7 heart monitor

Detailed sleep tracking

Water-resistant to 50 meters

One-way notifications for calls, messaging and social media alerts

One-year subscription to Fitbit Premium included for free

What we think: The Fitbit Inspire 2 keeps the best bits of its predecessor and makes subtle tweaks to add new features. The end result is a smartwatch which is perfect for those who want to make fitness their focus, with detailed data and feedback available at your fingertips.

Wildcard Picks – Huawei GT 2E

The Huawei GT 2E isn’t a watch that can easily be missed with its bold design and large face. If you’re looking for a smartwatch which has one foot firmly planted in the future, the Huawei GT 2E could be it.

The watch face has a stunning design, with crystal clear graphics which will make the watch appear much more expensive than it is. You can also exchange your watch faces for a different look if you prefer.

The watch runs on Huawei’s LiteOS so can pair with either iOS or Android via Bluetooth, offering versatile compatibility. You can receive notifications about phone calls, SMS messages and other types of alert from your phone, but without a microphone or speaker, it’s a one-way feature. 

The Huawei is particularly well-suited to anyone who wants to focus on their health and fitness. This watch is compatible with a wide range of sports and has features which surpass what you’ll find on other models at the same price.

As well as an accurate heart rate monitor, the GT 2E includes blood oxygen saturation levels. Unless you’re an elite athlete, you probably won’t NEED to know this, but it’s useful information and on a par with Garmin design and innovation.

There are plenty of regular activity monitors too, including steps taken, stress levels and calories burned. Choose from one of the 15 pro workout modes or pick a custom workout if you prefer.

Whatever type of activity you choose, you’ll be accompanied by the soundtrack of your choice. The Huawei won’t link up with third-party apps such as Spotify to create an off-line playlist but you can store approximately 500 songs on your watch.

Huawei claims that the battery can last up to seven days with regular use, and with heavy use around 5-6 days. Even using fitness trackers for 2-3 hours per day plus the GPS will only reduce the battery life slightly to 5-6 days.

Key features:

Futuristic design

14 days of battery life

15 pro workout modes

85 custom workout modes

Heart rate tracker

Advanced monitoring including oxygen saturation

Integrated GPS

What we think: The Huawei GT 2E belongs to a new wave of outstanding technology arriving from the Chinese giant. This smartwatch is particularly suited to monitoring sport and exercise, with plenty of features included. The only negative is that the Huawei isn’t as compatible with third-party apps as other brands so you may need to find a workaround.

Wildcard Picks – Huawei GT GPS

This smartwatch may not be the latest Apple technology, but what you get for a much more reasonable price is excellent. With the choice of watch faces, you can set your Huawei GT GPS up to look like a traditional quartz watch or an ultra-modern digital design.

The AMOLED screen is fast and responsive, as well as offering clear visibility in all lighting conditions. Sensitive controls support the slide and touch function for superior control at every step.

The Huawei is ideal for discreet meetings at work where you don’t want to have your phone out on display. You’ll be able to see notifications for calls and SMS messages, plus social media alerts. Like many budget smartwatches, you won’t be able to respond or reply as it’s a one-way system only.

Similar to several other Huawei smartwatches, the GT GPS doesn’t run on Wear OS but the LiteOS from Huawei. This limits the options available, with less support for third-party apps. You may have to find a workaround for this, or keep an eye on app developers as they release apps to meet the growing need.

Despite this drawback, there’s still a lot to like about the Huawei, especially if you’re keen on fitness. The biometrics on this smartwatch are comprehensive, with everything you want to know about your activity.

These trackers include continuous heart rate, activity history, elevation, distance and many more. The integrated GPS is useful if you like to exercise outdoors and don’t want to end up lost!

All of this sounds as if it would take a heavy toll on the battery, but the efficiency is outstanding. On the Huawei GT GPS, you’ll receive up to 30 days on a single charge, making it one of the best batteries in the smartwatch market.

Key features:

AMOLED color screen

128MB storage

Water-resistant to 50 meters

30 days of battery life

One-way notifications for phone calls, SMS messages and alerts

Full fitness tracking

Integrated GPS

What we think: The Huawei GPS GT would benefit from having software that is compatible with more apps, but despite this minor flaw, it’s an excellent watch. The price is low and competitive but doesn’t compromise on smart and useful features which have been thoughtfully designed.

Buyers’ Guide

When you’re buying a smartwatch, you’ll want a quality item with as many useful features as you can pack in. However, a price tag of $100 or less is a budget range, so it’s important to be realistic about what you can expect.

Bearing this in mind, we’re going to run through some of the most important features on a smartwatch and what to look out for.

Before diving into what’s available, don’t forget to check compatibility with your phone. If you want to get the most out of your smartwatch, you’re going to need to pair it with your phone for certain functions, such as receiving calls.

In the past, different brands did not play well together. This meant if you had a phone and a smartwatch from different brands, you’d be hard pushed to use them together effectively.

That’s not the case now, as cross-compatibility has taken giant steps forward. It is possible to pair different brands together, but it’s not always easy. There are also some combinations which still don’t fully function, so be sure to check reviews and customer experience.

As a general rule, Android and Apple aren’t a happy partnership. It is possible to find some workarounds, but the functionality will still be limited. Of course, the watch will still work on its own but you’ll be missing out on some of the features that are available from a paired device.

Apple isn’t the only brand which isn’t particularly compatible. Samsung watches operate using the Tizen system and this is best when it’s hooked up to a Samsung phone.

By contrast, the Google operating system, Wear OS, is very friendly. It works beautifully with the majority of Android phones and can even pair fairly well with the notorious Apple. If you have an iPhone but don’t want to shell out for an Apple smartwatch, Wear OS can be a useful alternative.

Recommended: Click here to see our review of the best smartwatches under $50.

Battery

Unlike a traditional quartz watch, you can’t just wind up a smartwatch when it runs out of juice. Reliant on battery power, battery life is a practical feature that you’ll want to check before you buy.

Most smartwatches have a rechargeable battery which you can simply plug in to charge. While this is handy, having to constantly recharge your smartwatch is a nuisance.

The length of time your smartwatch can last between charges is something to take into consideration. The best smartwatches can last for more than two weeks before they need to be topped up.

Smartwatches under $100 may not be able to compete with the best in the market but with fewer features, they don’t drain the battery so quickly. If you’ve got extras on your watch such as GPS and 4G/LTE connectivity, or a large screen you could see your battery run down more quickly.

Durability

Wearing your watch everyday means it’s going to be exposed to the elements as well as being vulnerable to bangs and scrapes. Of course, you’ll be trying to take care of it, but it’s impossible to avoid accidental bumps completely.

Durability is therefore something to factor in when making your choice. Look for features such as reinforced glass or a scratch-proof surface for a watch that will stay looking good for as long as possible.

Electronics and water aren’t normally the best combination but unless you plan on removing it every time it rains, your smartwatch will probably be used in damp conditions. A degree of water resistance will therefore be useful.

Waterproofing on watches isn’t a binary affair; there is a graduated scale of water resistance which starts by being splash-proof and goes right the way up to being suitable for swimming in deep water.

At the very least, you should look for a smartwatch that is splash-proof but ideally, it should also be certified as IP67 or IP68. This means it can be immersed in water and survive, a big advantage for those ‘oops’ moments when you drop your watch in the bath!

Recommended: Don’t miss our list of the most durable smartwatches on the market.

Fitness Tracking

Even if you’re not that interested in your fitness right now, a smartwatch can awaken your enthusiasm. Being able to monitor how active you are can be enough to spur you on to do more, or at least keep track of your fitness.

The Fitbit Inspire is a great example of a watch that can help to encourage activity and exercise. With features such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, sleep tracking and other key fitness data, you’ll be able to see just how well you’re doing each day.

Having instant access to these details on a smartwatch can be surprisingly inspiring, making it much easier to stay active and healthy.

Calls and Messaging

A smartwatch is so much more than just a timepiece; it can allow you to make calls and messages too. However, that’s not the case universally so you’ll need to check the spec carefully if you’re looking for a smartwatch under 100.

Some types of smartwatch allow you to just receive notifications, without being able to respond. Others allow you to take and make calls just like your cell phone. The best watches can manage these functions independently but many require Bluetooth tethering to your regular cell phone first.

It’s possible to find smartwatches under $100 which offer calls and messaging, but you’ll need to be paired up to your phone to work. Some of the more basic models will only alert you when a message arrives, and don’t have the facility to respond so make sure you check the features very carefully.

The post 5 Best Smartwatches Under $100 appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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Our comparative and concise guide will help you to make your decision. But first, you need to ask yourself – What kind of person are you? Are you more outdoorsy, or perhaps more of a business tycoon, or maybe a bit of both?

Whatever your lifestyle is, we promise we can help you find the perfect smartwatch – both of these cracking watches have a ton of benefits.

So without further ado, let’s kick off our comparisons for you right away!

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic: Design Differences

So, let’s kick off with a bang and talk about design. Design is often the first thing we notice about a product, it’s what catches our eye first! It is also one of the main factors when making a purchase decision. After all, if we don’t like the look of something, the chances of purchase are often very low.

So, in the battle between the Samsung S3 Frontier vs Classic, there are some basic design differences that we are going to outline for you– This being said, both of these watches are the same size. They are, however, weighted slightly differently.

The Frontier weighs in at 62g, while the Classic is a touch less at 57g. These are both well-designed lightweight pieces that are not intended to weigh you down. With only a 5g difference between the two, it’s not a significant enough difference for you to feel it.

Both watches accept a standard 22mm watch strap, which can be purchased outside of Samsung. Between both smartwatches, the main differences are the look and feel of the products.

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is designed as a rugged outdoorsy watch, whereas the sleek and smooth design of the S3 Classic is more catered to those who spend their time in the office.

The Frontier features a rubberized, hardwearing strap that is more suited to an outdoorsy wearer – physical workers and laborers.

If you are more of an office type of guy, then the Classic might fit you better – its strap design is smooth, sleek, and is made of classic black leather – the clue is in the name (Classic)!

While it may not seem like there is much difference between Gear S3 Classic and Frontier. If we take a deep look at the smaller details there are a few.

Frontier’s buttons are bigger, more textured, and give the watch more of a sporty look. Classic’s buttons, on the other hand, are finished in a sleek metal and are slightly smaller, providing a more stylish, office look.

Samsung Gear S3 vs Gear S3 Classic: Features

So now the design is out of the way, let’s move onto the key features – which is a very important area to look out for whenever you are making a new technology purchase.

Although these watches both provide very different looks, when it comes to features they almost reflect each other completely.

Both of these smartwatches have an IP68 rating – (water and dust resistant). That means they are not swim-proof. Instead, they are able to be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. That means they can withstand being dropped in water and heavy rainfall.

When comparing S3 Classic vs Frontier, we have found that both watches are of a very high standard – they both include some fantastic built-in features, such as:

An integrated gyro, GPS (this is an important feature and a staple of most modern smart-watches), barometer, accelerometer, and an optical heart-rate recorder/monitor.

Both of these fantastic products are compatible with Samsung’s health app. These models, when used correctly, can be a fantastic addition to cultivating a healthy lifestyle. They both also feature 4GB of internal memory, an in-built microphone, S-VOICE technology, and Samsung Pay.

Paying through your phone or watch is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason – Smartwatches are fast, accessible, and great if you fancy a well-earned beverage after a long sweaty jog.

With a smartwatch, you can leave bulging pockets and heavy wallets behind – The future is officially here!

Recommended: Garmin Vivosmart Hr vs Vivosmart 3: Ultimate Comparison

Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier – Operating System

So what is the operating system like and what kind of apps can you use on your new smartwatch?

Samsung generally operates with its Tizen system, which is often said to be faster and more user friendly than Android or other systems.

Luckily for you, these amazing watches are compatible with both Android and IOS, so whatever phone you have, these watches should connect without a problem. This is an excellent feature that allows you to access all of your app information on-the-go.

If you’re unsure whether your chosen watch is compatible with your smartphone, you can take a look here – this will allow you to check if both products are compatible with your device.

On this webpage, Samsung lays out a popular smart-phone guide, simply check if yours on the list and then you are good to go!

Unlike some other watches on the market, when comparing S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic, we can safely say that they are both are excellent products. Samsung allows users to use Google Play Store as well as the standard Samsung App store, which means that you can have access to thousands of popular apps. Not bad, right?

Recommended: We compare the Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 in this guide.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Battery Life

Battery life is a very important aspect of any piece of technology! We have all experienced our battery dying in some way or another, and without a charger to hand, it can often get us into a bit of a mess.

Luckily these products both have a very powerful battery life. Samsung states that these models can keep going for days. Both watches are fitted with an optimized battery (380mAh Li-ion) and can be used for up to three days (based on Samsung’s laboratory measurements).

It goes without saying that if you use your watch very often, or all day long, the battery will last for a shorter amount of time. Still, 3 days is not bad going. 

Both products can be charged wirelessly through the wireless charging dock provided.

So, when it comes to the battle between Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic, if we are going on battery life, it’s certainly a pretty close call.

Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier: Can it make standalone calls?

Although we may be coming to the end of the battle between the Gear S3 Classic vs Gear S3 Frontier, we have seen that both watches have proven their ability when it comes to fantastic features.

We firmly believe that your choice will ultimately result from the type of lifestyle you lead. 

Effectively, neither can make standalone calls without being connected to your mobile device. However, this being said there are ways to bypass this, just have a little look on YouTube for more information.

As it stands, you can’t currently insert a separate sim-card, which means that you will have to have a mobile device to gain all the benefits, including on-the-go phone calls.

Note: If you need a watch that can make standalone calls then don’t miss this guide!

In this respect, there isn’t much difference when opting for Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier. These products are made by the same company and they reflect that with matching features and specifications etc…

So, there you have it. We hope we’ve helped you to whittle it down somewhat. Please do take a look at more of our cracking reviews if you haven’t made your mind up yet.

What do we think?

Overall, we think that the Samsung G3 Gear Frontier is the best watch.

Why?

Well, due to its durability and suitability to outdoor use it’s got more to offer.

Although the design is less sleek than the Classic, it’s harder wearing, and for that reason, we think its best as it can be used in a range of environments.

Both models have topped the smartwatch charts when it comes to positive reviews and there are hundreds of 5-star ratings for both products online. Just take a look!

All of Samsung’s products have generous warranties which are a great benefit that can guarantee you tranquility and security on your purchase.

Surely, there is a reason for its overwhelming positive reputation. Because Samsung is one of the top technology producers, we are certain that you will be satisfied with your purchase.

If not, Samsung provides a good support site for any of its customers.

That being said, dependent on your needs, one of our top two watches might be a better fit for you. So if you are looking for more of a sleek classical office design and you want to impress your business partners at work – the ‘Classic’ is definitely for you.  

If you are more outdoorsy and want to take your watch on a few runs around the park, or perhaps a quick workout in the garden, then the ‘Frontier’ would be your best bet!

So there you go. We hope that we’ve helped you with your smartwatch journey. Don’t forget to check out our other posts for some more background info on other watches too.

The post Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

via Find Your Smartwatch

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Need a smartwatch that can cope with the harshest of elements and the toughest of workouts?

We recommend five of the most durable smartwatches on the market.

These watches are built to last and won’t let you down when you need them most.

There’s also a useful buyer’s guide that explains the key features you should be looking for in a tough, reliable, and durable smartwatch.

Our Recommended Tough Smartwatches

When it comes to finding the best rugged smartwatch, then look no further than our recommendations.

Check out our shortlist in the table below.

Find out why we think they’re special as we give the lowdown on the standout features following the table.

Model

Key Features

Our Top Pick

Garmin Instinct

5/5

Military standard construction

3-axis compass & barometric altimeter

GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite navigation

Waterproof to 100m

14-day battery life

Awesome Alternative

Garmin Fenix 5X Plus

4.5/5

Scratch-resistant saphire lens

Color TOPO maps

Blood oxygen sensor

GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite navigation

20-day battery life

Amazing Value

Amazfit T-Rex

3.5/5

Military grade construction

GPS

Waterproof to 50m

20-day battery life

Our Top Pick – Garmin Instinct

When it comes to owning the best rugged smartwatch, the Garmin Instinct is an obvious choice.

Made to handle the toughest situations, this watch has been built to US Military standard 810G and provides thermal resistance, shock resistance, and water resistance to 100m; no matter the situation you are facing, this watch will be a reliable companion.

The case is particularly tough and is constructed with a fiber-reinforced polymer that will withstand significant punishment. The screen too is durable. The scratch-resistant and chemically strengthened screen features a high contrast display that is easily read when the sun shines brightly.

As well as being incredibly strong, this watch offers fourteen days of battery in smartwatch mode, 16 hours in GPS mode, and 40 hours in battery saver mode.

As you will be unlikely to need GPS running for 16 hours straight, you can reasonably expect this watch to last over a week when you make use of the range of modes available.

If you need to navigate your way or track where you have been, then the Instinct is always ready to go with you. The TracBack feature is an excellent one and allows the watch to track your route back to the starting point. A potential lifesaver for when the weather changes quickly up in the mountains.

The watch is also compatible with the Garmin Explore website where you can plan routes and synch them with your watch for navigation.

The Garmin Instinct has a 3-axis compass to help you find an accurate route as well as a barometric altimeter. These are backed by multiple global satellite navigation systems that include and Glonass, Galileo, and GPS.

In addition to the battery and navigation systems, you can use the Garmin Instinct to monitor your exercise activities as it comes with a range of preloaded activities for you to choose from.

You will also be able to keep a check on your heart rate and stress levels so that you are in your optimum training zone at all times.

The Instinct really is a top piece of kit for any explorers out there. It’s built for the great outdoors and packed with features that will make your life easier and your journeys safer. It’s actually really well priced too.

For these reasons we recommend the Garmin Instinct as the best rugged smartwatch.

Great Alternative – Garmin Fenix 5X Plus

Garmin is great at making rugged smartwatches, and the Fenix 5X Plus is no exception. It is made from stainless steel and has a scratch-resistant screen so that you will be hard pushed to damage it even in the harshest environments.

When it comes to power, you can expect this device to last up to twenty full days when it is in smartwatch mode, but this reduces to around 13 hours if you have GPS and music playing continuously. It is simple to charge and will be ready to go in no time at all!

There are a range of top-quality navigational features that include a full-color topographical map and the ability to track your current location. You can also use the Trendline feature to find out where the most frequented trails are to help you find the best route home.

The watch also comes with ClimbPro, a capability that gives you information on the gradients, elevation, and distance of any climbs you are undertaking and will even let you know how much further you have to go.

If you want this watch to help you track your health and fitness, then you will not be disappointed. You can check your heart rate, find out how many calories you have burned, and get an up to date stress score so you know how much further you can push yourself.

You can also track the fitness you are doing with preloaded fitness tracking and make use of the running power app that will update you on how hard you are working and how much energy you are expending.

Outstanding Value – Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch

If you need a high-quality, durable smartwatch but need a budget price tag, then the Amazfit T-Rex may be a great choice. This device is certified to military-grade and offers a range of different modes and tracking options to suit anything you have to face.

It comes with twelve military certificates to help prove its worth, and it is built to survive in a range of climates. With the ability to work in temperatures up to 150F and as low as -40F, there is really nowhere on earth that you cannot take it.

The battery life on offer is up to twenty days in smartwatch mode and up to forty hours with GPS on, which is fantastic when you think that you can go well over a day while continuously tracking your location. The in-built GPS comes with a 28nm Sony GPS chip to help you keep your power usage low and your tracking data accurate.

Keeping an eye on your own health and fitness is key when you are in the wilderness, and this watch has fourteen sports modes for you to choose from as well as a water-resistant body in case you need to swim or find yourself caught in a storm.

You can use it to keep an eye on how your heart is coping with your activities and use this insight to know when to push on and when it is time to rest.

Not only does this watch perform well, but it looks great on your wrist too. You can select from five different color options depending on the environment you will be using it in and know that all the important information is on your wrist at all times.

It is easy to navigate and has a 1.3-inch screen that shows off your display.

Feature Packed – Suunto Core

If you are a tech fan and want a watch that does it all and some, then the Suunto Core may be the ideal option for you! This heavy duty smartwatch is made from carbon fiber and comes with a top-quality silicone strap for the ultimate in comfort.

It offers a digital display that provides you will all the important information and can be navigated via one of the side buttons.

The best thing about this device is that it comes with a huge range of really useful features; there is an altimeter, a barometer, and a compass, as well as a storm alarm and weather graph.

These features not only work to give you an accurate picture of your surroundings but will help you understand when it is time to seek cover and also how long you can safely stay outside before the storm comes in.

You will be hard-pressed to find a device with a better battery life as this device can last for 12 – 18 months without needing to be replaced. Suunto makes it clear that the lower battery limit will be met if you find that you use the compass or backlight more frequently than expected but that you will still have around 10% of the battery life left when the warning sign is displayed, giving you ample time to get it replaced.

This watch was built to help you get outdoors on time and offers an alarm, snooze button, and the capability to use a weather alarm if you need to be altered to any potential weather issues. You can even store up to seven days of weather information to help you understand your surroundings.

This all-terrain watch is set to be there whenever you need it can even be taken into the water with a 100ft resistance level. Suunto Core’s feature-packed offer is set to impress many outdoor adventurers.

The Wildcard – POLAR Grit X

Our final pick may be the wildcard of the group, but it still offers itself as one of the most durable smartwatch devices on the market. It boasts military-grade features for walking, hiking, running, and biking and is dependable even when the weather is not.

It comes in three different colors and to different sizes so that you can personalize your choice somewhat.

There are both navigational buttons and a touchscreen for you to use, and it boasts being able to go to watery depths of 328 feet!

There is a range of great features that are designed to help you organize your adventure; an integrated GPS system, GLONASS, compass, altimeter, and barometer all work to enable you to see where you are and a forecasting app that tells you what the weather looks like.

You can also use it to plan where you are going and a nifty hill splitter app that automatically detects each hill you ascend and descend as well as your health stats while you are moving.

There are some decent health tracking features too so that you can analyze your sleep and stress levels as well as a fuelling reminder system that can estimate the carbs you need and tells you when you should stop to refuel.

If you plan on using this device to help with your training before you head off on an adventure, then you can use the FitSpark system that shares daily workouts for you to follow and matches your work rate with your current fitness levels.

When it comes to powering your device, there is a 40-hour battery if you are continuously using GPS and heart rate monitoring. However, if you are only using these features sporadically, then there are a range of power-saving options that can increase your battery life up to 100 hours in total.

Buyer’s Guide – What Makes a Smartwatch Tough?

If you’re looking for the toughest smartwatches but are not sure what features you should consider, then do not worry. We have developed this buyer’s guide to help you work out what you need to check before you commit to making a purchase.

Strength

When you are trying to find the best rugged smartwatch, then you have to have a real focus on finding one that offers the strength you need. Opting for a military graded watch will not only guarantee that you can depend on the quality but the toughness too.

However, be careful to fully investigate when a company states that their watch is military-grade; you should find one that offers a shock-proof design that is water-resistant and thermal resistant in the most extreme temperatures.

Some of the best watch materials include stainless steel casing and silicone strapping, both of which should offer additional coatings so that they are protected from damage and will not allow dust, sand, or dirt to affect the way they work.

It also makes sense to opt for a model that comes with dials as a pure touchscreen model can be very hard to navigate when you have just gotten out of the water or are covered in mud or dirt.

A scratch resistant screen is a must too!

Recommended: Don’t miss our guide to the very best smartwatches for listening to music.

Battery

Not only will the toughest smartwatches offer a range of great features, but they will also have a good battery life so that you do not need to waste your time charging. You should always go for an option that offers the longest battery life, but that also has different battery modes depending on what you are doing.

We all understand that GPS and music playback are real battery drainers, so it is advisable to look for a model that can turn these features off when they are not in use.

Combining different battery modes is a great way to conserve energy and help your watch to last for a long as possible so that you do not find yourself stuck in the wilderness without GPS!

When it comes to sourcing the best battery life for you, there are different types of watches; ones that plug in to charge, ones that come with an extended battery life of over a year, and ones that utilize solar power to top up on charge when you are away from a charging point.

It is wise to work out how long you expect to be away from a power source before you spend out on a watch only to find out it will not last as long as you need it to.

GPS and Compass

The most rugged smartwatch designs understand that consumers want to purchase them to support their outdoor lifestyle, and being able to track where you are and where you are going in the most difficult situations is a must-have feature.

In-built compasses are there to help you navigate your route and can often be backed up by altimeters and barometers so that you can monitor height and air pressure. However, these features are best supported by a tracking capability such as GPS, Glonass, and Galileo.

Using each of these or a combination of these will ensure that you have the most up to date information on your wrist at all times. In fact, with the Garmin Instinct, you can even use the navigation system to ‘Trackback’ where you have come from, an amazing feature that keeps you safe.

When you utilize a watch that has a navigational system in place, you do need to be aware that it will wear down your battery and is best switched on only when needed.

By remembering to turn it off and on, you will be able to extend your time outdoors and feel confident that you can return to civilization with support whenever you need to.

Health

The best tactical smartwatch offerings typically come with a range of health monitoring apps so that you can track your progress, work on improving your fitness, and ensure that you are fit enough to continue your journey.

Rugged smartwatches recognize that life in the wilderness can put an inordinate amount of pressure on your heart and so they typically come with heart rate trackers and stress level monitoring.

You can also get devices that measure your blood oxygenation, share the steps you have completed, and tell you the number of calories you have burned.

When it comes to fuelling your body, there are even watches that will remind you when it is time to eat and measure when you should consider topping up on carbs. Put together, these packages of health and fitness apps will keep you healthy, motivated, and able to push on even in the harshest conditions.

Weather Conditions

Getting the most durable smartwatch is important when you are planning to out in the wilderness a lot, especially if you are in a location where there is unpredictable weather or weather that can become extreme with little notice.

Not only will you need a water-resistant and durable smartwatch to help you through this type of weather, but you will also need one that can warn you of what is on the horizon. Some of the best models are able to monitor the weather in real-time, sharing warnings of potential weather changes so that you can modify your plans.

Other models are able to share a forecast of what is to come so that you are able to design your plans around the forecast.

If you need more detailed weather tracking, you will are able to purchase devices that store the weather information from the days that have recently passed, and you can use in-built capabilities such as barometers to work out what you are heading into before you even arrive.

Other Useful Features

As well as enjoying the typical features that come with a heavy-duty smartwatch, you should also take the time to see what else each device offers.

Most brands will have their own concoction of features that are designed to impress you, but you need to first decide what you are looking for in a watch to know what to go for.

Maybe music is important to you, and so it is always a good idea to find a watch that can double up as a music player. Remember that there are two main ways of listening to music – streaming from your phone and downloading to your watch – so make sure that you select the option that best suits what you need.

You may also want to get notifications to your watch so that you can stay in touch with the world and what is happening in it. Again, there are a variety of ways that watches can alert you, so spend some time working out what your ideal notification system looks like and opt for a watch that offers that.

Ultimately, when you are buying a rugged smartwatch, you will have a good idea of what you will be putting it through, how long you will need a battery to last, and what you want to get from it.

Check out the devices we have recommended and then purchase the one that ticks as many of your boxes as possible so that as soon as it arrives, you can head out into the world with it on your wrist.

The post 5 Most Rugged Smartwatches appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

via Find Your Smartwatch

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Buying a watch that plays music may sound straightforward, but there are so many options to choose from that you need to be sure you know what you’re signing up for.

The good news is that we have independently reviewed five of the best watches that play music and have shared the results of these reviews in this in-depth guide.

You will find honest information about the five top watches on the market as well as a comprehensive buyer’s guide that outlines the key features that can make a huge difference.

Our mission is to give you the confidence you need to find and purchase the best smartwatch for music with the least fuss and bother.

The Top Smartwatch Music Players Compared

If you’re in a hurry take a quick look at our recommended smartwatches for music in the table below.

Following the table we review them all in more detail.

Model

Key Features

Price

Our Top Pick

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

5/5

LTE connectivity

Stream music

Built-in speaker

Excellent health features

Bright, sharp display

Best for Fitness

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

4.5/5

Stores +500 songs

Amazing fitness tracking

Great battery life

Plays music through Bluetooth connection 

Great Value

Fitbit Versa 2

3.5/5

Stores up to 300 songs

Good fitness tracking

Good battery life

Our Recommended Smartwatches for Music

Take a moment to check out our five top recommendations and see why we think they’re special. They each offer something a little a bit different. We’ll start with our favorite.

Our Top Pick – Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

When it comes to finding the best smartwatch for music, you will be hard-pressed to find anything better than the latest iteration of the Galaxy Watch from Samsung. With LTE internet capability you can stream music with ease to both the in-built speakers or to Bluetooth headphones.

There is no hassle with having to download music or worry about storage space (though you can do this too), and the Spotify app is pre-installed and ready to go as soon as you strap it on your wrist.

The only thing you need to be aware of with this device is that while streaming music is the most convenient way of listening, it will also drain your battery, so you will need to be prepared to charge each night, but this is a small sacrifice for having this amazing watch on your wrist.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 also comes with a huge range of other features that will help you organize your life. The Tizen Store is ready for you to personalize your experience and offers lots of fitness tracking options, including the ability to automatically track your activity so that you do not need to set it before starting your regime.

It is even water-resistant so that you can take it in the pool or the shower without worrying about water damage. 

The watch comes in two size options so that you can select the style that suits your wrist the best, and the screen is very easy to read due to it’s clear and crisp brightness. Plus, it is able to work with most smartphones so that you can get it even if you don’t own a Samsung phone!

This really is a titan smartwatch that plays music too.

Best Fitness Based Music Watch – Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

If you are an exercise fanatic and want a Bluetooth MP3 watch that plays all your favorite tunes, then the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is a great choice!

I own this watch and can personally vouch for it! I go running most nights and this watch paired with my Bose Bluetooth headphones is an awesome wireless combination that leaves me free of bulky phones.

If you need a smartwatch that plays music for workouts or long runs then you really can’t beat this one.

You can play your favorite tunes via Spotify, Amazon, or Deezer, but be warned you will need an active paid subscription with one of these music streaming services.

The one issue with this watch is that you will be unable to stream music directly and so you must download the music that you want to listen to before you get stuck into a workout. This involves selecting the specific songs you want to store and then transferring them to the watch via a wireless connection.

The in-built storage can hold +500 songs so this isn’t something you’ll need to do very often. I usually change up the music on my watch every month and it really isn’t an inconvenience at all. Just select a few playlists or albums and then leave the music to transfer while it charges.

In addition to the music features, this smartwatch also offers a great training support package that not only monitors the work you have put in but helps you to understand it you are working too hard or not working hard enough.

Built for runners, this watch takes your safety seriously, and if you have a trip or fall, you will be able to use it to send your physical location to emergency services who can respond with support.

If you want a watch that does not need daily charging, then this device may be a perfect choice. It remains charged for seven days in smartwatch mode, but this will be reduced when you play music or use the GPS tracking option.

However, these modes will not be in constant use, so you can realistically expect to charge your watch every few days.

Great Value Choice – Fitbit Versa 2

Fitbit has made a strong name for themselves by releasing a range of fitness trackers that help you to live a healthy life. The Fitbit Versa 2 is a smartwatch with music capabilities so that you can use it when you are out and about, connected to your headphones.

Similar to our top fitness pick, the Garmin Forerunner 245, this device requires you to download and store your music choices onto the watch as streaming is not possible.

This Fitbit makes use of Spotify and recommends that you sign up for a paid subscription so that you can transfer the music you want with minimal hassle. When you have managed to get your songs onto the device, you can then use it to track your exercise, steps, and even your heart rate.

The display screen is large and uses color to show you your stats. You simply scroll through to get to the section you want and then use the touchscreen to navigate from there. It comes with Amazon

Alexa so that you have access to things like weather forecasts, alarms, and timers, as well as being able to control any smart devices that you have linked to your Amazon account. 

This watch will even help you to avoid living a sedentary life with hourly movement reminders. These reminders work to get you to walk around 250 steps per hour and help you to avoid any sedentary hours during your waking hours.

You can also track how many calories you have burned during the day to get an idea of how much exercise you need to do to get the balance right.

If you are keen to get a better understanding of your health, then the companion app is fantastic and will help you to understand your sleep, heart rate and helps you to track your weight and water intake.

You can even connect with friends who have a Fitbit device and compete with them on different fitness challenges. It is an all-round great value watch.

Garmin Venu

The Garmin Venu works to provide you with smartwatch music that needs to be downloaded and stored on the watch. You simply use your Spotify subscription to select the songs that you want to store and then transfer them using the pairing app.

Once they are on the watch, they will remain there until you remove them or swap them for other songs. If you have a specific workout playlist, this is a great way to get to your music without having to spend ages scrolling through song lists, but it does take a bit of time in the beginning to transfer them all.

The AMOLED display makes it easy to read the screen, and you can set your home screen to show you key stats such as your total exercise time that day, steps taken and calories burned as well as seeing the time and date.

The screen is 1.2-inches, and you simply use touch to navigate through the menu to get to the item you want to use. It offers up to five days of battery life when used as a smartwatch, but this time is drastically reduced to just six hours when GPS and music playback is enabled.

Much like other Garmin models, this watch puts a focus on fitness and offers a range of tracking options to keep you informed of how you are performing. Imagine being able to track your stress levels, sleep heart rate, and respiration – you can with this quality watch.

When it comes to tracking exercise, there are over 20 different, pre-loaded activities to choose from, and that includes cardio and strength training as well as yoga and Pilates. You simply select the one you want to track and then begin exercising.

Amazfit Stratos 3

The Amazfit Stratos 3 is a smartwatch with music storage that allows you to download music and store it directly on the watch. Unfortunately, you are unable to stream music to this device and will need to spend time selecting the songs that you want to play before making use of it.

However, when everything has been downloaded, you can start to enjoy the range of features that come with this device.

It offers over 80 different sports modes so that you can accurately track your exercise and see the progress you are making, including swimming, as this device is water-resistant. It has been designed for professional sportsmen and women and boasts incredible accuracy when it comes to tracking your efforts.

One of the key design features is four navigational buttons that make it easier to get to what you want when you are shaking and sweaty after an intense workout.

It is made from stainless steel and has a black silicone strap that makes it comfortable to wear even when you are in the gym. The face is 46mm wide so that you can see all your information on the crisp screen without any difficulty.

The design of the screen makes it easy to read in all conditions so that you can exercise outside and still keep tabs on your efforts.

There are various battery modes to help you get the most from every charge, and even when you have GPS in use and music playing, you can still expect around 70 hours of power until you need to charge!

Buyer’s Guide

Now you have an idea of the best watches that play music, you may need some further information on what to look for when you are choosing a new smartwatch that plays music.

The Two Different Ways to Listen to Music on a Smartwatch

When it comes to listening to your music, you will find that there are two ways that you can do this, and the one you use depends on the watch that you select.

The first option is to stream music directly to your smartwatch from an app like Spotify; you select the song you want and choose the speaker you want it to play from, and it will then begin to play directly from your smartwatch.

This option is only possible if you have a smartwatch that has its own SIM card and is able to use 3G or 4G to connect to the internet like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 recommended above.

The second option is to download songs from your smartphone directly to your smartwatch with music storage, where you can then play them when it suits you.

Obviously, streaming music directly from your wrist is the more convenient option but the downside here is that it will eat up your battery life more quickly.

Speakers or Headphones?

The next really important thing you should consider is whether the smartwatch music player you are considering has in-built speakers or whether it uses headphones to deliver the audio to your ears.

If you are looking for a model with in-built speakers, then you may have noticed that there are not many models to choose from. The reason for this is that they are notoriously difficult to get a high-quality sound from, and the models that do offer it tend to come with warning reviews.

It is not typically recommended that you buy a smartwatch with in-built speakers, but if you are determined to find one, then make sure that you get the sound stats before you buy.

If you are leaning towards getting a smartwatch that utilizes Bluetooth to send audio directly to your headphones, then you are in the majority of consumers who also opt for this. The only thing you need to be aware of when choosing this option is the quality of headphones you opt for. The better quality the headphones, the better quality the sound.

Ultimately, the reason this is the best option is that you are then in control of how much you spend on headphones rather than trying to hear playback directly from your wrist with tiny speakers that do not work that well.

Battery Life

Having smartwatch music playback means that your device will be using up its charge, and you will need to find a model that fits with your lifestyle and charging requirements. It is obvious that playing music will drain battery life, but many people do not understand what energy is being used to send music out of the watch.

If you go for a streaming option, then you will be using your internet connection to send or download the music to the watch, and it is this action that drains the battery faster than if you do not play music.

The other battery drainer is the Bluetooth connection you will need to maintain in order to listen to your music through your smartwatch accessories. So when you combine this with internet usage, you can start to understand why the battery drains quicker than when you do not play music.

When you start looking at smartwatch models, it is therefore very important to look for an option that offers a high-quality battery, and that charges quickly and easily so that you are not left without your device when you need it the most.

Selecting a Streaming Service

Once you have decided on the type of smartwatch you want, then you will need to consider what streaming service it offers. With Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, Pandora, and many others on the market, it is sensible to opt for the service that you prefer.

Recommended: Find out which smartwatch is best for Spotify in our guide.

Many of us already have a subscription to a music streaming service, so you may want to get a watch that can link up to your account. However, if this is your first streaming experience, you will need to take some time to check out what they all offer before making a final decision.

The other point you will need to factor in is whether you will need to pay for a subscription to the service or if it comes free. The reality is that while many streaming services offer a free option, they are typically very limited or come with a load of adverts that will become increasingly irritating.

Take the time to find out all about each service and the cost that you will incur before making your final choice, as this decision could be key when picking out your smartwatch.

Extra Features

While streaming is a huge part of purchasing the best smartwatch for music, you will also need to take the time to consider what other features your watch will offer. Take a moment to read through the common features so that you can research and purchase with confidence.

Fitness Tracking

Many smartwatches offer a range of fitness tracking capabilities and will provide you with feedback after you have exercised. Common tracking features include running, steps, and gym workouts.

You can even get smartwatches that are waterproof to track your swimming and ones that automatically recognize your exercise so that you never forget to track.

When it comes to understanding your workout efforts, most smartwatches will give you instant feedback on how long you were exercising and how far you traveled so that you can compare it to previous workouts. Many will also track your personal bests so that you are always up to date on what you need to beat.

Health and Wellbeing

Apart from looking for a watch that plays music, you should also consider how your latest purchase will be able to help with your health and wellbeing. Many smartwatches offer heart rate monitoring, breathing focus, and some even offer an ECG option so that you can monitor your heart more closely than ever before.

Many smartwatches offer health tracking apps and will work with your data to help you design a plan that suits your fitness needs. Take the time to decide what you want your new watch to track and then use your list to find the right model for you.

Lifestyle Support

In a similar vein to the health and fitness trackers, you can get, there are also smartwatches that offer a range of different lifestyle apps to help you manage your day. From calendars to notes and even reminders, you can find smartwatches that offer a great range of things to help you live a more organized life.

In a world that requires so much, it is great to have a watch that can help you remain on track. However, there is such a difference in what is on offer that you need to take the time to look at what you are getting from any device that interests you.

Notifications, Calls, and Messages

Getting your notifications direct to your wrist is a great way of staying up to date on what is happening in the world, and with news apps, messages, and calls all able to notify you, you will never feel out of the loop again.

Many smartwatches are enabled to take calls and respond to messages so that you do not need to take your phone out of your pocket when you are out and about. It also means that you can be informed without needing to disrupt a meeting or appointment as you can even read your messages on your wrist.

Taking the time to decide what you want from your smartwatch music player will help you to ensure that you end up with the best device for your lifestyle. Remember to do your research and shop around before you part with any money; that way, you are more likely to find a device that fits perfectly.

The post 5 Best Smartwatches for Music appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

via Find Your Smartwatch

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Skagen is undoubtedly one of the best watchmakers on the planet, creating timepieces that look amazing and that are built to last. This Skagen Hagen Connected review will not only give you insight into the design of the watch but also share key information that will enable you to make a decision about whether it is the watch for you or not.

Many people want to enjoy the look of a more traditional timepiece but want to couple that with the features that come with a modern smartwatch. The Skagen hybrid smartwatch does it all and gives you the fun of owning a watch that will be admired by all that see it.

Design

The Skagen hybrid watch is designed to be a showstopper and oozes timelessness and luxury in every way. It only comes in one size option, 42mm and is just 11mm thick so that it sits on your wrist comfortably so that you can wear it all day without getting a tired arm.

There are four different style options for you to choose from, and they include both stainless steel and titanium cases with either leather or steel straps. These choices allow you to pick the look you want and ensure that you end up with a device that is comfortable on your wrist.

When it comes to using the watch, you can use one of the three side buttons to get to the features you need; there is an activity disapply and remote features that link to your smartphone.

When it comes to setting the time, there is no crown for you to use; instead, you update the time and date settings directly from the smartphone app so that you can be confident that your device is always accurate.

Some of the Skagen watch reviews point out that it does lack some of the technology that you find with other models, but they have been left out in order to appeal more to an audience that wants to retain the timeless look of a classic watch.

Recommended: We review the Movado Connect 2.0 smartwatch next.

Features and Performance

The Skagen Connected smartwatch features can take a bit of getting used to as because it is a hybrid, there is no digital screen to navigate. This can be difficult if you are transitioning from a fully functioning smartwatch, but it is a compromise that needs to be made if you want to get the classic look.

There is an easy-to-use sub-dial that has four different colors; you can use these colors to assign them to contacts, notifications, calls, or even emails. Then, when one of those things is active on your phone, you will feel your wrist vibrate, and the watch dial will move to the color that represents what is happening.

This type of organization makes it easy for you to decide if you need to use your phone or if it can wait until later, plus it is a discreet way of knowing who needs you even when you are in a meeting that cannot be disturbed.

One of the downsides that keeps coming out in multiple Skagen smartwatch review circles is that there just is not enough variety in notifications to cover everything you need. Breaking your notifications down to just four categories makes it hard to prioritize and choose and does often result in you reaching for your phone when you do not need to.

Other features include sleep tracking, step counting, and even gives you the ability to control your music, take a photo, or to call your own phone to find it.

Recommended: See what we think of the iTouch Air 2 smartwatch.

The watch is powered by the Skagen Hagen Connected app, and the app is compatible with both Android and iOS phones. The app can be used to set up all the different notifications, and it also gives you a place to check out your steps, sleep, and active goal.

The app is simple to use and makes sense to anyone that is moving into the hybrid smartwatch market.

Battery and Charging

Having a Skagen Hagen Connected not only gives you an elegant wristwatch, but it also comes with great battery life so that you can wear and wear it without worrying about it running out. It uses a coin cell battery and lasts around five months before needing to be replaced.

This is great news for anyone that does not want the hassle of another device to charge and who is happy to pop into the local jewelers to get a new battery every few months.

Recommended: Is the Martian Notifier smartwatch one to watch?

Because there is no charging port with the Skagen Hybrid Smartwatch, the body of the watch is able to be thinner than other bulky smartwatches, allowing your watch to sit comfortably on your wrist and not protrude from under your cuffs.

Value for Money

In addition to all the other great aspects, the Skagen Hybrid watch is also great value for money! Originally marketed as just shy of $200, you can now find many great deals to enable you to get your hands on one of these watches.

In addition to being a great price, you are also getting a lot for your money. You can enjoy wearing the stunningly designed Skagen Connected smartwatch as well as utilizing all the smartwatch features that come as standard.

Skagen is an international brand, meaning that you can be certain that they are set to be around for some time and will be able to provide robust aftercare should you need to troubleshoot any problems or get your battery replaced.

When you compare this device to other smartwatches that are in the same price bracket, you may find watches with more features, but they do not tend to be hybrid smartwatches.

Therefore, if you are keen to look like you are wearing a traditional watch and only need a few basic smart features, then you will be hard pushed to find another device of such high quality.

Final Verdict

All in all, this Skagen Connected review not only details the timeless elegance of Skagen watches but also details how good the smart features are for a hybrid option.

Designed to be a talking piece, this watch will really stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons; well designed, quality craftsmanship and high-quality materials, Skagen understand how to make stunning watches.

You can also look forward to getting some notifications discreetly to your wrist, although there are only four notification options open to users at this time. You can even use this watch to track your health stats and set a daily goal so that you keep on track with whatever you want to achieve.

The price tag of this watch makes it irresistible, and you only need to factor in one to two battery replacements per year and no plug-in charging costs making it good for the budget!

Ultimately, Skagen has done what they are renowned for doing; creating a quality watch that will withstand the test of time and as long as you do not want your watch to be a full-blown smartwatch then you should not hesitate to get hold of one as soon as possible.

The post Skagen Hagen Connected Review appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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The Movado Connect smartwatch is undoubtedly a beautiful looking piece of tech. In my opinion, its modern, minimalist design just works on every level!

However, it’s what’s “under the hood” that really makes or breaks a smartwatch and in our review, we concentrate specifically on the design and features.

So is the Connect 2.0 all style and no substance? Find out below as we get to know the watch intimately.

Design

Movado are certainly big players when it comes to design. This product is a fine example of how sophisticated smartwatches have gotten recently.  

With the option to choose from a 40mm or 42mm watch face, the choice is yours. Neither option is particularly bulky or heavy.

This cracking product has a rotational crown that gives you the ability to scroll through your menus and shut down the device if you need to.  There are also two side buttons that are customizable providing ease of access and quick app launches.

With a sharp, crisp, and clear display, this Movado clearly hasn’t cut corners on the software. Unfortunately, its bezels that surround the outer edge of the screen are a little bulky. This element tends to reduce the screen-size somewhat and its often a little bit fiddly.

This product is stylish and neat, the interchangeable watch straps are aplenty. This smartwatch boasts a range of patterns, textures, colors, and of course prices. You can opt for a metal mesh bracelet for more formal events or go for a simple sports strap when hitting the gym.

Recommended: Don’t miss our Skagen Hagen Connected review next.

The swapping strap process is not a difficult one either, the designers have taken into account usability here. Simply flip over the watch and release the mini levers to exchange straps.

Features and Performance

This nifty piece of kit includes the new heart rate monitor feature which is built into the underside of the ceramic case. It’s easy to use and provides a super speedy reading.

Other features include GPS – allowing you to track your journeys even without a mobile pairing connection. This is a bonus, make use of maps without having to bring your phone, this is an especially handy feature for those morning runs.

With 8GB of internal storage, you’ve got quite a fair bit of space for such a small device. This smartwatch also runs on 1GB of RAM too, which is a tidy little processor. Smartwatch users can also access Google Pay for quick payments via contactless – just tap your smartwatch against the card reader and you’re good to go. 

Anyone reading a Movado smartwatch review is bound to be impressed. This smartwatch confidently works with both iOS and Android. This being said, customers have reported better usability when working through Android.

To connect your mobile device to your smartwatch, simply download WearOS app and follow the pairing instructions. Several users have reported how user-friendly Movado’s app and the interface is.

Recommended: Check out our VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX review.

Once you have paired your phone and smartwatch, you now have the choice to download various watch faces as well as tweak a number of the watch settings. Movado has announced that they will be releasing over 100 different watch faces in the next year, although there seems to be a lot less than that for now.

By using the Google Fit app, you can tap into a wide range of exercise regimes and workouts, this app allows you to track your progress too.  Download the app to access several activities, including aerobic workouts, cardio, and even weight lifting regimes.

Unfortunately, this product doesn’t quite hit the mark when it comes to water-resistance. It’s only graded at 1PX8, so it’s certainly not suitable for a swim. It will however hold up against a few splashes here and there.   

When tested, both the workout tracker and heart monitor were surprisingly in tune. Smartwatches often fall short in this department. If you are looking for a decent fitness companion, Movado is certainly offering a decent product here.

We would highly recommend using the strap swapping feature for different occasions. Fabric straps work great at the gym, whilst the leather or stainless steel strap is great for formal or everyday use occasions.

The option to connect a sleep tracker in available via external apps, but you may not want to wear this watch to bed, that being said, it’s totally up to you.

Voice recognition is another cracking feature of this smartwatch. Just whisper a few words and away you go.

Unfortunately, our Movado connect 2.0 review research has revealed a few glitches in the performance of this product. While it may be stylish, accessible, and customizable, there is often a delay when using the watch, which leaves you tapping aimlessly at times.

Recommended: How does the Martian Notifier smartwatch compare with the competition?

Battery and Charging

Unlike some of the other top smartwatches out there, Movado’s Connect 2.0 doesn’t feature wireless charging. We do think this is a bit of a letdown from Movado. Instead, charging is done by using an external charging pad that magnetically connects to the underside of the watch.

As with any smartwatch, its battery life will ultimately depend on how often you use it. If you regularly use the GPS tracking features or use the brightness on the highest setting, you will probably get away with a full days usage.

With some of the smartwatches out there boasting up to 30 days battery-life, Movado’s Connect is not at the top its the game in this department.

We reckon that with minimal usage you can get about three days battery-life, even if you leave notifications on and do a bit of fitness tracking here and there, so it’s not too bad!

If you’re in a bit of a squeeze, you always have the option to utilize the battery saver mode which will turn off all the running features. By switching to optimized usage, you can still see the time on the watch face. You will however need to restart the device when you require a return to regular usage.

Value for Money

The pricing of this smartwatch puts it firmly in the firing lines of big players like the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch. This is not a place you want to be as they are pretty sophisticated pieces of kit that are hard to beat!

While it is not the cheapest, it does boast a range of stylish looks and it certainly has a smooth and sleek appeal. That’s what distinguishes this watch, the style. If you want a really good looking wrist piece then this might be the one for you. However, if you want a truly great piece of tech then you should go with Apple or Samsung.

Overall, it’s a great looking product but it lacks speed when it comes to performance and is a little slow at times.

Final Verdict

This smartwatch certainly looks the part and will most definitely turn some looks when you wear it. It’s accessible, lightweight, easy to customize, and can help you with your fitness needs on the move.  

The battery life isn’t the best out there, but it certainly isn’t the worst.

In summary, if you fancy a stylish and nifty piece of kit, this is the watch for you. It can easily help you to follow any of your exercise routines, your daily to-do list, and generally just keep you in the know.

It looks amazing but as far as design and features then it gets beaten hands down by the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch.

So there you have it! Thanks for taking the time to read our compact and concise Movado connect smartwatch review. We really hope we’ve helped you somewhat!

If you own this watch then we’d love to hear about your experience down in the comments section!

The post Movado Connect 2.0 Review appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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We’ve broken it down for you into bite-size chunks, in the hopes of helping you with your smartwatch journey today.

We will clearly outline four important aspects to keep in mind when shopping for any new smartwatch.

So, let’s not waste any more time and get to business. Our iTouch Air 2 review will surely leave you feeling a little more reassured when considering your purchase options.

Design

iTouch Air 2 is an affordable option if you are looking for a sleek and sophisticated looking smartwatch. It weighs in at 340grams, making the iTouch Air 2 an extremely lightweight little friend. Perfect for managing health apps and monitoring your exercise routines.

Whilst iTouch offers a range of products, the iTouch Air 2 is possibly one of the best rated out of the bunch. This particular model is available in black, grey, and several other colours including a rose and gold combination.

One of its fantastic design features is that there is the possibility to purchase customizable watch faces – allowing yours to stand out from the crowd.

Screen size is also customizable and iTouch offers the option of choosing a 41mm screen or a 45mm screen if you are looking for something bigger. There is of course a price difference. 

Overall, the design of this model is sleek, elegant, lightweight, and its price is not especially expensive. – It shouldn’t break the bank. 

This option is great if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to big brand watches from Apple and Samsung, but it is certainly more of an exercise style smartwatch.

There are several different straps that you may purchase making this a fun and friendly option when smartwatch shopping, it’s certainly a great feature of the product.

Features

While this smartwatch may not be the greatest solution if you are looking for a smartwatch for constant connectivity and app usage, it’s great for keeping fit and has a bag full of keep fit features.

So let’s get to business with the features, there are quite a few to go through. This nifty smartwatch has a wide range of them, including:

phone calling

SMS messaging

call log tracker

heart rate monitor

contact syncing (up to 1,000)

wide range of strap options

customizable screen

sleep monitor

voice activation

activities tracker

date/weather display

calorie counter

pedometer

Although the iTouch Air 2 watch is stated to be waterproof and water-resistant, we wouldn’t recommend risking it. Maybe a kitchen splash would be no harm, but this model only has an IP67 rating when it comes to water-resistance.

An IP67 rating is a little lower than some of the other smashing smartwatches out there, but as this smartwatch is much cheaper, you’re not going to get the best of the best. After all, you get what you pay for. This model is however a perfect exercise companion, and it will probably hold up in the rain.

Operating System

Whilst it is stated that this model works with both iOS and Android, several users have reported problems whilst attempting to use Android.

We would recommend using this smartwatch if you are already an Apple or iOS user. There’s a reason why people tend to use the same systems – because they suit them. So ask yourself your preference first before making any smartwatch purchase.

It is fundamentally a user-friendly interface and provides long-term technology solutions to many individuals.

Battery

This model has a battery life of up to 30 days, which is excellent. This is, however, under calculated with standard laboratory testing. So if you use it more often than others, it may have shorter battery life. Still, 30 days is not bad going at all!

Value for Money

Overall this product is cracking value for money, it’s sleek, smooth, and well-designed. Having the option to customize is great too and this makes it an accessible product.

However, as this is not among the priciest of watches, it doesn’t compare to some of the latest super watches out there.

While this watch can help you connect, with the ability to make calls and texts, it is more of an exercise companion. If you’re looking to really save the pennies then there are even cheaper options out there. 

If you like the customizable options and the accessibility of the product then the iTouch Air 2 smartwatch is most likely for you, it comes in at the middle price range and won’t set you back too much.

Competition Comparison

We have done extensive research on this product and several other iTouch Air 2 smartwatch reviews have come to the same conclusion as us.

Overall, this watch is a great middle-range option. It’s not going to break the bank and if you are looking for something stylish, this is certainly it.

There are, however, several cheaper options on the market that offer the same features, while they may not be as stylish, it’s always worth shopping around.

The smartwatch product list is only growing bigger, as people notice the benefits of being less weighed down, the products are beginning to fly off the shelf. The iTouch is certainly one of these products and the customer base is one that grows daily. 

It’s a nifty and stylish product with a very appealing design. While it may not have as strong a processor as others, this smartwatch is still a great product.

So there you have it! – Our brutally honest and to-the-point iTouch Air 2 smartwatch review. We really hoped we have helped you out a little, just be sure to shop around, there are some great deals out there.

The post iTouch Air 2 Smartwatch Review appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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We have laid out a clear cut guide and will provide you with everything you need to know in our extensive but concise VTech smartwatch review.

Unlike most smartwatches out there, this one is for kids. It’s marketed for children from 4 years and upwards, but we think it’s much better suited to kids under 10 years. – The older ones might want some extra features.

So, without further ado, let’s get reviewing!              

Design

As this product is designed for kids it comes in several quirky and funky designs. The belt for the watch itself is soft and non-irritant, which is perfect for a kid’s wrist. This model, the DX2, is the more modern variant and features some cracking additions that the older model lacks.

The color options range from red, blue, pink, camouflage, violet, floral swirl, and several others. Making this a perfect option for kids that love color. After all, kids love anything colorful.

This product’s watch belts are unfortunately non-removable, but its face is splash-proof, which is certainly a good sign.

Features and Performance

There are several Kidizoom smartwatch DX reviews out there, and the vast majority all state how excellent this product is when it comes to features.

However, while this model has several features, we will start by admitting that it doesn’t feature GPS. We do feel that the Vtech would benefit from GPS. With most smartwatches offering this feature, we expect that some of Vtech’s newer models will include GPS in the future.

In terms of technical specifications, the VTech Kidizoom smartwatch DX2 is a great interactive tool. It features a lithium polymer battery and comes alongside a micro USB cable for charging. This feature also allows you to transfer games from your computer to your smartwatch.

The screen is of a good size and will certainly keep your kid entertained. This newer and more modern model of the Kidizoom features two cameras, which are both 0.3 megapixels.

This may not seem like much but it’s perfect for younger ones who just want to have fun. The image resolutions for this camera come out at 640 x 480 pixels. With the camera itself found on the top of the device, which is excellent for a selfie.

The second camera is located on the side of the watch – This option can allow the user to take front-facing photos and videos too. Photos taken are in the standard format – JPEG.

Kids seem to adore this feature as they can mess around with all the funny filters and effects. After all, which kid doesn’t like messing around with a camera these days? It’s a great option for any young, budding photographer.

Like most video recorders, mobile, or smartwatch, the resolution for videos is lower than what it is for photos. The Vtech Kidizoom can record videos of 320 x 240 pixels for a maximum of 1 minute. Recorded videos are in the AVI format otherwise known as (Motion JPEG).

It isn’t the best video recorder out there in the smartwatch arena, but it’s excellent for kiddies.     

So let’s talk storage – This nifty device comes with 256 MB, which is more than enough to hold around 1,500 pictures and between 10 and 25 minutes of videos, dependent on quality. So we are sure the storage is enough for any snappy happy youngster.

This super smartwatch comes with basic features as well as some additional ones, such as:

Alarm clock

Calendar

Timer

Dual cameras

Photo effects and frames/filters

Voice Recorder

Voice Distortion Effects (Fun feature)

Touchscreen – User friendly

Tones of games

Educational Vtech Library Access

Learning Lodge for eBooks etc…

Motion sensor

Pedometer

More than 55 changeable watch faces (selfies or photos also possible)

Splashproof (NOT Waterproof – Don’t submerge)

Another great feature that we certainly can’t miss, is the parental control feature. If you are worried that your child will play or watch for too long, you can limit the time spent on gaming.

Several Kidizoom smartwatch reviews have found this to be one of the most impressive features.  You can set the time limits to either 90, 60, or 30 minutes. There’s even the option to choose no limits each day. One more additional option to freeze play, for example when your child is at school.

Battery and Charging

With the polymer battery included, this product is supposed to last for up to three days without being charged. That being said when researching for our VTech Kidizoom smartwatch DX2 review we found that with heavy usage the battery will typically last for about a day.

Kids often spend a lot of time on their gadgets so expect it to last less than three days.

There is a micro USB included which can be used to charge the watch via computer or via USB wall-plugs.

Value for Money

This smartwatch isn’t going to break the bank. It is well priced and there are several retailers out there with fair prices. Just have a look online. That being said, we would prefer it to have GPS technology.

A number of parents search for this feature when looking for smartwatches as it can allow them the option to track and trace their kid’s whereabouts if needed. If your child is older and out of the house more, we would suggest searching for a GPS inclusive watch.

This option is however very fairly priced. This is a great smartwatch for smaller kids and has the option to access hundreds of educational learning tools.

Final Verdict

Overall, our Kidizoom smartwatch DX review has revealed several reasons to go ahead with your purchase. There are hundreds of happy customers out there and Vtech has been in the children’s entertainment market for a long time. They are certainly doing something right.

Although we have only covered the DX2 here if you are unsure whether to choose the VTech DX vs DX2, we would suggest going for the DX2. It’s the newer, smoother, and in our opinion, much better version of the DX. With two integrated cameras, this product doesn’t fail to impress. 

This product is an impressive and highly educational smartwatch for youngsters. While technology pervades every aspect of life, kids are often even more adapted to it than us.

Get them practicing with a smartwatch that doubles up as fun as well as educational. It’s easy to navigate and has great usability ratings, with two cameras, and a splash-proof face it’s a great deal. As it comes in several colors/patterns, you can be sure to find the right one for your child.

Vtech has done an amazing job on this one. The aesthetic design is bright, funky, and importantly catered to kids. This product doesn’t come with a super price tag and makes it an affordable choice for parents. In sum, we think it’s great! If you’re still unsure don’t be afraid to look out for more VTech Kidizoom smartwatch reviews, there are plenty out there.

So there you have it! Our compact and concise Vtech watch review made especially for you! We really hope we have helped you somewhat! Don’t forget to check our other smartwatch reviews when shopping around, and don’t forget – it’s always good to check – Happy hunting!

The post VTech KidiZoom DX2 Smartwatch Review appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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If you want to enjoy the look of a classic watch but want smartwatch features, then you need to find a hybrid smartwatch that meets your needs.

The Martian Notifier smartwatch is one of these watches and comes with a small price tag and a range of great features and notification capabilities.

Our Martian Notifier smartwatch review is here to help you understand every aspect of this great watch so that you can decide if it is something that you want to spend your money on.

We give the lowdown on the design, features, battery life, and value for money so that you are up to speed on precisely what this timepiece offers.

Design

This device is larger than most other smartwatches of this ilk and has a 1.7-inch screen that shows you the time and has a notification bar. Because it is bigger in size than most smartwatches, it is also heavier, and this potentially makes it more arduous to wear.

In fact, the majority of Martian smartwatch reviews explain that not only is it heavy but that it is pretty bulky too, making it hard to wear under cuffs even with its super comfy strap. You can also personalize the watch by swapping the straps, which is a great addition if you want to get a smarter version or different colors to match different outfits.

Despite the large size, the watch face is pretty sparse and only offers the time numerals to look at with no calendar or second hand. This is ideal if you like a no-nonsense watch, but can get frustrating as there are some missing numbers where the electronic screen has been placed. However, if you need a watch that will work well with a suit and tie, this model is a decent choice.

The digital display strip is bright and amazingly easy to read in any weather condition and also offers a digital time display in case you need to know what time it is after dark. It is not waterproof, so it will not work well if you want to go for a swim, but it is splash-proof, making it fine to wear even when the rain comes down heavily.

There are three navigational buttons: two on one side and one on the other. These buttons allow you to navigate through all the features with ease and help to continue disguising the fact that you are the owner of a hybrid smartwatch.

Features and Performance

As part of our Martian watch review, we checked out the features that are offered with this model and how well they each perform. While it is not a full-blown smartwatch, the name Notifier gives you a serious hint about what it does offer.

Notifications are shared in abundance, and you can link this watch to tell you when there is a call, text, or email coming in as well as any Facebook updates you get and DMs on Twitter.

The notifications spring into action on the electronic strip so that you can check out what is happening without having to lift your phone. This is great if you are screening calls or are in the middle of an important discussion and do not want to be disturbed by anything trivial.

The watch comes with a dedicated app that you use to enable and disable any features that you want. This makes personalization extremely easy and even allows you to customize the vibration pattern for each different notification so that you can know what has hit your phone without even lifting your wrist.

The device will share the entire contents of a text message or notification on the scrolling watch strip so that you can be kept in the loop without anyone even realizing it. It is a nifty piece of kit that most people will not even notice, meaning that it will fit well with a smart and corporate environment.

In terms of other features, this watch can share the current weather forecast on the watch screen as well as remotely powering your phone camera. You can use the panic setting to help you find your tethered phone and also set up silent alarms so that you know when you need to move to your next activity.

One of the best features is the ability to leash your phone to the watch and get a buzzing notification when you have moved too far from your mobile device.

Battery and Charging

The maximum battery life is around five days, but you should really expect to charge it twice weekly to be able to use it without interruption. The battery does drain quicker depending on the number of notifications you receive, so if you want to prolong the battery life, it is well worth streamlining the number of notifications you receive.

When it comes to charging the device, you will need to plug it in via a micro-USB. Charging is speedy, and the micro-USB charges the smart capabilities. The good news is that if you forget to charge your watch, the analog section is powered by a 5-year battery that will continue to tell you the time until you can next plug in.

Value for Money

One of the best things about this watch is that it is great value for money and comes in at the lower price range of the market. This means that not only can you afford to buy one but that you do not need to stress too much about it getting damaged when you use it.

Spending a smaller amount gives you the freedom to upgrade when a new model hits the shelves and allows you to purchase a work watch and then a different model for going out. It also allows you to get hold of a device that can notify you without you having to compromise on other expenditure responsibilities that you may have.

Final Verdict

While this watch is not perfect, it does offer good value for money and is a discreet hybrid smartwatch that will keep you in the loop when you need it the most. It is really easy to set up and pairs well with all types of smartphones.

You are able to easily organize the notifications you want and turn off the settings that are not important to you, making it simple but personalized to your individual needs.

There are areas that we were not so impressed with, and these included the small electronic screen and too few smart features. We were also unimpressed that there were numerals missed from the screen to house the electronic part and that it is not waterproof.

However, all in all, if you are looking for a great value watch that focuses on notifying you when you need to be notified, then this is not a bad choice. People are unlikely to realize it is a smartwatch, and this allows you to use it discreetly. We would definitely buy it as a work watch, especially if we worked in an office environment.

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Spotify on smartwatches has been a complete game changer for us!

Simply, stream or transfer your favourite music onto your watch for wireless playback any time, even when offline.

It’s another huge step towards true smartwatch independence from cellphones.

In today’s guide, we recommend the best smartwatch for Spotify currently on the market. We also recommend some awesome alternatives.

How Does Spotify Connect to Your Smartwatch?

Using Spotify on a smartwatch doesn’t yet offer all the features it does on a cellphone. It’s a very different experience, but using a smartwatch is all about making concessions right?

In this section, we take a look at how it all works and what kind of experience you can expect.

A Brief Introduction to Spotify

For those that have been living under a rock for the past few years, Spotify is a streaming service that supplies music and podcasts to its subscribers. 

There are millions of songs available on Spotify, and they cover a range of genres and time periods so that you can be certain of finding something that interests you, no matter how obscure your musical tastes. 

Spotify is commonly available on your computer, phone, and tablet, but more recently, smartwatches with Spotify have made it to market.

The great thing about Spotify is that it is free to sign up for, and you can start listening as soon as you have shared your email address. 

There is a premium service that you can pay for which has 3 key benefits (among others):

It removes advertisements from the listening experience.

It allows a higher standard of music quality (up to 320kbit/s bit rate).

Plays music without an internet connection.

Spotify is hugely popular across the world and has over 248 million active users, with over 110 million subscriber (nearly double that of Apple Music subscribers). 

How Spotify Works on a Smartwatch

A smartwatch with Spotify is not the same experience you are used to on a cellphone or computer.

Yes, you can the play music you love but you need to synchronize your watch with a computer or phone app. It’s not a standalone experience.

In this section, we explain how to set it up and also the limitations you need to prepare yourself for.

Step 1: Download the App

When it comes to accessing Spotify on your smartwatch, you will first need to download the Spotify app to your watch.

With Samsung wearables, this is a really simple process. Select ‘Apps’ from the home screen. Select ‘Galaxy Apps’. Find Spotify and install.

The process is easy with Garmin smartwatches too. This time you’ll need to find the Spotify app using the Connect IQ app on your cellphone.

Step 2: Sign Up

The sign-up process is straightforward, you just connect your Facebook account or use your email.

Important Note: Just remember not all smartwatches are able to use Spotify, so make sure you check out our list of recommended models.

Spotify will ask you to set a password and share your date of birth so that they know your age and can make music suggestions based upon that.

It’s an incredibly simple process made to make accessing music easy. There are lots of ways to customize your account when you have logged in so that you enjoy the music that you want to hear.

Step 3: Connect your Accounts

This step isn’t necessary with Samsung watches as you can sign in to the Spotify app on your smartwatch. However, Garmin users now need to sign into their Spotify account in the Connect IQ app. They will then be prompted to connect their accounts.

Step 4: Download Music (or stream on selected Samsung devices)

Now you can access the following folders in your Spotify account:

Playlists

Recently Played

Made for You

Workout

Podcasts

You may be wondering how to do this on a Garmin watch? (I know I was!). You need to hold the ‘Down’ button. This will take you to your library. You’ll see an ‘Add music and Podcasts’ option at the bottom.

Browse through what’s on offer and download your favorite playlists (you’ll need a WiFi connection).

Important Note: You can’t edit playlists or search for new music from your watch. This needs to be done using the full Spotify app on your cell phone or computer.

The Limitations of Spotify on a Smartwatch

Unfortunately, smartwatches with Spotify don’t get the full music streaming experience. It’s a little bit annoying having to download all of your music and podcasts, but in my opinion this is a small price to pay to have music on your wrist!

Here’s the lowdown on the drawbacks you can expect with Spotify smartwatches.

1. You need a premium account.

This is no big deal for those of you that already pay the monthly subscription but for those of you new to the streaming service or that currently use a free account then this could be a dealbreaker.

In order to put music on your smartwatch, you need a paid Spotify Premium subscription. At the time of writing (8/2020), this is currently priced at $9.99. In my opinion, if you listen to a lot of music then this is really good value for money but I’ll let you decide.

2. You can’t stream music (in most cases).

Spotify is by definition a music streaming service but its integration with smartwatches (at this time) isn’t quite the same. You must download music and podcasts to your watch. That means adding and deleting new playlists every time you want to “freshen” things up.

This is a very simple process but it takes time. Especially if you are adding substantial amounts of new material.

However, as you’ll see with the next couple of points too, there are a couple of exceptions.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung Gear S3 Frontier are both available with data plans which enable them to stream music.

3. The amount of music at your disposal is limited to your watches’ memory.

Since you must download music onto your smartwatch (with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy and S3 Frontier, which can stream), the listening material available to you at any one time is limited to the memory capacity of your watch.

Generally speaking, this is around 500 songs but it really depends on the watch and also the file sizes of your songs (higher quality music will take up more space).

Personally, I’ve never found an issue with this limitation. I use my Garmin 245 Music to listen to playlists while running. A five hundred song library is more than enough. I tend to change things up every month once some songs start to get a bit familiar.

4. You can only listen using a Bluetooth connection to external speakers or headphones.

Most of the watches with Spotify that are worth having can only playback your music with some external help. This means you need to connect to headphones or a speaker using a Bluetooth connection.

I pair my Garmin 245 Music with Bose SoundSport wireless headphones for a seamless experience when running.

The exceptions to this are the previously mentioned Samsung pair. They both contain built-in speakers that can play music without needing and external connection. Just be warned, the volume is pretty low and the sound quality isn’t great.

Spotify Alternatives to Consider

There are other music streaming alternatives that are worth considering before you sign up for a subscription. Here’s a quick look at three of the best music streaming platforms for smartwatch use.

Amazon Music – At $9.99 for non-Prime members ($7.99 with Prime membership) and with a library of 50 million songs this is a true Spotify contender. Available on Garmin.

Deezer -3 tiers that range from free up to high definition streaming at $14.99 per month. It has a library of around 60 million songs. Available on Garmin.

Pandora Music – A premium account with access to around 40 million songs costs $9.99 a month. Available on Samsung.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a watch that plays music, then picking a Spotify enabled smartwatch is a great choice.

As a runner, my kit is as lightweight as ever. Previously, in order to listen to music while running, I had my bulky smartphone strapped to my arm. Now, all I need is my smartwatch and wireless headphones.

Just don’t expect the full Spotify experience on smartwatch because it doesn’t yet exist. Smartwatches have a few hurdles to jump before we get that kind of app integration.

Right now, this is as good as it gets when it comes to Spotify on smartwatch. And if you ask us, it’s still amazing!

The Best Smartwatch for Spotify

In our opinion, these are the only three smartwatches with Spotify worth knowing about.

There’s one clear winner in our eyes but the others are worthy alternatives.

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music – Our Top Pick

Garmin is incredibly well known and typically considered to be the smartwatch choice of people who love to get outside and exercise.

This smartwatch not only offers an excellent music experience but has GPS to track your every move.

Music Library Size

The Forerunner 245 has 3.5 GB of internal memory which Garmin state should hold around 500 songs. However, I currently have 750 songs and 2-hour long podcast episodes on my watch so this isn’t actually accurate (but in a good way!). I typically freshen the library up every month or so with new podcast episodes and playlists.

How it Works

This Spotify smartwatch requires a premium Spotify account as you need to download the music to your watch. This means that it can’t stream music. You need to synchronize your watch with your smartphone app after selecting the music you want. The synchronization process can take a while if you plan on downloading a lot of music, so it’s best getting this out of the way with plenty of time before your next run.

Another key point to note here is that the watch itself has no audio output ability. It can store the music and play it but there are no built-in speakers. This means it needs to be paired with speakers or headphones via a Bluetooth connection.

I pair mine with Bose wireless headphones for a completely wireless listening experience while running. The connection process takes a few button presses and the connection is always solid.

Interface

The Spotify music controls are reached by holding down the ‘Back’ button for a couple of seconds. This takes you to your music library where you can browse what’s available.

This same procedure takes you to the skip, volume, shuffle, stop, and play controls while you’re listening.

It’s not exactly the smoothest user experience but it’s simple and easy to navigate. Depending on the headphones or speakers that you have paired with the watch, you might be able to control the music player externally through them.

What Else is There?

The Forerunner 245 Music actually does a heck of a lot more than just play music. As this is a Spotify watch guide we won’t go into too much detail but here’s a brief summary of the key features:

Works with iOS and Android

5 ATM waterproof

GPS (and GLONASS mapping)

Heart rate monitor

Pulse Ox sensor

Fitness notifications that can help you understand whether you need to work harder or slow down.

Garmin Coach that will work with you to get fitter and faster

Detailed feedback from all your workouts so you know where you need to put your efforts

Fall and safety detection services that will help you if you find yourself in trouble; this smartwatch will even alert emergency services to come and help you.

Up to 7 days of battery life when in smartwatch mode (up to 24 hours if GPS is in constant use)

Bottom Line: I’ve owned this watch for about 6 months and absolutely love it! If you’re an active person that enjoys listening to music then I highly recommend it. Besides playing music, it’s an awesome fitness tracker that actually encourages you to get out more. It’s the Spotify smartwatch that I’d choose over all others.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung is a household name and well known for its phones, TVs, and other tech. The Galaxy Watch is the perfect choice for fitness activities as well as listening to your music throughout the day. Spotify on a Galaxy watch can be easily downloaded and is simple to access so that you don’t have to fuss around to find it.

The great thing here is that if you have the SIM card enabled version of this watch then you are able to stream music using Spotify. While this sounds really cool, it does significantly drain the battery when you are using 3G and 4G data. I also prefer playing the music through external speakers as the in-built speakers are tiny and don’t sound great.

Until smartwatch battery life improves, I prefer the Garmin Spotify implementation where you pre-download the music. The battery life doesn’t take a huge hit when listening in this way. That being said, I don’t expect everybody to agree with me.

This beautiful watch has a round face and comes in two sizes to fit all wrist types. You can expect to enjoy a full-color display, and the straps are interchangeable so that you can suit your mood to your watch look.

The fitness tracking is really good, and you will be able to swim with the watch on, meaning that you never miss an opportunity to track your progress.

Some other key features include:

Light and thin design so you never notice it on your wrist

Always on display to make it easy to check what is going on in the world

A fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor to keep you up to speed on your progress

A health coach that will work with you to improve your general fitness

A fully customizable screen so that you can get the look you want

Bottom Line: The Samsung Galaxy Watch is the smartwatch to choose if you want to stream music. It’s an awesome watch in general and much more than just a fitness tracker that plays music (which could be said about the Garmin Forerunner).

Apple Watch Series 5

The latest Apple Watch hit the shelves last year and offers a huge range of features that will appeal to anyone that wants to get a new smartwatch.

The Apple Watch is synonymous with Apple Music, but the company does not bar Spotify. Just be prepared for a seriously limited experience.

Apple being Apple currently don’t permit 3rd party apps (ie. non Apple products) to use a cellular or WiFi connection to stream. As you can imagine, this seriously limits what 3rd party apps can achieve on the Apple Watch.

In the case of Spotify, the app is available but it can only act as a controller to control Spotify playback on another connected device. This means no streaming and not even any downloading!

I can understand why they’ve done it. It’ll push more people to use their very own Apple Music streaming service (which has full streaming capabilities with a premium subscription). However, it’s a pretty annoying tactic that we’ve come to expect from Apple.

Third-party apps may well receive more support in the future but for now, Apple Music is the only streaming service worth using on the Apple Watch.

Otherwise, it’s a seriously awesome watch that’s got the best user interface we’ve seen on a smartwatch so far. A couple of other criticisms can be aimed at the price and battery life, but all in this is a really cool piece of tech.

Some of the most sought-after features of the Apple Watch Series 5 include:

An in-built GPS system to track wherever you go

An Always-On screen, so there is no more pushing buttons to check the time

An ECG app to check your heart health whenever it takes your fancy

An in-built compass

A bigger screen than ever before

Bottom Line: There’s a big compromise to make here if you simply must use Spotify. But, if you’re willing to make the switch to Apple Music you get the full streaming ability and a real quality wrist-piece.

Conclusion

If you want music on your watch there are few decent choices right now, but smartwatches with Spotify are leading the way.

However, there are a few different implementations of Spotify on smartwatches that you need to be aware of.

There are those that can stream, those that can only download to internal memory, and those that simply work as an extended remote control.

It depends what you’re personally looking for but for me the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music does a brilliant job. It’s a smartwatch with offline Spotify access that relies on downloading and storing the music internally via a smartphone. This might not be for everyone (try the Samsung Galaxy or Apple Watch if so) but for a runner like myself it’s now an essential piece of tech.

Remember, other very good music streaming services exist too. If you’re an Apple fan then switching over to Apple Music and streaming with an Apple Watch Series 5 is a great way to get music on your smartwatch too.

The post The Best Smartwatch for Spotify [Plus 2 Awesome Alternatives] appeared first on Find Your Smartwatch.

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