The BEST Smartwatches to buy in 2023

Welcome to our guide on the best smartwatches to buy in 2023. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top smartwatches available this year, taking into consideration factors such as design, features, battery life, and overall value for your money. Whether you’re looking for a fitness tracker, a device to stay connected on the go, or simply a stylish accessory, our guide will help you find the perfect smartwatch to fit your lifestyle.

 

Number 1. Apple Watch

 

 

Since its release in 2015, the Apple Watch has matured into one of the greatest wearables on the market. It’s the greatest smartwatch for iPhone users, and we won’t criticise you if you convert to an iPhone solely to use an Apple Watch. Apple Watch Series 8 provides robust fitness-tracking functions that will suit the demands of both novices and serious athletes. It can also identify whether you’ve been in a vehicle accident, do ECG checks, and assess blood oxygen levels. Moreover, this Apple wristwatch has NFC, inbuilt audio storage, a plethora of handy applications, and a number of methods to reply to messages.

There aren’t many changes between Series 8 and its predecessor, Series 7. The appearance remains mostly same, and although the Apple Watch Series 8 is powered by a newer S8 SiP, it didn’t seem much speedier in our tests. It lasted a little longer, and we were delighted by the new low-power mode, which kept the watch running for an extra two hours after it had reached 20% battery life.

There are now two more alternatives on opposing extremes of the spectrum. The new Apple Watch Ultra is certainly overkill for most people, but it offers a tonne of extra capabilities such as additional waterproofing to monitor diving, an even more precise GPS, and the largest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple built it for the most outdoorsy among us, but for the ordinary person, it certainly contains more functions than they’d ever need.

On the other hand, the $250 Apple Watch SE has fewer features than the Series 8, but it should be sufficient for most people. We believe that the Watch SE is the ideal choice for first-time smartwatch purchasers or those on a tighter budget. You’ll receive all of the standard Apple Watch functions, as well as fall and crash detection, noise monitoring, and emergency SOS, but you’ll miss out on more sophisticated hardware features like an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor, an ECG monitor, and a skin temperature sensor.

 

Number 2. Fitbit Versa 2

 

 

If spending $400 on a smartwatch is not within your means, we suggest going for the Fitbit Versa 2, which is our top pick for a sub-$200 option. The Versa 2 is an excellent budget watch that offers a wide range of features at an affordable price. It provides Fitbit’s reliable exercise-tracking capabilities, including auto-workout detection, sleep tracking, water resistance, connected GPS, blood oxygen tracking, and a six-day battery life. The watch also supports Fitbit Pay through NFC and features built-in Amazon Alexa for voice commands. Although the Versa 2 usually retails for $150, we have seen it available for as low as $100.

 

Number 3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

 

 

The newest iteration of Samsung’s famous Galaxy Watch may not have received many updates, but that doesn’t mean the Watch 5 isn’t still the greatest smartwatch for Android users. Features like as a more robust screen and finer curvature may not seem thrilling, but they make the Watch 5 more durable and dependable. Moreover, the Galaxy Watch provides the most complete health and fitness monitoring on Wear OS, and the firm included a sleep coaching tool this year to assist steer you towards better sleep.

Consider the Samsung Watch 5 Pro if you don’t mind wearing big timepieces. It costs $450 more, but it has a bigger 45mm titanium casing, a more robust screen, and a larger battery. While Samsung touts its Android wristwatch as an outdoor gadget, think of it more as a large timepiece that lasts longer than the basic model. It has the same capabilities as the 40mm and 44mm models, with the exception that it supports the GPX route format for workouts, allowing you to obtain turn-by-turn instructions when hiking or biking.

All three watches are also water-resistant, allowing them to monitor swims or withstand an unexpected storm for more than a day (without the Always On Display enabled). They also run Wear OS 3.5, which is so close to Samsung’s prior Tizen OS that veteran wearers won’t have to acclimatise to a new system. Finally, the Galaxy Watch 5 series is a powerful, well-rounded collection of smartwatches that will satisfy the majority of Android users.