Smartwatches have been around since the late 2000s, but only recently have they become mainstream. Over the next few years, smartwatches will grow even more popular as their capabilities increase and prices decrease. The following 10 watches are our favorites for 2022 and beyond, and we predict each one to be one of the most popular in the years to come. The list includes both affordable options that are on sale now as well as pricier models that will likely come down in price over time with their popularity increasing.
1) Apple Watch Series 4
With a refreshed design and new health-tracking features, Apple Watch Series 4 is your best bet for those looking for a smartwatch that does it all. In addition to monitoring your heart rate, tracking steps, and reminding you when it’s time to move, Apple Watch Series 4 also boasts an impressive list of new features including fall detection, breathing exercises, and an electrical heart sensor. Though Apple continues to position its wearable as a luxury item, adding wellness features like these makes sense for long-term wearables; after all, many people don’t buy smartwatches because they want more accessories—they buy them because they have medical issues or bad habits they want to change.
2) Fitbit Versa
The Fitbit Versa is a great smartwatch for folks who don’t want to spend $300 or more on an Apple Watch or Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) device. The Versa has pretty much all of the same features as a premium smartwatch, and it’s priced at a fraction of these watches. We love that you can get notifications from your phone, control music playback, and track your workouts with ease. Not everyone will want a smartwatch, but if you do, then you should check out our list of best smartwatches. The Fitbit Versa will be able to keep up with everything you need it to do.
3) Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music
The Vivoactive 3 Music is a solid smartwatch with all of Garmin’s fitness and outdoor functionality, plus some onboard music storage for offline listening. It doesn’t have built-in LTE or NFC for contactless payments, but it does have GPS, which most other watches in its price range lack. Its touchscreen isn’t as responsive as a dedicated music player, but it gets great battery life and has good enough sound quality for on-the-go listening. It’s also among our picks for the best running watch and best wearable fitness tracker.
4) Asus ZenWatch 3
Probably one of Samsung’s best smartwatches, it features a 2 Super AMOLED curved display that looks great and has a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. It can connect to your Android phone via Bluetooth and NFC or a Samsung phone using Samsung’s Gear Fit app. Its IP68 rating makes it dustproof and water-resistant. The watch is powered by Tizen-based software that lets you download apps, play music, and make calls right from your wrist.
5) Samsung Gear S3 Frontier
No smartphone is a true replacement for a real timepiece, but if you really like your phone, then there are smartwatches that will allow you to leave it behind while you’re at work. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is one of our favorite smartwatches because it can make calls and even stream music from your phone. The watch syncs with both Android and iOS devices so you don’t have to be stuck with one system or another. For individuals who want a single device for fitness, messaging, calling, and more, look no further than our top pick for the best smartwatch of 2018! It doesn’t hurt that it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters either!
6) LG Watch Sport
The LG Watch Sport is one of my favorite smartwatches. It has GPS, LTE connectivity, and its own SIM card slot. Plus, it’s got Google Assistant built-in. You can also stream music over LTE with an Apple Music subscription for offline playback, which is great for working out without a phone or WiFi connection. And you don’t need to carry your phone around on runs—it’s all right there on your wrist.
7) Misfit Vapor
The Huawei Watch 3 is a smartwatch that provides you with notifications, call and text alerts, heart rate monitoring, sports apps, and a plethora of other features. Plus, it does it all without having to be charged regularly. You can expect 4-5 days on one charge for everyday use or two weeks if you go easy on your usage. Add these benefits together with its sleek look and comfortable fit and you have an excellent smartwatch at a great price point. The only downside is that it lacks an option for cellular connectivity.
8) Skagen Falster 2
Skagen has been a quiet mainstay of the wearables industry, and its latest offering, the Falster 2, looks like it will continue that trend. This attractive smartwatch is built on Android Wear 2.0 (the update we were waiting for), comes with GPS support, and has a great build quality. A wide variety of watch faces can be used with any Android or iOS device, giving you plenty of ways to personalize your watch while still keeping everything simple enough to read without annoying notification badges cluttering up your face. The battery life on Skagen’s offering is also one of our favorites, coming in at just under two days—that’s with notifications turned on!
9) Ticwatch E2
A few years ago, many people didn’t understand smartwatches, which made them hesitant to invest in one. Now, however, they are quickly becoming a hot commodity and a necessary way for many people to stay connected. If you’re thinking about investing in a smartwatch but aren’t sure which one is right for you, look no further. We’ve tested out several options and found that Ticwatch E2 does everything most consumers would need and more. First of all, it has GPS capabilities that track your location accurately whether on a run or out hiking with friends. Secondly, it’s compatible with iPhone and Android so everyone can enjoy its perks.
10) Huawei Watch 3
With Android Wear 2.0 on board, Huawei’s Watch 3 is a formidable competitor that ticks all of our boxes. Expect a low price and great build quality, but don’t count on any high-end features (e.g., NFC payments). The Honor Band 4’s NFC chip will work with Google Pay, so if you want to try out Google’s system without paying for another watch, it should do just fine. The Samsung Gear S3 will be updated early next year with a new chip and better health tracking capabilities that put it closer to true smartwatch territory than ever before.
