In 2018, a smartwatch saved a man’s life by alerting him to the fact that he had blocked coronary arteries even though he felt perfectly fine.
For all of the naysayers out there: apparently, smartwatches are literal lifesavers.
The man was wearing an Apple Watch at the time. But the fact remains that there are a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to smartwatches.
With so many watches coming in with so many different sizes, looks, specs, etc., it can be hard to know which one is worth your time. Today, we’re going to take a look at the best smartwatches of 2019 to hopefully make your decision a little easier!
Why Choose a Smartwatch?
For a lot of people, a smartwatch is a recent development (past five years or so). In reality, though, any digital watch could be considered a smartwatch, which is why you could say they’ve been around since the 1980s.
For our purposes, though, we’re counting more recent watch trends that have been dubbed “smartwatches.” Any wristwear piece that acts more like a smartphone than just a clock counts toward what we’re looking for.
But why would you want such a device in the first place? After all, if your smartphone neatly fits in your pocket, why do you need it on your wrist?
A top-rated smart watch usually carries many features from smartphones:
- Mobile operating system
- Mobile apps
- Games
- Media players
- Messaging capabilities
- WiFi and Bluetooth functionality
The kicker here is that you get all of that on your wrist. It may not seem like much at first, but being able to read messages, make calls, etc., with just a flick of your wrist is so intuitive.
The Best Smartwatches of 2019
So, let’s dive in and take a look at the best smartwatches of the year, so you can figure out which device works best for your personal needs.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch
If you want the best Android smartwatch in 2019, look no further. Just like its smartphone counterpart, this is a direct competitor of the Apple Watch, and it shows in many ways.
It features a classic round design that looks very similar to many traditional watches. The display is AMOLED and measures 360 pixels by 360 pixels.
It also comes in different sizes, so you get the choice between 42mm diameter and 46mm diameter. The 46mm version is quite a big boy, and it may look daunting on some people’s wrists.
Still, the fact that they offer such a large option will be great for some people with larger wrists.
- Apple Watch
Apple kicked this whole “smartwatch” thing off, and they’re still leading the pack in a lot of ways.
But just like smartphones, not all of their specs always match up as well as you’d expect. For example, Samsung Galaxy Watch’s battery life can last up to four days, whereas Apple’s only lasts 18 hours.
Some people believe this is an underestimation, but still, the difference shows.
One thing that Apple often wins in spades is looks and design. You don’t usually think of mens luxury watches when you think of smartwatches, but the Apple watch is an exception.
Its sleek square display is OLED and would look right at home under a French cuff as well as if you were going off on a hike.
- Fitbit Versa
The Fitbit has long been known as a fitness device that you wear on your wrist as it keeps track of steps walked and calories burned. It even helps motivate you toward your fitness goals with on-screen coaching.
It’s just too easy to pop on your wireless Jaybirds and head out for a run when you’re wearing this workout buddy.
Featuring a 300-by-300-pixel display at 1.3 inches, it’s more than a fitness tracker, though. It easily connects with your phone to help you respond to messages on the fly, as well as allowing electronic payments.
- Huawei Watch
Here’s another top-rated smartwatch that features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and over two days worth of battery life.
One great feature of the recent Huawei smartwatch iteration is the ability to track your sleep cycles. If you’re worried about sleep issues, such as sleep apnea, this smartwatch might be an easy way for you to help monitor yourself.
- Samsung Gear S3
Samsung gets on the list twice, but this time we’ve got the Gear S3. If you appreciate the Galaxy Watch, the Gear S3 might be worth a look if you’re a more active individual.
Much like a Casio G-Shock, this watch has passed the highest specifications set by military standards, meaning it can take a beating. It comes with many of the same features as the Galaxy, too, but in a more rugged package.
- Fossil Explorist
Fossil is known for its leather goods and particularly its watches. That’s no different for the smartwatch world, and the Explorist gets the pick here!
Compared to other watches on this list, the Explorist has a much more traditional look, which is perfect for those who aren’t sold on the high-tech look. To top it off, this is one of the best smartwatches for iPhone as well as Android, considering it can connect to either.
This makes the Explorist one of the most versatile smartwatches on the list.
- Garmin Fenix
Garmin has long been known for their world-class GPS units but has recently dipped its toes in the smartwatch world. They have many offerings, but the Fenix gets the nod.
The Fenix is certainly an active person’s watch with water resistance up to 100 meters, heart-rate monitoring, and an excellent GPS. Sadly, this smartwatch doesn’t have a touch screen like many watches on this list, but that’s only because this watch knows what it is.
It’s made for the rough, rugged, and active life, and a touch screen would only be a weak point.
Making Informed Smartwatch Decisions
It’s no surprise that we practically have smartphones small enough that they can fit on our wrists. Smartwatches are a great accessory to add to the phone that you live with, and there are plenty of great and stylish options to choose from.
When looking for at the best smartwatches of 2019, the choice can seem overwhelming. Options like Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch are easy recommendations to make. But let’s not forget the more active options, such as Fitbit Versa and Garmin Fenix.
If you need more choices to consider from, take a look at this hands-on review of the Matrix Powerwatch X!
