The infamous calculator watch has been around since the 1970s, but smartwatches have finally reached the point that they're, well, smart. And now that the Apple Watch has catapulted the category into the mainstream, smartwatches are no longer accessories associated primarily with tech geeks.
From running apps, to displaying smartphone notifications, to monitoring your heart rate, the latest crop of smartwatches do a lot more than just tell time. Since Pebble is out of the picture, which one should you buy? We've rounded up our top-rated options to help you decide. It's also important to know what to look for, so keep the following advice in mind when shopping around.
Device Compatibility
Naturally, the first thing you'll want to consider when buying a smartwatch is compatibility. Many of the devices currently available use Android Wear, Google's operating system designed for wearables; the latest Android Wear update adds support for iOS, but these are still very much Android-centric devices. The Apple Watch, as you'd expect, connects strictly to iOS-powered devices, so it's iPhone-only. Make sure to pick a watch that's compatible with the mobile device you own. Unfortunately, there aren't any watches we recommend that support BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices.
Apps
What separates a smart watch from a dumb watch? Lots of things, but as smartphones have taught us, apps might be the most important.
Most of the watches we like feature full-fledged app stores, bringing everything from Uber and Yelp to—yes, a calculator—to your wrist. Much like smartphones, app availability is a good way to determine which product to get, so make sure to check out the app selection for each watch before buying in.
And if you're looking for apps, right now Apple is your best bet. The Apple Watch has the largest number of high-quality apps and big-name developers, by far. Android Wear also has it fair share, but developer interest definitely seems to be in Apple first. Samsung's homegrown Tizen OS doesn't seem to be on the radar for most developers, and the kid-friendly LG GizmoGadget is more about messaging than apps.
Fitness
Unless you want a gadget on both of your wrists (not the best look, in my opinion), you'll want a smartwatch that can do double-duty as a fitness tracker—or any other wearable gadget you were thinking about getting. Most smartwatches are capable of tracking basic activity, like steps, but you need to pay close attention to any additional features. The Apple Watch Series 2 and Nike+, for instance, feature built-in GPS, so they can track your runs without the help of a companion device. They also have heart rate sensors. Look closely and choose a watch that tracks the activities you want to monitor.
Battery Life
You don't want a smartwatch with good battery life, right? Good, because you're not going to get it. Watches with full-color, smartphone-like displays, like the Apple Watch and Android Wear watches, only last for about a day on a single charge. Like your phone, you're going to want to throw them on a charger every night before you go to bed. And most of the watches that fall into this category feature screens that turn off after just a few seconds. In order to check the time, you either need trigger the display with a physical button or a gesture like holding it up to your face.
Price
Smartwatches can be very expensive, but that doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money to get a good one. Yes, the ceramic Apple Watch Edition is sure to draw a lot of attention, but at $1,249 (and up), you can buy a couple of new iPhones. Even the base model costs $369, placing it among the more expensive smartwatches we recommend. If you're a first-time smartwatch buyer, you might want to think about going the less-expensive route, in case you wind up not wearing it all that much.
Buy It for Looks, Don't Buy It for Life
Let's not forget: You're also going to wear this thing. And unlike your Timex, it's probably not going to remain in style for years. Smartwatch design is rapidly changing, so hold out until you find something you actually want to wear. And keep in mind that smartwatches are still gadgets. The coming year is sure to bring new iterations of pretty much every watch on this list, not to mention plenty of completely new ones.
The battle for wrist real estate is quickly heating up. That's good news for consumers, since it's likely to result in even better—and better-looking—devices. I wouldn't be surprised if this list reads completely differently the next time you see it. But if you're looking for the best smartwatch available today, the options here are the finest we've seen so far. For the latest reviews, see our Smartwatch Product Guide.