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by Iffat Nawaz

Who Is the Winner: Top Smartwatches To Buy Right Now

22 Nov 2024

Photo: Nick Jio

Take a step into the future with the ultimate wearable wonders! Modern smartwatches have evolved far beyond just telling time — they are now powerhouse companions that keep you connected, on track, and in tune with your well-being. It is like having a personal assistant at your wrist, ready to respond to voice commands, detect emergencies, and keep you linked to loved ones. 

With advanced well-being and fitness tracking, you can unlock the secrets to a healthier, happier you. The top smartwatches cover everything from monitoring heartbeats to sleep patterns, sweat-drenched workouts, and mindful meditation. 

Ready to find your perfect timepiece? Dive into The Sandy Times' top picks for the best smartwatches, seamlessly blending style, innovation, and functionality. Let us start with Apple's Smartwatch.

Apple leads the smartwatch industry with a 19% global shipment share as of Q2 2024, while other vendors account for the remaining 81%.

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Apple Watch Series 10: A revolutionary smartwatch 

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Apple Watch Series 10 has evolved into a sleeker, lighter, and more advanced wearable device. This latest iteration perfects the winning formula, making it an essential accessory for iPhone users.

The Apple Watch Series 10 boasts a stunning OLED screen in 42 mm or 46 mm case sizes. The wider angle and LTPO3 technology ensure a brighter display, even when viewed off-axis. The always-on feature now includes a ticking second-hand, adding a touch of elegance.

This smartwatch takes health monitoring up a notch. It features Sleep Apnea Notifications that track signs over 30 days, an ECG app for on-demand electrocardiograms, and menstrual cycle tracking with ovulation estimates. The Vitals app gives you overnight health metrics and advanced fitness tracking keeps you motivated with Activity Rings and the Workout app.

Stay connected with Emergency SOS and fall detection for quick help, plus Check In to notify loved ones of your arrival. Relish seamless integration with your iPhone and Apple devices, and make payments effortlessly with Apple Pay. It is your all-in-one soundness and connectivity companion.

Pros:

  • Incredibly light and comfortable design
  • Excellent voice isolation on calls
  • Bigger screen enhances readability
  • Faster charging (80% in 30 minutes)
  • IP6X dust resistant and 50 metres water resistant

Cons:

  • No significant improvements to battery life (18 hours)
  • No changes to double tap functionality
  • The smallest 42 mm size may still be too large for some wrists
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Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Your fitness companion

Stay on top of your fitness goals with the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE 40 mm, a smartwatch designed to track your every move. This sleek and feature-rich timepiece has innovative features to help you monitor your energy, stay connected, and reach new heights.

Get performance insights on step counts, active minutes, calories burned, and more. Automatically track everyday movements like walking and running.

Furthermore, manually log over 90 exercises. Unlock valuable insights into your body composition with the built-in BIA sensor. Track body fat, muscle mass, and water levels to optimise your strength goals. Advanced heart monitoring features, including ECG and periodic heart rate measurements, inform you about your cardiovascular health.

Transform your sleep with Advanced Sleep Coaching, powered by Galaxy AI. Plan bedtime, detect snoring, and track sleep stages (awake, light, deep, REM) to wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.

The smartwatch is packed with features that make it a must-have. Enjoy responsive touch and gesture controls for effortless navigation. With a built-in GPS, you can track your outdoor adventures accurately. It is water-resistant up to 50 metres, so you can dive in without worry. 

And don't miss a beat — make and answer calls right from your wrist via Bluetooth.

Pros:

  • Responsive touch and gesture controls
  • Accurate heart rate monitoring
  • Detailed exercise tracking
  • Measures ECG, SpO2, body fat percentage, and more
  • Large app selection

Cons:

  • Small screen with big bezels
  • Dated processor
  • It doesn’t guarantee ruggedness for use in extreme conditions
  • No AI health insights
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Google Pixel Watch 3: Elevate your timekeeping experience

Get ready to revolutionise your wrist game with the latest Google Pixel Watch 3, boasting a more extensive, brighter, and ultra-responsive Actua display. Building upon its predecessor's sleek design, this advanced timepiece is designed for performance.

You will love its 10% larger display, twice as bright as its predecessor, which makes tracking your stats and info effortless. Its 45 mm size charges 20% faster, so you will stay powered up and connected.

You can take advantage of advanced running features from Fitbit, which ensure you always track your readiness and cardio load for a perfectly balanced rest.

Moreover, stay on top of your day with cutting-edge technology. Enjoy AI-powered call screening that detects and blocks spam calls. Navigate effortlessly with Google Maps, even when you are offline. Make payments or catch transit with ease using Google Wallet. And don't forget about Google Assistant, your trusty companion ready to help you on the go. 

Pros:

  • Larger, brighter, and ultra-responsive display
  • Long-lasting battery life (up to 36 hours)
  • Advanced fitness features with Fitbit integration
  • AI-powered call screening and spam detection
  • Seamless Google apps integration
  • Water-resistant design

Cons:

  • Limited compatibility with non-Android devices
  • Requires Google account and internet access
  • Some features require a paid subscription or specific hardware
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Garmin Venu 3: Long battery life smartwatch

Garmin Venu 3 is a smartwatch that redefines physique tracking. Boasting an impressive battery life, comprehensive wellness metrics, and a wide range of workout types, this device stands out as a top choice.

Enjoy crystal-clear text on the bright AMOLED display, featuring an always-on mode for quick glances. With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, you will never miss a beat.

Keep a close eye on your shape with features that monitor your Body Battery energy levels, sleep score, respiration, hydration, stress, women's health, and heart rate. This comprehensive tracking helps you understand your body better and make informed decisions about your well-being.

Stay active and energised with over 25 built-in sports apps. Discover new ways to keep moving with indoor and GPS sports options, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, and golf. 

Experience the convenience of contactless payments using Garmin Pay. Venture out confidently, knowing that incident detection and Assistance features can send your live location to emergency contacts if you need help. 

Pros:

  • Comprehensive sleep metrics
  • Up to 11 days of battery life
  • No subscription is required for health metrics
  • Large, easy-to-read display
  • Water-resistant design

Cons:

  • Design doesn't feel as premium as similarly priced watches
  • Small app ecosystem
  • Slow app downloads
  • Separate apps for managing health insights and watch faces
  • No home button
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Apple Watch Ultra 2: The ultimate outdoor adventure companion

Take your outdoor adventures and health journey to the next level with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It is designed to withstand the most demanding conditions while delivering new features.

Crafted with a lightweight titanium case, this watch boasts an incredibly bright Always-On Retina display, reaching 3,000 nits for unparalleled visibility. The 49 mm corrosion-resistant titanium case and a sapphire front crystal ensure durability.

Unlock precision dual-frequency GPS for accurate route tracking, automatic track detection, and advanced running form metrics. Use offline maps, compass navigation tools, and customisable workouts.

Monitor your heart health with ECG and irregular heart rhythm notifications. Track and receive sleep apnea alerts, and access emergency services with a press of a button.

Experience the freedom of cellular connectivity, stream music, and podcasts, and get directions with Maps.

Pros:

  • Incredibly bright, Always-On Retina display
  • Advanced GPS and navigation features
  • Rugged titanium construction
  • Long-lasting battery life (up to 36 hours)
  • Advanced health and safety features
  • Cellular connectivity
  • Seamless iPhone integration

Cons:

  • Limited compatibility (iPhone only)
  • Battery life similar to the previous model
  • Limited recovery metrics

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