We’ve come a long way since the Pebble single handedly (well, wristedly) kickstarted the smartwatch boom. Now there are a plethora of devices for iPhone and Android to bring your notifications and phone straight to your arm.
Which smartwatch is right for you? That depends a lot on what you’re looking for - and it’s possible a fitness tracker would be better suited for your needs. That said, if you want something a bit more dressy, then look no further. Here are the best smartwatches of 2016 so far.
Best Smartwatches 2016:
Apple Watch - Best for iPhone users
If you haven’t heard of the Apple Watch then someone at Apple is probably going to lose their job. Hyped to the rafters by almost everyone, it certainly wasn’t the first smartwatch by a long way but it’s undoubtedly the most popular to date. To use it you have to own an iPhone, so if you’re using Android then move along.
If you’ve got an iPhone then this is the smartwatch for you, it even comes in two sizes to suit most wrists. The only issue is the price, the basic Sport model starts at £299, more than almost any other smartwatch on the market but not too steep. However, if you want a stainless steel model with a link band then you can expect to pay around £819. Getting the look you want can be expensive but Apple should be applauded for the huge range of finishes and straps on offer.
Aside from the price it’s all plain sailing, the watch interface is well designed, you can take calls using the watch as well as get and respond to all the usual notifications, plus it works with Apple Pay so you never need reach for your wallet again. There are loads of watch faces available and additional apps are easy-to-manage via your iPhone. It’s great, but if this is a bit beyond your budget then check out the Pebble Time, on page 4.
Read the full Apple Watch review.
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Moto 360 2nd Gen - Best for Android users
For those using Android smartphones, Google has developed Android Wear. There’s a number of smartwatches based around the software but the Moto 360 is the best all-round choice - it was also the first round smartwatch available. Now available in a 2nd Gen version, Motorola has tweaked its original design and expanded the range with two sizes on offer and an impressive number of finishes and strap options.
Unlike the Apple Watch, there’s a far smaller price range here, from £229 up to £349, all with stainless steel cases - so you should be able to afford the look you want. It’s not quite as finely engineered as the Apple Watch, but it’s certainly still a looker. The only major complaint is that the round screen has a small slice missing from the bottom, where the light sensor is positioned.
Android Wear works well, especially if you mainly use Google’s own apps and services. For example it’s the only way to get turn-by-turn navigation (by car, public transport or on foot) on your wrist from Google Maps. You also receive all your notifications and can reply to them using voice recognition and the built-in microphone. However, it can’t act as a phone handset (no speaker) and it won’t allow for Android Pay transactions (no NFC) when that’s launched in the UK shortly.
Despite these drawbacks it’s still the best choice for Android phones users, largely thanks to Google’s own software and the wide range of design options, you can even switch out the strap for any standard watch strap if desired.
Read the full Moto 360 2nd Gen review.
Motorola Moto 360 Men's Small 42 mm Smartwatch with Heart Rate/Activity Tracker - Black Leather
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Samsung Gear S2 - Most innovative design
The Gear S2 is a brilliantly-designed smartwatch, which is generally intended for use with Samsung’s own smartphone range but now also works with any recent Android smartphone. Its party trick is its rotating bezel, which lets you quickly flick through functions and menus without all that awkward tapping and swiping of the screen.
Unlike most Android-compatible smartwatches, Samsung isn’t using Android Wear but rather its own Tizen operating system. That’s all good in most cases, with everything working fine with Android, however you don’t get support for Google services such as Google Maps or Keep notes.
The design is great and the watch feels really well made, and is very comfortable to wear. It’s also more battery efficient than most, lasting for other two days of general use. If the lack of some Google services doesn’t both you, then at just £249 this is the smartwatch to buy.
Read the full Samsung Gear S2 review.
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Pebble Time - Best for battery life
While most smartwatches only last a couple of days at most, the latest Pebble’s low-power E-Paper lets it go far longer between charges. It has a claimed battery life of a week, though we think 5-6 days is more realistic, either way you don’t have to remember to charge it every night and can even go away on short breaks without taking the charger with you.
That low-power screen means the watch displays the time, all the time, without the need for a tap or wrist gesture to fire it up. Other smartwatches have similar options but they tend to drain the battery quickly. ON the downside the screen is low resolution and has a limited colour palette.
It’s not a touchscreen either, but is instead uses three buttons on the side for controls. This works well, with no awkward swiping or tapping, and in the main we’ve found smartwatches to be largely for telling you things rather than you making input on them.
The basic model, pictured, is pretty small and lightweight and only costs £170, though no one would say it’s exactly a looker. There’s a stainless steel version available too, which is far smarter but bumps up the cost to £220. It’s a great smartwatch and it works with both iPhone and Android handsets.
Read the full Pebble Time review.
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TAG Heuer Connected - Android Wear gets classy
Smartwatches are a possible challenge to the big-money market of high-end watches, after all if you're buying a new smartwatch every couple of years and are used to all the extra functions it brings, why would you buy and wear a simple, analogue timepiece? TAG Heuer is looking to play to both markets with this, the first truly premium Android Wear watch, to challenge the more expensive Apple Watch models.
It's a luxury watch through-and-through with a titanium case, clasp and crown, and sapphire crystal glass on top. There's no heart monitor here but all the other smartwatch features are present. Unlike most Android Wear devices, Google has allowed TAG Heuer to heavily reskin Android Wear so that it matches the design perfectly. Best of all, if it's not a match made in heaven you can trade it the vast majority of the cost towards a traditional watch in 2 years time.