Technology holds a place of privilege in our pockets, but recently it has tried to move to our wrists, taking the form of smartwatches. That process was not easy at all, and some products did not escape the “first-generation growing pains”. However, the market already has several attractive options that are up to the task. Today we will show you eight of them.
Buying a smartwatch demands a much broader evaluation than we imagine. A smartwatch is, from a certain point of view, a computer on our wrist, and as such it carries a notable array of specs, functions, and apps. Some watches have achieved a certain independence, while others shine as companions for a modern smartphone. When buying a smartwatch, you should consider all these factors. Will it be a good companion for your current mobile devices? Does it have the functions you need? As always, users have turned to the Web to describe the virtues of certain models, and thanks to that information, we can identify some of the most popular watches of the year. Let's see which ones.
U Watch U8
You want your first smartwatch, and giving up a kidney in exchange is not in the plans. You are willing to sacrifice advanced features, but you need support for WhatsApp notifications. Maybe its looks aren't the best, but it's on par with any conventional sports watch. And its battery may seem small, but its hands-free mode is more than welcome. Do you agree with all this? Then the U Watch U8 will give it to you for a few bucks. (26 euros)
Alcatel OneTouch Watch
Although it's a bit behind the others, Alcatel is still fighting in the mobile market, and as expected, it also jumped on the smartwatch bandwagon. The Alcatel OneTouch Watch offers a solid balance between aesthetics, notification alerts (though you can't reply), internal features (NFC, heart rate monitor, pedometer), battery, and price. Just make sure the strap size is right. (99-105 euros)
Moto 360 (2nd Generation)
The first-generation Moto 360 had some interesting aspects, but it also carried some design issues. Most of them vanished with the second generation, which delivers more robust hardware and all the unrestricted benefits of Android Wear. The Moto 360 is one of the most demanding smartwatches in terms of price, but it justifies it. (289-359 euros)
LG G Watch Urbane
If we must think of a direct rival for the Moto 360, we inevitably land on the LG G Watch Urbane. Its technical specs are very similar, but the detail of a reasonable weight (66.5 grams) and a more formal design has earned it the loyalty of many users. LG didn't hesitate to put Android Wear inside, and it comes in two colors (this is the silver version). (239 euros)
Sony SmartWatch 3
Did anyone think the Japanese giant would miss the party? As soon as the smartwatch concept started gaining traction, Sony presented its SmartWatch family, and today we already have the third edition. The transition to Android Wear has done Sony's watches a lot of good, and with a healthy variety of designs, it manages to adapt to different budgets, a detail that many competitors don't fully achieve. (150-296 euros)
Samsung Gear S2
Some specialized media declared it “the smartwatch of the year”, and although certain design decisions catch our attention (for example, the use of Tizen as the operating system), it's impossible to ignore that Samsung held nothing back in creating the Gear S2. Multiple models, easy to customize, many apps, good compatibility, and wireless charging close an almost perfect combo. (346-376 euros)
Pebble
Yes, even if it seems unbelievable. For a huge number of users, a smartwatch shouldn't be an ultra-complex piece of technology, but a simple extension, easy to use, with unbeatable battery life. Those criteria throw us headfirst into the territory of the classic Pebble, which retains extraordinary support and an enviable number of compatible apps. Don't like its looks? For a few extra bucks, its bigger siblings don't fall behind. (94-104 euros)
Garmin Vívoactive
Dedicated GPS devices have lost a lot of ground to smartphones, but that didn't stop Garmin from joining the smartwatch fight, and I must admit its Vívoactive model targets a demanding audience: athletes. GPS, swimming (fully submersible), cycling, golf, marathon... it's all there, without sacrificing basics like notifications and battery life (three weeks without GPS). (180-185 euros)
Checkered flag for today. There's no point in ignoring it: the vast majority of smartwatches carry a three-digit price, and in specific cases, the investment is on par with a laptop. Even so, I think this list offers a good variety, and I hope your first smartwatch comes from here. Good luck!
