Smart watches are computerized wearable devices to simplify everyday activities. Depending on the model chosen, their range of activities shifts towards fitness, health or general use. A smart watch is not just an addition to a mobile phone, but an independent gadget with extended functionality available through the installation of third-party applications. All smart watches are different, which means they have a unique design, purpose, and additional tasks.
What is a smart watch and why you need it?
Smart watches simplify everyday activities, collect information using sensors, and support wireless data transmission. The devices combine the functions of conventional wrist watches, smartphones, and fitness trackers.
From classic watches, smart devices have gained the ability to show the time and date. In addition, modern wrist smart watches are a good accessory that speaks of the taste of the owner.
Smart features include the ability to quickly find out the weather forecast, now and in the near future, view notifications, answer a call or message. A number of devices include the functions of a fitness tracker, which means they are able to calculate activity, calories lost and general condition of the body.
A smart watch is a full-fledged independent device running its own operating system, but many manufacturers recommend connecting the gadget to a smartphone for extended functionality.
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Why smart watches are better than fitness bracelets
Smart watches are often compared to a fitness tracker, calling one device another. In fact, the sphere of use of devices only partially overlaps, which means that calling gadgets the same is a big mistake.
A fitness bracelet is a device with a limited range of uses. Some models do not have a familiar display and are controlled entirely from a smartphone. A fitness tracker is needed for sports, all the functionality of such devices is sharpened for constant monitoring of environmental parameters and the owner himself. Bracelets can show activity, pulse, pressure and even blood oxygen saturation. Additional features include building a workout program and the ability to set a timer.
Smart watches are designed for everyday use (although they have some of the functions of fitness bracelets). First of all, they are able to function separately from a smartphone. Own operating system allows the owner to install third-party applications, games. In conjunction with a smartphone, notifications from social networks are available to the user. networks, messages, calls, media player, camera control.
To put it simply, a smart watch is a device with advanced functionality and at the same time fully includes the features of fitness trackers. When it comes to what is better to choose, a smart watch or a fitness bracelet, it is worth thinking about the functionality that is needed.
Rating of the best smart watches of 2022: top 10 smart models
The top ten smart watches of 2022 are represented by global manufacturers for whom smart watches are not key devices and brands that specialize exclusively in smart wearable gadgets.
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch SE
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Huawei Watch 3
- Xiaomi Mi Watch
- Withings ScanWatch Horizon
- Fossil gene 6
- Garmin fenix 7
- Garmin Instinct Solar
- Kospet Optimus 2
Apple Watch Series 7 is the most durable in the line
Apple’s watch line often earns status as the coolest smartwatch. The latest model to this status received an addition in the form of “the most durable” thanks to an improved case. Also, Apple Watch has got an improved and enlarged screen, which now occupies the entire front panel.
Colors to choose from: green, blue, red, gray-gold and black-blue.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 41 and 45 mm, 396 × 484 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Aluminum body, glass – 2.5D. Protection IP67 WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | S7 processor, watchOS |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 32GB, operational – 2GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 309 mAh Standby – 270 hours, active – 18 hours |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, measuring temperature, pressure and blood sugar |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Apple Watch supports ultra-fast charging. | High price tag. |
| Housing and glass with a high degree of protection. | Unable to connect to android smartphones. |
| Enlarged screen. | |
| The watch is equipped with a microphone and a speaker, which allows you to receive calls. | |
| Adapted for extreme sports. |
Apple Watch SE with powerful features
Apple Watch is another product from Apple. Smart Watches marked SE are budget models – in terms of price and features. The functionality of the gadget is slightly reduced compared to the previous model. This version does not have a blood oxygen saturation measurement sensor, the dial is not constantly illuminated.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 40 and 44 mm, 324 × 394 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Aluminum body, glass – 2.5D. Protection IP67 WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Processor S5, WatchOS |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 32GB, operational – 2GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 296 mAh Work in standby mode – 270 hours, in active mode – 18 hours. |
| Sports measurements | Pulse, heart rate, altimeter |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Low price. | There are no always-on-screen functions and blood oxygen measurement. |
| All basic functionality is preserved. | Low battery capacity. |
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 NFC
The Galaxy Watch 4 is the first Samsung model to run Wear OS by Google. Thanks to her, the devices received a new minimalist design, began to look more like a classic watch like Casio, and improved functionality. This includes the advanced Health mode, thanks to which you can now calculate the percentage of water and fat content in the body. The watch has two payment systems – Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | Round, 40, 42, 44, 46 mm, 450×450 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Stainless steel and tempered glass, IP68 / MIL-STD-810G, 5ATM |
| Operating system and processor | Processor ExynosW920, Wear OS 3.0 |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 16GB, operational – 1.5GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 361 mAh Standby – 200 hours, active – 40 hours |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, EGC, blood pressure monitor, body composition analysis, sleep – blood oxygen level, snoring pattern |
.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| The transition to a new operating system has greatly improved performance. | Small battery capacity |
| Added NFC module. | Advanced features only with a smartphone and Samsung headphones. |
Huawei Watch 3
Huawei Watch 3 continues the list of the best smart watches of 2022. A young but already beloved brand in Russia, Huawei, or rather, Watch 3 completely copies the classic mechanical watch. From a technical point of view, the gadget has everything you need: NFC, a SIM card slot and many sensors. Therefore, in everyday use, the gadget will become useful.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 1.43 inches, 466×466 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Steel, ceramics and glass, WR50 (5 atm) |
| Operating system and processor | Processor HiSilicon Hi6262, Android |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 2GB, operational – 16MB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 450 mAh Standby – 170 hours, active – 30 hours |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, calorie counter, oxygen level sensor |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Compatible with iOS and Android | |
| Nice interface. | |
| Design. | You can only use services from Huawei. |
Xiaomi Mi Watch
Xiaomi Mi Watch is the first model that was created specifically for the European market. These smart watches are aimed mainly at people who lead an active lifestyle or go in for professional sports. The interface is simple, so even a child will figure out how to turn on the smart watch. To date, Mi Watch is the best fitness watch from Xiaomi.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 1.39, 454×454 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Polyamide, silicone. WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Snapdragon 3100 processor, MiOS |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 8GB, operational – 1GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 570 mAh Work in standby mode – 530 hours, in active mode – 50 hours. |
| Sports measurements |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quality materials. | High price tag for the company. |
| Pleasant interest. | |
| Sports measurements. |
Withings ScanWatch Horizon Hybrid Diving Smartwatch
ScanWatch is one of the few smart watches that have mechanical elements (hands and dial) and electronic sensors at the same time. Such a solution fits into almost any image and at the same time is multifunctional. For diving, ECG, breathing tracking and one of the highest degree of protection against pressure and water are provided.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 43mm |
| Materials and degree of protection | Surgical steel, Gorilla Glass. 10AT |
| Operating system and processor | Own by Withings |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | — |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 570 mAh Standby – 30 days, active – 10 days |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, breathing measurement |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Nice appearance: dial, metal wrist strap. | Very high price |
| battery up to 7 days without recharging. | |
| 20 days in power saving mode. | |
| TFT screen, which also allows you to spend less battery. |
Fossil Gen 6 powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+
The Fossil Gen 6 is a new watch from Fossil that replaces the 2019 model. There have been big changes and the new device has become 30% faster and more energy efficient. Added fast charging, which allows you to charge the watch by 80% in 30 minutes. Changed for the better appearance.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 1.28, 416×416 pixels |
| Materials and degree of protection | Glass, steel. WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 “plus”, OS – Android |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Main – 8GB, operational – 1GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 300 mAh Work in standby mode – 530 hours, in active mode – 50. |
| Sports measurements | Altimeter, heart rate monitor, pressure |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| More energy efficient than previous model | Sometimes notifications are delayed. |
| Fast charging. | The straps are a little thin. |
| The presence of the NFC module. |
Garmin fenix 7 with L5 class GPS module
Garmin fenix 7 – at first glance, they look simple, but they belong to the “premium” segment, with all the ensuing functions. The body material is titanium, which gives the device high strength, and the straps themselves are made of silicone for convenience. In addition to the classic version of “7”, there are also “S” and “7X”.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 1,2, (1,4) 240×240 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Silicone, titanium, glass. WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Android |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | 10GB, 16GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 360 mAh Standby – 60 days, active – 20 days |
| Sports measurements | Pedometer, ECG measurement |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Expensive materials in development. | The most affordable model has too little feature set. |
| Setting up date fields. | |
| In the configuration Sapphire Solar – charging from the sun, pre-installed maps, 32 GB. LED flashlight. | |
Garmin Instinct Solar GPS with Solar Battery Charging
The main advantage of Instinct Solar is indicated in its name – the watch has a built-in solar battery, which, even if it cannot fully charge the device, will help it to last much longer in sunny time. Otherwise, the product is not much different from other Garmin. And they, according to many, make the best smart watches in the premium segment.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 0.91. 128х128 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Silicone, glass. WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Android |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | 16 GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 350 mAh Standby – 57 days, active – 18 days |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, pedometer |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quality build. | High price, too simplified interface. |
| Additional solar battery. |
Kospet Optimus 2 smart watch with camera
Kospet Optimus 2 – not the most famous manufacturer, recently managed to amaze the whole world by releasing a fitness watch with a video camera. In addition, Optimus 2 received a nice appearance, high performance and support for many other features. All this allows us to say about the device as the best smart watch with a video camera.
| Specifications | |
| Display, available sizes | 1,6 400×400 |
| Materials and degree of protection | Glass, metal, silicone. WR50 |
| Operating system and processor | Processor MTK Helio P22, Android |
| Memory (built-in, RAM) | Built-in – 64GB, operational – 4GB |
| Battery (normal and active time), charging time | 1260 mAh Standby – 10 days, active – 2 days |
| Sports measurements | Heart rate monitor, measurement of oxygen saturation. |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| A large amount of RAM and built-in memory. | Little autonomy. |
| Camera. |
Expert review
When choosing a smart watch, you should first of all look at the tasks that they must perform.
Devices for professional and even amateur sports must meet the parameters of durability, protection against moisture and dust. Most often, such devices do not differ in design, since the main material is silicone. Features to look out for: heart rate monitor, oxygen saturation sensor, calorie counter, and workout build program. The price of devices is usually higher due to niche.
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For normal purposes, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor and the ability to display notifications on the screen are enough. More expensive models include the ability to answer calls, text messages. In this regard, the design may be different, and the price depends on the manufacturer and functionality.
Special requirements include smart watches with a tonometer, glucometer and other medical functionality. Such devices are niche in nature. The appearance of gadgets is not always attractive, and additional features include only a pedometer. The price depends on the type of measurement and additional features.
Which smart watch to choose: prices and main features
| Watch name | Design, color and equipment | Peculiarities | Cost, rub |
| Apple Watch series 7 | Smart watch, green, blue, red, grey-gold and black-blue. Complete set: Apple Watch, documents, charger. | Connecting to iOS only. Support for ultra-fast charging, interchangeable straps, the ability to receive calls. | 35 000 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Smart watch, black, green, white. Complete set: watch itself, documentation. A charger is offered as a gift, which costs 5,000 rubles on the official website. | Android connection, apps from Play Market. Availability of NFC module for payment. | 25 000 |
| Xiaomi Mi Watch | Smart watch, black, white. Standard equipment (tracker, manual, charging station). | Connect to any device, universal in work. | 10 000 |
| Withings ScanWatch Horizon | The black. Standard equipment (watch, manual, charger). | hybrid watch. | 36 000 |
| Fossil gene 6 | Fitness watch, black, white. Standard equipment (device, documentation, charging cable). | Classic sports watch. | 20 000 |
| Kospet Optimus 2 | Fitness watch, black, the set includes: device, documentation, charger and Power Bank. | The presence of a video camera and an additional external battery. | 15 000 |
| Garmin fenix 7 | Smart watch. The color is black, but may vary depending on the model. Standard equipment (device, documentation, charger). | Three variants of the model, on which the functionality will depend. The cheapest meets only basic functions: a pedometer, time and navigator. | 70 000 |
| Apple Watch SE | Smart watch, space grey, silver, gold, blue and red. Standard equipment (Apple Watch, documentation, charger). | Connecting to Apple devices only. Interchangeable straps, the ability to receive calls and SMS. Compared to other models of the manufacturer, the functionality is truncated. | 25 000 |
| Garmin Instinct Solar | Smart watch. Color black, white, orange and camouflage. Standard equipment (device, documentation, charger). | Moisture and dust protection. The design is built for durability. Additional solar battery. | 40 000 |
| Huawei Watch 3 | Fitness watch, black color. Standard equipment (smart watch, manual, charger). | Connect to any device, universal in work. Apps are built-in only. | 25 000 |
Final ranking table
| Huawei Watch 3 | 6 |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | 5 |
| Xiaomi Mi Watch | 4 |
| Apple watch 4 | 1 |
| Apple Watch SE | 1 |
| Withings ScanWatch Horizon | 1 |
| Fossil Gen 6 | 1 |
| Garmin fenix 7 | 1 |
| Garmin Instinct Solar | 1 |
| Kospet Optimus 2 | 1 |
