An Apple or Android phone can be used with the Freedom Guardian by friends and family to tell them the wearers current location, and if they’ve sent any alerts. And, the same information is also available to those sanctioned via a web-based interface. If you’re into ultra running, diving, or long-distance cycling then this would be a good choice as it can stand up to the environment and has much-improved battery life by comparison to the standard line of Apple Watches, lasting up to 60 hours when in low-power mode. There has never been a better time to buy a smartwatch, with wearables available in all kinds of shapes and sizes at a variety of price points.

Samsung's latest smartwatches feature popular Google apps like Assistant, Maps, and the Play Store, alongside Samsung's Bixby, Buds Controller, Pay, and more. The Pixel Watch features all the Google standbys, including Assistant, Gmail, Home, Maps, the Play Store, and Wallet. Samsung got into the wearables market before Apple, and they now have a wide range of smartwatch products, that now includes the Galaxy Watch Active2 4G. What’s interesting about this feature is that once it detects what it considers to be a fall it will ask you if you fell, just dropped the Watch or need emergency assistance. For starters, the watch is incredibly comfortable to wear, even when exercising. The slim, almost Apple Watch SE sized frame gives it a fashionable and discrete look that let our reviewer comfortably wear it while out of the gym, and at smart casual work events. Based on our experience, it’s only up close that most people will notice it’s not an Apple Watch, due to the slightly larger bezel surrounding the screen. While the battery hasn’t been changed over its predecessor, the Series 8 does now come with a ‘Low Power Mode’ that shuts off features like the always-on display and fall detection, but in doing so it can bump the battery life from 18-hours to a whopping 36-hours.The infamous calculator watch has been around since the 1970s, but watches have finally reached the point that they're, well, smart. With everything from app support to smartphone notification mirroring to heart rate monitoring, the latest smartwatches do a lot more than just tell time. But which one should you buy? Where this device would be a hit is with a senior who is technologically astute, as they can get the most out of the impressive Samsung hardware and software combination. The Apple Watch still has the largest number of high-quality apps and big-name developers, but Google's Wear OS platform is catching up. Google Pixel Watch 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is best for endurance athletes, ocean enthusiasts, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors. With a WR100 water-resistance rating, the Ultra 2 is the only Apple Watch suitable for high-speed water sports and recreational diving. It works for recreational dives at depths of up to 40 meters and can function as a dive computer with the Oceanic+ app. It's pricey, though, and people with smaller wrists might not like its bulky design.Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatches run Wear OS 4 with Samsung's One UI 5 Watch software. They require a smartphone running Android 10 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM. Note that although you can pair the Watch 6 with non-Samsung Android phones, some features work only with Samsung handsets, including irregular heart rhythm notifications, phone separation alerts, and the Camera Controller app. 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 completely new ones. Most of the smartwatches on our list feature GPS connectivity, which means they can record your runs without the help of a companion device (the Garmin Lily is an exception). Most modern smartwatches also have an optical heart rate sensor that can take continuous and on-demand heart rate measurements. You’ve also got elements like compatibility to consider. Apple Watches, for example, only work when paired with an iPhone, making them a poor investment for Android users. Android users aren’t safe either; the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic will work on any Android, but only Samsung phone users will be able to access the whole suite of features.

For its screen display technology, the smartwatch has a full circular screen display. A 1.28” inch TFT LCD screen, it’s a full touch screen with responsive and intuitive menus. With regards to its screen resolution, the wearable has a 240 x 240 pixel resolution, it’s inferior to other models, but still it gives crisp graphics, a bright color display. On top of the LCD is a 2.5D tempered glass protection with crystal clear clarity. SMT4 Smartwatch What We Think of the Design Part of what helps to keep the battery going is the return of TicWatch’s secondary FSTN display which sits above the main panel and is able to convey key information like your step count, heart rate and the time of day in a low power state. Plus, it can now also flash a particular colour during a workout to indicate your heart rate zone without needing to wake up the watch. Many standard smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, can monitor heart rate and keep a step count, but other products are designed to go beyond those abilities and provide a link to support services in the event of a problem.However, now with the fifth version available Apple Watch is a significantly matured product compared with the initial release, both in hardware terms and the suit of fitness and health-related applications available. However, these facilities and service come at a cost in both the hardware and subscription service that works alongside it. Like the Freedom Guardian, this is a standalone device that can connect to a mobile phone service to transmit data and summon help. And, it can do that if the wearer is in the USA.

If you want a smartwatch that can actually go the distance to the point where you’ll almost forget that it even needs to be charged then the Vertix 2 is your best option by a country mile. While the Garmin Enduro 2 can last for up to 33-days on a single charge, the Vertix 2 trumps that with a staggering 60-day battery life in smartwatch mode. Yes, you read that right – two whole months. In addition to the improved mapping, Garmin has added a new heart rate sensor which, in theory, should produce more accurate results than before. In testing however, we struggled to see any noticeable difference with the newer sensor, so if you want the most accurate data possible then we still recommend grabbing a chest-worn heart rate strap. The Series 8 uses the same end-to-end display that was brought in for the Apple Watch Series 7, which makes great use of larger watch faces, including Modular Max which crams a ton of information into the watch face. There are a few exceptions, including the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which offer multi-day battery life. In general, you get much better battery life with a Fitbit or Garmin watch. They typically last around six days on a single charge. It has a metal body measuring 45.5 mm x 10.7 mm, a medium size wearable, that is light, and at the same time durable with its IP67 waterproof rating. It is splashproof, wash proof, and dustproof as well.

If you want a WearOS smartwatch with long battery life, the Android-only TicWatch Pro 5 is worth a look. It offers a similar feature set as the Google Pixel Watch in a more durable build with about three times the battery life. An associated app, HeartAdvisor is available for both Apple and Android phones and can help provide useful information to share with a doctor.