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More than a dozen new smartwatches were released in 2021, including updates to existing models like the Apple Watch and entirely new products like the Wyze Watch. Though many smartwatches offer similar features, some are distinguished by new innovations, higher-end versions of common functions, or other notable elements that make them stand out from the competition. The seven smartwatches on this list are all excellent options for consumers looking for their next model, covering a variety of needs ranging from low costs to advanced workout tools, mobile data access, and more.
The Apple Watch continues to dominate the smartwatch market and for good reason. The company’s latest and greatest wearable is the Apple Watch Series 7, an updated version of the smartwatch that combines high-end hardware with watchOS 8, the most recent version of Apple’s wearable operating system.
The Apple Watch Series 7 sports the largest display offered on an Apple smartwatch at 1.9-inches; the Retina LTPO OLED screen has a 484 x 396 resolution, 1,000 nits peak brightness, and includes Ion-X strengthened glass for extra durability.
The display is paired with a 50-percent thicker front crystal, which, Apple says, makes the new model more durable than the Apple Watch Series 6. Despite the thicker front crystal, the touch sensor is embedded in the OLED panel to make it a single integrated component. The overall display thickness and borders are thinner as a result.
While the Apple Watch Series 7 hardware is great, it’s Apple’s watchOS software that makes its smartwatch shine. WatchOS 8 brings a huge number of features to the tiny device, enabling it to perform fairly sophisticated actions (like phone calls) on its own while also integrating with the wider Apple ecosystem. One can, for example, answer a call on their Apple Watch when away from their phone, then transfer the call with a tap to continue it on their iPhone.
Apple covers all the major feature categories with its smartwatch, including messaging, sleep tracking, activity tracking, workout instructions, health monitoring, smart home control, audio playback, mobile payments, Siri access, navigation instructions, ultra-wideband digital key support, and the ability to link with other family members’ watches for direct interactions. One of the most notable features is the Apple Watch’s ECG feature for heart health monitoring.
The Apple Watch’s only potential downside (its $399 starting price aside) is that it is an Apple device and therefore designed to integrate with the company’s own products and services. Consumers who don’t own any other Apple products should instead consider a smartwatch model designed to work well with Android smartphones, including the six great options below.
Though Apple dominates the overall smartwatch market, Samsung continues to rank at the top when it comes to wearables targeting non-Apple users. Samsung’s strength was made clear earlier this year when it teamed with Google to unify Wear OS and its Tizen platform, leading to a huge spike in Wear OS market share. The Galaxy Watch 4 is Samsung’s latest flagship smartwatch, combining a high-quality build with advanced Wear OS features.
The Galaxy Watch 4 features a 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch display, depending on whether you’re considering the 40mm or 44mm version of the watch. Both displays are circular Super AMOLED panels with Gorilla Glass DX+ and support for always-on functionality with full colors. The body, meanwhile, is made from Samsung’s extra-durable “Armor Aluminum,” boasting an IPX8 rating with water resistance down to 5ft for up to half an hour.
As with Apple, Samsung has managed to pack a huge number of features in its latest Galaxy smartwatch, including sleep tracking with snoring detection, real-time ECG measurements with the company’s BioActive Sensor, activity and workout tracking, group activity challenges, simplified health insights, support for dynamic watch faces, mobile payment support, navigation, audio playback, and access to the vast Wear OS app library.
The Galaxy Watch 4 isn’t the first Wear OS option on the market, but sticking with Samsung’s Galaxy line comes with some benefits over the competition, including the company’s wide network of service partners for getting device repairs, as well as Samsung’s financing option for customers who want to pay monthly.
Samsung’s new flagship is also affordable for a high-end wearable at $249 USD (Bluetooth/WiFi version) and $299 (4G LTE variant). All major wireless carriers in the US are supported, including Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and US Cellular.
iPhone owners should stick with the Apple Watch, but Android users will find the Galaxy Watch 4 a better alternative, though there’s one huge catch: the ECG feature only works with the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is only available on unmodified Samsung smartphones. If you don’t own a Galaxy handset, the Fossil model below may be a more appealing option.
