Which smartwatch should I buy?

What is a smartwatch?

Smartwatches do much more than just tell the time. They can track your steps, monitor your health, and keep an eye on your sleep patterns. Many models now sync with your phone, letting you answer calls, reply to texts, access apps, and receive notifications–all from your wrist.

As with most things, the more you pay, the more features you get. Some of the more expensive watches often include extensive health monitoring capabilities, such as blood oxygen tracking and the ability to perform electrocardiograms (ECGs).

A new smartwatch is never MoneySaving, but if you're determined to get one try to get it for the cheapest price or consider buying one secondhand.

What can smartwatches do?

Buying a smartwatch can be overwhelming – there's a huge amount of choice out of there. To ensure you're not paying for something you don't need, it's a good idea to know what features you want...

1. Fitness tracking helps you keep track of your steps and other activities

   The fitness features in a smartwatch can range from running metrics, to customisable workouts, to detailed insights into your performance and recovery time. Some of the key features to look out for:

   • Running, walking and hiking tracking metrics – these track steps, height climbed and sometimes step by step directions.

   • Swimming metrics – these track lap (lengths), distance and stroke style.

   • Pace and cadence (number of steps per minute) – useful for hiking or running activities.

   • Detailed insights into performance and recovery times – these tend to be aimed at more serious athletes.

2. Waterproof design lets you use your watch in any weather

   Most smartwatches are water-resistant, meaning if you get caught in the rain, or shower and swim with them on, the watch will be fine. But if you want to dive a little deeper, it's important to check what your smartwatch can withstand.

   To determine a watch's level of waterproofing, manufacturers use specific ratings to assess its resistance to water:

   IP ratings. IP stands for Ingress Protection rating, which is a two-digit number indicating how well your smartwatch can resist water and dust. The first digit relates to dust, the second, water. For example, an IP68 rating means your smartwatch is fully dustproof and can withstand submersion in water. The highest rating, IP69, indicates maximum protection against both elements, though most smartwatches tend to have an IP68 rating.

   ATM (atmosphere) ratings. ATM ratings indicate the depth at which your smartwatch is water-resistant. For example, a '10ATM' rating means it can withstand depths of up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and diving.

3. Track your health with features like sleep monitoring and calorie counting

   The standard smartwatch will include a step and calorie counter and usually a heart rate monitor, but as with most things, if you spend more, you'll get access to more advanced features, including:

   • Sleep tracking

   • Blood oxygen saturation

   • Stress level detection

   • Respiratory rate tracking

4. Sync your watch with your phone (but check it's compatible first)

   Most smartwatches can connect to your phone, but some are only compatible with certain models. So, it’s important to check that the smartwatch you choose works with your device and allows you to take full advantage of its features.

   You can also opt for a 'cellular' smartwatch, which differs from simply connecting your watch to your phone via Bluetooth. A cellular (or 4G) smartwatch has its own mobile data connection, allowing you to use it independently of your smartphone. This is especially useful if you'd rather not carry your phone around, as it lets you make calls, send texts, and stream music directly from your watch.

   The downside is that cellular smartwatches are often more expensive and can drain your battery more quickly.

5. Built-in navigation ensures you always know where you're going

   Navigation settings can be important to runners and hikers, and is worth checking:

   • There are three main navigation systems that you're likely to come across when taking your pick of smartwatch. There's GPS (Global Positioning System), which is the most common along with GLONASS (Global Navigation System) and Galileo.

   • The compass feature on your smartwatch is used to tell you which direction your smartwatch is facing, and can be used to determine your elevation.

   • Some smartwatches display a map on screen, which may appeal to runners and hikers.

6. And finally, battery life...

   Battery life in smartwatches tends to vary quite substantially between models, with some only lasting a day between charges. If you're on the move a lot, or a serious athlete, you might want to consider whether it's worth prioritising better battery life.

   Whilst your watch is on charge, you could miss out on time that it could be collecting your health data, so the less you have to do this the better.

   However, charging your smartwatch more regularly might not be a biggie for you, in which case it may not be worth splashing out on a better battery life.

How to pick the right smartwatch

Apple

Apple watches are one of the more popular options when it comes to buying a smartwatch. Apple products never tend to be MoneySaving, but if you've got your heart set on one, we've a Apple Watch comparison below to help you choose. Buying a new Apple watch is never MoneySaving, but if you've your heart set on one you can save money by opting for an older model secondhand.

Compatible with: iPhones

Garmin

Choosing a Garmin watch can be overwhelming because of the variety in choice of models at different price points. There are more affordable options, along with some more expensive, but the stand-out feature of Garmin smartwatches is the long battery life across models.

Compatible with: iPhones and Android

Other smartwatches

Fitbit, Samsung, and Google are among the top smartwatch brands worth considering. There are also more affordable options from lesser-known manufacturers, though these typically offer fewer features. Samsung and Google smartwatches tend to work best when paired with their respective smartphones.

You can also buy a smartwatch secondhand

Just like with mobile phones and other gadgets, some companies sell pre-owned smartwatches, offering a more affordable alternative to buying brand new. Reputable secondhand sellers usually apply a grading system to indicate the device's condition and inspect each unit before sale to ensure it's free of issues.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a refurbished smartwatch is the warranty it comes with, as this protects you if the device develops a fault. Most refurbished models include a warranty, typically 12-months, but the duration and provider can vary, so be sure to check the details before purchasing.

Just as with phones, refurbished watches are typically given a 'grade' by retailers. Trading Standards has told us these grades aren't set independently, so quality can and will vary, but typically they are defined as follows:

• Grade A (sometimes called 'Pristine' or 'Like New') – these are usually customer returns or watches that have been sent back due to minor defects that are fixed. As close to a new watch that you can get.

• Grade B (sometimes called 'Very Good') – the watch might have 'light' signs of use which might mean some small cosmetic imperfection(s), be it on the screen or the body of the watch itself. It'll usually look and feel almost new.

• Grade C (sometimes called 'Good') – the watch will tend to have 'moderate' sign of use which will mean you'll visibly see scratches on the screen or body. Although you'll be able to tell it's refurbished, you'll usually save the most money.