TECH

Smartwatch: the best of 2019
These are the very best smartwatches money can buy, from the stylish Apple Watch Series 4, through to the Samsung Galaxy Watch powerhouse, and onto the incredibly desirable TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45.
But there is only one best smartwatch, and the best smartwatch in the world right now is the Apple Watch Series 4.
Of all the wearables available in 2019, the Apple Watch has the most developed platform. It's also the most attractive, and, arguably, more technologically advanced than its competitors. 1-Apple Watch Series 4 is the best smartwatch available to buy right now ... but there are of course alternatives, because if you have an Android device, the Apple Watch will not cut it
Luckily for you dear reader, we've also got a selection of brilliant alternatives for those who do not have an iPhone.
No matter what smartwatch you're after, this page will help you find the best one.
There's no doubt Apple is king when it comes to smartwatches, but how has it achieved such a meteoric success? Let's take a look.
First off, it's the only smartwatch that generates a tonne of interest, and not just from tech addicts, but from the general public. That interest has not exactly helped Apple's competitors, but it has helped Apple's smartwatch survive four generations.
Next is the big focus on health and fitness. The Apple Watch can monitor your heart rhythm and suggest you see a doctor if it detects something irregular, it can call the emergency services you've failed, and it will keep you healthy by tracking your run. These potentially life saving features are a major reason people are ditching their traditional watches for an Apple Watch.
Finally, it's the only device that has straddled the line between tech and fashion. It's simply the best looking smartwatch available.
Every generation has seen minor improvements that have gone a long way to perfect the Watch. The Series 2 added waterproofing and adding GPS, and the Series 3 improved on that by adding Cellular, so it could without your iPhone present, but again, remaining loyal to the original design.
The fourth generation improves the design, with a stunning new screen which stretches to the edges of the device.
Put simply, the Apple Watch Series 4 impresses us greatly. The design is well considered and sleeker, the screen, in terms of PPI and color depth, is perfect, and the number of third-party apps and accessories is unrivaled.
That last point is important, because if you are buying a personal device such as a watch, you actually want it to be unique.
It does have a few negative points, the UI is fiddly (although greatly improved with watchOS 5), especially compared to more simple rivals such as Android Wear. Of course, it's iOS only, so if you have an Android Phone, you're going to want to continue reading this guide ... 2-If you prefer Android phones to the iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is a very worthy competitor. This is the best smartwatch if you're an Android user, but even in its fifth generation, it still can not compete with the Apple Watch on iOS.
The circular screen is on par with the Apple Watch, and the innovative rotating bezel and slick Tizen OS bests both WatchOS 5 and Android Wear. It'll work with most Android smartphones, and even iPhones.
It is more attractive than previous incarnations, and comes packing some neat new fitness tracking abilities, making for compelling package.
Its availability in two sizes will definitely help appeal to more people. It also has a very good battery life (we're talking between 3 and 6 days, depending on the model).
It's not perfect, however, the Galaxy Watch is not as comfortable to wear as the Apple Watch, and its app and accessory ecosystem in comparison. 3-TAG's second attempt at a smartwatch, the Connected Modular 45, is a handsome looking device, mimicking a traditional mechanical watch, with its fully circular display and sporty-looking case. The Modular adds some welcome customization to the smartwatch mix.
The Modular 45 is undeniably superior to its Android Wear siblings, and aesthetically preferred to the most expensive Apple Watch variants, which are the only rivals in the 'smart' market. It feels more 'watch-like' than any other rival too.
The seconds Connected feels more premium than the first generation, and TAG has upgraded the screen. 4-If you're looking for something a little smaller, then try the Skagen Falster 2 smartwatch. It's probably the best all-around WearOS smartwatch you can buy. Not many Android smartwatches can be described as elegant, but Skagen is a Danish brand known for creating simple, timeless timepieces.
The Falster 2, just like a few other smartwatches on this list, is powered by Google's WearOS, which includes Google Assistant, smartphone notifications, activity tracking, world time, weather and more.
A battery-efficient dial design provides up to 24 hours of use on a single charge, and interchangeable straps allow you to customize your look.
We love the simple watch face designs which come preinstalled, and each watch comes with an inductive magnetic charger. 5-Money can not quite stretch to the Apple Watch Series 4? The Apple Watch Series 3 is still a good option, and now it's more affordable than ever.
The Apple Watch Series 3 introduced a cellular connection, meaning you can continue to receive phone calls and notifications away from your iPhone.
It also runs the latest software with all the latest features, it just misses the more futuristic design of the newer Series 4. 6-If you prefer watches made from more traditional watch / fashion brands, then take a look at Emporio Armani Art5003. Made by analogue watch-maker Fossil and running Android Wear, it's a surprisingly good device.
Just like the Tag Heuer Connected it's very well made, and feels 'watch-like' for a better word. It's even managed to fit pretty decent specs into quite a slimline body.
Fossil has put a lot of money into connected watches, and this device demonstrates it's paying off. The Art5003 is a real rival to more established tech brands like Motorola and ASUS, so much so Fossil has pretty much pushed them out of the market altogether. 7-Huawei Watch 2 has a bright screen and everything runs smoothly and speedily. It's incredibly comfortable and the look is, if not great, then at least acceptable. It's unfortunate that Huawei has not included any rotary controls on this, especially the bezel is a big old thing and the such probably quite easy to grip 'n' twist.
Despite that, it's a very competent Android Wear 2 watch. What's more interesting, however, is the concentration on fitness.While it features all of the necessary sensors to track running, cycling and swimming, our initial testing has revealed the Huawei Watch is not the stellar performer we hoped it would be. Which is a shame, because emphasizing the fitness element was exactly the right thing for Huawei to do, and hopefully the company can improve its fitness tracking software updates. 8-The Nixon Mission is a rugged 'action' smartwatch, and we really like it. The Durable Casing can take a bashing, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 keeps things ticking inside. It runs Android Wear, but also comes with some useful pre-installed apps which track real-time surfing and snowboarding conditions. It's water resistant to 10ATM (roughly 100m), and best of all, it comes in Orange. 9-The Huawei Watch GT is different to every other smartwatch on this list - it's a mix between smartwatch and fitness tracker.
It looks like a smartwatch, and it has a great, high-resolution screen. It can even run basic system apps (like a calendar) and notify you about calls and messages. It can not run third-party apps, however, and you can not customize the watch faces.
It's main focus is on fitness tracking, with the Watch GT keeping tabs on your lifestyle and exercises. It has a heart rate sensor and GPS. Of course, without the integration of Strava or other fitness apps, this is more likely to appeal to fitness novices rather than road warriors.
What's most impressive is the battery life lasts around 30 days, meaning, theoretically, you'll only have to charge it 12 times a year.
The Huawei Watch GT is a weird sell, but if basic fitness tracking, notifications, and a long battery life are key, then this could be the smartwatch for you. 10-The Samsung Gear S3 is a couple of years old now, but in terms of hardware, it's still more than capable smartwatch. It runs Tizen and the design is solid.
There are a couple of things that let the Gear S3 down. Mainly its lack of an ecosystem. It's also chunky and not as attractive as the Apple Watch (although the Frontier version is much better than the Classic model).
Still, those foibles are easy to look past if you can pick one up for a decent price. S. Hart