The best smartwatches in 2022 [Buyers guide]

Smartwatches have become much faster and more useful in the past few years, with some really standing out from the crowd. From the popular Apple Watch with its fast performance and great compatibility with the iOS ecosystem, to Samsung’s line of smartwatches, which have now moved on to Google’s Wear OS platform, and only work with Android phones. Just like Google’s own new Pixel Watch! So there are plenty of options out there…

Best smartwatches in 2022, summarized list:

Apple Watch Series 8

The newly-unveiled Apple Watch Series 8 is easily the best smartwatch you can put on your wrist — with a rich app ecosystem as well as fleshed out health features. From heart-rate metering to ECG and blood oxygen monitoring, to sleep tracking and hand-washing reminders. It also tracks a good amount of workouts and is pretty much among the most accurate fitness trackers as well. Not to mention, it can go completely autonomous with an eSIM providing its own LTE connection. Supports Apple Pay. 

Apple Watch SE 2

The Apple Watch SE is a bit more dialed-back version of the Series 6. But it still supports all of the apps and workouts available and it has the facelift design, such as thin bezels, unlike the Apple Watch Series 3, which looks pretty dated by now. The SE 2 also supports eSIM for autonomous use, and of course, Apple Pay.

Apple Watch Ultra

This is the newest, most expensive Apple Watch, and for good reason. It delivers the longest battery life, and superb ruggedness, in addition to other extras like a brighter display, an additional button, and even several ways to ask for help if you get lost during your explorations. Because yes, unlike the previous two, this Apple Watch is not meant for the average person, but for divers, explorers, and professionals, who need something reliable and rugged, that can withstand both submersion under water, extreme heat, or extreme cold.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line is pretty respectable as an Android-friendly alternative to the Apple Watch. The new Galaxy Watch 5 has a nice, premium aluminum and glass build, yet it’s also conveniently light. It has dust and water resistance, and it’s shock resistant too.

Running on Wear OS, this smartwatch covers all the basics – a plethora of workout trackers as well as sleep tracking, and plenty of great apps to choose from. So needless to say, this is a great fitness tracking smartwatch for Android users. Because yes – and this is very important to note – the Galaxy Watch 5 is not compatible with iPhones. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

Much like the Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro no longer runs Samsung’s Tizen operating system, now using Wear OS instead, and is currently only compatible with Android phones.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has a timeless, titanium watch design and IP68 water and dust resistance. It can monitor your steps, calories burned, your stress levels, and body composition, plus it can automatically detect when you start training. In fact, it’s very much designed for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts!

Google Pixel Watch

Google’s newly-released response to the Apple Watch is this, the aptly-named Google Pixel Watch. It’s made for Android users, it’s circular and stylish, and it covers all the basics.

Although not as polished as some of the longer-running smartwatch series out there, Google’s new Pixel Watch does have an integrated Fitbit fitness tracking experience, along with everyone’s favorite Google Assistant on board. The Pixel Watch also has water resistance (up to 50 meters (5 ATM) of water) as one would expect from a modern big-brand smartwatch.

Garmin Vivoactive 4

The Vivoactive 4 offers up to 8 days of battery life in full smartwatch mode. It achieves this with a power-saving screen (transflective memory-in-pixel) instead of a flashy OLED panel. It can pair to both Android and iOS, and you can take calls on it if you are on Android. It has a fleshed-out health-tracking suite, including a thermometer and a blood oxygen meter, as well as sleep and all the basics. Has its own Garmin Pay app for mobile payments.

Fossil Gen 6

If you want a different smartwatch, the Fossil Gen 6 is a great one, one running Google’s Android Wear OS platform. Gen 6 comes in many different styles to pick from. You get the Google Assistant on board here, and the full set of heart rate monitoring, fitness and health tracking features that you expect on a smartwatch. Has LTE version and supports Google Pay too.

TicWatch Pro 3

The TicWatch Pro 3 sports a highly power-efficient LCD display on top of a standard AMOLED display, which can take its battery life all the way up to 30 days. Since it’s a Wear OS smartwatch, it comes with a built-in Google Assistant, Google Pay, the Google Fit features, and supports LTE connectivity via eSIM.

Which one’s going on your wrist?

There we have them, the best fitness smartwatches, health tracking smartwatches or simply elegant ones you can get right now in early 2022. Ultimately (and unsurprisingly) the Apple Watch Series 8 is the best smartwatch for those who are into Apple’s ecosystem, while Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series are the best smartwatches for fans of the Korean giant and Android users in general, even if those work well enough with iOS also.