Tried and tested: the best smartwatch on the market
We’ve trialled the best smartwatches - here’s our tech editor’s tips on which one to buy and the amazing information they can tell you about your body.
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Want to keep track of not just your steps, but your health? National technology editor Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson put smartwatches to the test this week. And here’s her verdict on the top five.
Apple Watch Series 7
The world’s most popular watch is 1mm bigger but its screen grew much more than that
From $599, apple.com/au
PROS
Larger, brighter screen
New keyboard, watch faces
Faster charging
CONS
Limited battery life
No new health features
No crystal screen on cheaper models
The world’s best-selling wristwatch just got easier to see. The Apple Watch Series 7 benefits from a redesign that boosts its screen, making it 50 per cent larger than the display on the third generation Watch, while only increasing the size of its case by 1mm. This makes everything easier to read on both Watch sizes, including a new Qwerty keyboard, watch faces, and resized icons. Battery life remains a challenge but the larger screen, combined with Siri, advanced health measurements, and a 4G option, make this watch hard to beat.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4
The company’s best smartwatch to date measures your health in new and unexpected ways
From $399 samsung.com/au
PROS
Innovative health features
Will provide proof of snoring
Improved software from Google
CONS
Bixby is not smart enough
Tends to under-count steps
Some features are Samsung phone only
Samsung has been making smartwatches longer than any other firm but this is its best yet. The Galaxy Watch4 is now easier to use thanks to the addition of Google software. It tracks your pulse, your blood oxygen level and more.
4.5 stars
Suunto 9 Peak
A surprisingly slim smartwatch for serious fitness fans
$1199, suunto.com
PROS
Slender profile
Advanced fitness features
Huge battery life
CONS
Complex menus
Basic screen
Unreliable oxygen sensor
Suunto overhauled its fitness-friendly smartwatches to produce a watch that is 40 per cent lighter than its predecessor and equipped to gather just about every metric of activity. It will track your sleep, steps, heart rate, altitude, location and more. It’s also rugged and waterproof to 100m.
Fitbit Sense
Still counts your steps but it’s smarter than that these days
$450, fitbit.com/au
PROS
Advanced health sensors
Smart exercise and sleep tracking
Long battery life
CONS
Some features require subscription
Limited watch faces
Fewer features than rivals
Fitbit used to insist it didn’t make smartwatches but this looks and works a lot like one. Yes, it still tracks plenty of activity, but also delivers app notifications, can act as a wallet, and will let you add Amazon’s Alexa or the Google Assistant to control it.
Withings Scanwatch
One of the only advanced smartwatches that looks like a traditional timepiece
$499, withings.com/au
PROS
Long battery life
Advanced health tracking
Stylish, subtle appearance
CONS
Very small screen
Easy to miss notifications
Won’t host phone calls
What this smart device does better than any others is look and act like a traditional wristwatch … until you see its round screen light up. It delivers alerts from your phone and a sensor on its back will rate your pulse, blood oxygen, heart rhythm and sleep. It can be used with both Apple and Google phones.
3.5 stars
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