Tempting Apple Watch alternatives
The Apple Watch Series 6 has added makeup and performance upgrades but it’s not the only watch in town.
Apple recently took to the virtual stage to announce a new Apple Watch and iPad, instead of the iPhone 12 we all expected.
The Apple Watch Series 6 has some added makeup with new colours, performance upgrades and a new sensor to read blood oxygen levels despite still not activating the ECG feature from three watches ago. For customers seeking a smartwatch, there are excellent competitors on offer, all of which are compatible with Android and Apple smartphones.
We gathered options from Oppo, Suunto, Samsung and Fitbit to compare with the Apple Watch Series 6 but they refused to share a test device. So these are your alternatives to the Apple Watch, without comparison.
Oppo Watch from $449
You’ll need to look twice at this smart watch to ensure it isn’t actually from Apple. The two buttons on the right are an immediate giveaway, and once you turn it on you’ll see Android Wear available. This means you’ll have access to the compatible Google applications for Wear OS making this a fully featured smartwatch.
The 1.91-inch AMOLED display looks great on the 46mm device weighing 39 grams. The buttons on the side provide access to the main menu and the second can be programmed for quick access to another app such as your workouts. Battery life is close to 24 hours, there’s sleep tracking and a one-hour tracked workout. When the battery is low, switching to power saver mode will still provide basic notifications and step tracking for up to 19 days.
Samsung Galaxy Watch3 from $649
Taking a more traditional watch design the Watch3 has a round face with a rotating bezel for app navigation. With a genuine leather strap, this is the smartwatch you’ll wear when you don’t want to appear to be wearing one. The Watch3 is also slim so it won’t stand out too much. The Watch3 uses the Samsung Tizen based operating system however this is not necessarily a problem. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices and uses Samsung apps to manage and view smartwatch data. Similar to Apple, the Watch3 has ECG capabilities yet is not available in Australia with Samsung saying it is coming soon. The Watch3 also has fall detection, blood oxygen readings and advanced sleep tracking making it more capable than it’s fruity competitor.
Suunto 7 from $649
If fitness tracking is your first priority, and smartwatch is a close second, then the Suunto is the one you’re going to be keen to look at. Built for adventures the Suunto 7 has over 70 different workouts to track. Before you start your run though, you will be able to see heatmaps of exercise routes people are taking, especially handy when you’re travelling
The insights generated from the Suunto 7 are at another level, allowing you to break down various elements of your exercise, analyse performance and track your progress over time. The Suunto app will also help calculate your recovery to ensure you don’t burn out.
As a smartwatch you’re still happily using the Android Wear OS which also works on any smartphone and is fully featured. This includes all the Google tools such as the voice assistant, Google Pay, music applications, Strava and more.
Recent updates have improved battery life and added further functionality to the Suunto 7 stretching closer to two days before needing a recharge. The largest of the models listed here at 50mm and added bulk, you’ll only appreciate this smartwatch if you are planning on using it’s activity features.
Fitbit Sense $499.95
What started as a pedometer is now a fully capable wellness smartwatch. Fitbit has moved from caring about hitting your 10,000 steps per day to caring about your overall well being. The Fitbit Sense sits at the top of its range and has new sensors not seen on any other smartwatch including EDA (electrodermal activity) to monitor and help you manage stress.
The Sense will also perform an ECG once available, track your skin temperature, measure your breathing rate, blood oxygen levels and heart rate variability. The leader when it comes to their smartphone app, this is now improved further with a dedicated health metrics dashboard.
The Premium monthly service also opens up guided workouts, medication sessions and deeper analytics that your doctor would be impressed by. This is still a smartwatch which pairs best with active wear rather than a suit and tie due to less impressive smartphone integration.
A choice of the Google or Amazon voice assistant is on board as is smartphone notifications, texting and calling. With a six day battery life this is one you can recharge once a week while you shower.
When it comes to smartwatches, we are spoiled for choice today. Some are skewed towards fitness and some appeal more to the boardroom. There is certainly one out there for everyone and it doesn’t have to be the default option from Apple. As the latest Apple ad campaign suggests “It already does that” – many other brands have already been doing “that”.
Geoff Quattromani is a tech commentator across radio, print, online and television. Check out his podcast “Technology Uncorked” for new information each week.
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