So, you’re in the market for a smartwatch? Our buying guide can help you keep track of some of the best wearables available. Before zooming into a smartwatch of your choice, keep these points in mind:
Compatibility: The Apple Watch might be your preferred choice, but it won’t talk to Android smartphones. Brands like Fitbit and Garmin offer products that are OS agnostic and will work equally well with iPhones or Android devices.
Functionality and UI: Some smartwatches can’t do much more than track workout and wellness parameters. If you’re looking at more functionality – like music storage or apps, do choose wisely. Also, check out the user interface. This is likely to impact your day-to-day usage and interactions with the watch.
Battery life: A key deal breaker. Remember that battery life can vary depending on your usage patterns – for instance, workouts with GPS can drain your smartwatch battery. An always-on display can impact battery life too.
Features: Look for features that matter to you. Some smartwatches might offer fitness or wellness features that you may never use.
Lifestyle appeal: Smartwatches are not just wellness accessories, the watch you pick also has to complement your style. Look for dial sizes that suit your wrist and watches that offer swappable strap/band options. This allows you to accessorise or change from silicon bands for the gym to leather straps for a client meeting. Most smartwatches offer cool watch faces that you can customise.
Best smartwatches under Rs 20K
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Samsung finally switched to Google’s Wear OS with its newest flagship wearable, offering more functionality and access to apps like Google Maps. The 1.4-inch Super AMOLED (450 x 450 pixels) display is one of the brightest on any smartwatch. The Watch 4 boasts of a Body Composition tracker that uses Samsung’s new BioActive Sensor to track fat percentage, skeletal muscle and body water. (Rs 19,999 with cashback offers)
Fitbit Sense: Fitbit’s premier smartwatch comes with a vibrant 1.58-inch display and advanced wellness features. Aside from ECG and SpO2 tracking, Fitbit offers a skin temperature sensor that establishes your baseline temperature and then begins to measure variations. There’s also an EDA sensor that keeps a tab on stress levels. (Rs 20,699 with an additional 15% discount)
Apple Watch Series 3: You might miss out on features like ECG and SpO2 that are available on the top-end Apple Watches, but the Watch 3 is still the best option for iPhone users looking for Apple’s Watch OS. Apple’s watch UI is the most evolved with a bottomless array of apps and handy wellness features. (Rs 19,900 after discounts)
OnePlus Watch: Scores with a vibrant 1.39-inch AMOLED (454 x 454 pixels / 326 PPI). Speed is a given with OnePlus and you can get a day’s power with a 5-minute charge thanks to the super-fast charger. Aside from SpO2 tracking, you also get a whole range of fitness features and workout tracking. (Rs 13,999)
Garmin Forerunner 55: Garmin’s wearables enjoy a cult following with fitness and running enthusiasts. You can access Garmin’s PacePro feature to track your runs with drill-down data. This lightweight smartwatch (under 40gm) with a bold 1.04-inch display (208 x 208 pixels) delivers two weeks of battery life. (Rs 17,990)
Amazfit GTR 3 Pro: Connects seamlessly with iPhones and Android devices with an impressive 12-day battery life. The vibrant Ultra HD AMOLED 1.45-inch display (480 x 480) is the headline feature of this device. It boasts of a premium, light-weight (32 gm) build and is kitted with Amazfit’s BioTracker that tracks critical wellness data. (Rs 18,999)
Prices may differ from the time this article was published.
