Smartwatches have become indispensable portable devices. Initially, they have been relying on smartphones. But later, standalone smartwatch functions made them stand out. Compared with the single-wearing function of traditional watches, the “omnipotence” of smartwatches is attractive enough. In addition, the price threshold of smartwatches is much lower than traditional watches. The price of more than $100 is enough to make your face.
So what is the point of buying a smartwatch? If you are only satisfied with daily exercise, health data monitoring, information reception, and other functions, smartbands are more convenient, practical, and cost-effective. The real smartness of smartwatches lies in four points: independence, stability, smoothness, and expandability. In addition, you can insert a SIM card, which will allow you to surf the Internet and make calls independently.
Also read: Best Smartwatches To Buy In 2023
Smartwatches are only perfect if they have these functions. Of course, you can say that smartphones, tablets, and laptops have more functions. But when it comes to portability, the last two drop from the list immediately. And there are moments when it is inconvenient to check your phone, such as a meetings, classes, and sports. And now, the smartwatch has come a long way from its initial stand-alone performance. It has the basic communication functions of the smartphone and the independent call function that can be separated from the smartphone.
The best smartwatches we suggest
Lanbang WACH MAX-A90
This watch is compelling. The MediaTek MT6762 octa-core dual-mode overclocking processor has improved performance and is invincible. It also comes with a newly upgraded MT2822 dual-mode low-power Bluetooth chip and supports dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4/5G. The speed can reach twice the speed of the previous generation.
Plus, it sports 6GB memory and 128GB of native storage. So we can say that multi-tasking applications are greatly improved. Another highlight is the 1.43-inch ISP high-definition touch screen, which brings a clearer viewing experience, more accurate color reproduction, and a more professional display effect. It has won the German Design Award and the American Design Award. The overall design takes the form of a classic mechanical sports watch.
Its main selling point is that it can be used independently of the smartphone. Even when the phone is not with you or is switched off, you can still make and receive calls via the watch. Thus, we are dealing with a powerful standalone smartwatch in the Android field.
Thanks to the dual-engine hybrid technology, it can handle more complicated scenarios, taking into account performance and battery life.
It also supports connection to WiFi. Of course, you can take photos and record videos, chat via messengers, pay through it, and many more. To access all the goodies, use the Renxia application on your phone and connect the watch via Bluetooth.
TicWatch Pro 3
The TicWatch Pro 3 is manufactured by Mobvoi, a Chinese electronics company. It runs on Google’s Wear OS operating system and has several selling points.
For instance, it has two screens: an AMOLED screen with colorful and interactive content and a low-power FSTN LCD screen with essential information like time, date, and battery life.
Under the hood, it houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset, which offers improved performance and longer battery life.
Of course, it does have multiple fitness tracking features. The watch has a built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor, and various fitness-tracking modes for running, cycling, and swimming.
You can use the watch to access Google Assistant and get answers to your questions, set reminders, and control other smart devices.
The watch supports Google Pay, which allows you to make payments directly from your wrist.
Well, if the features mentioned above are not enough to assure you this is a good smartwatch, the ones below should. It comes with built-in eSIM card support for independent calls and 72 hours of battery life in smart mode and 45 days in normal mode.
Garmin Forerunner 245
If you’re looking for a reliable and feature-packed running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 245 is worth considering. This watch is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Forerunner 235, with advanced running dynamics, music playback, and more.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 has a sleek and lightweight design, making it comfortable to wear during workouts. The watch’s case measures 42.3mm, and its display is a 1.2-inch transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. The watch face is protected by chemically strengthened glass, making it scratch-resistant.
The Forerunner 245 is available in the standard version and the Forerunner 245 Music version. The latter includes music storage and playback, allowing you to listen to your favorite tunes while you run.
What else
It is packed with features that make it an excellent choice for runners. The watch tracks a variety of running metrics, such as cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and more. This data can help you improve your running form and performance. There is built-in GPS and GLONASS to accurately track your runs and provide detailed maps of your routes.
The watch comes with preloaded training plans that you can follow to achieve specific goals, such as running a 5K or a marathon.
It also estimates your VO2 max, which is a measure of your cardiovascular fitness and calculates your training load, which indicates how much training you’re doing relative to your fitness level.
You can receive notifications from your smartphone, such as incoming calls and messages, directly on your watch.
The battery life of the Forerunner 245 varies depending on your usage. The standard version can last up to seven days in smartwatch mode and 24 hours in GPS mode. The Forerunner 245 Music version has a slightly shorter battery life, with up to six hours of music playback and up to six days in smartwatch mode.
Polar Pacer Pro
After the resounding success of the Polar Vantage multisport watch series with the Polar Vantage V2 and Polar Vantage M2 models, this product is designed and intended for running enthusiasts. In the specific case of the Polar Pacer Pro, this GPS watch has been designed to compete with the successful Garmin Forerunner series. In fact, the Pacer Pro is one of the most competitive runnings watches on the market today.
Its lighter and more elegant design is obvious, but what you do not see of this device is also worth considering with its high-speed processor. In this way, the Polar Pacer Pro is able to provide runners with the most advanced training functions with the clear aim of improving their running efficiency and, therefore, their sporting performance.
As already seen in the high-end versions of outdoor watches, such as the Polar Grit X Pro, the Polar Pacer Pro also integrates Komoot technology, which allows the runner to keep track of his route without any loss and even to return to the original starting point without any problem, thanks to the Back to Start function.
Biggest highlights
The Polar Pacer Pro has also been designed with runners in mind, leaving no detail, however small, to chance. Not only its ergonomic buttons with a rough surface to ensure good contact, but also the comfort it offers with its aluminum bezel and completely flat back for a perfect fit on the wrist. Wear it 24 hours a day without discomfort!
The Polar Pacer Pro will have no obstacle to slowing down the runner’s race because it incorporates an ultra-thin Gorilla Glass 3.0 lens, which ensures strength and durability, a color display, high resolution, and offers a gradual contrast to visibility conditions.
As the top of the range version of the Polar Pacer series, this latest-generation GPS sports watch comes standard with all the features of its little brother, the Polar Pacer.
Thus, it still uses an advanced sensor with 10 LED lights for more accurate heart rate monitoring; phased training; performance and recovery tests (running test, cycling test, and walking test). Also, you can plan a wide variety of workouts based on the following.
The FuelWise feature allows getting alerts and food reminders. It is quite helpful for runners to take into account the appropriate intake of fluids and food according to the effort. The Energy Source function allows you to monitor your energy consumption and break it down into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Multisport profile with up to 130 sports disciplines, including swimming metrics (pool and open water) and triathlon metrics, allows recording all the transitions between events.
We should also note the essential running functions (distance, time, etc.) and the smartwatch functions with intelligent notifications that allow the user to stay constantly connected to his environment.
Garmin Venu 2
This is a GPS smartwatch designed for fitness enthusiasts and anyone who wants to track their daily activity. It is the successor to the original Garmin Venu and comes with several new features and improvements.
It has a variety of fitness tracking features, including GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, step counting, and sleep tracking. The watch also has built-in workout profiles for running, cycling, swimming, and yoga activities.
But as we are dealing with a full-featured smartwatch, it’s reasonable to see a range of health monitoring features, including menstrual cycle tracking, stress tracking, and body battery energy monitoring.
The Garmin Venu 2 can store up to 650 songs, so you can listen to your favorite music without using your phone. The watch has a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 8 hours in GPS mode with music.
Lastly, the Garmin Venu 2 comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect to your smartphone and receive notifications, calls, and text messages right on your wrist.
Wrap up
As you see, we included traditional smartwatches and professional sports watches in the list. However, they all come with outstanding features and will help you look stunning, track your health, and be useful when you need it.
