10 best smartwatches 2022 reviewed and rated: top smartwatches to buy today
Looking for the slickest smartwatch? From sporting tickers to smartphone companions, these are the cleverest wearables you can buy.
How smart do you want your smartwatch to be? If “like, Brian Cox smart” is your answer, you need one of the best smartwatches around – and that’s what this best smartwatches list is for.
There’s also a new wave of lightweight smartwatches, the choice between fashionable, feature-packed and fitness-ready medical marvels just got harder. Big names have branched out, to give us the best wrist tech yet. One-day battery life? Not any more.
Our pick of the best smartwatches
Apple Watch SE (2022)
If you’re talking value, this is the best Apple Watch hands-down. It tracks sleep and all the exercise you need, supports Apple Pay, works great with your iPhone and… what more do most people need?
Features:
- Superb performance, latest-gen chip
- All the core Apple Watch experience
- Larger bezels than Series 8
- Limited choice of finishes
Garmin Fenix 7
If your budget stretches – and your fitness pursuits demand it – the impressive combination of rugged durability, serious battery endurance, excellent navigation skills and the richest suite of training analysis, wellness and smartwatch skills, make this the best all-rounder sports watch you can buy right now.
Features:
- Outstanding battery life
- Excellent durability
- Offline mapping
- But bulky and pricey
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro
It carries a chunky price premium over the vanilla Galaxy Watch5, and doesn’t have too much in the way of additional features, but the Pro still makes a strong case for itself thanks to a more robust build and significantly better battery. The design might be a bit utilitarian, but for fitness fanatics and anyone sick of having to charge their wearable tech every night, that longevity makes all the difference.
Features:
- Tough construction
- Consistent two day battery life
- Additional fitness features a bit niche
- Software as slick as ever
Apple Watch Series 8
You’ve got to want Watch 8 specific features to swallow the leap in price over the Apple Watch SE. That could be aesthetics – there’s more to choose from here – or it could be the extra sensors. Both have much to offer, and that makes the decision a tough one.
Features:
- Still an excellent smartwatch
- Comfortable and flexible
- Needs even longer battery life
- The new Watch SE is much better value
Google Pixel Watch
The software is slick and FitBit health tracking is comprehensive without alienating the fitness-phobic – but Google hasn’t entirely knocked it out of the part on its first attempt. Battery life isn’t all that impressive, the screen bezels are the wrong kind of thicc, and the lack of a larger model is going to limit its appeal – but the looks go a long way to make up for it.
Features:
- Styling really pops on your wrist
- WearOS is user-friendly and shows promise
- Accurate and extensive FitBit health tracking
- Battery barely scrapes a day with always-on screen
Huawei Watch GT 3 Review
There’s something to be said for a gadget that’s reliable, looks good, and lasts for ages – and we found the Huawei Watch GT 3 to be all those things. It never crashed, there were no glitches, its health tracking, which we used mainly to track rowing workouts and gym sessions was great, and it lasted for absolutely ages.
Features:
- Excellent battery life
- Smooth interface
- Premium design
- No Apple Health/Google Fit syncing
Amazfit GTR 4
As a style-conscious wearable, the Amazfit GTR 4 hits all the right notes. It’s slim, with a retro flavour that neatly contrasts the sharp and colourful display. Accurate GPS tracking, week-long battery life even if you’re an exercise addict, and a comprehensive companion app complete the package, even if limited third-party app support and no contactless payments are black marks.
Features:
- Streamlined design
- Consistent, expansive fitness tracking
- Long-lasting battery
- A few missing features that would give it the edge
Fitbit Sense
Bugginess slightly holds back a well-rounded health-focused smartwatch that really tries to innovate
Features:
- Comfortable to wear
- Nice OLED display
- EDA, ECG, SpO2 and a skin temperature sensor make the Sense unrivalled for health features
- Apple Watch-embarrassing battery life
TicWatch Pro 3
The complete Android smartwatch package, and a blazing fast one at that
Features:
- Superb screen
- Powerful performance
- Three-day battery
Oppo Watch
Ignore the Apple Watch copycat looks: Oppo’s debut smartwatch handily streamlines WearOS in ways that put it ahead of many Google-powered rivals. A tasty-looking display, decent battery life and sensible price could earn it a place on your wrist.
Features:
- Gorgeous display
- Tweaks WearOS in useful ways
- Versatile fitness modes
