The smartwatch trend is in full swing right now. From taking over conventional digital/ analog wristwatches market to innovating battery-free wrist wearable now, the latest smartwatch market is rather evolving faster than any other gadgets.
According to an industry analytics, the global smartwatch market is valued at $10,223.9 million in 2017 and is forecasted to soar at a compounded growth rate of 22.7 percent between 2018 and 2023.
The driving factors of this phenomenal growth of smartwatch industry are a system for tracking basic fitness & health goals, and extensional support to a smartphone. The best smartwatches play an integral role now in tracking exercise routine, monitoring heartbeat, blood pressure, making payments or simply scrolling down the notifications received on the connected smartphone.
Latest Smartwatch Market Players
Not looking far behind, 2018 itself witnessed plenty of best smartwatches surfacing in the market dominated by Watch OS and Wear OS.
The list of best smartwatch players is growing day-by-day comprising tech giants like Apple (USA), Samsung (South Korea), Sony (Japan), and LG (South Korea). Besides them, Garmin and Mobvoi are other leading tech brands flourishing in the list of best smartwatches.
Among all, traditional timepiece manufacturers such as Fossil, Guess, TAG Heuer have also adopted the technological path and are now competing the tech giants by rolling out latest smartwatches at regular intervals, keeping their luxurious and stylish image intact.
Joining the pack is leading fitness company Fitbit (USA) and fashion brands such as Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.
While these players unveil their latest smartwatch models back-to-back this year, Technowize has rounded up a series of best smartwatches introduced recently to the market. If you are still new to this smartwatch idea or planning to upgrade your collection, check out tidbits of these best smartwatches of 2018, pick up the best that matches your lifestyle and just go for it.
Best Smartwatches of 2018:Â Samsung Galaxy Watch
The previous week Samsung unveiled a new wearable, Galaxy Watch at its Unpacked event along with the flagship smartphone Galaxy Note9 and an all-new smart speaker Galaxy Home.
Looking closely at the Samsung’s latest smartwatch, it appears similar to a traditional watch design – circular screen, watch hands, and classic ticking sound. There are two variants of Galaxy Watch offered in the market, one with dimensions of 42mm and 20mm long straps (Midnight Black, Rose Gold) and another one in 46mm and 22mm long straps (Silver). Both the models support either Bluetooth or LTE but lack magnetic security transmission feature.
The 1.2-inch/1.3-inch super AMOLED display mounted on this new smartwatch by Samsung lets the wearer watch time during daylight as well night time. What’s more, Galaxy Watch is a Bixby-powered Wear OS wearable integrated with a powerful multi-day battery life. It’s a fitness-oriented smartwatch enable to measure over 39 workout activities and act as a personal trainer on the go.
The 42mm model of the Samsung Galaxy Watch is priced at $329.99 and the larger variant is available for $349.99.
Galaxy Watch is a Bixby-powered Wear OS wearable integrated with a powerful multi-day battery life. Source: Samsung
Best Smartwatches of 2018:Â Fossil Q Venture HR and Fossil Q Explorist HR
The HR in the nomenclature represents Heart Rate. Alongside Samsung, Fossil also announced its latest smartwatch HR line-up. The timepiece maker is adding two new Gen 4 members to its extensive range of top smartwatches – Fossil Q Venture HR and Fossil Q Explorist HR.
The first model will be targeted towards females whereas the latter one is designed for the male group. Fossil Q Venture HR will arrive in a 40mm size and Fossil Q Explorist HR in a size of 45 mm with a stainless steel body. Both the latest smartwatches by Fossil will run on Wear OS, Qualcomm 2100 processor.
Other than tracking heart rate, Fossil’s newest smartwatches range would support phone-free GPS and wrist communications. The wearables get a swim-proof body and last for 24 hours on single charge.
Fossil hasn’t disclosed anything about the price range of both smartwatches. Yet one can estimate it to be near the original Q Explorist price, which was worth $255 at the time of its launch.
Fossil Q Venture HR will be targeted towards females. Source: Fossil
Best Smartwatches of 2018:Â Mobvoi TicWatch Pro
The new watchmaker Mobvoi is known for rolling out only the best smartwatches, and last month it came with another hot-selling premium smartwatch model, TicWatch Pro.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro gets an innovative dual-screen technology. In detail, this smartwatch brings two functional modes – Essential Mode and Smart Mode, wherein it blends the functionality of a traditional timepiece and advanced attributes of premium Wear OS watch.
The Essential Mode is built on an LCD screen, while the Smart Mode is based on AMOLED display. The LCD screen supports high-contrast readability and displays only essential information such as time, date and step counts. On the other hand, Smart Mode is powered by Google Assistant, the digital voice assistant and comes with multi-touch properties. Interestingly, Mobvoi allows the wearers to change the watch face by offering 1000+ options.
And above all, Mobvoi latest smartwatch series offers an incredible battery life of 2 to 5 days on Smart Mode and up to 30 days battery life, if operated on Essential Mode only.
The starting price of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro smartwatch is $249.99.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro gets an innovative dual-screen technology. Source: Mobvoi
Best Smartwatches of 2018:Â Michael Kors Access Runway
As the name suggests, the latest smartwatch out of Michael Kors closet is a work-out ready model. The sister brand of Fossil, Michael Kors today announced new upgrades to its Access smartwatch series.
Assembled with Google Fitbit, heart rate tracking, mobile payments and swim-proof features, Access Runway smartwatch collection gets a striking design. The wearers can customize watch face or swap the straps to match their moods or outfits or occasions.
Built on Wear OS platform, Michael Kors Access Runway gets a built-in GPS tracker so there is no smartphone-support needed. Being one of the best smartwatches from Michael Kors, it is available in a single case size of 41mm, lasts for 24 hours on single charge and abodes Google Pay NFC system.
Michael Kors’ latest smartwatch series, Access Runway is available in six tones, namely, Gold, Rose Gold, Two-tone, Silver, Pave Rose Gold and Silver tone-Silicon. The starting of the model starts from $295 extending up to $350.
Access Runway wearers can customize watch face or swap the straps to match their moods or outfits or occasions. Source: Michael Kors
Best Smartwatches of 2018: Apple Watch Series 3
Of course, “Apple has become the market leader for best smartwatches,” said George Jijiashvili, senior analyst for wearables at CCS Insight.
Powered by watchOS 4, Apple Watch Series 3 is available in two types, one is GPS + Cellular model worth $399 and the other one has only GPS capability starting at $329. Both the variants are available in two different case sizes – 38mm and 42mm.
Apple Watch Series 3, one of the best smartwatches of 2018, gets LTE connectivity for the very first time ever in the family. Interestingly, the owners need not juggle between multiple numbers to extract the benefits of LTE feature, as both Apple Watch and iPhone share the same numbers.
Starting with Apple Watch Series 3 smartwatch, the company placed an array of Series 3 Apple Watch in association with other brands targeted towards different segments of the society. Â There is Apple Watch Nike+ edition, Apple Watch Hermes edition and Apple Watch Edition.
Apple Watch Hermès price starts at $1,149 and Apple Watch Edition is available with price starting from $1,299.
Though Apple Watch series was launched last fall, it is the best and highly appreciated gadget from the innovation giant and finds a top position in the smartwatch market this year too.
Apple Watch Series 3, one of the best smartwatches of 2018, gets LTE connectivity for the very first time ever in the family. Source: Apple
Looking Forward
If this ensemble of the best smartwatches of 2018 is not enough, wait for some time and the future of wearables is soon going to take a new turn.
Qualcomm is coming up with a new processor for Wear OS smartwatches on September 10. The new chipset called Snapdragon 3100 will feature support to augmented reality headsets along with improved battery life.
