Today, connected watches have become an essential accessory for technology enthusiasts and sportsmen. They offer advanced health and fitness tracking features, as well as the ability to stay connected to your smartphone while being free from the clutter of a phone in your pocket. In this article, we'll explore the different types of smartwatches available on the market, as well as the best smartwatches currently available.

The 3 types of connected watches

Connected watches for smartphones (classic)

Classic smartwatches are designed for those who want to stay connected without having to take their phone out of their pocket. They are compatible with iOS and Android operating systems and offer features such as receiving notifications, taking calls, sending messages and playing music.

Connected watches dedicated to sport

These watches are specially designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. They are equipped with advanced sensors to track physical activities, such as heart rate, distance traveled, speed, calories burned, etc. Popular brands like Garmin, Polar, and Suunto offer dedicated watches for sports such as running, cycling, swimming, and many more.

Hybrid Smartwatches

Hybrids combine the aesthetics of a traditional watch with the functionality of a smartwatch. They have a classic dial with hands and a discreet screen to display digital information. These watches are ideal for those looking for a stylish watch with basic connected features, such as step tracking and notification management. Brands such as Fossil, Withings and Garmin offer hybrid smartwatches.

Comparison of the best connected watches on the market

Now that we've seen the different types of smartwatches available, let's take a closer look at the best smartwatches on the market in 2023.

Apple Watch Series 8

Technical specifications: Display: 396 x 484 pixels OLED | Battery life: 18 hours | Dimensions: 45 x 38 x 10.7mm | Weight: 38.8 grams (Al) | Water and dust resistance: 50m with IP6X | Cellular LTE option: Yes Price: from 499 €

In 2015, Apple released its first Apple Watch, and over the next seven years it cemented its place as the best smartwatch available. No other watch has such extensive app support while getting the essentials of the near-perfect smartwatch. It's debatable whether the iPhone is the best smartphone or not, but it's clear that the Apple Watch is the wearer to beat.

Launched in 2022, the Series 8 model builds on the legacy of the Apple Watch. New in this version is temperature detection. It reads your temperature while you sleep. Combined with the Sleep app, it provides a more complete picture of your sleep habits.

Strong points :

Temperature detection to estimate sleep and ovulation

Accident detection contacts first responders in the event of an accident.

WR50 water resistance

New advanced training metrics

Weak points :

Battery life less than 2 days

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

Technical characteristics of the ech: Screen: 1.4 inches, 450 x 450 pixels Super AMOLED | Battery life: Two-three days | Dimensions: 45.5 x 45.5 x 15.0mm | Weight: 46.5 grams (without strap) | Water resistance: 5ATM+IP68 | Cellular LTE option: Yes I Price: from €469

Samsung does not intend to sit idly by as Apple continues to update and improve the Apple Watch. Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers many of the same advanced health tracking features, such as blood oxygen monitoring, ECG and sleep tracking, with longer battery life than that of the Apple Watch.

The Watch 5 Pro runs on Google Wear OS 3 developed by Samsung. That means it still looks like a Samsung smartwatch, but it also supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Play Store, and other Google apps.

Its operating system is optimized for the design of a round watch with a virtual rotating bezel. Fall detection, messaging, phone calls, etc. are available on the watch, which also supports advanced fitness data such as VO2 Max and advanced running dynamics data.

Strong points :

Lightweight titanium case

Sapphire crystal AMOLED display

Large capacity battery

Support for Google Wear OS 3 apps

Weak points :

Manual and limited GPX process

Large size does not fit small wrists

Blood pressure certification takes much longer than advertised

Garmin Forerunner 255

Tech Specs: Screen: 218 x 218 pixels, sunlight viewable, Transflective Memory in Pixels (MIP): Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode; up to 26 hours in GPS GNSS mode only| Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12.4 millimeters | Weight: 39 grams; 1.4 ounces | Water resistance: 5 ATM | Cellular LTE option: No I Price: from €300

Garmin is the industry leader in activity tracking sensors, and the Garmin Forerunner line of smartwatches is a prime example. Compared to the Apple Watch, the Forerunner 255's battery life is a game-changer, lasting up to 12 days in smartwatch mode and 26 hours in GPS mode.

The activity trackers are the most advanced on the market – it would be easier to list the features it doesn't have. With this wrist-based device, you'll receive a morning sleep report, daily workout suggestions, recovery levels, advanced heart rate tracking, running metrics, and running time predictors. You can also easily switch between activities for triathlon and multisport workouts. The list of data it provides is endless.

The Garmin Forerunner 255 is one of the newer models: 41 or 46 millimeters. It's compatible with iPhone and Android, so you can enjoy contactless payments, notifications and personalized widgets, just like with other smartwatches.

You can also opt for the Forerunner 255 Music, which lets you download up to 500 songs and connect to headphones to listen without a phone.

Strong points :

Advanced activity sensors

Long battery life

Comfortable

Compatible with iPhone and Android

Weak points :

No phone calls

Fitbit Sense

Technical specifications: Screen: 1.58 inches, 336 x 336 pixels AMOLED | Battery life: Six days | Dimensions: 40.5 x 40.5 x 12.35mm | Weight: 48 grams | Water resistance: 5 ATM | Cellular LTE option: No I Price: from €170

The Fitbit Sense has a stainless steel ring around the watch face and additional sensors on the back, allowing it to support ECG, skin temperature, and a few other advanced health metrics.

The Fitbit ecosystem is well supported, with plenty of people on the platform to help motivate you to reach your daily activity and fitness goals. The smartphone app is fantastic and offers a wealth of information, recommendations and understanding of the data collected by the watches.

Android smartphone users have a better experience with support for quick replies to text messages, but these new Fitbit watches work well with Android and iOS for most functions.

Strong points :

Clear and bright AMOLED display

Lightweight and comfortable for 24/7 use

Google Assistant and phone call support

Support for smart alarms

Extensive health and wellness support

Weak points :

Solid-state button is not as reliable as a physical button

Limited third-party support

Comparative Table & Conclusion

Ultimately, choosing the best smartwatch will come down to the user's individual needs, budget, and aesthetic preferences. These five smartwatches are all excellent in their respective categories and offer great features to enhance your connected lifestyle.

FAQs

Can you use a Samsung watch with an iPhone?

Google Wear OS and Fitbit watches work with Android and iPhone devices, but Samsung's new Galaxy watches don't work with the iPhone. iPhone users should stick with the Apple Watch, while Samsung phone users should seriously consider a Galaxy Watch 5 model.

Can I send SMS from a connected watch?

Absolutely ! However, most of their screens are too small for you to type on, so you'll have to compose your messages using text-to-speech or other dictation features, or choose from several generic auto-generated replies. .

What are the hot new features in the latest smartwatches in 2023?

Health and fitness tracking is the area that has seen the most innovation and improvement over the past two years. Although these watches are not medical devices, they are equipped with sensors, algorithms and applications that help you track your heart rate, stress levels and oxygen levels in your body. blood, and even to detect periods of ovulation.