We’ve seen a slew of premium smartwatches hit the scene over the last few weeks as we get set for the festive season. Staying fit and keep tabs on your wellness metrics was never this easy or stylish. Apple launched an upgraded version of last year’s Apple Watch Ultra with a newer chipset and environment friendly materials. The Pixel Watch 2 became the first ‘Made by Google’ smartwatch that landed in India along with the Google Pixel 8 twins while Samsung upped its display game with the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Pro.
If you’re a serious running or fitness enthusiast, Garmin’s fully-loaded Epix Pro 2 is a great option. We’ve rounded up the best smartwatches that tick key boxes like design, wellness features, battery life and the user experience:
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The first gen Apple Watch Ultra was one of our favourite wearables of 2022 with a rugged build and solid battery life. Apple takes it one step further with the 2023 edition. It’s powered by the all-new S9 chip that Apple claims can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as the Apple Watch Series 8. The S9 chip also impacts battery life and powers new features like double tap that make it easier to control the watch. The display gets even brighter – 3000 nits, making it one of the brightest displays on any wearable out there. Apple is also playing up the improved environmental impact of the Ultra 2 – it’s finished with 95 percent recycled titanium.
Price: Rs 89,900
Google Pixel Watch 2
The first Google Pixel Watch was one of the best looking smartwatch of 2022 with its unique curved design. Google has just unleashed the second-gen Pixel Watch 2 and it looks almost identical to its predecessor. You can’t see the big changes but they have a big impact on the user experience. At its heart is the all-new Qualcomm 5100 processor that addresses on of our gripes of the first edition – battery life. You should manage 24 hours with the always-on display. The watch also comes with new features like a skin temperature sensor.
Price: Rs 39,900
Garmin Epix Pro
The second-gen Epix Pro is pricier than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 but comes with a bunch of wellness features including useful metrics like the ‘Body Battery’. Garmin offers this in three sizes – the 47mm option is our pick for the perfect balance between form factor and the convenience of a bright, large display. The 1.3-inch, scratch-resistant Sapphire AMOLED display offers excellent visibility and features a fibre-reinforced polymer case with a titanium bezel and rear cover. It’s all you need for an active lifestyle and your outdoor pursuits. One of our favourite features is a conveniently placed LED flashlight that you can activate by double clicking one of the five physical buttons on the watch.
Price: Rs 1,11,990
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Samsung’s 2023 flagship smartwatch boasts of one of the best displays on any wearable. If you have big wrists, go for the 47mm version with a massive 1.5-inch circular, Super AMOLED display (480 x 480 pixels) that crams 453 pixels per inch (PPI). It’s a significant jump from the 321 PPI on last year’s Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The sapphire crystal glass adds to its rugged appeal and durability. We’re fans of Samsung’s rotating bezel that is reminiscent of an heirloom watch. The rotating bezel is thinner than previous editions adding to the sleek, almost minimalist design appeal of the watch that is packed with sensors including a temperature sensor. Samsung has also introduced a convenient one-click band that makes it easier to swap watch bands.
Price: Rs 36,999 onwards
Fitbit Sense 2
It’s been a while since Fitbit launched its premier wearable but it’s still 2023-proof with a raft of wellness features. It’s one of the only smartwatches under 25,000 with an ECG monitor and a skin temperature sensor that can track your skin temperature variations. Fitbit has added a physical button on the left spine that enhances the navigation experience. The Sense 2 comes with a Body Response sensor, which measures cEDA for all-day stress management and also includes a new sleep profile. Fitbit’s Premium subscription (Rs 999/year) offers more drilldown wellness data.
Price: Rs 21,999
Amazfit T-Rex Ultra
Perfect for your outdoor adventures, Amazfit’s premier wearable features mud-resistant hardware and is finished in 316L Stainless Steel for better corrosion resistance and temperature extremes. It’s equally home at the gym – the watch can auto-detect 25 exercise types. You can also store the names of up to 100 of your own variations for personalised training logs. You get a choice of 120 watch faces and an always-on display: the 1.3-inch AMOLED display peaks at 1000 nits.
Price: Rs 45,999
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