Comparing smartwatches is like comparing apples to oranges. While they’re in the same category, they can also be distinctly different. Each of our nominees, for example, runs its own OS. The Ionic and Vivoactive 3 are platform agnostic. But the Watch and Gear Sport are best paired with their manufacturers’ smartphones.
So smartwatches aren’t a spec to spec comparison. Instead, we focus on ease of use, style, and accuracy of activity tracking for this year’s nominees.
The Apple Watch Series 3 provides a winning combination of smarts and fitness tracking. Notifications are clear and easy to navigate. You can send canned replies to messages, and take a call from the Watch. The Activity rings are an intuitive way to measure and gamify everyday movement. Heart-rate tracking is accurate, and the Watch will warn you if it detects abnormal heart rates. The Watch is well-made, and there is a wide selection of bands to adapt its looks.
| Apple Watch Series 3 | Fitbit Ionic | Garmin Vivoactive 3 | Samsung Gear Sport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Features | 8.5 | 6 | 8.5 | 8 |
| User-Friendliness | 8.5 | 6 | 8.5 | 7 |
| Performance | 8.5 | 6 | 8.5 | 7 |
| Value | 8.5 | 6 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Overall | 8.5 | 6.5 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Price |
|
S$458 |
|
S$448 |
*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.
For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.
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