Finding your perfect wrist companion: smartwatch comparison guide.

Whether you want to check emails on your morning commute or support your latest training goals, there’s a smartwatch to suit all lifestyles. While both smartwatches and fitness trackers offer similar features, like showing the time and date at a glance, there are some differences between these wrist companions.

• Smartwatches often include ways to stay connected without using your phone, such as text message or email notifications.

• They often also include more safety features.

• Smartwatches combine health data tracking with smartphone connectivity and app integration, making them useful for daily life and exercise.

Explore the key features below to compare smartwatches – from safety features to fitness tracking. Discover which features complement your daily routine and choose the ideal wearable for your needs.

Whether you’re starting your fitness journey or training regularly, choosing a smartwatch that delivers fitness insights can help you reach your goals. If you want to measure your progress while focusing on your training automatically, fitness tracking features like the ones below can help.

• Count your steps with a pedometer.

• Get feedback on how hard you’re working with a heart rate monitor.

• Track your fitness levels with cardio intensity metrics. 

Smartwatches with AI-generated workout suggestions can help you take your routines to the next level. It’s like having a personal trainer by your side.

From urban joggers to regular racers, a fitness smartwatch with features made for runners can provide insights to help you run smarter. The Google Pixel Watch 3’s running dashboard includes form and performance analysis along with real-time guidance for your most effective training yet.

Fitness isn’t the only thing about your body a smartwatch can track. Health insights put a whole host of useful information right there on your wrist. Metrics like this can help you build a picture of your health and check for any changes over time. 

• Measure how well your blood cells carry oxygen around your body with blood oxygen saturation metrics, known as SpO2.

• Measure your heart rhythm with ECG monitoring.

• Pixel Watch 2 and 3 track your skin temperature over time to identify changes in wellness.

We all need sleep, but it can be hard to tell if we get high-quality rest. A smartwatch can give you metrics about your slumber to help you get a good night’s sleep. Some models can also help you learn more about stress levels by monitoring your body’s response. Features such as mindfulness content and guided breathing sessions on select Fitbit watches¹ are designed to help you manage your mood.

Whatever adventuring means to you – exploring a new part of town or a new part of the world – maps and GPS connectivity help you easily find your way. Smartwatches with built-in GPS use satellite signals to find your location so you can track where you’ve been and find where you’re going. Choose a watch that can download maps in advance if you’ll be travelling to a location without a reliable internet connection.

Smartwatches with texting, calling, and email connectivity make it simple to communicate from your wrist instead of your phone. Watches with speakers and microphones let you make and answer calls from your wrist. 

Whether you’re on your commute, going for a walk or simply need to reply quickly, you can keep in touch with your voice or the watch’s touch screen. You can stay on top of important updates, from messages about work projects to parcel tracking updates, by connecting your smartwatch to your email.

Some smartwatch features can help keep you safe after an accident or during an emergency. 

• Fall detection and car accident detection can ensure you get help by triggering the watch to check in with you and helping you alert emergency services. 

• Pixel Watch 3² is the first smartwatch designed to call emergency services if it detects a loss of pulse.

•  If you have a medical condition or allergies, a watch that has a medical ID feature makes it simple to share important information with emergency responders.

Smartwatches have different amounts of battery life depending on the model. Some need to be charged most days, while others last longer between charges. Pixel Watch 2 will last up to 24 hours between charges,³ while the Fitbit Versa 4 can last up to 6 days. It’s important to remember this when comparing smartwatch features so you can choose the watch that fits your lifestyle.

Instead of searching for your card or phone when shopping or grabbing lunch, you can make payments quicker and easier with a smartwatch that connects to a payment system like Google Wallet. Simply hold your watch over the payment reader and wait for a sound or vibration.

Smaller smartwatches can have a more subtle look, while models with bigger screens can be easier to read. Pixel smartwatches are available in 41 mm and 45 mm face sizes, while Fitbit smartwatches come in 40.5 mm face sizes.

• 40.5 mm face size – Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4

• 41 mm face size – Google Pixel Watch 2 and Google Pixel Watch 3

• 45 mm face size – Google Pixel Watch 3

Thinking about how you’d prefer the face to look before you start your smartwatch comparison can be helpful. Some models offer plenty of customisation options, including background colours and images, while others focus on a more streamlined experience. Knowing what information you want at a glance – steps, heart rate, or weather – can help you choose a watch that shows what’s important to you.

Google Pixel Watch and Fitbit smartwatches use Corning® Gorilla® Glass displays for durability and scratch resistance. If you spend lots of time outdoors, the peak brightness of 2,000 nits on Pixel Watch 3 makes it easy to catch your stats on a sunny day.

Some smartwatches are water-resistant. This means they can be worn while showering and underwater. It’s a good idea to check the water-resistance rating of a smartwatch to make sure it’s suitable for swimming. It’s also important to remember that some bands and accessories aren’t water-resistant or splash-proof, so it’s best to remove them before taking a dip.

Your lifestyle is key to finding out which smartwatch has the features you need to excel, either with your training at the gym or with cutting-edge integration with other devices that will make your life easier.

When you’re chasing your next fitness goal, you need a smartwatch that keeps you on track. Use insights to balance performance and recovery with the comprehensive features on the Fitbit Sense 2. To keep up with your workout, your smartwatch should also be rugged and durable, so the band, made of a flexible material similar to conventional sports watches, and the device itself and buckle, made from aluminium, have you covered.

Alt text: A close up of a person following a dumbbell workout on a Pixel phone screen, with a Fitbit tracker showcased on their wrist.

The ideal everyday smartwatch balances essential features with a design that you’ll want to show off. Pixel Watch 3 is a great example of mixing both the fitness tracking that you need to enhance your training programme with a sleek design and customizable bands that allow you to express your style whatever it might be.  

Deep Google integration makes your smartwatch more useful than ever before. Control your Google TV Streamer, check your camera feeds⁴ in the Google Home app, or record and transcribe voice notes⁵with Pixel Watch 3.

Matching a smartwatch to your budget means thinking about what you’ll be using your smartwatch for. If you’re looking for a watch that delivers message notifications and tracks basic health metrics, lower-priced models might have everything you need. If you want more – such as advanced health monitoring, smart home integration or AI-powered workouts – higher-priced models often deliver features that go beyond essential functionality.

By considering both your budget and how your smartwatch will fit with your lifestyle, you can choose the ideal model for your needs.