Smartwatches are becoming an evermore tempting purchase. There are more models on sale, with wider device compatibility, and all-around better designs than there were a year ago. However, this doesn’t make any buying decision easier. After all, the one you choose is going to be in full view of the world, so you’d best pick one that looks good and functions properly. Related: Decrypt Android Wear with these 16 essential tips and tricks To help you get the right smartwatch, we’ve come up with the five we think should be at the top of the list to strap to your wrist. The only one that requires a particular phone to operate is the Apple Watch, while all the others will happily work with iOS and Android, thanks to cross-device compatibility through a special app. The Best Apple Watch ($350+) While it’s hard to choose a ‘best’ smartwatch at the moment — there isn’t a universal standout — the Apple Watch comes close to matching the criteria many will have for such a thing. It’s beautifully made, comfortable to wear, comes in different materials to suit most pockets, and there’s a choice of straps that should ensure it can fit in with most people’s style. Plus, it comes in two different sizes — 38mm and 42mm — so it’ll look equally at home on male and female wrists. These are key features, and personalization is an important consideration for watches in general. We love the unusual, fun messaging features, such as being able to send haptic taps directly to another Apple Watch, and the most recent WatchOS 2 software has cured some of the early software gremlins.-Add in fitness tracking, an array of apps, a solid notification system, plus a growing range of accessories, and the Apple Watch sets the overall standard for current smartwatches There are downsides. Apps are still flaky, the OS is a bit slow, and it’s expensive — particularly if you choose anything but the Watch Sport. It also only works with the iPhone, but it’s an Apple product, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.- Read our full review here. Buy it now from: Amazon-Best Buy-Apple The Rest Huawei Watch ($350+) It took nearly 10 months to hit store shelves following its announcement, but the Huawei Watch is worth the wait. Available in black, gold, or stainless steel, it’s probably the best looking Android Wear device we’ve seen yet. It’s technically impressive too, with the 400 x 400 pixel 1.4-inch AMOLED screen surpassing all other Android Wear watch displays in terms of sharpness. The 42mm circular body is just about compact enough to suit male and female wrists, but it’s still skewed towards men. However the design is sleek enough to appeal to everyone. You’ll need to splash out if it takes your fancy. The basic leather strapped model costs $350, but you could end up paying anywhere up to $800 if you prefer the rose gold version. Price aside, it’s our firm favorite Android Wear smartwatch.- Read our full review here. Buy it now from: Amazon-Best Buy-Huawei Vector Luna ($330) Smartwatches don’t have to run Android Wear, they don’t need to look like toys, and they don’t all have batteries that last a couple of days at the most. The Vector Luna proves this, and if you’re looking for a smartwatch that puts traditional design and unobtrusive notifications above flash and needless apps, then it’s worthy of consideration. The app is compatible with Android and iOS, so it won’t matter what phone you own. It’s sold in several different configurations, with a choice of strap design. The headline feature is its 30-day battery life — a proven figure we saw the watch actually exceed in our tests. Combine this with the cool look, and it’s a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want a touchscreen watch, or the charging inconvenience one usually brings.- Read our full review here. Buy it now from: Amazon-Best Buy-Vector LG Watch Urbane ($250) Once the priciest Android Wear smartwatch on the market, the LG Watch Urbane is more affordable than ever, and despite being older than others on our list, still manages to impress. To make the Urbane, LG took its already excellent G Watch R, pulled out the internal workings and the bright, colorful 1.3-inch P-OLED screen, and stuffed them into a redesigned body. The result is a big, bold, and if you’re so inclined — gold smartwatch. Did we mention big? The Watch Urbane isn’t for the small of wrist, but provided it fits, you’ll get an attractive and technically competent smartwatch at a great price. The battery’s one of the largest out there at 410mAh, too, and should last at least two days before recharging.- Read our full review here. Buy it now from: Amazon-Best Buy-LG Motorola Moto 360, 2nd gen-($300+) The original circular smartwatch is back with a vengeance, and although the trademark ‘flat tire’ display remains, the watch now comes in two sizes — 46mm and 42mm, to suit men and women. Everything from the bezel’s finish to the color of the strap can be altered in Moto Maker, allowing you to create a watch that’s completely to your taste. It’s also the only Android Wear watch on this list that we can recommend to women. Android Wear runs on the Moto 360, so it’ll work with Android and iOS devices, and it’s shown on a 1.4-inch 360 x 325 pixel LCD screen. The battery differs in size depending on which model you pick, but expect a day-and-a-half use. Prices vary, but it starts at $300.- Read our full review here. Buy it now from: Amazon-Best Buy-Motorola Next page: Three smartwatches to look out for Smartwatches to look out for All the previous watches can be purchased right now, and are the one’s we’d recommend checking out first. However, there are a few that have been launched very recently, plus others that are coming soon, you should also know about.-Here are a few that may rate highly in the future. TAG Heuer Carrera Connected ($1,500) Arguably the first luxury timepiece brand to fully embrace the smartwatch, TAG Heuer’s Carrera Connected launched at the beginning of November 2015 for a wallet-tightening $1,500. For that, you get a massive 46mm body made out of grade 2 titanium, an Intel processor, Android Wear, and the chance to trade it in for a mechanical Carrera watch at a later date, should you get sick of it. It’s available through a very select list of TAG Heuer dealers now, if you like the idea of splashing out. Read more here. Buy it now from: TAG Heuer Fossil Q Founder ($295) Another big name in traditional watch making has adopted Android Wear, and produced a fully-fledged smartwatch. The Fossil Q Founder costs $295, and has a similar ‘flat-tire’ style circular screen to the Moto 360. It’s big at 46mm wide, and heavy at 71 grams, meaning it’s probably more suited to male wrists, plus like the TAG Heuer Carrera Connected, it uses an Intel processor. Launched at the end of November, it has recently gone on sale through Fossil. Read more here. Buy it now from: Fossil-Google Store Blocks Modular Watch ($295) The Blocks watch won’t be out until mid-2016, but from what we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be very exciting. It’s a modular watch, meaning the strap links all perform different functions and can be swapped around to suit the wearers needs. Want more standby time? Add some battery links. Going for a hike? Add a GPS link. The Blocks smartwatch completed its successful Kickstarter campaign at the end of November, raising more than $1.6 million, and is on track for a May 2016 launch.- Read our hands on review here. Preorder-it now from: Blocks



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