Edited By Jhalak
Looking For the Best Smartwatches in India?
Great! A traditional watch on the wrist makes a person look stylish and fashionable while showing him the time of the day, but a smart watch does much more than that.
A smart watch can show phone notifications without having to take it out of the purse or pocket every time.
It can also send messages or act as a navigation tool in addition to showing time and keeping track of the health.
There are numerous smart watch brands, in various price ranges, available in India if you are looking to purchase one.
However, it is essential to first check out the buyer’s guide at the end of this article before reviewing into various products available in the market.
That will help you make informed decisions and avoid making mistakes while purchasing a smart watch. Here is a compiled list of features to look for while purchasing a smart watch:
Smart watches are for people who actually want to use them and are always excited to test new gadgets. Smart watches can never replace traditional analogue watches because the later has some unmatched elegance of their own.
Other related articles: Top 10 Best Watch Brands for Men in India Top 10 Best Watch Brands for Women in India
We Highly recommend you to read the Smartwatch Buying Guide at the end of this article to get in-depth knowledge about latest Smartwatch technologies and tips on making an informed decision about which product to buy for your needs 🙂
Top 10 Best Smartwatches in India
Although my favorite among all is Samsung Gear S3 Frontier but you must check all of them to make your buying decision.
1. SAMSUNG Gear S3 Frontier
Specifications
The Samsung Gear S3 is a smartwatch that is of high quality, robust design, and affordable price. The device can act as a smartphone, activity tracker, sports watch all at the same time.
It has a 1.3’’ Super AMOLED touch screen with Corning gorilla glass protection.
The S3 Gear is made of 1 GHz dual-core exynos processor with 4GB internal memory and tizen OS.
It is IP68 certified for water resistance and can remain underwater for 30 minutes, and is dirt and dust proof.
A device can be used with both Android and iOS phones with Android 4.4 and above, and iOS 9.0 and above.
Another useful feature of this smart watch is that you can make payments through using ‘Samsung Pay’.
Pros
Cons
Related Post: Top 20 Best Watches for Men in India
2. Apple Watch Series 4
Specifications
The Apple Watch Series 4 is by far the best smart watch that you can find in the market right now.
It has a display that can be customized, a large screen with ‘Force Touch’, and an LTPO OLED retina display. It comes loaded with built-in apps, and can play offline music.
It is a re-engineered and upgraded version of Apple Watch 3 with an S4 dual-core processor, which makes the device fast and smooth.
This upgraded version has everything that you would want in a smart watch from the built-in electrical heart sensor to a larger display to a sleep tracker.
The watch is likely to be available in 2020.
Pros
Cons
3. Amazfit Bip Lite
Specifications
The Amazfit Bip Lite Smart Watch is an all-in-one solution to the varying needs of modern users.
This robust device is light weighted in nature and can stay powered for a 1.5-month long duration, eliminating the need of frequent charging.
This device is swim-resistant and can function optimally without any damage up to 30 meters water pressure.
You can wear this watch during your workout sessions, including outdoor running, treadmill, walking, and outdoor cycling, to monitor your daily steps, calories burnt, and distance covered.
This device will also keep a track of your heart rate during day activities and night sleep.
With this device, you can not only measure your total sleep time, but also analyze your sleep patterns through comprehensive reports.
Pros
Cons
4. Fossil Explorist Hr Black Dial
Specifications
Fossil's latest offering to the smart watch market, after a disappointing performance of its Q series, is Explorist HR.
It is a blend of classic and modern with a steel bracelet for the band and a dial powered by Google’s wear, and Qualcomm Snapdragon wear 2100 processor.
It has features like user-friendly interface, untethered GPS, waterproof, heart rate tracking, smartphone notifications, customizable dials with interchangeable bands, NFC, etc.
The touch screen runs on Google’s Wear OS and any phone with Android OS 4.4 and above can be synced with this device.
It comes with a one-hour rapid charging so that the user does not have to stay without the watch for long.
Pros
Cons
5. Amazfit Verge IP68
Specifications
Amazfit smart watch is from the amazfit, which is backed by Xiaomi and is geared more towards fitness. It is an affordable device with a sporty feel with minimal design and a silicone strap.
It comes loaded with features like heart rate monitor, and GPS which is a steal considering the price at which company offers this watch.
Currently, the company has launched this smart watch in three colour variants; moonlight white, twilight blue, and sky grey.
It has a 1.3’’ AMOLED touch screen with ‘Gorilla Glass’ protection, and anti-fingerprint.
Though this device is not completely waterproof, but has an IP68 rating which means it can stand 1.5m underwater submersion for about 30 minutes.
The USP of this device is its huge battery life that company claims it to lasts up to 5 days.
Pros
Cons
6. Fossil Venture FTW6011
Specifications
Fossil, which is synonymous to fashionable and trendy watches, has come up with yet another ace with its new ‘Fossil Venture Hr’ smart watches having separate designs for men and women.
However, the specs remain the same for both watches with 40mm touch screen on the black round dial.
The band is gold in colour, which gives a great elegant look to the smart watch and it can be changed to give a sporty look to the watch.
The watch comes with a custom goal tracking where you can track the goals that you set. User-friendly interface and smooth navigation system add to its attractive style.
Like its counterpart, the device uses Bluetooth to connect to the phone and receive instant notifications.
Pros
Cons
7. Fitbit Versa
Specifications
Finally, Fitbit has jumped into the bandwagon of smart watches.
Until a couple of years back the company had never called any of its products a smart watch even though it had many features that made companies like Apple and Samsung have in their smart watches.
The main feature of this device is that it looks more like a watch than a fitness tracker and thus trying to reach a broader market rather than just the fitness enthusiasts.
The watch has a colourful touch screen that responds well to gestures to scroll for notifications or use apps. It also comes with a handy on-screen coaching to reach your health goals.
The device offers a battery of more than 4 days making it a device worth buying.
Pros
Cons
8. Fitbit Unisex Versa Special Edition
Specifications
The Fitbit Versa comes in two variants of standard Versa and the special edition.
However, there is not much difference between the two, except for the Special Edition comes with an extra watch band, different colour, and ‘Fitbit Pay’.
The specifications remain the same. Like the Versa edition, the Fitbit Special Edition is also an excellent fitness smart watch, which offers more than 15 exercise modes along with the provision of instant notifications.
The watch offers a large battery life so that you can make the best use of the features like heart rate monitor, sleep monitor, and other tracking.
This device can seamlessly connect with both Android and iOS smart phones and thus is an affordable and reliable alternative to its more expensive competitors.
Pros
Cons
9. Amazfit Pace A1612
Specifications
Amazfit Pace A1612 Multisport Smartwatch is a worthy investment for all fitness enthusiasts who want to keep a track of their health status without making any compromises in terms of style or performance.
This device supports both iOS and Android systems and can be used extensively during all kinds of physical operations.
It comes with a replaceable Lithium ion battery, which can last up to 11 days for standard usage, and around 5 days for continuous usage.
Since this watch is GPS-enabled, you can easily gather real-time tracking data and yet comprehensive reports of the altitude, step frequency, pace, and distance covered during exercising, just like fitness professionals.
The best feature of this smartwatch is that it comes with ample internal memory.
Which enables the users to store their favorite music tracks and other data without any hassles.
Pros
Cons
10. SYL Plus
Specifications
SYL PLUS Bluetooth Smart Watch is an extremely easy-to-use device for people of all age groups. This device is comfortable to wear and comes with several advanced features and functions. You can use its remote camera to click pictures with your smartphone with added convenience.
It also comes with anti-lost features, which triggers an alarm when the distance between the smart watch and mobile phone crosses a certain threshold. You can sync this watch easily with your smartphone to get the latest updates from social media websites all the time.
It comes with a built-in speaker, which allows the users to enjoy their favorite music anywhere they want without any hassles. The sleep and heart rate monitoring capability of this device will allow you to keep a good track of your health status.
You can also choose to set reminders in this watch to stick to your schedule all the time.
Pros
Cons
11. FORZ Pro
Specifications
FORZ PRO Unisex Bluetooth Smart Watch is an economical purchase for people of all age groups. This device is highly compatible with all android and iOS mobile phones and tablets. It has several advanced features which make it a must for everyday usage.
Since this device has an in-built pedometer and comes with sleep monitoring features, you can easily use it to monitor your fitness activities and focus on your health goals.
The comprehensive reports created by this device will allow you to understand the areas that you need to work on and will make it easier to plan your daily exercise regime. You can pair-up this device with your smartphone to receive notifications and updates all the time wherever you go.
All you need to do is to charge the watch 30 minutes before usage and you will be able to dial, call and browse anything you want with this device.
Pros
Cons
12. Noise Colorfit Pro
Specifications
Noise ColorFit Pro Fitness Watch comes with a 1.22 Inch Full colored display and has a metal finishing, which makes it look extremely sleek and robust.
Its premium anti-scratch display makes it easy for the users to carry-on their fitness journey and focus on their health goals without worrying about damaging their watch.
You can wear this watch during all kinds of physical fitness activities without any hassles.
Its lightweight nature and easy connectivity will allow you to time your workout sessions and play your favorite music during the training periods.
This fitness watch not only has a dynamic heart rate monitor, but it also keeps a track of the oxygen levels and sleep patterns of the users.
Since this device offers magnetic charging features, you will never have to worry about finding a plug-in spot to keep your watch charged.
Pros
Cons
Buyer's Guide: How to Purchase Smartwatches
Have you already taken a leap and made your mind to buy a smart watch? If yes, then we would like you to keep your hands away from “Buy Now” button for a while.
We understand that now you must have completed smartwatch market research about the model you would like to purchase. However, there are still a few things to watch out for, that we believe a smart watch should have to make a perfect fit for your needs and lifestyle.
So, how do you decide whether the smart watch that caught your attention is the right fit for you? Here’s a quick guide that you can refer to find the answer:
Quick Tips
We have collected these few tips for you to consider if you are in a hurry.
Factors in Buying Smartwatches
OS and Device Compatibility
The compatibility of the smart watch with the mobile phone, that you use, should be the first checkpoint. Smart watches are designed to serve as a companion to your smart phone, thus it is always better to check out for device compatibility.
For example, Samsung’s Gear S3 is powered by Tizen OS and it is compatible with both Android and IOS devices. However, it is easier to use with Android smart phones. Some of its features (like adding apps) are not available when used with Apple smart phones.
Google makes it easy to check compatibility of a smart watch with the smart phone you are using. All you have to do is check for the compatibility between your phone and the smart watch that you are planning to purchase.
It might not be surprising for you but still, we need to tell that Apple watch works only with iPhones.
Bottom line: Don’t buy a smartwatch without confirming its compatibility with your smart phone.
Notifications
Almost every smartwatch will alert you for incoming calls, emails, and text messages with a little buzz on your wrist, but, is it enough?
No, it is not, if you are looking for social media integration on your smart watch so that you can stay updated with notifications from your social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and others. Moreover, you need to make sure that notifications are easily accessible.
For example, Apple watch allows you to swipe down from the top of the display to open notifications centre, whereas Android wear OS has swipe up from bottom to let you read messages. Smart watch like Samsung Gear S3 allows you to set the preferences for notifications.
Display
Just like smart phones, the display in every smart watch is also different. Some of them come with a full touch screen display and bright colours, while others come with the normal LCD screen.
We recommend that you make sure to look at the display of the smart watch of your choice and understand its functioning to match your needs. For instance, the LCD display tends to be thicker than the OLED display and that is why most of the major brands are now using only OLED for display.
Before making your decision, ask yourself some of the questions like, “Does the smart watch handles notifications the way you want?”, “Do you want to see notification icons or complete notification in a readable format?”
Interface: Buttons vs Touch
It is difficult to choose between a touch interface or buttons in your smart watch. The choice depends upon you only. You get to choose the way you want the interface.
It may be sometimes very clumsy and difficult to select or press icons on a small touch display. Moreover, the gesture-based interfaces are still fine but they tend to stop working sometimes.
The latest update of Android wears brought a good innovation with it. Now, you can easily change card and switch notifications with a little flick of your wrist. Here, Apple chose for a combo approach, featuring a touch screen, a digital crown to zoom, and a side button.
Battery Life and Charging
Most smart watches are fitted with colour screens and hence, they tend to last mot more than a day or two between charging. It is therefore important for you to consider how long are you willing to keep your watch plugged-in.
Power cycle totally depends on features supported and the duration of its use. A smart watch with voice-control and call capabilities may not even last a day on regular use. That’s why a rated battery is something worth looking at before making any decision.
Moving on to charging, most smart watches including Apple Watch and Gear S3, use wireless charging technology. This is of course convenient as compared to earlier wired charging option.
Water Resistance
A smart watch will be there on your wrist for entire day and most of the time you will even forget that it is there. Some of them are splash proof but that doesn’t mean, all of them are ready to take along for swimming. It is better to look for certifications like IP6 and IP7 to make sure that the smart watch you are buying is ready to face wear and tear in water.
Fitness Features
Fitness trackers are already successful in attracting all our attention. Smart watch manufacturers also understand this, and are getting in on the action with the integration of activity and fitness monitoring features.
If you want to use a smart watch primarily for fitness tracking, then you should definitely look for features like steps tracker and heart rate monitor. Moreover, a feature like GPS will come in handy to track your progress if you like to go running and cycling. However, using GPS affects the battery life.
Calling and Mobile Payments
Do you want to make calls from the wrist? Some smart watches have inbuilt LTE to make this happen for you. This feature comes in handy when you don’t want to carry your phone along with you. At least you can stay connected with the important calls.
Some of the latest smart watches are fitted with NFC chips in them. This feature allows you to make payments directly from your watch instead of using your phone. Samsung Pay works really well in all of its smart watches and Garmin has included NFC payment in its latest smart watches.
Apps and Watch Faces
The smart watch market is growing at a rapid rate and so are the apps supporting them. Apple watch leaves every other brand behind with over 20,000 apps including ESPN, Uber, Facebook, and much more. Apple has a dedicated app store just for its smart watch users.
It’s not like that Android Wear smart watches have nothing in the store for its users. The only catch is that Google still has not released any official number about it. There are thousands of apps like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, etc., available in the store that you can easily download.
You need to consider between Apple and Android because Android offers a lot of watch apps for no additional cost, whereas there is no such option available in the former.
Design and Personalization
If you want to change the look of your smart watch according to your mood and day, then it’s important to choose the one that can be personalized easily. The best smart watches offer a wide range of straps to choose from or replace the original one with some third-party product. We also recommend you never allow the idea of comfort from your mind to leave. It will be an intelligent move not to choose any strap with clumsy and weird clasps.
Fixability Rating
Although Fixability isn’t a real word but, it should be. If you are buying something and planning to maintain it for a long time then you would want it to be fixable. For instance, the wristband or battery can be easily replaced in a smart watch.
However, is it equally easy to replace or repair the display? For most of the smart watches, the answer is ‘No’. Therefore, it is important for you to buy a smart watch from a brand that allows guarantees its fixability.
Appearance
You might feel that it is a bit weird to mention about appearance but it is also important. The smart watch is going to be there with you throughout the day and it will complement your fashion and style. Do you feel good while wearing that smart watch? Is it pleasing for you? Make sure to answer such questions in your mind before making any choice.
We tried to collect all the features that you should consider while making a purchase of smart watch and it is not comprehensive by any means. It might be possible that you have some other features in mind when picking a smart watch especially if you have some specific requirements.
But one thing is for sure that the features are basic checkpoints that you should consider even if you have some special needs. These features will help you easily differentiate the best from the rest.
