The smartwatch has re-energised the watch market, with millions now sold in the UK each year. Is there any wonder? Alongside its plethora of benefits for health, with heart rate monitors, breathing exercises, workout regimes and mindfulness programmes, the smartwatch can help you organise appointments, take calls, see messages – and even tell the time. In fact, it’s very likely to be more accurate than your regular watch.
Smartwatches also provide the extra benefit of helping you leave your phone in your pocket, something we could all do with a little more of. The possibilities with smartwatches are growing all the time, to the extent that there’s now an argument for them becoming a vital part of our individual health needs.
Smartwatches run on various operating systems, the biggest of which are Apple’s iOS and the Android OS, which pretty much covers everything that isn’t Apple. Various smartwatch brands have developed their own OS for their wearables, but most are easily compatible with Android, working in tandem with your phone’s OS to provide a smooth service.
There are, of course, different types of smartwatch, from all-singing gadgetry with massive watch faces to more subtle timepieces that forgo some of the tech for style.
After more jogging than we thought strictly necessary, and a series of breathing exercises that have made us feel more centred than ever, we’ve put together a selection of the best Android smartphone options for any needs and budget.
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The best Android smartwatches for 2021 are:
- Best overall – Samsung Galaxy watch3 : £369, Samsung.com
- Best traditional looking smartwatch – Withings scanwatch: £208.29, Withings.com
- Best for overall health – Fitbit sense: £249, Currys.co.uk
- Best for Garmin users – Garmin venu 2: £349, Johnlewis.com
- Best new smartwatch – Xiaomi mi watch: £89.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for Bear Grylls – Garmin instinct solar: £269.99, Garmin.com
- Best fitness tracker – Fitbit versa 3: £169, Amazon.co.uk
- Best battery – Withings move: £56.75, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget Garmin – Garmin venu sq: £149, Johnlewis.com