Best smartwatch 2016

Smartwatches are still in their infancy in tech-terms but that doesn't mean they haven't come a long way since the days of the original Pebble. Having said that, it's still difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, which is why this guide is here to help you find your way.

Smartwatch manufacturers initially found it difficult to pinpoint their exact purpose and found it difficult to balance the dependence on a connected smartphone. Then they also had to tackle poor battery life and unwieldy designs. Fortunately, with newer models that have been recently released, and those that are coming out soon, many of these problems are beginning to be rectified.

We've had plenty of smartwatches come through the TrustedReviews offices, so here's our guide to helping you pick the right smartwatch for your wrist.

THIS WEEK'S BEST SMARTWATCH DEALS

Moto 360 2 at Amazon.co.uk | Was £230 | Now £159

Pebble Time Steel at Amazon.co.uk | Was £199 | Now £169

Samsung Gear S2 at Amazon.co.uk | Was £300 | Now £197

Huawei Watch at Amazon.co.uk | Was £289 | Now £223

Garmin Fenix 3 at Amazon.co.uk | Was £379 | Now £305

Huawei Watch at Amazon.com | Was $349.99 | Now $246

Samsung Gear S2 at Amazon.com | Was $299 | Now $249

Apple Watch at Amazon.com | Was $349 | Now $280

BEST SMARTWATCH – WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SMART WATCH

Software

Before buying any smartwatch you should consider what type of phone you use. Outside of a few exceptions, close to all smartwatches need to be paired with a smartphone to fully function.

As a result, if you’re an Android user, you should steer clear of the Apple Watch. Likewise, if you have an iPhone you’ll need to make sure the smartwatch you’re considering runs software that's compatible with Apple's iOS.

If you’re buying a smartwatch that runs proprietary software, like Samsung Tizen or Pebble OS, you’ll also want to check which apps will run on it, as not all of them have mainstream third-party support.

Why you want it

Before buying a smartwatch you should consider what you plan to do with it. If all you want it for is fitness tracking, or step counting, there are cheaper wearables available from companies such as Moov, Fitbit and Misfit.

Likewise, if you’re not concerned about fitness tracking, there’s no need to purchase a more expensive smartwatch with GPS and a heart-rate monitor. If you just want a quick and easy way to check incoming alerts from your phone, you probably won’t need to shell out for an Apple Watch, or Moto 360 2.

However, if you want to use your smartwatch to answer emails or book calendar appointments, you’ll have to pay a bit more and invest in a unit that has either voice command or touchscreen functionality.

Related: Best fitness trackers 2016

Battery life

Battery life is one of our biggest qualms with smartwatches. In our experience even the most expensive smartwatch is unable to last more than one to two days off a single charge. The devices also generally use proprietary charging docks, which adds further insult to injury.

As a result, when buying a smartwatch you should keep in mind that you'll likely have to add yet another item to the list of devices you regularly have to charge.

Long-term appeal

You should also keep in mind that smartwatches don’t have the same longevity as a regular timepiece. When you buy a smartwatch it won’t be with you for life. Like all modern technology, they'll eventually break down or simply become obsolete and unsupported.

As a result, you should think twice before shelling out multiple thousands of pounds for swanky items such as the Apple Watch Edition or Tag Heuer Connected.

UPCOMING SMARTWATCHES

Now that Apple has release the Apple Watch Series 2 the other big smartwatch on the horizon is the Samsung Gear S3. It, like the Apple Watch Series 2, has some serious fitness functionality. GPS is also included as well as plenty of other sensors including a barometer, accelerometer and heart rate monitor. The Apple Watch Series 2 and Samsung Gear S3 are priced similarly so it will be interesting to see which comes out on top. It's worth noting that the Samsung Gear S3 is a much bigger watch – something to keep in mind if you have small wrists. It does have a more traditional circular watch design, however.

Then there's the Asus ZenWatch 3. It's the company's first attempt at a round Android Wear watch but instantly looks far more appealing than previous ZenWatch smartwatches. There's also no 'flat tire' in sight, which is something that has plagued over round Android Wear watches in the past. Asus is making bold claims about its fitness tracking, claiming it's 95% accurate. Disappointingly there's no heart rate monitor. As it runs Android Wear, you can expect a raft of app options.