Hardware

The top 10 alternatives to the Apple Watch

By // February 21, 2019, 4:00 AM PST

Image 1 of 10

  • 1. Samsung Galaxy Watch

    While Apple might have the most popular smartwatch, not everyone wants to join that ecosystem. Here are some other great options.

    Likely Samsung's best smartwatch option, the Samsung Galaxy watch has an impressive four-day battery life. Also the most stylish Samsung watch yet, this smartwatch has a useful rotating bezel and runs on Tizen OS.

    Get yours here.

    Image: Amazon/Samsung

  • 2. Fossil Q Explorist HR

    The Fossil Q Explorist HR is one of the best looking Wear OS watches, perfect for the fashionable Android user. It has touchscreen functionality, heart rate tracking, activity tracking, customizable watch faces, a 24-hour battery life, micro apps, and microphone and speaker controls.

    Order one here.

    Image: Amazon/Fossil

  • 3. Fitbit Versa

    Fitbit Versa is the smaller, sleeker, less expensive version of the Fitbit Ionic. With a lightweight design, and a relatively low price, the Versa has Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, a battery life of three days, and a sleep tracker. However, the Versa doesn't have a GPS, so it may not be the best option for runners.

    Grab one here.

    SEE: BYOD (bring-your-own-device) policy template download (Tech Pro Research)

    Image: Amazon/Fitbit

  • 4. Huawei Watch 2

    The Huawei Watch 2 is the second version of the Huawei smartwatch and comes in two versions: Sports and Classic. The Classic is much more stylish, but also more expensive than the Sports option. It features an onscreen keyboard, GPS, heart rate monitoring, water resistance, and sleep tracking. Bluetooth also allows for Android Pay. Without using the GPS, the battery can last two days, otherwise users must charge daily.

    Purchase one here.

    Image: Amazon/Huawei

  • 5. Withings Steel HR Sport

    The slim, lightweight hybrid watch features a small display on the main watch face. It has basic fitness tracking, GPS tracking, and a long battery life. This watch is great for users who are traditional watch wearers, but want to jump on the smartwatch bandwagon. With such a small digital display, users looking to use the watch for communication should look elsewhere.

    Grab one here.

    Image: Amazon/Withings

  • 6. Ticwatch E2

    One of the least expensive options on the list, Ticwatch E2 has a battery life of around two days, and also runs on Wear OS. It has all the fitness features one would expect, but with a simpler design. This is a good option for those looking for a functional, straightforward smartwatch.

    Buy it here.

    Image: Amazon/Ticwatch

  • 7. Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music

    Garmin smartwatches are primarily used for GPS and fitness tracking, but this version adds music to the mix. With enough internal storage to hold 500 songs, users can now listen to music with Bluetooth headphones, without their smartphones. It also has 15 preloaded sports apps to monitor fitness progress--ideal for the regular gym-goer.

    Order one here.

    Image: Amazon/Garmin

  • 8. Michael Kors Access Runway

    Perhaps the most elegant smartwatch on the list, the Michael Kors Access Runway has a heart rate sensor, Wear OS interface, and a GPS. The best part of the watch is its sleek exterior design, featuring a rotating crown, three side buttons, and a manageable size. Unfortunately, the watch's battery life lasts less than a day, which isn't ideal for avid smartwatch users.

    Try it out here.

    Image: Amazon/Michael Kors

  • 9. Kate Spade New York Scallop

    Similar to the Michael Kors Access Runway watch, the Kate Spade New York Scallop model is extremely fashionable, but not as functional. With only a day's worth of battery life, the stylish watch has a touchscreen display running on Google's Wear OS. An incredibly attractive option for women, the watch doesn't have a GPS, and the iOS capabilities are limited.

    Buy one here.

    Image: Amazon/Kate Spade

  • 10. Amazfit Bip Smartwatch

    One of the best options for the price, the Amazfit Bip smartwatch is incredibly lightweight and looks similar to an Apple Watch. The watch has a GPS, heart rate monitor, pedometer, and reflective color display. The graphics are not nearly as nice as most other smartwatches, however, and users can't respond to notifications on the device.

    Check it out here.

    Also see

    Image: Amazon/Huami

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch

While Apple might have the most popular smartwatch, not everyone wants to join that ecosystem. Here are some other great options.

Likely Samsung's best smartwatch option, the Samsung Galaxy watch has an impressive four-day battery life. Also the most stylish Samsung watch yet, this smartwatch has a useful rotating bezel and runs on Tizen OS.

Get yours here.

Image: Amazon/Samsung

Related Topics:

Hardware Mobility Innovation Networking Storage Data Centers Smart Persons Guides

By Macy Bayern

Macy Bayern is an Associate Staff Writer for TechRepublic. A recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin's Liberal Arts Honors Program, Macy covers tech news and trends.