Which smartwatch to choose in 2021? 10 interesting and most popular models from Aliexpress

This time we won’t do a historical background on smartwatches, early models and their transition to a satellite device for a smartphone - for it you can refer to our previous guide to the world of smartwatches, which was published - it’s scary to even write this - in 2014. Today, the more relevant topic is not the emergence of smart watches - the market for wearable devices has stabilized for quite some time and occupied its niches - but the topic of defining smart watches as such and their separation from smart bracelets.

Everything was simple before. The bracelet is a compact pedometer that works for a very long time on a single charge, which can report notifications, and sometimes also count your pulse and check how you sleep. The watch, in addition to basic sensors, also has GPS (which allows you to use it separately from your smartphone and record, for example, jogging tracks), the ability to control music from your smartphone, and sometimes even answer calls thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone. The watch also includes built-in training programs and an optional one - depending on: from measuring blood saturation to measuring stress levels.

Today, the differences between bracelets and watches have blurred in some places - some bracelets offer training cycles, sometimes have GPS, can measure the level of oxygen in the blood and offer an NFC module to pay using the bracelet at the checkout. Yes, you still won’t find bracelets that allow you to answer calls, but the fundamental difference, in fact, remains the same - the size of the screen. A bracelet is if the screen is less than an inch; watch - more than an inch.

First generation Apple Watch

However, everything written above is relevant only, let’s say, to the mainstream. In fact, there are a huge variety of smartwatches. In this material we will try to go through the main ones, identifying several important models for each section.

⇡#Traditional smartwatches

The main values ​​of smartwatches in their original understanding were quite simple - the ability to view notifications and other signals from the phone without taking out the phone itself. The original plan was to separate companion watches from sports watches, but as you delve deeper into the feature lists, you realize that all good modern smartwatches have comprehensive strengths. Yes, there may be some skew toward sensors for physical tracking or fancy hiking features, but it won't neglect basics like displaying notifications or being able to take calls.

It turns out that we can talk about a single category of “smart watches”, in which the differences lie more in price and quality parameters. There is also a division by design - some have “men’s” versions of watches: by color of the case, strap materials, and so on. In our selection we will not touch on them; the choice here is purely a matter of consumer taste.

Tag Heuer Connected is an example of a traditional watch company entering the smart watch market

Key features to look for if you're looking for a companion watch:

• availability of NFC (so you don’t have to take out your smartphone when you pay at the checkout),
• built-in microphone for answering calls,
• large and convenient screen (preferably with an OLED matrix in order to see the image clearly in bright sunlight),
• the presence of an adequate application for better communication between the smartphone and the watch.

If you plan to actively engage in sports, then it would seem that you need to pay attention to the built-in heart rate sensor, which can operate continuously, the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, which allow you to count steps and distinguish running from walking. “It would seem” - because in fact, today almost any watch of a relatively serious level is equipped with these sensors. There are also additional sensors and functions - a pulse oximeter capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation, an altimeter, an ECG sensor. They are less common. The built-in GPS module is also useful for sports watches - with it you can go for a run without a smartphone, the watch will record the track on its own. Well, and the degree of protection: what is relevant for watches is not the IP standards familiar to smartphones - it is clear that any watch must withstand splashes or rain - but the pressure that its case is able to withstand when falling under water. Typically, serious smart watches have a body that can withstand pressure from five to ten atmospheres, which allows you to calmly swim without removing the gadget in a pool or open water and even dive to a depth of several meters.

Apple Watch Series 6

• Operating system support: iOS from version 14 and higher;
• screen: OLED, 368 × 448, 1.57 or 1.78 inches;
• water resistance class: 5 atm;
• interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen level, ECG;
• built-in memory: 32 GB;
• price: from 30 to 70 thousand rubles.

Of course, it’s worth starting with those very watches - the key to the still high popularity of gadgets of this type. Essentially, the Apple Watch is a kind of starting point from which both the average smartwatch buyer and their manufacturers start. Moreover, the Apple Watch 6 can no longer be called a purely traditional smartwatch in the above sense - it can boast of very serious sports functionality: there is constant heart rate monitoring, and measurement of blood oxygen saturation levels, and even ECG reading (not available in Russia), built-in training modes (and the best app in this regard with exciting gamification), GPS, NFC, metal and tempered glass body that can withstand pressure of 5 atmospheres. They fit perfectly into the Apple ecosystem, which is why followers of the brand usually do not consider other watch models. The disadvantages, however, are as striking as the advantages - the Apple Watch still cannot work with smartphones other than the iPhone, they are very expensive, and they do not shine with autonomy.

Apple Watch SE

Those who want to save money and are looking for a watch without pronounced sports functions to accompany their iPhone can pay attention to the Apple Watch SE - they removed the ECG sensor and pulse oximeter (measuring the level of oxygen in the blood) and installed a previous generation processor, which does not affect their work. Still not cheap - about 24 thousand rubles, but this is 12-14 thousand rubles cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 6.

Samsung Galaxy Watch3

• operating system support: iOS, Android;
• screen: Super AMOLED, 1.18 or 1.34 inches;
• water resistance class: 5 atm
• interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen level, ECG, blood pressure;
• built-in memory: 8 GB;
• price: from 22 to 45 thousand rubles.

Samsung Galaxy Watch3 in titanium case

Koreans traditionally occupy the “Apple Watch for Android” niche. And not only Android, of course - Galaxy Watch can also be used with iPhone. The set of virtues of the Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch is approximately the same: the necessary set of wireless modules, the ability to answer calls and pay at the cash registers, good sports functionality (heart rate, pulse oximeter, training modes; there is an ECG sensor and even a tonometer - both functions in Russia are not active), withstands the same pressure of five atmospheres. The screen is also Super AMOLED (of course, this is Samsung!), smaller in diagonal than the Apple Watch, but round. The autonomy is higher, although you will still have to charge the watch once every couple of days - but at least not every evening. The price is high, but still lower than that of watches from Cupertino. Disadvantages: slightly weaker software and no Siri (and the proprietary Bixby voice assistant is not available in Russian).

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

It’s also worth mentioning the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 - in fact, it’s just a more compact version of the Galaxy Watch3, without the functions of measuring ECG and blood pressure, which still don’t work in Russia today. And at a more affordable price. A unique version of the Apple Watch SE, but with fewer compromises.

Huawei Watch GT2 Pro

• operating system support: iOS, Android;
• screen: AMOLED, 454 × 454, 1.2 or 1.39 inches;
• water resistance class: 5 atm
• interfaces: Bluetooth, GPS;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen levels;
• built-in memory: 4 GB;
• price: from 11 to 18 thousand rubles.

Conceptually, the Huawei Watch GT2 Pro (as well as the simpler version, GT2) follows the Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch - a large (1.39-inch) AMOLED display, built-in memory where you can download music, GPS, heart rate sensor, blood oxygen measurement , training modes, a metal and glass body that can withstand pressure of the same five atmospheres, full support for notifications. All this with much better autonomy than competitors (without using GPS - up to two weeks), excellent sleep monitoring and support for both operating systems for smartphones. Well, they cost noticeably less - currently about 19 thousand rubles. But there is an even weaker application (Huawei Health) with no support for third-party programs, no ability to work with voice assistants, less memory (4 GB versus 32 GB for Apple and 8 GB for Samsung) and no NFC, which greatly hinders the perception of this watch as a full-fledged companion gadget.

Huawei now has a whole fleet of smart watches, including the Watch Fit, which is almost indistinguishable from a bracelet, and several variations of the Watch GT. It’s also worth mentioning here about Honor smartwatches - despite the company’s separation from Huawei, the smartwatches and bracelets of this brand are essentially no different. If only by design and some minor details.

Amazfit GTS 2

• Operating system support: iOS version 10.0 and higher, Android version 5.0 and higher;
• screen: AMOLED, 348 × 442, 1.65 inches;
• water resistance class: 5 atm
• interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen levels;
• built-in memory: 3 GB;
• price: 13 thousand rubles.

Another step towards more budget devices comes from Amazfit, a subsidiary of Xiaomi. At a price of 14 thousand rubles, this watch offers an even larger screen (1.65 inches) than the Apple Watch when copying its design, guaranteed operation under water at a pressure of up to five atmospheres, a pulse sensor and pulse oximeter, GPS, built-in memory 3 GB with player function. There is even a barometric altimeter, which will appeal to mountain hikers. They last less than the Huawei Watch GT2 Pro - about a week, but in any case this is much longer than Apple and Samsung. Flaws? I think you can already guess - yes, there is no NFC and support for voice assistants (although this year they promise to make them friends with Alexa), and the Zepp application requires improvement. Well, sensors do not always work perfectly.

As befits Xiaomi (and its subsidiary brand), there are quite a lot of watches under the Amazfit brand today - from the brutal T-Rex, protected to military standards, but otherwise similar in characteristics to the GTS 2, to the ultra-budgetary but interesting Neo model. It has an 80s-style design and a monochrome screen, but it has all the basic functions - from displaying notifications to a heart rate monitor, sleep monitoring and calorie counting.

Fitbit Versa 3

• operating system support: iOS version 12.0 and higher, Android version 7.0 and higher, OS X;
• screen: AMOLED, 336 × 336, 1.58 inches;
• water resistance class: 3 atm
• interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen levels;
• built-in memory: 2.5 GB;
• price: 21 thousand rubles.

Describing the Fitbit Versa 3, we can repeat almost word for word what was written above: aluminum and glass, heart rate and oxygen sensors, an altimeter, a microphone and speaker, a 1.68-inch diagonal screen, built-in memory (2.5 GB). There is both GPS and NFC, unlike the Chinese watches mentioned above, as well as support for Alexa and Google Assistant. But they are a little less autonomous (up to six days with moderately active use), a little more expensive - already about 23 thousand rubles - and do not support the Russian language.

Garmin Venu

• operating system support: iOS, Android, Windows;
• screen: AMOLED, 390 × 390, 1.2 inches;
• water resistance class: 5 atm
• interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, Garmin Pay;
• monitoring: sleep, calories, physical activity, blood oxygen levels;
• built-in memory: no;
• price: 30 thousand rubles.

Garmin Venu
Garmin has the most careful approach to building its family of smartwatches. You can find a huge number of Forerunner "running" watches with lightweight plastic cases; a number of hiking watches from the Instinct series with enhanced case protection (they can withstand pressure up to 10 atmospheres) and a monochrome display that consumes minimal energy so that they can definitely live for several weeks without recharging; elite Fenix ​​with titanium and steel cases costing from 60 to 100 thousand rubles. There are also specialized models: Delta for pilots, MARQ Athlete Performance Edition HRM for professional athletes, Descent for divers, and so on. In general, if you have any specific requests, then Garmin is for you.

Garmin Venu2

If you are looking for a “just” smartwatch, then you can also turn to Garmin. The Venu model is made exactly in the style of the Apple Watch both in design and functionality, but with advanced (it's Garmin!) capabilities. It uses an AMOLED screen with a diagonal of 1.2 inches instead of the transflective one that is more typical for watches of this brand - thanks to organic LEDs, the dials look more attractive, and animations have been added for various modes. Well, along with the already familiar set of functions and sensors (there is GPS, a microphone with speaker, a pulse sensor, and a particularly accurate pulse oximeter), there are additional functions: the ability to create your own workouts in addition to the preloaded ones, more detailed sleep tracking with saturation recording blood oxygen and heart rate tracking. There are a minimum of problematic aspects - autonomy is not the best compared to the Amazfit and Huawei mentioned above, lack of built-in memory (you can’t put music on the watch and listen to it while jogging), a rather high price (although lower than that of the Apple Watch) and payment through the Garmin system Pay, which is not supported everywhere. It is also worth mentioning that in April the Garmin Venu 2 model was announced, which can collect more detailed information about heart rate

Herzband Slim

Previously, it was believed that cheap smartwatches could not offer high-tech features and only had the basic set of capabilities: step counting, smartphone notifications and tracking total sleep time. However, now you can get a range of sensors in one inexpensive device that you can use to track your health.

Such devices include the Herzband Slim fitness bracelet. Its ultra-thin body contains sensors that record not only the pulse, but also measure the user’s blood pressure. For a small price, you will get a sports tracker that will act as your personal trainer during your workouts, telling you when your heart rate is at risk and providing your activity metrics on a real-time display.

Under the presented technical characteristics, you can read all the functionality of the tracker, which was included in our top budget smartwatches for its capabilities.

Characteristics

Functions

• Pedometer
• Counting distance
• Calorie counter
• Heart rate measurement
• Pressure measurement
• Critical heart rate notifications
• Sleep monitoring
• Activity Tracking
• Route tracking using GPS of connected phone
• Reminders
• Smartphone notifications
• Call alerts with caller name
• Phone search
• Camera control
• Stopwatch and timer
• Alarm
• Reports in the Hband application

The battery has a capacity of 120 mAh, and charging the gadget is easy and convenient: no wires are required, just unfasten the strap and insert the tracker into the USB connector.

⇡#Children's smart watches

A completely different type of smartwatch with completely different requirements. This is a rare type of gadget whose main user is not the person wearing it. Essentially, we're talking about a baby tracking and emergency communications system disguised as a watch. Any children's watch must have a GPS tracker with the ability to run the application on a remote device and a SIM card for the ability to “call the watch.” Everything else is more or less secondary. Let's take several models of children's watches as an example. It’s worth mentioning right away that, according to reviews, the quality of children’s watches is unstable, and this applies to approximately all models on the market - there are no analogues to the Apple Watch in the world of children’s gadgets.

ELARI KidPhone

An option for a relatively “serious” children’s watch with a case protected according to the IP67 standard (the case on children’s watches is almost always plastic, like the glass coating - it scratches easily, but does not break at all), physical activity monitoring, a calm design and a built-in voice assistant “Alice” from Yandex. The rest of the functionality is standard: it is possible to call selected numbers, and in the Elari Safe Family application you can track the location of the child.

Smart Baby Watch LT 05

This watch, unlike the Elari mentioned above, cannot offer “Alice” and physical activity monitoring, but is protected only according to the IP65 standard (however, this is not so important - both will withstand splashes and rain, and you should not swim in either alone). But they are equipped with a 4G module, which in theory should provide better communication with the child.

Aimoto Indigo

An unexpectedly large watch with a built-in pedometer and a function that justifies its “non-childish” dimensions - support for video calls. Yes, yes, Aimoto Indigo has a built-in camera. For better call quality, they also support LTE.

Jet Kid Connect

A typical representative of the family of ultra-budget children's watches (costing 1,400 rubles): everything you need is in place, but the rest is complete compromises. There is no declared standard of protection (they can simply “drown” in the rain), there is no GPS - location determination by communication towers, that is, an accuracy of about a kilometer, they hold a charge poorly. At the same time, you can talk to your child without any problems.

Top 10. Geozon Watcher

Rating (2021): 3.60

29 reviews from resources taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS

Best for Senior Safety This smartwatch is equipped with a fall sensor and an SOS button to alert loved ones in times of need.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 5990 rub.

• Country: Hong Kong
• Diagonal: 1.3 inches
• Monitoring: steps, pulse, blood pressure
• Autonomy: up to 120 hours.
• Weight: -

Smart watches created with the older generation in mind. The model has functionality that makes life easier for the user and his loved ones. The fall sensor will promptly notify the selected subscriber that help is needed. And with the SOS button, the owner will be able to urgently contact a loved one. Smart watches have geolocation and the ability to set geofences. If your elderly relative steps outside their boundaries, you will also receive an alert. Important features for knowing that there is always support when you need it. And there are fewer reasons to worry about parents who do not live with their children. The model has its own SIM card - you can make calls and send voice messages. The watch monitors your pulse, blood pressure and number of steps, and also reminds you when it’s time to take your medicine. The only thing users complain about is the short battery life. You have to charge the device often.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Fall sensor and SOS button
• Geolocation and installation of geofences
• Pressure monitoring
• Own SIM card

• Discharge quickly

⇡#Classic watches with smart functions

In fact, watches today - with the exception of sports and professional ones - are exclusively fashion items. Moreover, we are talking about Swiss chronometers, men’s analogues of diamond earrings and necklaces, and about the Apple Watch or Garmin Venu - this is a kind of marker of a progressive person, the main accessory of a geek. It is not surprising that there is also a category of devices that combine the traditionalist approach of classic watches and “smart functions”. Moreover, there are various variations - both ordinary smart watches with a screen, but under the brand of a watch company (for example, Tag Heuer Connected), and watches with hands, but with certain functionality of a companion device. Here are some examples of the latter.

Garmin Vivomove 3

We have already talked above about the huge selection of smartwatches made by Garmin. And yes, the company has pointer smartwatches made in a combined style. A steel bezel, glass covering the dial, and under the dial there is an OLED display on which you can display some events from the calendar, call notifications, some information from the built-in sensors of physical activity, calories, sleep, body hydration, and so on. . There is no built-in NFC or GPS, but as a sports device, Vivomove 3 (and many other watches in the Vivomove series) are more than capable. I should also note that the watch case can withstand pressure up to five atmospheres.

Nokia Steel HR

Nokia demonstrates a slightly different approach to the idea of ​​a “smart chronometer” with the Steel HR model. There is also a steel (the name is straightforward) bezel and a dial under tempered glass, but under the hands there is not a full-size screen, but an additional small stopwatch displaying the charge level and a monochrome screen that displays information from the pulse sensor. The rest of the information (pedometer, sleep) is collected in the proprietary application. There is no need to talk about wireless modules, with the exception of Bluetooth, which is mandatory for connecting to a smartphone.

Withings Steel HR Sport

They are very similar to Nokia Steel HR and Withings Steel HR Sport - which is not surprising, because Nokia bought the Withings startup in 2016, even if the companies went their separate ways again in 2018. But Nokia Steel HR is just a child of the times of their joint activities. Steel, glass, additional dial and minimalist monochrome screen, case that can withstand five atmospheres. But here there is a slightly different design and an addition in the form of a pulse oximeter.

Top 9. GSMIN WP5 (crocodile leather)

Rating (2021): 4.15

With the ability to receive calls Along with the basic functionality of an inexpensive smartwatch, this model provides users with the ability to receive and make outgoing calls.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 8100 rub.

• Country: China
• Diagonal: 1.4 inches
• Monitoring: steps, heart rate, sleep
• Autonomy: up to 72 hours.
• Weight: 85 g

A stylish watch with a small round screen and a standard measuring set stands out among many budget models by having a telephone function. You can use them to receive calls and dial numbers from the phone book of a smartphone synchronized with the watch. You can also control your playlist and camera remotely. The device has 5 sports modes and breathing training. This is enough to maintain your activity and figure, as well as to have quality rest and relieve stress. And everyone would have liked this beautiful feminine model, if not for the weak batteries. Only 3 days in standby mode, and if you actively use the smartwatch, you have to charge it daily.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Ability to talk
• Music and camera control
• Design

• Weak batteries

conclusions

We have presented the most popular smart watches for men, but it’s up to you to decide which one is best to choose. Your choice may be based on your fashion habits or other preferences, including budget and emphasis on device functionality.

In any case - be it expensive brands of men's watches or budget ones - all the models included in our top have good build quality and enough functions that will be useful to you in everyday life.

Write in the comments what other men's watches you know that are worthy of our list. And also share your own experience of using such devices.

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Top 5. Realme Watch 2 Pro

Rating (2021): 4.70

5 reviews from resources were taken into account: DNS

The largest screen The diagonal of the smartwatch screen is 1.75 inches. The impressive display allows you to see all the necessary information with comfort for the eyes.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 7320 rub.

• Country: China
• Diagonal: 1.75 inches
• Monitoring: steps, calories, pulse, oxygen, sleep
• Autonomy: up to 336 hours.
• Weight: 40 g

A stylish new product from Realme - a watch with a large screen and serious functionality for sports. 90 training modes and a high-precision GPS sensor will allow you to fully exercise on the street, at home or in the office. The 1.75-inch screen makes information easy to read even with impaired vision; data is clearly visible even in sunny weather. By the way, here you can choose a dial from hundreds of options. And if you download an additional function, the screen saver can be “live”. The watch measures the number of steps and calories, pulse, oxygen levels and monitors sleep quality. They work from the RealmeLink application, but users complain that it is still a bit damp. Either the weather forecast is not shown, or access to the dials does not open.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Big screen
• Accurate GPS sensors
• Many sports modes
• Good autonomy

• Raw application

comparison table