Smartwatches have grown from a novelty for early adopter cyborgs to a robust and diverse category of wearable computers. Synchronizing with a mobile phone lets you use one to make hands-free calls, check your calendar, monitor your fitness, and dozens of other activities.
Apple is the obvious leader in the field, with a line of watches for every demographic, but other companies are stepping to the throne. If you're not rocking a smartwatch yet, these pre-Prime Day bargains are a good excuse to strap one on.
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch UltraApple's most durable watch is bulkier than the company's typical sleek form factor, but it boasts some incredible features for the outdoor explorer. In our review, we singled out the super-cool new Depth app, which adds to Apple's fitness suite by tracking your dive descent and time underwater. That's because the Apple Watch Ultra is the company's first submersible watch, with a depth rating of 100 meters. Throw in rugged controls, dual-frequency GPS and cellular connectivity, and you have a great timepiece for anywhere on Earth.
- Apple Watch Ultra [GPS + Cellular 49mm] (Opens in a new window) for $749.00 (List Price $799)
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Series 8The introduction of the original Apple Watch in 2015 is widely regarded as the inflection point for wearable tech, and the company has continued to iterate on the design to keep up with the competition. The Series 8, which debuted in 2022, built iteratively from the last one to earn an Editors' Choice in our review. We loved the innovative new safety features, like body temperature tracking while you sleep and car crash detection, and all of the other features—responsive touch screen, solid battery life and more—are deserving of the award.
- Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, Cellular, 41mm) (Opens in a new window) for $429.00 (List Price $499)
- Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, 41mm) (Opens in a new window) for $329.00 (List Price $399)
Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch SEIn September 2020, Apple debuted the Apple Watch SE, a lower-cost alternative to the flagship model. As we note in our review of the second-generation version, you're not giving up a lot. The SE isn't quite as durable as the standard unit and doesn't have the same array of biometric sensors, but it does deliver a high-end smartwatch experience with watchOS 9 and an S8 64-bit dual-core processor. Performance is strong, the screen is bright and responsive (but doesn't always stay on) and the suite of connected apps is extensive.
- Apple Watch SE (2022) (Opens in a new window) for $219.00 (List Price $249)
- Apple Watch SE 2022 (GPS +Cellular 44mm) (Opens in a new window) for $299.00 (List Price $329)
Google Pixel Watch
Google Pixel WatchIn October 2022, Google dropped its first smartwatch to compete with Apple, and the megacompany brought some new ideas to the wearable space. We ranked it Editors' Choice for Android smartwatches immediately, and our review breaks down in full detail why this watch is a solid pick. Highlights include an attractive circular face, durable design, and—most notably for hackers and tech-heads—access to Google's Play Store, as opposed to just Apple's carefully curated set of approved Watch apps. Throw in 24-hour battery life and you've got a very solid timepiece indeed.
- Google Pixel Watch (Opens in a new window) for $299.99 (List Price $349.99)
