A smartwatch is more than just a timepiece – it can also keep track of your health and fitness. These digital fitness companions come with different features, but what’s important is that they are durable, and are able to provide holistic tracking for your health and fitness needs.
Here are the top smartwatches to buy in 2023 if you’re looking to keep your health and fitness in top condition.
Apple Watch Ultra (S$1,169)
The Apple Watch Ultra is everything an Apple Watch Series 8 can do plus a little bit more grit. You can dive deeper, run longer distances, and don’t have to worry about rugged travels with this watch. It has twice the battery life at 36 hours and double the screen brightness at 2,000 nits, all housed in a tested United States Military Standard (MIL-STD 810H) 49mm titanium casing. The watch is also IP6X dust resistant and boasts water resistance up to 100m.
Just like the Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch Ultra can monitor fitness metrics like daily steps taken, GPS tracking, and heart rate as well. What sets it apart is the feature to emit an 86-decibel siren to attract attention when needed (like when you’re injured and require attention from those around you). It can also be used for international emergency calling.
Apple Watch Series 8 (S$1,130)
The Apple Watch Series 8 is a 45mm digital timepiece that proves fitness is not just a 2-hour daily affair but a lifestyle. If you’re an Apple user, the Apple Watch Series 8 will provide the most seamless integration in tracking your overall health and fitness. Through Apple’s many health apps, users are able to monitor different metrics like their sleep cycles, heart rate (you can even use it to take quick ECGs on the spot), and set reminders to take your daily medication or supplements.
As the Apple Watch can be easily paired with the iPhone, processes like listening to music while you work out and using the wallet app to commute back from the gym are made convenient for users.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is resistant to dust, water, and impact, with IP6X and WR50 (50m) certification. Its always-on display measures 1,000 nits of brightness, and has a battery life of 18 hours which is charged via USB-C fast charging. The device is housed in a durable aluminum case, compatible with Bluetooth 5.3, and is powered by the W3 Apple wireless chip.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (S$631)
Perfect for users of the Android ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is powered by Wear OS and well-integrated with Google Maps and Spotify. It holds up to 80 hours of battery life, runs on a dual-core 1.18 GHz CPU, and is Bluetooth 5.2 compliant. More notably, it’s lightweight at just below 50g and offers 5ATM-rated (50m) water resistance, IP6 dust resistance, and MIL-STD 810H toughness.
What makes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro special is the feature to measure a user’s body composition. By using the Samsung Health application, you can measure BMI, skeletal muscle mass, and fat percentage. With that information, you can then use the watch and the app to further set targets to reach the desired level of fitness.
Garmin Forerunner 245 (S$495)
If you’re a runner, the Garmin Forerunner 245 is highly recommended. It’s specially tailored to analyze performance when you go for your runs. The watch monitors your running form and also reads your performance through a VO2 Max metric before offering recommendations to improve your running experience. It’s also capable of monitoring your sleep health and gives access to free adaptive training plans that cater to different fitness needs. Taking calls is possible while on the go, too.
The Garmin Forerunner 245 can last up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, and 24 hours in GPS mode. Decked out in a 30mm diameter and a 35g body, the smartwatch is the perfect exercise companion with none of the heft that weighs your hands down.
Fitbit Versa 3 (S$146)
There’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple. The Fitbit Versa 3 is a value-for-money smartwatch that tracks health and fitness without the need for buttons. With about 6 days of battery life, it monitors your fitness through a Daily Readiness Score, which is based on an average score of metrics like heart rate variability, sleep quality, and the intensity of your daily physical activity. It is also capable of quantifying daily stress levels, measuring menstrual health, and making calls or texting.
The 40mm Fitbit Versa 3 comes with a six-month Fitbit Premium membership that includes guided programs for better wellness. It is compatible with both Apple and Android devices and is water resistant to 50m.
Different smartwatches provide different features that fit different wrists and serve different exercise regimes. Looking for smartwatches that serve your fitness lifestyle best comes highly recommended, and while the above isn’t exhaustive, it serves as a starting point for those who are new to the smartwatch market.
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