I’m looking for a smartwatch for one main reason: to use it for walking turn-by-turn navigation when I’m out on holiday or exploring a town I’m unfamiliar with. I don’t feel safe pulling out my phone all the time with all the snatch-and-grabs happening. I’m not really interested in wearing it otherwise, since I prefer traditional watches, and I don’t want to charge it every other day with a battery that lasts less than 5 years.
With that in mind, should I go for something like the Pixel Watch 3 45mm with its bigger battery, or is there something more affordable that has decent battery life for my needs? I currently have a Pixel 6a, but I’m planning to upgrade to a Pixel 10 in the future. Does that make a difference?
Google Maps is the app you’ll need for turn-by-turn directions, so any Wear OS watch should work. I’d recommend getting a watch with a larger battery. If you’re on a budget, you can grab the Samsung Watch 5 Pro for about $100 – it has a 590mAh battery. If you want a faster CPU and a better screen, you might want to check out the Watch Ultra, which also has a 590mAh battery. I’ve used both, and I like the faster CPU in the Ultra. Both watches are on the large side though.
Any Wear OS watch will work, but the Samsung GW5 Pro is a good choice because of its big battery. Keep in mind that if you want to track your walk and use turn-by-turn navigation at the same time, you’re running two apps at once, which might not be ideal for battery life.