I need to replace my Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch and I’m trying to figure out what’s good in the smartwatch world. I don’t really follow all the latest news on smartwatches, so I’m pretty lost when it comes to choosing one.
Here are the things I care about the most in a smartwatch:
Battery life. I need at least 2 days with moderate use, and I keep the Always-On display on.
Notifications. I mainly wear a smartwatch for work-related notifications, so it’s super important for me to get them ASAP.
Responsiveness. I’d give up anything else, except for the two features above, if I had to.
Maps. I really want to have maps, which is why I’m not just going for a smartband.
I don’t really care about fitness features.
What do you all think I should go for? Price isn’t a big issue, though I’m not looking for anything premium.
Maps – what kind of maps do you need, and how will you be using them? I’m assuming you’re pairing it with an Android phone, but I know the Fossil Gen 6 works with iPhones too.
You might want to look at a Wear OS watch.
Battery life could be a bit of a challenge to get 2 days with Always-On Display (AOD). The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Ultra might be your best bet. You could also look at the OnePlus Watch 2 (either version), though their smart power mode might mess with notifications, but I believe you can switch it on and off as needed.
Notifications – Wear OS is probably your best bet here, especially if you pair the watch with the same brand phone.
Responsiveness – Wear OS generally does okay with this, but sometimes there are lags depending on the model. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4 had some issues with lag. Overall, it’s usually fine, but it can depend on the watch face and how you use the watch.
Maps – If you’re talking about Google Maps, Wear OS is your best choice.
@Alston
Thanks! That helps a lot. Yes, I’m pairing with Android.
I keep AOD on because I want to see the time right away when I look at the watch. If it takes too long to wake up, that’s a dealbreaker for me. That’s exactly why I have AOD on my Fossil Gen 6.
My Fossil is kind of unpredictable – sometimes it’s super fast, and sometimes it lags a lot. I just use the default watch face and haven’t changed any settings.
Yes, I’m talking about Google Maps. I prefer not having to hold my phone while I walk around when I’m traveling.