The past few months have been big ones for the smartwatch industry. Samsung (SSNLF) flipped off Google (GOOG) by introducing its own Tizen wearables operating system while introducing a parade of new smartwatches, including the curved screen Gear S.
Google took the wraps off its new Android Wear operating system, pushing it as the best smartwatch platform thanks to features like support for round-faced devices and a focus on contextual awareness.
After years of bulky, rectangular wearables, round-faced smartwatch offerings like the Moto 360 were some of the most eagerly anticipated consumer electronics of the year.
But Apple (AAPL) may have played the spoiler when it finally unveiled the Apple Watch — the so-called iWatch it had been secretly working on. However, the Apple Watch is going to miss the holiday shopping season, arriving early next year.
Interested in taking the plunge, but uncertain which one to choose?
We’ve put together a gallery of the best smartwatches to date.
Best Smartwatch Contenders: Moto 360
Until that pesky Apple Watch came along, the Moto 360 was easily the most eagerly anticipated smartwatch of the year.
The reason for the excitement was all about appearance. Sure, it was one of the first smartwatches to run Android Wear (with all the cool capabilities that offered), but it was the round watch face that was the big deal.
Wearables to date have usually resembled rectangular computers strapped to the wrist. By going with a classic wristwatch form factor, the Moto 360 instantly vaulted itself onto the list of best smartwatches.
The Moto 360’s Achilles’ heel may well be the slice at the bottom of the round display that has been sacrificed for electronics, meaning the display is not truly round. The black plastic is most noticeable when the watch face is displaying information (as shown in the photo above).
Price: $249.99
Best Smartwatch Contenders: LG G Watch R
LG’s G Watch was an early contender for best-looking wearable when released earlier this year. It was thin, positioned as a fashion accessory instead of a high-tech gadget and considered one of the best smartwatches of 2014.
But then LG took some of the wind out of Motorola’s sails and announced a new version, the G Watch R, just prior to the official Moto 360 launch.
The Android Wear-powered LG G Watch R is not only fashionable, its OLED display is completely round, giving it bragging rights over the Moto 360.
The official release is likely by October and pricing is expected to be around $330.
Best Smartwatch Contenders: Samsung Gear S
If there is any company that illustrates the frantic pace of smartwatch development and the rapidly changing technical landscape the devices occupy, it’s Samsung.
In 2014 alone, Samsung has released The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, the Gear Fit, The Gear Live and one of the best smartwatches currently available (at least in terms of technical capability), the Samsung Gear S.
Besides multiple generations of smartwatches, the company has also veered from Android to its own Tizen operating system in addition to releasing one device running Android Wear. That’s a lot of ground covered in the hope of finding something that sticks.
What makes the Gear S stand out from the competition is its unapologetically huge 2-inch AMOLED display that’s curved to fit the contour of the wrist –almost like a bracelet as opposed to a watch. That makes the Gear S large enough to not just see e-mail previews, but read entire messages and respond with its onscreen keyboard.
This smartwatch also has the ability to place its own 3G cellular calls, with no smartphone required.
Expected to go on sale in the U.S. in October, the Gear S has shown up for pre-order with European retailers at the equivalent of $385.
Best Smartwatch Contenders: Pebble Steel
You have to give Pebble credit. The company was one of the early entrants in the current smartwatch race. The original Pebble smartwatch was a Kickstarter record setter back in 2012, and it won accolades despite going up against wearables from established companies like Sony (SNE) and Nike (NKE).
Even with the focus of consumer electronics giants like Samsung and Apple on the smartwatch market, Pebble watches continue to be popular for two reasons:
- Use of a black-and-white e-paper display instead of color LCD means battery life of 5-7 days instead of a single day.
- Pebble smartwatches can be used with both Android and Apple smartphones.
In 2014, Pebble upped its game with one of the best smartwatches released to date, the more upscale looking Pebble Steel, along with a new app store.
Available in Brushed Stainless or Matte Black, the Pebble Steel goes for $249.
Best Smartwatch Contenders: Apple Watch
You can’t buy the Apple Watch until early 2015, but the recently unveiled device instantly became one of the best smartwatches in the market. In all likelihood, it will be a gamechanger.
Although Apple stuck with a rectangular case instead of the round appearance that’s currently all the rage, the Apple Watch puts most other wearables to shame in terms of appearance and quality. There are two sizes, multiple styles and even 18-karat gold versions.
All are packed with sensors –perfect for feeding fitness information to the Health app on a new iPhone 6– they feature a bright and force-sensitive Retina display and run Apple’s new Watch OS.
You can bet there will be a ton of apps when the Apple Watch is released and that app selection alone may be enough to vault it into the lead as the best smartwatch for most consumers.
Battery life is one area Apple is being cagey about (it’s likely one day) and pricing is another.
The cheapest Apple Watch is going for $349. That 18-karat gold model? Apple is mum but speculation is that it will cost a lot. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber thinks it could retail for a whopping $4,999.
As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
