The Best Men’s Smart Watches
So you've finally decided to join team smart watch, huh? Good thinking — the right smart watch can truly change your life for the better. From their various fitness-tracking and GPS features to their ability to integrate with phones and other devices, today's smart watches are more useful than ever. But there's fierce competition in the smart watch marketplace, which can make it hard to choose the right one for your needs. With that in mind, we're here to help simplify your search.
What to Look For
Investing in a smart watch is no minor decision. That’s why we suggest considering three crucial questions as you browse all the options on the market: Is this watch future-proof? Is it durable enough to withstand the rigors of everyday life? And are its features appropriate for your lifestyle? With those questions guiding our search, we landed on a few standout picks. Our overall favorite was the Series 7 Apple Watch, which is packed with industry-leading hardware and features. But we also loved Fossil’s Gen 5E, which not only works well but also looks good in the process. For more about our favorites, read on.
Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular)
The cutting edge
Apple helped the industry define what a smart watch should do for the consumer. Even now, seven generations since the original Apple Watch’s inception, they’re still at the top of the game. Quick to charge and easy to use, the Series 7 features new innovations on previous models. It especially excels with fitness tracking, smartphone integration, and vital sign monitoring. Best of all, this version is cellular-enabled, which means you can do stuff that Bluetooth-only smart watches often can’t do, such as sending texts, streaming music, and making phone calls.
Pros:
- The suite of health features is seriously impressive. For example, this watch can measure your blood oxygen levels, perform ECGs, and potentially detect heart rhythm abnormalities.
- Though Apple products are typically known for being sleek above all else, that doesn’t mean this watch is fragile. It’s actually one of the toughest, most durable smart watches on the market.
Cons:
- This model is pretty pricy, but we feel that it’s a worthy investment in the long run.
Fossil Men’s Gen 5E
Style and substance
If you thought Fossil was only good at making leather bags and wallets, think again. They got into the smart watch game early, and recently, many of their watches have adopted Google’s lauded WearOS technology. This is great news for Android users, though you don’t need to have an Android phone to enjoy this watch. We love its sleek look, but what we love even more is how intuitive this watch is for users of all ages.
Pros:
- In terms of design aesthetics, Fossil really did a great job here. This looks more like a traditional watch than some of the more techie-looking watches out there.
- This watch can be customized and tweaked to your liking. Considering the degree of personalization and the variety of features, we think the price is pretty phenomenal.
Cons:
- The battery life isn’t fantastic, but once you develop a daily charging routine for the watch, it’s not a big deal.
Apple Watch Series 4 (Amazon Renewed)
Get more for less
While some folks around us may have the latest and greatest gadgets, some of us feel that having the newest tech is not always necessary. For those of us content with slightly older models, this Series 4 Apple Watch is a fantastic option. It offers a lot of the same features as the newer Apple Watch generations but at a fraction of the price. And though this watch won’t arrive in new condition, Amazon’s Renewed program ensures it’s in excellent condition. In fact, some might be fooled into thinking it’s brand new.
Pros:
- With this affordable model, you’ll have some of the Apple Watch’s most popular features, like the optical heart sensor or the ECG feature.
- This could be an excellent gift option for an older relative, especially thanks to the fall detection feature.
Cons:
- If you have an Android smartphone, you won’t get quite as much out of the iOS ecosystem as you would if you had an iPhone.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro GPS Smart Watch
For the road less traveled
This watch is a favorite among athletes of all stripes, from swimmers and runners to hikers and survivalists. That’s mostly due to its enormous bevy of GPS and fitness-tracking features, many of which surpass all the competition. The mapping abilities are second-to-none, and thanks to the ultra-durable build, this watch will endure just about any treatment. Add to all that a battery that can last up to 14 days and this one is a no-brainer.
Pros:
- Yes, this watch is packed with sophisticated technical features, but that doesn’t mean it comes at the cost of style. The wide variety of color and wristband options allows you to pick the one that best complements your look.
- The sleep-tracking features are next-level. This can help you develop a real understanding of your body’s sleep needs.
Cons:
- We wish the buttons were a bit easier to press.
Fitbit Versa Smart Watch
Fit for the job
If you’re trying to understand your body better, a watch like Fitbit’s Versa can help tremendously. Yes, it’s a fantastic everyday watch, but its fitness and workout features are where it really excels. It can track your steps, heart rate, sleep quality, and other activities and then organize that data by various parameters for you to study. It also makes it easy to track your workouts thanks to various preset workout modes. Pair that with its ability to store up to 300 songs to listen to while you exercise, and what do you have? A perfect workout buddy.
Pros:
- The battery life is pretty impressive. It can last up to four days, so you won’t have to remember to charge it every night.
- We appreciate that women can also use this for menstrual health tracking.
Cons:
- The step counter may occasionally add false steps from movements other than walking. That being said, it doesn’t happen often enough to render the step counter unreliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my smart watch need to use the same operating system as my cell phone?
No, certainly not. Sure, you might get more out of your devices if they have the same operating system, but it isn’t necessary. Your watch will work just fine regardless of what phone you have.
Do I need to have my phone nearby to use all of my smart watch’s features?
This depends. If you pay to enable cellular data on your watch (just like most of us do with our cell phones), then your watch will be able to work totally independently from your phone. But if your watch isn’t cellular-enabled and you want to use it to do things that require cellular data, such as sending text messages or streaming music, then you’ll need to have your phone nearby to tap into its Bluetooth connection.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
Since 2001, our experts at TheFashionSpot have been providing millions of people with our take on the latest trends. TheFashionSpot is constantly looking for the hottest styles in clothing and accessories for people of all body types. Our team knows that beauty starts well before the closet, so we are also dedicated to finding the best products for your skin and hair.