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The Best Smartwatch For You: Make The Upgrade!

The Garmin quatix7 watch on a dock in front of out-of-focus boats

Smartwatches are so popular these days that it can be hard not to consider them a regular part of daily life. And buying the one that goes right along with your phone can be tempting, like the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch is popular because it covers so many bases, from exercising to fitness and sleep tracking. We love it, and were excited when the new models were announced in September. But it might not be the best smartwatch for you, depending on your hobbies. Have you considered a sailing smartwatch? How about wristwear that can track your hunt as you’re out in the wild? Maybe you want something that looks sleek, like a real wristwatch, but with all the perks of a fitness tracker. 

We’ve got a vast selection of the best smartwatches, and they’re a great New Year’s gift to yourself. They can help you tackle resolutions like getting fit or spending more time sleeping. Explore our options below for a look at some of our favorites. 

Garmin quatix Smartwatch 7 Pro Marine GPS 47mm

Garmin quatix Smartwatch 7 Pro Marine GPS 47mm with a blue band

Made for people who love to hit the water, the Garmin quatix 7 smartwatch is optimized for boating, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and everything in between. But lots of wristwear can go underwater. What makes this model stand out is its connection to watercraft. Connect to your sailboat’s or speedboat’s GPS or chartplotter, then use your wristwear to steer for you. Even control your audio right from your wrist. Other pros a captain will appreciate include the ability to check the water depth, see tide changes and track watersports activities. All of these features (plus classic fitness and health tracking capabilities) make the Garmin quatix 7 Pro a great pick for a captain, sailor, surfer or waterskiier. 

Google Pixel Watch 2 Wi-Fi 41mm

Google Pixel Watch 2 Wi-Fi 41mm in black with pink icons

The best smartwatch to pair with a Google Pixel phone, the Pixel Watch 2 feels light on your wrist and integrates Fitbit technology in the design. With help from Fitbit tech, you’ll have truly accurate heart rate tracking throughout every workout. Some of the exciting features include stress detection and Safety Check: set a timer when you’re out walking alone, and if it expires without your response, close contacts will be alerted ASAP. Plus, you’ll have access to Google’s app suite, like Gmail and Calendar. This is the best smartwatch for those hoping to integrate fitness and lifestyle, all on a budget that’s easy on the wallet.

Garmin MARQ Adventurer (Gen 2) Modern Tool Watch

Garmin MARQ Adventurer (Gen 2) Modern Tool Watch with an army green band and an image of a navigational map onscreen

Made for the rugged adventurer, this member of Garmin’s MARQ family is one of the best smartwatches for hiking, skiing, running and golfing that we’ve seen. Some of the perks inside are unique to Garmin’s identity, like top-notch navigation. TopoActive maps and NextFork trail guides help make adventures out into the wild more maneuverable. You’ll know where you’re going with a glance at your wrist. Climbers will love tracking their current and future trips with ClimbPro, while ski data and maps for both resorts and backcountry adventures are just a few taps away. Whatever your adventure, Garmin can help you get there with secure positioning tech from GNSS and SatIQ tech. The MARQ Adventurer takes mapping to the next level.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic LTE 43mm

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic LTE 43mm in black with a twistable bezel

A smart-looking smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is a great model for anyone with a Galaxy phone. Things will look familiar, and you’ll experience easy integration into the watch’s ecosystem. But this timepiece stands strong on its own as well. Looking and feeling like classic wristwear, this is a great choice for shoppers who want true style. Meanwhile, a rotating bezel helps you access fitness and health apps. From there, it’s time to learn all about your body. Try everything from sleep coaching and heart monitoring to the body BIA sensor to targeting heart rate zones and beyond. Plus, with LTE, there’s no need to carry your phone with you on your next run. It’s just you and the best smartwatch for your needs. 

Garmin tactix 7 Standard Tactical 51mm GPS Smartwatch

Garmin tactix 7 Standard Tactical 51mm GPS Smartwatch  in Stealth Mode with several buttons around the bezel

Made for tracking, just like you. The Garmin tactix 7 is the best smartwatch for hunting, tracking and multisport. A unique pick, this model allows you to go stealth mode with a screen that can go dark to be read by night vision goggles, and can bring out a mighty green or white flashlight after the sun goes down. Even ask the watch to stop sharing your GPS location for true stealth. Hunters, track your hunt by marking waypoints on your wrist, or set remote geo positions you can use later as you track. Don’t forget to take care of your health along the way. From sleep and energy tracking to hydration logging, you’ll want to stay ready for the next adventure into the field. With the tactix 7, you’ll find all the classic sports apps to keep you running or biking, too, as well as unique stamina trackers and apps for working out in the backcountry (mountain biking, cross-country skiing and beyond). 

Which One Is Right For Me?

Still having a hard time finding the best smartwatch for you? There are lots of them, and we only highlighted a few here. Before purchasing, consider what you want out of yours. Are you an athlete? A student? What are some of the health problems you’re having a hard time tackling? Make a bullet list of what you love to do in a day and what you hope you can improve. Next, look for the best smartwatch that can help you tackle your tasks. 

Abt has a broad selection of smartwatches, from the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 to the Garmin fenix and beyond. Explore what might work best for you with help from our Learn Center’s smartwatch buying guide

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