Top Android smartwatches to get – which smartwatch should you get?
This was definitely a great year in the smartwatch world because the expanded selection of Android smartwatches to choose from. Last year was a good introductory year, but 2015 was kicked into full gear with the options now available. Up until this year I would only recommend very few smartwatches to people simply because there was not much of selection to choose from to get the best bang for your buck.
For over a year I have been using the Moto 360 1st gen as my daily driver watch and it has treated me very well. As a matter of fact I think it’s a great buy for the money ($140 on Amazon) and not too mention one the best options for iPhone users now that Android Wear is working with em using a Moto 360; it’s half the cost of an Apple Watch. The only other watches in the $150 range worth getting if you’re an Apple user is the Pebble and let’s be honest the Pebble (and Apple Watch) look like child’s toys. If you’re willing to spend a few more bucks, you’re able to take advantage of some other fine watches.
Budget Friendly Choices
Moto 360 (1st Gen) – This watch still hold up even after being a year old. You can buy this watch for only $140 for the leather band and for extra $50 you can grab a steel band version. Both of which are great deals. The watch works with Android and iOS. Mind the iOS functions are a bit limited at this point, but development is getting better and faster. As mentioned before this was my watch for over a year and I was completely happy with it. It wasn’t until recently that I was able to snag a deal locally for a LG Urbane watch. If that deal didn’t happen I would still be rocking the 360!
Asus Zenwatch 2 – Asus did everyone a service and provided yet another quality watch for a low cost. The Zenwatch 2 will only set you back $149.99. The Zenwatch 2 is ideal for the person who wants a few more health monitoring options, has a square watchface style, and comes with a few color options.
Anything else, you will want to look into used or third party buying options like you would find at Swappa.com. For example, you can get a used like new LG Urbane for about $220 which is quite the discount from the retail price of $349.99.
Somewhere Between Budget and New Releases
LG Urbane – The Urbane has been out long enough and other watches have been released since it’s own release, which means there are some great prices to get this watch and it’s still very worth getting this watch. This is the watch I am using at the time of this post and I am loving the quality. I was able to snag this watch for only $160 from a Craigslist deal (actually ended up knowing the seller). But if you’re not able to find a deal like I did, you could buy a like new on Swappa or head over to Amazon and get a brand new one for only about $275, which is still a fantastic price for this watch. If you’re not able to spend $350+ on one of the new releases like the Huawei or Moto 360 2nd Gen, this is probably the best option for you.
New Releases
This is where the choices get tough. There are about three new releases on the top shelf to consider. All of which are around the same price range. So it’s going to boil down to preference and you can’t go wrong with any of them as they are all quality watches.
Moto 360 2nd Gen – Other than the flat tire, this watch is a great upgrade from last year’s model. There are a ton more Moto Maker customization options. If you’re gonna buy this watch Motorola.com is the best place to buy from because you can truly make the watch your own. Pricing starts at $299 and goes up depending on the material chosen. There is a Sports edition that will be released soon to look out for.
Samsung Gear S2 – You get to choose from 3 model with this new watch; the dark grey, silver, and classic. Pricing starts at $299 for the dark grey and silver and $349 for the classic. Personally I like the classic design the most. The Gear S2 stands out from the rest because of the Samsung Pay and S Health features.
Huawei Watch – This guy is arguably the best smartwatch you can get! This watch screams premium! There are a few choices of bands and finishes. Pricing starts at $349. Some may say this is too expensive, but if you listen to the reviews you might be able to justify spending the extra money to get a premium watch. The quality materials is by far what sets this watch apart from the competition. Not too mention this watch is developed for both Android and iOS. If I was an iPhone user I would get this watch over the Apple Watch in a heartbeat! If you’re gonna be dropping about 400 bucks on a watch I want it to look like a watch and the Huawei is the closest smartwatch looking like a classic timepiece.
As you can tell there are some great options at this point and it is only going to get better! I’m sure I might have left out some options that you might include in this list, if so leave em down below in the comments. If I were to rank the watches in a top 3 list I would start with the Huawei Watch at #1, then Samsung Gear S2, and honestly I would pick the LG Urbane over the Moto 360 2nd. If you are curious of why read Why I am not getting the Moto 360 2nd generation.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and we sincerely hope you found it helpful and enjoyable! Please feel free to leave your thoughts down below in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to Bane Tech on YouTube, Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
