Garmin Instinct
Ohhh I knew I picked right. I got my dad one too. The esports edition was only 100 bucks and I love It. I stopped using my fitbit versa 2 over it.
The one I wish still existed: The Pebble Steel. This beast had a battery that lasted an entire week on a single charge, kept basic step tracking, etc., and notifications from my phone to my wrist. It was the perfect device. I was devastated when mine stopped working.
What I used for a long time: Fitbit Versa / Versa 2. Same deal, shittier battery life. But worked really well. Build quality declined dramatically, and I had to warranty my original Versa something like 4 times and ended up with a Versa 2 as a “We’re all out of the 1st gen, take this and shut up” upgrade.
What I use now: The Pixel Watch. The battery life is trash, but the features are solid. I’ve used an Apple Watch while carrying an iPhone for a few months, and the integration with my Pixel phone is just as seamless. The weird transition from Fitbit to Pixel Watch and how the apps interact make it blindingly obvious Fitbit as a brand is done and Google intends the “Pixel Watch” brand to replace it. I actually appreciate the round watchface.
My selections are always driven though, by my desire to see data from my continuous glucose monitor (type 1 diabetes) on my wrist. Android Wear / WearOS handles that far better than an Apple Watch, and I didn’t need the insane features (or price point) from a lot of the other WearOS devices out there.
I’d wish Pebble was still around! There’s been nothing like it since.
Got my first fitness watch couple months ago. It was a Garmin and tbh I freaking love it!!! As a lot of comments already mentioned, Garmin gave very detail information, and the battery life just can’t beat I would definitly do it again!
Pebble Time. It was the best ever until the battery swelled. My Fitbit Versa 2 was good until the battery gave out. My latest Fitbit has worse software with less features than the last and I hate it. There are no apps available anymore.
Is there something like a fitness bracelet without a display that one could wear? I already have an old school Casio digital watch, and I like to too much to replace it with a smartwatch.
Perhaps a Fitbit Flex? I haven’t really looked into it but there are a few fitness bands that exist without a screen.
My cousin has a tracker ring and it’s pretty cool
Check. I’ve been looking at something like that as well, but it comes with a $6/mo subscription model on up of the $370 price for the ring itself. The subscription model made me not want it anymore.
Eh I would have done the same!
I rocked a Casio F-91W for years, then a Huawei smartwatch a couple years before getting a Garmin Instinct 2.
Design is reminiscent of a casio digital, the display is always on and gets brighter if external light is shone on it, no touchscreen, contactless payment, a charge lasts me about 3 weeks.
320€ is expensive but is exactly what I need from a smartwatch :)
Mi band has a display, but it’s pretty slim and you could just leave it turned off. But a ring might be the better option for you.
I have wanted a decent product in this category for YEARS now and sadly, there’s really not many options at all. The ring one that requires a damn subscription is laughably a non starter. What on earth.
I wear an analog which has nothing to track and connect to a phone. Just like the good ol’ days.
None. I’m one of these oldtimers who has that backward opinion that a thing has to do one thing, but that very good, so I wear a brick of steel that’s actually ticking away that I have to check once a month, if it’s on time. Plus every 4 years it’s gotta have an oiling. On the other side: no batteries to charge. And my fitness tracker is my fat belly ;) kinda fit, kinda fat.
Coros Pace 2. Cheaper than the entry level Garmin and just as capable.
I have a garmin epix 2, best Damn watch ever. It lasts roughly 2 weeks on a charge. All the same features as the Fenix but OLED display.
I have an instinct and really like it. Garmin also does not seem as bad at collecting user data as say fitbit
Love my Fenix 5x. Sapphire glass, rugged and the battery lasts forever. It wasn’t cheap but worth every penny. No touch screen and I turn off most notifications. It just works as a nice watch with fitness tracking. Garmin really makes a good product.
I like the way the Apple Watch (non-ultra) looks and functions but the battery life is garbage. It’s almost tolerable brand new but the battery degrades over time and you have to charge more often. No thanks.
I currently use a Garmin forerunner 955. Since I use it for running I charge once a week or so. If you don’t work out and just want metrics, it lasts 2 weeks. I highly recommend Garmin watches
PineTime my beloved
I don’t find my pinetime very good for using with an iphone. It somewhere on a shelve waiting for good sofware for iphone or for when I switch to android
Maybe someone will pick up InfiniLink in the future, looks like a cool app just unmaintained
I’m an avid paddler/wind sports/surfer, so having good water resistance, cellular connection for emergencies, at least 4+ hours of GPS tracking battery life, and good GPS are requirements. AFAIK only the Apple Watch Ultra ticks all those boxes. I used to use Garmin’s but the lack of cellular made me switch. If anyone has other options, I’m open to them.
Withings. All the features without looking like your wearing a computer on your arm
The Pebble watches. They may not be made anymore, but they are the only smart watches I have used that felt like an actual smart watch instead of a phone for your wrist. Once mine dies, I may switch to a BangleJS.
It is still the best “dumb” smartwatch out there. Long battery life, physical buttons, no touch screen nonsense and it just works.
I am still rocking my Pebble2 but unfortunately the silicon buttons are starting to deteriorate. It will be difficult to make repairs/upgrades to the watch, but I don’t see a 1to1 replacement for it.
Isn’t the point of making a watch smart is that you can get your phone onto your wrist?
In some ways yes, but I think a smart watch is optimal for performing tasks quickly and and giving me information at a glance. A smart watch should feel like a dashboard on my wrist that stops me from using my phone unnecessarily. Most smart watches feel like a small second display for my phone with a worse user experience that make me want to always perform those tasks on my phone.
Really wish there was an Android watch that was as reliable and responsive as Apple Watches
I really like my galaxy watch 5 pro.
