It's slow, confusing to navigate and makes routine tasks feel more complicated than they should be. Samsung’s Tizen operating system, found on the Galaxy Watch and others, requires Android version 5.0 or later, and on an iPhone it needs iOS 9.0 or later installed on at least an iPhone 5. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 starts at $280 for the 40mm version and $300 for the 44mm version. The watch has Google’s Wear OS operating system, so it connects to Android and iOS devices, and unlike the first Kate Spade Scallop smartwatch, it does have a heart rate sensor, GPS, and NFC for Google Pay. Because it’s on your wrist, smartwatches are exposed to danger. Although it sounds like a complicated question, this is surprisingly straightforward. Fitness tracking comes via Google Fit, which is easy to use and full of exercise tracking features, though it won’t satisfy athletes seeking in-depth data. It can handle more than 30 different indoor and outdoor sports, though it’s particularly good for running, nailing basics like distance and pace, but also offering useful features for serious athletes, like altitude and heat acclimatization. It can measure how stressed you are, track blood oxygen levels and monitor your skin's temperature while you sleep, and a future update will enable ECG readings to check for irregular heartbeats. The fitness aspects on the SE are essentially the same experience you've had on every other Apple Watch with move and exercise goals you can track. Opt for the cellular version and you can leave your iPhone at home and make on-the-wrist calls, check email, or chat with Siri. This changes if you buy a smartwatch with 4G LTE, like the LTE version of the Apple Watch. Adding key health features to a watch that launched several months ago without even a hint of it having that capability demonstrates Samsung's commitment to improving products over time. The screens are bright and sharp enough to give you the latest data on your training session. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 3 is starting to follow the lines of the Apple Watch by offering some features that require a Galaxy smartphone. Video: Hands-on with Microsoft's HoloLens 2 (TechCrunch Gadgets). You no longer have to raise your wrist to bring the screen to life. We’re here to help! The Garmin Forerunner 945 costs a seriously hefty $600. The microphones specifically listen for water from a faucet, hand motions and even the sound of soap being pumped from a bottle. You can customize the face to suit you, but the real attraction of a watch like this is the tracking capabilities. If you’re looking for a more sporty smartwatch, Kate Spade also has the KSNY Sport model, which is not only very light weight, but also packed with the very latest tech. However, because manufacturers are finally coming around to the realization that a smartwatch needs to look good if we’re to buy one, they’re a lot more tempting than they once were. The same could be said of Apple’s WatchOS. The $99 Fossil Sport is powered by Google's Wear OS platform, and that's unfortunate. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active2, available in 44 mm and 40 mm sizes, is the best smartwatch for all Android phones even though it doesn’t run Google’s software. The $178.95 Fitbit Versa 2 is a very good but very basic smartwatch. And then there are the health features: The watch not only tracks countless activities but can also take an electrocardiogram (ECG), measure heart rate, track blood oxygen levels and detect if you've fallen. Why you should buy this: It’s packed with all the right fitness features for serious runners. Why you should buy this: It’s the best-looking smartwatch if you have smaller wrists. It’s sensible to treat your smartwatch carefully, even with these extra levels of protection, but no more so than you would with a traditional watch. Just like its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 5 comes in a choice of 40mm and 44mm case sizes. The Watch 3 can track your stress level, measure your blood oxygen level and, thanks to a recent update, perform an ECG to monitor for heartbeat abnormalities. Google’s Wear OS is evolving and works with Android and iOS devices, supports Google Pay, and is controlled with swipes and taps, but often menus are slow and lists are long, which can lead to frustrations. Yes, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a great sequel that makes several key improvements over the original. If you are a runner and intend to use your smartwatch to track routes, and don’t want to run with your phone, then yes, you do need GPS. If you like the sound of this but would rather spend less, then the Withings Move ECG is worth a look, though the ECG feature is still clearing the FDA. There are still some frustrations, but operation is improved, with the rotating crown making it easy to scroll through menus and pages. In order to use the ECG app, you have to use either watch with one of Samsung's Galaxy phones. It’s definitely worth your attention if the Falster 3’s style doesn’t appeal. Suunto is new to the smartwatch space, and its first offering, the Suunto 7, is a solid first try. You will have to pay extra through your carrier to have 4G LTE for calls and data, but a sensible array of apps means the Apple Watch really can work as an iPhone replacement, if only for a short time. Both were able to get an accurate number when it came to calories burned, minutes exercised and heart rate tracked throughout. You can get LTE support if you’re willing to pay a bit more and you can browse YouTube and Twitter or use Google Translate directly from your wrist. The watch is rated to 30 meters for water resistance, which means splashes and rain won’t pose a problem, and it can be worn when swimming, too. We didn't notice any slowdowns or tracking differences between the SE and Series 6. We just wish it worked with Android. Perhaps not so surprisingly, the Apple Watch Series 6 now takes that honor. One thing to remember is that using GPS will drain the battery in the watch faster than usual. The price changes depending on the type of band you select, but the features remain the same. Yes, Samsung released the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in the same year it released the original Galaxy Watch Active. You have to use a specific watch face at night in order to track your Sp02, for example. However, it’s not just by a whisker, or with numerous caveats — it’s simply the best smartwatch by far, sporting the same wonderful design as the Apple Watch Series 4, but with the welcome addition of a handful of new features. And if you're on Android, is Samsung's Galaxy Watch line your only option, or is Wear OS worth a look? While you could also use it with an iPhone, it’s missing several features on iOS, and we still recommend the Apple Watch to iPhone owners. The hardware is identical, but it’s worth noting there are two styles available — the masculine Carlyle and the feminine Julianna, both of which have 44mm cases. Overall, though, the Withings Steel HR Sport offers a nice combination of tracking features for the casual user and looks and feels just like a regular, traditional watch. If you're focused on health and want that always-on display along with everything the Apple Watch can do, the Series 6 is the ultimate choice. It's powered by the S5 processor, which premiered for $399 in the Series 5, so it runs watchOS 7 like a champ. Granted, Samsung surprised everyone and released a software update for the Galaxy Watch Active 2 that added Sp02 and ECG capabilities. We strap them to our wrists (no matter how silly they may look) and walk around town with them, making calls and exercising to test out the workout features. With the latter, we established a baseline with consumer-facing devices that are designed to just track those metrics (i.e., SpO2 or heart rate). They’re easy to knock against things and can often get wet. However, I think the Falster 3 makes the best of a bad Wear OS situation. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 review: Solid smartwatch, but a fitness letdown. Apple Watch Series 3 ($169, originally $199; amazon.com). If you own an Android phone, then you can use a Tizen — which is the operating system used on Samsung’s smartwatches — or a Google Wear OS watch. It’s also edging away from simply making the resulting smartwatch pink and hoping for the best, as designers that actually understand fashion become more involved. The fitness features are one of the Watch Active 2’s strongest areas, and it includes a heart rate sensor, automatic workout recognition, fitness tracking, onboard GPS, and a range of fitness apps available through Samsung’s app store. Of course, it does all of the staple fitness tracker stuff that Fitbit helped pioneer, like counting steps, active minutes, workouts and sleep.